56 THE MENOMINI INDIANS [eth.ank.14 



Mackinaw island bears this date, whereas Mr. Grignon 1 

 remarks: 



It was in the summer of 1817, the next year after the arrival of the 

 Americans, that Tomah died at Mackinaw, at the age of about sixty-five 

 years. I fully agree with Mr. Biddle, that it was in 1817 that he died. He 

 was about six feet in height, spare, with a dark-colored eye, and hand- 

 some features, and very prepossessing: he was, in truth, the finest looking 

 chief I have ever known of the Meuomonees or any other tribe. His 

 speeches were not lengthy, but pointed and expressive. He was firm, 

 prudent, peaceable and conciliatory. He was sincerely beloved alike by 

 whites and Indians. 



Biddle says that Tomau' died of excessive drinking- under 

 disappointment and mortification over a change in the policy 

 of the British authorities in their treatment of the Indians. 

 He adds:-' 



I was present at his funeral. ... I never saw so distressed and 

 broken-hearted a people. They said they were no longer a nation — no 

 longer anything. Tomah could alone command and keep them together, 

 but now they would be scattered and .ost. 



Tomau' was of the Pa'kaa'qkiu, or Prairie-chicken doda'mi, 

 and was married, first, to Kiwa'komu'qkifr ("Wandering 

 around"), a Meuomini woman by whom he had two sons — 



(12) I. Josette. 



(13) II. Ma'qkata'bi. 



Separating from this wife he formed, according to Grignon, 

 a second marriage, with two sisters, with both of whom lie 

 lived at the same time and until they died. By one of these 

 he had four children, the son being — 



(14) III. Glode. 



4. Ka'ron (Carron) ; known also by his Menomini name as She'kwa- 



ne'ne, concerning whom neither traditional nor historical infor 

 niation of interest is obtainable. 



5. Aia'mita (Carron). Grignon, speaking of this chief in 1854, ! says 



I-om-e-tah was born about 1772. . . . He was upon the war-patl 

 during the war of 1812-15. He has been a very good hunter in his day. 

 He is among a very few Menomonees who contract debts, and 

 pay them as they promise. He is the oldest chief of his nation, being now 

 about eighty -five; his hunting days are past, his sight is growing dim, 

 anil his manly form and benignant countenance we shall soon see no more. 



Aia'mita was still alive in 1857, and only one of three chil 

 dren remains — 



(15) I. Shfipoi'tok (was married to Ta'sawau, and lias children). 

 G. Konot' (Konof): known also as Glode, a corruption of Claude 



Was married to an Ojibwa woman and moved away. 



i Col. Hist. Soc. of Wisconsin for 1857, vol. iii, p. 283. 

 'Ibid., vol. i. 1855, pp. 56,57. 

 sil.iil., vol. iii. p.2M. 



