No authentic history of the successive tribes of Indians occupy- ing the limits of the present State of Illinois has ever been written. What we have on the subject is largely founded on tradition and conjecture. Perhaps the Algoniquins were the first that occupied that portion of the country, as far back as we have any authentic account. The Illinois Indians^ or Illinois Confederacy^ which was of Algonquin lineage, about the middle of the seventeenth century occupied the country southwest of Lake Michigan, extend- ing down the Illinois river, and to the mouth of the Ohio. They were known as the Illini, or Illinois, and it is to them we owe the name of our State and of our principal river. The origi- nal signification of the word Illini is real men, or superior men, and of course is attributable to the characteristics of the Indians bearing that name. This confederation was composed of five tribes: the Tamaroas, Michagamies, Kaskaskies, Cahokies, and Peorias. Towards the close of the seventeenth century the Illinois Confederation was driven southward by a more hostile tribe from the north, and the greater portion of their territory passed into the possession of the Pottowotamies. This nation is said to have been the greatest, most warlike and hostile of modern times, and extended throughout the greater portion of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. The Piankashaws were in possession of the entire portion of the State along the Wabash. The Winnebagoes — Having an ancient, fishy smell, — were occupants of the Rock River country. From tradition we learn that this tribe came from the west, and had a language entirely dissimilar to all other tribes. In 1763 the Kickapoos occupied the country southwest of the southern extremity of Lake Michigan. At a later day they emigrated southward, and were in the posses- sion of the territory along the Mackinaw and the Sangamon rivers. They were the immediate predecessors of the white man on the territorv of the present Macon county, and are said to have been more civilized, industrious, energetic, and cleanly than their neighboring tribes, but were the most implacable and inveterate haters of the white people. It was this tribe that led in the fierce charges at Tippecanoe, and was conspicuous In many of the bloody hostilities of the northwest. When they were finally overcome, they refused longer to live within the limits of the United States, and removed to Texas, then a province of Mexico. The Sacs afid Foxes lived In the northwest part of the State, in the vicinity of Rock Island. They were formerly from the neighborhood of Quebec, and were driven west by the Iroquois, and took a con- spicuous part, with the Pottowotamles, in driving out, and almost exterminating, the Illinois Confederacy. It was this tribe, led by the great chief Black Hawk, that waged the war of 1831-2, known as the Black Hawk war. Taken from History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876 (1876) by John W Smith
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:46:51 +0000
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