Chief Comas
Encyclopedia
Chief Comas was a 19th century Potawatomi
chieftain who, as one of several leaders of the Illinois River
Potawatomi
, was a war chieftain during the Peoria War
. Although favoring peace with the United States
during Tecumseh's War
, he and other Potawatomi chieftains were forced into war with the federal government.
, Comas is first recorded as head of the Indian village of Wappa on Bureau Creek. The village was one of the largest Potawatomi settlements in the region and located eight miles from the river on present-day Tiskilwa, Illinois
. In 1809, he was one of several chieftains visited by Joseph Trotier who brought "assurances of peace and friendship" from Governor Ninian Edwards
. As a token of friendship, Comas presented Trotier with a pair of large elk
horns and a panther skin
, which he had fashioned himself, as a gift for Governor Edwards.
The following summer, he was one of several chieftains approached by Tecumseh
and other Shawnee
but sided with other chieftains, including his father-in-law Black Partridge, who wished to remain neutral during Tecumseh's War
. He later took part in the Peoria War
, his village being the staging point for Black Partridge's raid against Fort Clark in the fall of 1813, and was one of thirteen chieftains sent to St. Louis, Missouri
to negotiate peace. Escorted by Colonel George Davenport
, the peace delegation arrived in St. Louis where a peace treaty was concluded shortly thereafter. Among those in attendance at the signing of the peace treaty included Black Partridge, Senachwine
, Crow
and Gomo
.
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...
chieftain who, as one of several leaders of the Illinois River
Illinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
Potawatomi
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...
, was a war chieftain during the Peoria War
Peoria War
During the War of 1812, the Illinois Territory was the scene of fighting between Native Americans and United States soldiers and settlers.Tensions in the Illinois Territory between U.S. settlers and Native Americans were on the rise in the years before the War of 1812...
. Although favoring peace with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during Tecumseh's War
Tecumseh's War
Tecumseh's War or Tecumseh's Rebellion are terms sometimes used to describe a conflict in the Old Northwest between the United States and an American Indian confederacy led by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh...
, he and other Potawatomi chieftains were forced into war with the federal government.
Biography
One of the major chieftains living on the Illinois RiverIllinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
, Comas is first recorded as head of the Indian village of Wappa on Bureau Creek. The village was one of the largest Potawatomi settlements in the region and located eight miles from the river on present-day Tiskilwa, Illinois
Tiskilwa, Illinois
Tiskilwa is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 787 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. In 1809, he was one of several chieftains visited by Joseph Trotier who brought "assurances of peace and friendship" from Governor Ninian Edwards
Ninian Edwards
Ninian Edwards was a founding political figure of the state of Illinois. He served as the first and only governor of the Illinois Territory from 1809 to 1818, as one of the first two United States Senators from Illinois from 1818 to 1824, and as the third Governor of Illinois from 1826 to 1830...
. As a token of friendship, Comas presented Trotier with a pair of large elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
horns and a panther skin
Hides
A hide is an animal skin treated for human use. Hides include leather from cattle and other livestock animals, alligator skins, snake skins for shoes and fashion accessories and furs from wild cats, mink and bears. In some areas, leather is produced on a domestic or small industrial scale, but most...
, which he had fashioned himself, as a gift for Governor Edwards.
The following summer, he was one of several chieftains approached by Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
and other Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
but sided with other chieftains, including his father-in-law Black Partridge, who wished to remain neutral during Tecumseh's War
Tecumseh's War
Tecumseh's War or Tecumseh's Rebellion are terms sometimes used to describe a conflict in the Old Northwest between the United States and an American Indian confederacy led by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh...
. He later took part in the Peoria War
Peoria War
During the War of 1812, the Illinois Territory was the scene of fighting between Native Americans and United States soldiers and settlers.Tensions in the Illinois Territory between U.S. settlers and Native Americans were on the rise in the years before the War of 1812...
, his village being the staging point for Black Partridge's raid against Fort Clark in the fall of 1813, and was one of thirteen chieftains sent to St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to negotiate peace. Escorted by Colonel George Davenport
George Davenport
Colonel George Davenport was a 19th-century American frontiersman, trader and US Army officer. A prominent and well-known settler in the Iowa Territory, he was one of the earliest settlers in Rock Island and spent much of his life involved in the early settlement of the Mississippi Valley and the...
, the peace delegation arrived in St. Louis where a peace treaty was concluded shortly thereafter. Among those in attendance at the signing of the peace treaty included Black Partridge, Senachwine
Senachwine
Senachwine or Petchaho was a 19th century Illinois River Potawatomi chieftain...
, Crow
Chief Crow
Crow was a Sioux chief who gave the opening battle cry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn.-References:*Lafarge, Oliver. . A Pictorial History of the American Indian. Crown Publishers Inc. Page 177....
and Gomo
Chief Gomo
Chief Gomo was a 19th century Potawatomi chieftain. He and his brother Senachwine were among the more prominent war chiefs to fight alongside Black Partridge during the Peoria War.-Biography:...
.