Submitted by Lois and Jim Branch
Sometime in the early 1830's, “Indian Lydia” killed another Indian squaw of her tribe. That night her brave, along with another brave, helped her to escape across the “Big Waters” - the Mississippi River. She had been sentenced to death by her Cherokee Tribe, whose custom was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. She was to wait on the Illinois side of the river for her brave and two small sons. Days went by. They never came. For over three years, Lydia wandered through the counties of Southern Illinois until Philip Henson captured her and she returned home with him to live out the rest of her life with his people.
Philip and Matilda Henson and their family with a few relatives and friends migrated to Garden Prairie in Wayne County, Illinois, from Calloway Co. Kentucky, in the year 1827. Philip had given up his elected office as Justice of the Peace in Calloway County to come to the new promised land. His nephew, Reuben Henson, had ventured into this land while fighting in Indian uprisings. Reuben loved this beautiful Garden Prairie land in Wayne County and after telling Philip about it, he and his family soon migrated there.
Lydia never again saw her family or tribe. She waited and wandered around through fields and hid in woods from the White Settlers.
In the winter of 1835, some hunters in the vicinity of Mill Shoals, White County, Illinois, found an Indian squaw in a cave or cavern. She was in a starved and frozen condition. She had hidden herself for protection against the frost and snow in vain. She was badly frozen, her feet in particular. In her staved condition, she presented a pitiful sight to the hunters, who in their uncultured manner were kind-hearted and soon brought relief to the distressed woman. The good people of the community came as Good Samaritans. They fed and clothed her until spring, when her feet, having healed sufficiently for walking, she disappeared from Mill Shoals Neighborhood. Wandering up Skillet Fork River, she was next seen in Wayne County in the region of Nicholas Creek and Poddy Creek with Skillet Fork. This Indian woman was wild and avoided meeting any of the settlers but was occasionally seen running away to hide when anyone approached too near her camp. Often the camp fire was found, but the Indian could not be seen.
This Indian woman lived in the woods as best she could with only her hands to obtain food. She made frequent invasions of the settlers' truck gardens and helped herself to any kind of food that suited her fancy. This locality seemed to appeal to her more than any other and not knowing the way to her tribe, she lingered here until winter was approaching. No one had ever succeeded in getting speech with her and fearing she would starve or freeze during the winter, Philip Henson, being of a romantic nature, organized a searching party to find, prevail on her to adopt one of their homes and be cared for in a civilized way. The men searched the forest for days in vain and all but Philip gave up the search. He continued to ride through the forest day after day with his gun and finally came upon the woman secreted in a clump of bushes. She started to run away but was soon overtaken by Mr. Henson on horseback. He leveled his gun at her and called, “Halt!” The woman ceased her running and faced him with both arms extended upward, expecting to be shot. Mr. Henson explained his motive to her and insisted that she mount the horse behind him and go to his home. This forlorn woman told her benefactor in broken English that she was a Cherokee Indian; that her name was LYDIA GUNDY.
Lydia lived in the Henson family as one of the household. She was kindhearted and industrious. Always ready to perform any duty assigned her.
After the Henson children had all married and had homes of their own, and after Philip Henson was gone, Matilda and Lydia lived all alone on the farm. Mrs. Henson was confined to her room all of the time so all of the labor fell upon Lydia, who did it without a murmur. There were few men who could wield an axe or hoe better than she could.
John Brown married Narcissa “Sis” Henson, Philip and Matilda's daughter. He was a generous hearted man who responded to the call of duty when there was wood to haul or other work which Lydia could not do. This labor finally became burdensome to John as he lived several miles from Mrs. Matilda Henson. He then requested Mrs. Henson to move to his home where he could better care for her mother, and Lydia being relieved of that duty, helped in the fields. She thought that a crop could not be planted without her aid. She did the work well and the Brown boys knew that they would have no easy task when they were pitted against Lydia in any kind of outdoor labor.
In appearance, Lydia Gundy was a typical Cherokee Indian. She had the upper part of the lobe of each ear cut off but whether for ornament or for punishment it could not be ascertained. The habits and customs of a people cannot be changed in a generation. Lydia's love for the forest clung to her all of her life. On the days when there was no necessary work and on Sundays, she would appear restless and would soon disappear and be gone the rest of the day; and on her return would tell of her trip which often extended over several miles.
Lydia called all of the Henson relatives “our folks” and would visit them and was talkative, but there was one stranger who succeeded in gaining her friendship and that was Uncle Billie Harrison, a Baptist minister who often preached at Mr. Brown's. Lydia Gundy had seen the trees drop their leaves many times before she came to Wayne County, yet during the 32 years of her life here, she always enjoyed good health. One day in the winter of 1866, she complained of being sick and was given some of the home remedies that were kept in the house. That night, she left her own room and made her way to the sitting room where Mr. Brown and other members of the family were sleeping. She sat down by the fire and seemed in great agony when Mr. Brown asked, “What is the trouble, Lydia?” She explained, “oh, John me die.” Before anyone could reach her, her spirit had flown to the happy hunting grounds of her forefathers.
She was buried in the Old Henson Cemetery near Zenith, where a marker identifies her resting place.
“Indian Lydia” belonged to the Cherokee Tribe, which along with other tribes, were taken to Indian Territory set aside in Congress in 1834 as a home for Indians. Whether Lydia was supposed to be among those who were taken on that long journey, known in history as “The Trail of Tears” is not definitely known. She would at that time have been in her 30's.
Lydia was industrious and worked in the household and fields. When there was no work for her, she often roamed the woods, sometimes being absent several days and nights. She perhaps sensed in nature a kindred spirit as Bryant did when he wrote: “To him, who in love of nature, holds communion with her visible forms, she speaks a various language.”
Here in the little cemetery were the bones of one who knew the terror of being completely alone in the wild land of this country over a hundred years ago. Every beast and every human - all were her enemies for she was an Indian and the white man had come. Some say she was an outcast, banished from her tribe. History does not tell and Lydia would not. Her story has no ray of happiness. She was cut off from all those things she knew and understood - custom and language - a prisoner in a free land - a peace without hope.
The sandstone, old and weather-beaten, had been stuck into the ground
in front of her grave. Scratched on the sandstone were these words:
December 1866 Indian Lydia
The second stone was man-made and it bears this inscription:
Lydia Gundy of the Cherokee Indian Tribe
Born Tenn. 1805 - Died 1866 - After the Harvest had passed and Summer ended
The little cemetery is peaceful now and the wind whispers through the buffalo grass and Rattlesnake Creek ripples below the hill. We feel Lydia could not be too unhappy now.
This is the true story of “Indian Lydia” who my great, great, great, Grandfather, Philip Henson, captured and who lived in his home over 30 years. It has become a legend in our family and handed down to me.
A. L. HENSON, of Independence, Missouri (1964)
(Note: The Henson family and friends raised $2300.00 to place a historical marker almost six feet high, six feet wide and at least a foot thick in the memory of Indian Lydia in front of the Henson Cemetery near Zenith, Wayne County, Illinois. This monument tells the story of the Henson family, the cemetery, and Indian Lydia. Many of the Henson family still live in the area near the old cemetery where many of the old pioneers had homesteaded and built their log cabins....
James E. Branch,
one of the many Wayne Co. IL Henson descendants,
Troutdale, Oregon 2001)
(http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/b/r/a/James-E-Branch/)
| Visit Our Neighbors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | Clay | Richland | |
| Jefferson |
 |
Edwards | |
| Franklin | Hamilton | White | |
