Shawnee Tribe, No. 18, was instituted at Winchester in G. S. D. 396 (1887), by B. W. Kline, a German living in Cincinnati, and holding a minor chieftaincy in the Great Council of Ohio. He visited Winchester on business, and being an enthusiastic Red Man, immediately set about the organization of a Tribe. In less than two days he had secured a list of petitioners, and in a couple of seven suns he returned and instituted Shawnee Tribe, No. 18, under the jurisdiction of the Great Council of Ohio. C. E. Lyddane was the first Sachem, who ten years later was Great Chief of Records for five great suns, and now ranks as a Past Great Sachem. After the Tribe was organized it received no further attention from the Great Council of Ohio, was never visited by any of its Great Chiefs, and was never represented in its Great Council. Red Men were very scarce and a visitor was a rare occurrence. However, Shawnee grew and flourished and for several great suns held regular meetings. A loft of Haymakers was instituted and sometimes the fun was so fast and furious that the police threatened to interfere. The Tribe finally died of pure neglect and loneliness. It had considerable amount of wampum in its belt, which was parceled out to the members in good standing. The love of Redmanship did not die in the breast of its members, however, and when in G. S. D. 403 Miantonomo Tribe, No. 1, was organized at Lexington, among its charter members were several of those who had belonged to old Shawnee, No. 18, and it was very little trouble a few seven suns later to kindle the council fire of Onequa, No. 2, amid the ashes of the old Tribe. Some of the members of old Shawnee have lapsed from the Order, some have passed to the Eternal Hunting Grounds, while others are still found around the council fire and are training a new generation in Freedom, Friendship and Charity.
Osceola, No. 19, at Ashland, on the 26th of Buck Moon, G. S. D. 399, with 15 charter members, Harry C. McKay being then Great Sachem. This Tribe is still in existence, and is one of the strongest in the reservation.
Mohawk, No. 20, at Louisville, on 1st Hot Moon, G. S. D. 400. At the institution of this Tribe it was hoped that Redmanship would be once more revived in Kentucky and would flourish, but the anticipation of its founders were not realized, as it lived but a short time and was never prosperous.
CHAPTER VI.
KENTUCKY UNDER A DEPUTY GREAT INCOHONEE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRIBES BY THE GREAT COUNCIL OF THE UNITED STATES, 1894.
In the summer of G. S. D. 403, there came to the hunting grounds of Lexington J. B. Mendenhall, holding a commission as Deputy for Great Incohonee Andrew H. Paton. Mendenhall held a withdrawal card from Ninegret Tribe, No. 21, of New London, Conn. Where he received his honors as a Past Sachem is not known, as it is certain he was not known as a Past Sachem in Ninegret Tribe. During the autumn of this great sun Mendenhall began an active canvas for petitioners for a charter for a Tribe of Red Men in Lexington, and with the assistance of O. R. King, J. R. McConnell, and others he was abundantly successful, so that on the 15th of Hunting Moon, G. S. D. 403, he had a list of 121 accepted applicants, including Past Great Sachem Thos. A. Hornsey, formerly a member of old Osceola, No. 8, of these hunting grounds, who deposited his withdrawal card from that Tribe. On the above date the Tribe was instituted in the Opera House by Great Incohonee A. H. Paton, of Massachusetts, assisted by Great Chief of Records of the G. C. U. S., Charles C. Conley, of Pennsylvania; Past Great Incohonee and National Exemplifier Thos. K. Donnalley, of Philadelphia; Great Sachem of Illinois, Wilson Brooks, of Chicago, and Past Great Sachem Judge Alfred Ellison, of Indianapolis, Ind. The work of the Adoption Degree was exemplified by the chiefs of the new Tribe, the National Exemplifier having been drilling them for several suns, and it is doubtful if the work done by the team at that time has ever been excelled in this reservation. Immediately the Tribe was instituted its members began active efforts to establish other Tribes in their vicinity, and under the leadership of Deputy Great Incohonee J. B. Mendenhall, Miantonomo Tribe, No. 1, of Lexington, of which he was now a member, assisted in the institution of the following Tribes:
Onequa Tribe, No. 2, at Winchester, on the 29th of Cold Moon, G. S. D. 404, with 41 charter members, of whom 18 had previously taken membership in Miantonomo Tribe, No. 1, and became members of Onequa, No. 2, by the deposit of withdrawal cards. Many of these members had been formerly members of Old Shawnee Tribe, No. 18.
Wyandotte Tribe, No. 3, at Maysville, on the 3d of Hot Moon, G. S. D. 404, with 35 charter members, including many members of old Wyandotte Tribe, No. 16, one of whom was Past Great Sachem Thos. A. Davis.
Winona Tribe, No. 4, at Lexington, on the 24th of Hot Moon, G. S. D. 404, with 25 charter members.
Tecumseh Tribe, No. 5, at Harrodsburg, on the 27th of Hot Moon, G. S. D. 404, with 25 members.