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
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
this page online
Erected 2003 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: Churches & Religion • Native Americans. 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. Marker 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.
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.
Photographed By Jason Voigt, September 8, 2021
2. Indian Removals - A Memorial
Close-up of marker on rock
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 181 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
