USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 2
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But you ask, Who was this Sbabbona? He was a member of the Ottawa tribe of Indians. born as the best authorities think, in Ohio somewhere on the Maumee river. He was the grandnephew of the great Indian chief. Pontiac. He lived at the time of Tecumseh and the Prophet. He knew them both and took several long journeys with the for- mer. For a time he was a friend of Black Hawk. He knew Keokuk. Big Foot, Sauganash. Black Partridge, Snachwine, Wabansee and Red Jacket. He probably knew Big Thunder. Spotka. the Pot- tawattomie chief. appreciated his worth. and as an indication of his appreciation gave his daughter in marriage.
The name of this chief was not always spelled by writers in the same way. The following spell- ings are found: Shabbona, Chamblee, Shaubene, Shabone, Shaubenay and Shabehney. Shabbona seems to be the spelling preferred. The old chief liked to have his name pronounced. as if there were but two syllables to it, and to pronounce it as if it were spelled Shab ney. with the accent on the first syllable.
In appearance he was a very striking character. He would be singled out from among a hody of Indians because of the native dignity of the man. He was five feet, nine inches in height. broad shouldered, with a large head supported by a heavy neck. His hands. for a man of his size, were small. His body was long so that when he rode on horse- back he appeared larger than when on foot. He was a well built man. When a young man he
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excelled in all kinds of athletic exercises. As a boy he was the picture of health. He was always large for his age. When a young man he weighed two hundred forty pounds. As has been intimated he was very muscular and capable of great endur- ance. Until his last illness, which occurred in his eighty-fourth year, he did not know what it was to be sick.
One in speaking of him, says, "He was as strong as a buffalo, as swift of foot as a deer and as gentle as a woman." There are those who think that Shabbona, with his power to understand men, his soundness of judgment in dealing with matters that pertained to his race, his coolness in times of danger, his loyalty to principles, might have be- come one of the great men of the world had be had opportunities of education. He possessed those characteristics that made him a leader. People loved him, they believed in him, they acted upon his suggestions.
In the autumn, it was the custom of the In- dians to go on extended hunts in order that food might be secured and prepared for the winter. At this time of the year game was in good condi- tion and the fur of fur-bearing animals was at its best. Sometimes these hunts took the hunters a long distance from their homes. The Indians of certain tribes came to feel that they owned certain hunting grounds and looked upon others who might hunt upon these grounds as hostile to their interests.
In the autumn of 1800, a party of Ottawa hunt- ers from the country around Lake Erie went on a hunting expedition into what is now known as Illinois. This hunt led them around the lower end of Lake Michigan to the present site of Chicago. Here they felt at home as they were among their friends, the Pottawattomies. Among those who was sent on this hunt was a young man known as Shab- bona-the Shabbona about whom this article tells. This was his first visit to Illinois. When the hunt was over the Indians returned to their homes in the Ohio country. Shabbona, however, did not re- turn, but spent the winter at the home of Spotka. the chief of the Pottawattomies at Chicago. As has been stated his stay with this chief resulted in Shabbona receiving Spotka's daughter in mar- riage. Shabbona was already a chief among the Ottawas and his marriage to the daughter of 3
Pottawattomie chief made him a Pottawattomie, and later he became a Pottawattomie chief.
By his sterling qualities he won the respect of his new brothers and as has been indicated became a chief among them. It is said that at first they were inclined to feel somewhat jealous of Shab- bona and as a result said some things of him that were not altogether good. Some of these remarks came to the cars of Shabbona. It made him feel sad to hear these things for he had tried his best to please those with whoin he lived. After think- ing matters over for a time he decided that he could stand it no longer, so one morning he arose and announced to his squaw, Coconoko, that he was going to go back to his people to live among them. Bidding Coconoko good-bye he mounted his pony and rode away to the eastward. He rode and thought and the farther he got away from his squaw the more he thought. Before night overtook him he turned his pony about and re- turned to Pokonoka to live with her during the remainder of his life which closed fifty-nine years after this. While he was gone Pokonoka talked to her people about the injustice that had been done Shabbona. After this there was never any more trouble along this line for they soon came to ap- preciate his worth. It was not long after this that Shabbona selected Shabbona Grove as his home.
From 1800 to 1807 Shabbona traveled much among the Indians along the Illinois, Fox and Rock rivers. At times he went farther to the south, also up the Mississippi and into Wisconsin. The missionaries among the Indians often secured him to guide them as they went from tribe to tribe. In this way he became very well acquainted with the leading chiefs and with the country in which they lived. It is said that he could mark out a trail or river course in the sand, indicating all of the landmarks, so that it was easy for a stranger not acquainted with the country to find his way. This knowledge of the country and acquaintance with the chiefs was a good preparation for the later life that Shabbona led.
In the year 1807. Shabbona had the good for- tune, if looked at in one way, and bad fortune if looked at in another light, to become acquainted with Tecumseh-Flying Panther-the chief of the Shawnee Indians, who was a man of many high qualities. impressive manners and wonderful nat- ural eloquence. Tecumseh was a little older than
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Shabbona but they were both comparatively young men at this time. neither being over thirty-five years of age. The two chiefs had many councils together. Teenmseh saw the evil influence of whiskey among his people so he prohibited its use. This and other things he did left their im- press upon Shabbona for good. although in later years Shabbona was known to imbibe somewhat.
In the year 1810, General Harrison met Tecum- seh on the Wabash in council. After this council Tecumseh went to Shabbona's village and persu- aded Shabbona to go with him to see the Indians of northern Illinois and Wisconsin to get them to join in concerted action in driving back the whites who were pushing their settlements forward into their hunting grounds. These two chiefs went from village to village along the Illinois and Fox rivers. Then they went to the Winnebago and Me- nominee Indians to the north. Both of these tribes fought against the Americans during the war of 1812. Tecumseh and Shabbona then moved to the south along the Mississippi, visiting the Sauks and Foxes, meeting Black Hawk and Wapello. the leading chiefs. At Rock Island the two chiefs parted. Tecumseh going farther to the south along the Mississippi and Shabbona returning to his home in DeKalb county.
In the summer of 1811 Tecumseh and Shab- bona met General Harrison again at Vincennes :n a second council. After a wordy conference Te- cumseh withdrew and with Shabbona and two Shawnee chiefs set out for the south to visit the Creeks. Cherokees. Choctaws and Seminoles. While absent his followers were defeated on the îth of November. 1811. in the battle of Tippe- canoe by General Harrison.
After the visit to the sonth Shabbona returned again to the grove. It was while here that he heard of the declaration of war with England. There was a plan on foot to attack and capture if possible, Fort Dearborn before news could reach that place. Runners came to Shabbona tell- ing him that the attack was to be made and that the Pottawattomies were all to take part in the war. He decided that he would not go to the at- tack on Fort Dearborn as he had many friends there among the whites. Seeing the other Indians going he mounted his pony and went also. Snach- wine had planned and carried out the attack. When Shabbona arrived he was shocked to see what had
been done. Scattered along the beach of the lake lay the forty-two (some say fifty-two) bodies of the victims of the massacre, scalped and muti- lated, women. children and soldiers alike. The body of Captain Wells lay in one place, his head in another while his arms and legs were scattered over the prairie. The remains of Captain Wells were gathered up by Black Partridge and buried near where they were found, while the bodies of the other victims were left where they fell until the rebuilding of Fort Dearborn in 1816-four years later. Then their scattered bones that had been bleaching in the sun were gathered up and buried by Captain Bradley.
The prisoners were placed in Kinzie's house where Black Partridge and Shabbona tried to pro- tect them with their braves. Parties of Shawnee Indians arrived from the Wabash. These were thirsting for blood. They expected to arrive in time to take part in the attack. They rushed by Black Partridge and Shabbona to get at the pris- oners and had not Saguanash arrived just as he did their lives would have been taken. They would have shared the fate of the others. As it was they were saved and we feel grateful for the share that Shabbona had in the saving of their lives. They were made prisoners. Part of them were taken to St. Joseph and to Canada. Others were scattered among the different tribes of Pot- tawattomies but in time they were sent to Detroit and ransomed.
After the massacre of Fort Dearborn Shabbona returned to his grove with his mind made up to take no further part in the war. In the fall of 1812 emissaries from Tecumseh reached Shab- bona's village bearing presents and the wampum belt asking him and his braves to join with him in the war. Shabbona was deceived into believing that the Pottawattomies and many others of the tribes in Illinois were going to take up the hatchet and join the English in their war against the Americans. So Shabbona gave up the winter hunt that he had planned to take and with twenty-two warriors left for the seat of war. On his way to the Wabash. where the Shawnees dwelt. he fell in with Black Hawk and the Indians under his com- mand. The Hawk and Shabbona had been friends for many years and sat together many times in council. In this war Shabbona stood next in com- mand to Tecumseh. At Fort Meigs and Fort
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Stephenson the Indians were badly whipped by the Americans. This discouraged Black Hawk and his warriors so he, with them, returned to his home on the Mississippi. Shabbona, however, remained with Tecumseh and pushed onward, through Indiana and Ohio into Canada. In September, 1813, the battle of the Thames was fought and at this battle Shabbona saw his friend Tecumseh killed by Colonel Richard M. Johnson. Shabbona being seeond in command the leadership fell upon him The battle raging with fury and there seemed to be no chance for the Indians so he ordered his braves to retreat, which they did. Shabbona never expected to escape from the conflict alive. It is said that he prayed to the Great Spirit that if his life was saved he would never take up arms again against the whites. It was saved and from this time till his death he kept his vow. For this stand he lost prestige among the Indians. In derision they called him, "Friend of the White Man."
The people of northern Illinois remember Shab- bona not for the part that he took in the war of 1812 bnt for what he did after the war. Until 1849 the grove in DeKalb county was his home. True, he came and went but this was where he lived with his family and where those of his family who had died were buried. The white settlers did not come to Illinois in very large numbers, until after the Indians were moved west of the Mis- sissippi, after the Black Hawk war. When Chi- cago was laid out as a town in 1830 there were twelve families besides the garrison. Three years later the population had increased to 550. After the war of 1812 Shabbona was always ready to protect the settlers in and about Chicago.
In the fall of 1823 Fort Dearborn was vacated and troops did not occupy it again until the fall of. 1828. During this time the citizens of Chicago were unprotected except by the friendly Indians. All went well until the Winnebagoes took up the hatchet against the whites in 1827. At the time Shabbona went to almost every village of the Pot- tawattomies and persuaded them to remain at home, and not take part in the war. He told the citizens of Chicago that he would station his braves there and defend them if they wished him to do so.
The people of Chicago requested Shabbona and Sauganash to visit the village on Big Foot lake ( Lake Geneva), and try to persuade Big Foot to
not go to war with the whites. The two rode to the village on horse back. Saguanash did not en- ter the village but took a position so that he could see Shabbona as he met Big Foot and his braves. The meeting was not of a friendly nature. Shah- bona was accused of being a friend of the whites and an enemy of the Indians. Shabbona tried to convince Big Foot that the war with the whites meant the destruction of the Indians. The war- riors collected around the chiefs as they carried on their conversation. Big Foot became enraged and took out his tomahawk and was abont to kill Shab- bona but was prevented from doing so by the war- riors who were standing about. The warriors took away Shabbona's rifle, tomahawk, knife and blanket and bound him with buckstring thongs after which he was led to an unoccupied tent and placed under the guard of two warriors.
Sagnanash saw all this from his hiding place on the bluff that overlooked the village. When it looked as if the fate of Shabhona was sealed he mounted his pony and rode to Chicago to tell the story of what he had witnessed. During the night the Winnebagoes held council and it was decided that it was not safe to retain Shabbona as a pris- oner so he was released and allowed to return to Fort Dearborn. This was against the wish of Big Foot. He released him but secretly set out on his trail with a few of his warriors determined to kill him if possible. Shabbona suspected something of the sort and urged his fleet pony forward and made his escape. Big Foot followed him for many miles but finally gave up the pursuit. This visit of Shabbona to the village of the Winnebagoes re- sulted in their remaining at home and Chicago was again safe.
For several years preceding 1832, the Indians of northern Illinois had been comparatively quiet as far as outward signs were concerned, but there was a spirit of discontent prevalent among the Sauks and Foxes. They could not get over feeling that the whites were aggressors and that slowly but surely they were losing their land and being driven into the west, where they would have to encounter new enemies in new fields. This was not alto- gether to their liking.
While the Indians wandered about from place to place, they. for the most part, had a home other than their wigwams. They disliked to leave the
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
place where they were born, especially if there was a good prospect of their never seeing it again. Often times there centered about such a locality a history and a body of traditions that tended to) make it well nigh sacred to them. To be driven from the place where their dead for generations had been buried, engendered a just hatred for the whites that has not been easily blotted from their memories.
In Illinois, as elsewhere, the Indians and whites have not mixed. They were too unlike in their modes of living and in disposition to dwell in peace together. Where the whites settled the Indians gradually disappeared. For the most part they recognized the superiority of their aggressors. Oe- casionally we find a character like Shabbona, who. in a measure, took ou the ways of the whites and remained among them, to watch with interest the changes that followed their coming.
In 1832 Black Hawk and the Prophet made a desperate effort to induce the Pottawattonnes and Ottawas to join with the Sauks and Foxes in a war against the whites. It was February of 1832 that a great council of the Sauks. Foxes. Winn hagoes and Pottawattomies was held at Indian Town. Many chiefs were present. among them Shabbona. who at this time was fifty-seven years of age. The council lasted for many days and nights. Eloquent appeals were made by Black Hawk to induce the other tribes to unite in a final attempt to drive the white man from the frontier. It was evident that if such an attempt were not made in a short time the whites would become so numerous that all hopes to drive them back would be fruitless. All of the Pottawattomies. but one tribe, joined Shabbona in opposing union of the tribes and the council finally broke up without effecting a union.
At this time Black Partridge and Snachwine, the peace chiefs. were dead and Shabbona stood next in power among the Pottawattomie chiefs. Ever since Shabbona had seen his friend Tecumsen fall in battle at the Thames. he had been a mis- sionary for peace among the Indians. He had become thoroughly convinced that it was useless for the Indian to take up arms against the whites.
When Black Hawk saw that he could not get the tribes to join. he went back to his watch tower at the mouth of the Rock river determined on war at any cost. He then went across the Mississippi into Iowa. Here he remained until April. 1832,
when he again crossed into Illinois and moved up the Rock river valley with his warriors. He moved on until he came to a point about twenty-five miles above Dixon ferry and from there he went east to a grove of timber which has since been known as Stillman's Run.
At this point Black Hawk did not meet the warriors he had expected to meet in council with Black Hawk for the last time. It was here that the last war dance took place. Black Hawk tried hard to get Shabbona to join with him for he knew that if he secured Shabbona, practically the whole of the Pottawattomies would be in favor of the union and would take part in the war. Many of the Pottawattomies were doubtedless waiting for a chance to kill off some of their white enemies. 4 war would furnish such a chance. Sabbona was con- vinced that Black Hawk was determined upon war and could not be turned from his purpose. The Hawk said. "If we unite our forces we will have an army like the trees of the forest and will drive the palefaces before us like autumn leaves before an angry wind." Shabbona replied. "The army of the palefaces will be like the leaves on the trees and will sweep you into the ocean beyond the setting sun."
Then we have the story of how he stole away from the council in the night. with his son and nephew, to warn the whites of their imminent danger. In doing this he took his life in his hand, for, to fall across the path of Black Hawk meant death, for he had refused to join with him in war and had gone over to give assistance in every way to the enemy.
This meant that Shabbona had lost caste with many of the Indian tribes. He could never again meet with them in council. He must be alert lest he be taken by his enemy, for he was looked upon as a traitor by the Hawk and his people. He must look for protection from the whites.
It was a perilous undertaking to warn the set- tlers but in it lay their only safety. Shabbona's son and nephew warned the settlers along the Fox river and at Holderman's Grove. The settlers were warned as far east as the DuPage river in DuPage county. The whites were urged to go to Ottawa and to Fort Dearborn as soon as possible so as to escape the fury of Black Hawk. which was sure to break upon them. This advice they fol- lowed. Shabbona warned the settlers of Bureau
SCENE ON SOMONAUK CREEK NEAR TIIE BLAGG FARM WHERE IN- DIANS GATITERED IN EARLY TIMES.
THI NEW YORK PUPLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
county and those along Indian creek. Some of the settlers went to Hennepin, some went Peoria and others went to Springfield. Shabbona was in his saddle forty-eight hours. He rode nis pony to death, took off the saddle, borrowed an- other pony of a settler and went on his mission. In his broken English he told the settlers to go. In some cases he rode hack to warn them a second time and even begged them to make haste to leave. Often times in the past the settlers had been warned of impending danger and Indian hostili- ties, to find, after fleeing to the nearest fort, that the alarm was without foundation. A number were inclined to look upon Shabbona's warning as a false alarm. As a result many had barely time to escape Black Hawk and his warriors. At In- dian creek no attention was given to his warning. The Indians found the people of the settlement at work in their fields and about their homes and in a short time thirteen were killed and two girls were taken prisoners.
Shabbona had sent his people to the east into Indiana to get them away from the reach of Black Hawk. After the war they returned to the grove in DeKalb county.
You are familiar with the story of Black Hawk after this, his attempt to escape to the north and his capture by the troops who were guided in their search by Shabbona. With his capture and the removal of the Indians to reservations west of the Mississippi river the terror of Indian massacre in Illinois came to an end. There soon poured into this rich prairie state a host of pioneers to lay under subjection the resources of the wilderness in the building of their homes.
It must have been a picturesque gathering in 1835, as Pottawattomies to the number of five thousand assembled for the last time in a body at Chicago. They had come decked with all their most showy ornaments, to draw their pay from the government. Pathetic indeed was it to see them in their last dance, displaying as they did, all the savagery of savages. On that August day the people of Chicago saw the last of a race as it took its departure, worsted in the struggle for existence, baffled at every point, and made to retire before the progress of the white man. To us the story of the red man in Illinois seems a long way in the past but there are men living today who witnessed his departure.
We will now turn our attention to the reserva- tion that Shabbona and his people owned for a time. In a treaty made at Prairie Du Chien in 1829, the Pottawattomie Indians ceded their land in northern Illinois to the United States. At this time two sections were reserved as a home for Shabbona and his family. This tract of land in- cluded section 23, and the west half of section 25. and the east half of section 26. in town 38, range 3, east of the third principal meridian at Paw Paw Grove. The tract of land included one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of most excellent land in a very good locality.
In October, 1832, these lands were again re- served for Shabbona in a treaty which was made at Tippecanoe. In 1833 it was provided that Shab- bona might sell his land if he felt inclined, but for some reason in 1834 this privilege was taken from him. This left Shabbona's land as regular reser- vation to be used by him until the government saw fiit to take it from him. At any rate this is the way the matter culminated finally.
When the Indians were removed by the gov- ernment to reservations west of the Mississippi river the Indians of Shabbona's tribe outside of his relatives were made to go also. This was a hard blow for Shabbona. Ile loved his grove and the graves of his dead. Ile loved his people and they loved him. When they went he went with them to see that they were well located.
From 1835 until 1849 Shabbona did not make the grove his permanent home. He went to the west several times to visit his friends and in a few instances made extended visits. but he al- ways returned to Illinois and to his reservation. The people were for the most part glad to have him return and visit among them. His genial dis- position and the memory of what he had done for them made the people reserve a warm affec- tion for Shabbona.
About 1845 Shabbona sold part of his land to the Gates brothers. Hlo was not aware of the fact that the right to dispose of his reservation had been taken from him. The Gates brothers soon sold the land that they had acquired to settlers who bought small patches principally for the wood. Many of these settlers lived on the prairie and the wood was of much value to them. It is said that during Shabbona's absence from the grove the surrounding settlers would out the
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