NEW YORK ONEDIA INDIAN IN B.H.W.

[Cliff Krainik]

Daniel Morgan Parkinson (1790-1868) captain of the Fifth Volunteer Militia (Michigan Territory) during the Black Hawk War penned a memoir "Pioneer Life in Wisconsin" published in the Second Annual Report and Collections of the State Historical Society, of Wisconsin for the Year 1855 - on page 384 Parkinson wrote - "While living here (Pecatonica), I had no neighbors nearer than twelve miles, except a family of Onedia Indians from the State of New York, the head of which afterwards served in Gen. Dodge's squadron during the Black Hawk war."

Does anyone have any information about this Onedia Indian?

Cliff Krainik
Warrenton, Virginia

[Larry Koschkee]

Recently, I had some time to research your question and I failed to link Parkinson and Dodge to a Oneida Indian in the Black Hawk War, and especially an Oneida serving in "Gen. Dodge's squadron."

A few things puzzle me about Parkinson's statement.

1) Parkinson would have been neighbors with the Oneida family between 1827 and 1829. 1827 is when he moved out "to the Pecatonica" and 1829 when he moved to Mineral Point. The Oneida were late comers to Wisconsin. They began land negotiations with the Menominee and Winnebago in 1821 and it was 1824 before the Oneida came to settle along Duck Creek near Green Bay. About 100 Oneida and 100 Mohicans came together that year. The following year approx. 150 families came to Duck Creek. It was a slow migration because many wished to stay in New York. They got along with the Menominee but not the Winnebago because the Winnebago felt threatened by the Oneida's hunger for land.

It is my opinion, that the first arrivals would have stayed close to each other and close to the Menominee. The Oneida spoke a Iroquoian language, a language that was a barrier between them and the Winnebago. Winnebago spoke Siouan and many were assimilated with Algonquian speaking Fox and Sac.

When Parkinson was living at "Pecatonica" 1827 - 1829 the dominate tribe was the Winnebago and I am not so sure the Winnebago would have tolerated an Oneida living in their midst.

2) I question of what benefit would an Oneida have in Dodge's squadron? The individual would most likely not know the country well enough to serve as a scout. He most likely was not fluent in Siouan or Algonquian, therefore could not serve as an interpreter. It was clear Dodge had access to Winnebago scouts who probably knew the region very well and he had access to interpreters who could communicate with the Sac and Winnebago.

3) The last comment is...Dodge demonstrated he did not think very highly of the Indians in his neighborhood or the ones he was fighting. To have an outsider...an Oneida in his squadron is a leap of faith, unless the individual possessed some extraordinary talent of which I could not speculate.

Good question, Cliff