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Subject: General H. C. Brish & the Seneca Indians
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 11:50:24 -0500

Linda,
In Langs History of Seneca County, starting on page 131, General Henry
Brish relates a story.
I will try to summarize it here.

Gen. Brish was in charge of the Agency for the Seneca Indians.
The Seneca Reservation was located on the east side of the Sandusky
River, in the northeast quarter of the county, and extending well into
Sandusky County.

About 1825, 3 of the Seneca chiefs set out west to seek a new home & new
hunting grounds for their people. They were Coonstick, Steel & Cracked
Hoof. Coonstick & Steel were brothers, and they left brother Comstock,
chief of the tribe, and younger brother Seneca John behind. The 3
returned about 3 years later to find that Comstock was dead, and Seneca
John had assumed the duties as chief. The 3 charged that Seneca John
must have killed Comstock by the use of witchcraft. John strongly denied
the charge stating that he loved his brother more than his own life.
Coonstick & Steel concluded that Seneca John must die, and that they
should be his executioners.
Seneca John replied, "I am willing to die. I ask only that you will
allow me to live until tomorrow morning, that I may see the sun rise
once more. I will sleep tonight on the porch of Hard Hickory's lodge,
which fronts the east. There you will find me at sunrise."

They accepted his request. Coonstick & Steel passed the night in a lodge
nearby. In the morning they proceeded to the hut of Hard Hickory (who
himself told this story to Gen. Brish.) Just as the sun was rising, Hard
Hickory heard the approaching footsteps of the brothers, and he peeked
out the door to see them coming. Seneca John was still asleep on the
porch wrapped in his blanket. His brothers awoke him and he rose to his
feet. He removed a large handkerchief from his head, which he had
wrapped around it, and his long hair fell to his shoulders. Seneca John
calmly took a last look around, and observing the rising sun, told his
brothers that he was ready to die.

Another warrior by the name of Shane had come with the brothers. He and
Coonstick each took Seneca John by the arm and led him about 10 steps in
front of the lodge. There Steel struck John a heavy blow on the back of
the head, and the blood gushed from the dreadfull wound. Assuming him to
be dead they dragged him behind a nearby tree, where Seneca John again
showed signs of life. Steel then drew his knife and slit his brothers
throat from ear to ear.

In the fall of 1831 as the Senecas were being prepared for their move
west, Gen. Brish saw Coonstick & Steel remove all traces of the grave of
Seneca John. John had chosen this as the site of his execution so that
Hard Hickory could witness that he had "died like a man".

At the time of their move onto 76,000 acres of land northwest of
Arkansas, a move led by Gen. Brish, there were about 510 Senecas left.
By August of 1845 their number had been dwindled to 143. In 1880 it was
assumed by Lang that there was nothing left of that once proud &
fearsome nation.

Regards,
Steve Hartzell
Tiffin, Ohio

PI>Really liked your Bowes/Seneca Co., historical information. Does your
PI>information include anything else about General H.C. Brish and the Seneca
PI>indians? Have a happy holidays. Linda Rathbun

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