Indian Creek (Fox River)
Encyclopedia
Indian Creek, also known as Big Indian Creek, is a 51.5 miles (82.9 km) tributary of the Fox River
in Lee, LaSalle, and DeKalb
counties in Illinois.
near Shabbona Grove and joins the Fox River near Wedron
. The stream meanders across parts of Lee, LaSalle and DeKalb counties. Indian Creek is part of the Lower Fox River watershed.
Indian Creek travels near the communities of Paw Paw (in Lee County), Shabbona and Rollo (in DeKalb County), and Earlville, Harding, Serena, and Baker (in LaSalle County).
and three Sauk attacked the Davis settlement at Indian Creek. In all, 15 settlers -- men, women, and children -- were killed. Two girls were kidnapped but later freed unharmed upon payment of a ransom.
The attack at Indian Creek was most likely spurred by the actions of a settler named William Davis. Davis was a blacksmith and a sawmill operator and had built a mill dam across Indian Creek to power the mill. The creek was a vital source of food to a nearby Potawatomi village. The Potawatomi were upset by the dam because it prevented fish from swimming upstream, requiring them to fish downstream of the dam rather than near their village. Keewasee, a young Potawatomi from the the village, was particularly angry about the dam and insisted that Davis remove it. When his pleas went unheeded, Keewasee attempted to dismantle the dam himself. Davis caught him in the act and assaulted him, angering Keewasee further.
It is believed that the Potawatomi and three Sauk attackers were the only parties responsible for the massacre. Though the massacre occurred shortly after the start of the Black Hawk War
, there is no evidence that Black Hawk sanctioned the massacre and the violence at Indian Creek is seen as an act of personal revenge which was peripheral to the war.
The creek also contributed to the settlement of Paw Paw by providing the fledging settlements near Ross, Coon and Paw Paw Groves with potable water.
A monument for the Indian Creek Massacre stands at Shabbona County Park, southeast of Earlville, and between Earlville and Harding in northern LaSalle County. A lake and State Recreation Area named for Chief Shabbona, is located in the community of Shabbona, which was also named for the indian chief.
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
in Lee, LaSalle, and DeKalb
DeKalb County, Illinois
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County...
counties in Illinois.
Course
Indian Creek rises north of Paw Paw, IllinoisPaw Paw, Illinois
Paw Paw is a village in Lee County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census the village was home to 870 people, up from 852 at the 2000 census. It was settled in the mid 19th century and by 1878 the village had a railroad connection. Paw Paw is home to a house which is listed on the U.S...
near Shabbona Grove and joins the Fox River near Wedron
Wedron, Illinois
Wedron is an unincorporated community in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. Wedron is located along the Fox River northeast of Ottawa. Wedron has a post office with ZIP code 60557....
. The stream meanders across parts of Lee, LaSalle and DeKalb counties. Indian Creek is part of the Lower Fox River watershed.
Indian Creek travels near the communities of Paw Paw (in Lee County), Shabbona and Rollo (in DeKalb County), and Earlville, Harding, Serena, and Baker (in LaSalle County).
History
In 1830, William Davis settled with his family along Indian Creek where he built a sawmill in 1831. On May 21, 1832 between 20 and 40 PotawatomiPotawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
and three Sauk attacked the Davis settlement at Indian Creek. In all, 15 settlers -- men, women, and children -- were killed. Two girls were kidnapped but later freed unharmed upon payment of a ransom.
The attack at Indian Creek was most likely spurred by the actions of a settler named William Davis. Davis was a blacksmith and a sawmill operator and had built a mill dam across Indian Creek to power the mill. The creek was a vital source of food to a nearby Potawatomi village. The Potawatomi were upset by the dam because it prevented fish from swimming upstream, requiring them to fish downstream of the dam rather than near their village. Keewasee, a young Potawatomi from the the village, was particularly angry about the dam and insisted that Davis remove it. When his pleas went unheeded, Keewasee attempted to dismantle the dam himself. Davis caught him in the act and assaulted him, angering Keewasee further.
It is believed that the Potawatomi and three Sauk attackers were the only parties responsible for the massacre. Though the massacre occurred shortly after the start of the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
, there is no evidence that Black Hawk sanctioned the massacre and the violence at Indian Creek is seen as an act of personal revenge which was peripheral to the war.
The creek also contributed to the settlement of Paw Paw by providing the fledging settlements near Ross, Coon and Paw Paw Groves with potable water.
A monument for the Indian Creek Massacre stands at Shabbona County Park, southeast of Earlville, and between Earlville and Harding in northern LaSalle County. A lake and State Recreation Area named for Chief Shabbona, is located in the community of Shabbona, which was also named for the indian chief.