The Indians of Illinois

Book excerpt: A look at the history, and notable individuals, of the Illinois Indians who left their mark upon the United States. Two chapters are devoted to the history and customs of Indians in the area of present-day Illinois, beginning in ancient times and continuing through the 1800s. Transcribed accounts from newspapers of the late 1800s and early 1900s provide a first-hand look at whites and their interactions with the Illinois Indians during recent history. The bulk of the book is made up of selected biographies of local early Native Americans, including such well-known Indians as Big Foot, Black Hawk, Pontiac, and Tecumseh, among many others. There is also a lengthy roster of Indians who appear in Illinois records (1642-1861) that typically gives a date, place, and event with which the individual is associated.