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From Library and Archives Canada. Letters to and from A.P. Cockburn of Gravenhurst, M.P. for Muskoka in 1876 from Osceola Gladiator in regards to payments to his wife of the Mohawk community.
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THE TRUTHS OF BRACEBRIDGE'S "NIGGER HOLLOW," REVEALED NEARLY 140 YEARS LATER
OUR HISTORICAL CHRONICLE GETTING AN ADJUSTMENT - AND A CLARIFICATION
It's not a heritage reference many regional historians have wanted to deal with, at least in contemporary times. I do understand this. I have been amongst this number, and admittedly, in the past thirty-five years researching local history, I have had a thousand opportunities to write about it, for publication, in the Bracebridge media. God knows I needed the editorial copy. Especially for such publications as The Muskoka Sun, when I often wrote ten to fifteen heritage-themed articles, for the weekly issues, from May to October. For quite a number of reasons, I didn't feel either the timing was right, or that I was in possession of enough information to get more than a couple of paragraphs, before the story ran out of gas. I remember talking to another heritage enthusiast about this precarious story, of "Nigger Hollow," and explaining my reluctance to write what I knew, about its unfortunate title, with source roots well back in the 1800's. For many years, I have not had enough information, and as historians always employ a back burner, to lodge future projects, the story, for me, has simply been forgotten but not out of disinterest. So when I recently came upon the text of a minor historical piece, written by former Bracebridge Gazette columnist, (publisher) G.H.O. Thomas, in 1934, simply entitled "Bracebridge Fifty Years Ago," I was reminded, from having read it years earlier, that he had included a section of his story on the naming of "Nigger Hollow." I could no longer put this story on hold, and I asked my research partner, Suzanne, if she could lend me some archival time, to better research the material. The following paragraph gave us a lot of information to start with, particularly a family name, which gave us our first step-up, to a fascinating biography, and the eventual discovery of many significant records kept by Archives Canada, regarding the correspondence of Oceola Gladiator.
The first house Suzanne and I owned, in Bracebridge, early in our marriage, would have been a short distance from the original cabin homestead, owned by Mr. Gladiator. We too were located at the "foot" of Tanbark Hill, in what was referred tom by some in the neighborhood, as one of the "tannery" houses, yet it was built in and around the turn of the 1900's, much later than the known settlement of houses used by early tannery employees.
"NIGGER HOLLOW WAS 'NIGGER HOLLOW' FIFTY YEARS AGO (WRITTEN IN 1834, AS A RETROSPECTIVE BACK TO 1884). IT IS NOW THE LARGE PART OF THE IST WARD. THE HOLLOW WAS QUITE UNLIKE THE 4TH WARD IN THOSE DAYS. IT HAD NO TREES BUT QUITE A FEW HOUSES. THE TANNERY HAD POPULATED THAT SECTION, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE RIVER. THE SITE OF THE PRESENT FAIR GROUNDS (JUBILEE PARK) AND ALL THE RESIDENCES AROUND IT, WAS A FIELD OF BIG PINE STUMPS. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE BEST STANDS OF PINE IN THE NORTH COUNTRY. PATHS TWINED AND TWISTED THROUGH THE STUMPS TO THE TANNERY SETTLEMENT BEYOND. THE HILL LEADING TO IT WAS STEEP BEYOND DESCRIPTION. ONE CAN STILL GET SOME IDEA OF ITS STEEPNESS, BY THE STREET GOING DOWN PAST THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THE SIDEWALK IS A SERIES OF STEPS. IN THE EARLY DAYS THE TANNERY SHIPPED BY WATER SO THAT THERE WAS NO WHEEL-HAULING UP HILL. WHEN THE RAILWAY WAS READY FOR FREIGHT BUSINESS THE TANNERY MADE A TANBARK ROAD UP THE HILL, SO THAT TO THIS DAY IT IS OFTEN CALLED 'TANBARK HILL;' HOWEVER, IN MODERN TIMES A DIAGONAL ROAD OF A MORE GENTLE GRADE WAS MADE AND 'TANBARK HILL,' BECAME 'ROSEMOUNT AVENUE.' NIGGER HOLLOW DERIVED ITS NAME FROM MR. OSCEOLA GLADIATOR. QUITE A NAME, OSCEOLA GLADIATOR. HE WAS A COLORED GENTLEMAN BUT WHETHER NEGRO OR INDIAN I AM NOT SURE. TO IRREVERENT SMALL BOYS A DARK MAN IS A NIGGER. OSCEOLA GLADIATOR LIVED AT THE FOOT OF TANBARK HILL MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS AGO."
The passage above, was written by Bracebridge Gazette Publisher, G.H.O. Thomas, one of the region's well known personalities, who was, to my knowledge, the only historian at the time, who would include this reference as part of the town's chronicle. He was writing about his memories of fifty years ago, which meant the period of the mid 1880's. The issue of the paper, that carried this article, would have been from 1934.
I can remember when my parents planned to sign me up for minor baseball, in the mid part of the 1960's, shortly after we had moved to town, from Burlington, and my father asking a neighbor, in the Weber Apartments, on Alice Street, where the ball diamond was in town. "Oh, it's down in Nigger Hollow; have you heard of Jubilee Park?" My dad gasped a little, and then asked why it had been named as such. "There were black tannery workers back in the 1800's, who lived in "The Hollow," so it became known as 'Nigger Hollow.' I have heard this reference thousands of times, since 1966, but mostly from the town's older citizens, who may have had this reference passed down several generations, if their roots went as far back as the late 1800's.
It's true also, that it has become one of those nagging historical millstones, that Bracebridge would like to be free of, in this modern era, because it reflects badly on the community as a whole. Every settlement the world over, has history it would like to forget or erase. It just isn't possible. But as negative and racist as it was, the era was full of such derogatory references, and it was not confined to blacks. But amongst a largely white population, of British ancestry, in the early years of the settlement, any significant cultural or religious difference was a cause for unspecified discrimination. Hurt feelings never entered into it, and political correctness hadn't yet been considered. As for the word "racist," it just didn't enter into the equation, of how people of different skin color, or physical attribute were treated. Of course it was wrong, but as we perceive it today, we can explain it by a one word reference. Ignorance! The fact that the name became attached to "The Hollow" area of the town, because of a racial slur made by youngsters, is just one of those unfortunate realities of weakness, of a society we judge to be civilized, but not necessarily sensitive to the feelings of minorities. In many situations, the issue still haunts the modern generation, like the lingering references to places like "Nigger Hollow." We know better than to say it, but if you listen carefully enough, there it is again!
I can well imagine, that the references to "Nigger Hollow," will last several generations yet, and may even endure beyond this period. It will be said that the whole matter might have gone away sooner, if it hadn't been for the meddling of Mr. Currie, dredging up what the town would like to fade into a much more positive history. This is the problem for me, and the historian I was trained to be, in that I don't view history as either positive or negative, but rather, the way it was! The fact that so many historians down through the years have ignored this story, because of the negative and hurtful reference, of "Nigger Hollow," is in itself, now part of the heritage truths. It has been one of those sanitized aspects of our chronicle, from an historical point of view, that keeps re-surfacing, if not in written form, then in the oral references still being made today, in this supposedly sensitive, enlightened new century society.
Possibly a heritage marker should be erected to acknowledge a wrong committed in the 1870's, toward a family, just trying to eke out a living, in a frontier community, less than twenty years old at the time. But it would be a marker, that addressed a 140 years of misunderstanding, and definitely, a societal wrong, that, in some way, thanks to the foundation work of G.H.O. Thomas, based on the insights of his 1934 published history, will be corrected in today's blog, 80 years later. So let us begin setting the record straight. What information have we been missing for all these years?
THE STORY OF OSCEOLA GLADIATOR - A DARK SKINNED MAN IN A WHITE PIONEER SETTLEMENT
The following is a paragraph from a letter, written for government assistance, to Muskoka MP, A.P. Cockburn, of Gravenhurst, (the original, in possession of the National Archives), written in the year 1876, while Mr. Osceola Gladiator, was residing in Bracebridge. It references that he first arrived in the region of South Muskoka, ten years before the letter was written, that conflicts with information about his arrival in Canada, as being 1871, according to documentation. This means, he was in Canada in and around the year 1854. Here is how the opening of the letter reads:
"June 2, 1876, Bracebridge; I, Osceola Gladiator, a Cherokee Indian, I am married since August 1860. My wife, Margaret Gladiator, (formerly Margaret Williams of the Mohawk Tribe), has not received her annuity, since I came to Muskoka ten years ago. (which would make it 1866). She last received it at Caledonia. I would beg, from you sir, to use your influences that she may receive the arrears unpaid - and also be paid down, on hand, instead of the yearly allowance." "This would allow us to do something in Muskoka, then be used in future to dwell," obviously pertaining to living expenses and property acquisition, in the fledgling community.
He also notes in the same letter, that "I left my native land in Kansas, in 1854, and Mr. Thornton (not sure about spelling), told me I had to have stayed in this country 5 years. (possibly to gain native status in Canada) I had no claim as an Indian. I have had now, 22 years (in Canada)." This refers undoubtedly to the number of years from his arrival in Canada, which contradicts public record, and puts him in this country, as far back as the year 1854, shortly after leaving Kansas. He married a Canadian woman of Mohawk heritage, in 1860, presumably in Brantford. If he arrived in Muskoka in early 1866, it would make him one of the very early settlers to the newly named hamlet, of "Bracebridge," which had been two years earlier, known as "North Falls".
First of all, the name "Osceola" was probably given to the newborn "Gladiator" child, as a tribute to the revered Native American, Florida Seminole and Creek bands' Chief, of the same name, who had a wealth of accomplishments too numerous to reference in an abridged biography like this. Chief Osceola was born as Billy Powell, of Scottish and Native American parents, and his exploits on behalf of his people, gave him iconic status amongst his people, and respectful recognition in America amongst whites, and government officials, who he seemed to perplex with his capabilities to survive against all odds. He died in 1837, and according to some census records, Osceola Gladiator, was born in 1837, to Cherokee parents, in Kansas. If this is the correct date, because it has also been noted on other documents, that he was born in 1832, then it is likely the name was selected as a tribute, to what may have been at that time, the memory of the deceased Seminole Chief.
Osceola Gladiator was not a negro, even though the young people of Bracebridge, in the 1870's, assumed he was, because of his skin color, giving his home in the valley, of the Muskoka River, the unfortunate title of "Nigger Hollow," just because the man, and his wife, had darker skin. Osceola, in a letter he wrote (National Archives Collection), admitted to leaving his home, in Kansas, in the year 1854, and may have arrived soon after, in Canada circa 1854, but we haven't found information yet, to explain what he may have done, or where he had lived, between his emigration from the United States, in 1854 and 1866 when he claims to have moved to Bracebridge. He admits to marrying his wife Margaret in 1860 but no location of their place of residence is given. We do know he had some brief relationship, at this time, with what is referred to as "Brant City," and the Mohawk Community in area of Brantford, Ontario, before he moved-on to settle in Bracebridge. It is duly noted, he was a property owner in Bracebridge, shortly after arriving in Canada, and if the date 1866, is accurate, for his arrival in South Muskoka, it would have put him in the Ontario hinterland, well before the government's issuance of the Free Grant and Homestead Act, which offered homesteaders, hundred acres allotments, to entice settlement of the largely unpopulated region. It's likely he may have claimed the property in "The Hollow," for himself, and then left the area for a brief period of time. We are reasonably confident, he may have visited Brantford, during this time, where his soon-to-be wife was associated, with the regional Mohawk nation.
Osceola Gladiator, most likely met his future wife, Margaret Williams, of the First Nations community, in Brant, or vicinity, and they were married in 1860, according to his own declaration, included in a letter to Muskoka M.P., A.P. Cockburn, although their marriage certificate has not yet been located. Margaret Williams was born in Belleville, in 1838. They settled in Bracebridge, in and around 1866, although it could be later, and on February 5th, 1879, their first son, Osceola Marrier Gladiator, was born with assistance of a midwife, at their homestead at the foot of Tanbark Hill. By this time, the Gladiator family, had four children of seven, the couple would have during their years of marriage. The youngsters, in the 1891 National Census, listed the family residence as being in Brantford, and included, from the eldest down, Isabella, age 18, Margaret, 18, Henrietta, 14, Osceola Marrier, 11, Lizza, 8. Sallas, 5, and Edward, 4.
According to the 1871 Census, Osceola Gladiator Sr., was born in the Southern United States, (known now as being from Kansas) in 1837, a Native American, from Cherokee parents. He is listed as owning property in Macaulay Township, Bracebridge, in the 1871 Census; although as historian G.H.O. Thomas alluded, the title of "Nigger Hollow," was likely being used, as a geographical reference, from the mid 1870's, according to his recollection, and knowledge of town history. Osceola was a mason and plasterer by trade. The family, sometime in the 1880's, moved to Brantford, to re-connect with the Mohawk community. Osceola died, in Brantford, Ontario, on the 22nd of September, 1900, and his wife Margaret passed away in the same town, on September 26, 1911, and both are buried in a family plot, in the Mohawk Burying Ground, in that community.
It is known, that their son, Osceola Marrier Gladiator, was a soldier with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, in Europe, during the First World War.
The documents printed above, are from Archives Canada, and include correspondence to Muskoka Member of Parliament, A.P. Cockburn, regarding a legal matter, involving a delayed payment of federal funds to his wife, Margaret, and are signed by both Mr. Cockburn, and by her husband Osceola Gladiator. My research captain, Suzanne, who is highly accomplished with online searches, via Archives Canada, and Ancestry.ca, was able to piece together critical biographical information, to provide a better profile of the Gladiator family, formerly of Bracebridge. Thanks to her efforts, and the foundation information, provided initially, in 1934, by G.H.O. Thomas, of the Bracebride Gazette, we have a much clearer picture of the family, that for the past 145 years, were known as the first negro settlers in South Muskoka; who became the defenseless victims of the historic, ignorant, racial slur, as being the "niggers," of "Nigger Hollow." Of course, it can only ever be speculated upon today, what "The Hollow," might have been called, if the families of those youngsters, who perpetuated the mistruth, in the first place, (that the Gladiators were negroes), had known the family had actually been of Native American ancestry; but it's most likely, as a matter of historical misfortune, it wouldn't have made much difference. As G.H.O. Thomas pointed out, in his 1834 article, "dark skin," in that period, meant you were a nigger, at least to some citizens of the settlement.
There is only one way to deal with the historic wrong. Face up to it, and offer a modern day, civic apology, to a pioneer family of this community, that was racially discriminated against, because of the color of their skin. Their cultural ancestry made no difference to the slur.
Suzanne and I plan to carry on with research, regarding the family of Osceola Gladiator, because it is an important story, and especially now, when new information has been acquired, to set the record straight. The end-game here, as regional historians, is to make this sad but accepted aspect of local history, a transparent, well understood, and documented reality, of our chronology; by bringing it fully into the open, from the history it has been conveniently buried beneath. Instead of the way it has been diminished today, out of shame, as if it had never occurred, the issue begs to be explained. And it can be! The real political correctness here, would be to initiate a modern day resolution, to challenge the issue once and for all. Municipal recognition would be a start, to redress the historical wrong.
In our opinion, because of this wrong, that has spanned the centuries, the issue of political correctness, and racial discrimination, are both equally compromised, when historians try to avoid these issue altogether. Bracebridge is certainly not the only community in Canada, that was afforded an unfortunate, racially oriented title, of, for example, a "Nigger Hollow," or a parallel reference to a landmark, back in their respective founding years. In each case, enlightenment is the best course for all concerned. History can't be re-written. It is what it is! But it doesn't mean, it can't be re-visited with sensitivity, with a belated apology, to make amends for past wrongs.
As the modernists like to say, to historians these days, "Come on, live in 'The Now'!" I agree. We would love to live "in the now," and in the case of today's story, it would mean giving the family members of "Osceola Gladiator," the apology they deserve, circa 2014.
We will continue to present new information we discover, on this story, as our sleuthing through the archives continues. Thanks so much for joining this blog today. It's always nice when we meet once again, to share a little of Muskoka's interesting heritage.
For those in Bracebridge, who don't believe we owe these early settlers anything today, including a mention in the general overview of town history, or an apology, for an historic slur, they should keep in mind, that being an inhabitant of the hamlet, in 1866, made Osceola and Margaret Gladiator, and their children, one of the founding families, who gave us, by the foundation they helped dig into the Muskoka soil, our modern day Bracebridge. Of course they deserve recognition, in this capacity, but more so today, because of what they weren't afforded; and to my knowledge, there was never any civic apology to the Gladiator family, for a slur they would have heard over and over by happenstance.
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