A FEW FACTS ABOUT INDIAN CHIEFS DECORAH OF LONG AGO

Considerable interest was displayed by several people in this city regarding the Chief Decorah article from the Tomah Monitoro-Herald we printed last week. Several thought it was wrong in starting the Chief died at Tunnel City. They thought he died here. He did live here at one time and so did several of the Decorah family. One of the largest towns of the Winnebago Indians was located where this city now stands when the whites first came here and for many years after their tepees stretched along the river bank. The following articles taken from the Mauston Star of 1869 settles the matter at issue:

(From the Mauston Star of Wednesday, July 1, 1869)

THE LAST DE KAU-RAY

About sixty rods in front of our office, on the north bank of the Lemonweir, lies Waukon De Kauray, or Snake Skin; not "on his last legs", for his legs will no longer bear up the body of the Head Chief of all that is left of the Winnebagos. Time's pruning-knife has cut him down, and not a moon shall come and go ere the scythe will sever the slim thread which lets him cling to earth's surface.

Where or when the tawny but honest old savage was born, there's none may know exactly. The Reports of the Historical Society, which make repeated mention of his name and his deeds, are somewhat conflicting in regard to both. He told us in reply to the question, "How old is Waukon?" by holding up his skin-and-bony fingers and thumbs eight times, and eight of them once again, that he was 88.

Certain government records of date of April 17, 1859, make Waukon Decorah, principal speaker or orator of the Winnebago Nation, 84 years of age -- (which would make him 894 now). [See Vol. V, page 307, Reports State Historical Society.] He is the brother of the On-Eyed De Kau-ray who compelled Black Hawk to surrender, and delivered him to Gen. Street at Prairie du Chien. Many people now suppose our dying old Waukon to be the capturer of Black Hawk. This is not so; for, although Waukon has but one eye, he is Snake Skin; and the One-Eyed who captured Black Hawk died near Tunnel City in 1864. [Historical Reports, Vol. V, page 297].

Among the Reeports, we find notices of five De Kau-rays, distinguished Chiefs, coming of French Descarie. Some of them had a good deal of white blood in them. Old Waukon's father was a half-breed, and was killed at La Crosse soon after his settlement there in 1787. Another De Kau-ray, (the Gray-Haired) died in Portage.

Thus passeth away the last leaf of the tree which has historic renown in the De Kau-ray branch of the Winnebagoes. True, there are sons, and grandsons, and great grandsons of De Kau-ray. One of the latter aged about eight, was running around entirely naked, vexing a big snapping turtle, while we talked with the dying old Orator, through his half-breed or breed-and-a-half son Jim, who acted as interpreter. And the old squaw Kenoweneke fed him hen-soup; and his skeletonic arms hung naked to his naked shoulders more bony; and the Wigwam stank of smoke; and the young squaw dressing a skin nigh the door sang in a Winnebago wail meanwhile; and we departed, as old Waukon said in English, shaking our hand: "one moon more, De Kau-ray nepo". Which meant, that he'll die, or expects to within another moon. and he will, for he coughs like a graveyard; and all who behold him declare he's a grave subject.

He's going to the happy hunting ground where his long since massacred squaw and papooses are chasing spirit game over spirit prairies and up spirit trees. And let not christian men mock or make light of his demise; for he has ever been, with all his once might power, the friend of white men.

(From the Mauston Star of Wednesday, July 22, 1869)

DEATH OF THE INDIAN DE KAU-RAY

This old Indian, whose sickness we mentioned a couple of weeks since, died in his wigwam beside the river here Friday last. Curiosity led our citizens to turn out in force to the funeral, and the old fellow was escorted to the entrance of the happy hunting ground by a larger number of persons than, probably, has attended a Winnebago funeral for years.

(Transcribed and submitted by Diana Heser Morse)

Wisconsin State Journal
1887 November 4

Spoon Decorah Dead

Old Spoon Decorah, "the noblest old Roman" among the Wisconsin Winnebagos, died at Necedah, Oct. 13, aged 85 years.

Spoon was a son of old Gray-headed Decorah, who was the chief of the Wisconsin river Winnebagoes during the first third of the present century; he was also a nephew of One-eyed Decorah, or Big Canoe, to whom belongs the honor of capturing the fugitive Sac chief, Black Hawk, in 1832, soon after the slaughter of the Sac tribe, at the Bad Axe. Spoon himself had numerous adventures and was considered to be an exceedingly well-posted chief relative to the traditional history of the Winnebagoes. he was recently interviewed at his home in Adams county, by Secretary Thwaites, of the State Historical society, and Spoon's narrative will be among the interesting features of the volume of Wisconsin's Historical Collections to be issued the coming winter. Spoon presented a fine appearance, with his bold, strongly-marked features, strong Roman nose and silvery hair. He was reputed to be a man of high-strung notions, for an Indian, and very proud of his chiefly origin.

(Transcribed and submitted by Diana Heser Morse)