Near Spring Arbor in Jackson County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Huron Potawatomi Village / Spring Arbor
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, December 9, 2022
1. Huron Potawatomi Village / Spring Arbor Marker
Inscription.
Huron Potawatomi Village, also, Spring Arbor. .
Huron Potawatomi Village . As early as 1825 large numbers of Potawatomi encamped at this location. One of the most prominent Huron Potatwatomi located here was Wabkezhik (Whapcazeek), who was wounded during the 1811 Battle of Tippicanoe Creek when General William Henry Harrison's troops dispersed a concentration of Indians near present-day Lafayette, Indiana. At negotiations for the 1833 Chicago Treaty, Wabkezhik was one of many Michigan Potawatomi who opposed federal government resettlement plans.
Spring Arbor . White settlers arrived in Spring Arbor Township around 1831. In May 1835 Methodist deacon William Smith and Dr. Benjamin Packard platted the 128-lot village of Spring Arbor on the site of a Potawatomi Indian settlement bounded by present-day South Cross and Hammond Roads. The men then established a Methodist seminary in the village. The panic of 1837 discouraged investment and led to the demise of the school. In 1839 Methodists moved the Seminary to Albion. In 1845 the present village was founded one mile northeast of here.
Huron Potawatomi Village
As early as 1825 large numbers of Potawatomi encamped at this location. One of the most prominent Huron Potatwatomi located here was Wabkezhik (Whapcazeek), who was wounded during the 1811 Battle of Tippicanoe Creek when General William Henry Harrison's troops dispersed a concentration of Indians near present-day Lafayette, Indiana. At negotiations for the 1833 Chicago Treaty, Wabkezhik was one of many Michigan Potawatomi who opposed federal government resettlement plans.
Spring Arbor
White settlers arrived in Spring Arbor Township around 1831. In May 1835 Methodist deacon William Smith and Dr. Benjamin Packard platted the 128-lot village of Spring Arbor on the site of a Potawatomi Indian settlement bounded by present-day South Cross and Hammond Roads. The men then established a Methodist seminary in the village. The panic of 1837 discouraged investment and led to the demise of the school. In 1839 Methodists moved the Seminary to Albion. In 1845 the present village was founded one mile northeast of here.
Erected 1994 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1910.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans
Location. 42° 11.371′ N, 84° 34.481′ W. Marker is near Spring Arbor, Michigan, in Jackson County. Marker is at the intersection of Hammond Road and Cross Road, on the right when traveling east on Hammond Road. On the grounds of the Falling Waters Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spring Arbor MI 49283, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 746 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2022, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 3. submitted on June 26, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.