RIP - Tensquatawa

RIP - Tensquatawa
On November 23, 2012 (black Friday) descendents of Tensquatawa visited his final resting place.

The relatives were: Corey and Max Overhiser 
Daniel, Luke, and Jameson Schmeltz (+ dad Chris)
Sydney House (+ dad Jeff)

If you have been following my blogs at "My Brother's Fruit" you may recall Shawnee Prophet (April 1, 2011) and White Invaders (May 2, 2011).  Those blogs reported how we are related to the Prophet.  This past Thanksgiving the Corey/Abby O family from MN and the Chris/Janine Schmeltz family from IL were visiting the Jeff/Jody House family in Overland Park, KS.  Below is Corey's account of a road trip in search of our roots.
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Corey Overhiser - "Just wanted to share some pictures of a small trip some of us took while we were in Overland Park, KS for Thanksgiving visiting Jody, Jeff, Ashley and Sydney House.  When most of the crew was out Black Friday shopping, the rest of us were sitting around discussing the family and school. The subject of our Indian ancestry came up. I was explaining how much fun Carly had putting together her Family Tree as a school project. And, that Lauren did a big project on Techumseh last year. Jeff House thought he had heard that Tensquatawa (Techumseh’s brother and said to be our Great, Great............Grandfather) was buried in  the Kansas City area. We did a Google search and discovered, in fact, that Tensquatawa’s final resting place was less than a twenty minute drive from the House household.

Daniel, Luke, Jameson, Max, Sydney, Chris, Jeff and I hopped in the minivan and began our pilgrimage to find the grave site located in Shawnee Mission KS on private property.  As we approached the modest neighborhood made up of predominantly Mexican heritage, we could make out a small memorial on the road side of a dead-end street. We pulled up at the monument outside of a white picket fence that encompassed about a 1/2 acre back yard of wonderfully maintained turn of the century home. The monument was well maintained and was reportedly erected in 1978.

Not long after we had gathered around Tensquatawa’s Memorial, we were approached by the property owner. Ernesto was very curious why we were interested in Tesquatawa. I explained that we may be direct descendents' of the Prophet.  Ernesto told us that many people have claimed to be relatives of the Shawnee Prophet. He was very nice and could see we were not up to mischief.  Ernesto told us that he has great respect for the Shawnee Prophet and bought the house to make sure that Tesquatawa’s final resting place would not be disrupted. He told us stories of people trying to dig on his land in order to uncover bones or artifacts and thus he is often chasing people away.

As the sun was getting low in the sky, Ernesto asked if we would like to come behind the fence and take a look around.

About thirty feet right behind the monument, straight north was a small depression in the landscape next to an old stump. This, Ernesto reported, was the sight of the shelter in which the Prophet lived out his last few years. The temperature while we were outside the fence was a chilly 35 degrees.  When we went inside the fence and approached the depression in the yard the temperature was noticeably  warmer; I would say 10 degrees warmer.  Ernesto told us that the landscape and the nearby White Feather Spring created this unusual characteristic.  We then walked northwest about 20 yards towards a small ravine that dropped approximately 50 feet. Again it was noticeably warmer. After reading a little more, I figure at that point we were very near if not directly on top of where the Prophet was said to be buried in his ceremonial blankets.  Ernesto also revealed he had heard that at the time of the Prophets death, his legs were broken.  I could not verify this information.  We walked back to the monument, said good bye to Ernesto and were on our way.

We all enjoyed our tiny Pilgrimage and made our shopping counterparts very jealous."

Best Regards, Corey Overhiser
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I (Martin) think we should, in the future, use the Tensquatawa spelling on the plaque now that Corey's Explorers have shared there research.
From Wikipedia:  Tenskwatawa, (also called Tenskatawa, Tenskwatawah, Tensquatawa or Lalawethika) (1775 – November 1836) was a Native American religious and political leader of the Shawnee tribe, known as The Prophet or the Shawnee Prophet.

Many questions remain.  What about Tensquatawa's daughter Marsha Bates (our ancestor)?  Did she remain in MI after the relocation?   

^{At The Farm January 1, 2013}
The fruit did not grow in 2012 but the kids sure did sprout up.  All five are in high school.  Aaron, a sophomore, is 6'4" and plays on the varsity for the second year (football, basketball and baseball).  The quads are all freshmen and play all the sports.  Also, in the fall they were all in the marching band and Kim was very active with the Band Boosters.

Kim and Allan celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2012.  Allan continues as Casco Township Supervisor and has helped lead an effort to obtain a large parcel of Lake Michigan frontage for a Township Park.  Lots of extra trimming was completed because there was no fruit to harvest.  May 2013 bring a bountiful harvest for Overhiser Orchards and your family.

The Country School (2012) by cousin Clare Adkin was just published.  It tells the history of the Iddles one room school (1859 - 1962) that many of us Casco kids attended.  You can order the paper back book by contacting Clare: 2203 Alabama Ave., Durham, NC 27705    919-286-2055     clareadkin@nc.rr.com     Cost of the book is $15 + $5 shipping.  If you have not yet read Quiet Guilt (2010) by Clare, preview at  http://clareadkin.com/

Place Bound - Pros and Cons

Place Bound - Pros and Cons

What are the pros and cons of living your whole life in one place?  North American Indian Tribes moved about seeking food sources.  Many tribes did, however, roam seasonally within a small area. When the Europeans settled the Midwest they purchased land or homesteaded a farm.  Through the 1800s and into the early 1900s those settlers, and most of their kids and grand-kids lived on or near the original farm.  Of course that changed with the migration of farm workers to the cities for factory jobs.  Today families are scattered all over the world but connected with their electronic gadgets.

Overhiser Orchards is the home for a family that is an exceptions to that migration pattern.  The families of five generations have lived and worked at the farm starting in 1863.  Rural farm living can be very satisfying.  Within your community you know everyone and can help and be helped by neighbors.  Your land becomes as much a part of your total being as your family.  You know the hills, valleys, soil, drainage, air flow, trees, wildlife, wildflowers and how the seasonal changes impact your crops.  Certain places can invoke fond or not so fond memories.  I have fond memories of the land I lived on while growing up.  Think of some of the places you have lived the kindle fond memories.  Thanks be to God for this good earth upon which we can stay in one place or move about. 

When Henry settled the original farm he set the house on the top of the maple covered ridge that overlooked the road to the south.  Today the five teenage Overhiser kids have a basketball court on the original home site.  Backtracking in history, this one spot on this good earth has supported the following uses:

• Presently a basketball court
• Mobile home parking  site for Allan and Kim
• Location of Grandpa Bill's shuffleboard court
• Home site for William and Edna family until the house burned in 1927
• Home of William Albert and Daisy family until the death of William Albert in 1915
• Home of Henry and Sarah family from 1863 until William Albert and first wife Alta May lived in the house.
• Pre-1863 Maple forest and home of wild amimals that were hunted by the indians of the area.
• Before the trees the terrain was shaped by the ice age and the melting of the glaciers.

Thanksgiving at the Farm - 2012
The birds have been killed and dressed.  The farm is all warped up for winter.  Allan and Kim are down for a long winter nap with visions of next years fruit dancing in their heads.  One need to go back to 1945 to find a comparable year for crop loss.  This is the worst lost Allan can remember in his 52 years.  The fruit trees, however, have survived the spring freezes and summer drougth so should be producing fruit this next year, God willing.

2012 was a good year for growing kids.  Here is the roster: Aaron is 6' - 3" and will be 16 on December 9.  Kelsy, Kortny, Alex and Adam will be 15 this next May 13.  Aaron plays on the varsity basketball team and the other kids are also playing basketball this winter.