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Hello, well this is something that I thought that we should have done long ago and din’t.
these leads into our history really need attention, so here is some info. posted from the Elkins West virginia towns web pages, a very worthwhile read full of leads and tidbits to ponder.
http://www.swcp.com/~dhickman/journals/V5I2/mingo.html
MINGO INDIANS
(Iroquois or Six Nations)
What follows was intended to be a LOT longer, but alas I may never get time to complete my research on the Mingo Indians. It seems that a number of our members are interested in their Native American roots so I submit the following notes to aid such persons in their understanding of the “Indians” who roamed central West Virginia.
I will not go into a debate as to which family of natives lived on the Potomac. It is clear, however, that Indian occupation of the Tygart Valley in Randolph and Barbour Counties was never numerous, and that the only group ever to occupy that area were the “Mingo”.
Below will be found the notes I have accumulated about that family of Native Americans. I have tried to cite my sources fully. The list at the end is an index of references I have found to SPECIFIC Mingo or Iroquios individuals. These persons would have been relatives or acquaintances of the Tygart Valley Mingoes. I have included only people whose names I have found in source records.
Since the Mingoes had no written language, the spellings are those rendered by the white man, based upon how the names sounded to him. It is best if interested persons try and read the names out loud to get a “feel” of how the Mingo language and names would have sounded. I submit the following as a tribute to the many forgotten Native Americans who were here to witness the onslaught of Europeans into a once pristine America.
George Washington’s 1753-54 map of Ohio Country shows Mingo Town about 20 miles below present Pittsburgh, about two miles below Logs Town. An anonymous map of the Ohio drawn about 1755 shows the notation at the same location that “Senecas moved from here last summer”. These two sources will show that the Mingoes were also considered as Senecas. Brown, Lloyd Arnold, EARLY MAPS OF THE OHIO VALLEY, Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Press, 1959
The Return of Prisoners from Detroit by Lt. Robert Holmes 26 Dec 1760, reports that Charles Grant of Montgomerys Highlanders, who had been taken prisoner with Major Grant in 1758 was prisoner with the Mingoe Indians. Stevens, BOUQUET Ibid.
Minutes of Indian Conference at Pittsburgh 8 Jan 1759 shows among the participants “Canigaatt, the White Mingo” Stevens, Sylvester K. and Kent, Donald H., EDs., THE PAPERS OF COL HENRY BOUQUET., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Historical Commission, 1943
At Ft Pitt 6 Jun 1761 a speach was sent by a 6 nation chief called Otchithenengush and was delivered by The White MingoStevens, BOUGUET PAPERS, Ibid
Thomas Hutchins map of the Western Country and the Ohio 1778 shows Mingo Town at presentday Steubenville, Ohio. Brown, EARLY MAPS, Ibid.
Augusta County Court Papers Petitions March 1775, Mary Gregory appeared before John Poage and made oath that Mingo Indians about five years previous (1770) had came to her house on the Head of Greenbrier and stole 4 hogs and 1 horse. Chalkley, Lyman. CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH IRISH SETTLEMENT Vol I page 511
Notes of Thomas Jefferson 1784 shows Mingos as numbering 60 in 1779 and living on the Scioto River in Ohio, also there the Shawnees. Jefferson lists the Mingos as separate from the Senecas, who he shows as numbering 650 in 1779 and living in the north. Bergh, Albert Ellery, Ed., THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, Washington, DC, The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association, 1907
When the white man first penetrated the Monongahela and Allegheny River Valleys the land was partially occupied by roving bands of Indians whose primary settlements were near the confluence of the rivers, but who had in the interior a few transient villages or camps. These were chiefly Delaware and Shawnee, but they had living among them several colonized bands of Iroquois called “Mingoes”, who had been sent by the powerful six nation Iroquois to live among their vassals the Delawares. In 1768 the “castle” of the “White Mingo” was on the Allegheny River a few miles above it’s mouth. Crumrine, Boyd, HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts and Co., 1882
Joseph Friend in 1784 in Harrison County made an entry for 200 acres on the West Side of the Tygart Valley River as assignee of Joseph Hastings who was assignee of Charles Grigsby. The entry was to include the “Mingo Cabin” Harrison County Entry Book
Title of Mingo, WV (Indian Village Site):
Randolph County Deed Book 1 pg 78: 6 Nov 1788 Joseph Pennell of Chester, PA to Stephen Sherwood of Fairfield, Conn. Lot 3 surveyed 5 April 1786 for Pennell as assignee of Alexander Dick for 3000 acres on LOTW 19473 adjoin on the west land of Thomas ?Pennell? and Joseph Pennell (calls in deed no good)
Randolph County Deed Book 9 page 348: 15 April 1826 Brown Jenks to Edward Wood, Lot 3 in “so called Sherwood Survey” patented 1787 in the name of Joseph Pennell and sold by him to Stephen Sherwood and by Daniel Sherwood to Jenks. Begin three white oaks “the Derby Corner”, to forks of River, 3000 acres except 26 acres off of west side of tract sold to Ferdinand Stalnaker at request of Wood on Mingo Run
Randolph County Deed Book 9 page 408: 8 March 1826 Brown Jenks to Ferdinand Stalnaker WEst of Tygart Valley nRiver in lots 2 & 3 of Sherwood Survey 800 acres Hauley Bush Run and 26 acres adjion on the east of 800 on Mingo Run
Specific Individuals
ASHENOCH, of the Onondagas, at Indian Conference at Easton Aug 1761 (Bouquet Papers)
KING BLUNT, a Tuscarora Chief addressed in speech sent from Winchester Aug 1756 (Writings of Washington)
BUNT, see CHENAUGHEATA
CANASSATEGO, a Six Nations Cheif reprimanded the Delawares at a treaty council at Philadelphia 1742 (Crumrine’s HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY)
CANIGAAT, aka White Mingo, participant in conference at Pittsburgh Jan 1759, and delivered speech of Otchithenengush, six nation chief at Ft Pitt JUn 1761 (Bouquet Papers) his “Castle” was on Allegheny River, west side, a few miles above it’s mouth (Crumrine’s WASHINGTON COUNTY) ?could “Canigaat” be “Chenaugheata” below?
CAUSTRAX, a Seneca Chief, (sign of his nation the High Hill), sign Groghan Purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)
CHENAUGHEATA, aka Bunt, an Onondaga Chief, (the sign of his nation the Mountain) sign Groghan purchase deed 1768 (Augusta Deed Book 22/1)
COSSWERTENICEA, six nation chief at Log Town 1749 sell tract to George Groghan on Monongahela River (Augusta DB 22/1)
GAYACHIOUTON, a Seneca and deputy of the 6 nations, attendee Indian Council at Wyandott town near Detroit Jun 1761 (Bouquet Papers)
SENECA GEORGE, speaker at Indian Conference at Easton, PA August, 1761. (Bouquet Papers)
HALF KING, see TANACHARISSON
IONONERISSA, six nations chief at Logs Town 1749 sell tract on Monongahela River to George Groghan (Augusta DB 22/1)
IENOCHIAADA, chief of the Onondagas, sent string to Governor at Indian Conference at Easton Aug 1761 (Bouquet Papers) Also called Ienochryada same document
CAPTAIN JACK, a Tuscarora Chief, addressed in speech sent from Winchester Aug 1756 (Writings of Washington)
KANNADAGAWYA, a Mohawk Chief, speaker at Pittsburgh Jan 1765 (Bouquet Papers)
KEYASHUTA, a Seneca, speaker at Tuscarawas October 1764; (Bouquet Papers)
MONACATOOCHA, MONOCATOOTHE, see SCARCYADIA
OTCHINNEYAWESSA, a chief and ruling man of the 6 nations, made speech May 1761; mentioned by Bouguet as a great Indian Jun 1761; (Bouquet papers)
OTCHITHTHENENGUSH, a 6 nation chief Jun 1761; (Bouquet Papers) ?Possibly Otchinneyawesssa above?
SAGNARISERA, aka Hendrick, a Tuscarora Chief, (sign of his nation the cross) sign Groghan P{urchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)
SCARCYADIA, aka MONACATOOCHA, a six nation chief, at Log Town sell tract Monongahela River to George Groghan 1749 (Augusta DB 22/1) mentioned in Washington’s report to Dinwiddie at Great Meadows May 1754; as Monocatoothe, friend of Andrew Montour in invitation from Washington to Montour October 1755.(Writings of Washington, footnote calls him aka Scarrooyady, an Oneida and a Mingo chief)
SENNGHORS, aka William, Oneida Chief, (sign of his nation the Stone) sign Groghan Purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)
TEAATORERINSE, aka TEAATORIANCE, a Senesa and deputy of the 6 Nations, called Nightengale by the French, brought speech of 5 nations to Detroit Jun 1761; attendee Indian Council at Wyandott Town near Detroit Jun 1761; (Bouquet Papers)
TANACHARISSON, aka “Half King”, as “Half King”, addressed by Washington at Wills Creek April 1754 a Seneca Chief (Writings of Washington) an Iroquois sachem who lived at Logs Town 1748 (Crumrine’s HISTORY OF WAHSINGTON COUNTY PA)
TOKAHAIO, or TAGAAIA a Cayuga Chief, speaker at Indian Cinference at Easton PA Aug 1761 (Bouquet Papers); (sign of his nation the pipe) sign Groghan purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)
TYAHANESERA, aka Abraham, a Mohawk Chief (sign of his nation the Steel) sign Groghan purchase deed 1768 (Augusta DB 22/1)
With available records the above list o£ individual Native Americans could be expanded into the thousands. The above includes only individuals who could be identified as Iroquois, but similar lists could be compiled for other native groups. I had at one time intended to maintain an index of every Native American whose name I could recover, but time does not permit m to undertake such a project now. Perhaps some industrious member would like to take up where I have left off?
David Armstrong, 201 Graham St, Elkins, WV 26241
The Allegheny Regional Family History Society
Post Office Box 1804
Elkins, West Virginia, 26241
ASwell the following a the home page for the Elkins area family documents.
http://www.swcp.com/~dhickman/articles.html
http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx?q=4015325875029&lang=en-CA&mkt=en-CA&FORM=CVRE
“””NOTICE BLACKFOOT TWP.”””
Child: Ebenezer FLANAGAN circa 1860
Census: on 28 Jun 1860 in Blackfoot Twp, Tucker County, Virginia
Census: on 28 Jun 1870 in Blackfoot Twp, Tucker County, West Virginia
Census: on 5 Jun 1880 in Tucker County, West Virginia
The following article below I found very interesting because the crime was considered such at such an early date.
http://www.swcp.com/~dhickman/journals/V6I3/cornstalk.html
CORNSTALK MURDER
From the VIRGINIA GAZETTE 3 April 1778
Submitted by David Armstrong
By HIS Excellency PATRICK HENRY Governor, or Chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS a most barbarous murder was on the tenth day of November last committed by a number of persons belonging to a detachment of the militia of this state an Indian chief called CORNSTALK, his son, and two other Indians at Fort Randolph on the Ohio, although the said Indians had been convicted of no hostile act or purpose, and were at that time under the pl ghted (sic) protection of the garrison of the place, whereby a deep wound has been given to the honor and faith of this country, the laws of the state have been most flagrantly violated, and the vengeance of a cruel enemy provoked on the innocent inhabitants of the western frontiers, as well as a dangerous example given to licentious and bloodthirsty men wantonly to involve their country in the horrours of a savage war; and whereas it appears from sundry depositions transmitted to me that James Hall of the county of Rockbridqe, and Malcolm McCown of Augusta, Adam Barnes of Greenbrier, William Roane of Rockbridge and Hugh Galbreath of Rockbridge were deeply concerned in promoting and perpetrating the said outrage, I do by and with the advice of the Council of State issue this my proclamation strictly requiring the citizens of this commonwealth, more especially all officers civil and military, to use the most vigorous exertions to bring these seperate offenders to the punishment due their guilt. And as an encouragement thereto, as well as a proof of the public abhorrence of such detestable crimes, I do offer to such person or persons as shall secure any of the offenders so that they be brought to justice the following rewards that is for James Hall 200 dollars, for Malcolm McCown 150 dollars, for Adam Barnes, William Roane and Hugh Galbreath i00 dollars each.
Given under my hand at the Council Chamber in the city of Williamsburg this 27th day of March in the second year of the commonwealth, Annogue Dom 1778
The Allegheny Regional Family History Society
Post Office Box 1804
Elkins, West Virginia, 26241
http://www.wvculture.org/history/indland.html
The following is also a worthwhile read on this topic.
http://www.wvculture.org/history/notewv/logan1.html
“Logan, A Friend To The White Man”
by James L. Hupp
December 15, 1965
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On the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, stood an Indian town called Shomokin. The chief of this town had become a Christian. His second son was a brave young man, whom he named Logan when he had him baptized by the Moravian missionaries. Logan was with the white people a great deal and soon he grew fond of them as they did of him. He supported his family by killing deer, dressing the skins and selling them to the whites.
During the French and Indian War, Logan would take no part against the whites, being such a true friend to them. But all this was soon changed, and this friend became an enemy. And this is the way it happened:
Logan had moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and had taken up his home with a small tribe of Mingoes, near Steubenville. They soon made him their chief. One day a party of Indians was camping at the mouth of Yellow Creek. Some white men were camping on the other side of the Ohio River. The Indians, consisting of five men, a woman and a babe, crossed over to the white camp. The whites gave them run and when they had made them drunk, they killed them. The Indians on the other side of the stream, hearing the shooting, started over to see what was the matter. These were also shot. Among the killed were Logan’s relatives his father, brother, and sister.
Logan at once turned into a savage avenger. Blood was now to be shed for blood. He went on the war path and during the summer he himself took thirty scalps. The Indians in Ohio followed his example and soon no white roan was safe. The Shawnees living on the Scioto, near Circleville, were the leaders in the uprising under their great chief, Cornstalk. Logan thought a man by the name of Cresap had killed his family, and once he wrote him a letter in which he said: “What did you kill my people on Yellow Creek for? I thought I must kill, too, and I have been three times to war since. But the Indians are not angry. Only myself. Captain John Logan.”
The war did not last very long, for the white people in Virginia raised two armies to go against the Indians. A terrible battle was fought where Point Pleasant, on the Ohio River, now stands, October, 1774, and the red men were thoroughly defeated, and hastened back to their homes on the Scioto to sue for peace.
When the conference was being held between the Governor of Virginia and the chiefs of the tribes, it was discovered that Logan, chief of the Mingoes, and the real cause of the war, was not present. Of course, it was necessary that he should be there, and a white man was sent to bring him. He found Logan in a thicket seated on a log. The tears rolled down his cheeks and he wept like a child. His thoughts went back to the time when he was the “white man’s friend,” to the ‘murder of his relatives, and in his broken English burst out in one of the most beautiful speeches ever uttered”
“I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan’s cabin hungry and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked and he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate of peace. Such was my love for the whites that my countrymen pointed at me as they passed and said, “Logan is the friend of white men.” I had even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man, who the last spring in cold blood and unprovoked, murdered all the relatives of Logan, not even sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge. I have sought it, I have killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one.”
The remainder of the life of Logan was a melancholy one. His friends were all dead. His tribe was broken up. His hunting ground had gone to make corn fields for the white man. He wandered about from tribe to tribe, dejected and broken-hearted, a solitary and lonely man. He took to drink and partially lost his mind. He said he had two souls, the one good and the other bad. When the good soul was uppermost, he was kind and gentle, but when the bad soul controlled him, he was savage and wanted to murder.
In the dusk of the evening he sat before his camp fire, at the foot of a tree, with a blanket over his head, his elbows resting on his knees, and his head resting on his hands, thinking, no doubt, of his checkered life. An Indian who had been offended at something Logan had said at a council stole up behind him and sank a tomahawk into his brain.
Such was the fate of Logan, the Friend of the White Man.
Chief Logan
The following is a list of books and articles about Chief Logan which can be found at the West Virginia State Archives Library.
——————————————————————————–
BOOKS
Doddridge, Joseph. Logan the Last of the Race of Shikellemus, Chief Cayuga Nation , Parsons, WV, McClain Printing Co., 1971.
812.2 D641
Mayer, Brantz. Tah-gah-jute; of Loagn and Cresap, an Historical Essay , Albany J. Munsell. 1867. 973.27 M468.
Sawvel, Franklin B. Logan the Mingo , Boston, B.G. Badger, 1921.
B L831s.
Swain, George Thomas. Words That Rang Around the World , Charleston, WV, Ace Enterprises, 1962.
B L831 Pam.
Truman, Timothy. Straight Up to See the Sky , Forestville, California, Eclipse Books, 1991, pp.56-61.
977 T677s.
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VERTICAL NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FILE
“Beacon Lights of WV History,” Charleston Daily Mail , 1-23-1938.
“Bit of Elm Reminder of Chief Logan,” Beckley Post Herald , 11-6-1967.
“Chief Logan Refused Peace Treaty Signing,” Point Pleasant Register , 10-6-1971.
“Historic Logan Elm Named After Indian Chief,” Ravenswood News , 6-6-1984.
“History and Tradition Covering the Lives of Cornstalk, Logan & Princess Aracoma, 1954.
“Logan, Chief of the Onondagas,” by Phil Conley, 10-13-1962.
“Logan: a Dramatic Piece, by Joseph Doddridge,” WV Hillbilly , vol 2. 43-46, 10/28- 11/18-1967.
“Logan, A Friend to the White Man,” James L. Hupp, Archives & History, 12-15-1965.
“Logan, Chief Mingoes, One of Most Eloquent of Indians,” Charleston Gazette , 6-5- 1927.
“Logan Swore Vengeance After Killings,” Beckley Post Herald , 11-7-1967.
“Message of Logan Attested by Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Gov. Henry of MD,” 12-31- 1797.
“Thomas Jefferson’s Proof of the Logan Story,” WV Hillbilly , 4/20 & 5/11- 1968.
“War Clouds of Revolution Gather Quicly After Issuance of Logan’s Defi,” n.p. n.d.
“When Logan Spoke Whole World Heard Him,” Logan Banner , 12-31-1926.
“Who Mourns for Logan?,” Times Record , 5-7-1970.
http://www.wvculture.org/history/timetrl/ttapr.html#0430
April 30, 1774: Massacre of Logan’s family
During colonial days, tensions ran high between white settlers and Native Americans in the Ohio Valley. But, when the family of Logan, a well-known Mingo chief, was murdered April 30, 1774, matters exploded into open warfare.
Members of Logan’s family and others were slaughtered along the Ohio River in present-day Hancock County. While Logan was away on a hunting trip, his family members crossed to the western Virginia side of the river at Baker’s Tavern and met up with a group of settlers, led by Daniel Greathouse. After an evening of heavy drinking, Greathouse and his companions killed 9 of the Indians. Logan, who had previously been considered a friend of the frontier pioneers, vowed to kill 10 white settlers for every murdered member of his family. That summer, Logan killed between 13 and 30 western Virginians and took others prisoner.
The massacre of Logan’s family and his summer of revenge prompted Virginia Governor Lord Dunmore to attack the Indians on the frontier. Lord Dunmore’s War culminated in the defeat of Shawnee forces at the Battle of Point Pleasant, five months following the tragedy at Baker’s Tavern. Logan didn’t fight at Point Pleasant but was summoned to peace negotiations near present-day Circleville, Ohio. Logan refused to attend, sending an interpreter with an emotional statement lamenting the loss of his family. The speech eloquently described the kindness he had shown to white settlers and expressed his feelings of betrayal.
Like his family, Logan met a tragic fate, dying at the hands of his nephew. Today, Logan County, the city of Logan, and Chief Logan State Park are all named in his honor.
For more information:
Eckert, Allan W. The Frontiersmen: A Narrative. Boston: Little, Brown, 1967.
Time Trail: Battle
“””NOTICE BLACKFOOT TWP.”””
Child: Ebenezer FLANAGAN circa 1860
Census: on 28 Jun 1860 in Blackfoot Twp, Tucker County, Virginia
Census: on 28 Jun 1870 in Blackfoot Twp, Tucker County, West Virginia
Census: on 5 Jun 1880 in Tucker County, West Virginia
Aha! Blackfoot Township, right near Elkins, WV. My friend, Thomas McElwain, is the informant for the Mingo dialect revitalization project. The old folks were still speaking it in his community when he was a boy. (It’s a dialect of Seneca, the last Native language of many a refugee tribe.) There’s a thriving e-list for its study. Anyway, if I’m remembering correctly, he said that in Phillipi, which is in the same sector as Blackfoot Township on the atlas, you can’t throw a rock without hitting somebody with a family tradition of being Blackfoot. They won’t necessarily tell you if you showed up in town and started asking quesions, but it’s who they are nonetheless.
And now we can see that this identity was codified into the place name. Good find, Tom, there’s likely quite a haul in this vein.
Another connection here, the Logan family was descended from the chief whose last wife was Tutelo. That was in Shamokin I believe.
Also, there’s been a good deal of discussion about Logan on the Mingo list. Thomas says most of what’s written is rubbish.
Also as apart of this discourse, the Catawba were known (prior to 1777) to the said family members that murdered Chief Logan, and possibly Chief Corn Stalk aswell.
In this collection of events was several battles that I have to locate and will post on later., however it appears asthough there was a long standing grudge against the southern siouan and any of thier relatives, most likely all “Indians” at that time.
I really believe that there is more to this location in terms of historical documentation in various sources.
What really surprised me was the connection between Elkins and Shamokin!
One “point” that begs the question, “where is the written documents between the Va-NC people and Elkins”?
The only answer that I can suggest is…. in the family records of some of our members moving from the heartland to the artery of Elkins-Shamokin!
Lastly how far is it (miles) between Elkins and Shamokin?
Tom,
I am confused by your statement about Catawba. Can you clarify?
My ancestor was involved in the murder of Logan, so I know the story. This is not the side of the family that my Blackfoot comes from, however, this ancestor, Joseph Tomlinson, was connected by marriage to the Swearingens. (The Swearingens connect with my Grees and Butt line who were near Martinsburg, WVA but not in my direct line. Tomlinson, however, IS in my direct line through my grandfather.)
Knowing the story, I do not remember a mention of Catawba.
Techteach
Well, it is not precicely a story in the family. The only family story is my uncle discovering that Joseph Tomlinson was my direct ggg-something grandfather in his Carpenter genealogy studies. The remainder of the story as I know it comes from Eckert’s book. I think it is detailed in the one with the title about the Ohio River. Tomlinson, along with Greathouse, were the main perpetrators of the murder of Logan’s family.
Techteach
Tech, the Catawba people are accused of being at the Battle of Pleasant point, near the Ohio river, the Catawbas themselves have denied thier involvment, perhaps people associated with the Catawbas were there?
However what this means is that the Catawba (or relatives) with the Shawnee and Tutelo people all were at one time near or at Elkins west Virginia.
…. ” Daniel Cresap of MARYLAND was related to Captain Michael Cresap, the contreversial Indian fighter and frontiersman accused of massaring the family of friendly indian Chief Logan, which led to the war. The Cresaps were interested in the settlemants west of the Alleganyy, and would have known of the Catawbas prowess as warriors, because the Carolina Indians had once fought a battle against the MOhawks near Colonel Thomas Cresap’s plantation” …… there’s more regarding this in Browns book.
from ” The Catawba Indians” by Douglas summers Brown
West Virginia
Historical Society
Quarterly
Membership Information
VOLUME X, NO. 4 and VOLUME XI, NO. 1
January 1997
Folk Medicine
by Peggy S. Fisher
Peggy Fisher is a Home Health Care Nurse from Glasgow, West Virginia. She will soon receive her BSN from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
The American experience is deeply rooted in the lore of Native Indians. Though there was not a large Indian population in West Virginia per se, there were those that were “transplanted” here for one reason or another. My mother, who was born and raised a Clay Countian, remembers an old woman who lived way up one of the hollows from her family’s farm.
……..Purdy White was a full blooded Blackfoot Indian …….who “doctored” the people who lived nearby. My mother remembers a time when she was seven years old and was coming down with chickenpox. She had a terrible fever and was chilling though covered with many quilts and sitting in front of the stove. My grandmothers concern was that the chickenpox “had not come out.” The fear was that if the pox didn’t come out on the skin, they would go inside and could cause a child to die. My grandmother sent my grandfather after Old Prudy. My mother was scared to death of Old Prudy particularly since local legend had it she was a witch and could put a spell on you and make you die. My mother said that Prudy came in and took one look at her and walked back outside and into the woods. When she came back she had her apron full of roots and bark and berries that she told my grandmother to brew into a tea. My mom says it was the nastiest tasting stuff she’d ever tasted but, within 15 minutes the chickenpox began coming out” and within 1 hour she was covered head to toe with the little red spots. She ran the regular course for chickenpox and was soon on her feet again. She also recalls the time her father came down with double pneumonia. Prudy was once again summoned by the family but she came into the house, looked at my grandfather and told my grandmother to make him comfortable, there was nothing she could do. He died the next morning. When my mother was older, in high school, she said she had a small wart under her left thumbnail. She sent her sister to Prudy’s house to ask her what to do since my mother was still rather afraid of her. Prudy told her to take a kernel of corn and rub on the wart. She then said to take the kernel of corn and wrap it up pretty like a gift and place it in the fork of a two roads at night during a full moon. My mother did everything Prudy had said and within 2 weeks, the wart was gone. The bad part was that Prudy had also said that whoever found the kernel of corn would get the wart. My mother went to school the day after her wart disappeared and to her dismay saw, sitting next to her, the meanest girl in the whole county with a small wart under her left thumbnail.
I am a Home Health RN that makes visits to patients in their homes. The majority of my patients are elderly and have offered me a wide variety of cures:
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