EFA HADJO, EFAU HAfJO, OR MAD DOG, Creek Chief.
It would be an interesting fact, if it could be proven, that the Effa Adjo who signed the treaty made by the English and the Creeks in June, 1765, at Pensacola, was the same man as Efa Hadjo, who was in after times so long the speaker of the Creek Nation. Be the fact as it may, the first notice of Efa Hadjo or Mad Dog in April, 1792, shows him a partisan of the adventurer, Bowles. Many of the ignorant Creeks at that time supposed that Bowles represented the English government, and that England, France and Spain were op- posed to the Americans. A year later, how- ever, in April, 1793, found Efa Hadjo a de- cided friend of the Americans. Alexander Cornell in a letter to James Seagrove, the Creek agent, in April, 1793, writes: “If every man should exert himself as well as the Mad Dog, and the headmen of the Upper towns, and Mr. Weatherford, we should have an everlasting peace with our brothers of the United States.” From the lack of records, it cannot be stated when Efa Hadjo became the speaker of the Creek Nation. He did not hold this office at the treaty of Coleraine in June, 179 6, though he was one of the signers of the treaty. Fusatchee Mico, the Whitebird King of the Hickory Ground, was the speaker at Coleraine. Efa Hadjo was the speaker of the Creek Nation at the treaty of Fort Wilkinson in 1802. He also at the same time was speaker of the Upper Creeks, with Coweta Micco, as speaker of the Lower Creeks. His several talks at this treaty were all sensible and relevant to the subjects un- der consideration. Twelve days after the treaty Efa Hadjo abdicated his station as speaker and first chief of the nation to Hopoie Micco and transferred the seat of the Na- tional Councils from Tuckabatchee to the Hickory Ground. He was at this time, as he stated, “getting in age.” This action of Efa Hadjo was either of short duration or was not accepted by the Nation, as can be seen from Colonel Hawkins’ notice of the chief in 1799.
“This (Tuckabatchee) is the residence of Efan Hanjo, one of the great medal chiefs, the speaker of the Nation at the National Council. He is one of the best informed men of the land, and faithful to his National en- gagements. He has five black slaves, and a stock of cattle and horses; but they are of little use to him; the ancient habits instilled in him by French and British agents, that red chiefs are to live on presents from their white friends, is so riveted that he claims it as a tribute due to him, and one that never must be dispensed with.”
Efa Hadjo died in Tuckabatchee in 1812.
References.— American State Papers, In- dian Affairs, vol. i, pp. 297, 367, 382, 383, 385, 390, 396, 424, 461, 670, 672-681, 840; Hawkins’ Sketch of the Creek Country, p. 30.