Warren County
Local History by Dallas Bogan |
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Dallas Bogan on 13 August 2004 |
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original article by Dallas Bogan |
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What does the term "Indian Summer" mean? How and why was it originated?
The writer has often thought on this subject.
An article written by Josiah Morrow seems to explain to some
degree the term "Indian Summer." This is the only account I have been
able to find on this topic.
Indian Summer is the time of year, generally in late autumn or early winter
that represents a period in which the weather displays beauty, warmth, calmness
and a hazy atmosphere. This most commonly appears after the first big frost.
Thoreau proclaimed it the finest season of the year.
The phrase is of American origin. The earliest written use was uncovered in
1790. In the early part of the nineteenth century it was used quite frequently.
From our country it quickly expanded to England where it was spread throughout
the world.
When Queen Victoria became eighty, Alfred Austin, poet laureate of England,
composed to her a birthday poem entitled, "An Indian Summer."
Theories galore as to the origination of the name were suggested, and not until
Albert Matthews of Boston began his research on the subject
did it shed some light. His findings were published in the Weather's Review
in 1902, entitled, "The Term Indian Summer."
His collection of works and footnotes would make a small volume. Matthews lists
a great number of passages from different writers of American and English prose
and poetry.
His conclusion was that the term was a new expression rather than an old one.
He says that the older subject writers on America never used the term in their
publications. The phrase was not submitted publicly until the 1841 edition of
Webster's dictionary.
Matthews found its first written form in the journal of Major Ebenezer
Denny who was selected by the Governor of Pennsylvania to protect the
frontier of that State from Indian attacks.
Major Denny, while at French Creek near the present city of
Erie, Pa., made an entry into his journal on October 13, 1794. It read, "Pleasant
Weather. The Indian summer here. Frosty nights." According to Matthews,
only two other occasions were recorded before 1800. One was by a writer at New
Haven, Ct., in 1798, and the other by the noted traveling Frenchman, Volney.
Just three other occasions using the saying were recorded during the first fifteen
years of the nineteenth century in 1809, in 1813 and in 1815.
Josiah Morrow cites that through his readings on the subject,
he found a notation in General Josiah Harmar's journal regarding
the term Indian Summer, dated 1790. This was four years previous to Matthew's
find. Harmar's journal was written during his raid on the Maumee
Indian village. It says:
"Thursday, Oct 21st - fine weather - Indian summer. Having completed the
destruction of the Maumee towns as they are called, we took up our line of march
this morning from the ruins of Chillicothe for Ft. Washington. Marched about
8 miles.
"Saturday, Oct. 23rd - Indian summer, Took up our line of march this morning
at 8 o'clock and encamped about 24 miles from the ruins of the Maumee towns.
This days march about 16 miles - much encumbered with our wounded men.
"Sunday, Oct 31st - Fine, clear weather. Indian summer. Marched and halted
a little while at what is called Sugar Camp - from thence to Caesar's creek,
a branch of the Little Miami - three miles. Thence crossed the Little Miami."
The reasoning for this name is supplied by several theories. One is this was
the time the Indians burned the woods and the dry grass.
Dr. Daniel Drake says: "The cause of the smokiness is
supposed to be the conflagration by the Indians of withered grass and herbs
of the extensive prairies of the north west, and hence perhaps the name of the
season."
Scholars have found no mention of the term in Indian mythology and legends.
The source of many expressions and sayings may never be discovered. One thing
is almost certain; the term "Indian Summer" originated with the North
American whites.
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This page created 13 August 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
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