The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 20, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 July 1987 — Page 35

Potawatomis and Miamis were here before the white man

By JACK ELAM Before the coming of the white settlers to the Syracuse/Turkey Creek area, the countryside was inhabited by Indians. The earlier tribe was the Potawatomis and later,, the Miamis. The Potawatomi tribe left this region, migrated to Illinois and was later moved by the federal government to a reservation west of the Mississippi in what is now Kansas. On the north side of Syracuse Lake is a high land area known today as Indian Hill. This land which was settled by pioneer Jacob Ott was found to be a burial site of the Potawatomi Indian tribe. The Indians placed the dead bodies in the trees and tied them in place. When the settlers arrived, the decayed remains were found and some had fallen to the ground. A number of years ago, a skeleton of an Indian was discovered in this Indian Hill area and was kept in the Syracuse High School for study purposes. Another legend concerning In-

From Lilij to Lilly

A permanent fixture in the Syracuse area, the Lilly family originated in Sweden and can be traced back about 700 years. The name was originally spelled “Lillj.” Members of the popular family migrated to England for a short time before coming to America in 1789. They settled in Baltimore, Md., with many being named Eli. The first one to be born in America was Col. Eli Lilly, who was born in Baltimore in 1838, later moving with his parents to Lexington, Ky., and then to Indiana. Col. Eli and his parents first lived in Greencastle, then LaFayette, and later, in Indianapolis. Col. Lilly founded a pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis, which is known as Lilly Laboratories, serving as its first president. Headquartered in Indianapolis, it has branches throughout the world. Col. Lilly, an avid fisherman, purchased land on the east side of Turkey Lake (Wawasee), which was part of the Moore farm. A built a home on the lake where he

Time Is Here To Wish Syracuse A . . . Happy Birthday "Compltti Juwulry Srvlct“ EEI 1W LIMr 457-4M2 SYRACUM

dian Hill is that Indian babies who died were placed in a kind of swing, tied to the limbs. When a breeze would blow through the trees, the little babies would be rocked by the breeze. The Miami Indians who lived around the lakes were led by two brothers. One of them being Chief Papakeechie (or Flat Belly) and Chief Waubee. Papakeechie was given a reserve that consisted of an area starting at the Lilly estate and crossing the lake, following SR 13S to the north edge of North Webster and east to Indian Village in Noble County, then north to a point and due west to the Lilly estate. Chief Papakeechie lived in a brick house that was built for him by the US government. This house was located northwest of the present town of Indian Village in Noble County. During the administration of President Andrew Jackson, Chief Papakeechie and his tribe were ordered to move to the Kansas territory. It is not known for sure if Chief Papakeechie obeyed these orders. One story claims he

spent much of his free time entertaining friends and business associates. The reins of the company was eventually passed down to his only son, Josiah K. Lilly. Josiah’s eldest son, named after his grandfather, joined the company in 1909, becoming the third president of Lilly Laboratories in 1932. The Lilly logo, appearing on products from the Laboratories, is a facsimile of Col. Eli’s signature. The younger Eli, like his grandfather, was an avid fisherman and would hire Everton Eugene Holloway as a fishing guide. Everton Eugene “Bub” Holloway, a Syracuse native, was a fishing guide for the Lilly family for over 40 years. Eli Lilly wrote a book, entitled “Early Wawasee Days,” in which he presents a history of Lake Wawasee and the people who lived on its shores. The book has no copyright, as Mr. Lilly states in the fly leaf of the book, “It would be considered a unique compliment should anyone wish to quote from this book. ”

died and is buried with other members of his tribe near his residence in Noble County. Another story tells he was drunk and despondent over the order to move and stood up in his canoe, fell in the water and drowned in Turkey Lake (Wawasee). Chief Waubee, the brother of Papakeechie, lived in a brick house that was built for him by the government. He lived in the Milford area. His name was sometimes spelled Wawaesse. In later years, Col. Eli Lilly, wanting to find a more suitable name for 9 Mile Lake or Turkey Lake, changed the spelling to Wawasee and named the largest natural lake in Indiana after this obscure

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Wed., July 1, 1987 — THE MAIL-JOURNAJL

Miami Indian Chief. When the order to move to Kansas was received by Chief Wawasee, he and members of his

■ SESQUICENTENNIAL SSdIHMBB Indiana 1987 H3, Syracnse

small tribe are said to have left during the night and heading north to Michigan, were never heard from again.

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