CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME 
 OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT 
 FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY 
 
 HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE 
 
Cornell University Library 
 E356.C53 K56 1914 
 
 Narrative of the massacre at Chicago <Sa 
 
 olin 
 
 3 1924 032 759 809 
 
FERGUS* HISTORICAL SERIES. — No. 3 O. 
 
 NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 [Saturday], August 15, 181 2, 
 
 AND OF 
 
 SOME PRECEDING EVENTS. 
 
 [by 
 JULIETTE AUGUSTA (MAGILL) KINZIK] 
 
 SECOND EDITION 
 With Illustrations, Additional Notes, and Index. 
 
 First Edition, "Chicago, III., Printed by [Wm.] Ellis & [Robert] Fergus, 
 
 Book and Job Printers, Saloon Building, 37 Clark St., 
 
 [S.-W. cor. Lake], 1844." 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 FERGUS PRINTING COMPANY 
 
 1914 
 
£ 
 35 ^ 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1844, by 
 
 John Harris Kinzie, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Illinois. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1914, by 
 
 John Bowman Fergus, 
 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 
 
 .^3 
 
 ^ 
 
FOREWORD. 
 
 SOME parts of the writer's notes may be considered out of 
 place, but as they relate to early Chicago, this seemed to 
 be an excellent opportunity to perpetuate them. All the data 
 are from authentic sources, gathered during the past forty years 
 or from personal observation and knowledge. The only changes 
 that have been made in this edition are the insertion of quotation 
 marks, making paragraplis, and inserting the original notes as a 
 part of the text instead of being at the end. 
 
 Chicago, igii. G. h. f. 
 
IN MEMORIAN 
 
 Robert and George Harris Fergus possessed the rare faculty 
 of discriminative collecting and colating historical facts relating 
 to early Chicago, extending over a period of 72 years — July i, 
 1839 to November 24, 1911. 
 
 Robert Fergus, pioneer printer and publisher — first daily one- 
 cent newspaper, ("Quid Nunc," 1842), and first complete book 
 (Illinois Supreme Court Reports, Scammon, Vols. 2-3), west of 
 the Allegheny Mountains, also first Chicago Directory (1843-45- 
 46) — led the way for the "Fergus Historical Series," and George 
 Harris, his eldest son, in like vocation, followed in his footsteps. 
 The notes and index of this republication, representing much 
 labor and research, at odd times during the last twenty years 
 of his life, was his final historical work. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 " I ^HIS little record,* taken many years since, [1836] 
 -*- from the lips of those who had been eye-witnesses-|- 
 of the events described, was not designed for publica- 
 tion. It was made simply for the purpose of preserving 
 to the children of the writer, a faithful picture of the 
 perilous scenes through which those near and dear to 
 them had been called to pass. This will excuse many 
 personal and family details which it contains. 
 
 At the solicitation of many friends, and to avoid the 
 possibility of its unauthorized appearance in print, the 
 writer has consented to its publication in its original form. 
 [Chicago, 1844.] 
 
 [ * From manuscript written and furnished by Mrs. John H. Kinzie, con- 
 tained in a small letter- page half- bound blankbook. I set the type for the 
 first edition of this pamphlet in 1844. The presswork was done by my 
 partner, the late William Ellis. Mrs. Kinzie read, revised, and approved the 
 proofs. It had not been printed prior to that date. 
 
 Chicago, Aug. 4, 1892. Robert Fergus.] 
 
 [ Subsequently, it was inserted, substantially, by Judge Henry Brown in his 
 "History of Illinois," New York, 1844; it also appeared in the three editions 
 of "Annals of the West," Cincinnati, O., 1846; St. Louis, Mo., 1850; and 
 Pittsburg, Pa., 1856, by James Handyside Perkins. Major Richardson made 
 use of it in two of, his tales, " Hardscrabble " and " Wau-nan-gee." Mrs. 
 Kinzie reproduced it as Chapters XVIII and XIX in her "Wau-Bun, the 
 Early Day in the Northwest," New York, 1856. — G. H. F.] , 
 
 [tMrs. Margaret McKillip Helm, half-sister of John H. Kinzie, and her 
 mother, Mrs. John Kinzie.— G. H. F.] 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 THE events recorded in the following narrative took place 
 when Chicago was a remote outpost of the American frontier. 
 It could hardly be called a settlement, as the only inhabitants 
 without the garrison were the family of a gentleman* engaged 
 in the fur-trade, and the few Canadians or engages, with their 
 wives and their children, who were attached to the same estab- 
 lishment. 
 
 A wilderness, peopled by savages, extended across the penin- 
 sula of Michigan, and the only intercourse between the far-distant 
 
 [The First Fort Ueakuorn, commenced in 1803 t] 
 
 posts of Fort Wayne, Detroit, and Chicago was carried on by 
 such liardy travelers as ventured occasionally to encounter the 
 
 [* John Kinzie. ] 
 
 [tThis is a view from the northwest of the first Fort Dearborn, from a 
 sketch drawn by the late George Davis — "the sweet singer of St. James' " 
 Church — made prior to 1844, from descriptions given him by Mrs. Margaret 
 McKillip Helm- Abbott and others; drawn on wood by John E. IliUingham 
 
 and engraved by Nichols in 1857, and was first used in the late Zebina 
 
 Eastman's " History of Chicago," a series of illustrated articles that appeared 
 in the five numbers, all that were issued, of the "Chicago Magazine," Chicago, 
 March to July, inclusive, 1S57. — G. H. F.] 
 
 9 
 
lO INTRODUCTION. 
 
 perils and fatigues of this lonely and hazardous journey. Guided 
 by a devious Indian trail, encamping at night beside a stream; 
 or seeking shelter in some hospitable wigwanx;. or even, some- 
 times, driven by circumstances, to imitate the birds of heaven, 
 and "lodge among the branches;" through difficulties and dangers 
 such as these was communication maintained between places now 
 so easy of access to each other. 
 
 The former fort* at Chicago stood upon nearly the same site 
 as the present (1836) stockade. It was differendy constructed, 
 however, having two block-houses, [one] on the southern side and 
 [one] on the northern, a sally-port or subterranean passage from the 
 parade-ground to the river. This was designed either to facili- 
 tate an escape in case of emergency, or as a means of supplying 
 the garrison with water during a siege. 
 
 The officers in the fort, at the period of which we write, were: 
 Capt. [Nathan] Heald.t the commanding officer; Lieut. [Linai 
 
 [ * It was somewhat different in its structure from its successor. It h^d two 
 block -houses, one on the southeast corner, the other on the northwest. On the 
 north side was a sally-port or subterranean passage, leading from the parade- 
 ground to the river, designed as a place of escape in an emergency, or for 
 supplying the garrison with water in time of a siege. The whole was 
 inclosed by a strong palisade of wooden pickets. [The pickets, 14 feet high, 
 were removed in 1S44, and replaced by a board fence — whitewashed, seven 
 feet high.] At the west of the fort, and fronting north on the river, 
 was a two-story log building, covered with split-oak siding, which was 
 the United -States factory, attached to the fort. On the south shore of the 
 river, between the fort and the factory, were the root-houses, or cellars 
 of the garrison. The ground adjoining the fort on the south side was 
 inclosed and cultivated as a garden. The fort was furnished with three 
 pieces of light artillery. A company of United -States troops, about fifty 
 in number, many of whom were invalids, constituted the garrison. It 
 received the name of Fort Dearborn, [prior to May, 1804, it was known 
 as Post Chicago], by which it was ever after known as long as it continued a 
 military post. Such was the old fort previous to 1812. Through the kind- 
 ness of Mrs. John H. Kinzie, who furnished the sketch, we are enabled to 
 present a view of this fort as it appeared previous to that year. — "Chicago 
 Magazine," Vol. I, No. 1, March, 1857.] 
 
 [ + Nathan Heald, third son of Col. Thomas and Sybil Adams Heald, was 
 born in New Ipswich, N. H., Sept. 29, 1775; was appointed from Massachu- 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. II 
 
 Taliaferro] Helm* [son-in-law of Mrs. John Kinzie]; and Ensign 
 [George I Ronant — the last two were very young men —and the 
 surgeon, Dr. [Isaac V.] van Voorhis.J: The command numbered 
 about seventy-five men, very few of whom were efl'ective. 
 
 A constant and friendly intercourse had been maintained 
 between these troops and the neighboring Indians. It is true 
 that the principal men of the Potawatomie nation went yearly to 
 Fort Maiden [Amherstburg], in Canada, to receive presents to a 
 large amount, with which the British government had for many 
 years been in the habit of purchasing their alliance; and it was 
 well known that many Potawatomies, as well as Winnebagoes, 
 were engaged with the Ottawas and Shawnees at the battle of 
 Tippecanoe [Nov. 7, 181 1]; yet, as the principal chiefs of all 
 bands in the neighborhood appeared to be on the most amicable 
 terms with the Americans, no interruption of their harmony was 
 ever anticipated by the whites. 
 
 After August 1 5, however, many circumstances were recollected 
 which might have opened their eyes, had they not been lulled 
 into fatal security. 
 
 setts ensign and 2d lieut. of 2d infantry, March 3, and 1st lieut., Nov. 1799; 
 retained in 1st infantry, April, 1802; promoted captain in Jan., 1807; com- 
 manded in action with Indians near Fort Dearborn, Aug. 12, 181 1, where he 
 with his wife were badly wounded; promoted major of 4th infantry, Aug. 26, 
 1812; transferred to :9th infantry, Apr,, 1814; retired to private life when his 
 regiment was disbanded at the close of the war; was mustered out June 15, 
 1815. He lived for many years — Spring of 1817 — beforefhis death, which 
 occurred April 27, 1832, at Stockland, now O'Fallon, St. Charles Co., Mo., 
 where his only son, Hon, Darius Heald, lived on the old homestead until his 
 death, Nov. 25, 1904, aged 82. — G. H. F.] 
 
 [ * Linai Taliaferro Helm, born in Virginia; appointed ensign 1st infy., 
 Dec, 9, 1807; 2d lieut., Dec. 8, 1808; 1st lieut., Jan. 20, 1813; capt., Apr. 
 15, 1814; resigned Sept. 27, 1814; died Oct. 15, 1838. Married in Detroit, 
 
 , 1S08, Margaret McKillip, step -daughter of John Kinzie, who obtained 
 
 a divorce from him Oct. 12, 1829 — Chicago's first divorce. — G. H. F.] 
 
 [t George Ronan, born in New York; entered Military Academy at West 
 Point, N. Y., Jan. 15, 1808; ensign ist infy., Mar. i, 181 1; killed Aug. 15, 
 1812, in action with Indians near Fort Dearborn, Chicago, 111. — G. H. F.] 
 
 [ X Isaac V. van Voorhis, born in New York; appointed surgeon's mate, Mar. 
 I, 181 1; killed Aug. 15, 1812, in action under Capt. Nathan Heald, with 
 Indians near Fort Dearborn, Chicago, 111. — G. H. F.] 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 One instance, in particular, may be mentioned. In the spring, 
 preceding the destruction of the fort, two Indians, of the Calumet 
 band, came to the post, on a visit to the commanding officer. 
 As they passed through the quarters, they saw Mrs. Heald* and 
 another lady [Mrs. Helm] +|playing at battledoor. Turning to the 
 Interpreter, one of them, Nau-non-gee, remarked: 
 
 "The white chiefs' wives are amusing themselves very much — 
 it will not be long before they are hoeing in our cornfields." 
 
 This was considered an idle threat, or, at most, an ebullition 
 of jealous feeling, at the contrast between the situation of their 
 own women and that of the "white chiefs' wives." Some months 
 after, how bitterly it was remembered! 
 
 Nau-non-gee was the principal chief of the Calumet village, 
 and the particulars of his death, as afterward given by some of 
 his band, are not unworthy of record. 
 
 During the battle of August 15, the chief object of his attack 
 was one Sergt. [Otho] Hayes, a man from whom he had received 
 many acts of kindness. After Hayes had received a ball through 
 the body, this Indian ran up to tomahawk him, when the sergeant, 
 collecting his remaining strengih, ]jinned him through the body 
 with his bayonet. They fell together. Other Indians, running up, 
 despatclied Hayes, and it was not until then that his bayonet was 
 e.xtracted from the body of his adversary. 
 
 The wounded chief was carried, afler the battle, to his village 
 on tlie Calumet, wliere he survived several days. 
 
 Foreseeing his approaching end, he called together his young 
 men, and enjoined them in the most solemn manner, to respect 
 the safety of tlieir prisoners, after liis death, and to take the lives 
 of none of them, Ironi respect to his memory, as he deserved his 
 fate from the hands of those whose kindness he had so ill requited. 
 
 [• Reliekah Wells Heald was a daughter nf Col. Samuel Wells, brother of 
 
 Capt. William Wells, of Louisville, Kv., where she was horn , 1776, 
 
 and married at Ft, Wayne, May 23, i8m, to Capt. Nathan Heald, and with 
 her husband started immediately on horseback for l<"ort Dearborn. She died 
 near O'Fallon, Mo., April 23, 1S57, aged Si. — G. H. F.] 
 
 [tMrs. Margaret McKillip Helm,' half-sister of John H. Kinzie, wife of 
 l^ieut. Linai T. Helm, and later wife of t)r. Lucius T. Abbott, died at Water- 
 ford, Mich-, .Apr. 22, 1844, aged 49. — G. H. F. ] 
 
C H A P T E R I . 
 
 IT was the evening of April 7, 181 2. The children of Mr. 
 K[inzie] were dancing before the fire, to the music of their 
 father's violin. The tea-table was spread, and they were await- 
 ing the return of their mother, who had gone to visit a sick 
 neighbor, about a quarter of a mile up the river. 
 
 Suddenly their sports were interrupted. The door was thrown 
 open, and Mrs. K[inzie] rushed in, pale with terror, and scarcely 
 able to articulate — "The Indians! the Indians!" 
 
 "What?" "Wherei^" all eagerly demanded. 
 
 "Up at [Charles] Lee's place; killing and scalping." 
 
 With difficulty, Mrs. K[inzie] composed herself sufficiently to 
 give the information, that while she was up at Burns'* a man and 
 a boy were seen running down with all speed, on the opposite 
 side of the river; that they had called across to give notice to 
 Burns' family to save themselves, for the Indians were at Lee's 
 place, from which they had just made their escape; and having 
 given this terrifying news, they made all speed for the fort, which 
 was on the same side of the river that they then were. 
 
 All was n6w consternation and dismay. The family was hur- 
 ried into two pirouges that were moored near the house, and 
 paddled with all possible haste across the river to take refuge in 
 the fort. 
 
 All that the man and boy who made their escape were able to 
 tell was soon known, but in order to render it more intelligible, it 
 is necessary to describe the scene of action : 
 
 Lee's place, since known by the name of Hardscrabble,t was 
 a farm, intersected by the Chicago River, about four miles from 
 its mouth. The farm-house stood on the western bank of the 
 
 [*The Burns houie was located near what is now (1910) the southwest 
 corner of (new) North -Water street and North- State street, a little west of 
 and nearer the river than the site occupied later by the agency house, also 
 called "Cobweb Castle," and later known as Dr. Alexander Wolcott's. — 
 G. H. F.] 
 
 [ tHardscrabble — Section 29, Town 39 North, Range 14, East.— G. H. F.] 
 
 13 
 
14 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 south branch of this river. On the same side of the main 
 stream, but quite near its junction with Lake Michigan, stood 
 the dwelling-house and trading- establishment of Mr. K[inzie]. 
 
 The fort was situated upon the southern bank, directly opposite 
 this mansion; the river and a few rods of sloping, green turf on 
 either side being all that intervened between them. Here the 
 river turned away suddenly to the south, and pursued a course of 
 half a mile between the beach and a sandbar* lying outside, at 
 which pointt it joined the lake — thus leaving the site of the fort 
 a beautiful little peninsula or promontory. J 
 
 The farm at Lee's place was occupied by a Mr. [Liberty] White 
 and three persons employed by him in the care of the farm. 
 
 In the afternoon of the day on which our narrative commences, 
 a party of ten or twelve Indians, dressed and painted, arrived at 
 the house, and according to the custom among savages, entered 
 and seated themselves without ceremony. 
 
 Something in their appearance and manner excited the suspi- 
 cions of one of the family, a Frenchman, who remarked: 
 
 "I do not like the looks of these Indians — they are none of 
 our folks. I know by their dress and paint that they are not 
 Potawatomies." 
 
 Another of the family, a discharged soldier, then said to the 
 boy [a son of Charles Lee] who was present: 
 
 "If that is the case, we had best get away from them, if we 
 can. Say nothing, but do as you see me do." 
 
 [•John Noble, son of Mark Noble, sr., told the writer a short time berore 
 hit death — Jan. 13, 1SS5, aged 82 years — that in 1836, he was living in the 
 Kinzie house, with his father; they were its last occupants, and that during a 
 terrific storm, Oct. 3-4, 1836, this sandbar, together with a large strip of 
 land south of the river's mouth at Madison street, whereon they had a shanty, 
 disappeared — was-washed away — during the night. "It was there at night 
 and -ipas gone the next morning. " From this land, owned by Hiram Pearsons, 
 the timber for the first Dearborn -street (draw) bridge was cut by the con- 
 tractor, Nelson R. Norton, in March, 1834. The bridge was completed 
 about June i, 1834, and remored in Summer of 1839. — G. H. F.] 
 [t About Madison street. — G, ir. f. ] 
 
 [Jin 1834, the Government caused the present channel to be made and 
 extended two piers into the lake to protect it. — G. h. f.] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 1 5 
 
 As the afternoon was far advanced, the soldier walked leisurely 
 toward the canoes, of which there were two, tied near the bank. 
 Some of the Indians inquired where he was going. He pointed 
 to cattle, which were standing among the haystacks on the oppo- 
 site bank, and made signs that they must go and fodder them, 
 and then they should return and get their supper. 
 
 He got into one canoe, and the boy into the other. The 
 stream was narrow and they were soon across. When they had 
 gained the opposite side, they pulled some hay for the cattle; 
 made a show of collecting them ; and when they had gradually 
 made a circuit, so that their movements were concealed by the 
 haystacks, they took to the woods, which were close at hand, and 
 made for the fort. 
 
 They had run about a quarter of a mile when they heard the 
 discharge of two guns, successively, which they supposed to have 
 been levelled at their companions left behind. 
 
 They stopped not nor stayed until they had arrived opposite 
 Burns', where, as before related, they had called across to advise 
 the family of their danger, and then hastened on to the fort. 
 
 It now occurred to those who had secured their own safety 
 that the family of Burns was at this moment exposed to the 
 most imminent peril. The question was, who would hazard his 
 own hfe to bring them to a place of safety ? 
 
 A gallant young officer, Ensign [George] Ronan, volunteered, 
 with a party of five or six soldiers, to go to their rescue. 
 
 They ascended the river in a scow, took the mother of the 
 family, with her infant of scarcely a day old, upon her bed, to 
 the boat, in which they carefully conveyed her and the other 
 members of the family to the fort. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 A PARTY of soldiers, consisting of a corporal and six men, 
 had, that afternoon, obtained leave to go up the river 
 to fish. 
 
 They had not returned when the fugitives from Lee's place 
 arrived at the fort, and fearing that they might encounter the 
 Indians, the commanding officer ordered a cannon to be fired, 
 to warn them of danger. 
 
 They were at this time about two miles above Lee's place. 
 Hearing the signal they took the hint, put out their torches and 
 dropped down the river toward the garrison, as silently as pos- 
 sible. It will be remembered that the unsettled state of the 
 country since the battle of Tippecanoe, the preceding November, 
 had rendered every man vigilant, and the slightest alarm was a 
 hint to beware of the Indians. 
 
 M'hen the fishing-party reached Lee's place, it was pro- 
 posed to stop and warn the inmates to be upon their guard, as 
 the signal from the fort indicated danger of some kind. All was 
 still as death around the house. They groped their way along 
 and as the corporal jumped over the small inclosure he placed 
 his hand upon the dead body of a man. By the sense of touch 
 he soon ascertained that the head was without a scalp, and 
 otherwise mutilated. The faithful dog of the murdered man 
 stood guarding the lifeless remains of his master. 
 
 The tale was now told. They retreated to their canoes and 
 reached the fort unmolested, about 1 1 o'clock at night. The 
 next morning, a party of citizens and soldiers volunteered to go 
 to Lee's place to learn, further, the fate of the occupants. The 
 body of Mr. White was found pierced by two balls and with 
 eleven stabs in the breast. The Frenchman, as already de- 
 scribed, lay dead with his dog still beside him. The bodies 
 were brought to the fort and buried in its immediate vicinity. 
 
 It was subsequently ascertained from traders out in the Indian 
 country, that the perpetrators of this bloody deed were a party 
 
 i6 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 17 
 
 of Winnebagoes who had come into this neighborhood determined 
 to "take some white scalps". Their plan had been to proceed 
 down the river from I.ee's place, and kill every white man without 
 the walls of the fort. Hearing, however, the report of the 
 cannon, and not knowing what it portended, they thought it best 
 to remain satisfied with this one exploit, and forthwith retreated 
 to their homes on Rock River. 
 
 The inhabitants outside the fort, consisting of a few dis- 
 charged soldiers and some families of half-breeds, now en- 
 trenched themselves in the agency-house. This stood on the 
 esplanade, west of the fort, between the pickets and the river 
 and distant about forty* rods from the former. It was an old- 
 fashioned log building, with a hall running through the centre, 
 and one large room on each side. Piazzas extended the whole 
 length of the building in both front and rear. These were 
 planked up for greater security; port -holes were cut, and sentinels 
 posted at night. 
 
 As the enemy were believed to be still lurking in the neigh- 
 borhood, or, emboldened by former success, likely to return at 
 any moment, an order was issued prohibiting any soldier or 
 citizen from leaving the vicinity of the garrison without a guard. 
 
 One night, a sergeant and private, who were out on patrol, 
 came suddenly upon a party of Indians, in the pasture adjoin- 
 ing the esplanade. The sergeant fired his piece and both 
 returned to the fort. Before they could reach it, an Indian 
 threw his tomahawk, that missed the sergeant and struck a 
 wagon, standing near. The sentinel from the block-house imme- 
 diately fired, and with effect, while the men got safely in. The 
 
 [* The distance was eleven rods = 181. 5 feet. — G. H. F.] 
 
 The present site (1844) of the lighthouse, [built in 1832, taken down in 
 1857. The present, 1910, night-office of the custom-house, west of and adjoin- 
 ing the south abutment of Rush -street bridge, occupies all that remains of 
 the lighthouse lot. The lighthouse stood a few feet east of the west line of 
 said lot, and about 50 feet from River street or south line of said lot; its site 
 would now be about the middle of the south channel of the river, 75 feet west 
 of Rush -street bridge. — a, H. F.] 
 
1 8 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 next morning it was ascertained, from the traces of blood to a 
 considerable distance into the prairie, and from the appearance 
 of a body having been laid among the long grass, that some 
 execution had been done. 
 
 On another occasion, the enemy entered the esplanade to 
 steal the horses. Not finding them in the stable as they had 
 expected, they made themselves amends for their disappoint- 
 ment by stabbing all the sheep in the stable, and then letting 
 them loose. The poor animals flocked toward the fort. This 
 gave the alarm — the garrison was aroused — parties were sent out, 
 but the marauders escaped, unmolested. 
 
 [Charles Lee, the owner of Lee's place, lived in a log house on the 
 south-west corner of Michigan avenue and East Monroe street. The last 
 occupants were the family of James MrWilliams, the aunt of Katie Putnam. 
 The Ijuilding was razed about 1850 to make room for the residence of 
 Chicago's ex-mayor, Walter Smith Gurnie, the finest house on the avenue, 
 built of Milwaukee brick. On his removal to New York, it was occupied by 
 his brother-in-law, Peter Lynch Yoe, and consumed in the Fire of 1871. — 
 G. H. F.] 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE inmates of the fort experienced no further alarm for 
 many weeks. 
 On the afternoon of August 7,* AVin-ne-meg, or Catfish, a 
 Potawatomie chief, arrived at the post, bringing dispatches from 
 Gen. [WiUiam] Hull. | These announced the declaration of war 
 between the United States and Great Britain, and that Gen. 
 H[ull], at the head of the Northwestern army, was on his way from 
 Fort Wayne to [had arrived at] Detroit ; also that the Island of 
 Mackinac had fallen into the hands of the British. 
 
 The orders to the commanding officer, Capt. Heald, were "to 
 evacuate the post, if practicable, and in that event to distribute 
 all the United -States' property contained in tlie fort, and the 
 United-States factory or agency, among the Indians in the 
 neighborhood." 
 
 After having delivered his despatches. Win -ne- meg requested a 
 private interview with Mr. K[inzie], who had taken up his resi- 
 dence within the fort. He stated to Mr. K[inzie] that he was 
 acquainted with the purport of the communications he had 
 brought, and begged him to ascertain if it were the intention of 
 Capt. Heald to evacuate the post. He advised strongly that 
 such a step should not be taken, since the garrison was well 
 supplied with ammunition, and with provision for six months. It 
 would, therefore, he thought, be far better to remain until a 
 reinforcement could be sent to their assistance. If, however, 
 Capt. H[eald] should decide upon leavmg the post, it should, by 
 all means, be done immediately. The Potawatomies, through 
 whose country they must pass, being ignorant of the object ot 
 Win-ne-meg's mission, a forced march might be made before the 
 hostile Indians were prepared to interrupt them. 
 
 [*Capt. Heald, in his official report to the .Secretary of War, dated Pitts- 
 burg, Oct. 23, 1812, gives the date as Aug. 9.— G. H. F.] 
 
 [ + Gen. Hull was in command of the United States forces and was then at 
 Detroit; arrived from Ohio with his command, July 5, 1S12. — 1;. II. F.] 
 
 19 
 
20 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 Of this advice, so earnestly given, Capt. Heald was immedi- 
 ately informed. He replied that it was his intention to evacuate 
 the post, but that inasmuch as he had received orders to dis- 
 tribute the United-States' property, he should not feel justified 
 in leaving until he had collected the Indians in the neighbor, 
 hood, and made an equitable division among them. 
 
 Win -ne- meg then suggested the expediency of marching out 
 and leaving all things standing — possibly, while the savages 
 were engaged in a partition of the spoils, the troops might effect 
 their retreat, unmolested. This advice was strongly seconded 
 by Mr. K[inzie], but did not meet the approbation of the com- 
 fnanding officer. 
 
 The order for evacuating the post was read next morning upon 
 parade. It is difficult to understand why Capt. Heald, in such 
 an emergency, omitted the usual form of calling a council of war 
 with his officers. Perhaps it arose from a want of harmonious 
 feeling between himself and one of his subalterns — Ensign 
 Ronan — a high-spirited, and somewhat overbearing, but brave 
 -and generous young man. 
 
 In the course of the day, finding no council was called, the 
 officers waited upon Capt. Heald, to be informed what course he 
 intended to jnirsue. When they learned his intention to leave 
 the post, tliey remonstrated with him upon the following 
 grounds: 
 
 First. It was highly improbable that the command would be 
 permitted to pass througli the country in safety to Fort Wayne. 
 For, although it had been said that some of the chiefs had 
 'Opposed an attack ujion the fort, planned the preceding autumn, 
 yet, it was well known, that they had been actuated in that 
 matter by motives of private regard to one family,* and not to 
 any general friendly feeling toward the Americans ; and that, at 
 anv rate, it was hardly to be expected that these few individuals 
 would lie able to control tlie whole tribe, who were thirsting for 
 blood. 
 
 [ * I'lie Kinzies, ] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 21 
 
 In the next place, their march must necessarily be slow, as 
 their movements must be accommodated to the helplessness of 
 the women and children, of whom there were a number with the 
 detachment. That of their small force, some of the soldiers 
 were superannuated and others invalid; therefore, since the 
 course to be pursued was left discretional, their advice was to 
 remain where they were, and fortify themselves as strongly as 
 possible. Succor from the other side of the peninsula might 
 arrive before they could be attacked by the British from Mack- 
 inac, and even should there not, it were far better to fall into the 
 hands of the latter than to become the victims of the savages. 
 
 Capt. Heald argued in reply, "that a special order had been 
 issued by the war department, that no post should be surren- 
 dered without battle having been given; and that his force was 
 totally inadequate to an engagement with the Indians. That he 
 should, unquestionably, be censured for remaining, when there 
 appeared a prospect of a safe march through, and that upon the 
 whole, he deemed it expedient to assemble the Indians, distribute 
 the property among them, and then ask of them an escort to 
 Fort Wayne, with the promise of a considerable reward upon 
 their safe arrival — adding, that he had full confidence in the 
 friendly professions of the Indians, from whom, as well as from 
 the soldiers, the capture of Mackinac had been kept a profound 
 secret." 
 
 From this time, the officers held themselves aloof, and spoke 
 but little upon the subject, though they considered the project of 
 Capt. Heald little short of madness. The dissatisfaction among 
 the soldiers hourly increased, until it reached a high degree of 
 insubordination. 
 
 Upon one occasion, as Capt. Heald was conversing with Mr. 
 K[inzie] upon the parade, he remarked: 
 
 "I could not remain, even if I thought it best, for 1 have 
 but a small store of provisions." 
 
 "Why, captain," said a soldier who stood near, forgetting all 
 etiquette in the excitement of the moment, "you have cattle 
 enough to la.st the troops six months." 
 
22 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 "But," replied Capt. H[eald], "I have no salt to preserve the 
 beef with." 
 
 "Then jerk* it," said the man, "as the Indians do their ven- 
 ison." 
 
 The Indians now became daily more unruly. Entering the 
 fort in defiance of the sentinels, they made their way without 
 ceremony into the quarters of the officers. On one occasion, an 
 Indian took up a rifle and fired it in the parlor of the command- 
 ing officer, as an expression of defiance. Some were of opinion 
 that this was intended, among the young men, as a signal for 
 an attack. The old chiefs passed backward and forward among 
 the assembled groups, with the appearance of the most lively 
 agitation, while the squaws rushed to and fro in great excite- 
 ment, and evidently prepared for some fearful scene. 
 
 Any further manifestation of ill-feeling was, however, sup- 
 pressed for the present, and Capt. Heald, strange as it may seem, 
 continued to entertain a conviction of his having created so 
 amicable a disposition among the Indians as would ensure the 
 safety of the conuiiand on their march to Fort Wayne. 
 
 * This is done by cutting the meat in thin slices, placing it upon a scaffold 
 and making a slow fire under it, which dries and smokes it at the same time. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THUS passed the time until August 12. The feelings of the 
 inmates of the fort during this time may be better imagined 
 than described. Each morning that dawned seemed to bring 
 them nearer to that most appalling fate — ^ butchery by a savage 
 foe — and at night they scarcely dared yield to slumber, lest they 
 should be aroused by the war-whoop and tomahawk. Gloom 
 and distrust prevailed, and the want of unanimity among the 
 officers debarred them the consolation they might have found in 
 mutual sympathy and encouragement. 
 
 The Indians being assembled from the neighboring villages, 
 a council was held with them on the 12th. Capt. H[eald], only, 
 attended on the part of the military. He requested his officers 
 to accompany him, but they declined. They had been secretly 
 informed that it was the intention of the young chiefs to fall 
 upon the officers and massacre them while in council; but they 
 could not persuade Capt. Heald of the truth of their information. 
 They, therefore, only waited until he had left the garrison, when 
 they took command of the block-house, which overlooked the 
 esplanade on which the council was held, opened the port-holes, 
 and pointed the cannon so as to command the whole assembly. 
 By these measures, probably, the lives of the whites who were 
 present in council were preserved. 
 
 In council, the commanding officer informed the Indians of 
 his intention to distribute among them, the next day, not only 
 the goods lodged in the United-States factory, but also the 
 ammunition and provisions, with which the garrison was well 
 supplied. He then requested of the Potawatomies an escort to 
 Fort Wayne, promising them a liberal reward upon their arrival 
 there, in addition to the presents they were now to receive. 
 With many professions of friendship and good-will, the savages 
 assented to all he proposed and promised all he required. 
 
 After the council, Mr. K[inzie], who understood well, not only 
 the Indian character, but the present tone of feehng among 
 
24 MASSACRE AT CHCAGO. 
 
 them, waited upon Capt. Heald, in the hope of opening his eyes 
 to the present posture of affairs. 
 
 He reminded him that, since the troubles with the Indians 
 upon the Wabash and its vicinity, there had appeared a settled 
 plan of hostilities toward the whites; in consequence of which, it 
 had been the policy of the Americans to withhold from them 
 whatever would enable them to carry on their warfare upon the 
 defenceless settlers on the frontier. 
 
 Mr. K[inzie] recalled to Capt. H[eald] how that he had him- 
 self left home for Detroit, the preceding autumn, and receiving, 
 when he had proceeded as far as De Charmes,* the intelligence 
 of the battle of Tippecanoe, he had immediately returned to 
 Chicago, that he might despatch orders to his traders to furnish 
 no ammunition to the Indians; all that they had on hand was 
 therefore secreted, and such of the traders as had not already 
 started for their wintering-grounds, took neither powder nor shot 
 with their outfit. 
 
 Capt. Heakl was struck with the impolicy of furnishing the 
 enemy (for such they must now consider their old neighbors), 
 with arms against himself, and determined to destroy all the 
 ammunition, except what should be necessary for the use of his 
 own troops. 
 
 On the 13th, the goods, consisting of blankets, broadcloths, 
 calicos, paints, etc., were distributed, as stipulated. The same 
 evening, the ammunition and liquor were carried partly into the 
 sally-port and thrown into a well which had been dug tliere 
 to supply the garrison with water, in case of emergency; the 
 remainder was transported as secretly as possible through the 
 northern gate, the heads of the barrels knocked in, and the 
 contents poured into the river. 
 
 The same fate was shared by a large quantity of alcohol, 
 belonging to Mr. K[inzie], which had been deposited in a ware- 
 house near his residence, opposite the fort. 
 
 The Indians suspected what was going on, and crept serpent- 
 like, as near the scene of action as possible, but a vigilant watch 
 
 * A tratlini; establishment — now Vpsilanti, [Mich]. 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 25, 
 
 was kept up, and no one was suffered to approach, but those 
 
 engaged in the affair.. All the muskets, not necessary for the 
 
 march, were broken up and thrown into the well,* together with 
 
 the bags of shot, flints, gun-screws, etc. 
 
 Some relief to the general despondency was afforded by the 
 
 arrival, on August 14, of Capt. [William]Wells,t with fifteen friendly 
 
 Miamis. 
 
 [*ln 1856, when Michigan avenue was opened through the fort grounds to- 
 the river, preparatory for the erection of the first Rush -street bridge, most of 
 the buildings within the fort were razed; one or two, probably three, were 
 moved. The piles for the center-pier or turntable of the bridge were driven 
 one half on the south shore and the other half in the river. Then the present 
 south channel was excavated, thereby straightening and widening the river^ 
 During this excavation there was exposed a filled -up well. At its bottom was 
 found a quantity of black sand that snielled and looked like powder, but after 
 exposure to the sunlight lost its smell and black color. There was also a 
 quantity of lead bullets, flints, parts of muskets, one musket nearly complete 
 — the wood stock crumbled on exposure to the air. — G. H. f.] 
 
 [f William Wells, brother of Col. Samuel Wells, of Louisville, Ky., was 
 born in Kentucky and stolen by the Miami Indians, when about twelve years 
 old, as he was on his way from school to the home of William Pope, one 
 of the founders of Louisville, Ky., and the father of William, John, and 
 Nathaniel, with whom he and his brother Samuel resided. He was adopted 
 by Little Turtle — IMe-che-kau-nah-qua, chief of the Miamis, and at 
 maturity married his daughter — Wau-nan-ga-peth, by whom he had a large 
 family, many of their descendants now, 1910, reside in Toledo, O. He 
 fought with the Indians in the defeats of Gens. Josiah Harmer, Oct. 19-22, 
 1790, and Arthur St. Clair, Nov. 4, 1 79 1. Discovered by his relatives, he 
 was persuaded to leave the Indians and join the pale -face army. He was- 
 captain of a company of spies under Gen. Anthony Wayne from July 28 to 
 Dec. — , 1794, and was a most valuable and faithful officer. At the peace- 
 treaty at Greenville, Ohio, July 15, 1795, he was an interpreter and witness;. 
 in 1805 he was appointed justice-of-the-peace and Indian agent at Ft. 
 Wayne, Ind. He married a daughter of Col. Frederick Geiger, of Louis- 
 ville, Ky., by whom he had children, none of whom arrived at maturity; 
 after his death she returned to her relatives at Louisville and married. His 
 tomahawk was delivered to his Indian widow by an Indian who "belonged"' 
 to him and was with him when he was killed, and after telling of Wells' 
 death disappeared. This tomahawk was sent by his Toledo descendants to 
 Hon. John Wentworth, and is now in the custody of the Chicago Calumet 
 
26 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 Of this brave man, who forms so conspicuous a figure in our 
 frontier annals, it is unnecessary here to say more, than that he 
 had been residing from his boyhood among the Indians, and con- 
 sequently possessed a perfect knowledge of their character and 
 habits. 
 
 He had heard at Fort Wayne of the order for evacuating Fort 
 Dearborn, and knowing the hostile determination of the Pota- 
 watomies, he had made a rapid march across the country to pre- 
 vent the exposure of his relative, Capt. Heald, and his troops, 
 to certain destruction. 
 
 But he came "all too late." When he reached the post, he 
 found that the ammunition had been destroyed, and the provisions 
 given to the Indians. There was, therefore, now, no alternative, 
 .and every preparation was made for the march of the troops on 
 the following morning. 
 
 On the afternoon of the same day, a second council was held 
 with the Indians. They expressed great indignation at the des- 
 truction of the ammunition and liquor. 
 
 Notwithstanding the precautions that had been taken to pre- 
 serve secrecy, the noise of knocking in the heads of the barrels 
 had too plainly betrayed the operations of the preceding night; 
 and so great was the quantity of liquor thrown into the river, 
 that the taste of the water, the next morning, was, as one 
 expressed it, "strong grog." 
 
 Murmurs and threats were everywhere heard among the savages. 
 It was evident that the first moment of exposure would subject 
 the troops to some manifestation of their disappointment and 
 resentment. 
 
 Among tlie chiefs were several who, although they shared the 
 general hostile feeling of their tribe toward the Americans, yet 
 
 Club ; as to its authenticity, there can be no doubt, as the writer has a 
 ■drawing of it, made in 1812, by Samuel Morrison, a civil engineer and 
 surveyor, then living at Fort Wayne, by whom it was presented. Wells' 
 Indian name was Black Snake. See additional notes by Hon. lohn Went- 
 •worth, in "Fort Dearborn" — Fergus' Historical Series, No. 16; and No, 2^ 
 for paper by William Wells on "Indian Customs." — G. II, i'.] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHCAGO. 27 
 
 retained a personal regard for the troops, at this post, and for 
 the few citizens of the place. These chiefs exerted their utmost 
 influence to allay the revengeful feelings of the young men, and 
 to- avert their sanguinary designs, but without effect. ' ■ 
 
 On the evening succeeding the last council. Black Partridge, 
 a conspicous chief, entered the quarters of the commanding 
 officer. 
 
 "Father," said he, "I come to deliver up to you the medal 
 I wear. It was given me by the Americans, and I have long 
 worn it in token of our mutual friendship. But our young men* 
 are resolved to imbrue their hands in the blood of the v^^hites. 
 I can not restrain them, and I will not wear a token of peace 
 while I am compelled to act as an enemy." 
 
 Had further evidence been wanting, this circumstance should 
 have sufficiently proved to the devoted band, the justice of their 
 melancholy anticipations. Nevertheless, they went steadily on 
 with the necessary preparations; and amid the horrors of their 
 situation, there were one or two gallant hearts, who strove to 
 encourage in their desponding companions, the hopes of escape, 
 that they were far from indulging themselves. 
 
 Of the ammunition, there had been reserved but twenty-five 
 rounds besides one box of cartridges, contained in the baggage- 
 wagons. This must under any circumstances of danger, have 
 proved an inadequate supply, but the prospect of a fatiguing 
 march in their present ineffective state, forbid their embarrassing 
 themselves with a larger quantity. 
 
 [* The Indians who participated in the massacre were not those who lived 
 in the vicinity of Chicago. After the capture of Fort Macl<inac, under the 
 command of Lieut. Porter Hanks, July 12, 1812, by the British and Indians 
 under command of Capt. Charles Roberts, Indian runners informed the 
 adjacent tribes and immediately the young hoodlums from each tribe started 
 for Fort Dearborn, the number increasing as they neared the fort. These 
 were the "young men" Black Partridge could not control. — G. ir. K.] 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE morning of the 15th arrived. All things were in readi- 
 ness, and nine o'clock was the hour named for starting. 
 Mr. K[inzie] had volunteered to accompany the troops in 
 their march, and had entrusted his family to the care of some 
 friendly Indians, who had promised to convey them in a boat 
 around the head of Lake Michigan, to a point* on the St. 
 Joseph's River; there to be joined by the troops, should the 
 prosecution of their march be permitted them. 
 
 Early in the morning, Mr. K[inzie] received a message from To- 
 pe-ne-be, a chief of the St. Joseph's band, informing him that 
 mischief was intended by the Potawatomies, who had promised to 
 escort the detachment; and urging him to relinquish his design 
 of accompanying the troops by land, promising that the boat 
 which should contain himself and family should be permitted to 
 pass in safety to St. Joseph's. 
 
 Mr. K[inzie] declined accepting this proposal, as he believed 
 that his presence might operate as a restraint on the fury of 
 the savages, so warmly were the greater i)art attached to himself 
 and family. 
 
 The party in the boat consisted of Mrs. K[inzie] and her four 
 younger children,! a clerk of Mr. K[inzie]'s, two servants, and the 
 
 * The spot now called Bertrand, then known by the name of Fare aux 
 VaclieSy from its having been a pasture-ground belonging to an old French 
 fort in that neighborhood. 
 
 [Designated by Lieut. James McLiowan Swearingen, in his march overland 
 from Detroit in July, 1803, with the troops to erect a fort at Chicago, as 
 "Kinzie's improvement," 30 miles from the mouth of the St. Joseph 
 River. — G. \\. i". ] 
 
 [This fort is said to be the one erected by La Salle in 1679, when he 
 established a "depot for supplies and goods." A few miles up the river 
 was the village of To-pin -e- he's band and known as the "St. Joseph of 
 Lake Michigan." — (i. H. F.] 
 
 [ + Mrs. Kinzie, her four children — John Harris. Ellen Marion, Maria 
 Indiana, and Kobert Allan, and J osette — Grutte, daughter of Francois Lafram- 
 boise, later the second wife of Gen. Jean Ijaptisle lieaubien. — G. H. F.] 
 
 28 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 29 
 
 boatmen, beside the two Indians, who acted as their protectors. 
 The boat started, but had scarcely reached the mouth of the 
 river, when another messenger from To-pe-ne be arrived to 
 detain them where they were. 
 
 In breathless expectation sat the wife and mother. She was 
 a woman of uncommon energy and strength of character, yet 
 her heart died within her as she folded her arms around her 
 helpless infants, and gazed upon the march of her husband and 
 eldest child to almost certain destruction. 
 
 As the troops left the fort, the band struck up the "Dead 
 March." On they came in military array, but with solemn mein. 
 Capt. Wells took the lead, at the head of his little band of 
 Miamis — his face blackened, in token of his impending fate. 
 They took their route along the lake shore. When they reached 
 the point where commences the range of sandhills, intervening 
 between the prairie and the beach, the escort of Potawatomies, 
 in number about five hundred, kept the level of the prairie 
 instead of continuing along the beach, with the Americans and 
 Miamis. 
 
 They had marched perhaps a mile and a half, when Capt. 
 Wells, who was somewhat in advance, with his Miamis, came 
 riding furiously back. 
 
 "They are about to attack us," shouted he, "form instantly, 
 and charge upon them." 
 
 Scarcely were the words uttered when a volley was showered 
 from among the sandhills. The troops were hastily brought 
 into line, and charged upon the bank. One man, a veteran of 
 seventy years, fell as they ascended. 
 
 The remainder of the scene is best described in the words of an 
 eye-witness and participator in the tradgedy — Mrs. [Margaret] 
 H[elm|, the wife of Capt. (then Lieut.) H[elm], and step-daughter 
 of Mr. [John] K[inzie]: 
 
 "After we had left the bank and gained the prairie, the action 
 became general. The Miamis fled at the outset. Their chief 
 rode up to the Potawatomies, and said. 
 
30 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 " 'You have deceived the Americans, and us; you have done 
 a bad action, and (brandishing his tomahawk) I will be the first 
 to head a party of Americans, and return to punish your 
 treachery'; so saying, he galloped '.after his companions, who 
 were now scouring across the prairie. 
 
 "The troops behaved most gallantly. There were but a hand- 
 ful, but they resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible. 
 Our horses pranced and bounded, and could hardly be re- 
 strained, as the balls whistled among them. I drew off a little, 
 and gazed upon my husband and father, who were yet unharmed. 
 I felt that my hour had come, and endeavored to forget those 
 I loved, and prepare myself for my approaching fate. 
 
 "While I -was thus engaged, the surgeon, Dr. V[an Voorhis], 
 came up. He was badly wounded. His horse had been shot 
 under him, and had received a ball in his leg. Every muscle 
 of his countenance was quivering with the agony of terror. He 
 said to me, 
 
 '"Do you think they will take our lives? I am badly wounded, 
 but I think not mortally. Perhaps we might jiurchase our lives 
 by promising them a large reward. Do you think there is any 
 chance?' " 
 
 '' 'Dr. V[an Voorhis],' said I, 'do not let us waste the few 
 moments that yet remain to us, m such hopes. Our fate is inev- 
 itable. In a few moments, we must appear before the bar of 
 God. Let us endeavor to make what preparation is yet in our 
 power.' 
 
 "'Oh! I can not diel' exclaimed he, 'I am not fit to die — if I 
 had but a short time to prepare — death is awful!' 
 
 "I pointed to Ensign Ronan, who, although mortally wounded, 
 and nearly down, was fighting with desperation, upon one knee. 
 
 "'Look at that man,' said I, 'at least, he dies like a 
 soldier.' 
 
 " 'Yes,' replied the unfortunate man, with a convulsive gasp, 
 'but he has no terrors of the future — he is an unbeliever!' 
 
 "At tliis moment, a young Indian raised his tomahawk at me. 
 By springing aside, I avoided the blow, which was intended for 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 3 I 
 
 my skull, but which alighted on my shoulder. I seized him 
 around the neck, and while exerting my utmost efforts to get 
 possession of his scalping-knife, which hung in a scabbard over 
 his breast, I was dragged from his grasp by another and an older 
 Indian. 
 
 "The latter bore nie, struggling and resisting, toward the lake. 
 Nothwithstanding the rapidity with which I was hurried along, 
 I recognized, as I passed them, the lifeless remains of the unfort- 
 unate surgeon. Some murderous tomahawk had stretched him 
 upon the very spot where I had last seen him. 
 
 "I was immediately plunged into the water, and held there 
 with a forcible hand, notwithstanding my resistance. I soon 
 perceived, however, that the object of my captor was not to 
 drown me, as he held me firmly in such a position as to place 
 my head above the water. This reassured me, and regarding 
 him, attentively, I soon recognized, in spite of the paint with 
 which he was disguised. The Black Partridge. 
 
 "When the firing had somewhat subsided, my preserver bore 
 me from the water, and conducted me up the sandbanks. It 
 was a burning August morning, and walking through the sand, in 
 my drenched condition, was inexpressibly painful and fatiguing. 
 I stooped and took off my shoes, to free them from the sand, 
 with which they were nearly filled, when a squaw seized and 
 carried them off, and I was obliged to proceed without them. 
 
 "When we had gained the prairie, I was met by my father, who 
 told me that my husband was safe, and but slightly wounded. 
 They led me gently back toward the Chicago River, along the 
 southern bank of which was the Potawatomie encamp- 
 ment.* 
 
 [ * The Indian encampment was on the east side of the " little stream " that 
 entered the river, from the south side, at the foot of State street. This 
 "little stream" was crossed hy a log bridge, between South Water and Lake 
 streets, and was used by those going to and from the fort. The source of this 
 stream was in the square now occupied by the court-house, and flowed diag- 
 onally to about State and Lake streets, where it was joined by another small 
 stream, its source being about I2th street, between State and Dearljorn streets; 
 and crossing diagonally from the rear of the American Express building on 
 
32 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 At one time, I was placed upon a horse without a saddle, but 
 soon finding the motion insupportable, I sprang off. Supported 
 partly by my kind conductor, [Black Partridge], and partly by 
 another Indian, Pe-so-tum, who held dangling in his hand, the 
 scalp of Capt. Wells, I dragged my fainting steps to one of the 
 wigwams. 
 
 "The wife of Wau-be-ne-mah, a chief from the Illinois River, 
 was standing near, and seeing my exhausted condition, she 
 seized a kettle, dipped up some water from a little stream* that 
 flowed near, threw into it some maple sugar, and stirring it up 
 with her hand, gave it to me to drink. This act of kindness, 
 in the midst of so many atrocities, touched me most sensibly, 
 but my attention was soon diverted to other objects. 
 
 "The fort had become a scene of plunder to such as remained 
 after the troops had marched out. The cattle had been shot 
 down as they ran at large, and lay dead or dying around. This 
 work of butchery had commenced upon our leaving the fort. 
 
 " I well remembered a remark of Ensign Ronan, as the firing 
 went on: 
 
 'Such,' turning to me, 'is to be our fate — to be shot down 
 like brutes! ' 
 
 Monroe to Madison and State streets, thence joining the "small stream" 
 about Lake street. The writer has skated from the rear of the American 
 Express building to I2th street, flags and cattails on each side, and gathered 
 hazel nuts at Van Buren street and 5th avenue. — G. H. F.] 
 
 *Just by the present State-street market, (1844). [Now. 1911, the south 
 abutment of State-street bridge.] 
 
 [This State-street market was originally located in what is now the 
 center of Market street, north'side of Randolph street. North of the market 
 was (he lumber-yard of Sylvester Lind. Before the city vacated this site 
 (1S46) and gave in exchange the water-lots, where is now Lind's block — the 
 only building on the south side in the burned district that was not destroyed 
 in the great fire of 1871 — the market had been moved to the river's bank in 
 the middle of State street. Soon after the completion of the State-street 
 market, erected in the middle of State street between Randolph street 
 and the alley, north, in 1S48, and demolished in 1S58, the market on the 
 river's bank was again moved to the middle of Market street, north side of 
 Washington street, one block south of its original location. — G. H. F.] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 33 
 
 " 'Well, Sir,' said the commanding officer, who overheard him, 
 'are you afraid?' 
 
 " 'No,' replied the high-spirited young man, 'I can march up 
 to the enemy, where yoj dare not show your face;' and his 
 subsequent gallant behavior showed this to be no idle boast. 
 
 "As the noise of the firing grew gradually less, and the strag- 
 glers from the victorious party dropped in, I received confir- 
 mation of what my father had hurriedly communicated in our 
 rencontre on the lake shore ; namely, that the whites had sur- 
 rendered after the loss of about two -thirds of their number. 
 They had stipulated for the preservation of their lives, and those 
 of the remaining women and children, and for their delivery at 
 some of the British posts, unless ransomed by traders in the 
 Indian country. It appears that the wounded prisoners were 
 not considered as included in the stipulation, and a horrible 
 scene occurred upon their being brought into camp. 
 
 "An old squaw, infuriated by the loss of friends, or excited 
 by the sanguinary scenes around her, seemed possessed by a 
 demoniac ferocity. She seized a stable-fork, and assaulted one 
 miserable victim, who lay groaning and writhing in the agony 
 of his wounds, aggravated by the scorching beams of the sun. 
 With a delicacy of feeHng scarcely to be expected, under such 
 circumstances, Wau-be-ne-mah stretched a mat across two poles, 
 between me and this dreadful scene. I was thus spared in some 
 degree, a view of its horrors, although I could not entirely close 
 my ears to the cries of the sufferer. The following night, five 
 more of the wounded prisoners were tomahawked." 
 
 But why dwell upon this painful scene? Why describe the 
 butchery of the children, twelve of whom, placed together in one 
 baggage-wagon, fell beneath the merciless tomahawk of one 
 voung savage? This atrocious act was committed after the 
 whites, twenty-seven in number, had surrendered. When Capt. 
 Wells beheld it, he exclaimed, 
 
 '"Is that their game? Then I will kill, too!'" 
 
34 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 "So saying, he turned his horse's head, and started for the 
 Indian camp, near the fort, where had been left their squaws 
 and children. 
 
 "Several Indians pursued him, firing at him as he galloped 
 along. He laid himself flat on the neck of his horse, loading 
 and firing in that position. At length, the balls of his pursuers 
 took effect, killing his horse, and severely wounding himself. At 
 this moment, he was met by Win-ne-meg and Wan-ban-see, who 
 endeavored to save him from the savages who had now over- 
 taken him; but as they supported him along, after having dis- 
 engaged him from his horse, he received his death blow from 
 one of the party (Pee-so-tum), who stabbed him in the back. 
 
 "The heroric resolution of one of the soldiers' wives* deserves 
 to be recorded. She had, from the first, expressed a determin- 
 ation never to fall into the hands of the savages, believing that 
 their pri^oners were always subjected to tortures worse than 
 death. 
 
 "When, therefore, a party came upon her, to make her pris- 
 oner, she fought with desperation, refusing to surrender, although 
 assured of safe treatment; and literally suffered herself to be cut 
 to pieces, rather than become their captive. 
 
 " From the Potawatomie encampment, the family of Mr. K[inzie] 
 were conveyed across the river to their own mansion. There, 
 they were closely guarded by their Indian friends, whose inten- 
 tion it was to carry them to Detroit for security. The rest of the 
 prisoners remained at the wigwams of their captors. 
 
 "The following morning, the work of plunder being completed, 
 the Indians set fire to the fort. A very equitable distribution 
 of the finery appeared to have been made, and shawls, ribbons, 
 and feathers were seen fluttering about in all directions. The 
 ludicrous appearance of one young fellow, who had arrayed 
 himself in a muslin gown, and the bonnet of the commanding 
 officer's lady, would, under other circumstances, have aflbrded 
 matter of amusement. 
 
 [*.Mrs. I'helim Corhin.] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 35 
 
 "Black Partridge and Wau-ban-see, with three others of the 
 tribe, having estabhshed themselves in the porch of the building, as 
 sentinels, to protect the family of Mr. K[inzie] from any evil that 
 the young men might be excited to commit, all remained tranquil, 
 for a short space of time after the conflagration. 
 
 "Very soon, however, a party of Indians from the Wabash 
 made their appearance. These were the most hostile and impla- 
 cable of all the bands of Potawatomies. 
 
 "Being more remote, they had shared less than some of their 
 brethren in the kindness of Air. K[inzie] and his family, and 
 consequently their sentiments of regard for them were less 
 powerful. 
 
 "Runners had been sent to the villages, to apprise them of the 
 intended evacuation of the post, as well as the plan of the 
 Indians assembled, to attack the troops. 
 
 "Thirsting to participate in such a scene, they hurried on, 
 and great was their mortification, on arriving at the river Aux 
 Plaines, to meet with a party of their friends, having their chief 
 Ne-scot-ne-meg badly wounded, and to learn that the battle 
 was over, the spoils divided, and the scalps all taken. 
 
 "On arriving at Chicago, they blackened their faces, and pro- 
 ceeded toward the residence of Mr. K[inzie]. 
 
 "From his station on the piazza. Black Partridge had watched 
 their approach, and his fears were particularly awakened for the 
 safety of Mrs. H[elm], the step-daughter of Mr, K[inzie], who 
 had recently come to the post, and was ]jersonally unknown to 
 the more remote Indians. By his advice, she was made to 
 assume the ordinary dress of a French woman of the country, 
 namely, a short gown and petticoat, with a blue-cotton hand- 
 kerchief wrapped around her head; and in this disguise she 
 was conducted by Black Partridge himself, to the house of 
 [Antoine] Ouilmette,* a Frenchman with a half breed wife, who 
 
 [*'Antoine Ouilmette was a Canadian Frenchman, born near Monlreal, in 
 1760; as an employe of the American Fur-Company, he came to Chicago in 
 July, 1790, and without doubt was the first white settler uf Chicago. When 
 
36 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 iormed a part of the establishment of Mr. K[inzie], and whose 
 dwelling was close at hand. 
 
 "It so happened that the Indians came first to this house, in 
 their searcli for prisoners. As they approached, the inmates, 
 fearful that the fair complexion and general appearance of Mrs. 
 H[elm] might betray her for an American, raised the large feather 
 bed and placed her under the edge of it, upon the bedstead, with 
 lier face to the wall. Mrs. Bisson, the sister of Ouilmette's 
 wife, then seated herself with her sewing upon the front of the 
 bed. 
 
 "It was a hot day in August, and the feverish excitement of 
 fear and agitation, together with her position, which was nearly 
 suffocating, were so painful that Mrs. H[elm] at length entreated 
 to be released and given up to the Indians. 
 
 "'I can but die,' said she, 'let them put an end to my mis- 
 eries at once.' 
 
 "Mrs. Bisson replied, 'Your death would be the signal for the 
 destruction of us all, for Black Partridge is resolved, if one drop 
 of the blood of )our family is spilled, to take the lives of all 
 
 the trouj^s arriN-ed, Aug. 17. 1803, to erect the first Fort Dearborn, he 
 supplied them with beef, piork, vegetables, etc., and on the arrival of John 
 Kin/ie in May, 1S04, he is said to have been in his employ. His house and 
 gardens adjoined Ivinzie's, formerly owned by Piere le Mai. 
 
 After the massacre and until July 4, 1S16, when the troops under Capt. 
 He?ekiali llradtey, arrived to rebuild the fort, he was the only white resident 
 of Chicago 
 
 In 1814, he with Alexander Robinson cultivated the fort gardens, and with 
 the corn crop of 1816 supi^lied the soldiers in the fort. 
 
 About 1796-7, at Crosse Point where a band of the Potawatomies were 
 located, lie married one of their women, Archange, daughter ot Franfois 
 Chevalier, a I^'renchman in the employ of the American Fur-Company, and 
 lier mother was said to be a half- breed ; she was born at Sugar Creek, Mich., 
 in 1764, and died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, Nov. 25, 1S40. She was the 
 mother of eight children: Joseph, Louis, Francois, Michel, Elizabeth, 
 vVrchange, Josette, and Sophie. 
 
 The two sections of land that were ceded to her at Grosse Point, at the 
 treaty of Prairie du Chien, concluded July 29, 1829, were surveyed by 
 government surveyors in 1S42; patent issued Oct. 29, 1842. — G. H. F.] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 37 
 
 concerned in it, even his nearest friends, and if once the work 
 of murder commences, there will be no end of it, so long as 
 there remains one white person or half-breed in the country.' 
 
 "This expostulation nerved Mrs. H[elm] with fresh resolution. 
 
 "The Indians entered, and she could occasionally see them 
 from her hiding-place, gliding about and inspecting every part of 
 the room, though without making any ostensible search, until, 
 apparently satisfied that there was no one concealed, they left 
 the house. 
 
 "All this time, Mrs. Bisson kept her seat upon the side of the 
 bed, calmly assorting and arranging the patchwork of the quilt 
 on which she was engaged, although she knew not but that the 
 next moment she might receive a tomahawk in her brain. Her 
 self-command unquestionably saved the lives of all present. 
 
 "From Ouilmette's [house] they [the Indians] proceeded to 
 the dwelling of Mr. K[inzie]. They entered the parlor, in which 
 were assembled the family, with their faithful protectors, and 
 seated themselves upon the floor, in profound silence. 
 
 "Black Partridge perceived, from their moody and revengeful 
 looks, what was passing in their minds, but he dared not remon- 
 strate with them. He only observed in a low tone to Wau-ban- 
 see, 'We have endeavored to save our friends, but in vain — 
 nothing will save them now.' 
 
 "At this moment, a friendly whoop was heard from a party of 
 new comers, on the opposite bank of the river. Black Partridge 
 sprang to meet their leader, as the canoes in which they had 
 hastily embarked touched the bank, demanding, 
 
 " ' Who are you? ' 
 
 " 'A man — who are voie?' 
 
 " 'A man, like yourself — but tell me 7c/!i> you are!"' — meaning 
 tell me your disposition, and which side you are for. 
 
 " 'I am the San gd-uas/if 
 
 " 'Then make all speed to the house — your friend is in danger, 
 and you only can save him I' 
 
^S MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 "Billy Caldwell,* for it was he, entered the parlor with a calm 
 step, and without a trace of agitation in his manner. He delib- 
 erately took oft' his accoutrements, and placed them with his 
 ritle, behind the door; then saluted the hostile savages. 
 
 " 'How now, my friends! A good day to you. I was told 
 there were enemies here, but I am glad to find only friends. 
 AA'hy have you blackened your faces? Is it that you are mourning 
 for the friends you have lost in battle? (purposely misunderstand- 
 ing this token of evil designs,) or, is it that you are fasting? If so, 
 ask our friend here, and he will give you to eat. He is the In- 
 dians' friend, and never yet refused them what they had need of 
 
 "Huis taken by surprise, the savages were ashamed to acknowl- 
 edge their bloody purpose; they, therefore, said modestly, that 
 
 [* William (Hilly) Caldwell — the Sauganash or Englishman — was born in 
 I'etroit in 17S0, the son of a Scotchman, a British army ofBcer, his mother 
 wab a rotawatomie ; at the Jesuit schools in Detroit he received a good 
 educauon and spoke fluently English and P""rench as well as several Indian 
 dialect-.. He was Tecumseh's secretary and participated in the War of 1812 
 ai,'amsl the Americans. Was "Captain Indian Department" as late as 1816; 
 came to Chicago to live ahout 1S20; was justice -of-the-peace in 1826; a 
 voter uf 1826 and 1830, and clerk of election ; in 1829, at treaty of Prairie 
 du Lliicn. he \\'as L;ranted two and one- half sections of land on the north 
 l.iranLli of the Chicago Kivtr ; and in the treaties of 1S32 -'33 an annuity of 
 $1000. Tile U. S. huilt a house fur him on the south side of Chicago 
 Avenue, liCtucen Nu)th Slate and Las-^ streets, and it ■was moved to the south 
 .-ide ol Indiana strcci, lifly feet west of Cass, and was burned in the fire of 
 iS-i. 1 le married a daughter of Ne-scot-ne-meg ; they had one son who 
 ditd a }<iulli. In 1IS27, he with Shabonne and Robinson prevented the 
 Indian^ n LliiLagu's \icinily hum joining the Winnebagoes, and in 1S32 from 
 ]iaitKi| nling in tlie lllack-Ilawk war. He offered to pay for the clothes and 
 b(H..|,v Icr all the Imban thiidrcn who would attend lohn Watkins' school 
 and die-s like \hc whites. In 1S30, when 2500 Indians assembled at 
 < liieaL:!! (<>]■ the last lime, previinis to their removal to their new home at 
 ("uuiiLiI Idulfs, la., thru Caldwell's inlluence it was jieaceful as well as 
 ^ucces^ful; he nccompanied them and never returned. Mark Beaubien 
 named his hotel, The Snuganash — Chicago's fust hotel — in his honor, and 
 saui he was the greatest man he knew of. He died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
 Se]pt. 2S, 1S41, aged (.1. Sec sketches by Hon. Wm. Hickling and Col. 
 Cardon S. Hubbard in "Fergus' Historical Series," No. 10, — G. H. i-,] 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 39 
 
 they came to beg of their friend some white cotton, in which to 
 wrap their dead, before interring them. This was given them, 
 together with some other presents, and they took their departure 
 from the premises." 
 
 Along with the party was a non-commissioned officer, who 
 had made his escape in a singular manner. As the troops were 
 about leaving the fort, it was found that the baggage-horses of the 
 surgeon had strayed off. The quartermaster-sergeant, [AVm.] 
 Griffith, was sent to collect them and bring them on, it being 
 absolutely necessary to recover some part of the surgeon's appa- 
 ratus and medicines for the march. 
 
 This man had been for a long time on the sick report, and for 
 this reason was given the charge of the baggage, instead of being 
 in his place with the troops. His efiforts to recover the horses 
 being unsuccessful, he was hastening to rejoin his party, alarmed 
 at some appearance of disorder among the Indians, when he was 
 met and made prisoner by To-pe-ne-be. 
 
 Having taken from him his arms and accoutrements, the Pota- 
 watomie put him in a canoe and paddled him across the river, 
 bidding him make for the woods and secrete himself This he 
 did, and the following day, in the afternoon, seeing from his 
 lurking place that all appeared quiet, he ventured to steal cau- 
 tiously into the garden of Ouilmette, where he concealed himself 
 behind some currant bushes. 
 
 After a time he determined to enter the house, and accordingly 
 climbed up, through a small back window, into the room where 
 the family were. This was just as the Wabash Indians had left 
 the house of Ouilmette for that of Mr. K[inzie]. The danger of 
 the sergeant was now imminent. The family of Ouilmette 
 stripped him of his uniform, and arrayed him in a suit of deer- 
 skin, with belt, moccasins, and pipe, like a French engage. His 
 dark complexion and large black whiskers favored the disguise. 
 The family were all ordered to address him in French, and, 
 although utterly ignorant of the language, he continued to pass 
 for a voyageur, and as such to accompany Mr. K[inzie] and his 
 family, undiscovered by his enemies, to St. Joseph's. 
 
40 . MASSACRE AT CHICAGO, 
 
 "Little remains to be told. On the third day after the battle, the 
 family of Mr. K[inzie] with the clerks of the establishment, were 
 put in a boat, under the care of Francois, a half-b'reed interpre- 
 ter, and conveyed to St. Joseph's, where they remained until the 
 following November, under the protection of To-pe-ne-be's band. 
 They were then carried to Detroit, under the escort of Chandon- 
 nai,* and a trusty Indian friend,! and, together with their negro 
 servants, delivered up, as prisoenrs of war, to the British com- 
 manding officer. 
 
 [•John Baptiste Chandonai was born near the mouth of the St. Joseph 
 River, Michigan, about 1788. His father was a brother of To-pen-e-be, 
 chief of the Potawatomies, and his mother was of a French Canadian family. 
 He was a soldier and scout of the United States in the War of 1S12 ; served 
 under Gens. Lewis Cass and Wm. Henry Harrison, as a special messenger 
 and guide, whose commendatory letters are of record in government docu- 
 ments ; of fine physique, most powerful of strength, fleet of foot, courageous, 
 and the most trustworthy of the To-pen-e-be band. He married early in 
 life ; his wife lived but two years, leaving a young son, who was given a 
 good education at the Johnson Indian School, Louisville, Ky., and went 
 west in 1S36, with the Potawatomies to their reservation in Kansas, and was 
 living when last heard from. After the death of his first wife, he joined the 
 American army. His trustworthiness and bravery soon became apparent to 
 the American commanders and he was given many dangerous missions to 
 fulfil. On one of these, he was captured by the British and confined in the 
 military prison at Maiden [Amherstburg], Canada. From there he soon 
 made his escape — 'tis said he was aided by a beautiful French girl whom he 
 afterward married — and on account of his value to the American cause, a price 
 was put upon his head. His uncle, of the same name, who was a Canadian 
 British oflicer, was commissioned to recapture him when it was known that 
 he had returned to St. Joseph and was in command of the Indian garrison 
 there. Chandonai learned of his uncle's mission, and on his arrival went 
 with gun in hand to meet him and his posse. Drawing a line across the 
 path he declared it would be death to anyone who crossed it. The uncle, 
 heedless of the warning, crossed and was shot dead ; those who were with 
 him hurriedly took to their canoes and departed. His last years were passed 
 on a farm adjoining South Bend, Ind., where he died in 1837, aged 51, and 
 many of his descendants are now, 191 1, living in that vicinity. Darius 
 Heald, son of Capt. Nathan Heald, told the writer that Chandonai visited 
 his father at O'Fallon, Mo., in 1831. — c. H. F.J 
 
 +Ke-po-tah. 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 4I 
 
 It had been a stipulation, at the surrender of Detroit, by 
 Gen. Hull, that the American inhabitants should retain the 
 liberty of remaining undisturbed in their own dwelling, and ac- 
 cordingly this family was permitted a quiet residence among 
 their friends at that place. 
 
 Mr. K[inzie] was not allowed to leave St. Joseph's with his 
 family, his Indian friends insisting upon his remaining to endeavor 
 to secure some remnant of his scattered property, but anxiety for 
 his family induced him to follow them to Detroit, in January, 
 where he was received as a prisoner and paroled by Gen. [Henry 
 A.] Proctor. 
 
 Of the other prisoners, Capt. and Mrs. Heald had been sent 
 across the Lake to St. Joseph's, the day after the battle. Capt. 
 Heald had received two wounds and Mrs. H[eald] seven, the 
 ball of one of which was cut out of her arm with a penknife by 
 Mr. K[inzie] after the engagement. 
 
 "The horse Mrs. Heald rode was a fine, spirited animal, and 
 the Indians were desirous to possess themselves of it unwounded. 
 They therefore aimed their shots so as to disable the rider with- 
 out injuring the steed. This was at length accomplished, and her 
 captor was in the act of disengaging her hat from her head, in 
 order to scalp her, when young Chandonai, a half-breed from 
 St. Joseph's, ran up, and offered for her ransom a mule he had 
 just taken, adding the promise of ten bottles of whisky so soon as 
 he should reach his village. The latter was a strong temptation. 
 
 " 'But,' said the Indian, 'she is badly wounded — she will die — 
 will you give me the whisky at all events?' 
 
 "Chandonai promised that he would, and the bargain was con- 
 cluded. Mrs. Heald was placed in the boat with Mrs. K[inzie] 
 and her children, covered with a buffalo robe, and enjoined 
 silence as she valued her life. In this situation, the heroic woman 
 remained, without uttering a sound that could betray her to the 
 savages, who were continually coming to the boat in search of 
 prisoners, but who always retired peaceably when told that it 
 contained only the family' of Shaw-ne-au-ke.* 
 
 [* Silverman, Kinzie's Indian name.] 
 
42 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 
 
 "When the boat was at length permitted to return to the man- 
 sion of Mr, K[inzie], and Mrs. Heald was reniovedito the house 
 for the purpose of dressing her wounds, Mr. K[inzie] applied to 
 an old chief who stood by, and who, like most of his tribe 
 possessed some skill in surgery, to extract a ball from the arm of 
 the sufferer. 
 
 " 'No, father,' replied he, 'I can not do it — it makes me sick 
 here!' placing his hand upon his heart. This, after the bloody 
 scenes in which he had just participated! 
 
 "Capt. Heald was taken prisoner by an Indian from the Kan- 
 kakee, who had a strong personal regard for him, and who, when 
 he saw the wuunded and enfeebled state of ISIrs. H[eald], 
 released his prisoner, that he might accompany his wife to St. 
 Joseph's. To the latter place, they were a';cordingly carried by 
 Chandonai and his jiarty. In the meantime, the Indian who had 
 so nobly released his prisoner returned to his village on the Kan- 
 kakee, where he had the mortification of finding that his conduct 
 had excited great dissatisfaction among his band. So great was 
 the displeasure manifested that he resolved to make a journey to 
 St. Joseph's and reclaim his prisoner. 
 
 News of his intention benig brought to To-pe-ne-be and 
 Keo-po-tah, under whose care the prisoners were, they held a 
 pri\ate council witli Chandonai, Mr. K[inzie], and the principal 
 men of the village, the result of which was a determination to 
 send Capt. and Mr;. Heald to the Island of Mackinac, and 
 delner them up to the British. 
 
 'J'hey were accordinglv put in a bark canoe and paddled by 
 the ]irese]it chief of the Potawatoniies, [Alexander] Robinson,'* 
 
 [" .Mf.x.inder ki.ibiiison, Che- che - jiin - qua, a chief of the united Potawat- 
 oniies, Chi[t[)e\\'as, and Ottawas, born at Mackinac in 1762; son of a Scotch 
 tratier, an e\-]3ritish army officer, and an CUtawa woman. He married at 
 ^Iacl^inac and at St. Joseph was an Indian trader and associated with Joseph 
 Bailly. Moved to Chicago about 1S14; his personal property was assessed 
 at $200 in 1825 ; served as Indian interpreter under Dr. Alex. Wolcott from 
 1S2;, to '26 at a salary of $365 ; a voter of Chicago in 1S25, '26 and '30; his 
 licen^e as a lavern-keeper is dated June 8, 1S30; was living at Hardscrabble 
 before 1826; married by John Kinzie, Sept. 28, 1826, Catharine Chevalier, 
 
MASSACRE AT CHICAGO. 43 
 
 and his wife, a distance of three hundred miles along the coast 
 of Lake IMichigan, and surrendered as prisoners of war to the 
 commanding officer at Mackinac." 
 
 "As an instance of the procrastinating spirit of Capt. Heald, 
 it may be mentioned that even after he had received certain 
 intelligence that his Indian captor was on his way from the Kan- 
 kakee to retake him, he would still have delayed another day at 
 St. Joseph's, to make preparation for a more comfortable journey 
 to Mackinac. 
 
 Lieut. Helm, who was likewise wounded, was carried by some 
 friendly hidians to their village on the Au Sable [River], and 
 thence to St. Louis, where he was liberated, by the intervention 
 of Mr. Thomas Forsyth,* a trader among them. 
 
 Mrs. Helm accompanied her father's family to Detroit. In 
 the engagement, she received a slight wound on the ankle and 
 had her horse shot under her. 
 
 The soldiers, with their wives and children, were dispersed 
 among the different villages of the Potawatomies, upon the 
 Illinois, Wabash, Rock River, and Milwaukee, until the following 
 spring, when they were for the most part carried to Detroit, and 
 ransomed. Some, however, were detained in captivity still 
 another year, during which period they experienced more kind- 
 ness than was to have been expected from an enemy in most 
 cases so merciless. 
 
 daughter of FraiK^ois and Mary Ann Chevalier. Chevalier was chief of a 
 united band of Potawatomies, Ottawas, and Chippewas, whose village Avas at 
 Calumet, and at his death, Robinson became chief. At treaty of Prairie du 
 Chien, July 29, 1829, he was granted two sections of land on the Desplaines 
 River. On Oct. 20, 1S32, by treaty of Camp I'ippecanoe, he was granted a 
 life annuity of $200 ; and at Chicago treaty Sept. 26, 1833, ^n additional 
 annuity of $300. His last residence in Chicago was at Wolf Point, where he 
 had a store. After the Indians were moved to beyond the Mississippi, 1836, 
 he with his family settled on his reservation where he died April 22, 1872. 
 His wife died Aug. 7, i860. Thru his efforts, together with Caldwell and 
 Shabonee, they prevented the Indians in and around Chicago from joining 
 the Sauks in the Winnebago war of 1827, and Black Hawk in 1832. A 
 daughter of Robinson, Mrs. Mary Reger, aged 68, is now (1910) living on 
 the homestead, where her father, mother, two brothers and a sister-in-law 
 are buried. — G. H. F.] 
 
 [* Thomas Forsyth, a half-brother of John Kinzie, who died at St. Louis, 
 Mo., Oct. 29, 1833, aged 62. — G. H. F.] 
 
THE 
 
 KI NZI E FAMILY 
 
 IN 
 
 AMERICA* 
 
 FIRST GENERATION 
 
 (I) 
 John' MacKenzie, surgeon of the 6oth Royal Reg't 
 
 of Foot, married Anne, widow of John Halyburton, chap- 
 lain of the 1st Royal American Reg't of Foot. 
 
 SECOND GENERATION 
 
 (2) 
 John^ Kinzie (John'), born Quebec, Canada, Dec. 22, 
 
 1763; died Chicago, 111., Jan. 6, 1828; married March 10, 
 
 1798, Eleanor Lytle McKillip, widow of Capt. Daniel Mc- 
 
 Killip of the British army; daughter of Col. William and 
 
 Ann Lytle; born in Virginia about 1 771; died New York 
 
 City, Feb. 19, 1834; aged 63; and was buried in St. John's 
 
 churchyard. Children: 
 
 -I- 3. John Harris? born Sandwich, Canada, July 7, 1803; 
 
 died June 21, 1865; married Aug. 9, 1829, Juliette 
 
 Augusta Magill, born Sept. 11, 1806; died Sept. 
 
 15, 1870. 
 
 * The Kinzie Family is arranged in generations and the individuals are 
 numbered consecutively on the left margin of the page. Those having 
 children, their number is preceded by + , so that the reader may look forvrard 
 to the next generation, where the same number will be found in the center 
 of the page, inclosed in parenthesis. Following the name of the member 
 of the family will be found the names of all their ancestors, the small figure 
 at the right indicates their generation. The number, as used here, will 
 enable the reader, by referring forward or backward, to find the descendants 
 or ancestors of any member of the family. 
 
 (45) 
 
46 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 + 4. Ellen Marion? born Chicago, Dec. 20, 1805; died 
 Aug. I, i860; married, first, Dr. Alexander VVol- 
 cott; married, second, George C. Bates. 
 5. Maria Indiana? born Chicago, Sept. 28, 1807; died 
 Feb. 21, 1887; married Sept. 18, 1829, Lieut. David 
 Hunter, U.S.A., born in Princeton, N. J., July 
 17, 1S02, one of the first graduates from West 
 Point; served on staff of Gen. Zachary Taylor 
 throughout the Mexican War; severely wounded 
 in the first battle of Bull Run and was promoted 
 for gallantry. Captured Fort Pulaski, Ga,, in 
 1863; and was retired as Major General, U.S.A. 
 No children. 
 
 + 6. Robert Allan? born Chicago, Feb. 8, 1810; died Dec. 
 13. ^'^73't paymaster U.S.A.; married Nov. 13, 
 1833, Gwinthlean, 4th daughter of Col. John 
 Whistler; born July 20, 1817; died Sept. 10, 1S94. 
 
 THIRD GENERA TION 
 
 (3) 
 John Harris^ Kinzie (John: John'), born Sandwich, 
 Canada, July 7, 1803; died June 21, 1865; married Aug. 
 9, 1829, Juliette Augusta Magill; born Sept. 11, 1806; died 
 Sept. 15, 1870. Children: 
 
 7. Alexander Wolcott^ b. July 12, 1833; d. Oct. 4, 1839. 
 
 + 8. Eleanor Lytlef b. Chicago, June 18, 1835; m. Dec. 
 
 21, 1857, Gen. William Washington Gordon, of 
 
 Savannah, Ga. 
 
 + 9. John Harrisf jr,, b. Chicago, Oct. 21, 1S38; d. June 
 
 18, 1S62; m. Apr. 25, 1861, Elvenah Janes, b. 
 
 May 4. 1842. 
 
 + 10. Arthur Magill;* b. Chicago, Mar. 24, 1841; d. May 10, 
 
 1901; m. May 23, 1867, Caroline Gilbert Wilson. 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 47 
 
 11. Julian MagiU;' born Chicago, Feb. 7, 1843; died 
 
 Mar. 20, 1843. 
 
 12. Francis Willianif born Chicago, July 13, 1S44; died 
 
 July 30, 1850. 
 + 13. George Herbert;* b. Chicago, Oct. 22, 1846; d. Aug. 
 26, 1890; m. June lO, 1S74, Mary Blatchford. 
 
 (4) 
 Ellen Marion? Kinzie (Johnf John'), born Chicago, 
 Dec. 20, 1805; died Aug. i, i860; married, iirst. Dr. Alex- 
 ander Wolcott, who died Chicago, Oct. 25, 1830. Two 
 children who died in infancy. Married, second, May 26, 
 1836, George C. Bates, who died Feb. 11, 1886. 
 
 14. Kinzie Batesf Major U.S.A., born Apr. 13, 1S39; 
 
 died Feb. 20, 1884; married Oct. 21, 1873, Eliza- 
 beth Chumley Jennings. 
 (6) 
 Robert Allan^ Kinzie (Johnf John'), b, Chicago, Feb. 
 8, 1810; d. Dec. 13, 1873; paymaster U.S.A.; m. Nov. 13, 
 1833, Gwinthlean, 4th dau. of Col. John and 
 Whistler, b. July 20, 1817; d. Sept. 10, 1894. Children: 
 
 15. Robert Allan* jr., b. 1834; died in infanc}-. 
 
 16. Margaret? b. 1836; died in infancy. 
 
 -I- 17. Gwinthleanf b. 1837; m. Dr. 
 
 Manson, of Kansas. 
 -I- 18. Mariaf b. 1839: d. Oct. 19, 1899; m- Gen. 
 
 Geo. H. Steuart of Baltimore, Md. 
 + 19. David Hunter* b. Jan. 24, 1841; d. July S, 1904; ni. 
 
 Feb. 28, 1 87 1, Elvenah Janes Kinzie, widow of 
 
 John Harris Kinzie, jr. 
 -t-20. Julia* b. May 4, 1842; m. Nov. 13, i860, William B. 
 
 Parsons of Vermont. 
 21. Marionf b. Sep. 16, 1848; married, first, Lieut. 
 
 Edward Totten, U.S.A.; second, John Sniden. 
 
 No children. 
 
48 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 22. John Harris? IV., b. i845; ni- 
 
 23. Robert AllanMII, b. 1846; d. 1859. 
 
 24. Frank? b. 1849; d. Nov. , 1909; m. 
 
 25. Walter? b. 1851; d. Nov. 5, 1909; m. 
 
 26. Nelly Duck? b. 1853; unmarried. 
 
 FOURTH GENERATION 
 
 (8) 
 Eleanor Lytle* Kinzie- Gordon (John Harris? Johnf 
 John"), born Chicago, June 18, 1835; married Dec. 21, 1857, 
 Gen. William Washington Gordon, of Savannah, Ga., born 
 Oct. 14, 1834. Children: 
 
 + 27. Eleanor Kinzie? b. Sept. 27, 1858; m. Jan. 2, 1884, 
 Richard Wayne*^ Parker, of Newark, N.J. 
 
 28. Juliette Magill,5 b. Oct. 31, i860; m. Dec. 21, 1886, 
 
 William McKay Law. No children. 
 
 29. Sarah Alice? b. Aug. 7, 1863; d. Dec. 30, 1880. 
 
 + 30. William Washington? jr., b. Apr. 16, 1866; m. Mar. 
 
 I, 1892, Ellen Buchanan Screven. 
 + 31. Mable McLane? b. Oct. 28, 1870; m, Hon. Rowland 
 
 Leigh, youngest son of Baron Leigh, of Stone- 
 
 leigh Abbey, Warwickshire, England. 
 + 32. George Arthur? b. Aug. 30, 1872; m. May 31, 1906, 
 
 Margaret McGuire of Richmond, Va. 
 
 FOURTH GENERATION 
 
 ■ (9) 
 
 John Harris^ Kinzie, jr. (John Harris? John? John'), 
 born Chicago, Oct. 21, 183S; killed June 18, 1862, on U.S. 
 gunboat Mound City, blown up by hot shot, at storming 
 of Fort Pillow, White River, Ark.; married Apr. 25, 1861, 
 I'^lvenah Janes, born May 4, 1S42. One child; 
 
 33. Laura Magill? born Aug. 31, 1862; married Oct. 5, 
 1901, Lieut. Arthur Ferguson, U.S.A. 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 49 
 
 (10) 
 
 Capt. Arthur Magill* Kinzie(John Harris? Johnf John'), 
 born Chicago, Mar. 24, 1841; died May 10, 1902. Served 
 in U. S. army during the Civil War for two years on staff 
 of Gen. David Hunter, and was with him at the capture 
 of Fort Pulaski, Ga.; was aide-de-camp to Gen, C. C. 
 Washburn in i86i, and was captured when Gen. Nathan B. 
 Forrest made his famous raid into Memphis, Tenn. His 
 younger brother George, who was visiting him, was also 
 captured. They were sent to the Confederate prison at 
 Cahawba, Ala,, and were finally released by order of 
 President Jefferson Davis. Married May 23, 1867, Caroline 
 Gilbert, 3d daughter of John Lush and Maria Whipple 
 Wilson. Children: 
 -I-34. John Harris,^ HI., born June 11, 1868; married Jan. 
 
 7, 1897, Nellie Bernice Reed. 
 2 f 35- Juliette Magill? born Jan. 31, 1870; died in infancy. 
 s(-f36. E^leanor Gordon? born Jan. 31, 1870; married June 
 
 28, 1893, George Wells Gould of Chicago. 
 + 37. Adele Locke? born Apr. 28, 1872; married June 12, 
 
 1894, John Saunders Driver. 
 + 38. Sarah Miles? born Oct 18, 1881; married June 4, 
 
 1901, Herbert Averard Havemeyer. 
 39. Julian Magill? born Aug. 31, 1887. 
 
 (13) 
 George Herbert* Kinzie (John Harris? Johnf John'), 
 born Chicago, Oct. 22, 1846; ist Lieut. 15th Infantry, civil 
 appointee, U.S.A., 1873; died Aug. 26, 1890; married 
 June 10, 1874, Mary Blatchford. Children: 
 -I- 40. Juliette Augusta? born Mar. 11, 1875 ; married Aug. 
 30, 1899, William Kennedy McKay. Children: 
 41. Mary? born Dec. 17, 1876; married July 23, 1904, 
 Clarence Whittingham Hopkins, M. D. 
 
5o MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 42. Addie? born Jan. 26, 1878; died 1896. 
 
 43, George Buell? born Mar, 10, 1881. 
 
 (14) 
 Kinzie Batesf (Ellen Marion? John? John"), Alajor 
 U.S.A., Commander l-Sattalion.ist Infantry; born Apr. 13, 
 1S39; died Feb. 20, 1884; married Oct. 21, 1873, Elizabeth 
 Chumley Jennings. No children. 
 
 (18) 
 Maria-* Kinzie -Steuart (Robert Allan? John? John'), 
 born , 1839; died Oct. 19, 1899; married Gen. 
 
 George H. Steuart of Baltimore, Md. Children: 
 + 44. Maria Hunter? born Dec. 6, i860; married iSIov. 30, 
 
 i8go, Edmund Davis. 
 + 45. Ann Mar)-? born Jan. 18, 1864; married, first, Sept. 
 25, i888, Rudolph Liebig, who died Aug 34, 1895. 
 
 (IQ) 
 David Huntef Kinzie (Robert Allan? John,= John") 
 Capt. U.S.A.; born Jan. 24, 1841 ; died Jul}' 5, 1904; 
 married Elvenah Janes Kinzie, widow of John Harris 
 Kinzie, jr. Children : 
 + 46. Alice? born Jan. 16, 1872; married July 7, 1902, 
 
 Lieut. M. J. McDonougli„ U.S.A. 
 + 47. Robert Allan? jr., born Jan. 15, 1874; married Xov. 
 12, 1901, Veronica Kennedy. 
 
 48. David Janes? born May 2, 1875; married Dec. 28, 
 
 1903, Sadie Stodhart. 
 
 49. Hunter? born Sept. 25, 1876. 
 
 50. William Gordon? born Oct. 26, 1878. 
 
 (20) 
 
 Julia* Kinzie -Parsons (Robert Allan? Johnf John'), 
 born May 4, 1842; married Nov. 13, 1S60, William B. 
 Parsons of Vermont; born Jan. i, 1834; died Dec. 31, 
 1885. Children: 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 5 1 
 
 + 51. Robert Wilkins? born Sept. 5, 1861; married and 
 had children. 
 
 (22) 
 
 John Harris? IV. (Robert Allan? John? John'), born 
 born 1845; married 
 
 FIFTH GENERATION 
 
 (27) 
 
 Eleanor Kinzie Gordon^ -Parker (Eleanor Lytle/ John 
 Harris? Johnf John'), born Sept. 27, 1859; married Jan. 2, 
 1884, Richard Wayne Parker of Newark, N.J. Children: 
 
 52. Alice Gordon^ born Jan. 27, 1885. 
 
 53 
 54 
 55 
 56 
 
 Eleanor Wayne? born Mar. 21, 1887. 
 Elizabeth Wolcott? born Nov. ig, 1889. 
 Wa3'nef born Sept. 29, 1S92; died Apr. i. 1899. 
 Cortlandtf born Feb. -5, 1896. 
 
 (30) 
 William Washington Gordon? jr. (Eleanor Lytlef 
 John Harris? John? John'), born Apr. 16, 1866; married 
 Mar. I, 1892, Ellen Buchanan Screven. Children: 
 
 57. William Washington? Ill, born Mar. 4, 1893. 
 
 58. Ellen Screven? b. June I, 189S; d. May 21, 1897. 
 
 59. Margaret Eleanor? born Aug. 6, 1 900. 
 
 60. Franklin Buchanan? born Aug. 21, 1905; died Mar. 
 
 12, 1908. 
 
 (31) 
 Mable McLane Gordon=-Leigh (Eleanor Lytle? John 
 Harris? John; John'), born Oct. 28, 1870; married Hon. 
 Rowland Leigh, youngest son of Baron Leigh of Stone- 
 leigh Abbey, Warwickshire, England. Children: 
 
 61. Margaret Ethel? born Jan. 24, 1901. 
 
 62. Rowland Henry? born May 16, 1903. 
 
52 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 (32) 
 
 George ArthurGordon? (Eleanor Lytlef John Harris? 
 John? John') born Aug. 30, 1872; married May 31, 1906, 
 Margaret McGuire of Richmond, Va. Children: 
 
 6^. Mary Stuartf born Apr. i, 1907. 
 
 (34) 
 
 John Harris^ Kinzie, III. (Arthur Magillf John Harris? 
 John: John'), born June 11, 1868; married Jan. 7, 1897, 
 Nellie Bernice Reed. Children: 
 
 64. John Harris;' IV., b. Sept. 10, 1897; d. Oct. 26, 1899. 
 
 65. Eleanor Gordon',' born Sept. 10, 1900. 
 
 66. William Reed? born May 2, 1902. 
 
 (36) 
 Eleanor Gordon^ Kinzie Gould (Arthur Magillf John 
 Harris? John: John'), born Jan. 31, 1870; married June 
 28, 1893, George Wells Gould. Children: 
 
 67. Gordon Kinzie? born April 10, 1894. 
 
 (37) 
 
 Adele Locke^ Kinzie- Driver (Arthur Magillt John 
 Harris? John? John'), born Apr. 28, 1872; married June 
 12, 1S94, John Saunders Driver. Children: 
 
 6S. Ruth; born June 5, 1S96. 
 
 69. Edwina Adclc'? born June 6, 1900. 
 
 (38) 
 
 Sarah Miles^ Kinzie -Havemeyer (Arthur Magillf 
 John Hrrris? John? John'), born Oct. 18, 1881; married 
 June 4, 1901, Herbert Averard Havemeyer. Children: 
 
 70. Rosaline;' born Apr. 13, 1903. 
 
 71. Herbert Kinzie? born Aug. 13, 1906. 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 53 
 
 . (40) 
 
 Juliette Augusta' Kinzie- McKay (George Herbert^ 
 John Harris^ Johnf John'), born Mar. ii, 1875; married 
 Aug. 30, 1899, WiUiam Kennedy McKay. Children: 
 
 72. Nonyf born Sept. 28, 1905. 
 
 (41) 
 Mary' Kinzie- Hopkins (George Herbert? John Harrisf 
 Johnf John'), born Dec. 17, 1876; married July 23, 1904, 
 Clarence Whittingham Hopkins, M. D. 
 
 (44) 
 Maria Hunter' Steuart- Davis (Mariaf Robert Allan? 
 John: John'), born Dec. 6, i860; married Nov. 30, 1880, 
 Edmund Davis. Children: 
 
 73. Horace Bloodgoodf died in infancy. 
 
 74. Steuart? born Mar. 13, 1882. 
 
 (45) 
 Ann Mary' Steuart-Liebig (Maria? Robert Allan? Johnf 
 John"), born Jan. 18, 1S64; married, first, Sept. 25, 1888, 
 Rudolph Liebig, who died Aug, 31, 1895. Children: 
 
 75. Marion? born June 20, 1893. 
 ^6. Rudolph? born Oct. 24, 1895. 
 
 Married, second, Oct. 6, 1906, Robert Meade Smith, M. D. 
 
 (46) 
 
 Alice' Kinzie-McDonough (Maria* Robert Allan? Johnf 
 John'), born Jan. 26, 1872; married July 7, 1902, Lieut. 
 M. J. McDonough, U.S.A. Children: 
 
 "JJ. Robert? born. Apr. 26, 1904. 
 
 78. Alice? born Nov. 13, 1908. 
 
 (47) 
 Robert Allan' Kinzie, jr. (Mariaf Robert Allan? Johnf 
 John'), born Jan. 15, 1874; married Nov. 12, 1901, Veronica 
 Kennedy. Children: 
 
54 ' MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 79. Robert Allanf III., born Nov. 20, 1904.- 
 
 80. David Hunter? born May 22, 1906. 
 
 81. Veronica Cordilia^ born Feb. 26, 1907. 
 
 (51) 
 Robert Wilkins^ Parsons (Juliaf Robert Allan? Johnf 
 John"), born Sept. 5, 1861; married Children: 
 
 82. Irenef born Aug. 10, 1885. 
 
 83. Gwinthleanf born Feb. 20, 1887. 
 
 84. Ethel? born June 7, 1890. 
 
 85. Irene Rucker? b. June 10, 1864; d. Aug. II, 1865. 
 
 (52) 
 William Guy^ Parsons (Juliaf Robert Allan? Johnf 
 John'), born May I, 1877; married Children: 
 
 86. Guy? born Sept. 25, 1S93, 
 
 87. Frank Kinzie?^ b. June 12, 1870; d. July 23, 1902. 
 
JOHN KINZIE 
 
 A SKETCH 
 
 BY 
 ELEANOR LYTLE KINZIE GORDON 
 
 John MacKeiizie was a son of Surgeon John MacKenzie 
 of the 6oth or Royal American Regiment of Foot, and of 
 Anne Haleyburton, the widow of Chaplain William Haley- 
 burton of the First or Royal American Regiment of Foot. 
 Mrs. Halej'burton had one child by Maj. Haleyburton, 
 a daughter named Alice, born January 22, 1758. This 
 event took place just before the regiment embarked from 
 Ireland for America, and the Haleyburtons were conse- 
 quently delayed for several weeks before rejoining the 
 command in Quebec. 
 
 Major Haleyburton died soon after their arrival in 
 America, and his widow a couple of }'ears later married 
 Surgeon John MacKenzie. Their son John was born in 
 Quebec, December 3, 1763. 
 
 Major MacKenzie survived the birth of his son but a 
 few months, and his widow took for her third husband 
 William Forsyth, of New York City, by whom she had 
 five sons; William, George, James, Thomas, and Robert 
 Allan. 
 
 In the old family Bible is the following touching record 
 of an event that occurred after the family had removed 
 from New York to Detroit: 
 
 "George Forsyth was lost in the woods 6th of 
 August, 1775, when Henry Hays and Mark Stir- 
 ling ran away and left him. The remains of 
 George Forsyth were found by an Indian the 2d 
 of Oct., 1776, close by the Prairie Ronde." 
 
 (55) 
 
56 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 There was nothing to identify the child except the 
 auburn curls of his hair and the Httle boots he had worn. 
 
 In this same old Bible, the "Mac" is dropped in recording- 
 the birth of "John Kinsey," so spelled, thus indicating that 
 he was known as John Kinsey, or, as he himself spelled 
 it, Kinzie from early childhood. 
 
 Young John grew up under the care and supervision of 
 his step-father, Mr. Forsyth, until at the age of ten he 
 began his adventurous career by running away. 
 
 He and his two half-brothers attended a school at 
 Williamsburg, L. I., escorted there every Monday by a 
 servant, who came to bring them home every Friday. One 
 fine afternoon, when the servant came to take the boys 
 home, Master Johnny was missing. An immediate search 
 was made, but not a trace of him could be found. His 
 mother was almost frantic. The mysterious disappearance 
 of her bright, handsome boy was a fearful blow. Days 
 passed without tidings of the lost one, and hope fled. The 
 only solution suggested was, that he might have been 
 accidently drowned, and his body swept out to sea. 
 
 Meantime, Master John was very much alive. He had 
 determined to go to Quebec to try, as he afterward ex- 
 plained, to discover some of his father's relations. He 
 had managed to find a sloop which was just going up the 
 Hudson, and with the confidence and audacity of a child, 
 he stepped gaily on board and set forth on his travels. 
 Most fortunately for him, he attracted the notice of a 
 passenger on the vessel who was going to Quebec, and 
 who began to question the lonely little lad. He became 
 so interested in the boy that he took him in charge, paid 
 his fare and landed him safely in his native city. 
 
 But here, alas, Master Johnny soon found himself 
 stranded. Very cold, verj' hungry and very miserable, he 
 was wandering down one of the streets of Quebec when his 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 57 
 
 attention was attracted by a glittering array of watches 
 and silver in a shop window, where a man was sitting 
 repairing a clock. Johnny stood gazing wistfully in ; his 
 yellow curls, blue eyes, and pathetic little face appealed to 
 the kind silversmith, who beckoned him into the shop and 
 soon learned his story. "And what are you going to do 
 now.''" asked the man. "I am going to work" replied 
 "ten -year- old" valiantly. "Why, what could you do.'" 
 laughed the man. "I could do anything you told me to 
 do, if you just showed me how to do it," said John. The 
 result was that John obtained the job. The silversmith 
 had no children, and as the months rolled on, he grew 
 more and more fond of John. He taught him as much of 
 his trade as the lad could acquire in the three years of his 
 stay in Quebec. 
 
 This knowledge was of great value to him when, later 
 on in his life, it enabled him to secure the friendship and 
 assistance of the Indians by fashioning various ornaments 
 and tokens for them from the silver money paid to them 
 as annuities by the United States Government. The 
 Indians gave him the name of Shaw-nee-aw-kee or the 
 Silver Man, and by that name he was best known among 
 all the tribes of the Northwest. 
 
 These happy and useful years drew to .a close. As John 
 was one day walking down the street, a gentleman from 
 New York stopped him and said: "Are you not Johnny 
 Kinzie.?" John admitted that he was— and the gentleman 
 armed with the astonishing news and the boy's address, 
 promptly communicated with Mr. Forsyth, who at once 
 came to Quebec and took the runaway hom.e. 
 
 I dare say his rejoicing mother saved him from the 
 sound thrashing, he richly deserved at the hands of his 
 step -father. 
 
58 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 John had had enough of running away, and was now 
 content to staj' at home and buckle down to his books. 
 The few letters of his that remain and are preserved in 
 the Chicago Historical Society show tlie results of an ex- 
 cellent education. The roving spirit was still alive in him, 
 however. Mr. P'orsyth had moved West and settled in 
 Detroit, and when John was about eighteen j'ears old he 
 persuaded his step- father to fit him out as an Indian 
 trader. This venture proved a great success. Before he 
 was one and twent)', j'oung Kinzie had established two 
 trading-posts, — one at Sandusky and one at Maumee, and 
 was pushing toward the W'est, where he later started a 
 depot on St. Joseph River, Michigan — Bertrand, 30 miles 
 up the river. 
 
 In all of liis new and arduous career, he was greatly 
 aided and protected by John Harris, the famous Indian 
 scout and trader, mentioned by Irving in his Life of Wash- 
 ington (Volume I,' Chapter XII). In grateful apprecia- 
 tion of these kindnesses, he named his son John Harris 
 after this valued friend. 
 
 John Kinzie's success as an Indian trader was almost 
 phenomenal. He acquired their language with great 
 facilit)'; he respected their customs; and they soon found 
 that his "word was as good as his bond." He was a keen 
 trader, not allowing himself to be cheated, nor attempting 
 to cheat them. He quickly gained the confidence and 
 esteem of the various tribes with whom he dealt, and the 
 personal friendship of man)' of their most powerful chiefs, 
 \\ lio showed themselves read)' to shield him in danger, 
 and to rescue him from harm at the risk of their lives. 
 
 An e\'ent in the life of John Kinzie maybe here stated, 
 and the romantic and sensational tales concerning it, as 
 put forth b)' some historians, corrected. In the )'ear 1775, 
 the t\\'o little daughters of Isaac McKenzie were stolen 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 59 
 
 from their home in Giles County.Vii'gi'iia, near the Kanawha 
 River, by a party of Shawnee Indians. Margaret was ten 
 years old, and Elizabeth was two years younger. They 
 had been captives among these savages for ten years, 
 when John Clark, a trader, and John Kinzie heard of them, 
 and that there was a plan on foot to compel these young 
 women to marry certain men of their tribe. Kinzie and 
 Clark determined to rescue them. By means of a liberal 
 expenditure of guns, ammunition, blankets, etc., the)' suc- 
 ceeded in ransoming the two young women. Margaret 
 took up her abode with Kinzie, and Elizabeth with Clark. 
 
 When, several j'ears later, Isaac McKenzie learned of 
 his daughters' safety he came West to claim them. B)- 
 this time, Margaret had three children, James, William, and 
 Elizabeth. In spite of Mr. Kinzie's offer to marry her, 
 Maroaret refused to remain with him, but taking her 
 children went back to Virginia with her father, where she 
 promptly asserted her freedom from any legal ties else- 
 where by marrying a man named Benjamin Hall. 
 
 Margaret McKenzie's desertion of the man \\'ho had 
 saved her from a cruel fate can onl)' be condoned by the 
 fact that she had spent ten 3'ears of her life among savages, 
 and that the prospect of a return to her early home and 
 the comforts of civilization appealed to her too strongly to 
 be resisted when contrasted with the hardships of life on 
 the frontier. 
 
 After the breaking up of his home and the loss of his 
 children, Mr. Kinzie threw himself with restless energy 
 into his business. He made long and arduous journeys, 
 extending his trading-posts far into the West. When in 
 the neighborhood of Detroit, he made his home with his 
 half-brother, William Forsyth, who had married a Miss 
 Margaret Lytle, daughter of Col. William Lytle of Vir- 
 ginia. Here he was always a welcome guest; and here 
 
6o MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 he met Mrs. Forsyth's younger sister, Eleanor. She was 
 the widow of a British officer, Capt. Daniel McKillip, who 
 had been killed in a sortie from Fort Defiance. Since his 
 death, she, and her little daughter Margaret, had made 
 their home with the Forsyths. 
 
 John Kinzie fell desperately in love with the handsome 
 young widow, and on Jan. 23, 1798, they were married. 
 
 Mr. Kinzie continued to extend his business still farther 
 West, and in October, 1804, he moved with his wife and 
 infant son, John Harris, to Chicago, where he purchased 
 the trading-establishment of Pierre le Mai, a Frenchman. 
 
 Here, cut off from the world at large, with no society 
 but the military at Fort Dearborn, the Kinzies lived in 
 great contentment, and in the enjoyment of all the com- 
 forts, together with many of the luxuries of life. The first 
 white child born outside of Fort Dearborn was their little 
 daughter Ellen Marion, on December 20, 1805. Next 
 came Maria Indiana, born September 28, 1S07. Then, 
 lastly, Robert Allan, born Februar)- 8, 18 10. 
 
 By degrees, Mr. Kinzie established still more remote 
 posts, all contributing to the parent one at Chicago. At 
 Milwaukee, \\-ith the Menomenees; at Rock River with 
 the Winncbagoes and the Potawatomies ; on the Illinois 
 River and the Kankakee with the Potawatomies of the 
 Prairies; and \vith the Kickapoos in what was called "Le 
 Large," being the widely extended district afterward con- 
 verted into Sangamon County. He was appointed Sub- 
 Indian Agent and Government Interpreter, and in these 
 capacities he rendered valuable services. 
 
 The killing of a P^-enchman named John Lalime by 
 John Kinzie occurred about the \-ear 18 10, under the fol- 
 lowing circumstances: Lalime became insanely jealous of 
 Mr. Kinzie's success as a rival trader, and was unwise 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 6] 
 
 enough to threaten to take Kinzie's hfe. The latter only 
 laughed at the reports, saying "Threatened men live long, 
 and I am not worrying over Lalime's wild talk." Several 
 of his staunchest Indian friends, however, continued to 
 warn him, and he at last consented to carry some sort of 
 weapon in case Lalime really had the folly to attack him. 
 He accordingly took a carving-knife from the house and 
 started to sharpen it on a grindstone in the woodshed. 
 Young John stood beside him much interested in this 
 novel proceeding. "What are you doing, father.-'" he 
 asked. "Sharpening this knife, my son," was the repl)-. 
 "What for.-"" said John. "Go into the house," replied his 
 father, "and do n't ask questions about things that don't 
 concern you." A few days passed. Nothing happened, 
 but Mr. Kinzie carried the knife. 
 
 ■'■]\Irs. Kinzie's daughter by her first marriage was now 
 seventeen years old, and was the wife of Lieut. Linai 
 Thomas Helm, one of the officers stationed at Lort Dear- 
 born, and Mr. Kinzie frequently went over there to spend 
 the evening. One dark night, he crossed over to the 
 fort, and just as he was entering the inclosure, a man 
 sprang out from behind the gate-post and plunged a knife 
 into his neck. It was Lalime. Quick as a flash. Mi'. 
 Kinzie drew his knife and dealt Lalime a furious blow, and 
 a fatal one. The man fell like a log into the river below. 
 Mr. Kinzie staggered home, covered with blood from the 
 deep wound. 
 
 * Mrs. Jofrn Kinzie had a daugliter Ir^y fier fir;,t iiusband named Margaret 
 McKillip. Wlien seventeen years of age slie married Lieut. Linai Thomas 
 Hetm, U.S.A., then stationed at Fort Dearborn, Chicago. Her rescue 
 from death by Black Partridge, during the Chicago massacre, is thrillmgiy 
 told in her own words, in "WAU-BUN." She is represented by the 
 female figure in the bronze group, erected by George M. Pullman to com- 
 memorize the massacre, that stands near the site of that tragedy at the foot ol 
 1 8th street, Chicago, 111. 
 
62 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 After the excitement subsided, which it did in a few 
 weeks, Mr. Kinzie sent word to the commanding officer at 
 the fort that he wished to come in, give himself up and 
 have a fair trial. This was done. The fresh wounds in 
 his neck, which had barely missed the jugular vein, and 
 the testimony given as to the threats Lalime had uttered, 
 resulted in an immediate verdict of justifiable homicide. 
 
 In the meantime, some of Lalime's friends conceived the 
 idea that it would be suitable punishment to Mr. Kinzie to 
 bury his victim directly in front of the Kinzie home, wliere 
 he must necessarily behold the grave every time he passed 
 out of his own gate. Great was their chagrin and dissa- 
 pointment, however, when Mr. Kinzie, far from being 
 annoyed at their action, proceeded to make Lalime's grave 
 his especial care, t'lowers were planted on it anci it was 
 kept in most beautiful order. Many a half hour, the Kinzie 
 children had longed to spend in play, was occupied by 
 their father's orders in raking the dead leaves aA-ay from 
 Lalime's grave and watering its flowers. 
 
 Mr. Kinzie, at the time of the massacre, offered to take 
 upon himself the responsibility of destroying the am- 
 munition; and, in order to shield Captain Heald from 
 possible future censure by his superior officers, and to 
 tLU-n away the wrath of the Indians, he personall)- wrote 
 an order purporting to be from General Hull, cancelling 
 ins previous instructions to give away the ammunition, and 
 ordering Captain Heald to destroy it. To this plan Captain 
 Heald consented, and on the 13th all the goods, blankets, 
 calicoes, paints, etc., were distributed to the Indians as 
 stipulated. The same evening the ammunition was thrown 
 uito a well in the sall3'port and the liquor was secretly 
 carried down to the river, the heads of the barrels knocked 
 in, and their contents poured into the stream. 
 
THE KINZIE FAMILY 6^ 
 
 The morning of the 15th arrived. All things were in 
 readiness, and nine o'clock was the hour named for start- 
 ing. Early that same day, Mr. Kinzie received a message 
 from To-pe-ne-be a chief of the St. Joseph's band, inform- 
 ing him that mischief was intended by the Potawatomies, 
 who had engaged to escort the detachment, and urging 
 him to relinc|uish his design of accompanying the troops 
 by land, promising that a boat containing himself and 
 family should be permitted to pass in safety to St. Joseph's. ' 
 Mr. Kinzie gladly accepted this offer on behalf of his 
 family, but firmly declined it for himself He had deter- 
 mined to accompany the command on its perilous march. 
 He hoped that his presence with the troops might operate 
 as a restraint on the fury of the savages, so warmly were 
 the. greater part of them attached to himself and his 
 family; yet he fully realized the possibility of a savage 
 outbreak that would spare neither friend nor foe. 
 
 Seldom does one find a man with the personal courage 
 and civic virtue of John Kinzie, who thus refused salct}- 
 for himself in order to stand or fall with his countrj-mcn, 
 and who, as stern as any Spartan, bade farewell to his 
 family and cast in his lot with that little handful who w ent 
 forward to almost certain destruction. 
 
 In 1816, Mr. Kinzie and his family again returned to 
 Chicago, where he at once undertook to collect the scat- 
 tered remnants of his property — a most disheartening 
 task. He found his various trading-posts abandoned, his 
 clerks scattered, and his valuable furs, goods, etc., lost or 
 destroyed. 
 
 In real estate, however, he was rich — for he owned nearly 
 all the land on the north side of the Chicago River, and 
 many acres on the south and west sides, as well as all of 
 what was known as "Kinzie's Addition." 
 
64 MASSACRE AT CHICAGO 
 
 At the present day the "Kinzie School," and the street 
 which bears his name, are all that remain to remind this 
 generation of the pioneer on whose land now stands the 
 wonderful City of Chicago. 
 
 Shortly after the return of the family to Chicago, James 
 Kinzie left the home of his mother, Mrs. Benjamin Hall, in 
 \'irginia, and came back to his father. Here, he was at 
 once made welcome. His father aided him financially, 
 and Mrs. Kinzie was his affectionate and considerate 
 friend. He repaid her by unfailing respect and regard. 
 Although she had been dead for several years when his 
 second daughter was born, the child was named Eleanor 
 after her. He became a valued citizen of Chicago, and 
 took an active part in her early development, and died 
 at Clyde, Iowa Co., Wis., Jan. 13, 1866, aged 6],. 
 
 John Kinzie was not only the sturdy pioneer, but also 
 the courteous gentleman. To keen business ability he 
 united the strictest honesty, and to the most dauntless 
 courage, a tender and generous heart. As a loj'al devoted 
 friend of the Red man, tradition has handed down the 
 name of Shaw-nee-aw-kee throughout all the tribes of 
 the Northwest. 
 
 Mr. Kinzie, recognizing the importance of the geo- 
 graphical position of Chicago, and the vast fertility of the 
 surrounding country, had always foretold its eventual 
 prosperity. Unfortunately, he was not permitted to wit- 
 ness the realization of his predictions. On the 6th of 
 Januar)-, 1S2S, he was stricken with apoplexy, and, in a 
 few hours, death closed his useful and energetic career. 
 His remains rest in Graceland Cemcter)' in the city of 
 his love — Chicago. 
 
INDEX, 
 
 By George Harris Fergus. 
 
 Abbott, Dr. Lucius T. , second hus- 
 band of Mrs. Margaret McKillip, 12. 
 
 Abbott, Mrs. Margaret McKillip 
 Helen and others, furnish data for 
 View of Fort Dearborn, 9. 
 
 Agency House, location and descrip- 
 tion of, 17. 
 
 American Fur Company, 36, 
 
 Amherstburg, formerly Fort Maiden, 
 Canada, where Indians went yearly 
 to receive presents from British, 11. 
 
 "Annals of the West," Cincinnati, O., 
 1846; St. Louis, Mo., 1S50; and 
 Pittsburg, Pa., 1856, by James 
 Handyside Perkins, reference to, 7. 
 
 Bailly, Joseph, 42. 
 
 Beaubien, Gen. Jean Baptiste, 28. 
 
 Beaubien, Josette Laframboise Grutte, 
 28. 
 
 Beaubien, Mark, 38. 
 
 Bertrand, Par9aux Vaches, 28. 
 
 Bisson, Mrs., 36. 
 
 Black- Hawk War, 38, 43. 
 
 Black Partridge, 27. 
 
 Black Snake, Indian name of William 
 Wells, 26. 
 
 Bradley, Capt. Hezekiah, 36. 
 
 Brown. Judge Henry, author of " His- 
 tory of Illinois," N.Y., 1S44. 
 
 Burial of bodies of late Liberty White 
 and a Frenchman near the Fort, 16. 
 
 Burns house, its location, 13. 
 
 Burns house, mention of, 15- 
 
 Caldwell, William (Billy), sketch of, 38. 
 
 Calumet Club, Chicago, 25. 
 
 Canadians, 9. 
 
 Cass, Gen. Lewis, 40. 
 
 Catfish, see Win -ne- meg, i ). 
 
 Chandonai, John Baptiste, sketch of, 40. 
 
 Che-che-pin-qua, see Alexander Rob- 
 inson, 42. 
 
 Chevalier, Archange, 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Archange, jr., 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Catharine, 42. 
 
 Chevalier, Elizabeth, 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Francois, 36, 43. 
 
 Chevalier, Frani^ois, jr., 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Joseph, 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Josette, 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Louis, 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Mary Ann, 43. 
 
 Chevalier, Michel, 36. 
 
 Chevalier, Sophie, 36. 
 
 Chicago's first divorce, October 12, 
 1S29. Margaret McKillip, step- 
 daughter of John Kinzie, from Lieut. 
 Linai T. Helm, 11. 
 
 Chicago, III., reference to, 9. 
 
 "Chicago rvlagazine," Chicago, March 
 to July, 1857, inclusive, contains 
 Eastman's "History of Chicago," 
 reference to, 9. 
 
 "Chicago Magazine," note from Vol- I, 
 No. I, 1857, describing the first 
 Fort Dearborn, 10. 
 
 Chicago River at fiush street bridge, 
 the south channel to, excavated in 
 1S56, 25. 
 
 (6S) 
 
66 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Chicago River, intersected Lee's place, 
 
 Chicago River's mouth at jNIadison 
 street prior to 1S34; present channel 
 made by United States in 1S34, 14. 
 
 Corijin, Mrs. Phelim, 34. 
 
 Council held, Aug. 12, between Indians 
 and Capt. Heald, 23. 
 
 Council, second, held with Indians, 26, 
 
 Davis, George, "the sweet singer of 
 
 St. James" Church." View of Fort 
 
 Dearborn by, 9. 
 Dearborn Street draw-bridge, first 
 
 built in 1S34 by Nelson R. Norton, 
 
 removed in 1839, 14. 
 ])e Charmes, a trading establishment, 
 
 now \']jsilanti, Mich.. 24. 
 ])etroit, Mich., reference to, 9. 
 Dillingham, John E, , Fort Dearborn 
 
 drawn on wood by, 9. 
 
 Eastman's, Zebina, " History of Chi- 
 cago, " appeared in tlie "Chicago 
 Magazine," 1S57, 9, 
 
 Ellis, William, printer, of Ellis & 
 Fergus, did the press -work of 
 "Massacre at Chicago," 7. 
 
 Fergus, Robert, printer, of Ellis & 
 Fergus, set the type for "The Mass- 
 acre at Chicago," 1S44, 7. 
 
 '* Fort Dearborn, " by Flon. J ohn 
 Wentworth, 26. 
 
 Fort Dearborn, its location, 14. 
 
 Fort Dearborn, prior to May, 1S04, 
 was known as Port Chicago, 10. 
 
 Fort Dearborn, the first one. de- 
 scribed, 10. 
 
 Fort Dearborn, the first. View of from 
 northwest, the sketch by George 
 Davis, 9. 
 
 Fort Dearborn, the second one, de- 
 scribed, 10. 
 
 Fort Maiden, now Amherstburg, 
 Canada, where Indians yearly re- 
 ceived presents from British, 11. 
 
 Fort Wayne. Ind, , reference to, 9. 
 
 Forsyth, Thomas, half brother of John 
 Kinzie, 43. 
 
 Frenchman, a, murdered by Winne- 
 bago Indians at Lee's place, 16. 
 
 Frenchman, employed on Lee's place, 
 14. 
 
 G 
 
 Geiger, Col. Frederick, father of 
 ^^"iliiam Wells' white wife, 25. 
 
 Great Storm, Oct. 3-4, 1836, washes 
 away sandbar at mouth of Chicago 
 River, 14. 
 
 Grittith, William, quartermaster -ser- 
 geant, 39. 
 
 Grosse Point, 36. 
 
 Grutte. Josotte Laframboise, 28. 
 
 Guroie, Walter Smith, his house 
 ( iS^o), finest on Michigan Aventie, 
 18. ■ 
 
 H 
 
 Hanks, Lieut. Porter, 27. 
 
 Hardscrabble, 42. 
 
 " Hard-crabble, " by Major 
 
 Richardson, reference to, 7. 
 
 Hardscrabble, its legal description, 13. 
 
 Harmer, Gen. Josiah, 25. 
 
 Harrison, Gen. William Henry. 40. 
 
 Hayes, Sergt. Otho, wounded by 
 Nau-non-gee, principal chief of 
 the Calumet Milage, and is bay- 
 oneted by Hayes, I2. 
 
 Heald, Hon. I )arius, only son of 
 Capt. Nathan Heald, died Novem- 
 ber 25, 1904, aged 82, at O'Falion, 
 St. Charles Co., Mo., 11, 40. 
 
 Ileald, Capt. Nathan, commanding 
 officer of Fort Dearborn in 1S12; 
 sketch of, 10, 40. 
 
 Heald, Rebekah Wells, wife of Capt. 
 Nathan Heald. daughter of Col. 
 Samuel Wells, of Louisville, Ky., 
 brother of Capt, William Wells, 12. 
 
 Heald. Sybil Adams, mother of Capt. 
 Nathan Heald, 10. 
 
 Heald, Col. Thomas, father of Capt. 
 Nathan Heald, 10. 
 
 Helm. Lieut. Linai Taliaferro, at Fort 
 Dearborn in 1812, 10; sketch of, 11. 
 
 Helm, Mrs. Margaret McKillip. half- 
 sister of John H. Kinzie, and daugh- - 
 ter of Mrs. lohn Kinzie, 7, u. 
 
 Helm, Mrs. Margaret McKillip, half- 
 sister of John Kinzie, later wife of 
 Dr. Lucius T. Abbott, died April 
 22, 1S44, aged 49, 12. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 67 
 
 Hickling, Hon. William, 38. 
 
 "History of Illinois," by fudge Henry 
 Brown, N. Y„ 1S44, reference to, 
 7- 
 
 "History of Chicago," Zebina East- 
 man's, published in "Chicago Maga- 
 zine," 1S57, 9. 
 
 Hubbard, Col. Gurdon S., :;8. 
 
 Hull, Gen. William, at head' of N.-W. 
 Army, on ^vay from Ft. Wayne to 
 Detroit, 19; informs Capt. Heald 
 of Mackinac's fate, 19; orders Capt. 
 Heald to evacuate post and distribute 
 U. S. property among the Indians, 
 19- 
 
 I 
 
 Indians, m., 14. 
 
 Indians, assembled at Chicago for the 
 
 last time, 38. 
 "Indian Customs," a paper, by Wm. 
 
 Wells, 26. 
 
 J 
 
 Johnson Indian School, 40. 
 
 K 
 
 Ke-po-tah, a trusty Indian friend, 
 
 Kinzie, Ellen Marion, 28. 
 
 Ivinzie house, location of, 14. 
 
 Kinzie, John, 42. 
 
 Kinzie, John, and family, only Ameri- 
 can residents outside of Fort Dear- 
 born in 1804, 9. 
 
 Kinzie, Mrs. John, mother of Mrs. 1 
 Helm and John H. Kinzie, eye- 
 witnesses of the Massacre, 7, 28. 
 
 Kinzie, John U., half-'brother of Mrs. 
 Helm, and son cf Mrs, John Kin- 
 zie, 7. 
 
 Kinzie, Mrs. John H., author of 
 " Massacre at Chicago, " author also 
 of "Wau-liun, the Early Day in 
 the Northwest," N.Y., 1856, refer- 
 ence to, 7. I 
 
 Kinzie, .Mrs. iohn H., furnished sketch 
 of first Fort Dearborn for "Chicago 
 ^lagazine, ' 10. 
 
 Kinzie, John Harris, 28 
 
 Kinzie, Maria Indiana, 28. 
 
 Kinzie, Pbobert Allen, 28. 
 
 " Kinzie's Improvement," 28. 
 
 Kinzies. The, private regard of Indians 
 for this family, 20. 
 
 L 
 
 Laframboise, Francois, 28. 
 
 I. a Salle, Robert Kenne Cavelier, 
 Sieur de, 28. 
 
 Lee, Charles, owner of Lee's place, 
 his home, last occupants of; new 
 house built, its occupants, iS. 
 
 Lee's place, mention of, 16. 
 
 Lee's place, since called Ilardscrabble, 
 killing and scalping at, its loca- 
 tion, 13. 
 
 Lee, son of Charles, accompanies dis- 
 charged soldier, escapes from Lee's 
 place and spreads alarm of Indians, 14. 
 
 Lighthouse, built in 1S32 ; taken down 
 in 1857; location of, 17. 
 
 Lighthouse lot, present site of all 
 that remains of, 17. 
 
 Lind, Sylvester, lumber yard of, 32. 
 
 Little Turtle, Me-che-kau-nah-qiia, 
 chief of the Miamis, 25. 
 
 M 
 Mai, Piere le, 36. 
 Maiden, .Vmherstburg, 40. 
 McWilliams, James, family of, mention 
 
 of, 18, 
 Me-che-kau-nah-qua, see Little 
 
 Turtle, 25. 
 Morrison, .^aniuel, 26. 
 
 N 
 
 Nau-non-gec, foreseeing hlsapproach- 
 ing end, enjoins hi^ young men to 
 respect the safety of prisoners, 12. 
 
 Nau-non-gee, of Calumet band, in 
 spring, 1812, visits Fort Dearborn, 
 remark of concerning Mrs. Heald 
 and Mrs. Helm, considered an idle 
 threat, I2. 
 
 Ne - scot -ne- meg, 35, 3S. 
 
 Nichols, , engraved I'ort Dear- 
 born on wood, 9. 
 
 Noble, John, early settler, death, 14. 
 
 Noble, Mark, si". , last occupant of 
 Kinzie House, 14. 
 
 Norton, Nelson R,, built first Dear- 
 born street draw -bridge in 1S34, 
 damaged and removed in 1839, 14. 
 
 O 
 
 C)ttawas were engaged with the Shaw- 
 nees, ^^'innebagoes, and many of 
 
6S 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 the Potawatomies at the Battle of 
 Tippecanoe, ii. 
 Ouihnette, Antoine, sketch of, 35. 
 
 Pare aux Vaches, Bertrand, 2S. 
 
 Partridge, The Black, 31. 
 
 Pearsons, Hiram, owned land east of 
 Michigan avenue, timber from used 
 to build first Dearborn street draw- 
 bridge, 14. 
 
 Perkins, James Handyside, author of 
 "Annals of the West," reference 
 to, 7. 
 
 Pe- so -turn, 32. 
 
 Pope, John, 25. 
 
 Po])e, { Judge) Nathaniel, 25. 
 
 Pope, William, one of the founders of 
 Louisville, Ky., 25. 
 
 Pope, William, jr., '25. 
 
 Potawatomie encampment, 31, 
 
 Potawatomies, m., 14. 
 
 Potawatomies, many were engaged 
 with Winnebagoes, Ottawas and 
 Shawnees at battle of Tippecanoe, 11. 
 
 Potawatomie Nation, principal men 
 o(, go yearly to Ft. Maiden, Canada, 
 to receive presents from British, 11. 
 
 Prairie du Chien, Treaty of, 36, 38, 43. 
 
 Proctor, Gen. Henry A., 40. 
 
 Putnam, Katie, mention of, iS. 
 
 Reger, Mrs. Mary, daughter of Alex- 
 ander Robinson, 43, 
 
 Richardson, Major — , author of 
 
 " Hardscrabble" and " Wau-nan- 
 gee, " reference to, 7. 
 
 Roberts, Capt. Charles, 27. 
 
 Robinson, Alexander, Che-che-pin- 
 qua, Indian chief, sketch of, 36, 42. 
 
 Rock River, home of Winnebagoes, 
 who killed Liberty White and 
 Frenchman at Lee's place. 17. 
 
 Ronan, Ensign George, at Fort Dear- 
 born in 1812; sketch of, 11. 
 
 Ronan, Ensign George, volunteers to 
 rescue Burns' family, 15. 
 
 " Sauganash, " The, Chicago's first 
 hotel, 38. 
 
 Sau-ga-nash, the, see William Cald- 
 well, 37. 
 
 Sauks, 43. 
 
 Shabonne, Indian chief, 38. 
 
 Shaw - ne - au - ke, Silverman, Kinzie's 
 Indian name, 41. 
 
 Shawnees were engaged with the Win- 
 nebagoes, Ottawas, and many of the 
 Potawatomies at the Battle of Tippe- 
 canoe, ir. 
 
 Sheep, stabbing of, mention of, 18. 
 
 Silverman, Shaw-ne-au-ke, Kinzie's 
 Indian name, 4. 
 
 Soldiers' fishing party, warned of 
 Indians by firing of cannon at 
 Fort, 16. 
 
 State street market, locations of. 32. 
 
 St. Clair. Gen. Arthur. 25. 
 
 St. James' Church, Chicago, 9. 
 
 St. Joseph of Lake Michigan, 28. 
 
 Swearingen, Lieut. James McGowan, 
 28. 
 
 T 
 
 Tecumseh. Indian chief, 38. 
 
 Tippecanoe, battle of, Nov, 7, 181 1, 
 reference to, 11, 16. 
 
 Tippecanoe, Treaty of Camp, 43. 
 
 To-pe-ne-be, a chief of the St. 
 Joseph's band, 28, 29, 39, 42. 
 
 Village of To-pe-ne-be's band, 28. 
 Voorhis, L)r. Isaac V. Van, surgeon at 
 Fort Dearborn in 1812, II. 
 
 W 
 
 Watkins' School. John, 38. 
 
 Wau-ban-see, 34. 
 
 Wau -be - ne- mah, a chief from the 
 Illinois River, 32. 
 
 Wau-nan-ga-peth, daughter of Little 
 Turtle, 25. 
 
 " Wau - nan - gee, " by Major Rich- 
 ardson, reference to, 7. 
 
 " Wau - Bun, the Early Day in the 
 Northwest," N. V., 1S56, reference 
 to. 7. 
 
 Wayne, Gen. Anthony, 25. 
 
 Wells, Col. Samuel, brother of Will- 
 iam, 25. 
 
 Wells, Col. Samuel, of Louisville, Ky., 
 father of Mrs. Nathan Heald, 12. 
 
 Wells, Capt. WiUiam, brother of Col. 
 Samuel Wells, and uncle of Mrs. 
 Nathan Heald, 12. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 69 
 
 "Wells, Capt. William, sketch of, 25. 
 
 Wentwortli, Hon. [ohn, 25. 
 
 White, Liberty, murdered by Winne- 
 bago Indians at I.ee's place, 16. 
 
 "White, Liberty, occupied farm at Lee's 
 place, 14. 
 
 Winnebagoes, 3S. 
 
 "Winnebagoes from Rock River kill 
 Liberty White and Frenchman at 
 Lee's place, 17. 
 
 "Winnebagoes were engaged with the 
 Ottawas, Shawnees, and many of the 
 Potawatomies at the Battle of Tippe- 
 canoe, II. 
 
 Winnebago War, 43. 
 
 Win -ne- meg, 34. 
 
 Win-ne-meg, or Catfish, Potawatomie 
 chief, arrives Aug. 7, at post, with 
 despatches from Gen. William Hull 
 at Detroit, announcing war with 
 Great Britain, 19. 
 
 Win-ne-meg requests interview with 
 John Kinzie, advises against evacua- 
 tion, ig. 
 
 Wolcott, Dr. Alexander, 42. 
 
 Wolf Point, 43. 
 
 Y 
 
 Yoe, Peter Lynch, occupant of Gurnie 
 home, 18. 
 
INDEX— KINZIE FAMILY. 
 
 By Gkoiu-.e Harris Fergus. 
 
 Bates, George C. . 46, 47. 
 Bates. Kin^ie, 47, ^o. 
 Blatchford, Mary, 47. 49. 
 Davis, I-^dtnund, 50, 53. 
 Davis, Horace Bloodgood, 
 
 53- 
 Davis, Pres. Jelferson, 49. 
 Davis, Steuart, 53. 
 Driver, Edwina Adcle, 52. 
 Driver, John Saunders, 49, 
 
 Driver, Ruth, 5::. 
 Ferguson, I^ieut. .Vrthur, 4S. 
 Forrest, Gen. Nathan B., 49. 
 Gordon, Eleanor Kinzie, 48, 
 
 Gordon, Ellen .Screven. 51. 
 
 Gordon, Franklin Buch- 
 anan, 31. 
 
 Gordon, George Artliur. 48, 
 5-- 
 
 Gordon, Juliette Magill. 4S. 
 
 Gordon, Mary Stuart, 52. 
 
 (.iordon, Margaret i'^leam.ir, 
 51- 
 
 Gordon, Mabel Mcl.ane, 
 48, 51. 
 
 Gordon, Sarah Alice, 48. 
 
 Gordon, Gen. Wm. Wash- 
 ington, 46, 48. 
 
 Gordon, Wm. Washington, 
 jr., 48, 51. 
 
 Gordon, Wm. Washington 
 
 in, 51. 
 
 Gould, George Wells. 49, 52. 
 Gould, Gordon Kinzie, 52. 
 Havemeyer, llerl)ert Aver- 
 
 ard, 49, 52. 
 Havemeyer, Herbert Kinzie, 
 
 liavemeyer, Rosaline, 52. 
 Halyburton, Anne, 45. 
 Ilalyburton, John, 45. 
 Hopkins, Dr. ClarenceWhit- 
 
 tingham, 49, 53. 
 Hunter, Lieut. David. (Maj. 
 
 ( ien. ) 46, 49. 
 
 Janes, Elvenah, 46, 47, 
 
 48, 50. 
 Jennings, Elizabeth Chum- 
 
 ley, 47. 5°- 
 Kennedy, Veronica, 50, 53. 
 Kinzie, Addie, 50. 
 Kinzie, Adele Locke, 49, 52. 
 Kinzie, .\lexauder Wolcott. 
 
 Kinzie, Alice, 59, 53. 
 Kinzie, Arthur Alagili, 46, 49 
 Kinzie, David Hunter, 47, 50 
 Kinzie, David Hunter. 54. 
 Kinzie, David [anes, 50. 
 Kinzie, Kleanor Gordon (6) 
 
 Kinzie. Eleanor Gordon(5), 
 
 __49. S~- 
 Kinzie, Eleanor Lytle(4}, 
 
 46, 48. 
 Kinzie, Ellen Marion(3), 
 __46,_ 47. 
 
 Kinzie, Francis William, 47. 
 Kinzie, Frank, 48, 
 Kinzie, George Buell, 50. 
 Kinzie, G-eori^e Herbert, 47, 
 
 49. 
 Kinzie, Gwinthlean, 47. 
 Kinzie, Hunter, ^o. 
 Kinzie, John, 45. 
 Kinzie. John Harris, ( 3 ), 
 
 45- 46. 
 
 (70) 
 
 Kinzie, John Harris (4) jr., 
 
 46. 47. 4S. 7°- 
 Kinzie, John Harris HI, 
 
 49, 52- 
 Kinzie, John Harris IV, 
 
 4^, 5I-" 
 Kinzie, [ohn Flarris I\ , 52. 
 Kinzie, Julia, 47, 50. 
 Kinzie, jalian Magill, (4) 47. 
 Kinzie, Julian Magill,(5) 49. 
 Kinzie. Juliette Augusta, 
 
 Kinzie, Juliette Magill, 49, 
 Kinzie, Laura Magill, 48. 
 Kinzie, ^largaret, 47. 
 Kinzie, Maria. 47, 50. 
 Kinzie. Maria Indiana, 46. 
 Kinzie, Clarion, 47. 
 Kinzie, Mary, 49, 53. 
 Kinzie, Nelly Duck, 4S. 
 Kinzie, Robert Allan, 46, 47. 
 Kinzie, Robert Allan, ir., 47. 
 Kinzie, Robt. Allan, jr., 50, 
 
 Kinzie, Rol.iert Allan HI,4S. 
 Kinzie, Robt. Allan lU, 54. 
 Kinzie, Sarah Miles, 49, 52. 
 Kinzie, X'eronicaCordilia, 54 
 Kinzie, Walter, 48. 
 Kinzif, Wm. Gordon, 50. 
 Kinzie. Wm. Reed. 52. 
 Law, William McKay. 4S. 
 Liebig. Marion, 53. 
 Liebig, Rudolph, 50. ^3. 
 Liebig, Rudolph, 53. 
 Leigh, Baron, 48, 51. 
 Leigh, Margaret Ethels 51. 
 Leigh, Rowland Henry. 51. 
 Leigh. Hon. Rowland, 48. 51 
 Lytle, Ann, 45. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 71 
 
 lytle, Col. William, 45. 
 
 MacKenzie, John, 45. 
 [Magill, Juliette Augusta, 
 
 45, 46. 
 Manson, Dr., 47. 
 McDonough, Alice, 53. 
 McDonough, Lieut. iM. J., 
 
 50. 53- 
 McDonough, Robert, 53. 
 McGuire, Margaret, 48, 52. 
 McKillip, Capt. Daniel, 45. 
 McKillip, Eleanor Lytle, 45. 
 McKay, Nony, 53. 
 McKay, William Kennedy, 
 
 49, 53- 
 Parsons, Ethel, 54. 
 Parsons, Frank Kinzie, 54- 
 Parsons, Guy, 54- 
 
 Parsons, Gwinthlean, 54. 
 Parsons, Irene, 54. 
 Parsons, Irene Rucker, 54. 
 Parsons, Robert Wilkins, 
 
 SI, 54- 
 Parsons, William B. , 47, 50. 
 Parsons, William Guy, 54. 
 Parker, Alice Gordon, 51- 
 Parker, Cortlandt, 51. 
 Parker, Eleanor Wayne, 51- 
 Parker, Elizabeth Wolcott, 
 
 SI- 
 Parker, Richard Wayne, 48, 
 
 51- 
 Parker, Wayne, 51. 
 Reed, Nellie Bernice, 49, 52. 
 
 Screven, Ellen Buchanan, 
 48, 51. 
 
 Smith, Robert Meade, 53. 
 Sniden, John, 47. 
 Steuart, Ann Mary, 50, 53. 
 Steuart, Gen. George H., 
 
 47. SO- 
 Steuart, Maria Hunter, 50, 
 
 53- 
 .Stodhart, Sadie. 50. 
 
 Totten, Lieut. Edward, 47. 
 
 Washburn, Gen. C. C., 49. 
 Whistler, Gwinthlean, 46, 47 
 Whistler, Col. John, 46, 47. 
 Whipple, Marie,(Wilson)49 
 Wilson, Caroline Gilbert, 
 
 46, 49- 
 Wilson, John Lush, 49. 
 Woicott, Dr. Alexander, 
 
 46, 47-