History, citations and mentions of
Waukazoo / Wakazoo family
Previously
unpublished and uncited letter from George N. Smith in Northport
Michigan to Rev. Samuel Bissell, Twinsburg, Ohio, dated 17 November
1851, MS 116, Samuel Bissell (1795-1895) Container 1, Folder 2, number
44, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland.
"Old Wing Mission, Grand Traverse
Nov. 17, 1851 Rev. S. J. Bissell Dear Sir
Your letter came to hand in due
season & I proceed to answer as you request. I fully appreciate and
sympathise with you in all your discouragements & hopings against
hope in relation to the Indians, but from your situation you can
scarcely begin to estimate the causes that are in operation against
them. Visit Mackinaw during one payment & you might as it were get
a peep into the scenes -- it seems as though the irreligious Whites
were mad to destroy them & as everything now moves with Locomotive
& Electric speed it seems as though they were charged with the
energies of both night & day to accomplish their object. Liquor
& licentiousness are the chief instruments of destruction. Then
again it seems as though the Indians themselves were infatuated &
in view of all the facts it is enough to make one's heart bleed if he
have one vestige sympathy or even humanity left. Perhaps all is
designed in the providence of God to try the faith & patience of
christians. Perhaps it is indicative that they are to be cast off from
the earth, this last I do not believe -- the first I do. The American
people by their treatment of the Indians in past times have put
themselves into a condition of fearful responsibility. These
responsibilities must be cancelled or a blight awaits us. It was
doubtless one of the designs of Providence in planting the Puritans on
American Shores that they should be instruments for christianizing the
natives of this Continent -- so some of them thought if I remember
right but cupidity, worldly-mindedness & policy have nearly
paralized every effort & it remains for us in same measure to
redeem ourselves. We must be tried but let us not faint. I still have
hope but sometimes it looks as it were against hope. I believe God has
a people among, even the Aborigines of America therefore, I am still
encouraged to labour. Joseph Wakazoo is here & will continue here
this winter. he is now ll somewhat. he would have returned to your
place after payment but he received only 7,50 hich was not sufficient
to enable him to do. he expects to be Baptized & to join the Church
on first Sab. in January -- I am pleased with your account of his
conduct during the past year. I am much interested in Joseph &
greatly desire that he become qualified for a life of usefulness among
his own benighted brethren..."[end of p. 2]