During the two years I conducted research for The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods, I encountered a number of little-known but remarkable Native American persons. I thought my readers would be interested in knowing more about their lives.
Today’s post is about Black Partridge, the man for whom Black Partridge Woods, and my book, was named. I also posted some time ago about Marie Rouensa, a very interesting woman born in 1677, who ended up a considerable property owner. If you missed Marie’s story, you can read it at this link: https://www.patcamallierebooks.com/blog/
Illustration from Black Partridge, or, The Fall of Fort Dearborn / by H.R. Gordon. … Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840-1916.
Black Partridge was a major Potawatomi chief, best known for his actions during the battle at Fort Dearborn in 1812. During the years prior and immediately following the battle of Fort Dearborn, Black Partridge lived near the Chicago area. Dates conflict in the literature, but a reasonable estimation based on events of the time would put his birth in 1742 and his death in 1818.
His Potawatomi name has been spelled many ways on the multiple peace treaties he signed during his life: Mucketeypokee, Mucktypoke, Mka-da-puk-ke, Muccutay Penay, Makadebakii, Mkadébki for instance.
Black Partridge was a chief of significant stature and noted intelligence. He was highly respected by Native populations as well as whites. He was unusually tall, muscular, and handsome. He dressed simply with little adornment, yet made a commanding appearance.
After the American Revolution, the Northwest Territories (now the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin) had been ceded by England to the new United States. No consideration was made for the Native Americans who lived there. This led to disputes and battles.
Black Partridge was known to have fought against the United States in the battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, but after the battle he was one of the chiefs who signed the Treaty of Greenville, essentially relinquishing authority in the Northwest Territories to the United States. At the signing, he was given a peace metal, of which he was inordinately proud. He remained friendly to the U.S. from then on.
Early in the War of 1812, the various tribes in the area that is now Northern Illinois were unhappy with the U.S. for pushing the Indians off their land and reneging on promises. Many fought with Tecumseh and the English against the Americans. Black Partridge, and his younger brother, Waubansee, remained friendly to the U.S. against a hostile element made up of young men from multiple tribes who were determined to attack Fort Dearborn.
Although Black Partridge was the most prominent leader present, he was unable to control the young warriors who were not of his tribe. He went to Captain Heald at Fort Dearborn to warn him of the impending attack. In what must have been an emotional scene, he handed his prized peace metal to Heald, saying he could no longer wear it since he was unable to restrain the warriors.
Some call the attack that took place at Fort Dearborn a battle, others a massacre. As the soldiers, families, and escorts left the fort to escape to Fort Wayne, they were attacked by a large force of hostile Indians. Black Partridge was present to try to save the Americans he considered friends. Among these was Margaret Helm, the wife of the fort’s second-in-command and stepdaughter of John Kinzie. The photo below is that of a sculpture depicting this act. Black Partridge is reported to have stayed the hand of a warrior about to strike Mrs. Helm, saying he himself would dispatch her. Instead he took her to the lake and pretended to drown her for appearance’s sake, ultimately escorting her to a waiting boat where the Kinzie household took her to safety at St. Joseph, Michigan. He then intervened to see that as many as possible were taken prisoner instead of being killed.
His intervention did not end there. Prisoners had been taken to various Indian villages, and Black Partridge was able to locate and negotiate the release of some. One of these was Lieutenant Helm, the wounded husband of Margaret Helm. Having obtained ransom from the U.S. Indian Agent, Thomas Forsyth, Black Partridge added to it personal gifts: a pony, rifle, and a gold ring. He then escorted Lieutenant Helm to St. Louis and released him to Governor William Clark (of Lewis and Clark Expedition fame).
Returning to his home, a village north of Peoria on the Illinois River, Black Partridge found that while he was helping his American friends, his village had been burned to the ground by rangers sent by Governor Ninian Edwards in retribution for the attack on Ft. Dearborn. Although most of the men were away at the time, the raid killed many women and children and burned the buildings to the ground. More died during the winter, as their food had been taken.
Nonetheless, Black Partridge remained loyal to the Americans and was instrumental in the negotiation and signing of additional peace treaties. On August 24, 1816, he signed a treaty which ceded a strip of land ten miles on either side of a line that would become a canal and wagon road. It was the completion of this canal (the Illinois and Michigan, or I and M Canal) that led to the growth of the city of Chicago. Black Partridge died at Peoria Lake within two years of signing this treaty.
Black Partridge Woods Forest Preserve, on a bluff of the Des Plaines River overlooking the village of Lemont, now bears his name. Whether or not Black Partridge resided at this particular spot, whether or not his activities to save the survivors of the battle at Ft. Dearborn took place there, it is well-established that the Potawatomi once lived on this bluff.
Sculpture of the Fort Dearborn Massacre.
Monument by Carl Rohl-Smith (1893).
The sculpture portrays the rescue of Margaret Helm by Potawatomi chief Black Partridge. Currently in storage at the Chicago History Museum.
