William Wells (soldier)

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William Wells (c. 1770 – 15 August 1812), also known as Apekonit ("Carrottop"), was the son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miamis.

Wells was born at Jacob's Creek, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of Captain Samuel Wells. The family moved to Kentucky when William was a small child, and his mother died shortly thereafter. The elder Wells was killed in an Indian raid near Louisville, and the young orphan was sent to live with a family friend. Three years later, he was taken captive by Miamis while on a hunting trip. Wells was 12 years old at the time.

Wells was adopted by a chief named Gaviahate ("Porcupine"), and raised in the village of Kenapakomoko, on the Eel River. His Miami name was Apekonit (carrot), perhaps in reference to his red hair.^[1] He seems to have adapted to Miami life quite well, and accompanied war parties- sometimes as the decoy.

William was located and visited by his brothers around 1788 or 1789. He visited Louisville but remained with the Miami, perhaps because he had married a Wea woman and had a child. They were later captured in a raid by General James Wilkinson in 1791, and presumed dead.^[2] William was drawn to the successful war chief Little Turtle, and eventually married Little Turtle's daughter Wanagapeth ("Sweet Breeze"), with whom he had four children. He served the tribe as a scout during his new father-in-law's wars with the United States.

Later, with Little Turtle's permission, he became an Army officer, serving as a captain in the Legion of the United States, acting as a scout and interpreter for General "Mad Anthony" Wayne. After participating in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, Wells went on to act as an interpreter in treaty negotiations^[3] and state visits by Indian chiefs.

In 1809, he married his third wife, Mary Geiger, daughter of Colonel Frederick Geiger.^[4] They and Wells' four children returned to Fort Wayne, where he received a discharge from U.S. Indian agent John Johnston. Wells had the support of the Miami chiefs and of Kentucky Senator John Pope and went to Washington, D.C. to challenge Johnston's decision. Ultimately, Well's position was left in the hands of territorial Governor William Henry Harrison who, though distrustful of Wells, sided with the Miami out of fear that they could join Tecumseh if provoked.^[5] William Wells continued to act as United States Indian Agent in Fort Wayne, and was able to keep the Miami out of Tecumseh's confederacy. His brother, Samuel Wells, and his father-in-law, Frederick Geiger, were both at the Battle of Tippecanoe; Geiger was wounded in the initial attack.^[6]

William Wells also established a farm in Fort Wayne. He petitioned Congress for a 1,280-acre (5.2 km²) tract of land at the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary Rivers in 1807, which was granted and signed by President Jefferson.^[7] Little Turtle died in his home in 1812, and was buried nearby.

In 1812, Wells led a group of Miami to come to the aid of Fort Dearborn. Among the Americans under siege was Rebekah Wells: William's niece, and the wife of Nathan Heald. They were ordered to evacuate, but were attacked in the Fort Dearborn Massacre. Nathan and Rebekah Heald were both wounded, but managed to escape and surrender to the British. Wells was shot and killed by Potowatamis. He was himself dressed in Indian fashion, and his face was painted black in anticipation of death.^[8] His opponents, although considering him a traitor to their cause, nonetheless reportedly ate his heart to gain some of his courage.

The following are named for William Wells:

• Wells Street in Chicago, Illinois
• Wells County, Indiana

[edit] For more information

• Carter, Harvey Lewis. The Life and Times of Little Turtle: First Sagamore of the Wabash. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1987. ISBN 0-252-01318-2.
• Encyclopedia of Chicago. © 2005 Chicago Historical Society.
• William Wells at ohiohistorycentral.org

• The U.S. Library of Congress has a 10 May 1801 letter written by William Wells to Meriwether Lewis- then secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, requesting a meeting between Little Turtle and President Jefferson.

[edit] References