Photo is of Olive Oatman- another child abducted by natives. Her story is on the link at the end of this blog.
In 1831, Mr. Nicholas Garland, a farmer, then living on Lot 20 in the 6th Concession of Beckwith Township, *lost a child, a little girl. Some of the children had wandered to the back of the clearance, which was then but small, and the little one never came home.
All the neighbors turned out the next day and searched the woods all around and every nook and cranny where she might have fallen and perished was searched, but not the smallest clue or trace of her could be found. The inhabitants concluded that a bear had carried her off and devoured her.
In 1881 the Perth Courier and Almonte Gazette reported that she was stolen by a local native who brought her up in his own family and married her off to one of his own sons. They lived latterly in the County of Bruce where some of her brothers and sisters were living.
The old Chief, her abductor, died in 1881, and before his death made a full confession of the nefarious and cruel deed. Who needs despair of at least hearing of their own lost loved ones?
So why were local children taken? Quite a few were stolen because a native family was in bereavement from losing a child or family member. These abducted children were often placed into the care of fellow native families that had lost a child, or brother or sister.
Captured By Indians: Mary Jemison Becomes an Indian
by Mary Jemison
Olive Oatman: More than the girl with the chin tattoo
lindaseccaspina 