by Charlie Wagers, Fairfield, Ohio
Volume 68, number 1, January 2021 Central States Archaeological Journal
I saw a quote recently: “when seniors pass a library of knowledge is lost.” As I thought about that I thought about all the wonderful stories that are in folks’ heads that should be written down or lost forever. One such story I have is that of “Tecumseh’s Pipe.” (Figs 1-3). This pipe is a wonderful piece of Eastern Woodland Indian art that was in the collection of my mentor, Clem Caldwell of Danville, Kentucky. In fact, it was the last major artifact to be dispersed from the fabulous Caldwell collection.
To establish the importance of this wonderful object one needs to establish some background. Tecumseh was a Shawnee war chief and legendary leader. The Shawnee had two chiefs, a tribal leader and a war chief. Tecumseh was a war chief. He was a prophet, an organizer, a visionary and a great leader. He was recognized not only by the Indians but also the white settlers. An example of this recognition is the name of the famous Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman; rather unusual for a pioneer family to name a child a Shawnee.
Digressing a bit, there is an outstanding outdoor drama every summer in Chillicothe, Ohio, which tells his story, titled simply Tecumseh. It is based upon The Frontiersman by Allan Eckert, who is known for his historic accuracy. I recommend it to any history buff, especially those interested in Native Americans. In fact, a weekend there could also include visits to the Hopewell Earthworks, Mound City, The Great Serpent Mound, Seip Mound and some beautiful country. It is just a great visit and entertainment.
Now, back to the pipe. Most of the Caldwell collection was dispersed prior to Clem’s passing in 2007. Several years prior, Clem suffered a stroke during bypass surgery and was left an invalid. The proceeds of the collection dispersal were used to provide his care for the remainder of his life. He died in the same room as he was born in 1918. The doctor who delivered him, a Dr. Jackson, gave the pipe to Clem. The Caldwell collection was predominantly prehistoric relics so this wooden pipe from the 1700s was an anomaly, although it drew considerable interest and some significant offers. Peggy, Clem’s widow, had high hopes of it selling for a fortune; hence it remained in a safety deposit box until after her death.
When the pipe finally came to auction on September 23, 2017, Wes Cowan, owner and CEO of Cowan’s Auctions, would not allow the use of the Tecumseh connection with the pipe. This was certainly a reasonable position for Wes to take and one with which I agree. Cowan’s is a first class, reputable auction house, and Wes is a respected historian and one of the four researchers on public television’s History Detectives. There simply is nothing other than a story making the Tecumseh connection.
All that being said, this writer believes the pipe was, in fact, Tecumseh’s. I will start off my reasons by saying I know I am greatly influenced by my relationship with Clem. Clem was a teller of tales, and I was a disciple of those stories for many years. He was also known for the adage, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story,” but I still believe the Tecumseh story. Perhaps because I just want to believe it.
Figure 2. “Tecumseh’s Pipe” viewed from the top.
Figure 3. “Tecumseh’s Pipe” detail close up.
The story begins, as Clem told it, when a group of Indians who had been in Washington, D.C., were returning home by train. I suspect home was in Oklahoma. One of the group became ill, and the train stopped in Danville, Kentucky, where he was treated by Dr. Jackson. Dr. Jackson’s payment for his medical services was the pipe. When it was given to him, the Indian told him, “This was Tecumseh’s pipe.”
This makes a great start to the story, but when one examines the pipe and studies the history, several things support the story.
- The pipe itself supports the legend best.
This is an exquisite, wonderful pipe. It was made for and owned by a high-status individual, perhaps the greatest Shawnee war chief ever, Tecumseh. - Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of the Thames in Ontario in 1813. He knew he was going to be killed, so before going into battle, he gave his possessions to his friends. He went into battle with only his war club and was killed quickly. The location of his grave is unknown.
- He was killed in 1813. We don’t know when Dr. Jackson acquired the pipe or when he gave it to Clem, but we know he was practicing medicine in 1918 as he delivered Clem that year, so he could well have acquired the pipe within 100 years of Tecumseh’s death.
So… the story of Tecumseh’s pipe has been told. It is left to you to decide what you believe. Visit the Museum of Native American History and ponder.