Comments on: Jackson Township, Shelby County, Ohio

By: Spokesrider

Spokesrider — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:06:26 +0000

Hi, Tony. That sounds like a good canoe trip. Did you do it in the spring? And what do you mean by “calculated”?

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:42:31 +0000

I took a canoe trip from Sidney to Degraff, Ohio and back on the Great Miami River. At Degraff I went up Stony Creek and calculated the location of Tecumseh’s thousand warrior encampment. The location of which described by Alan Eckert, very interesting. The Shawnee were located at this site when they sided with the British in war against the United states negating all treaties made with the Shawnee who were newcomers to the Ohio land just like everyone else.

By: Spokesrider

Spokesrider — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:22:28 +0000

Hi, John.

I’m glad you found this. I always get a kick out of meeting descendants of the people in these stories.

At the time I first wrote about the McPherson reservation in this photo I did not even know about Henry McPherson. Since then I’ve learned a bit about him and realized I need to learn to keep the McPhersons straight.

I made another ride to the border of that reservation in early late September. I haven’t written about that one yet.

I’d be glad to learn more about James McPherson at the Mad River, and to get more accurate information than what I’ve had so far.

Thanks again for stopping by.

By: John McPherson

John McPherson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:09:17 +0000

Hi John.
I am a third great – grandson of Col. James McPherson.
The McPherson Reservation you mentioned was actually a section of land which was granted to my great great – grandfather Henry Hoffman McPherson in two separate parcels at two different treaties ( 1821 and 1831 ). They were 320 acres each combined to form one 640 acre tract. The same thing was done with James, but his land was East of Henry’s near Lewistown in the southeast corner of the Lewistown Reservation. I have the original land grant for James’ section signed by President James Monroe. In reference to your pieces about James on the Mad River there are several bits of misinformation which I will attempt to help clear up for you later on.

By: The Spokesrider » Stony Creek bridge is falling down

The Spokesrider » Stony Creek bridge is falling down — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:35:46 +0000

[...] Jim McPherson who was with Kenton is the same James McPherson I told about here, which led to a discussion of Shawnee pronunciation. One of my destinations on a ride a few days [...]

By: The Spokesrider » Sheltered by the Great Miami

The Spokesrider » Sheltered by the Great Miami — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:35:19 +0000

[...] Jeff told about a historic marker for a War of 1812 blockhouse at Logansville, north of DeGraff. I figured out that I had once ridden through Logansville, but this time wanted to go there and pay more attention. Unfortunately, that meant a little more riding into the north-northeast wind. I crossed the Great Miami River at Quincy, and decided to ride along the west side of the river, where I hadn’t ever been before. [...]

By: Spokesrider

Spokesrider — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:28:18 +0000

Hal,
Thanks for coming up with that information. I suspected something of the sort when I saw that that initial “m” sound is spelled in English versions without a vowel. It would be nice to hear an actual speaker of the language someday.
John

By: Hal Sherman

Hal Sherman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:19:04 +0000

This note I received from an expert on the Shawnee Language regarding the dropping of the Ma.

Very interesting stuff, Hal.

Actually the “m” was heard as “ma” by whites. It is a single sound, but it is voiceless in initial position. So often the whites did not hear it since in English we do not have voiceless nasal consonants (or any other ones unless you are whispering). So it was always there, just not heard by whites. The same is true of all words with an initial silent “m” and I collected black with the silent m myself (being forewarned that it was silent I listened for it and sure enough, not “missing”, just “missed” — ha, ha!

Thanks for this information and your on the spot reporting. Look forward to more of the same.

Cheers, Noel

By: Jeff Dearth

Jeff Dearth — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:26:19 +0000

Hi Dan.
The pipe axe was pictured in Howe’s vol. on Ohio history. I don’t recall which volume, but it had to do with Pickawillany and Pickawillany Creek which was later renamed Loramie Creek (Peter Loramie’s station or trading post now on the edge of town–Ft. Loramie, Ohio). The tomahawk is circa 1800 and is of English manufacture for trade to the Indians. There is a historic marker on Rt. 47 just east of the Miami R. bridge before going to the stop sign where if you turn right you’d go to Degraff. I forget the name of this little berg. But the marker makes reference to the Vance block house which was 1 mile from the marker. I’ve been interested in finding where exactly it was located. Regarding block houses near Sidney, I’m not aware of any so info you have would be appreciated. I’d be glad to meet you and puruse for some of these sites if you’d like. Could we use a car?!!

By: The Spokesrider » Shawnee Colors

The Spokesrider » Shawnee Colors — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:02:06 +0000

[...] couple of posts ago, Dark Rain called attention to the work of Carl Voegelin and Erminie Wheeler-Voeglin on the Shawnee language. Her post prompted [...]