Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

February 8, 2003 - Issue 80

Article Recently Published Calls Forth Letter from California Man

         The consistent student of the history of the Chippewa Valley is always well repaid for efforts put forth. From the most surprising places comes stories of incidents that throw light on the facts, and when all it fitted together the truth is readily determined. Not long ago a story was printed that had to do with Jean Burnet, who was one of the valley's first settlers and a gentleman - in every sense of the term. Now note the result, a letter from California, from a former resident here who gives much good material upon which any historian can rely. What he says fits in with what can be found in the interesting little book in the Public Library, by Rev. Barrett, an early Universalist preacher, who wrote about 1864 of "Old Abe," the war eagle. The letter below is from Theodore Coleman, secretary of the Pasadena Hospital Association, and we are thankful for the privilege of printing it. It was sent by the receiver to William W. Bartlett, of the local historical society.

From: Pasadena, California, March 18, 1919
To: Mrs. Gustave Robert, Holcombe, Wisconsin

Dear Madam:

         A few days ago a cousin of mine in Chippewa Falls sent me a copy of the Eau Claire Leader, containing your very interesting reminiscences of early life at Brunet's Falls. Your recollections of those days recall to mind many pleasant things in connection with Mr. Brunet and your own family, and I am taking the liberty of writing you to express my appreciation of your contribution to the history of the Chippewa River region and to add a few experiences and recollections of my own with reference to Mr. Brunet and his home in the forest.  It seems remarkable the strange that the young girl I used to see running back and forth between the dining room and kitchen at the Brunet home away back in 1860-1866 should now be living in a town at or near that home and that she should be the mother of grown daughters.

         I remember you and your sister very well, as well as your father. Your mother I do not remember to have met. My father (Charles B. Coleman) ran the big mill at Chippewa Falls two years (about 1864-65), and later ran a small mill at Blue Rapids, six miles down river from the Falls. I used to go up the river once in a while, either on business for my father or for pleasure, and I always thoroughly enjoyed stopping with Mr. Brunet. He was such a gentleman and always kept such a clean and comfortable house (due to your mother's care, helped by her two bright daughters) that it was very homelike to me. I used to enjoy his clean, warm blankets in the wintertime, especially. As you say he always presided at the head of his laden table, and one might have imagined him in some rich home in France. I used to here that his wife was buried there at Brunet's Falls. Is that true?

         You mention Ah-Monse's son, who captured the war eagle of the 8th Wisconsin regiment. I helped Mr. Barrett with the history of the eagle, and made a special trip up the river to find the young man. When I could not get him at the time, because he and his brother were off on a hunting trip. Mr. Brunet promised to send him down to Chippewa Falls when he came in. This he did, and I took him and old Ah-Monse to Eau Claire, where he got his story and had his picture taken.  I have one of his pictures yet, and will put it in this letter if I can find it. Will you please return it to me? Your father said the sons of Ah-Monse were full of the deviltry. The one of the picture called himself Oge-mahgee-zhick.  When I was inquiring from him at Brunet's I went into a wigwam near your house and asked three or four women sitting there around the fire if they knew where he was. My Ojibwa was not very good, so one of them spoke to me in good English.  I wonder, if it could have been you or your sister. And, by the way, do you remember the name of an Indian who used to camp on the point between Brunet's and the river, a tall man.  I made a two-week trip up the Flambeau River with him one summer in his canoe. On another trip with a white man my pole broke, just as we were poling up the rapids below the Brunet place, and we upset the canoe and got a good wetting. One spring I worked at rafting logs at Jim's Falls, and I used to help run the strings down the over Eagle Rapids.  I wonder if I knew your husband. Did he ever pilot lumber and log rafts down the river?

         Do you remember Israel Gould, Ira Isham, Chomo-co-mon-esce, Charles Logevain, Bruno Vignette and Dennis Felix? I suppose so, and many others I have forgotten. How well I remember the portage around Brunet's Falls, and your father hauling the bateaux and goods along the rough road.

         Who kept the stopping place at the mouth of the Flambeau? And I have forgotten the name of the family that lived so long at Lac Courte Oreilles, was it Corbine? They used to drive their pony carts down to Chippewa Falls every winter for goods. Are any of them alive yet? Do you remember the party from the Falls that went up to Lac Courte Oreilles to get the Indians to enlist for service in the Civil War? My father was one of that party. Some of the Indians and half-breeds did enlist and go to war, as you know. I remember among them Mi-in-gun, Batset (wasn't he related to Mrs. Allen, Kitche-Mahny)?

         "Do you remember that the Indians used to call Mr. Brunet, "Eagle" because he looked so much like an eagle? If you feel like it, I should be glad to hear from you."

         It has been nearly fifty years since I have been where any Ojibway is spoken, but I remember a little of the language. See if you can make any sense out of the following:

"Bo-joy nechee: unce-ne kah-megut. Unce-ne, ma-nik quay-zance, quay-way-zance ke-ty-yak? Niswe-suh? Ne-win-suh? Neen."

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