Oneida (People of the beacon stone). One of the Iroquois family that assisted in the formation of the League. It is said that the Oneidas and Mohawks formed one family ; but the former established themselves east of Oneida Lake, New York, and in time became independent. A peculiar legend in connec- tion with this Tribe is that which refers to the Sacred Stone of the Oneidas. which is now located in Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, N. Y., oblong in shape, which they established as an altar and where all of their festive and religious ceremonies were held. It is said that when they removed their council fire a distance of twenty miles, that the stone followed in the train of its people.
The Oneidas became scattered and when the stone was re- moved in 1849, the remnant of the Tribe assembled around it and betrayed in their leave-taking manifestations of grief, several of them kneeling beside it and kissing it.