Dublin, Ohio and Chief Leather Lips of the Ohio Wyandotte Tribe
Executed in 1810 by a Council of Wyandotte Elders, Leather Lips is Still Remembered
The cause of the execution of Chief Leather Lips can be traced back to the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which took place near the Maumee River in what is now the State of Ohio. On August 20, 1794 the Legion of the United States engaged a confederacy of Indian Tribes. The Legion of the United States (The US Army forces) led by General "Mad Antony" Wayne defeated the tribes, including Shawnee, Delaware, Wyandotte, Chippewa, Pottawattamie, Miami and Ottawa . This decisive victory has been called one of the most important in the development of the U. S. as it opened up the 5 state Northwest Territory. Following the defeat, the Treaty of Greeneville was signed in 1795. Chief Leather Lips was a signatory of the treaty. Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was not thrilled with the Treaty, to say the least, and was outraged at Chief Leather Lips agreeing to the treaty terms.
Now let us fast forward to June, 1810. Leather Lips is living in the area of what is now Dublin, Ohio and has developed a good relationship with the frontier settlers in the area. However, some of his fellow Wyandotte tribal members were still angry at his dealings with the settlers. A council trial was called, and Leather Lips was accused of witchcraft, of all things. A six member council accused him of causing a healthy man to get sick, and the same charge against a horse. Frontiersmen were at the "trial", and some attempted to buy Leather Lips freedom. Failing to secure his release, the Chief's friends could only watch in horror as the events played to the bloody conclusion. Leather Lips donned his fanciest attire, and was marched into the forest to a previously excavated grave. The death chants were spoken, and Leather Lips was killed with repeated blows from a tomahawk. His executioners claimed that his guilt was proven by the sweat that poured from him during the execution.
A grave stone was erected at the site of the execution in 1889 by "The Wyandot Club", a small social club that formed after the Civil War. It pursued the saving of historical sites that were disappearing due to the rapid expansion of development in the area. An acre of ground was purchased from the farm family who originally procured the land in 1830. This stone is still in place at the corner of Stratford Avenue and Riverside.
A very striking monument to Chief Leather Lips was erected in 1990. Located at 7377 Riverside Drive in Dublin, Ohio, this remarkable sculpture by artist Ralph Helmick is made entirely of limestone blocks and overlooks the Scioto River. The city park is a beautiful setting, and is used for picnics, parties, and other activities. In addition, the day we were there, several kids were using the steep drive from the sculpture to the park by the river bank as a skate boarding route.
Dublin is filled with history. The story of Chief Leather Lips can be considered an important part of that history. A visit to the area should be on any history buff's itinerary.
Sources:
Personal travel experience
http://www.touring-ohio.com/history/leatherlips.html
http://www.genealogybug.net/Franklin_Cemeteries/leather/leather.htm
Published by Major Jester
Happily married baby boomer with a beautiful wife, 5 children, 3 grandchildren: the best family one could ever hope for. View profile
- An Overview of the Non Profit Sector in the United StatesFind out why the United States has a non profit sector and how its role relates to the roles of government and business.
Opus Dei in the United StatesWhat is the truth of Opus Dei and what is their role in the United States?- Canadians Establishing Credit in the United StatesWant a US bank account? Are you a Canadian looking for a way to establish credit in the United States? This article will show some tips.
The Benefits of Living Near a City ParkPeople who live near a city park can reap lots of benefits from their location. A never-ending amount of shade is one of these benefits. - Why is Soccer Not Popular in the United States?An in-depth look at why the sport of soccer is accepted around the world, but not in the United States of America.
- Dublin, Ohio Irish Festival Promises Great Music, Entertainment
- Saint Patrick's Day Parades in Ohio
- Summer to Fall Festivals in Ohio
- Saint Patrick's Day in Cleveland, Ohio
- Sonnets I
- Female Circumcision in the United States
- An Analysis of the United States Oil Policy and OPEC
3 Comments
Post a CommentVery interesting, thanks for another history lesson.
Major, if ya like this period of history read the Allan W. Eckert series of books I reviewed a couple months back - "The Winning of America" series of 6 books. While they deal with some Eastern tribes, etc, it really fleshes out westward expansion into the Ohio Valley all the way to the Chicago River and goes from about the mid 1750's up through, I believe, the 1832 Black Hawk War. It would be reading the history of your neck of the woods.
This well illustrates the truth of things. In the old days, in the media, the cowboy was always good and the Indian bad. In more modern days, some have painted the Indian as always good and the cowboy bad. The fact is, people are people, with all their imperfections, their self-interests, and their greed. Yet there are always good people as well, though sadly they don't always seem to be in the majority.