Wakatomika
Encyclopedia
Wakatomika was the name of two 18th century Shawnee
villages in what is now the U.S. state
of Ohio
. The name was also spelled Wapatomica, Waketomika, and Waketameki, among other variations, but the similar name Wapakoneta
was a different Shawnee village.
The first Wakatomika was located along the Muskingum River
, near present-day Dresden, Ohio
. In August 1774, during Dunmore's War
, Wakatomika and four other Shawnee villages in the area were destroyed by Virginia colonial militia in an expedition led by Angus McDonald.
In 1782, the Shawnee Indian village of Wapatomica was located in present-day Logan County, Ohio
, about halfway between West Liberty, Ohio
and Zanesfield, Ohio
. A historical marker exists to commemorate Wapatomica. However, there is no access to the actual the site without permission from the Ohio Historical Society
. In fact, a flag pole with a concrete base was erected at Wapatomica in the 1920s. The base read: This monument marks the location of the stake where captives were burned. The circle was used for war, religious, and pleasure dances. Location of the council house. Simon Kenton
ran the gauntlet here in 1778. This monument erected August 31, 1922. The flag pole was struck by lightning, however, which damaged the concrete base. In July, 2010 the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
and the Ohio Historical Society
erected a new memorial marker on a hill near the intersection of CR 5 and 29, but kept the original marker, even though it was in poor shape.
After Dunmore's War
, the residents of Wakatomika resettled further west. A new Wakatomica was established by 1778 on the Mad River
in present-day Logan County
. This village was destroyed in 1786 during an expedition led by Benjamin Logan
at the outset of the Northwest Indian War
.
The name "Wakatomika" continues to be used for a number of place names, including:
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
villages in what is now the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The name was also spelled Wapatomica, Waketomika, and Waketameki, among other variations, but the similar name Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta
Wapakoneta may refer to:People*Wapakoneta , a Shawnee chiefPlaces*Wapakoneta, Ohio, the home town of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon*The Wapakoneta, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area...
was a different Shawnee village.
The first Wakatomika was located along the Muskingum River
Muskingum River
The Muskingum River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 111 miles long, in southeastern Ohio in the United States. An important commercial route in the 19th century, it flows generally southward through the eastern hill country of Ohio...
, near present-day Dresden, Ohio
Dresden, Ohio
Dresden is a village in Muskingum County, Ohio, United States, along the Muskingum River at the mouth of Wakatomika Creek. It was incorporated on March 9, 1835...
. In August 1774, during Dunmore's War
Dunmore's War
Dunmore's War was a war in 1774 between the Colony of Virginia and the Shawnee and Mingo American Indian nations....
, Wakatomika and four other Shawnee villages in the area were destroyed by Virginia colonial militia in an expedition led by Angus McDonald.
In 1782, the Shawnee Indian village of Wapatomica was located in present-day Logan County, Ohio
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, about halfway between West Liberty, Ohio
West Liberty, Ohio
West Liberty is a village in Logan County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,813 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Liberty is located at ....
and Zanesfield, Ohio
Zanesfield, Ohio
Zanesfield is a village in Logan County, Ohio, United States of America. The population was 220 at the 2000 census. It is the smallest incorporated village in Logan County.-History:...
. A historical marker exists to commemorate Wapatomica. However, there is no access to the actual the site without permission from the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
. In fact, a flag pole with a concrete base was erected at Wapatomica in the 1920s. The base read: This monument marks the location of the stake where captives were burned. The circle was used for war, religious, and pleasure dances. Location of the council house. Simon Kenton
Simon Kenton
Simon Kenton was a famous United States frontiersman and friend of Daniel Boone, Simon Girty, Spencer Records and Isaac Shelby.-Family and early life:Simon Kenton was alive even before Ohio was a state...
ran the gauntlet here in 1778. This monument erected August 31, 1922. The flag pole was struck by lightning, however, which damaged the concrete base. In July, 2010 the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is a federally recognized Native American tribe in Oklahoma and Missouri.-History:The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma is one of three federally recognized Shawnee tribes. They are an Eastern Woodland tribe, who were once nomadic. They originally came from...
and the Ohio Historical Society
Ohio Historical Society
The Ohio Historical Society is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1885 as The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society "to promote a knowledge of archaeology and history, especially in Ohio"...
erected a new memorial marker on a hill near the intersection of CR 5 and 29, but kept the original marker, even though it was in poor shape.
After Dunmore's War
Dunmore's War
Dunmore's War was a war in 1774 between the Colony of Virginia and the Shawnee and Mingo American Indian nations....
, the residents of Wakatomika resettled further west. A new Wakatomica was established by 1778 on the Mad River
Mad River (Ohio)
The Mad River is a stream located in the west central part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It flows from Logan County to downtown Dayton, where it meets the Great Miami River. The stream flows southwest from its source near Campbell Hill through West Liberty, along U.S...
in present-day Logan County
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
. This village was destroyed in 1786 during an expedition led by Benjamin Logan
Benjamin Logan
Benjamin Logan was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Shelby County, Kentucky. As colonel of the Kentucky County militia of Virginia during the American Revolutionary War, he was second-in-command of militia in Kentucky. Logan was a leader in Kentucky's efforts to become a state...
at the outset of the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
.
The name "Wakatomika" continues to be used for a number of place names, including:
- Wakatomika, OhioWakatomika, OhioWakatomika is an unincorporated community in central Washington Township, Coshocton County, Ohio, United States. A post office was established at Wakatomika in 1823, but was closed down in 1909 and Wakatomika is now covered by the Trinway post office....
, a populated place - Wakatomika CreekWakatomika CreekWakatomika Creek is a tributary of the Muskingum River, 42.6 mi long, in central Ohio in the United States. Via the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 234 mi²...
- Little Wakatomika CreekLittle Wakatomika CreekLittle Wakatomika Creek is a stream which flows through Coshocton and Muskingum Counties in Ohio. The stream originates north of Tunnel Hill in Coshocton County and flows south through the villages of Tunnel Hill and Wakatomika before entering Muskingum County. Here, it empties into Wakatomika...
- Camp Wakatomika, a Girl ScoutGirl Scouts of the USAThe Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
camp in Licking County, OhioLicking County, OhioLicking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....