Schwarzburg & The Togus (Tonquish) Plain

Detroit Free Press, December 9, 1852

The translation from reality to the written page for the Free Press was often an adventure of misinformation. While they usually got the story almost correct they seemingly misspelled, misnamed and misapplied every rule of fact-checking to get the paper to press as soon as humanly possible. In essence, publishing the story was more important than the story itself.

In the case of the death of Chief Tonquish and his son by the same moniker, Tonquish, there are at least four renditions of the story. This one seems to be semi-faithful to the others in some regards and disparate in others. All seem to include a main participant by the name of Tom Sargent (sometimes Sargeant).

In this instance the sect of Pottawatomie led by Chief Tonquish were returning to their home on the Livonia/Nankin border, where Schwarzburg was situated in the better portion of the last 75 years of the 19th century, after a day of trading their wares and gathering supplies. They stopped at their supposed friend Tom Sargent's home, near Ten Eyck's, when one of the tribe's dogs came too close and was kicked by their host. Tonquish's son took exception and shot Sargent dead.

Word got to Capt. John Macomb and he formed a dozen men into a search party. The militia tracked the tribe and captured Tonquish. He admitted that his son had shot Sargent and asked Macomb to be allowed to retrieve the younger man. Macomb agreed and Tonquish returned with the suspect. At that point, which defies reason, he told his son to run, covering the path which the men could fire upon him until he was rods away. At that distance he thought his son was far enough away to escape injury and ceased interference. He was mistaken and the young man was shot dead.

Upon seeing him fall and hearing his death yelp, the old chief raised his battle axe at Macomb, charged and was rebuffed. When he refused to halt his attack he was shot dead but not before chopping the stocks off several rifles.

General Cass sent an interpreter to the scene and communicated to the tribe that if they attempted retribution they would be exterminated. When one member continued to harass the troops he was killed as well.

Not long after the incident Macomb received a visit from some tribe members at his log cabin near Ten Eyck's. It wasn't a friendly encounter with the Indians demanding recompense for their fallen Chief. Macomb agreed and then grabbed his sword attempting to impale the Indian who was more fleet of foot than the aging soldier and escaped into the forest along the Rouge River ford.

A few years later the brother of Tonquish, possibly mentioned by name in one of several other forthcoming account, named Wa-o-gan (this is merely speculative) was shot to death by his son-in-law while traveling near the sand hill as the old man could no longer keep pace with the tribe. He made one last request before dying. That being to be sat up against a tree so that he could always see his tribesmen when they passed. His wishes were granted and the author claims to have seen the skeleton of Tonquish's brother sitting in that very spot throughout the passing years.

The other versions shall follow hereafter.