Indian Chief, (sculpture).

Indian Chief, (sculpture).

J.L. Mott Iron Works, founder. (possibly by)

J. W. Fiske Iron Works, founder. (possibly by)

James B. Clow and Sons, contractor.

Indian Chief, (sculpture).

Chief Hopocan, (sculpture).

King Hopocan, (sculpture).

Indian, (sculpture).

Installed Sept. 1911.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: cast zinc, painted; Base: concrete.

Sculpture: approx. H. 5 ft. 9 in.; Base: approx. 97 x 72 x 72 in.

(Plaque on front of base:) BARBERTON, OHIO/"THE MAGIC CITY"/THE EARLY HISTORY OF BARBERTON IS RICHLY/ENDOWED WITH INDIAN-LORE THE POWERFUL IROQUOIS/DROVE THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF THIS SITE, THE/ERIE INDIANS, FROM THE/LOCALITY IN 1650./THE STATUE, HONORING CHIEF HOPOCAN OF THE/DELAWARE INDIANS, MARKS THE SPOT WHERE THIS/TRIBE OF THE ALGONQUIN NATION ESTABLISHED THEIR/CAME, AFTER THEY WERE DRIVEN FROM THE BANKS OF/THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER IN PENNSYLVANIA./THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GREAT LAKES AND THE/OHIO RIVER WAS THE PORTAGE PARK TERMINI WHERE/OLD PORTAGE AND NEW PORTAGE, OLD PORTAGE WAS/ON THE CUYAHOGA RIVER, FOUR MILES NORTH OF AKRON./CHIEF HOPOCAN WAS KNOWN AS THE/"KING OF NEW PORTAGE" NEW PORTAGE WAS WITHIN/SITE OF BARBERTON (THIS CITY WAS NOT/INCORPORATED UNTIL 1891) NEAR THE NORTH LIMIT/"GREAT SCIOTO TRAIL," RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH/BETWEEN THE GREAT LAKES AND THE OHIO RIVER./MAYOR WILLIAM S. MITCHELL COLLECTED FUNDS TO/ERECT THIS STATUE IN 1913

A standing figure of a Native American wearing a buckskin draped over his shoulders. On his proper left side is a bow, and there was once an arrow in his proper right hand. The Indian's proper left leg rests on a stump or mound. The sculpture is mounted upon a square, pyramidal base.

Homage -- Hopocan, Chief

Figure male -- Full length

Ethnic -- Indian -- Delaware

Dress -- Ethnic -- Indian Dress

Occupation -- Other -- Chief

Outdoor Sculpture -- Ohio -- Barberton

Administered by City of Barberton, Parks and Recreation Commission, 457 Morgan Avenue, Barberton, Ohio 44203

Located Portage Park, Wooster Road & Norton Avenue, Barberton, Ohio

Formerly located Indian Park, Wooster Road & Norton Avenue, Barberton, Ohio

The sculpture commemorates Chief Hopocan of the Delaware Indians, and is installed where the tribe established their camp after they were driven from the banks of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. The site was chosed by city officials who believed it to be an important junction on the Portage Path, an Indian trail leading from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. The path, however, passed Barberton to the east , near Summit and Nesmith Lakes. Chief Hopocan, who died in 1794, was also known as "Captain Pipe," the "Maker of the Daylight," and "King of New Portage," and was war chief of the Delawares. In the French War, Hopocan fought against the English. During the Revolutionary War, he fought against the Americans for the English. In 1778, he signed the Treaty of Fort Pitt, the first treaty between the United States and the Indians.

The sculpture is a generic cast metal figure of a Native American that was purchased from James B. Clow & Sons, and was fabricated by either the J. W. Fiske Iron Works or the J.L. Mott Iron Works. An identification plate on front of zinc base indicates J. W. Fiske Iron Works; however, this cast appears very similar to the cast zinc Native American figures produced by the J.L. Mott Iron Works. The cost was $245, which was funded through subscription. In December 1910, the City of Barberton purchased the site for the sculpture, then a school lot known as the Triangle School Ground, for $1,400. In 1966, during Barberton's 75th anniversary celebration, the Barberton Kiwanis Club added a commemorative plaque. The plaque incorrectly states that the sculpture was erected in 1913. The sculpture has been vandalized over the years, including being painted purple. Portage Park is also known as Indian Park. The sculpture is popularly known as "The Indian."

For additional information see the Barberton News, Sept. 29, 1911. IAS files contain an excerpt from the Barberton Herald, Sept. 6, 1988.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Ohio, Cleveland survey, 1993.

SOS Assessment Award, 1999.

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 2001.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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