Indian Graveyard

at Custaloga Town Scout Reservation

There is an area in the northeastern corner of Mercer County, just outside of Milledgeville, known as Custaloga Town. At this site, one can visit a Native American burial ground and sacred tree plantings.

Chief Custaloga was of the Wolf Clan of the Delaware (Lenape) tribe in the mid 18th century. Sometime around 1749, Chief Custaloga established a sizeable village at the junction of French Creek and North Deer Creek (now called Custaloga Town).

Chief Guyasuta, a Seneca Indian was sent to Custaloga Town to be an administrator, or half king.  In 1763, Guyasuta and Custaloga joined Pontiac and his plan to “drive the English to the sea”.  He is mentioned twice in George Washington’s journals.

Three areas lay claim to Guyasuta’s burial place, but research, archeology, and a recorded eye-witness account all support that Guyasuta’s burial place is here at Custaloga Town.

The area eventually became part of the Heydrick Farm. The Heydrick family preserved the area for many years. In 1964, Mary T. Heydrick willed two acres and the burial grounds to the Mercer County Historical Society,

Broken headstone inscribed with "GUY-A-SOOTER 1810," which was the date of Guyasuta's death and burial, according to Charles Heydrick, who spoke to a local settler in 1819:

"John Martin, Jr., who could converse in the Indian tongue, informed me that he made the coffin and assisted in burying a chief. They placed in the coffin his camp kettle, filled with soup; his rifle, tomahawk, knife, trinkets, and trophies. I think they called him 'Guyasooter.’”

Reenactor at a Custaloga Town French and Indian War Reenactment

This monument located at Custaloga Town, was erected in 1915 by Charles William Heydrick to commemorate Chief Guyasuta and his role in the history of this region.