Ohio History Journal

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TARHE-THE CRANE

TARHE-THE CRANE.

 

 

[The Editor of The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Quarterly has often received inquiries as to sources of information con-

cerning Tarhe, the famous Wyandot chief, and also the "Half King,"

Pomoacan. Mr. Basil Meek, the historical writer and a frequent con-

tributor to the columns of the Quarterly, has had occasion to gather

these sources and we herewith publish them for the benefit of any student

desiring to avail himself of these valuable references.-EDITOR.]

Please find a few facts, concerning Tarhe-the Crane, some

of which may shed light upon his residence and also upon his

life and character. The "Half King", Pomoacan, seems never

to have been located at Lower Sandusky. Attention is called

to Half King's various Indian cognomens, given below.

 

TARHE, OR THE CRANE.

In the Spring of 1782, according to Homer Everett in his

History  of Sandusky County, p. 43, citing for his authority

"Heckewelder's Indian Nations," without giving page, claims that

Crane rescued a young man-captive, at Lower Sandusky, after

the captive had been sent by him to Half King at Upper San-

dusky to be adopted, but having been rejected by Half King's

wife, was returned to Lower Sandusky for burning. Thereupon

Crane, he says, after an appeal to his vanity by the English

traders, Robbins and Arundel located there, he rescued the

captive.

But I believe the chief, who rescued this captive was not

Crane, but Abraham Kuhn, the War Chief, who commanded the

Lower Sandusky Wyandots at Crawford's defeat. I have not

seen Heckewelder, cited by Everett. See History of the Girtys,

by Butterfield, pp. 149, 150, 151.

In 1785 Tarhe's name does not appear to the treaty of

Ft. Mcintosh. It was signed for Wyandots of Lower Sandusky

by Abraham Kuhn. Half King's name is not attached to same

unless by the name, Daunghquat, which is probable.

(64)