|
PORT HURON, MICHIGAN BY MRS. B. C. FARRAND
Indians at Sarnia
Across the river St. Clair, where at evening a thousand lights now glimmer and are reflected upon the clear water, where now the great railway of the Grand Trunk lines and the Erie & Huron meet the line of the Beattie Lake Superior Steamers, the Indian reservation of Sarnia, then five miles square,
was the home of several bands of Indians. While the inhabitants of Desmon
were busy with shingle weaving and fishing, the Indians were fishing an
hunting; the forests abounded in muskrat, mink and coon, some bears,
beavers, until the last half of this century. Furs were sent to England by
way of Montreal. Fifty years ago the Methodists had a mission here and built a mission house, which is still standing, on land owned by the Grand
Trunk and now used as a planing mill. James Evans was the first missionary, who occupied this first house built by the mission fund. This was
1836, and there was at that time but one framed house at the Rapids, that
the French voyageur La Forge; there were a few log huts and bark wigwan
Forty-four years ago last October the Rev. Henry Pah-tah-qua-hong Cha:
(Coming Thunder) was sent hither by the British government, to make
treaty with the Indians, and as he is now living in Sarnia, a minister of the church of England, and hereditary chief of the Ojibway nation, some history
of this distinguished man will be acceptable.
He was born in Canada, and was taught the English alphabet by a New
Credit Indian, located near Toronto, who had been sent here as a teacher
the only school. These New Credit Indians* were the first band of India
in Canada converted to Christianity. The young man became so fond of learning that he resolved to enter upon a course of study.
MICHIGAN
Page 8
|
|
If you find this information helpful please consider making a donation
Thank you
Thank you
|
