Legends of Chief Cobmoosa & Pres. A.J. -20

     All of humanity has had mentors that us valuable lessons about respect for elders and possible changes to come in a future world that seemingly went crazy with the quick passage of time.  Cobmoosa's mentors were the great Pottawatomie warrior Chief Noonday who learned his skills from Shawnee Chief Tecumseh and likewise from the greatest Chief of the Ottawa bands Chief Pontiac, but some referred to call him "Pondiac."  Strange how an automobile carries the name Pontiac.
     Noonday in the early 1820's after Christian baptism in the rapids said, "Had I found religion earlier in life I wouldn't have become such a blood thirsty savage" during the American Revolutionary War, the Indian Wars and the War of 1812.  Chief Tecumseh died in battle and Pontiac in 1766 signed a peace treaty with the British and together they fought against the Americans during the American Revolutionary War.
     Cobmoosa didn't relish the stories told when Noonday returned from war.  He often boasted of the atrocities committed, which Cobmoosa disliked and refused to engage in and for that reason Cobmoosa never became a Pottawatomie warrior.  Instead Noonday made him second in command of Noonday's two villages;  the "Rapids" and Kalamazoo Bands of Pottawatomie villages.  Through the mistakes of his mentors Cobmoosa learned from the past mistakes of others and did the opposite of what he felt erroneous mistakes by warriors.  Past evil things are better left forgotten, but under certain conditions bad things can teach us lessons to make us better.
     Cobmoosa used his social skills and historical knowledge to impress everyone that influenced his life.  He spoke with eloquence to Presidents and Congressmen and any Indian who would listen.  He with his closest assistants; Wabasis and Boshaw, both educated half-breeds like himself tempered the flares of wanna-be blood thirsty renegades who hated Washington for trying to purchase tribal lands.
     Cobmoosa mindset was razor sharp his entire life like his hunting knife.  It was used to harvest game for Pottawatomie and Ottawa people and used never to take a human life.  He used his persuasive speech to thwart the instigators - the renegades like Maxsauba stoking the "People of Three Fires" living in villages along the "Owashtenong" or Grand and Flat River valleys.
     His primary function under Chief Noonday was to keep his village people safe and to participate and teach his people how to provide them with food, shelter and protection in Noonday's absence.  Whenever Noonday's war party left he was in charge and did everything Noonday expected him to carry out.  Cobmoosa had earned respect.  No different than 179+ years into the future (2015).
     Life can change in an instant and it happened to Cobmoosa once Chief Noonday and Chief Kewaycooshcum of the Thornapple Village signed the Treaty of 1821 deeding tribal lands south of the Grand River to Washington under President James Monroe (1817-25).  The result the Indian had to remove to Missouri reservations, but Cobmoosa who had earned the reputation as the most respected chief in the river valley.  While most of his friends left for Missouri he was welcomed with open invitations to intermittently reside in the  Ottawa village of Chief Hazy Clound at Ada and Chief Wobwindigo's village at Lowell.
     He was a man of respect, but a new chapter in his life was about to unfold.  His destiny would forever change after Chief Wobwindigo signed the in Washington the Treaty of 1836.  That treaty was destined to displace the remaining Indians north of the Grand River.  Cobmoosa always cherished the memories imparted to him by his forefathers and families and he remained steadfast and vigilant for 19 years later (1855) and more.
     Correction from the last post (19), Cobmoosa saw the rise to power of 16 presidents (Washington thru Lincoln).  Not 15.  (continued)