Baw Beese
Encyclopedia
Baw Beese was a Potawatomi
Indian chief in the area of Hillsdale, Michigan
until November of 1840. At this time he and his band were forcibly removed to a reservation in Miami County, Kansas
by the U.S. Government under authority of the Indian Removal Act
signed into law by Andrew Jackson
in 1830. The Indian Removal Act made the voluntary Indian emigrations outlined in the Treaty of Fort Meigs
of 1817 and the Treaty of Chicago
of 1821 mandatory and militarily enforced.
, Baw Beese led a band of Indians estimated to be over 150 members. The Baw Beese band of natives had their maize fields, hunting, fishing, and meeting grounds within Hillsdale County, Michigan
. Other chiefs of the Baw Beese family lived in surrounding counties in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.
As a chief, Baw Beese was reported as holding to a strict code of justice. The execution of his daughter Winona for having murdered her husband Negnaska was not prevented due to his status. Winona's husband had pledged his rifle to Mr Aaron B. Goodwin of Fremont, Indiana for the use of a keg. The Indians had the keg filled at Nichol's store in Jamestown, but Mr Nichol's ended up taking everything they had. The brave sold his squaw's pony to raise the money to retrieve the rifle. Winona owned the pony outright, either as a gift from her father or having bought it with her own money. She killed him in anger for selling what was hers. She was held by the tribe until her husband's nearest relative arrived in a few hours to execute her in the like manner she had killed—with a stab to the heart.
Mr John D. Barnard and Mr Sheldon Havens came across the Indians after the execution and helped move the body of Winona and her husband to a nearby resting place. The bodies were not buried until after the white men were out of sight. This precaution was in vain however because the bodies were taken from the graves by Dr B.F. Sheldon for dissecting only a few days later.
Baw Beese never signed a treaty with the United States, although he did abide by the Treaty of Detroit
of 1807. The line between present day Lenawee
and Hillsdale counties was the boundary between the settlers and natives. Because of that treaty, he welcomed the white settlers to Hillsdale County but treated them as tenants.
The 1817 Treaty of Fort Meigs
ceded the southern half of Hillsdale County including the primary gathering locations of the Baw Beese family at Bird Lake and Squawfield, however, Baw Beese does not appear to have participated in this treaty. Neither did any of the other chiefs with whom Baw Beese associated.
The closest name one finds to Baw Beese on a treaty with the Potawatomies is Paw-pee on an 1834 document. There is little reason to believe this is Baw Beese. Baw Beese is often associated with the chiefs Me-te-au, Ne-au-to-beer-shaw called "Leather Nose", and Wap-ka-zeek, names not listed on this document.
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
Indian chief in the area of Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
until November of 1840. At this time he and his band were forcibly removed to a reservation in Miami County, Kansas
Miami County, Kansas
Miami County is a county located in East Central Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 32,787. Its county seat and most populous city is Paola...
by the U.S. Government under authority of the Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830.The Removal Act was strongly supported in the South, where states were eager to gain access to lands inhabited by the Five Civilized Tribes. In particular, Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in...
signed into law by Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in 1830. The Indian Removal Act made the voluntary Indian emigrations outlined in the Treaty of Fort Meigs
Treaty of Fort Meigs
The Treaty of Fort Meigs, also called the Treaty of the Foot of the Rapids, was signed September 29, 1817 between the chiefs and warriors of the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Ottawa and Chippewa, tribes of native Americans and the United States of America, represented by Lewis...
of 1817 and the Treaty of Chicago
Treaty of Chicago
The Treaty of Chicago may refer to either of two treaties made and signed in Chicago, Illinois between the United States and the Ottawa, Ojibwe , and Potawatomi Native American peoples.-1821 Treaty of Chicago:...
of 1821 mandatory and militarily enforced.
History
At the time of the Treaty of ChicagoTreaty of Chicago
The Treaty of Chicago may refer to either of two treaties made and signed in Chicago, Illinois between the United States and the Ottawa, Ojibwe , and Potawatomi Native American peoples.-1821 Treaty of Chicago:...
, Baw Beese led a band of Indians estimated to be over 150 members. The Baw Beese band of natives had their maize fields, hunting, fishing, and meeting grounds within Hillsdale County, Michigan
Hillsdale County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
. Other chiefs of the Baw Beese family lived in surrounding counties in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.
As a chief, Baw Beese was reported as holding to a strict code of justice. The execution of his daughter Winona for having murdered her husband Negnaska was not prevented due to his status. Winona's husband had pledged his rifle to Mr Aaron B. Goodwin of Fremont, Indiana for the use of a keg. The Indians had the keg filled at Nichol's store in Jamestown, but Mr Nichol's ended up taking everything they had. The brave sold his squaw's pony to raise the money to retrieve the rifle. Winona owned the pony outright, either as a gift from her father or having bought it with her own money. She killed him in anger for selling what was hers. She was held by the tribe until her husband's nearest relative arrived in a few hours to execute her in the like manner she had killed—with a stab to the heart.
Mr John D. Barnard and Mr Sheldon Havens came across the Indians after the execution and helped move the body of Winona and her husband to a nearby resting place. The bodies were not buried until after the white men were out of sight. This precaution was in vain however because the bodies were taken from the graves by Dr B.F. Sheldon for dissecting only a few days later.
Legends
The story of Baw Beese and Winona has developed into local legend. Sometimes the chief himself must execute his child. Often it is mentioned that a girl's skeleton was found on the banks of the Baw Beese Lake with a cross with her name or other identification.Death
The final days of Baw Beese are disputed. According to one account, he died in exile in the pine forests near Georgian Bay, Canada having left the reservation. Other accounts report his death by Sioux or natural death at a very old age on the Kansas reservation.Treaties
Treaty of Detroit
The Treaty of Detroit was a treaty between the United States and the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot and Potawatomi Native American nations. The treaty was signed at Detroit, Michigan on November 17, 1807, with William Hull, governor of the Michigan Territory and superintendent of Indian affairs the sole...
of 1807. The line between present day Lenawee
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
and Hillsdale counties was the boundary between the settlers and natives. Because of that treaty, he welcomed the white settlers to Hillsdale County but treated them as tenants.
The 1817 Treaty of Fort Meigs
Treaty of Fort Meigs
The Treaty of Fort Meigs, also called the Treaty of the Foot of the Rapids, was signed September 29, 1817 between the chiefs and warriors of the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Ottawa and Chippewa, tribes of native Americans and the United States of America, represented by Lewis...
ceded the southern half of Hillsdale County including the primary gathering locations of the Baw Beese family at Bird Lake and Squawfield, however, Baw Beese does not appear to have participated in this treaty. Neither did any of the other chiefs with whom Baw Beese associated.
The closest name one finds to Baw Beese on a treaty with the Potawatomies is Paw-pee on an 1834 document. There is little reason to believe this is Baw Beese. Baw Beese is often associated with the chiefs Me-te-au, Ne-au-to-beer-shaw called "Leather Nose", and Wap-ka-zeek, names not listed on this document.
Namesakes
- Baw Beese Lake in Hillsdale, MI
- Chief Baw Beese Chapter of the North Country Trail