Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1916 — STORY OF THE KANKAKEE [ARTICLE]

STORY OF THE KANKAKEE

History of Famous Stream to He Extolled by A. F. Knotts. Gary, Ind.> May 20.—A notable contribution to historical literature of the centennial year should be Armanis F. Knott’s book., :“The Passing of the Kankakee,’’ to be published soon. Mr. Knotts has spent all his time for more than a year on the book, and his research work has been done in three states, he having visited many libraries and old settlers in 20 counties. The Kankakee’s charming Indian legends have been recorded by poets and novelists; but no one heretofore has written a history of the stream and the country it traverses. The Kankakee is unusual among Indiana rivem 'Although its winding banks are 250 miles long in-Indiana only, there is not a town on its course in the Hoosier state. The

river still Ist famous as a game preserve, The Kankakee had much to do with retarding the settlement of northwestern Indiana. The natural barriers that Its marshy flanks presented held back the immigrants oi early days, and highways that .-ought a more eastern route because of the river hastened the development of the communities in the northeastern counties. Mr. Knotts was horn in the Kan- ]: . k-e valley. When a hoy and young man he became thoroughly familiar with - !.# stream for many miles;; As mayor off Hammond, lawyer, .bank president and general manager o:, the; yteel trust here during the early building of Gary lie ally a ys- found yin.e to go now and then t, the- 'dost'’ river fur a few days' ilUlH'll U. - •; His ybppk ihegins: with tire glacial period, when tire three great giacievee :;tere-ti in tais region,. and will explain why marshes and -’and dunes are to he found along the river. Mr Knott- mints out that neatly every variety of plants and nearly every -specie,-. of -game- and wild bird lit" is to be found in the Kankakee region. I:i l>• 7f* the white men came ’to the Kankakee land. The diplomacy of England and France in the new world during the 17th century become greatly concerned with the trading activities south of Lake Michigan. The Kankakee region was rich in fur-bearing animals, and English intrigue had caused the Iroquoi- Lilians to attack traders friendly to the French. LaSalle’s visit was in the interest of France's commerce. it wa- the Kankakee fiver, according to Mr. Knotts, which kept northwestern Indiana an unsettled wildness uiril long after the representative government had appeared elsewhere in the state, but he . believes tiie Kankakee marshes were not wit limit benefit for this region. It is not at all improbable that the preservation of Wide areas of virgin wilderness, until recent years had much to do with the building of new industrial communities here, because of .cheap land and the opportunities for expansion, and the retarded development kept intact the. game preserves of the valley. In recent years there has been much reclamation of the swamp land for agricultural purpo.-en. One* .small steamboats w* re seen, on the Kankakee, and it is interesting to note that before railroads made it possible to ttike iron ore to I’ittsi ure. indiana’s pioneer blast . furbn.ces at -,Mishawaka got much . of tlu ir tjpA materiiil from the bog ore beds o; tlie Kankakee. Early; set - tier-. exchanged bog ore. for nail.-, iood and other supplies.