Cold Foot (Miami)
Encyclopedia
Cold Foot was a Miami
chief in the 18th century. An inhabitant of Kekionga
, Cold Foot lived during a time when the Miami were torn between their traditional trading partners of New France
and new, more lucrative traders from the British colonies. There is a record of Cold Foot receiving a large reward for putting down some hostilities during this time.
When many of the Miami favored the British and abandoned Kekionga for Pickawillany
, Cold Foot remained loyal to his French allies and remained at Kekionga. The French rebuilt the nearby fort
on higher ground in 1750, and Cold Foot moved to the old fort, which became known as Cold Foot Village. During the Winter of 1751/1752, however, the village was hit with smallpox
, and many of the inhabitants died, including Cold Foot and his son. Future chief Pacanne
may have been his nephew.
Miami tribe
The Miami are a Native American nation originally found in what is now Indiana, southwest Michigan, and western Ohio. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma is the only federally recognized tribe of Miami Indians in the United States...
chief in the 18th century. An inhabitant of Kekionga
Kekionga
Kekionga, also known as Kiskakon or Pacan's Village, was the capital of the Miami tribe at the confluence of the Saint Joseph, Saint Marys and Maumee rivers on the western edge of the Great Black Swamp...
, Cold Foot lived during a time when the Miami were torn between their traditional trading partners of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
and new, more lucrative traders from the British colonies. There is a record of Cold Foot receiving a large reward for putting down some hostilities during this time.
When many of the Miami favored the British and abandoned Kekionga for Pickawillany
Pickawillany
Pickawillany was a Miami Indian village located on the current site of the city of Piqua, Ohio, in the United States.It was created in 1748 by La Demoiselle, a Miami chief, and was destroyed by the French and their Indian allies under Charles Langlade in June 1752...
, Cold Foot remained loyal to his French allies and remained at Kekionga. The French rebuilt the nearby fort
Forts of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne in modern Fort Wayne, Indiana, was established by Captain Jean François Hamtramck under orders from General "Mad" Anthony Wayne as part of the campaign against the Indians of the area. It was named after General Wayne, who was victorious at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Wayne may have...
on higher ground in 1750, and Cold Foot moved to the old fort, which became known as Cold Foot Village. During the Winter of 1751/1752, however, the village was hit with smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, and many of the inhabitants died, including Cold Foot and his son. Future chief Pacanne
Pacanne
Pacanne was a leading Miami chief during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Son of The Turtle , he was the brother of Tacumwah, who was the mother of Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. Their family owned and controlled the Long Portage, an 8 mile strip of land between the Maumee and Wabash...
may have been his nephew.