Marshall County, IndianaThe Potawatomi Trail of Death starts at the Menominee statue south of Plymouth. There is a green sign on US 31 that points west, saying Chief Menominee Monument. You drive about 6 miles and come to Peach Road, turn north and go half a mile. The statue is there on the right (east). Thursday, 30th Aug, 1838:Commenced collecting the Indians at Twin Lakes Encampment, Marshall County, Indiana, and succeeded in gathering by night time about 170. [Squads of militia were sent in all directions to bring in all the Potawatomi. They continued this round up for 5 days. Travel on horseback averages about 20 miles a day. Allowing time to go and get back, this means they rounded up all the Indians within a 30 to 50 mile radius. It is about 30 miles to Chief Wamego’s village on the Fulton - Cass county line. Wamego was on the Trail of Death. The militia were supposed to gather up only Potawatomi. At least one Miami, Anthony Nigo, found himself in the removal march. He told General Tipton that he was Miami, not Potawatomi, and Tipton told him to hide in the attic of Polke’s trading post at Chippeway on the Tippecanoe River north of Rochester until the march had left the next morning. He did and lived the rest of his life in Indiana.] Friday, 31st Aug: Received considerable accessions to the number of yesterday. The day was employed in bringing in the Indians and their baggage. Saturday, 1st Sep: Succeeded after much difficulty in enrolling the Indians, and found the number in camp to be 714. Sunday, 2nd Sep: Loaded 13 wagons with baggage belonging to the Indians and prepared for a march. Monday 3rd Sep, Twin Lakes, south of Plymouth, Indiana: A party of 42 Indians were brought into camp, and the business of the emigration so arranged as to expedite our departure on tomorrow. Down through the years many residents of Indiana have expressed their disapproval and sorrow about the forced removal known as the Trail of Death. Daniel McDonald, Plymouth, wrote a book, Removal of the Potawatomie Indians from Northern Indiana, published in 1899. He was owner and editor of the Plymouth newspaper. He was elected to the Indiana state legislature and introduced a bill to erect a memorial to the Potawatomi. This was passed and in 1909, the statue of Chief Menominee was erected and dedicated. John Novelli, sculptor, was paid $1,875 by the State of Indiana to create the Chief Menominee statue. Novelli was a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. While still a student in Rome, he won honorable mention at the 1906 International Exhibition in Paris and later was awarded the coveted Henry O. Avery sculpture prize. He made many war memorials that are landmarks in numerous public squares and buildings in a score of American cities and towns, including Fort Wayne, Indiana; and New York City. 
Unveiling and dedication of Chief Menominee monument by his granddaughter, Julia Po-ka-gon Sept. 4, 1909, Twin Lakes, Plymouth, Indiana. This is the granddaughter of Chief Simon Pokagon, not Chief Menominee. (This photo and the unveiling program below are from Marshall County Public Library, Plymouth, Indiana.) 
Plymouth, Indiana - Chief Menominee statue. GPS N-4117714 W-8621714 The Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan began at the Chief Menominee statue where a ceremony was held and George Schricker sang a song he wrote entitled Menominee. Pictured above in 1988 are Father Georges Mathieu, Augusta, Wisconsin, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi, and the oldest Potawatomi priest in the United States when the photo was taken; George Schricker, Plymouth, Indiana; and Bill Wamego, Tulsa, Oklahoma, a member of the Citizen Band Potawatomi. His ancestor was Chief Wamego who was on the 1838 Trail of Death. (Photo by Roger Leland, Plymouth, Indiana, 1988.) Erected 1909 south of Twin Lakes south of Plymouth, it was “the only statue of an Indian chief ever paid for by a state legislature.” Located on S. Peach Road 5 miles west of US 31. Turn west on County Road 13 off US 31 at the sign “Chief Menominee Monument” and go about 5 miles. Turn north (right) on Peach Road and go about half a mile. The statue is on the right (east) side of Peach Road.  
Tylor Borggren, Plymouth Boy Scout, who erected this historical marker telling where Chief Menominee’s village was located. It was dedicated Sept. 17, 2010. Tylor is the youngest Boy Scout to receive an Eagle award in a large area. This is the beginning of the Potawatomi Trail of Death Regional Historic Trail. From Menominee’s statue, go north on Peach Road between the Twin Lakes and turn west on 12th Road. You will find the marker for Menominee’s Chapel on the south side of the road by a metal fence. |
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