The Legend of Chief Cobmoosa & Pres. A.J. -43

     Timeline spring of 1862.  Return with me to find Cobmoosa standing in his doorway with a throng of Indians watching him loosen the drawstrings of his poke to reveal the gold coins engraved Treaty of 1836 or 1836.  President Andrew Jackson provided him his proof who he was, but not before he answered questions only he could answer.  He had been absent from his village people for four years and had aged greatly.  Once a handsome man he was now a bent over man that time neglected.
     His coins were proof positive that citizen Andrew Jackson kept his promise and paid the Indians in gold and silver coins as he ordered for dispersal in 1838.  No longer could Indians be paid with paper currency.  Instead gold and silver so marked with the Treaty under which paid.
     Timeline summer 1863.  Cobmoosa was summoned to the Indian Reservation at Traverse City by an aged chief.  Unknown was his name, but he had bad news.  Seems Cobmoosa's foster son, Chief Wabasis had been killed by Chief Neogamah of Plainfield Village and his white friend four miles southeast of Rockford at a Rum Creek crossing in Cannon Township.  Cobmoosa knew it was Neogamah because he swore he'd kill Wabasis if he left his banishment garden plot at Wabasis Lake some 10 miles east/northeast of Rockford.  He was tricked into leaving, because Neogamah felt he was never going to find Wabasis' cache he reportedly buried before 1836.
     Neogomah standing before a tribal council prior the the treaty signing accused Wabasis of hoarding and burying his annuity payments.  This was false.  Wabasis repeatedly told Neogamah he had to appear in person in Grand Rapids to claim his money, but Neogamah was lazy as were other rebel Indians and didn't go, but they accused Wabasis of stealing their money.  Wasn't true!
     Failure to appear meant money could not be passed on to him and they were further unaware of the specie circular payment.  This renegade disliked Wabasis and felt to get his revenge after a 27 year absence, he had to trick Wabasis off his homestead and kill him, but Wabasis never sold tribal lands and ignorant Indians didn't understand that Washington paid them according to their actions and changed the monetary payment guidelines.
     Wabasis death angered many of the old Indian Chiefs still living at all those living on four reservations; Pentwater, Traverse City and Mt. Pleasant in Michigan and reservations in Missouri and they swore out a death warrant against Neogamah and friend. 
     Most angered was 94-year old Cobmoosa.  Many tears of sorrow fell from Cobmoosa's eyes for days.  He mentored John Wabasis in the ways of respect and both were highly respected.  It was a senseless retribution by Neogamah who carried out a vendetta to kill Wabasis. 
     Cobmoosa and Wabasis were the peacekeepers of the Grand River Valley.  They quieted potential Indian Wars before hostilities began and saved countless lives; Indian and pioneer settlers.  The oldest chiefs swore out a death sentence against the murderers if they showed up on any reservation lands.
     Chief Wabasis got his revenge.  Antrim and Mason Counties in Michigan were named in honor of a southern well-respected Chief  name Wabasis (Wabahsee or Wabasuh), which is documented in history books of those counties. (continued)