Rochester in Fulton County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

William Polke Trading Post

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 20, 2023

1. William Polke Trading Post Marker

Inscription. William Polke was Fulton County's first white settler, coming in 1830 to survey the Michigan Road. In 1831 he built a log cabin trading post on south bank of the Tippecanoe River. He was post master of county's first post office called Chippeway, est. 1832 in this trading post. When he was 7 years old, Polke was kidnapped by Indians in 1782, adopted by an Indian family and learned the Indian language. He was interpreter between General William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh at Vincennes in 1810 and was wounded in Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. He was a member of the convention that wrote the first Indiana state constitution in 1816. Polke was the federal conductor on the forced removal of the Potawatomi Indians in 1838. They camped here and a mile north along Michigan Road to his white house, a stagecoach inn, which he built in 1832. The house was moved to Fulton County Historical Society on US 31 in 1993. See historical marker at the Polke house for Polke's life story. See Trail of Death marker in front of Rochester courthouse.

Erected 2016 by Girl Scout Troop 43611.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in

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these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1782.

Location. 41° 6.337′ N, 86° 13.22′ W. Marker is in Rochester, Indiana, in Fulton County. It is on Old U.S. 31 north of County Road 350N, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3386 N Old US Hwy 31, Rochester IN 46975, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Indian Village Chippewa-Nung (a few steps from this marker); Michigan Road (a few steps from this marker); William Polke House (approx. 1.1 miles away); Fulton County War Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 20, 2023

2. William Polke Trading Post Marker

away); Joaquin Miller (approx. 2½ miles away); The Underground Railroad (approx. 2.8 miles away); W. W. I War Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away); Ga bgojwébnegéjuk Mural (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Father Petit and the Potawatomi 'Trail of Death' (was approx. 1.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These markers are next to this one

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 20, 2023

3. William Polke Trading Post Marker

next to the "Site of Indian Village Chippewa-Nung" marker

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 20, 2023

4. William Polke Trading Post Marker

Looking north on Old U.S. 31 the Michigan Road and Site of Indian Village Chippewa-Nung markers can also be seen on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. This page has been viewed 341 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 20, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.