Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1835 15 THE POTTAWATOMIES Chas. Cook. Ben Cornelis, Sol Eades. Leander Jones. -Jos. Porter. Eph. Gilliam. David and Jas. Rupe H. Vance,and William Woods. . An officer and posse were sent from the Fort. and with kindness they were required to leave. Several of their cabins were burned. Nat Boydston and others returned in 1836. and no notice was taken of them. But, for the convenience and safety of travele1s, Robt Cain was allowed to remain at Todds Creek and Joseph Todd between Fort Leavenworth and the Falls of Platte. Zadock Martin. with his servants. family, and hands. kept the two ferries; but in 1837, Rob't Cain took charge of the ferrv at the Fort. William Brown and Wilson Wi1liams lived at the Issue House after the arrival, in 1835. of the Pottawatomies. THE POTTAWATOMIES In the summer of 1835, two parties of this tribe. of several hundred each, were located. temporarily, i11 Platte. One party was placed in what has since been called the Pottawatomie Prairie, a11d the other in the bottom and hills opposite Fort Leavenworth. Rations of beef, our, bacon. etc-.. were issued to them. An issue h01lS(3 was built some sixty yards north of the present house of B. F. Vhitely. of ro11nd logs. oored with puncheons, and covered with clapboards. Thompson, Vallis & Co. had the contract to fur11isl1 the Indians with beef. John Boulware was their superintendent. I remember attending: Esquire Chas. Wells court, i11 this old landmark. in 1839. Jus- tices courts, at that day, were attended by hundreds of men. and a jury was easily summoned. The Indians were here only two years. They were removed to western Iowa iii the summer of 1837. PERSONAL NOTES - JOS. TODD (iii) Mr. Todd having been driven from the claim he selected in 1835 on Todds Creek. which took its name from him. he applied for permission to settle on the Military Road, three miles west of the Falls. This license was granted him, and the rich body of hackberry lands is still called the Todd Settlement. His neigh- bors were Martin. at the Falls. and Boulware. Brown. and il- liams. at the Issue House. The Pottawatomies were around him, and the old chief, called Col. (aldwell by the whites. and known by his warriors as Socanois. pitched his wigzwam in Mr. Todds yard. He took pleasure in reciting his adventures in broken En- glish. He claimed that he was with Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames. With assumed dignitv. he would say: "Before the battle. Tecumseh gave me the order: You go to the left. and I will go to the right. But farewell; you will never see me again. Socanois was straight, and about 6 feet 3 inches higli. He was kind and genial, and a great favorite with Mr. lodds family. He had some education. and read newspapers with difficulty. He was much interested in the Florida War. and did not conceal his sympathy for the Indians. Mr. [odds post-office was at the Fort,