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Voi. 5NOMADIC WANDERERS COME AND GO ON BEAVER RIVER.Parisian Youth Weds Anoonk, An Indian GIH—Comes to Settlement—Papoose Born There—Anoonk Diesof Small-pox.—Henri Lost at Sea.At the outset of this narrative attention was called to the visit of Joseph Bonaparte to James Donation LeRay, Comte de Chaumont, while an exile from France and traveling incognito as Count de Survielliers. The former king of Italy and Spain seemed to be enchanted with the rugged nature of the northern wilderness and bought 150,000 acres of land of M. de Ohanmont, including Lake Bonaparte, Which lies in the county of Lewis, near the St. Lawrence county line. The ultimate purpose of settlement of the purchaser, and scheme of founding large manufacturing establishments- in the Black river valley by the Bonapartes does not relate to French Settlement.Joseph Bonaparte bought the lands in 1816 and in 1828 built a large cabin for his own tenancy at the lake and several of smaller size for his attendants. It was his custom to spend his summers in the forest, returning to his manor in New Jersey for the winter* The ex-king traveled with much pomp and was accompanied on his visits to the lake which bore his name by French noblemen who were attached to his person, and a full complement of household officials. Among tho latter was a French, youth, 22 years of age, who entered his employ as a secretary and quasi companion in 1828, named Henri Delmar, the young man coming with him to the lake on his visit of that year. Henri was the son of a well to do manufacturer in Paris and had received a fine education. According to French custom, where parent rule obtained, he was betrothed to the daughter of a merchant in that city, when he attained his majority. The lady possessed all the attractiveness of a well born French girl and was handsomely dowered. The young people were very mu^h in love with each other, though as events proved, were entirely ip-compatible in temperament. The•girl, whose name was Emmeline, being of a jealous disposition, a great many quarrels occurred between the two, during one, in a fit of rage, Henri realized what money he could from his possessions and sailed for New York. His means were soon exhausted in revelry with compatriots in that city. Being advised by a friend of Joseph Bop parte's residence near Bordentown, N. J., and that he was seeking several officials for his household, as the former king lived in great splendor and maintained a large retinue, Henri made no delay in calling at tho Bonaparte mansion and secured the position described above.Joseph was the favorite brother of Napoleon and was noted for his generosity. The young man proved of great value to the ex-king, owing to hie fine education and business capacity, which together with qualities of a social nature led to his becoming closely associated with his master, and for this reason was chosen to attend him on his journey to the picturesque lake lying in the untamed forests of the north, the scene of his annual visits. In the early spring it was the custom of the St. Regis Indians who made their home mostly on the banks of the St. Lawrence river, to migrate to a considerable distance southward, some frequently going asfar as Oneida lake, now famous as a»summer resort. A small band of these Indians, among whom were many half-bloods, camped on the shores of Lake Bonaparte, where they were engaged in basket making. Among them was a white man of French extraction, who had taken a squaw to wife. This man's name was Jacques LeRoy. His life with the Indians had enabled him to acquire a knowledge of the medicinal qualities of plants and herbs, from which he prepared medicine to sell to the settlers. It is well known that Indians are very skilful in the treatment of wounds and a number of diseases. They make poultices from the bark of the slippery elm and bass. They use many native plants for dying baskets, the inner bark of the swamp alder boiled making a brilliant red. They make a fine salve from the root of the black briony, mixed with deer fat. The inner bark of the sumach roasted and powdered was good for the ague and mainy other ailments. These were the ingredients used by Jacques in the preparation of his medicines, which met with a ready sale. H*s Indian wife was a full blood of the St. Regis tribe named Nogesigook (Northern Lights) and among their several children was a Very pretty Indian girl of 18, called Anoonk (a star). While the mixture of, Caucasian blood may add considerably to the physical beauty of the Ityajrraee yet the .infusion of it results in a pronounced falling off from the integrity of Indian character. The ha# cast usually embodies the worst qualities of both parents. However, this was not the case with Anoonk, for she was the personification of the best in both white and Indian character, The Indians constructed rude camps of bark for their temporary homes on the lake.(Continued on page 7),
Newspaper Details
Lowville Black River Gazette
Lowville, New York, US
Thu, Apr 09, 1914
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 05 Oct 2022
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