Who was Chief Baw Beese?
Much of the story of Baw Beese Lake is folklore handed
down a century and more ago, Baw Beese Lake was the
favorite camping ground of a tribe of Potawatomi who
roamed the region under the leadership of their chief,
Baw Beese. The Potawatomi, as a nation, were fierce and
war-like, but this particular band of one hundred and
fifty or so was peace-loving, kindly and unaggressive.
They had no permanent village but appear to have
wandered here and there as inclination dictated. Always,
however, they returned to the banks of the spring-fed
lake with its abundant fishing and its surrounding
forests filled with game.
Here they erected a few bark cabins and planted
scattered patches of maize. Here were their dead. The
spot was included in that cession of land from original
owners to the U.S. Government concluded by the treaty of
Chicago. Although many claimed that Baw Beese was a
mighty Chieftain, his mark does not appear among the
fifty-five Potawatomi signatures upon the treaty, It is
possible, however, that some important reason kept him
from that conference.
It is clear that he was supreme as a chief of that
democratic race, over his group, and to the end of his
days considered Hillsdale County his personal property.
He went so far, at one time, as to try to collect fees
and rentals from the government, like any lord of a
manor levying upon his tenants. Failing in this, he and
his companions remained in their ancestral forests,
complacently disregarding the terms of the treaty
whereby western reservations were provided for the Potawatomi.
Since there were then no white settlers to dispute
possession, no move was made to eject them, and they
pursued the even tenor of their ways unmolested. In 1827
the first white family made its difficult way into
Hillsdale County, coming by sledge over the frozen trail
from Wayne County. Heading the party was Captain Moses
Allen, a veteran of the War of 1812, and a member of
the crew that surveyed the Chicago road. He brought his
young wife and children and located on the fertile
prairie later called by that name.
Chief Baw Beese cordially welcomed these white people
into his realm, assisting them in every way within his
power, and a friendship which stood the test of time was
cemented by smoking the pipe of peace, with both Captain
and Mrs. Allen.
The next year, when Benaiah Jones settled at the
junction of the trail and St. Joseph River, five miles
from the Allen's, Baw Beese extended friendship to him
and his ever enlarging family, and a situation of
brotherly affection was created which was unique in the
struggle between red and white. Had it not been for
their indian neighbors, the early settlers in Hillsdale
County would have fared badly during the first hard
winters. Though they were scions of sturdy stock,
resourceful, and inured to hardships, they must of
necessity have succumbed to the privation and exposure
if Baw Beese had not come to their rescue. In fact,
Captain Allen did succumb and was buried as fittingly
as possible upon his claim. But his girl-wife and her
little ones came through unscathed, as did the Jones
family. No small share of credit must be given to the
faithful chief, who would often appear at the door laden
with game and maize, a wild turkey, or a quail, throw it
at their feet, stoically receive thanks, and, in all
probability, join them in a meal which he had provided.
Chief Baw Beese is described by one who was his friend
as tall and handsome, dignified and courteous, a noble
specimen of Indian manhood, highly respected and loved
by his white associates.
This account from the book prepared for
the Hillsdale Centennial 1869 - 1969 has been
edited for continuity and ease of reading. |
