Indiana's State Motto: The Crossroads of America - adopted in 1937
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William Henry Harrison Makes Indiana Bigger and Bigger
William Henry Harrison went on to become the first governor, he was appointed by President Adams. By 1809, Governor Harrison had made 8 treaties with the Indians that resulted in them selling millions of acres to the US Government. William Henry Harrison, the only Hoosier president, was later known as the US president who caught a cold on inaugural day and died a month later.
The Natives are Restless
Tecumseh (left) and his brother Tenskwatawa "The Prophet". The Prophet lost credibility when he told his warriors that they were bullet proof.
Prophet's Town was founded in May 1808, by two Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa (the Prophet). They left their native Ohio after being allowed to settle on Potawatomi and Kickapoo ruled lands. Prophet's Town was to be the capitol of the Indiana Indians. The brothers gathered other tribes to fight off the white man's settling in Indiana, they had already been pushed out of Ohio and didn't want to be pushed around any more.
==# 1810 - Peter Durand invents the tin can
The white population was getting worried about Prophet's Town and the activities of the two brothers. The town wasn't just a political capitol for the Indians, it had become a training ground for over 1,000 Indian warriors. William Henry Harrison sent 1,000 men to squash the Indians efforts while Tecumseh had gone south to gather more men to fight for his cause. Tecumseh had warned his brother not to do anything until he got back. On November 6, 1811 the men arrived at Prophet's Town but an agreement was made that there would be no violence until the next day. The Battle of Tippecanoe occurred November 7th, 1811.
Tenskwatawa got his people fired up despite Tecumseh's warning. He told the warriors that the white man's bullets would not hurt them. He lead his warriors to a rocky ledge west of the army campsite, and just before day break he gave the order to attack. Although they wounded 126 men, killed 37, and 25 later died of their injuries, the Indian's spirit was broken. The Indians were angry at Tenskwatawa "The Prophet", they stripped him of his power and threatened to kill him. Tecumseh returned 3 months later to find everything burned to the ground. With this he decided to rally the support of the British in Canada, he knew this was bigger than his warriors could tackle. Click here for "Words of Tenskwatawa" the Prophet.
Tenskwatawa was furious and performed a ritual of twenty stones; the twenty stones representing a generation. He put a curse on William Henry Harrison and the presidency, that every generation a president would die in office. William Henry Harrison became president in 1840 and died 30 days after his inauguration. Whether you believe in curses or not, but until Reagan, every president elected in a "0" year has died in office. President Reagan survived his assassination attempt and apparently broke the curse; or it was a seven generation curse?
The First Paddle Boat
In 1811, the paddle wheel boat "New Orleans" made its first appearance on the Ohio. The paddle boats made several trips up the Wabash River, making travel on what is now Indiana's western border, very good too.
The flat boats the settlers used could only float things down stream, so steamboats made getting to the Indiana Territory much easier; they were able to move upstream quickly.
==# 1812 - Louisiana becomes a state
More Indiana History Pages : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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.
©2006 The Millers of Washington County
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Last Updated 06/04/07 03:49:00 PM -0700