Paola in Miami County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2010
1. Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria Marker
Dedicated to a couple who helped found and shape Paola, Baptiste Peoria, chief of the Confederated Peoria Tribes and his wife Mary Ann Isaacs Dagenet Peoria chose to take a leadership role in developing Paola. Most of the Paola Town Company were members of the tribe by birth or marriage and adoption. Baptiste served as President of the Town Company until it was dissolved. His vision helped provide the Town Square which has been the heart of our community for so long. Mary Ann was known as "Mother Batees" to all the early members of the town for her caring, guidance and leadership helping provide the land for the Catholic Church among other charitable projects. Together these two served as parents who watched over our earliest days through the difficult periods of "Bleeding Kansas" and the Civil War.
Celebrating over 150 years of racial diverity and cooperation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil.
Location. 38° 34.36′ N, 94° 52.727′ W. Marker is in Paola, Kansas, in Miami County. It is at the intersection of Peoria Street and Silver Street, on the right when traveling east
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas, specifically in Bleeding Kansas Border War Country, and in Greater Kansas City. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Southern Plains, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Potawatomi Indians Trail of Death (within shouting distance of this marker); Paola Veterans' Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); City Hall Fire Bell (about 600 feet away); Miami County History (about 700 feet away); Miami County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Original Land Office (approx. 6.3 miles away); The Potawatomi Trail of Death (approx. 6.3 miles away); John Brown Country (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paola.
Also see . . .
1. History of Paola, Kansas. City website homepage (Submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. "The History of Our Cradle Land" by Thomas H. Kinsella. Internet Archive website entry (Submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2010
2. Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria Monument
Looking east along Peoria Street in background.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2010
3. Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria Monument
Looking SE into Town Square.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2010
4. Busts of Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 12, 2010
5. Busts of Baptiste & Mary Ann Peoria
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,108 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 15, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
