Published: April 29, 2008 05:28 pm            

Marking a sad historical chapter

Hats off to Mary Brady for her support of efforts to mark the path followed by Potawatomi Indians on the Trail of Death.

The journey began in September 1838. A band of Potawatomi Indians headed by Chief Menominee had refused to sign a treaty or leave their village, and Indiana Gov. David Wallace dispatched Gen. John Tipton to force the Indians out.

According to historians, Tipton’s soldiers arrived in late August and arrested everyone in the village near Twin Lakes.

The soldiers burned the village, and on Sept. 4, 859 Potawatomi departed on the “Trail of Death.” By the time the tribe reached Kansas, fewer than 700 remained.

The Potawatomi Trail of Death Association has already marked each of the camp sites along the 660-mile trail. It now plans to erect historic highway signs to indicate the trail route, which followed the north bank of the Wabash River.

The goal is to place signs at every turn so that hikers, bikers and motorists can follow the trail. The association hopes to finish installing the signs by Sept. 22, the next time the Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan will travel the trail.

The signs are already in place in Marshall and Fulton counties.

At a presentation in Logansport by Fulton County historian Shirley Willard, Brady delivered a contribution sufficient to cover the cost of all of the signs in Cass County.

That leaves Carroll, Tippecanoe and Warren counties to go.

We applaud the association for its efforts to commemorate a sad chapter in this nation’s history.

If you have the means, the association could use your support.

– Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, and Kokomo Tribune

Want to help?

Donations can be made to the Potawatomi Trail of Death Association care of Fulton County Historical Society, 37E 375N, Rochester, IN 46975. Also include your name, address, telephone and e-mail address.

        

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