Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER H-ISTORY OF INGIHAM COUNTY

and said, 'Big Chief, me-plenty fight once!' This answer,
brief as it was, told the story of his life. The explanation which
followed put Okemos in good humor and he laughed as heartily
as the others at the joke.
"Aside from the scenes in which Okemos took an active part,
how eventful was the age in which he lived! The old French war,
the American Revolution, the career of Napoleon, complete,
the War of 1812, the Mexican war, the Crimean war and the
bloody contests of East India, all occurred during this Indian's
life. Empires rose and fell, government were changed, potentates,
princes and warriors grew to manhood, achieved fame, and slept
with their fathers, leaving the events of their lives to become history, while this Indian ranged the forest, trod the hunting grounds
and paddled his canoe over the waters of the Northwest Territory
and adjacent country. He struck the warpath which led to the
Erie frontier as early as 1791, where his exploits, both physical
and mental, soon made him a leader of braves and a chief of the
Ottawas.
"Upon the eastern shores of Lake Erie Okemos fought against
St. Clair, whom he despised and derided, and against Wayne,
whom he respected and hated. Okemos spent many hours when
in a communicative mood in relating scenes and events in which
he had a part. Unlike most Indian narratives, his were not always
upon one side. At times he would tell of his own defeat. A
rich, quiet, inward drollery was that-with an unctuous chuckle,
with which he would recount the effect upon his command of
braves of Mad Anthony's mounted swivels, or 'cannon on horseback,' as the old chief called them, which were made to be handled
among thick woods and underbrush where more weighty ordnance
could not be employed. In an unexpected attack on Okemos and
his braves the first shot sent the Indians on a double-quick run
for the marshes, where they knew the horses could not follow
them. Okemos never admitted that he ran, but compromised,
like all great political and military leaders, by saying, 'Me hide
up, plenty quick.'
"Okemos was a little man, not over five feet tall even in his
prime, but upon occasion he could assume such an attitude of
dignity that no one would think of approaching him except in a
respectful manner.