The Panther was a Mohegan Indian who lived in the Town of Richfield in

Otsego County, New York Otsego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,524. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name ''Otsego'' is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning "place of the rock." History In 178 ...

in the beginning to mid 1800s. He was the son of an Indian named Captain John.

Biography

Brushell's father was known as Captain John; they had a wigwam for a time built on Tunnicliff land near a lake. After his father's death he moved back to the Connecticut Valley where he and his father had moved from. He remained there a few years and then returned to the grave of his father, and build a

Wigwam A wigwam, wickiup, wetu (Wampanoag), or wiigiwaam (Ojibwe, in syllabics: ) is a semi-permanent domed dwelling formerly used by certain Native American tribes and First Nations people and still used for ceremonial events. The term ''wickiup'' ...

on the Chamberlin Farm in the Town of Richfield. The Panther was a peaceful Indian who would frequently give bows and arrows to children. He took the liberty to cut timber on any property when he wanted, regarding it as his right as a native of the forest. He also believed that where he left his possessions, that they should be safe from trespassers. On one occasion he followed two people who rode his canoe to

Deowongo Island Deowongo Island is the only remaining island on Canadarago Lake in Otsego County, New York Otsego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,524. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name ' ...

, beat them both with the paddles, and left them stranded on the island to get off the best way they could. And another time Mr. Olcott Chamberlin, son of Freedom Chamberlain, took The Panther's boat at night with a torch to fish along shore. As he was sailing along shore he heard a voice say "come, shore my boat" which he ignored. The Panther then shot above the boat which persuaded Mr. Chamberlin to come to shore. The Panther left on a normal visit to Connecticut around 1846 and did not return to Otsego County.

Legacy

*There is a mountain in

named after him called Panther Mountain.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Panther 19th-century Native Americans