Cheshiahud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheshiahud
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| Cheslahud | |
Old Tom and Madeline at their house on Portage Bay across from today's University of Washington campus. Old Tom was also known as Indian John or Cheshishon, so they are likely also Lake John Cheshiahud and Tleboletsa.
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| Duwamish tribe leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Resting place | Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park |
| Spouses | Sbeilsdot (or Lucy Annie); Tleboletsa (or Madeline) |
| Children | Daughter, Jennie (Janey) |
| Nicknames | Lake John Cheshiahud, Chudups John, Old Tom, Indian John, Lake Union John, Cheshishon |
Cheshiahud (also known as Cheslahud, Lake John Cheshiahud, or Chudups John) was an important leader of the Duwamish tribe. He lived with his family near Lake Union in Seattle, Washington, in the 1880s. Cheshiahud and his family, along with Princess Angeline, are some of the few Duwamish people from the late 1800s that we know much about.
Unlike many other Duwamish people, Cheshiahud's family did not move to reservations like the Port Madison Indian Reservation. They continued to live on Portage Bay, which is part of Lake Union. Old photos show them at their home around 1885. The Duwamish Tribe says that Lake John had a cabin and a potato farm near Shelby Street on Portage Bay. Some sources say this land was given to him by a Seattle pioneer named David Denny, or that he bought it.
Life Before Major Changes
Cheshiahud's story shows what life was like for the few Native Americans who stayed in Seattle after many new settlers arrived. Most other native people either moved away or became sick from new diseases brought by European settlers.
In the early 1850s, settlers began to claim land in the Seattle area. In 1852, two settlers, John Harvey and E. A. Clark, claimed land near a traditional village of the Xacuabš (the People of the Large Lake). This village had longhouses and was near a sacred place.
In 1853, a traveler named James McCormick was killed near Lake Union. The following year, two Native American men were unfairly attacked by a mob for the killing. E. A. Clark led a mob that tried to attack a third young Native American man, who was later found innocent. This young man, who escaped the mob, later became known as Cheshiahud or "Lake John."
Formal land ownership by settlers only began after an agreement was made with native people. This agreement was the Treaty of Point Elliott, which was officially approved in 1859.
Conflicts and Peace
Between 1855 and 1856, conflicts broke out between some Native American groups and the White American settlers. These conflicts were mainly because many native people were unhappy with the Point Elliott Treaty and other treaties made by Governor Isaac Stevens.
The biggest conflict was the "Battle of Seattle" in January 1856. Native American groups, including the Yakama and Klickitat tribes, gathered near Lake Washington. They were led by Yakama Chief Kamiakim and Chief Leschi. Their plan was to attack Seattle.
During this time, many friendly Native Americans, including Cheshiahud, found safety in Seattle. The settlers went to a strong building called a blockhouse near Elliott Bay. The battle lasted only one day, and only two people were known to have died. However, almost every building in King County outside of Seattle was burned. This included the homes of John Harvey and E. A. Clark.
Life After the Conflicts
After the short war, Cheshiahud became friends with David Denny and was sometimes called Denny John. Cheshiahud married Sbeilsdot, also known as Lucy Annie. After she passed away, he married Tleboletsa, also known as Madeline.
In the 1870s, Cheshiahud seemed to live near Mercer Slough in southwest Bellevue, where he and his wife raised their daughter, Jennie Davis (Janey Davis). The family later lived near Bryn Mawr until about 1880.
Cheshiahud then sold that property and bought land from David Denny. This land was at the end of Shelby Street on Portage Bay. Sbeilsdot passed away around 1885, but Cheshiahud lived for many more years on Portage Bay with Tleboletsa.
In their later years, Cheshiahud and Tleboletsa lived in retirement at the Port Madison Reservation. In 1927, Cheshiahud's daughter, Jennie, shared important information about the locations of native villages along Lake Washington. Cheshiahud is buried at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park next to his first wife, Lucy.
ca:Duwamish-Suquamish es:Duwamish hr:Duwamish
