Shabbona Park-Indian Creek Massacre

[David]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Creek_massacre
The Indian Creek massacre occurred on May 21, 1832, when a group of (white) settlers living 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Ottawa, Illinois, United States, along Indian Creek, were attacked by a party of Native Americans. The massacre likely resulted from a local settler's refusal to remove a dam which jeopardized a key food source for a nearby Potawatomi village, violating Native American water rights. A band of between 20 and 40 Potawatomi (Native Americans) and three Sauk warriors attacked the cabin site. Fifteen settlers, including women and children, were massacred at the site near the present-day border of LaSalle and DeKalb Counties. Several people escaped the massacre and two young women were kidnapped by the raiders to be released about two weeks later unharmed. In the aftermath of the massacre, white settlers fled their homes for the safety of frontier forts and the protection of the militia.

In the 1800's Indians say they were unfairly treated by the white man. It was the other way around in a lot of circumstances like the example above with Indians killing white women and children.

 

[kschae4]

David- I had read that article and others relating to the massacre. You're likely to set off a heated debate about questioning "Indians say they were unfairly treated by the white man" with that blanket statement among descendants and historians alike. I honestly don't know enough to debate you but others here may weigh in.

 

[FarmerJ]

WOW great pics and great posts. Thanks everyone.

 

[dtek]

The holes in the coins may not necessarily imply they were worn around the neck. Often, they were sewn into clothing and kept on a string to keep from being lost. They were not jewelry, as some think. Just a way to keep up with them. Seems like I ofund one 20 years ago and it was a 17-- date?

 

[MAcle1997]

Nice coins! The silver one reale looks like an 1803.
Mark

 

[Prep1957]

That's all I could make out also was 03 pretty sure it was 1803.About every coin below 1850 I find around here has a hole in it.My dad found a silver watch chain outside of Ottawa,Ill that had 4 bust dimes holed and threaded into broken watch chain was English watch chain by hallmarks just a crying shame.

 

[Hall-gr.daughter]

Hi prep

Hey, I just know stumbled upon your blog (is this a blog? ) I am a direct granddaughter of Sylvia Hall Horn. My father being a Horn - 4 generations out. I think it is really cool that you are able to find
artifacts like these coins. You mentioned that there are Hall descendants who still farm close to where the monument is. Have you ever asked them if they would be interested in your finds? They
might like to have those but I do not know.

If I had the opportunity I know my sister & I would be interested in any coins that "could have" come from the Monument site. Keep us in mind, ok?

I also wanted to address some comments about the massacre. From the accounts I have read it does certainly sound like one stupid & selfish Mr. Davis dammed up the creek, keeping the Indian
people from feeding their families. I do believe his arrogance led to the anger that sparked the tragic events. However, I also believe that the abduction that Rachel & Sylvia endured was a very difficult
thing, with them being made to watch as their captors dances around the scalps of their mother & father. They were very frightened & unable to eat for much of their captivity. This was not a simple little
camping trip with friendly Indians. They witnessed women & children being brutally murdered. It is said that Rachel was never the same afterwards. It is just a tragic story. It frustrates me to read present day authors minimize what Rachel & Sylvia endured. I think that what I feel about this is that #1) the Indians were being severely mistreated & felt they had no options but to retaliate.
#2) The white settlers were of course frightened & ignorant as to how they were contributing to this volatile situation. #3) All those women & children were just following along after the know-it-all
heads of the household & did not deserve the horrors inflicted upon them.

This is not directed at you per say, just those who have not read countless articles over many years & so they just don't know.

Peace ~~Karen Horn Terry

 

[Prep1957]

Hi prep

Hey, I just know stumbled upon your blog (is this a blog? ) I am a direct granddaughter of Sylvia Hall Horn. My father being a Horn - 4 generations out. I think it is really cool that you are able to find
artifacts like these coins. You mentioned that there are Hall descendants who still farm close to where the monument is. Have you ever asked them if they would be interested in your finds? They
might like to have those but I do not know.

If I had the opportunity I know my sister & I would be interested in any coins that "could have" come from the Monument site. Keep us in mind, ok?

I also wanted to address some comments about the massacre. From the accounts I have read it does certainly sound like one stupid & selfish Mr. Davis dammed up the creek, keeping the Indian
people from feeding their families. I do believe his arrogance led to the anger that sparked the tragic events. However, I also believe that the abduction that Rachel & Sylvia endured was a very difficult
thing, with them being made to watch as their captors dances around the scalps of their mother & father. They were very frightened & unable to eat for much of their captivity. This was not a simple little
camping trip with friendly Indians. They witnessed women & children being brutally murdered. It is said that Rachel was never the same afterwards. It is just a tragic story. It frustrates me to read present day authors minimize what Rachel & Sylvia endured. I think that what I feel about this is that #1) the Indians were being severely mistreated & felt they had no options but to retaliate.
#2) The white settlers were of course frightened & ignorant as to how they were contributing to this volatile situation. #3) All those women & children were just following along after the know-it-all
heads of the household & did not deserve the horrors inflicted upon them.

This is not directed at you per say, just those who have not read countless articles over many years & so they just don't know.

Peace ~~Karen Horn Terry

There is a book called Freedom By Evelyn M Goetsch it gives detail account of massacre and Hall families it may be hard to find my copy is pretty beat up it came out in 1976.There are a lot of Halls around here and relations I can think of about 25 off my head they have been real good to me letting me fish and hunt on thier land,found lots of arrowheads.I have given some metal tomahawks that I found to one of Halls that let me fish his land.Since you are not a member I cannot send you a personal message you can join this FINDS Treasure for nothing and send me a message I will give you both coins for 16AA batteries or 12 bucks whatever you want to do.My dad found a gold locket with a picture of one of Hall girls in it let me check to see if my sister has it dad may have sold it for the gold to buy another detector.