Leatherlips

The 12-foot sculpture on a grassy hill with trees in the background is a portrait of Leatherlips, made from stacks of flat, rectangular-shaped limestone rocks. The stacked stones form the shape of Leatherlip's face, then extend in a straight line behind the head until the hill on which it is built. This part is an enclosure in which people can stand and take in the same view as Leatherlips: the river and an amphitheater.
Leatherlips sculpture created by Ralph Helmick and installed at Scioto Park in Dublin, Ohio
A single historical marker in a grassy area that sits in a flat raised area accessible by five roughly carved limestone stairs. The area is enclosed with low walls of stacked flat slabs of limestone. Pine and other trees surround the area outside the stone enclosure. The grave is marked with about four large, carved rectangular blocks of stone stacked with the largest gray stone at the bottom, and polished shiny pink stones on top. One stone has in raised carved letters "LEATHERLIPS", and above that is a stone with this carved inscription: "LEATHERLIPS, a chief of the Wyandot Tribe of Indians was executed on this spot June 1, 1810. Erected by the Wyandot Club of Columbus Ohio 1889."
The Dublin, Ohio, cemetery where Leatherlips is buried.

Leatherlips (c. 1732–1810) was a Wyandot Native American leader of the late 18th and early 19th century.

Leatherlips had three Wyandot names. The one most often used was SHA‑TE‑YAH‑RON‑YA but he was sometimes referred to as THA‑TEY‑YAN‑A‑YOH. In later years he was called SOU‑CHA‑ET‑ESS, which means "Long Gray Hair". He was of the Porcupine Clan as was his great friend, Chief Tarhe, and he was related to Roundhead, Splitlog and Battise, noted Wyandot warriors of that period.[1]

Wyandots were decimated by disease and a disastrous war with the Five Nations of the Iroquois. Forced out of their homeland near Georgian Bay, they moved to the Ohio country. Leatherlips, an important leader, signed the Treaty of Greenville and encouraged cooperation with white settlers near the end of his life. That policy of accommodating Europeans led to conflict with a movement led by two Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (The Prophet). Tenskwatawa reacted strongly against Leatherlips and condemned him to death for signing away native lands, and for witchcraft.[2]

In 1810, Leatherlips' brother Roundhead, a fellow Wyandot chief, ordered his execution.[3][4] Leatherlips was condemned to death by other natives for his desire to cooperate with white settlers.[2][4][5] Not only was Leatherlips opposed to Tecumseh's Confederacy against the United States, but he had also sold native land to William Henry Harrison.[6] However, it is widely believed that Leatherlips was executed for exaggerated charges of witchcraft to draw attention away from the true political motives.[3] While it is unknown if Roundhead took direct part in the execution of Leatherlips, he did head the council that called for his death.[5]

Dispatched by Roundhead, six Wyandots traveled to what is now Dublin, Ohio just north of Columbus and announced the death sentence. Although white settlers led by John Sells pleaded for the old chief and attempted to bribe the death squad, the trial and sentencing were swift. After clothing himself in his finest attire, Leatherlips, joined by his executioners, sang the death chant and prayed. Then he was killed by tomahawk.[7]

A monument to Leatherlips and a memorial art sculpture are tourist stops in Dublin today.[8]

The bribe was said to be tearing up the treaty in exchange for the chiefs life. (Source Needed)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Buser, C. A. "Leatherlips". Wyandotte Nation. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Carpenter, William Henry; Arthur, Timothy Shay (1854). The History of Ohio: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Lippincott, Grambo & Co. p. 209.
  3. ^ a b Wyandotte Nation (2010). "Wyandotte Nation: Leatherlips". Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Four Directions Press (2005). "Wyandot (Wyandotte, Wendat)". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b Ohio City Productions, Inc. (2010). "Chief LeatherLips". Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  6. ^ Weber, Scott (Feb 1993). "From Leatherlips to Microchips" (PDF). Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  7. ^ Drake, Benjamin (1858). Life of Tecumseh, and his Brother the Prophet. Anderson, Gates & Wright. p. 119.
  8. ^ "Chief Leatherlips Monument". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
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