Indiana's State Motto: The Crossroads of America - adopted in 1937
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Indiana Claimed By France
In 1682 Robert de La Salle came back to Canada and with the guidance of White Beaver, made his way through the portages and waterways of Indiana to the Mississippi River. He followed the river to the Gulf of Mexico and claimed all of the surrounding areas for France.
When La Salle explored northern Indiana, the Iroquois was a fierce savage Indian tribe feared by even the other tribes. The British settlers called them "The Five Nations" as they were 5 tribes that had joined to gain power. Many of the tribes of Indiana fled due to the Iroquois destroying their villages time and time again.
La Salle wanted to set up trading posts for trading goods but the Iroquois raids made it unsafe. He wanted to build a fort and decided to get the Miami Indians and the Illinois Indians together to fight against the Iroquois.
In May 1681, under an elm tree in South Bend, La Salle met with the Chiefs. The Indian Chiefs agreed to move back around the waterways and stand together, making it safe for La Salle to begin setting up his trading post.
The French and the Indians had a good relationship; the Indians did not mind as there were few Frenchmen around and they liked the trade the French offered.
Three French forts were built; Fort Miami in Fort Wayne, Fort Ouiatenon in Lafayette, and the largest of the three, Fort Vincennes. They were built to protect the waterways from Canada to Louisiana, as well as for trading.
By this time the British settlers east of the Appalachian Mountains wanted to see what was west of the Mountains. The British began moving in and trading with the Indians; they paid them twice as much as the French. Though the Indians liked the French better, they couldn't pass up the great deal.
The French didn't want the British settlers to move west and sent an army to build forts and roads in Pennsylvania. The British sent a young man named George Washington to tell the French to leave because the British claimed the land.
==# 1709 - Bartolomeo Cristofori invents the piano
==# 1712 - Thomas Newcomen patents the steam engine
==# 1722 - French C. Hopffer patents the fire extinguisher
==# 1724 - Gabriel Farenheit invents the mercury thermometer
==# 1752 - Benjamin Franklin invents the lightening rod
The French refused and in 1754, the French and Indian War ensued. The Indians fought with the French. Though the British gave better deals, they weren't as nice and didn't give extra gifts like the French had done.
==# 1755 - Samuel Johnson publishes the first English dictionary
In 1759 in the Battle of Quebec, Quebec fell into the hands of the British, both the French and British Generals were killed, and the war ended. Indiana would no longer be claimed by France.
This information is the research of many people across the United States and may contain errors. It is presented as the best information to date. Like all of those whose work I have incorporated herein, my research is a work in progress and subject to change without notice. A special thanks to Marlene Ricci of CA, Dwayne Meyer of CA, Jacqueline Bean of TX, Debbie Dick of IN, Milus Miller of IL, Carol Hendricks Miller of IN, Clarence Miller of IN, and Harold Glen Miller of IN. There are numerous others too; many of which are unknown, but their findings and stories are still much appreciated. Much of this would not have been possible with out their information. Also this website includes historical facts gathered from Washington County History, Indiana History, Rowan County and Salisbury North Carolina Historical sources and other US Historical sources.
James A. Miller- Great -Great -Great -Great Grandson of Adam Miller and Hannah Sheets.
©2007 The Millers of Washington County
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Last Updated 02/24/08 11:13:37 AM -0800