PUBL| C LIBRARY ftobltr ithran} This Volume is for REFERENCE USE ONLY t// ISAAC McCOY ISAAC McCOY CHRISTIANA McCOY BY WAI/TER K WYETH, D. D., PHU/ADBI/PHIA, PA. "I/o, the poor Indian!" , PA. W. K WYETH, 3920 Fairmount Aventie. To EMILY WATERMAN-WYETH, M.D., D.D.S. HER OWN WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES. " Very Sincerely, HER HUSBAND. Electrotyped, printed and bound by Entered according; to Act of Congress, C. J. KREHBIEL & Co., In the year 1895, by W N. WYBTH, 248 Walnut Street, in the Office of the Libiarian of Cincinnati, 0. Congress, at Washingfton. /"TAHIS, the sixth of the "Missionary Memorials," syn- JL chronizes with the numbers of the series preceding it, while it relates to circumstances and experiences occurring on the American side of the globe. The one national society of the period which is covered by this narrative, the Baptist Triennial Convention, contemplated the work of missions on both hemispheres. The aborig- ines of America were embraced in its survey and bene- factions almost as early as were foreign nations. Yet, the subject of this memorial, REV. ISAAC McCoy, expe- rienced a longing to labor for their salvation a call of the Spirit ere an organized effort by his denomina- tion had been made in their behalf. He was the pioneer, the Judson of the West, who enjoys the honor of arous- ing the people of God, and of the land generally, to their duty to a neglected and misused race. This volume has been prepared from authentic mate- rials. The assigned limits prevented a full use of the descriptive matter, while documents of historic value are left to those who have time and taste for them. The author is glad to have been the one to bring from ob- scurity the annals of a most important time and move- ment. MR. McCoy's valorous doing for the Red Man must rank among the most heroic endeavors in our modern church activities, and the story of it will engage the attention and touch the heart of both old and young. W. N. W. 3920 Fairinount Ave,, PHILADELPHIA, PA., May i, 1895. PAGE. I. THE WILD WEST OPENING OF THE CENTURY 7 II. FIRST THINGS ENTERING THE INDIAN COUNTRY 16 III, FORT WAYNE REMOVAL ; EXCURSIONS ; ROUGH FARE 29 IV. TESTING TIMES THE WORK ; THE WILDERNESS ; FIRST VISIT TO WASHINGTON ; VISITING THE PUTAWATOMIES 44 V. AFTER FIVE YEARS .CHANGING BASE ; ENCOUN- TERING WINTER ; SERAMPORE IN THE WEST 61 VI. CAREY AND THOMAS SEEKING SUPPLIES ; PER- ILS AND LOSSES ; CLOSE STRAITS 74 VII. GETTING ON To AND FRO ; HELPFUL RECOGNI TION ; TO WASHINGTON, HORSEBACK ; FAVOR IN THE EAST 86 VIII. VANQUISHING GOVERNOR AND COMMISSIONER I/OOKING ON; RELIGIOUS GAINS; BAPTISMS IN THE ST. JOSEPH'S 100 IX. PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS EDUCATING INDIAN YOUTH; SEVEN AT HAMILTON, N,Y. ; EAST- ERN TOUR in X. BRIGHTER S K'I E s DISTINGUISHED VISITORS ; MOVING IN WINTER ; INCREASED INTEREST ; NIGHT ENCOUNTER . . .121 CONTENTS. XI. GREAT PHILANTHROPYCOLONIZATION IN THE EAST; EXPLORING WEST OF THE MISSIS- SIPPI 134 XIL REINFORCED TOURING ROUNDING AT ST. Louis ; A FULL RETINUE ; AMONG THE TRIBES ; WITH CONGRESS 149 XIIL VICISSITUDES SOME ADIEUS; GOING WEST; BROKEN HOPES; OTHER JAUNTS; SAND- STORMS 161 XIV, WESTERN FEATURES PRIMITIVE TRAVELING; HIGH WATERS; MEETING TRIBES AND MIS- SIONS 172 XV. WIDENING INFLUENCE WITH THE ADMINISTRA- TION; IN THE CONVENTION; AMONG THE CREEKS ; THE MUSCOGEE CHURCH . . . . 184 XVI. OTHER ACTIVITIESNEW MISSIONS AND MIS- SIONARIES; COLD CAMPING; EAST AGAIN; WOLF RIVER; BOOKS 195 XVIL HOPES DEFERRED SERVING TABLES; LONG TERM IN WASHINGTON ; LOW-TONED NOTES ; WITH CONGRESS AGAIN; MARRIAGES ... 205 XVIII. MANIFOLD SERVICE AVERTING DISASTERS; USING THE PEN; THE COUNCIL HOUSE; HARD TRIPS ; ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE INDIANS 216 XIX. LAST YEARS ORGANIZING FOR GREATER THINGS ; EULOGY AND EPITAPH 227 No heathen people upon earth ever presented so few obstacles to the introduction of Christianity, useful customs, and righteous laws, as the Aborigines in their native condi- tion. The absence of a constituted mythology left their minds partly as a blank on which to write the precepts of the Gos- pel; their poverty prepared them for the admission of better customs in common life ; and the equality which prevailed among all, prepared them for the adoption of laws securing the rights of all. ISAAC McCOY, A.D. 1835, after twenty years among them. ISAAC McCOY. I. t OPENING OF THE CENTURY. and " Indiana" are names that have -* something in common. The first belongs to a people and the second to a state to dwellers and their dwelling place. The Indians long inhabited the coun- try before it was formed into a state; how long, no one can tell. They were encountered by the earliest white immigrants wherever the latter undertook to make settlements. Europeans sought the good lands, the living streams, and the best-timbered forests, and found the North American (the name that represents the Indian's nativity) already occupying them. The choices of the two were alike, and based upon the de- sirableness of the country as a habitation for human beings ; a fact showing similarity of nature and des- tiny. Indiana was a home of Indians, as its name imports. In the beginning it was an unnamed portion of this great continent, and was very near to the country's heart. Afterward it was mapped into a large section, becoming, in 1787, a part of the immense domain known as the Northwest Territory; and after not 7 8 ISAAC M'COY. man}- years (In 1800 A. D.) the state of Ohio having been formed of the eastern side, it assumed such prom- inence in the remainder as to give to the whole a new and its own name I?idiana Territory. Ere long this territory was divided into four states, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, which stand forth to-day in marvelous and rapidly increasing greatness. Indiana was destined to become specially historic in the settlement of its lands and by conflicts of the set- tlers with the Indians for possession. Questions of peace and security were always before the contestants, with oft-deferred hope of final decision. The accoutre- ments of rude warfare were a part of the outfit of life of house and field, of the journey and the assembly for worship. Next to food was ammunition; both were precious and hard to procure. The rifle was kept in order, was always loaded, and easily snatched from its hooks on the wall at the instant of an alarm. The Wabash River was one of the Indian's delights, andj though bearing afar a repulsive name because of the diseases that seemed to lurk along its course, it was sought, for the fertility of its lands, by the early seekers of homes in the West. Rising in northwest- ern Ohio it takes a westerly course through Indiana, turning to southwest and finally to south along the western side, and for one half the length of the state formitig the dividing line between it and Illinois. Its length is five hundred and fifty miles, and the lands it drains are among the richest of the continent. Its "bottoms" rarely fail to yield mighty harvests of corn (sometimes called "Indian corn")* while game A MEMORIAL. 9 has receded from its borders. Industries came and located on its banks, giving rise to numerous thrifty towns and cities. Of such centers twelve are now county seats, two of them ranking as second and third cities in the state. The oldest inhabitants of the commonwealth and their posterity are found along this noted water course in thrift and opulence. Early in the present century (the nineteenth) there appeared in the Wabash Valley a remarkable man, des- tined to be famous among the aborigines, and to be recognized by the Government of the United States, while acting as a factor in the Baptist denomination, of which he was a conspicuous member. It was ISAAC McCoy. He was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1784. His father, being in the period of drift toward newer settlements westward, removed his fam- ily to Kentucky, whither many came from Virginia and the East. The lad was then but six or seven years of age. He very soon developed a fondness for books, and an aversion to evil and all the means conducing to it. The first serious impressions con- cerning sin and salvation were produced by remon- strances and tender counsel from his mother. His mental and moral elevation above the youth of his acquaintance gave him distinction among them, and he had no ties among sinners that made it difficult for him to become a Christian. Yet Satan was deter- mined not to let him go, as shown in the several weeks of suffering and striving to be released from his bondage, and to come into the liberty of the Gospel, which he experienced. His conversion oc- curred in his seventeenth year in 1800. j ISAAC M'COY. The experiences attending his call to the ministry were among the peculiar circumstances that have characterized the " call " in all periods, but not in every case. With this irresistible voice there came an unmistakable finger-point to a certain field; no human being suggesting it, and everybody indiffer- ent except his parents, who looked upon his choice of a place with distrust. In his autobiography he says: "I not only felt an impression to preach, but J felt strong impressions to publish salvation to the inhabitants of Vincennes. I could not account for these impressions, as I was an entire stranger to the place, and knew but little of it by information, and the accomplishment of such a thing seemed imprac- ticable." A strange phenomenon, not unlike that in the con- version of Saul of Tarsus, occurred to him on a dark, misty day, as he was at w r ork in the woods. A bright light shone about him, as if emanating from an object in the west. Supposing it to be due to a sudden appear- ance of the sun, he turned quickly to take the time of day, but it had vanished. His duty to Vincennes, which lay westward, being constantly in mind, he interpreted the sign as signifying the will of God. He went aside again to pray, and thereafter had no doubt whatever as to his duty. So carefully did he cherish his impres- sions that, when making an engagement of marriage, "in settling the match he told her that he must move directly to Vincennes.' * In 1803 he was married to Christiana Polke, whose mother and three of her children had once been taken captive by the Indians, carried to the region of the A MEMORIAL. II northern lakes, and there held in captivity for several years. They had been left in a fort in Nelson County, Ky., by the husband and father while he was off on an expedition against Indians; and only through his vigilant and persistent exertions were they finally found and rescued from their bondage. To run ahead of the story, Mrs. McCoy became a missionary, with her husband, to the identical tribe, the Ottawas, that had produced such suffering in her father's family. Six months after his marriage (in 1 804) Mr. McCoy removed to Vincennes, the capital of, and the oldest town of importance in, the Northwest Territory, located on the left bank of the Wabash River. It was a French trading-post as early as 1710, and a colony was established there later, which lived peacefully with the Indians. Finding there a sickly climate, and no opening for preaching, he removed east, and settled in Clarke County, Ind., where was located the Silver Creek Baptist Church, the oldest of its denomination in the state. To this church his father, Rev. William McCoy, ministered for some years while yet living in Kentucky, and to its locality ultimately removed, con- tinuing to be its minister. By it Isaac was licensed to preach, in, perhaps, the twenty-fourth year of his age, and immediately he entered with zeal upon his chosen calling. His license restricted him to the bounds of the church for two years ; after that period the church gave him a written license to preach wherever he pleased. But Mr. McCoy did not forget his first choice of a home. The peculiar leading he had followed, and the evidences given that the place of his previous sojourn 12 ISAAC 31'COY. was to be the theater of his ministry, the same incli- nation that drew him before to " the Wabash country " was revived when he committed himself to the work of preaching the Gospel, and no fears of sickness quieted the Irresistible longing he felt to return. After only three years' residence in Clarke County he re- moved again to the Wabash, a twelve days' journey (one hundred and twenty miles), and settled at Major William Brace's, eight miles northeast from Vincennes. There, for almost one year, he followed wheel-making. This trade, which he had learned from his father, was quite profitable in the early periods of the country the manufacture of spinning-wheels in particular and the skill with tools thus acquired was of great advan- tage to him in many hard places in life. Soon after settling he united with a Baptist Church named Wabash, not on the records of the Missionary Baptists. Then he purchased fifty-four acres of land on Maria Creek, and settled upon it. Soon afterward Maria Creek Baptist Church was formed, and with it he became identified as constituent member and pastor. It has existed from 1809, and is known far and near a prominent country church. In this, his first and only pastorate, he continued for about eight years, uniting with its duties frequent and long missionary tours " from Kentucky on the east to Missouri on the west, and to the extreme limit of immigration on the north." During the same period he experienced a temporary infatuation for authorship, especially in the line of poetry, for which he had some talent, but not suffi- cient education and experience. As in other and A MEMORIAL. 13 similar cases, tie found abundant encouragement from others to proceed with an outlay of his time and money, while the trial of his wings was succeeded by disappointment, loss of feathers, failure. As pastor of Maria Creek Church he revealed and developed those traits of character that are funda- mental to a pioneer and missionary. Indians were numerous in the land, and as the white settlers were becoming numerous in a greater ratio, there naturally developed in the suspicious minds of the red men a jealousy and fear of their white neighbors that noth- ing could effectually suppress. War came on the war of 1812 and the Indians were very uncertain as allies, and dreadfully dangerous as foes. There was no protection from their savagery except in armed defense, and to this there was universal resort. Public worship was held amidst arms and sentry, and the block-house was often the temporary abode of fami- lies, Mr. McCoy's having been one of them. In common with others of his time, Mr. McCoy not only learned the modes of defense, but also cul- tivated courage and adaptation to circumstances, thus qualifying himself for the career before him. Mr. Joseph Chambers, a member of the church, and an intimate friend during his pastorate, writes of him: " Mr. McCoy had all the elements of a soldier, and there were circumstances in his history that were well fitted to develop them. He was reared in Ken- tucky, in most troublous times, when the utmost vig- ilance and energy were often required far personal defense and preservation. During the early part of the war of 1812 we all lived together at a fort in this place, when I had abundant opportunities of seeing I4 . ISAAC M'COY. that lie was not afraid of the face of man With his rifle he used to lead us on in pursuit of the Indians, and took it with him also to the house of God, never knowing but that the service would be interrupted by a hostile attack. For two or three years it was customary for those who attended public worship to carry their arms with them." While engaged in a ministry to his own race he had a yearning to do something for the "religious welfare of those against whom he stood constantly armed. He came to believe that the spirit of war was at variance with the spirit of religion. The problem of their evangelization must have been ever before him, for his mind ripened into a purpose and a plan that resulted in a long personal service to them, and signalized the opening of an era of Bap- tist missions in this country. As a part of his preparation for the great work of his life he learned to "endure hardness" while a minister at Maria Creek, "The church was very small and poor, and he was obliged to labor a large part of the time with his own hands for the support of his family, . . Besides acting as our sentinel, he mended our farming implements for us, which he^ was very well able to do, as he had early learned the trade of a wheelwright." Chambers. Losses, illnesses, and embarrassments of many kinds had seriously affected his mind, and he joined himself to an expedition against skulking and menacing sav- ages "in order to divert a mind overcharged with grief." This measurably relieved him, but brought no lasting satisfaction. Thereafter I became "very desir- ous," he says, " to see the cause of God and religion pros- A MEMORIAL. 15 per, and, being circumscribed in ray religious duties, I became restless and uneasy. My mind became stu- dious on tlie subject to try to find some method by which my sphere might be enlarged. At length I conceived the plan of forming a Society for Missions. This idea with me was original. Notwithstanding the system had existed for many years in the New England States, such was the obscurity of my situation that I had never heard of it. My attention had been attracted by foreign mission societies, but from these I could not hope ever to derive any support, more than the gratification they afforded of seeing the blessed Gospel of Jesus spreading itself through the whole earth. Having lived several years in this frontier country, and having a knowledge of the destitute con- dition of many places, and the grea* need of preaching generally, I concluded that it woulu , not be foreign to the general mission cause for these western regions to turn their attention, in part, to the destitute immedi- ately under their notice. I had no sooner conceived the plan than I felt pretty much transported with the idea." He then communicated with his wife and others on the subject, and being under appointment to prepare a Circular I/etter for the Wabash Association he made home missions the topic. The plan he had devised was presented to Silver Creek Association, Indiana, and to Long Run Association, Kentucky, and gained an unexpected degree of acceptance. The latter body was unanimously in its favor, a circumstance which af- fected him so deeply that he could not refrain from tears of joy. Wabash Association also adopted it, and chose him to be its missionary. 16 ISAAC M'COY. II. &i*t0# ENTERING THE INDIAN COUNTRY. the time came when the great work of his -L life was to be commenced. He was fully pre- pared for It, so far as the means of preparation were at hand. The way was obscure. No organized effort had been made for the Indians in the West no soci- ety formed, no individual hearts turned toward the Red Men in any known plans for saving their souls, except that the American Board of Commissioners had just begun efforts for the Cherokees east of the Mississippi. He was the pioneer among Baptists, and began with- out the lamp of experience, yet with as determined a mind and as brave a spirit, united to the fullest conse- cration of himself and all he possessed to the object, as ever characterized a Christian man. His good wife was in full accord, and thenceforth they had no in- terest apart from the interests of the neglected Indians. The sympathy he obtained from Maria Creek Church was mostly personal rather than missionary. Mr. Chambers, always recognized as first in counsel and in support, says : "Well do I remember going, by re- quest, to his house, to join him in prayer just before his removal to the Indian country. A few years be- fore, we had both been defending ourselves and our families, with our "rifles, against the invasion of the A MEMORIAL. 17 Indians, and now lie was going to plant himself down among them, with his wife and seven small children, in the hope of becoming the instrument of their sal* vation. I will not dissemble that, in the weakness of my faith, I feared that he had fallen upon a Utopian scheme." Peace had been concluded with the Indians. No, not "concluded,'' except in form; nor has there been a permanent cessation of hostilities to the present day. And yet safe conditions were so far assured as to justif}^ new calculations, based upon a reasonable hope of freedom from trouble. Mr. McCoy had been inclined to engage in missions to the white settlers along the Mississippi River, whom he had already visited, and whose destitution of Christian privileges awakened his sympathy. But a further consideration turned his face eastward and northward, and he fol- lowed the leading desire of his heart in going to the Indians. The Board of the Baptist Triennial Conven- tion (now Missionary Union) -gave him an appoint- ment for one year, with limitation of territory to a number of counties in Indiana and Illinois. He found himself hampered by his limitations of time and space ; yet, while wavering as to the utility of an effort under the conditions, he was finally en- couraged to proceed by the mere suggestion of an unconverted man so rare was a word in favor of the mission that "something should be undertaken for the Indians." Then he resolved that, the Lord will- ing, he would make an effort to establish a mission, and employ the remainder of his life and labors in the promotion of their temporal and eternal welfare. 2 IS ISAAC M'COY. The first year was quite unsatisfactory to himself. Indian affairs moved tardily, and he followed the will of the Board in giving some time to the white people. Still, to prove his sincerity, and to hasten matters, he purchased a small tract of land a little without the white settlement and as near to the Indians as he could get, and upon it erected two log cabins, to be used for the accommodation of the family and a school. But his commission soon expired; the year ended, and he was not settled, and was without a promised support. "With firm resolution he took Ms family and worldly goods and set out for the mission premises. " Our separation from our church," he says, "was affec- tionatesuch as might be expected after a happy connection of eight years. On the evening preceding our departure a meeting for prayer was held at our house, which was attended by many. We had previ- ously consulted the church of which we were members, and had obtained its approbation of our course." The family started October 27, 1818, and arrived at the mission station three days thereafter, a distance of ninety miles. The mission was planted in the locality of Montezuma, Indiana, on Raccoon Creek, within the Wabash valley, and yet in the wilderness. It was difficult to obtain assistance, and the most rigid econ- omy was indispensable. A gentleman, Mr. C. Martin, though an avowed disbeliever of the Scriptures, was hired to teach, confidence in Ms honor being enter- tained, and found to be well placed. School work started slowly. The tribes with which Mr. McCoy came into imme- A MEMORIAL. I g diate contact were the Wea, Miami, and Kickapoo, with a mixture of others. He could not use their dialects, and required interpreters; in some cases two, one from English to French, and the other from French to the native Indian. The interpreters, likewise, were Roman Catholics, which added to the embarrassment. He did not find sympathy in them. Those who at first appeared to be friendly afterward became unfriendly, and refused to interpret anything relating to the sub- ject of religion; the Indians becoming "cool and dis- tant" also, and, no doubt, through their influence. His first attempt to secure attention to the mission and favor for it was met by the experience thus indi- cated, at a meeting of tribes for several days, called by the United States agent. At the same time he witnessed more fully than ever before the miseries brought upon them by the ardent spirits furnished by the whites, and returned to his tome " sad enough." He seemed likely to interpret his disappointment and dejection in a way to divert him from the work under- taken, but soon recovered, and increased his efforts. Some of his experiences, oft-repeated in subsequent years and with increased severity, now begin. He makes a long tour among the Delawares, eastward about two hundred miles, to extend his acquaintance, to obtain pupils for his school, and to ascertain where and how he might most success fulty labor for their temporal and spiritual benefit. He takes the teacher, Mr. Martin, with him, leaving his wife and little child- ren in unfinished cabins, and far from any one at all interested in them, and while as yet no assurance of support had been given by the Board. The two start 20 ISAAC M'COY. on a small path through the forest, which they lose and with difficulty recover. At night made a shelter of bark, which they happened to find at an old deserted Indian camp. Hobbled their horses by tying their fore legs together, which, however, did not prevent them from attempting to return. Next night, slept on the ground without shelter; horses found grazing so poor that -they were determined to make a retreat, re- quiring two unpleasant jaunts in the darkness and brush to recover them. Third night, slept in a de- serted Indian camp, after hiring an Indian in the day- time to put them on their path. Fourth night was spent with a Christian family, providentially found. Fifth, rode ail day along White River, through rain and snow, and at night, when the storm was still more severe, took shelter in a deserted wigwam and there prepared their suppers. Horse became uneasy and dissatisfied with wind and snow and "nothing to eat except brush," and it became necessary to tie Ms hind legs together, instead of the fore legs, as usual. Sixth, emerged from the Indian country along a narrow path, through a brushy wilderness, with the bushes laden with snow, having little for themselves and less for their horses to eat ; had two days' journey over exceedingly bad roads of mud and ice. Having traveled about two hundred miles and ob- tained some satisfactory interviews respecting Indian interests, they returned to the mission with much the same experience on the way as they had in going out, "journeying mercies," perhaps, as they were cared for by the Father of Mercies while they slept on frozen ground and crossed dangerous streams, and A MEMORIAL. 21 were often at a loss as to the right way. Mr. McCoy was seized with fever, attended with some delirium, and not without difficulty could he sit upon his horse. On arriving at home he found his wife al- most blind with sore eyes, and very lonely, and he was obliged to take his room (cabin) which he could not leave for about one month. On the return trip Mr. McCoy and Mr. Martin called upon and were entertained by the principal chief of the Delawares, who gave expression to his grief at the manner in which the United States had treated his people, yet manifested sincere friendship for his visitors and their cause. They were inter- ested in observing one of the customs of the tribe. out of respect for the celebrated Baptist missionaries of these names who first penetrated Hindoostan." The first was on the site of the present town of Niles, Mich., and the second on that of the city of Grand Rapids, Mich. The opening of this new station was attended with the sufferings that pioneer work usually brings ; there being no abatement of the hardship elsewhere en- dured, except as time inures to it. That the expe- riences of the winter may appear in their reality, it may be best to quote Mr. McCoy's words, in part. He says a few days after the arrival, or about De- cember 25, 1822 : We sent three wagons back to the settlements for supplies, which, including going and returning, had a journey of four hundred miles to make through the wil- derness, and over a bad road, at that inclement season, before we could obtain a fresh supply of breadstuff. We had taken the precaution to deposit corn and hay at Fort Wayne, for recruiting our teams as they passed and 69 repassed that place. By the 29th of December I was again able to preach, Indians visited us almost daily, and on the ist of January we deemed it expedient to in- vite Topenebe and Chebass, principal chiefs, and some others, to partake of a frugal meal with us. ... They retired from our house much gratified with the attentions which they had received, and said privately to our Inter- preter, u we could not think there were any more such good people among the whites." The winter continued cold. The earth was covered with snow from the time we reached the station until the 2oth of March ; generally from ten to fifteen inches deep. Our houses, being unfinished, were cold and un- comfortable. We had only four fires, one of which was our kitchen fire, for the benefit of about fifty persons. The Indian female pupils, besides alternately attending to common domestic labors, resumed their spinning, knit- ting, sewing, etc. Out of doors our business went on slowly, on account of the weather. Our religious services appeared to be attended with cold hearts as well as cold feet. On the 1 3th of January we received intelligence that, in consequence of oxen having gone astray, our wagons would not return with supplies as soon as we had hoped. This was unwelcome tidings, inasmuch as our stock of flour had already become so low that we had put our- selves on short allowance of bread by substituting hominy (boiled maize). Even com had become so scarce that it was with difficulty we could obtain any of the Indians. January i4th we started another ox wagon to Fort Wayne (one hundred miles) for supplies. Traveling in the wil- derness had become very difficult on account of the cold and snow. Soon after our arrival at the station we commenced the erection of a schoolhouse ; and on the 2/th of Janu- yo ISAAC li'CCY. ary, 1823, we opened our school with thirty Indian schol- ars, all of whom were fed, clothed and lodged at our ex- pense. Our schoolhouse was without floor, shutter to the door, or chimney We built a large fire within, around which we sat, greatly annoyed with smoke and cold. Mr. Lykins had not returned, and I was compelled to go into the school myself. The management of all our mission- ary matters devolved 'upon Mrs. McCoy and myself. A few extracts from the " mission journals " reveal the situation still farther: Feb. i. Having eaten up our corn, and having only flour enough for one meal, we sent five of our stoutest In- dian boys five miles to an Indian trader and borrowed a barrel of flour and a bushel of corn. Our teams were ab- sent, and the boys carried it home on their backs The flour was damaged; nevertheless, it was very acceptable to us. Feb. 7. Ate our last meal of bread for breakfast, which was so scarce that we had to divide it carefully that every- one might take a little. We had saved a few pounds of flour for the small children, whose necessities were in- creased by the want of the valuable article of milk. Sent out an Indian to endeavor to buy corn, who returned with about six quarts, which was all that he could get. We sent an Indian and a white man to Fort Wayne to see what was detaining our wagons, and, should they not meet the team on this side that place, they were directed to hire horses and fetch flour to us. Feb. 8. Breakfasted upon the corn we had procured the preceding day. Blessed be God, we have not yet suf- fered for want of food, because corn is an excellent substi- tute for bread. But having now eaten our last corn we can not avoid feeling some uneasiness about our next meal. A MEMORIAL, 71 Mr. McCoy, obtaining a horse and taking a footm?n ? went in quest of corn. The trackless snow was more than a foot deep. Though feeling much misgiving as to his success, he tried to cheer his dependent ones with hope, as he left them. He found that though the Indians had not half enough for themselves, the little they possessed was buried In the earth at their villages, while they were away at their hunting camps. His informant, a French trader, discouraged him. "But," said he, in broken English, "I got some corn, some flour ; I give you half. Suppose you die, I die too." He records the remembrance of God, at this critical time, in these words: I had, however, scarcely traveled out of sight of our house when an old Pntawatotnie widow, onr nearest neigh- bor, who herself had not a particle of anything to eat ex- cept her small stock of corn and beans, sent the family sweet corn enough for a plentiful meal for our whole fam- ily. Thus we had scarcely eaten our last meal when God sent us another. Our kind widow had a few days before given informa- tion of our scarcity to some of the neighboring Indians, and on this same day four other women and a boy brought us, on their backs, about three bushels of potatoes. , . . On the loth of February two Indians brought us about two bushels of corn ; and two traders, by the name of Ros- seau, hearing of our scarcity, brought us half of a pittance of flour they had, a distance of fifteen miles. ... On the 1 3th our wagons arrived, two valuable oxen having per- ished on the journey. Besides breadstuff, our wagons brought us five boxes of clothing, in all worth more than three hundred and forty dollars, sent us from the vicinity of Boston and Salem, Mass. 72 ISAAC H'COY. Mr. McCoy's health, at this time, suffered greatly, until he was reduced to a skeleton and barely able to walk about the house. Exposure and fatigue in labor on the schoolhouse, making for it a floor, chimney, etc., were the more immediate cause. Being shut in and unable to preach, he gave himself to heart-search- ing, in view of the difficulties of the way, particularly the lack of sufficient missionary force, the greatest trial of all. But he rose above his infirmity of mind, as he reflected upon the prosperity of the school under the management of Mr. I/ykins and the interposing hand of Providence in behalf of the needy family so often and so fully. Rev. Corbly Martin, mentioned hereto- fore, had been very successful as agent for the mission; a flock of one hundred and thirteen sheep collected by him chiefly in Kentucky, having reached Fort Wayne, and more than one hundred dollars' worth of clothing and two hundred dollars in cash been col- lected also. At Xenia, Ohio, an effort to aid the mis- sion was made doubly successful by the slanders of mischief-makers against this cause. Thus did the I/ord lead and turn the counsel of the wicked into foolishness. Another episode is thus told: "Two young men from Ohio arrived, with a view of laboring for us, who, in order to cross St. Joseph's river, cut loose a large cake of ice and, putting their knapsacks thereon, undertook to push themselves across with poles. The current was strong and carried them down the stream rapidly, so that for a while they seemed destined to make the remainder of their jour- ney by water, if it should be made at all. They at A MEMORIAL. 73 length came so near the bank with their iceboat as to be able to throw their baggage on shore, after which they swam out themselves. By this means they wetted their apparatus for making fire, so that they were compelled to sleep in wet clothes, without fire." 74 ISAAC M'COY, VI. ant* &m& SEEKING SUP- PLIES; PERILS AND LOSSES; CLOSE STRAITS. opened, but not as in cultivated sections. In the forest " Nature sows, herself, "and reaps her crops." Obstructions to cultivation must be borne by the pioneer until a " clearing' 3 can be made, when day and night will alternate for highest effectiveness. In the early history of our country the streams were full the greater part of the year, and the cleared por- tions so deeply covered with vegetation, new or de- cayed, as to make the ground unfit for wheeling. Roads were wanting and trails w^re few. " Riding " proved to be walking for much of the way. About the middle of March, the worst time in the worst season, it became necessary for Mr. McCoy to make another journey to Ohio. His health had been so poor that for a long time he could not preach, and he was barely able to ride horseback when, on the ipth, he started eastward, with one Indian pupil and two white men in company. One of the latter was Mr. Dusenbury, who had found himself unquali- fied in some respects for the heroic endurance of missionary life and had concluded to quit the work. A MMORIAI,. 75 The -snows were melting and the streams high, while the low grounds were covered with water. The Paupaugoh creek was crossed by the men on a fallen tree, the horses swimming. Elkhart river, impas- sable; and they "felt their way around near the sources. 3 ' They were obstructed by a large creek which would have occasioned not a little difficulty had they not found an Indian canoe tied near a de- serted encampment. u We found the low grounds of Eel river covered from hill to hill," writes Mr. McCoy. "We forded until we reached the main channel, across which we found a fallen tree extending, but the water was running over it eight or ten inches deep. I alighted on the stump of the tree, undressed my feet, and waded on the log. The water was exceedingly cold. Similar difficulties, on account of high water, frequently occurred on the whole journey to Ohio and back to Fort Wayne." *On the 1 6th of April the company, returning, left Fort Wayne for Carey. " The waters were so high," says Mr, M , " and the road so bad, that one wagoner, whom I had employed to transport property to our station, refused to proceed with Ms team, and I was under the necessity of storing up the load. With three wagons, one of which was our own, we set off, having in company Mr. and Miss Wright, who were hired to assist in the school, six hired men, and one Indian boy. We drove twelve head of cattle and one hundred and ten sheep. St. Mary's river was deep at this time, and we had no other craft than a large canoe with which to cross our wagons, baggage, and per- sons. Some of our oxen were unwilling to swim, and were dragged across by the horns. We had not pro- ceeded more than three miles when we discovered that the earth was so soft that we could not get forward with y6 ISAAC 3!*COY. our loads without more force of team. We encamped, and sent two men back to Fort Wayne, and procured two addi- tional oxen and one horse. A sentinel guarded the sheep all night, to prevent mischief by the wolves We had not proceeded two miles on the second day when we were again compelled, by bad roads, to lighten our load. We sent a man back to Fort Wayne to get this property secured. "On the iSth one yoke of oxen failed, so that their owner turned them loose. Some deep creeks were ex- ceedingly troublesome, and the sheep had to be dragged through the water. ... It rained on us incessantly. At Elkhart river we halted, and made a periogue (large canoe) out of a single tree, intending to transport some of our loading down that river and the St. Joseph's to our place. The road along which we had thus far come was at this time considered, even by the Government express from the military post at Chicago, to be impassable ; but the want at our station of such property as we carried with us had impelled us to make extraordinary efforts to get thus far. " On the 24th we had our canoe in the river, in which we ferried our wagon, sheep, etc.; horses and cattle swam. After crossing the stock, I took a few hands to collect them, and to select a camping place a short distance below, leaving three men to load the canoe with property that was to be freighted down the river, and to bring it to our encampment. We had but just settled ourselves at our camp when we discovered the periogue coming down, and went to the river bank to assist in landing it. Before it reached us it became entangled in a tree, from which it was not disengaged without taking water. The current was swift as a mill-race, and the periogue was no sooner disengaged from the first tree than it ran foul of another, and capsized. The loading was all turned into the river, 77 and every one plunged in to save what he could. By great exertions we saved eight and a half barrels of flour, two barrels of cornmeal, a little seed corn, a box of dried fruit, and a few articles of clothing. Some things were rescued from the water nearly two miles down the river. Our peas, potatoes, one barrel of flour, one of salt, and other -property to some considerable amount, were lost, and some of that which we saved was much damaged.- Our potatoes and some of our corn were for seed for the ensuing season; the articles designed for food we were confident we should greatly need at the station. Weary and wet, we surrounded our little fire in the woods, talked over our misfortunes, and felt that it was to us all a sorrow- ful evening. " This strife with the elements went on canoe re- loaded and started ; wagons, cattle, and sheep again on the road. Rain ; no meat except a little venison ob- tained from Indians, and without salt. Sheep go astra} r , requiring a day and more to recover them and convey them across the St. Joseph's. Rain, rain. Sheep fail, and are laid in wagons; push on to Ber- trand's trading-house, and warm ; leave wagon and cat- tle, mount horses and reach the mission. After six weeks of this, it was unalloyed bliss to see "a light in the window/' and to feel the warm hand of between fifty and sixty at home. And there was gladness in " arriving in time barely to save the family from suffering for want of bread. Two days they had been on short allowance, and had not ventured to make bread of their flour, but merely used a little in thicken- ing soup." The loss of supplies by the capsizing of the canoe made a new demand that must be met at once. And 78 ISAAC M'COY. the effort to meet it was followed by a similar experi- ence, and witHn four rods of the first accident; corn, seed corn, flour, peas, and seed potatoes being lost in the river, and in larger proportions than formerly. A man had been employed to bring on two wagon loads, and the badness of the roads and high water caused him, in disregard of the previous misfortune, to make a canoe and try freighting by water. This loss was doubly unfortunate, because the mission was thereby in danger of being without some of its future and most- needed crops. It was the last of May, and exertions were put forth by sending runners in various direc- tions to obtain seed, but with only partial success. Provisions were equally scanty. When bread was used it was necessary to count the pieces and make the number correspond to that of the family. The zeal of Mr. McCoy suffering no abatement by reason of difficulties, he " makes a journey to Grand River, for the purpose of putting matters into opera- tion at that contemplated station among the Ottawas"; taking about the customary force, including a French- man, named Paget, for a pilot. The story runs as be- fore: Unhappy in leaving family short of the necessa- ries of life ; flour so scarce that he could not take a sup- ply for his journey ; swimming horses across the stream, beside a canoe ; losing the way ; finding a little corn and sending it back to the family ; obtaining a little venison from an Indian; Indian villages in a drunken carousal ; superstitious woman wishes him to cure her son of convulsive fits, believing that as a " priest" he could control the moon, which was the alleged cause. He met some Indians at the village of Kewikish- L. 79 ku:n, on Grand river, while reconnoltering for a building" site, but was defeated of Ms object by the drinking going on, the absence of the chief and the prejudices that had arisen through dissatisfaction with the Chicago treaty. He had opportunity to observe a funeral rite prevalent among the Ottawas, viz.: The presentation of food to the dead b} T a parent or near relative, which is distributed among the attendants who each Insert a portion through an aperture in the poles or boards that cover the dead. This is repeated once a year; is attended, In some cases, with addresses to the dead ; and in the spring of the year the grass and weeds are carefully removed from about the graves and kept away during the summer. Religious ceremonies were not found to be of the exact character of the original, having undergone some changes through contact with white people. As with some other matters, this was an occasion of tearful re- gret to the aged members of the tribe. Food is carried to the grave and offered to the deceased by relatives ; the occasion consisting of a social feast, at which the dead receives a portion first through an aperture In the poles or boards covering the grave. Also at the head of a grave a post is erected, on one side of which Is drawn a picture of the animal from which a name prevalent in the family is taken, as Panther, or Pan- ther's Foot. On another side a drawing indicating some bloody, heroic deed of the deceased. A stick is at hand, with which the visitor raps on the post, to an- nounce his arrival. Mr. McCoy's journal proceeds: "Having spent the night at the trading-house, on the 2d of June we swam So ISAAC H'COY. our horses across Grand river and proceeded towards home. Our scanty allowance of provision brought from home had been some time exhausted. On Grand river we had obtained corn, but scarcely any meat, except a meal of a ground hog. We had hired an In- dian to beat a little corn in a mortar and make us a cake. This was poor bread for our journey ; and what was still worse we had not half enough of it. About eight or nine o'clock Paget's horse failed, and we left Mm in the woods. On the following night my horse, having no company, endeavored to escape. I had taken the precaution to hobble him with my own hands, as I thought, securely, but he broke his hob- bles, and it was ten o'clock the next day before the men recovered him and brought him back to camp. They had well-nigh lost themselves, so as to be unable to find camp. The time of their absence I employed In boiling sweet corn, a little of which we had pur- chased of the Ottawas ; but I had no vessel to boil it In larger than a pint tin cup, and, as it softened a lit- tle, I emptied it on a piece of bark and filled the cup afresh. By this means I was able to prepare enough for our breakfast." "The morning of June 4, 1823, was made memor- able/' he says, "by reflections on the discouragements attending all missionary efforts for the Indians, in countries from which they soon must be driven by approaching white population." And as Paget trudged on as before, with his pack on his back, this resolute servant of the Most High determined that, " Provi- dence permitting, he would thenceforward keep stead- ily in view and endeavor to promote a plan for colon- A IMEilORIAI,. 8 1 izing the natives In a country to be made forever theirs, west of the State of Missouri." Arriving at Carey, Mr. McCoy made record that he never felt himself more blest than on fi finding har- mon}', patience , cheerfulness, and hope abounding In the large family, under peculiarly trying and threat- ening circumstances." Some corn had been obtained for food (but by no means enough), and some seed potatoes. Miss Wright, from Ohio, had taken charge of the girls' school. All were pushing bravely on, though with a small allowance of poor food, and considerable sickness. This primitive life in the wilderness was not play, nor picnic ; nor was It romance of a pleasing charac- ter to those who passed through It. It was endura- ble because these Christian pioneers felt called to endure it, and blest In so doing. It was pleasant, but only as walking in the path providentially pointed out gives satisfaction to the soul. To the reader, however, looking into the mission with the eye of the imagination, there Is genuine romance in what is here described, in the language of the intrepid leader, Mr. McCoy : At that time (July i, 1823) we had sixty acres of land Inclosed with good fence. The boys of our school spent about half their time In manual labor on the farm, and half at their studies in school. The girls labored more than half their time. This was not a matter of choice, but of necessity, growing out of the circumstance of the number of males exceeding that of females, "by which do- mestic labors became the more onerous to those who sustained them. All could use the needle in sewing, 82 ISAAC M'COY. twelve of them could knit, six could spin, two could weave, and twelve of them could embroider with the needle, and in the performance of domestic labor, in com- mon, they were not surpassed by any white girls of their ages, At the opening of day, during the shorter nights of summer, and earlier during the longer nights, the sound- ing of a trumpet was the signal for all to rise. At sunris- ing in the longer days, and earlier during the shorter, the ringing of a bell summoned the family to morning pray- ers, after which the children were directed to their morn- ing labors. At half past six the trumpet called to break- fast, and the ringing of a small bell directed the family to become seated at the tables. We all sat down together at the same table, and the native children received the same attention, there and elsewhere, that white children would have received, had we kept a boarding-school for them. As our dining-room would not contain all at the same time, the larger scholars ate first, and one of the teachers attended to the table until all had left. At eight o'clock in summer, and half an hour later in winter, the scholars were called together, and they were dismissed at twelve. Half past twelve dinner was called. At two the scholars were again called in, and were dis- missed at five in the longer days, and at half past six supper was called. Between sunsetting and dark in sum- mer, and never later than eight o'clock in winter, the whole family were again called together to evening prayers. Besides singing, reading, and prayer, a portion of Scripture was usually expounded. All were required to retire to rest at an early hour, and, if circumstances made it necessary for any to remain up later than the hour for retiring, they were required to be silent after nine o'clock. It was made a point to attend promptly to time. On Saturdays the schools were suspended, and the A 3IEMORIAL. 83 boys were allowed part of the daj T for recreation. Twice in the week in summer they were permitted to bathe In the river, and in winter to amuse themselves on the ice, accompanied by the teacher, or some one else, to prevent accidents. On Sabbaths only two meals were eaten. At half past ten the trumpet announced the approach of the hour for public worship, which commenced at the ringing of a bell half an hour later, and at half past four in the afternoon we again assembled for public worship. At this time Mr. I/ykins, Mrs. McCoy, and myself were the only missionaries at the station. While aiming to relieve and elevate the natives of the forest, the missionaries had the unpleasant duty of resisting encroachment and imposition from them. Being notoriously improvident, they acquired a ser- vile habit of begging; and this was stimulated by supposing that there were supplies at the station, as there necessarily should have been whenever it was possible to obtain them. The correction of this habit was secured by a firm yet kind treatment, and must have been permanently beneficial. In contrast with the worthless class found among the white inhabitants of the country, not less than among the red and the black, examples may be fur- nished showing that the "good Indian" is not the "dead one. 5 ' At the time under review, Mr. McCoy and several of the family were suffering illness, " occa- sioned by the lack of wholesome food, and particu- larly by the want of bread." The sick could not be afforded one half as much bread as they needed, and the little gi\*en them was made of damaged flour. Expected supply wagons did not come, and another 84 ISAAC ii'cov. was dispatched to Fort Wayne for provisions. The journal also states, June 13th: "We sent out two men to purchase corn, if any could be found, not having enough to last through the day. Obtained a small quantity from an Indian, and a little damaged flour from a trader. The Indian had not the corn to spare without risking his own comfort, and refused to sell it, but said: 'It is too hard to be hungry ; I will give my father that sackful. I believe I will lose nothing by it. I think he will give me an equal quantity when he shall get corn."* And, though this act was not the highest form of benevolence, it was a clear case of trust, and surpassed the instances of faith that the civilized white man has shown, ordinarily, toward his brother of the forest. One hundred and twenty-one head of cattle arrived, collected for the mission by Rev. C. Martin, chiefly in Kentucky. The drove at first consisted of over two hundred, but some failed, and were lost on the way, and fifty-five were left at Fort Wayne to recruit. This was a very valuable acquisition. Mr. Martin was the first teacher at the Wabash station, and converted there. The mission attracted attention from chiefs and others, and was visited by some of them almost daily. On such occasions the host must furnish the tobacco, and a supply must be kept on hand to enable him to sustain the absurd habit of smoking, in council and in private visits. A woman, carrying a babe in her arms, traveled forty miles on foot for the purpose of placing a daughter of eleven in the school, who also made the journey on foot with her. A MEMORIAL. 85 In this time of prosperity notification came from the agent of the Board that its funds were exhausted, but that a "particularly urgent demand" might be met by special appropriation. This did not alarm, how- ever, as dependence on the Board fluctuated in the minds of these beneficiaries. They were most glad to remember Him who feeds the fowls of the air and whose supplies fail not. The Government was a hand by which His mercies came, slowly but surely. The Board saw the matter in the same light, and encour- aged them to rely upon it. S6 ISAAC 3i'coY. VII. tifcttittg nTO AND FRO; HELPFUL RECOGNITION; TO WASHINGTON, HORSEBACK; FAVOR IN THE EAST. opening of a mission among the Ottawas, con- * templated in the removal from Fort Wayne, was not forgotten. And as the general work was likely to come into financial straits, it seemed good to urge that forward in order to place it in the way to receive Government allowance. The duties at Carey were onerous, and more workers needed, yet the circum- stances made it necessary that Mr. I/ykins enter upon the new work at Thomas, the seat of the Ottawa mission, Mr. McCoy, being required to take the first steps, started with an Indian and a white man, September 30, 1823, to go as far among the Ottawas as Kekemna- zoo (Kalamazoo) river, where prejudices were known to exist that might prevent the immediate commence- ment of operations. With the wisdom of the true pioneer he proposed to commence with a smlthery on the border of the tribe, hoping that the advantages of it to the Indians would become apparent to them, and thus subdue their jealousy, as well as facilitate acquaintance with them. After a few weeks the pro- A MEMORIAL. 87 ject was catrled out. As the hands were on their way to the place an Indian forbade them to proceed, and declared his intention to destroy the house. Follow- ing them twenty or thirty miles, he called a council in the vicinity of the works for the purpose of destroy- ing them, but It ended in quieting him. The Ottawas became greatly pleased with what was being done for their benefit. On returning to Carey the circumstances of the mission were found to be such as to occasion much anxiet}'. October had come. The buildings needed to be improved before winter to prevent the recurrence of the sufferings of the previous year, and preparations were necessary for wintering the live stock. Two months had passed since the information came that the funds of the Board were exhausted, and the labor- ers were toiling on, not knowing that they should receive any pecuniary compensation from that source, BefSre the state of the treasury became known to them a draft for five hundred and fifty-two dollars had been sold in Dayton, and it was protested and returned, adding greatly to their embarrassment. Yet such was the confidence in the mission entertained by the payee, EL G. Phillips, Esq., that, though it was indebted to him already in the sum of nearly one thousand dollars, he advanced more, and proposed to increase the amount if thought prudent by the borrower, and all without interest. His partner sympathized, writing as follows: " I feel for your present situation, but I hope it will not discourage you, and we even hope that it will all work for the benefit of the mission. We deem -it prudent to keep the news of the drafts being pro- 88 ISAAC M'COY. tested among ourselves, because, if It were known to the public, it might be to the injury of }^our establish- ment." Neither of these gentlemen was, at the time, a professor of religion, There were losses through the mismanagement of those undertaking to confer gifts upon the mission, which the missionaries scarcely dared to mention. Articles were sent that were not available for their nominal value; droves of stock suffered a large nu- merical shrinkage on the road. In one case one third of a fine lot of hogs were lost in driving. Likewise, efforts to bring supplies by way of the lake proved unsuccessful. In one case the contractor violated his agreement; sold his flour nearer home. In another the schooner was unable to make a successful landing at the mouth of the St. Joseph's, the receiving port, and, except seven barrels of Hour and one of salt, and two or three other small articles, the whole of four or five hundred dollars' worth of property for the mission was carried back to Detroit. Such disappointments necessitated recurrence to the method of transporta- tion by wagons from Ohio, two hundred miles; and there was no time for debate or tears. The teams must go at once. In the latter part of October Governor Cass sent a commissioner, Charles Noble, to visit the institution, and examine and report upon its condition, agreeably to arrangements growing out of the treaty of Chicago. After receiving his report, the Governor wrote to the missionary: " Your report and that of Mr. Noble are entirely satisfactory. The affairs of your agency ap- pear to be in the best condition, and, if the experi- A MEMORIAL. 89 meat is ever to be successful, I am satisfied you will make it so." A Bible class lad been established recently, and twenty-one Bibles distributed among its members, pupils in tie school, who were greatl}' pleased witl the exercises. A little later a lady, Miss Fanny Goodridge, of Lexington. Ky., entered the mission, and soon afterward Mr. William Polke and family, from Indiana. These added much to the working force, and gave encouragement to the remnant of the little church organized before leaving Fort Wayne, and on account of which the Lord's Supper was celebrated for the first time since settling at Carey. It seems that the candlestick had been removed while the candles remained and were still lighted. The stress of circumstances from the outset of this great undertaking had interfered with spiritual work, and with the needful preparation for it, Mr. McCoy, in his history, says: "When I first went into the wilderness as a missionary I set about the study of the Indian language; but circumstances had denied me the opportunity of acquiring such a knowledge as would enable me to address the natives on the subject of religion without an interpreter. On the late acqui- sition of missionaries I had hoped that I would be so far relieved from the general cares of the institution as to be able to spend the winter chiefly in the huts of the Putawatomies, in the study of their language and in imparting to them religious instruction." This hope also proved illusive. Winter had set in* and the little community must be fed and clothed, " Excepting our embarrassments in pecuniary mat- 90 ISAAC 3I'COY. ters," he adds, " our affairs had never been more encouraging. Forty-nine Indian youths were mem- bers of our family, and receiving instruction in letters and labor, and attending to religious exercises." But there was the large indebtedness, constantly augment- ing. Something must be done, and at once. It was decided that Mr. McCoy make another journey to Washington for help from Government; and in favor of this plan was the hope that he might be instrumental in promoting the colonization of the Indians in the West a subject of which he and others never lost sight. On the 29th of December he set out upon this journey on horseback, expecting to be absent five months. A Frenchman named Mettez accompanied him, to aid him in getting out of the wilderness. The first day and night there were rain and melting snow to encounter, making it necessary for him to gather brush to raise his bed from the water. The second day it rained continually, and at night, though stretch- ing a blanket for shelter, he found his bed too short and too narrow to save him from the cold and the water that fell from above and that which arose be- neath. Mettez loaned him a wolfskin to lie upon. Third day was like the second, with the added misfor- tune that the stock of provisions was exhausted. The two men traveled hard to reach Fort Wayne, but soon after dark lost their path, and spent another rainy night in the brush. Fourth day : - The waters were so high that they sometimes were compelled to leave the road and go around them. Finally swam their horses across St. Mary's river, and were at Fort Wayne. 91 And still the journey was but just begun. The Frenchman was sent to Detroit on business, and Mr. McCoj" pushed forward, through rains and streams, as before, finally reaching Washington, where he re- mained twenty-four days. During his stay the Board, which at this time held its meetings there, had several sessions, during which the interests of the mission were considered. Pecuniary relief It could not grant. *' It was evident that, while it indulged kind feelings toward the missionaries, the pressure of the affairs of Columbian College engrossed most of its thoughts and deliberations, and that they must provide their own support." It gave him credentials, however, to enable him to collect something from the benevolent public. The plan for colonizing the Indians was submitted to the Board in writing, and became a prominent sub- ject of consideration. Dr. Staughton and Luther Rice were appointed to accompany him to the President of the United States, James Monroe, to lay the subject before him. They called twice. Each time he was absent, and so they failed to obtain a hearing. Accom- panied by Rev. O. B. Brown, another prominent Bap- tist, they called upon John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War. To forestall an unfavorable reply, which would have discouraged the Board, Mr. McCoy offered many reasons for adopting his plan before giving the Secre- tary opportunity to answer. " Somewhat contrary to my expectation, but greatly to my f satisfaction," he writes, " his answer was such as I desired." Mr. Calhoun not only approved the plan, but also argued its practicability, saying that nothing was wanting to assure its success except a right feeling 92 ISAAC M'COY. in Congress. Mr. McCoy desired tlie Board to memo- rialize Congress at once, but it thought it better to prepare tlie way by presenting the subject to the people through the press. "We obtained from Government at this time," says Mr. McCoy, "five hundred and sixty-six dollars on account of buildings at Carey, which was to reimburse for a portion of the cost that had accrued to the mis- sion in their erection. It was paid to us out of the annual appropriation of Congress for Indian reform. The Secretary of War also agreed to increase the annual allowance from the same fund, for the benefit of our school, from two hundred dollars to six hun- dred dollars." This relief proved the tact and influ- ence at court of this missionary from the Wild West. His cause was so thoroughly wrought into his being that neither its "lights" nor its "shades" could fail of proper presentation. The weak and timorous Board of Missions found in him an advocate that could not be defeated, and a hero that harbored no fear. The education of his own children, the missionary's only prospective legacy to them, had become a matter of great interest and importance, and, on being men- tioned to it, the Board, "with honorable generosity," directed him to send his two elder sons to Columbian College. Luther Rice, the founder of the college who, "to a liberal education and extensive personal observation of men and things in different countries, united uncommon powers of intellect, . . . found leisure to show himself the substantial friend of the Indians, and a sympathizing brother to missionaries. He warmly advocated the scheme for the colonization 93 of the Indians, and kindly favored the design of taking the missionary's sons into the college." Leaving Washington on February 24, 1824, Mr. McCoy passed through Baltimore, Wilmington, Phila- delphia, Holmesburg, New Brunswick, and Newark to New York, obtaining help for the mission. At New York he met an " Alexander the coppersmith," who undertook to do him much harm ; but the persistence with which this man pursued the mission in his oppo- sition caused general inquiry into its affairs, and con- tributed greatly to promote liberality towards it. This, his first visit to the city, resulted in some lifelong friendships for him and the mission, that were of incal- culable benefit. William Colgate gave him hospitality and welcome. Spencer H. Cone and wife "warmly espoused the cause of Indian missions, and this favor- able support never abated." He went on to Providence. Taking passage on a steamboat, he was allowed, at the Sunday morning worship, to make a brief appeal to the company, which was followed by a contribution of twenty dollars for the enterprise. On arriving at Providence, and other points farther on, he found that his adversary, the New York minister, was already present, in the form of letters designed to hedge up his way. The repulse he experienced was a great trial. What more pathetic than a view of this lone soldier of the Cross in a strange country ! the champion of a wild, and abused, and dangerous race, rough and travel-worn, seeking favor aniid the highest civilization of the land, and with an emissary of Satan to buffet him ! I