Early life and family John Logan's Father was the Haudenosaunee Chief, Shikellamy of the Oneida Tribe. His mother was Neanoma a Cayuga, and step-mother was Tutelo. Shikellamy and Neanoma were married in New York State. A historical marker in
Danby, New York, designates the "possible birthplace of Chief Logan (Tah-Gah-Jute)," and then quotes Logan's famous speech. John Logan was also known as Tachnechtoris, "The Spreading Oak" or John Shikellamy. He had 3 known brothers and one sister. John was the oldest of the siblings. His next brother was known as Tah-gah-jute, Sayughtowa, "The Beetling Brow", or James Logan. James later in life was referred to as "Logan, the Mingo." His brother, Arahhot or "Unhappy Jake" was killed in the war with the
Catawbas in 1744. John Petty or Sogogeghyata, was the youngest of his brothers and bore the name of a
Shamokin Indian Trader. John Logan's sister was known as the widow of Cajadies who was known as "the best hunter among all of the Indians" who died in November 1747. Children, by tradition, took the clan or tribe of the mother. The Shikellamy children were of the Cayuga Tribe. Statement of Jesse Logan, aged 106 years old and Great Grandson of Chief Shikellamy Cornplanter Reservation, Penn October 9, 1915:
Yellow Creek massacre Logan's friendly relations with white settlers changed after the
Yellow Creek massacre of April 30, 1774. A group of Virginia
Long knives led by
Daniel Greathouse murdered a number of
Mingo, among them Logan's brother (commonly known as John Petty) and at least two other close female relatives, one of them pregnant and caring for an infant daughter. Her children's father was
John Gibson, a prominent trader in the region. These Mingo had been living near the mouth of Yellow Creek, and had been lured to the cabin of Joshua Baker, a settler and rum trader who lived across the
Ohio River from their village. The Mingo in Baker's cabin were all murdered, except for the infant
mixed-race child, who was spared with the intention of giving her to her father. At least two canoes were dispatched from the Yellow Creek village to aid their members, but they were repelled by Greathouse's men concealed along the river. In all, approximately a dozen Mingo were murdered in the cabin and on the river. Logan was not present in the area when the massacre took place, and was summoned to return by runners.
Logan's revenge Influential tribal chiefs in the region, such as
Cornstalk (
Shawnee),
White Eyes (
Lenape), and
Guyasuta (
Seneca/Mingo), attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution lest the incident develop into a larger war, but by Native American custom Logan had the right to retaliate for the murders. Several parties of mixed Mingo and Shawnee warriors soon struck the frontier, including one led by Logan. They
attacked settlers in several frontier regions, both killing and taking captives. One known as the
Spicer Massacre in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The Royal Governor of Virginia,
Lord Dunmore, responded by launching an expedition against the Mingo and Shawnee, in the conflict known as
Dunmore's War.
Logan's Lament . The text of "Logan's Lament" is inscribed on the other side of the monument. Logan was not at the
Battle of Point Pleasant (October 10, 1774), the only major battle of Dunmore's War. Following the battle, Dunmore's army marched into the Ohio Country and compelled the Ohio Indians to agree to a peace treaty. According to tradition, Logan refused to attend the negotiations and instead made a speech that became legendary: First published in
The Virginia Gazette in 1775, the speech was more widely popularized when
Thomas Jefferson reprinted it in his book
Notes on the State of Virginia (1782). In 1822 the speech inspired the
John Neal novel
Logan, which also featured Logan as a main character. The
American elm tree in
Pickaway County, Ohio under which Logan was said to have given the speech became known as the
Logan Elm. It grew to great size before dying in 1964.
Logan's Letter Later life and death The remainder of Logan's life is shrouded in obscurity. Logan continued his attacks on white settlers and associated himself with
British-allied
Mohawks during the
American Revolution. He died in an altercation near
Lake Erie in 1780. He was reportedly assassinated by his own nephew, urged on by other Mingo who were concerned at Logan's erratic behavior. Years later, the nephew stated that he had agreed to kill Logan "Because he was too great a man to live."
Logan ==Legacy==