Wabash in Wabash County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Treaty of 1826 Meeting Camp
Paradise Spring Riverwalk
The Miami and Potawatomie Indians had suffered serious defeats at the hands of General Anthony Wayne along the Maumee River (1794) and William Henry Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe (1811). However, they still held the rights to the land in this area.
There was a need for additional land for white settlement and the need to establish a canal system along the Wabash River.
In 1826, Congress made an appropriation to hold a treaty meeting with the purpose of acquiring additional land from the Indians. Governor James B. Ray of Indiana, Governor Lewis Cass of Michigan, and Captain John Tipton were appointed commissioners to represent the U.S. government.
Captain Tipton was assigned the task of locating a site for the meeting. This location was chosen as it was centrally located with many favorable natural features. These features included a plentiful spring and enough open land to construct the treaty camp.
The treaty camp was constructed in the spring and summer of 1826. The treaty meeting took place in October of 1826 and lasted approximately two weeks. On October 26, 1826 the Miami and Potawatamie Indians surrendered the rights to their land in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
The signing of the Treaty of 1826
The original treaty camp consisted of ten buildings. The reconstruction of the camp began in 1987 and is based on a reliable description provided in the 1836 writings of Elijah Hackleman.
Location. 40° 47.834′ N, 85° 48.93′ W. Marker is in Wabash, Indiana, in Wabash County. Marker can be reached from E. Market Street 0.2 miles east of S. Allen Street. Click for map. Marker is located in the northern part of Paradise Spring Park west of the parking lot; the above directions are to the driveway to the park’s northeast parking lot. Marker is in this post office area: Wabash IN 46992, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cook's Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Council House (a few steps from this marker); Quarters of James B. Ray (a few steps from this marker); Quarters of Lewis Cass (a few steps from this marker); Storage Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Quarters of Major General John Tipton (within shouting distance of this marker); Quarters of Captain Frederick R. Kintner (within shouting distance of this marker); Kin-Com-A-Ong Spring (within shouting distance of this marker). Click for a list of all markers in Wabash.
Also see . . .
1. Treaty Grounds. Article by Ron Woodward. (Submitted on August 27, 2014.)
2. Indian Treaty of 1826 - Treaty Deliberations. Article by Historian Carl Leiter. (Submitted on August 27, 2014.)
Categories. • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian •
Credits. This page originally submitted on , by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on , by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016.