USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time > Part 7
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300
Ward. S. D.
.314;
Ward, T. W.
Wentworth, Elijah, Jr .. I47. 28S
Whitelaw. Maggy
321
Warden, Peter
Wentworth, Mrs. Elijah, Jr. 2SS Whitemarsh. Thomas C.
341
Warner, Mrs. M. A.
219
Warner, Spencer
_Sketch of 463 Whiting, A. B .. 353
Warner. Mrs. Spencer.
Warnock, John
Warrington, Mrs. Isabella
371, 372, 390, 412, 446, 598. 633. 637. .Sketch of 622-628
Whitlock, Thomas 336
Whitman, Seth S .. 465
Warren, William
478,
Warren, Sarah
Wentworth's Tavern [12, 629. 630 Whitney, Sarah
342
Whittier. SIrs. A. E 275
Washburn, C. C.
371
Washburn, Elihu B.
West, Emanuel J.
166
Wickersham, Dudley 284
Wicoffe, Peter
271
Widening of the river, and condemned land. 239
Wier, J. B.
-274. 518, 519
332 331 Wikkingson, Iver. 349
Wight. Mrs. Caroline. 315
Washington Temperance Society. 518
Watchman of the Prairies.
402
Western Enterprise
411
Water Works 187, IS9, IQS Western Garland
Watkios, Francis
Watkins, John 175, 205, 207, 208
Watkins, Thomas. I39. Watson, J 147 637 631 632
Watson. James V. 408,
409
Waubansee
-74, 78, 79 Western Museum. the. 453
Wilcox, Mrs. Mary E. 309
Wilcox, Mrs. S. G. 300
Wild Onion River. 100
Weatherford, William. 36,
124 school), North Side-Rev. Ansel
Wilder, A. G. 215, 216
Wilder. U. P. 220
Willard, Frances L. 208, 301
Willard, Henry 329
Willard. J. P. 637
Webber, Mrs. Nathaniel.
327
Weber, C. P.
220
Weston, Allyn. 411
Willard, Mrs. Mary . F. 321
Webster, Mrs. Ann E.
305
453
Webster, Daniel
149, 235, 237
Webster. Fletcher
431
" Westward Ilo," first boat that entered the river. 2.11 Willard, sylvester. 305 Willard, Simeon 462
"William Penn " (steamer). 241
Williams. Archibald. 448
Williams, Barney. 35. 459
Williams, Rev. David. 330
Williams, Mrs. D. D. 330
Weikamp. John Bernard
207 Wheeler, Charles H1. 257 Willits. Edward_ 330
Weiler. Theodore
255. 2011
Weir. John B:
212 Wheeler, Hiram
Weite. Mex
256
Wheeler, John E. -346. 39, 401. 416
470. 177.
Wiffiams, Erastus S 220, 549
W.hh. Michael.
Wheeler, William
Williams, Giles
555
W.Ich, l'atrick
133
Whipple, T. Herbert -- 402. 410, 411, 502,
Willi ... s. 11.
221
Weller, Henry.
353
Wellmaker, John.
Whipple. Rev. Henry 330 Williams, Mis- 1. 215
Wells, Captain Bli-ha.
Whipple, 11. 1 .... 337
Willers. John (' 305
Whijque. Mr -. P.
Willi ... , Vr -. John C. 304
I. M. 330
Wells, Edwin E.
342 Whistler, George W
Wilham», Mrs. Lucy Fitch 310
-
Walton, Charles
477
Wells, Solomon IS5
Wanlers, Agnes
321 256
Ware, A. D.
Ware, J. E.
389.
414
Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Episcopal Church ( IS45)-First Sunday-school -Ministers-Organization of church - Members and officers - New church building (1867)-Present of-
236 Wencker, Aug. 297
White, R. J.
323
Ward, J. H. .629, 631, 637 Wentworth children
333
Ward, Mary Frances 293 299 Wentworth, D. S. 215. 216
Whitehead, Rev. Henry.
325
Whitehouse, Henry J.
336
Whiting, Captain Henry So.
Whiting. W. L. SSI-582
Whitlock, James 66, 148
Warren, Hooper
339 383 333
Wentworth, Lucy (Walker) - - 115, 629. 637 Wentworth, Rebecca.
637 Whitney, George C. 342
Washburne. Charles A.
Wentworth, Mrs Zebiah (Estes) ___ 114, 637
Wentz, Christian. 276
250
" Washington School District " (Sixth Ward)-Appropriation for school (1850). 213
271 332
Washingtonian Home. 637
Westergreen, Olof. Mr. and Mrs.
Washingtonian Society, first
organization
Westerfeld, J. H.
Western Citizen, the
383 410 Wight. Rev. J. Ambrose. .212, 306, 314. 315. 378. 395, 396.
Wilburn, John S.
IS2
275 Western Hotel 633 Wilcox, A. S. 341
Wilcox. Colonel De Lafayette ___ S4, 85, 132, 300, 303.
Wilcox, Elijah 2.47
Wilcox, Ed. P. 309
Wilcox, J .. 306, 308. 354
Western Magazine, the (1845-1846)
389
Wilcox. John L 334
Wayman, Mrs. Mary. 322
Wayne, General Anthony 34
Weaver, Elisha 334
Webber. George R. 284
Webber, John E.
2S5 327
meetings-First church building- Second church building - Fourth Presbyterian Church. -309. 310
Willard. Lucius A. 321
Weston, Nathan.
Willard, Dr. Samuel 208
Westover, Rev. J. T. 323 Willard. Silas. 253
Webster, J. D. 238, 403, Weed, Ira M. 598 308 Weekly Express ( 1852) 407 378
Weekly Tribune, the (IS40-IS41)
Wheat, first invoice of shipped from Chicago
Wehrli, Kudolph
324 2>4 Whent, John W. 2:2 William-, 1). 1) ._ 330
Weikamp, liernard.
205 Wheeler, .VIva 259
Whevier, Vicorge M .. 262
Williams. Flizabeth. 310
William -. Eli B., 149, 156, 176, 202. 334.
Weich. C. B.
Wheeler. Talman 33;
I14
Wells. Elisha, his company for Mexican War
Whistler. George.
322
Westcott, Seth.
Westergreen, N. O.
152
Western Crusader.
Western Institute of Homeopathy. of- ficers (1851) 470
Western Journal of Music (1556) 411
Watties, William . Wattles, W. W
Western World Insurance & Trust Com- pany 549
Western Tablet (Catholic, IS52-1852) -- 407 Westminster Presbyterian Church (new
D. Eddy-Organization, IS55-First elders - Organic members - First
Webber, Nathaniel.
521 170 315
Wentworth, Elijah ..- 96, 103, 114, 116, 117, 192, 602, 629. 631, 637-
Wentworth, George W. 372. 595
Whitemarsh Mrs. Joliette F. 341
341 341 167
Wentworth, John. .147, 171, 185, 235, 237, 252, 267, 263, 271. 277, 316. 366,
Warren, John A.
48I 132 411
331 Wicker, J. G.
White, George. 601
White, Liberty
80
Whistler, William .....- 72. So, $4. 119. 263
Whistler. Lieutenant William 72 Whistler, Major William .. $4, 270
S2 Whistler. General J. N. C. Sa
Willisa -. IL. C. 227
Wharling privileges (1533-1837).
Wharfage property and docks
235. 239
1.4I
Wegland. William.
411
West Side Baptist Mission
SPECIAL INDEX.
Page
Page
Pale
Williams, Rev. Moses.
330
Williams, Mrs. Samuel
330
Williams, S. B ..
315
Williams, Rev. Thomas.
323, 410
Wills, Solomon.
150
Wolcott, Mrs. Ellen M. 90, 437
Wilmot, George B.
280
Wolcott, Henry.
90
Wiley, A. C.
258
Wolcott, Mary Ann 90
396
Wright, N. G.
175
Wiley, Leroy.
253
Wolf, Augusta.
226
Wright, O. H. 256
Wright, Thomas. 207, 209, 357
Wright, Timothy.
132, 220, 390, 402
Wilson, Rev. James E.
328, 333
Wilson, James Grant.
411
Wolf Point Tavern ____ 96, 103, 106, 132, 637 Wood, John .. 2S6 Wrose, Alfred.
Wright, Walter.
132, 410, 477. 521
Wilson, John 256, 263, 312, 350
Wilson, John L ..
139, 147, 223
Wood, Lewis N 476
Wyatt, W. J ..
281
Wilson, Joseph G.
Wood, P. P.
230
Wygant, Alonzo.
330
Wilson, J. M. -336, 471
Wood, S. R.
278
Wynkoop, H. A.
147
Wyman, John B.
235
Wilson, Robert 286, 396
Woodbury, Catharine
319
230
Wilson, Robert S. 451 Woodbury, Crecy.
319
Yorkshire House.
637
Wilson, Theodore O. 284
Woodville, N. D.
412
"Young America " (hotel) 110,
637
Wilson, William Duane. 236, 401, 409
Woodworth, E. D.
321
Young, Hugh.
152
Wimmerset, F. M.
Woodworth, Jacob.
321 Young, John.
294 286
Winter, W.
332
Woodworth, John M.
321
-Young Men's Association. .152, 521, 522
Woodworth, R. P.
477
Young, Rich M. 117, 420, 423, 446
Wisconsin City
134
Wisconson & Superior
257
132, 239,
325
Worrell, Mrs. M. T.
339
Wiesencraft, William.
203
Worrell, William H.
339 Zarley, J. W
Wisencraft, William
327
Worthington, William. .22
222 Zeitgeist.
Wisencraft, Mrs. William
327
Witbeck, Mrs. Henry
309
Wright, Edward.
206 Zimmerman, Ed
322
Witting, Victor
332
Wright, Francis.
206
Zimmerman, Mrs. Ilarriet
322
Wunder, Henry ..
348,
351
Wright, Frances S.
Zimmerman, H. W.
.185, 337
Wunderlich, Rev. E.
332 Wright, G. S ...
285 Zion's Evangelical German United
Wolcott's addition
131 Wright, James. 478 Church 351
Wolcott, Alexander, Sr. F
90 Wright, Mrs. John 208, 305 Zoegel, Joseph 295
-
.
Wilsey, Ferdinand L.
467
Wilson, Charles L .377, 378
Wilson, Ilenry T.
271
Wolf Point .... III, 114, 174, 629, 630, 631, 632.
Wright, T. G ..
176
Wilson, Richard L. -140, 147, 212, 236- 278, 377. 378, 502.
Wood, W. A ...
258
Woodbridge, John 310
Yager, Joseph 294
Yoe, P. L.
Young, J. T ..
Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company Bank ..
Woodworth, Z.
199
Youth's Gazette, the 383
Youth's Western Banner (1853)- 408
Yunker, F. I.
297 230
Zabriska, Elias B.
269
Wright, Annie (Mrs. J. C. Webster)
206 Zempta, Eliza.
332
Woolsey, Jedediah 182, 192, 269
Worrell, B. F .. 339, 395
Wisencraft, Charles
324
Winnemeg
79, 109, 110
Woodworth, James H. ... 171, 185, 476, 614
-- 532, 533. 534, 535
.Wolcott, Dr. Alexander __ ___- 35, 75, 90, 91,
Wright, John, 129, 130, 132, 206, 208, 290,
97, 100, 101, 103, 104. 182, 264, 288, 420, 457.
Wolcott family 90
299, 300, 301, 303, 357. 396, 465. Wright, John S., 122, 132, 136, 155, 207, 212, 251, 253, 289, 300, 305, 375, 396, 56g. Wright, John W. 175
Wright, Madam 470, 47I
Wolcott, Samuel
Wolfe, Peter IS5
230
407
411
305
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ILLUSTRATIONS.
MAPS.
Page
Marquette's (1673)
43
story was added ISI
Thevenot's (1673).
47
Water Works ISS
Joliet's colored map, (inset). 48, 49 Flood of 1849- 200
Carey's (1801).
51 Chicago High School
218
Morse's (1795).
52
An Early Fire Engine 225
Kinzie, John H.
97
Kinzie, Juliette A 98
Kinzie, R. A 99
Clark, John K.
United States (1783).
57 The Temple Building.
316.
Clybourne, Archibald IO+
La Salle's (1679-1682). .59,
Franquelin's (1684)
64
Second edifice erected by the First Bap- tist Society 317
Porthier, Mrs. Victoire 105
DeL'Isle's (1703).
67 Tabernacle Baptist Church. 320
Beaubien, Mark 106
Senex's (1710).
67 First Methodist Church . 326
Wentworth, Mrs. Zcbiah Estes. 114
De L'Isle's (1703).
68 St. James' Episcopal Church 335
Hogan, John S. C. 139
DeL'Isle's (1718)
68 First Universalist Church 343
Hamilton, Richard J. 143
Moll's (1720).
68 First Unitarian Church. 344
Keenon, Mrs. Ellen Hamilton 1.14
D'Anville's (1755)
69 Fac simile of-
Bates, John, Jr. 1.16
Mitchell's (1755)-
69 -Chicago Democrat. .361-364
forbes, Stephen 204
Carey's (1818).
70 -Chicago Morning Democrat. -367~370
Forbes, Elvira. 205
Popple's (1733)-
70
.Chicago American. 373-376
Chappel, Eliza 206
Caton, Hon. J. f). 2.10
SI --
.Chicago Express. -385-353
Beaubien, John B. 266
Thompson's Plat
112
-Chicago Journal. -391-394
St. Cyr, Rev. I. M. I.
290
Fort Dearborn in 1830-32.
113
Chicago in 1830 (inset). 112, 113 Plat of Chicago Lake Shore Line, show-
ing changes from 1821 to 1830 .___ 589
VIEWS.
Chicago in 1779 Frontispiece
Chicago's Historical Tree. 30 Masonic Temple. 512
Starved Rock. 35
The Kinzie House in 1832 75
Fort Dearborn in 1803.
79
Fort Dearborn in 1816. 100
Egan, W. B. 459
Brainard, Dr. D. 465
The Last of Fort Dearborn 628
550 560
Isherwood, Harry.
475
Chicago io 1845 149 View of Chicago in IS53.
592
Scammon, lIon. J. Y. 528
Chicago in 1830 164 Wolf Point in 1830 630 Cook, Hon. D. P. 600
The Second Court-House. 176 Dearhorn-street Drawbridge, 1834 631 Ogden, Hon. W. B. 617
The First Court-House. 177 Sauganash Hotel 632
Caldwell, Archibald
629
Tbe Saloon Building.
180 | Green Tree Hotel 634 | Wentworth, Elijah 637
Page
Frink & Walker's Stage Office
636
View of Clark Street in 1857
638
PORTRAITS.
Ifubbard, Gurdon S.
Hull's (1812)
53
The " Long John " Fire Engine. 223
La Hontan's (1703)
54 St. Mary's Catholic Church
291
Hennepin's (1683)
55 First Catholic Cathedral.
293
60 First Baptist Church. 316
Clybourne, Mrs. Archibald. IO2
Hall, David. 103
Charlevoix (1774)
66
Du Pratz (1757). 71
Chicago in 1812
. Chicago Tribune. - 397-400
Porter, Kev. Jeremialı. 300
Holcomb's Tribunc. 403-404 Ifinton, Rev. Isaac T 318
Carpenter, Philo. 320
Hallam, Rev. Isaac W. 336
Rush Medical College
464 Calhoun, John C ..
360
Fac-simile of early theater bill. 459 Wentworth, Hon. John. 384
Fac-simile of first Masonic diploma is- sued to a Chicago man.
509
Peck, Ebenezer. 129
Huntington, Alonzo
430
Smith, S. Lisle. 432
Butterfield. Justin 434
Arnold, Hon. Isaac H1. 448
The Clybourne House. 104
Fac-simile of note of Chicago Marine & Fire Insurance Company- 531
Fac-simile of Seth Paine's money 541
Fac-simile of Michigan Wildcat money- 546 Fac-simile of Wisconsin Wildcat money. Cattle Fair in 1856.
Page
The Second Court-Ilouse, after third
-
- Chicago Commercial Advertiser-405-406 .Jackson Hall .. 371
Morris, Buckner S. 426
-Chicago Daily American. -379-352
.
--
Copyright by A. T. Andreas, 1854.
CHICAGO'S HISTORIC TREE.
(SEE OPPOSITE PAGE. )
THE LOCATION OF THE MASSACRE OF 1812.
CHICAGO'S HISTORIC TREE.
There is now standing in Eighteenth Street, between Prairie Avenue and the lake, a large cottonwood tree which marks the site of the massacre of 1812, and which, there is reason to believe, possesses even a greater historic value; as it is believed by many old settlers to have been standing at the time of the disas- ter. In order that the appearance of this landmark might be preserved, and that the memories clustering about it might not pass from mind, we have caused the tree to be photographed and engraved, and have also obtained documentary evidence that the Kinzie family regarded both the site referred to and this particular tree as historic.
On the morning of August 15, 1812, the troops and settlers left the fort, proceeded southward "about a mile and a half," and were attacked by the Indians. A fearful tragedy was there enacted, as is described in the history of Fort Dearborn elsewhere in this volume.
Having ascertained that Mrs. Juliette A. Kinzie had, during her lifetime, informed her friend, MIrs. Henry W. King, of the belief concerning this tree, we addressed Mrs. King a letter of inquiry and received the following reply:
"15I RUSH STREET, CHICAGO, } "January 25, IS84. 5
"A. T. ANDREAS, Dear Sir: I am very happy to tell you what I know about the tree in question, for I am anxious that its value as a relic should be appreciated by Chicago people; especially since the fire has obliterated nearly every other object connected with our early history. Shortly before the death of my friend, Mrs. John H. Kinzie, I called upon her and asked her to drive with me through the city and point out the various locations and polots of interest that she knew were connected with the ' early day' of Chicago. She said there were very few objects remaining, but localities she would be happy to show me. She appointed a day, but was not well enough to keep her appointment; went East soon afterward for her health, and died within a few weeks. Ilowever, at the interview I mention, she said that to her the most interesting object in our eity was the old cottonwood tree that stands on Eighteenth Street, between Prairie Avenue and the lake. She remarked that it, with its fellow, were saplings at the time of the Indian massacre, and that they marked the spot of that fearful occurrence; though she was not sure but the smaller one had either died or been eut down. I expressed surprise at the location, imag- ining that the massacre occurred further south, among the small sandhills which we early settlers remember, in the vicinity of Ilyde l'ark. I remember that her answer to this was:
"'My child, you must understand that in 1$12 there was no Chicago, and the distance between the old fort and Eighteenth Street was enormous.' Said she: 'My husband and his family always bore in mind the location of that massacre, and marked it by the cottonwood trees, which, strange to say, have stood unharmed in the middle of the street until this day.'
" The above facts I communicated to the Chicago Historical society, soon after Mrs. Kinzie's death, and believe. through: them. was the means of preventing the cutting down of the old tree, which the citizens of the South Side hadd voted to be a nuisance. I sin- cerch hope something may be done to fence in and preserve » valuable a relic and reminder of one of the most sai and interesting events in the life of Chicago. Trusing the above information may be of some use to you, and that you may be able to present the matter in a more entertaining form than I have done, Believe ine, sir, Yours most respectfully. " MRS. HENRY W. KING"
Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, whose residence in Chicago since 1836 enabled him to enjoy the friendship of the Kinzie family, was asked to state what he knew re- garding the subject. His response reads thus;
"CHICAGO, January 25, ISS4.
"CAPTAIN A. T. ANDREAS, Dear Sir: I have your note of this morning asking me to state what I know relating to the massacre at Chicago in 1812. I came to Chicago in October. 1836; the Fort Dearbora Reservation then and for several years thereafter belonged to the Government, and there were but a few scattering houses from Fort Dearborn south to the University and between Michigan Avenue and the beach of Lake Michigan. The sand hills near the shore were still standing. The family of John H. Kinzie was then the inost prominent in Chicago, and the best acquainted with its early history. From this family and otber old settlers, and by Mr. and Mrs. Kinzie, I was told where the attack upon the soldiers by the Indians was made. There were then growing some cotton- wood trees near which I was told the massacre occurred. One of those trees is still standing in the street leading from Michigan Avenue to the lake and not very far from the track of the Illinois Central Railroad. This tree was pointed out to me by both Mr. and Mrs. Kinzie, as near the place where the attack began. As the fight continued the combatants moved south and west over consid- erable space. Mrs. John H. Kinzie was a person of clear and retentive memory and of great intelligence. She wrote a full and graphic history of the massacre, obtaining her facts, in part, from eye-witnesses, and I have no doubts of her accuracy.
" Very respectfully yours, ISAAC N. ARNOLD."
A. J. Galloway, Esq, who has resided in the vicinity for many years, says :
CHICAGO, February S, 1884.
CAPTAIN A. T. ANDREAS-My Dear Sir : At your request I will state my recollections concerning the cottonwood tree in the east end of Eighteenth Street. When I removed from Eldridge Court, to the present No. 1808 Prairie Avenue, in 1858, the tree was in apparent good condition, though showing all the marks of advanced age. The large lower branches (since cut off,) after mounting upward for a time, curved gracefully downward, so that a man riding under them could have readily touched their extrem- ities, with his whip, at a distance of twenty or twenty-five feet from the body of the tree. From an intimate knowledge of the growth of trees. 1 have no doubt but its sapling life long antedated the time of the massacre of the Fort Dearborn garrison. I will venture the opinion, that if it were cut down and the stump subjected to a careful examination, it would be found that the last two inches of its growth covers a period of filty years, at least.
Yours truly,
A. J. GALLOWAY.
Charles Harpell, an old citizen, now living on the North Side, says that so far back as he can remember, this locality was known as the "Indian battle-ground;" that years ago, when a boy, he, with others, used to play there (the place from its very associations having the strongest attractions), and hunt in the sand for beads and other little trinkets, which they were wont to find in abundance. Mr. Harpell relates also that he, while playing there one day, found an old single-bar- reled trass pistol, which he kept for many years before it was Enally fost.
M:s. Mary Clark Williams, whose father, H. B. Clark, purchased in 1833 the land on which the tree now stands, says that nearly fifty years ago she played under the old cottonwood, and that it was then a large and thrifty tree. In 1840 an okl Indian told her father that the massacre occurred on that spot.
Although there is no way of positively determining that the tree pictured on the opposite page is the iden- tical oss that stood, a mere sapling, on the spot during the massacre. there is strong, almost conclusive, cause for de. 'aring :: the same. At all events. the proof of the site is sat :- factory, and the view herewith presented is an exeresting one, as showing how the scene of bar- barie :reachery appears after a lapse of nearly seventy. two years.
ERRATA.
Page 47. In description of Thevenot's map it should be stated that Kaskaskia village is represented, although with a differ- ent spelling of the name.
Page 54, eighteenth line from bottom, right hand column. "Northwestern shore of Lake Michigan " should read northeastern.
Page 73. seventy-third line from top, left hand column. John R. should read John K". (Clark).
Page 76. The sketch of the Kinzie House ends with the words, "numbered with the things that were." What follows should have borne the captioo, " POTTAWATOMIES IN THE WAR OF 1812." The caption was in the original copy, but dropped out. either in the type-writing or composition.
Pages 81, $2 and wherever name occurs, read Ensign Ronan, for Ensign Ronau.
Page 82. For De Isaac Van Voorhis, read Dr. Isaac Vaa Voorhis.
Page 84. For George Bendu, read George Bender.
Page 90. For City Surveyor (Alexander Wolcott), read County Surveyor.
Pages 105. 110, and 137. The discrepancy in statement con- cerning Mrs. Porthier and Mr. Gurdon S. Hubbard, as to each being "oldest living settler," is explained by reference to the fact that Mrs. Porthier was here prior to the massacre and removed from Chicago in 1835 :- . while Mr. Hubbard came later but still resides here.
Page III. Sixteenth line from top, left hand column : For " Watseca " read Iroquois. Same column : Alhira Hubbard should read Ahira Hubbard.
Page 146. For " courier.De Bois" read couriers de bois.
Page 179. " Urbs in Horte " should be "' U'rbs in Horto."
Page 180. William H. Darris should be William H. Davis.
Page 217. Jonathan T. Scammon should read Jonathan Y. Scammon.
The date of the arrival of the "Sheldon Thompson." with General Scott and the cholera, was, according to the testimony of Captain Augustus Walker (see his letter p. 121) July 10, 1832. On page 84 and page 270 the date is given as July S. Depending on the testimony of Captain Walker, and on contemporaneous letters of General Scott, the date of his arrival is believed to be July 10, 1832.
-
HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.
EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENT.
ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS OF THE SOIL.
T HE first definite and reliable information regarding the original proprietors of the soil of Chicago, is gained from the account given by LaSalle, of his expe- dition from the mouth of the St. Joseph, in Michigan, by land, to the Illinois River, in the winter of 1681-82. He says he proceeded on his journey from St. Joseph, toward the Illinois, by the southern shore of the lake, and was in the country of the Miamis until he reached what was then the Checaugau, but is now the Desplaines River. The portage which he was obliged to cross in order to reach that river, he calls the Checaugau Port- age. The neighbors of the Miamis, on the west, were the Mascoutins.
The Miamis, whose languge, manners and customs were almost identical with those of the Illinois, are supposed to be the parent race, or an important branch of that nation. They originally lived beyond the Missis- sippi, some writers claiming that their home was on the shore of the Pacific. They had villages, one in common with the Mascoutins-in Wisconsin, before 1671, and as late as 1697 ; but the greater portion of the tribe, before this time, had found their way to the southern. share of Lake Michigan, and east to the neighborhood of the St. Joseph River, in the present State of Michigan. They were of sufficient importance in Wisconsin, even as late as 1690, to warrant the English in sending an ambas- sador to their villages to purchase their friendship with gifts. They were partial to the French, however, and the overtures of the English met with little success. In 1670 the village of United Miamis and Mascoutins on Fox River of Green Bay, was visited by Father Wlouez, and the following year by Fathers Allouez and Pablon in company. One object of the visit of the father, in 1671 was to quiet a disturbance between the Indians and some French fur traders who had offended them.
"We found them." says Father Dablon, "in a pretty bad pos- Inre, and the minds of the savages much soured against the French. who were there trading: ill-treating them in deeds and words, in aging and carrying away their merchandise in spite of them. and conducting themselves toward them with insupportable inso- .ener and indignities."
- The Indians, although insolent to the traders, it seems were desirous of pleasing the missionaries. and Fener Dablon, who had a keen sense of the ludicrous, found it hard to preserve his gravity, when a band of savage warriors, anxious to do them honor, marched to their tent, and slowly paced back and forth before it. ating the movements of the soldiers on guard before the Governor's tent at Montreal. " We could hardly
keep from laughing," writes the good priest, "though we were discoursing on very important subjects, namely: the mysteries of our religion, and the things necessary to escaping eternal fire."
The Miami confederacy, composed of the Miamis, Illinois and Kickapoos, and which Bancroft says was the most powerful in the West, exceeding even the Six Nations, or Iroquois, included the Miamis proper, Weas and Piankeshaws.
In 1633 a large number of the nation settled at LaSalle's fort on the Illinois River. LaSalle wrote that year from the " Portage de Chicagau," to LaBarre, then Governor of Canada, " The Iroquois are again invading the country. Last year the Miamis were so alarmed by them, that they abandoned their town and fled, but at my return they came back, and have been induced to settle with the Illinois at my fort of St. Louis. The Iroquois have lately murdered some fam- ilies of their nation." The Miamis, at Fort St. Louis, numbered 1,300, the Weas 500, and the Piankeshaws 150.
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