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Roger Roberts, as Elias Lewis, will present the story of his dear
friend, Chief Leatherlips, to the Big Walnut Area Historical Society
via YouTude beginning April 10, 2022.
One of the earliest programs in the Myers Inn was Jim Thompson, of
Linworth, telling about “Bill Moose, the Last of the Wyandots” in
2008. He had purchased a painting by Hal Sherman showing Bill Moose
and his parents putting tobacco on Chief Leatherlips’ grave during
their annual trip from Upper Sandusky to make maple syrup on
Thompson family’s land.
Thompson went on to purchase other paintings by Hal Sherman
including the Execution of Leatherlips. Today, three of Sherman’s
paintings about the Wyandots are on loan to the Myers Inn Museum
from Jim Thompson.
After the signing of the Greenville Treaty in 1795, Chief
Leatherlips continued to help the settlers in the area which made
the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, who was organizing the tribes to rebel
against the settlers, angry. He and Chief Roundhead decided to try
Leatherlips, find him guilty and execute him. Knowing what was going
to happen, Leatherlips asked his friend, Elias Lewis, to witness his
execution in 1810. The witnesses also included William Sells who was
20 years old. 60 years later, he recorded the events of the day.
For years Roberts, as Elias Lewis, has told a short version of this
story to third grade classes visiting the Myers Inn. He will give a
full version on YouTube.
Roberts is a retired Big Walnut High School history teacher and
guidance counselor. He presently serves as a Trustee for the Big
Walnut Area Historical Society, plays the Town Crier at community
events, instructs groups in Sunbury United Methodist Church, attends
many Big Walnut athletic events and plans the historical society’s
monthly programs we all enjoy.
All members who receive this newsletter via email will get a link by
email as a reminder. Others need to watch for the link on the
website at
www.BigWalnutHistory.org
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