{"id":6019,"date":"2017-10-19T17:01:16","date_gmt":"2017-10-19T21:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/?p=6019"},"modified":"2017-11-30T18:02:24","modified_gmt":"2017-11-30T23:02:24","slug":"fort-miami-the-beginning-of-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/2017\/10\/19\/fort-miami-the-beginning-of-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Miami, the Beginning of Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Fort Miami Location Compared to Other Fort Locations <\/a>(from i.pinimg.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Modern civilization had to have come from somewhere. \u00a0In Michigan\u2019s case, modern civilization started with the French exploring New France. \u00a0From there it evolved into forts and trading posts scattered throughout the state. \u00a0Although there were many forts much bigger and more action packed, Fort Miami is just as important because it started it all as Michigan\u2019s first fort.<\/p>\n

Every story consists of the three same components: a beginning, a middle, and an end. \u00a0In Fort Miamis case, the story starts out with a French explorer in the Midwest. \u00a0From there, it moves on to the Potawatomi Indians. \u00a0Finally, the story finishes with American fur trader, William Burnett.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Beginning<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When thinking about the migration patterns of the United States of America, settlements started on the East Coast and worked their way westward. \u00a0In Fort Miami\u2019s case, it was located on the western part of the Michigan territory. \u00a0Why was the fort created in the southwestern region of the area rather than the eastern region? \u00a0This is because of the story of the French explorer and fur trader Rene-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Rene-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle <\/a>(From wikimedia.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Robert Myers, author of \u201cGreetings from St. Joseph,\u201d \u00a0describes that La Salle was born in 1643 in Rouen, France. \u00a0After moving to New France in 1665, La Salle focused on exploring and fur trading. \u00a0His mission from Louis XIV, was to explore the Mississippi, and to find a navigable route to the Pacific Ocean.\u00a0 In the spring of 1679, La Salle built a shipyard near Niagara Falls and constructed the Griffon.\u00a0 <\/i>The\u00a0Griffon<\/em> was\u00a0the first sailing vessel on the Great Lakes. \u00a0\u00a0La Salle\u2019s vision for the Griffon<\/i> was to have it be a floating trading post to trade goods with western Indians and reach locations throughout the Great Lake region faster. [2]<\/p>\n

After sailing across the Great Lakes, La Salle sent the Griffon<\/i> back to Niagara while him and his men stayed at the mouth of the Miamis River (now the St. Joseph River), named after the Miami Indian tribe that lived nearby, on November 1, 1679. [4] \u00a0To keep his men from deserting, La Salle\u00a0had them build a fort, Fort Miami. \u00a0In Robert Myers\u2019s book, Father Hennepin, a man who was with La Salle, recorded that the fort was<\/p>\n

“pretty high and steep, of a Triangular Form, defended on two sides by a deep ditch, which the fall of the waters had made\u2026 we began to build a Redoubt of forty Foot long, and eighty board, with a great square pieces of Timber laid one-upon the other; and prepar\u2019d a great Number of Stakes of about twenty five Foot long, to drive into the Ground, to make our Fort the more unaccessible on the River side.\u201d[2]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"
Drawing of the Griffon<\/a> (From wikimedia.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In “History of the Great Lakes. Volume 1” by J. B. Mansfield, during the construction of Fort Miami, La Salle waited for the Griffon<\/i> to return, which had recently set sail to Niagara in September of 1679.\u00a0 It never returned and in January, La Salle gave up hope. [5] \u00a0Winter at Fort Miami would have been harsh, so on December 3, La Salle and his men set out on the Miamis River in hopes of completing his mission by finding a way to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. [2]<\/p>\n

On November 4, 1680, La Salle returned to Fort Miami only to discover that it had been burned down. \u00a0La Salle continued his explorations of the midwest while his men were ordered to rebuild the fort. \u00a0When La Salle returned to the fort on January 26, 1681, \u00a0the fort had been rebuilt. \u00a0There, La Salle stayed at the fort for the remainder of winter while waiting for the rest of expedition to return. \u00a0Finally, in December 1681, the expedition reached Fort Miami. \u00a0La Salle and his men left Fort Miami and never returned again. \u00a0The Fort started to fall apart, and by 1689,\u00a0there was nothing left of it.\u00a0[2]<\/p>\n

Although the first chapter of Fort Miami did not last very long, La Salle\u2019s work in opening the upper Great Lakes and Illinois regions helped extend the scope of New France. \u00a0Fort Miami also gave birth to two other forts that lasted longer and that saw more action in their lifetime, but in the end, saw the same fate. \u00a0These two forts were Fort St. Joseph (present day Niles, Michigan) which played a role in Pontiac\u2019s Rebellion, and Fort Checagou (present day Chicago, Illinois) which became a trading post of a later fur trader. [4]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Middle<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The story continues with the inhabitants of the Potawatomi Indians. \u00a0The Potawatomi Indians\u2019 story begins with the tribe living along the shores of eastern Lake Michigan. \u00a0\u201cPotawatomi Indian History\u201d by Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society Inc., explains that in 1668, the tribes lived in villages that consisted of over 300 miles along the shore. \u00a0The Potawatomi legend is that they are the \u201cguardians of sacred fire.\u201d \u00a0By this legend, the Potawatomi believed that they were the chosen people, making them a leading tribe above all others. \u00a0With these beliefs in mind, the Potawatomi battled their way from Wisconsin to Illinois and Indiana. \u00a0Finally, the Potawatomi made their way to southwest Michigan, annexed it, and held all of the new gained territory. \u00a0Because of this, the Potawatomi were one of the most powerful tribes in the Midwest. [3]\u00a0 For a long time, the Potawatomi held their power.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Potawatomi Indian village<\/a> (from the Potawatomi Indians www.kawvalley.k12.ks.us)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the time the Potawatomi were invading and taking over tribes along Lake Michigan, La Salle had been just abandoned Fort Miami. \u00a0This was sometime between 1680 and 1690. \u00a0Once the Potawatomi entered southwest Michigan, they attacked and conquered the Miami Indians. \u00a0The Potawatomi forced the Miami out of their homeland to be settled in Wabash while the Potawatomi took over southwest Michigan. \u00a0The Potawatomi village was stationed near the mouth of the St. Joseph river, where the abandoned fort Miami used to be. \u00a0It is documented that the village was still present in 1734.\u00a0 By then, the St. Joseph village itself consisted of approximately 100 warriors. \u00a0Because of their legend about the \u201csacred fire\u201d, the warriors declared themselves as the \u201cgovernor\u2019s eldest sons.\u201d [3]<\/p>\n

Not only were the Potawatomi excellent warriors, but they were also excellent in hunting, fishing, farming, and fur trading. \u00a0All of these factors combined, made the Potawatomi the most powerful tribe in the midwest. \u00a0Eventually, the Potawatomi migrated up the St. Joseph River, and participated in Pontiac\u2019s Rebellion at Fort Detroit against the British \u00a0and the battle of Fort Meigs in Perrysburg Ohio against the Americans. [3] \u00a0Although the Potawatomi fought with the British, they were also betrayed by them, making their main ally the French. \u00a0Through all of this, the Potawatomi stayed prominent in southwest Michigan by Fort Miami.<\/p>\n

As the Potawatomi chapter comes to a close, it opens a new chapter about a fur trader in the same region. \u00a0What links these two chapters together is the relationship between the Potawatomi tribe and the fur trader William Burnett.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the late 18th century, there was an increase in fur trade competition between American and British traders. \u00a0Along with this competition, there was an increase in pressure to have the Indians move westward. [2] \u00a0At this time, the British controlled the fur trade, even though it was slowly decreasing. \u00a0But, even though the trade was controlled by the British, that did not stop Americans and the French from trading in the southwest Michigan region. \u00a0The most successful trader was an American named William Burnett. [2]<\/p>\n

In Elaine Thomopoulos\u2019s book, \u201cImages of America: St. Joseph and Benton Harbor,\u201d William Burnett was the first white settler in the Fort Miami region. \u00a0Burnett arrived sometime between 1775 and 1782. [6] \u00a0Originally from New Jersey, Burnett was a fur trader who decided to trade in the southwestern Michigan region. \u00a0His trading post was at the mouth of and along the St. Joseph River. \u00a0In Robert Myers\u2019s book, The post consisted of \u201chis house, a barn, storehouses, a blacksmith shop and \u00a0bakery.\u201d [2] \u00a0Not only did he sell fur, but also apples, quince, peaches, cherries, corn, cabbage and turnips. \u00a0He also trapped around the region. \u00a0His post became so successful that by 1798, he had opened another trading post in Chicago, Illinois. \u00a0By the end of his days, Burnett\u2019s business was known throughout the St. Joseph region, Kan Kan Kee, Kalamazoo, Chicago and other regions of Illinois and Wabash because of his relationship with the Indians. [1]<\/p>\n

Burnett can credit his success with the marriage to his wife, Kaukema Nanaquiba Burnett, in 1782. \u00a0Kaukema was a member of the Potawatomi Indian tribe. \u00a0Not only was she a part of the tribe, but she was the daughter of the chief of the Potawatomi tribe. \u00a0It is said that he married her because of \u201cher beauty and for his protection.\u201d [1] Together, Burnett and Kaukema, had seven children: James, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, John, Rebecca and Nancy.\u00a0 Kaukema also had two children before marrying Burnett: Lewis and Mary Ann.\u00a0 Both ended up being adopted by Burnett. [1]<\/p>\n

Being such a successful businessman and fur trader, Burnett kept contact with many people throughout the region, along with other businessmen from Detroit and Montreal. \u00a0Even though he was a businessman, Burnett was close to the Potawatomi\u00a0and cared about them. \u00a0His nickname was \u201cThe Trader\u201d and was known by the Potawatomi as \u201cWaub-Zee\u201d or \u201cWhite Swan\u201d. [1] \u00a0In \u201cWilliam Burnett \u2018The Trader\u2019 (Waus-Zee or White Swan)\u201d , one letter was sent to Mr. WM Hands by Burnett, showing his care towards the Indians.<\/p>\n

St. Josephs, April 11, 1791<\/p>\n

I am at present moving down to lake; fear of any accident, as the Indians report that the Americans are coming again against them. \u00a0If you have any newspapers or magazines by you send me some, if you can spare any. \u00a0I hope there is a good prospect of the sale of peltries. \u00a0No packs here this year. \u00a0I am sincerely yours,<\/p>\n

WM Burnett<\/p>\n

Mr. WM Hands,<\/p>\n

Detroit<\/p>\n

Give the young lads some Bisquet for their voyage<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fur trading in the southwest Michigan region was tough. \u00a0The field was risky and often ended in bankruptcy. \u00a0In Robert Myers\u2019s book, Burnett wrote in 1790 that a french trader, Antoine Le Clere, \u00a0who had a post near Burnett\u2019s,<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has but little Goods as he has given the most he had last fall upon credit to the Indians and no likelihood of his being paid, as the Indians will make but a very poor hunt this year and also my being so near him so that he will not make both ends meet, I believe.\u201d[2]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But Burnett also had trouble with his business. \u00a0One time, Burnett was threatened by merchants in Detroit for having a long overdue debt. If Burnett could not pay his debts, his cattle would be confiscated in order to balance out the debt. \u00a0Burnett\u2019s response to this was that since he would not pay and that because the law in America was \u201cdictated from principles of humanity\u201d he was certain to come off on \u201ceasy terms.\u201d [2] \u00a0Another problem was how slow the region was in the winter. \u00a0In the winter of 1787, the market was so slow that Burnett had almost nothing to do, and in 1790, he reported that most of the trading season was missed because he was looking for goods. [2]<\/p>\n

Along with the slow winters, it was also very expensive to have goods shipped out for trading. \u00a0At the time, the most efficient way to ship goods was on the water. \u00a0But accidents happen. \u00a0Even when the goods arrived, they had to have a good quality to make the Indians happy in order to have them as a trading partner in the competitive southwestern Michigan region. \u00a0Because Burnett was such a good businessman, he kept up with his partners and kept them in order. \u00a0Another letter was sent to Mr. G Ed\u2019rd Young about the condition of the received goods in \u201cWilliam Burnett \u2018The Trader\u2019 (Waus-Zee or White Swan).\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr. G. ER\u2019RD YOUNG,<\/p>\n

Michilmakina.<\/p>\n

ST. JOSEPHS, MARCH 25, 1794<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gents: I received your letters, with invoice and other paper, etc., the 27th of December last. \u00a0But I am very sorry to inform you that I received all the goods in very bad order; all damaged, and some entirely lost. \u00a0The vessel, by misconduct of the master, was drove on shore on the point of Mosquigon River. \u00a0When the vessel struck she filled full of water, and the goods remained ten days after in the hold, from which you must judge in what situation the goods must have been. \u00a0In the goods arriving so late, left it entirely out of my power to send out; will, therefore, have \u2154 of my goods remaining on hand, the best part of which much damaged. \u00a0As I do not know rightly what time I will go to Michilmakina this spring, I have enclosed you two notes, which you will endeavor to get paid. \u00a0You will remember that I left one with Mr. Pothier last fall belonging to Reaume, which he is to pay on his arrival, answered by him for Caltos, which last you have his note here for the balance of what he owes me. \u00a0I am surprised I received no letter from Mr. Young, since he went down to Montreal, with respect to my sale of my peltries.<\/p>\n

The bearer of this letter is the Reverend Mr. Ledrue, missioner, formerly at the Illinois. \u00a0He wintered here with me, and bed you will assist him he gets settled at Makina, which I believe intends to do if there is good business for his trade.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I am, dear sir,<\/p>\n

Your humble servant,<\/p>\n

WM. BURNETT<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Even though there were many difficulties that Burnett faced, the greatest difficulty was that he was American and an independent agent. \u00a0The problem with being an American was that the trade market was mostly controlled by the British. \u00a0This meant that Burnett was often harassed by the other British traders. \u00a0This was done by the British merchants accusing Burnett of actions and crimes that he had not committed. \u00a0The worst that the British ever did to Burnett was stating that he accepted a \u201cwampum belt from a visiting American Indian agent, and of inciting sedition among the Indians.\u201d [4] \u00a0Although Burnett was innocent, he was found guilty and was taken prisoner at Montreal. \u00a0Eventually he made it back to his trading post where he most likely died in 1813 or 1814. [2] \u00a0After Burnett\u2019s death, his trading post was taken over by his son James.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As the story of Fort Miami comes to a close, the region and the memories live on. \u00a0The city of St. Joseph is now located at the site of Fort Miami. It started out as a village in 1834 and upgraded to a city in 1891 [6]. \u00a0The city remembers its past and has sites set up around the city of historical markers. \u00a0St. Joseph knows the significance of its history. \u00a0St. Joseph reminds everyone that they are sitting on the start of Michigan as the site of Michigan\u2019s first fort.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n\n

 <\/p>\n

Primary Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. “William Burnett ‘The Trader’ (Waub-Zee or White Swan).<\/a>“<\/li>\n
  2. Myers, Robert (2008).\u00a0“Greetings from St. Joseph.”<\/li>\n
  3. (2002-2016). “Potawatomi Indian History,<\/a>” Sussex-Lisob Area Historical Study, Inc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Secondary Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

    4. Quaife, M.M (1914). \u201cMaking the Site of Old Fort St. Joseph<\/a>,\u201d\u00a0Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908-1980)\u00a0<\/em>6.4: 490-491<\/p>\n

    5. Mansfield, J. B.\u201cHistory of the Great Lakes. Volume 1<\/a>\u201d Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. (1899)<\/em><\/p>\n

    6. Thomopoulos, Elaine (2003).\u00a0\u00a0“Images of America: St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.”<\/p>\n

    For Further Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Southwest Michigan Directory (2002-2017)”The History of Berrien County, Michigan<\/a>,” Southwest Michigan Business and Tourism Directory.<\/li>\n
    2. Smith, Mark A. (May, 7 2008) “The Story of the Burnetts and their culvert.<\/a>” Pharos-Tribune.<\/li>\n
    3. Glenn, Elizabeth and Rafert, Stewart (2009).”The Native Americans.<\/a>” Indiana Historical Society Press<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Modern civilization had to have come from somewhere. \u00a0In Michigan\u2019s case, modern civilization started with the French exploring New France. \u00a0From there it evolved into forts and trading posts scattered throughout the state. \u00a0Although there were many forts much bigger…<\/p>\n

      Continue readingFort Miami, the Beginning of Michigan<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":227,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[830,741,531,530,12,308,310,210,200,529],"class_list":["post-6019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-installation","tag-1600s","tag-1700s","tag-american","tag-exploration","tag-fort","tag-french","tag-fur-trade","tag-indians","tag-river","tag-trading","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/227"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6019"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7811,"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6019\/revisions\/7811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/mhugl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}