Logan

Logan

Logan was born in Pennsylvania about 1725. His parents were Iroquois. The Iroquois living in the region of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio at this time were known as the Mingo. His Indian name was Tachnechdorus. The name of Logan probably resulted from the early friendship with William Penn's secretary, James Logan. Logan enjoyed a good relationship with the Quakers living in this area and he was friendly with the settlers who were moving into the region.

In 1770, when Logan was about 45 years old, he moved his family to Ohio and became a leader among the Mingo people. His friendship with the settlers continued until 1774, when a group of settlers murdered his family. Logan sought revenge. He started to attack white settlements along the frontier. He fought against the British with the Shawnee chief Cornstalk in Lord Dunmore's War. After the Indian defeat at the Battle of Point Pleasant, Cornstalk knew that Indians must make peace with the white settlers. A meeting was held near Chillicothe, which Logan refused to attend. Instead, he sent a message that was read at the meeting. Logan's message read:

"I appeal to any white man to say if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him not meat; if he ever came cold and naked he clothed him not. During the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites that my countrymen pointed as I passed and said, 'Logan is a friend of the white man.' I had even thought to have lived with you but for the injuries of one man, Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood and unprovoked, murdered all the relatives of Logan, not even sparing his wives and children. There runs not a drop of my blood in any living creature. This calls on me for revenge. I have sought it; I have killed many; I have grown glutted by my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace; but do not harbor any thought that mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not turn his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? No one."

Colonel Cresap was later tried for the murders of Logan's family and was found innocent. Logan continued his raids on white settlements on the frontier. In 1780, Logan was murdered near Detroit. He may have been murdered by his nephew. At the time of Logan's death, he was a very bitter man because of his tragic personal losses and his inability to keep settlers from moving onto Indian lands.