Chief Logan

Tah-gah-jute (~1725-1780), sometimes known as Chief Logan or James Logan, was a Mingo chief in the pre-Revolutionary War era, who had befriended the white settlers, moving in from Virginia into the territory that is now West Virginia and Kentucky. He was called Logan after the Secretary of Pennsylvania, who was allegedly a great friend to the native peoples.

In 1774, a group of settlers, including Colonel Michael Cresap and Daniel Greathouse, murdered many of the local peoples, including all of Logan's family. Logan was infuriated, and believed that the Americans pouring in to his tribal lands posed an imminent danger to his people. He responded by attacking their settlements along the Monongahela River. He and his Shawnee ally Cornstalk were eventually defeated at the Battle of Point Pleasant, and the Native American peoples of the region were forced to surrender their land claims in Kentucky. While Cornstalk agreed to the surrender, Logan refused to attend. Instead, he issued a speech, describing how he had befriended the Europeans and helped them settle the region, but rather than receive any thanks, he saw his family murdered. Having seen his entire family murdered, he ended with the chilling statement: "Who is there to mourn for Logan? No one."

For several years, Logan continued to attack the settlers invading the Indian territories. He was murdered (possibly by a nephew) in 1780.