Quincy in Adams County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Indian Removals - A Memorial

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 8, 2021

1. Indian Removals - A Memorial

Inscription. From 1818 through 1851 groups of American Indians were forcibly removed from states on the east side of the Mississippi River to territories on the west side. One of these removals was the Potawatomi Trail of Death, conducted by William Polke, Rochester, Indiana, and escorted by soldiers from Indiana to Kansas: 850 Indians, 396 horses and 52 wagons crossed the river on a steam ferry boat Oct. 8-9, 1838. They were accompanied by Father Benjamin Petit from Indiana and attended Mass at St. Boniface Church, Quincy. Many Indians died on the removals and were buried along the trail. The Trail of Death lost 41 to death, mostly elders and babies. About 60 deserted and went back to Indiana or north to Wisconsin and Canada and some went to Texas and Mexico. In 1840 500 Potawatomi from Indiana and Michigan, conducted by Alexis Coquillard, passed through Quincy and attended Mass at St. Peter Church, having been accompanied by Father Stephen Bernier of Indiana. Abram Burnett, a full blood Potawatomi, acted as interpreter for both 1838 and 1840 groups. Today their descendants live in all 50 states.

"Let us tell the stories of the past and vow never more."

Erected 2003

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by Aaron Bair (Boy Scout Troop 92); Tom Hamilton (descendant of Abram Burnett, Warsaw, Indiana) & Fulton County Historical Society's Indian Awareness Center, Rochester, Indiana.

Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Potawatomi Trail of Death series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1818.

Location. 39° 56.652′ N, 91° 25.461′ W. Marker is in Quincy, Illinois, in Adams County. It is on Quinsippi Island Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on Quinsippi Island. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1419 Bonansinga Dr, Quincy IL 62301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and memorial is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 8, 2021

2. Indian Removals - A Memorial

Close-up of marker on rock

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stone Smokehouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Lord's Cabin (about 500 feet away); Steamboats and Railroads (approx. ¾ mile away); Tri-State Business Center (approx. ¾ mile away); The Latter-Day Saints in Quincy (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ulysses S. Grant (approx. 0.8 miles away); Navy Reserve (approx. 0.9 miles away); Niemann Building (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Quincy.

Regarding Indian Removals - A Memorial. To access this marker, take Bonansinga Drive. Get off at All America Park and go straight where you'll be going over a one-lane bridge. It is located on Quinsippi Island, in front of a playground and restored log cabin village.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 8, 2021

3. Indian Removals - A Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 682 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.