Briefing Document: Historical Review of John Wood, Woodvale Settlement, and Potawatomi Presence in Lake County, Indiana

Executive Summary:

This document reviews three sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of John Wood, an early settler of Lake County, Indiana; the Woodvale settlement he founded (now Deep River County Park); and the pre-existing Potawatomi presence in the area, specifically the village of Me-Gwun. The sources reveal John Wood’s multifaceted life as a craftsman, pioneer, industrialist, and community leader, while also shedding light on the complex and often tragic history of the Potawatomi people in the region. It examines how historical misinterpretations impacted the recording of Indigenous history.

Source 1: “A Complete Historical Profile of John Wood, the Early Woodvale Settlement, and Later Deep River County Park.pdf”

Main Themes:

• John Wood’s Significance: The document establishes John Wood as a highly important historical figure in Lake County and the settlement of Indiana’s last frontier. He was a “craftsman of multiple trades, a pioneer, settler, early industrialist, businessman, social activist, and was deeply involved in local politics.”
• Early Life and Development: Wood was raised in a community with a rich revolutionary history. He was apprenticed as a tanner at a young age. Wood was commissioned as an officer in the Massachusetts militia between 1826 and 1828, and was described as a model citizen of the new democratic republic. He married Hannah and had several children in Massachusetts before moving to Indiana. Hannah was described as “the sweetest woman, always doing good turns for people, a real peace maker and to her is due credit for no saloons being allowed in the village while her family was growing up.”
• Settlement of Woodvale: In the 1830s, John Wood claimed land in Lake County, Indiana, at the confluence of Deep River and the old Sauk Trail. He built a cabin, then brought his family. He purchased the land from Potawatomi Chief Quash-mau, who had been promised the land in an 1832 treaty; “as a mill site, according to law or usage [the site] was not properly subject to an Indian float. But the float had been laid by a senator; and the location was very much wanted by the claimant, and so he [John Wood] purchased the land from the Indian Quashma.” The legality of settler’s land claims at the time was questionable as the land was technically government owned and occupied by the Potawatomi. Many early settlers formed the Lake County Squatters’ Union, but it’s unclear if Wood was a member due to his specific legal exemptions.
• Industrial Development: Wood built a sawmill (1837) and gristmill (1838) on the property, making his mill the first industrial site in the region. The gristmill became a “bustling place of frontier trade and business,” powered by a horizontal tub-wheel. The mills used large granite stones to grind grain. At peak performance, the mills could grind 12 bushels an hour.
• Community Growth: A settlement named Wood’s Mill, later Woodvale, grew around the mill and eventually became Deep River. John Wood created a two-acre commons, planted with elm trees near his mill. The community had several businesses, including a general store, a doctor’s office, a blacksmith shop, and a cheese factory. A school was built and later moved, and a church was built in 1904 (now the Deep River Gift Shop).
• Social and Political Engagement: John Wood purposefully kept saloons out of the community and was dedicated to the temperance movement by not platting the settlement. John Wood was deeply involved in local politics including being appointed by the Indiana Legislature to a commission to plan the first county road, a township trustee, and he served on the first Grand Jury in Lake County. He was a “Master-FreeMason” and supported the Free Soil movement.
• Later Years and Legacy: John Wood passed ownership of the mill to his sons in 1860. His son, Nathan, built a modern brick mill in 1876 that still stands today. John Wood is described as holding “Enlightenment ideals of freedom, expression, association; the ability to exercise constitutional rights as laid out in law; he believed in representative democracy, and opposed the oppression of those basic freedoms through undemocratic tyranny.” The mill and surrounding property eventually became Deep River County Park.
• Family Legacy: The Woods maintained ownership of the mill for several generations. B.H. Wood ran it until the late 1930s.
• Preservation: The park was dedicated as a historical landmark in 1976. The park includes Wood’s Mill, Nathan Wood’s house and the gift shop which was formerly the church. It was re-opened in 1977 as Deep River County Park. The park is an important reminder to the citizens of Lake County of the county’s long and vibrant history.

Key Ideas/Facts:

• John Wood was a multi-faceted figure, deeply involved in the development of Lake County, embodying the values of the early American Republic.
• Wood’s mill was the first major industrial enterprise in the region and contributed to the area’s prosperity.
• Woodvale was an early example of a temperance community.
• The park was dedicated to preserving the family’s and the area’s history.

Quotes:

• “John Wood was a craftsman of multiple trades, a pioneer, settler, early industrialist, businessman, social activist, and was deeply involved in local politics.”
• “…as a mill site, according to law or usage [the site] was not properly subject to an Indian float. But the float had been laid by a senator; and the location was very much wanted by the claimant, and so he [John Wood] purchased the land from the Indian Quashma.”
• “the mill was the only grist-mill in the area of Lake and Porter counties, the operation of the mill should be viewed as the first industry in Lake (and Porter).”

Source 2: “https://walnutgrovehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Morgan_Skinner_Boyd_Homestead_Lake_CO_Nom.pdf”

Main Themes:

• The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd Homestead: This document provides a National Register of Historic Places registration form for the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd Homestead, located in Merrillville, Indiana.
• Architectural Significance: The homestead is significant for its Late Victorian/Italianate architecture, built around 1877 by the Morgan family. The structure includes a two-story brick house with a cupola, multiple porches, and later additions. The report notes that the home incorporates “several contemporary technical innovations such as inside running water, fresh air ventilation, and heating with stoves instead of open fires into its construction.”
• Historical Context: The site sits on the old Sauk Trail, near where a Potawatomi village once existed. The Potawatomi were forced off the land by treaties. The original land was inhabited by various squatter settlers before the Saxton family bought the property, and sold it to the Morgans. It later passed to the Boyds and then the Skinners.
• Construction: The document describes the house in great detail, including the stone/limestone foundation, brick walls, asphalt roof, wood trim, interior details, and multiple additions made to the house. The document notes the “craftsmanship in brick masonry and carpentry.”
• Health and Design: The house design incorporated new trends in healthy living such as fresh air circulation and ventilation. This was important during a time when ill health was attributed to foul air.
• Economic Standing: The house is a reflection of the economic success of the Morgans, specifically of their success in the lumber business.
• Italianate Style: The home is a prime example of the Italianate Style in Lake County, particularly because of its decorative attributes such as entablatures, heavy scroll brackets, narrow double hung windows, pilasters and the cupola.

Key Ideas/Facts:

• The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house represents a specific style and time period in Lake County’s history.
• The site sits on an area of significant Native American history and was settled by pioneers in the region.
• The house is built in the Italianate style and shows several contemporary innovations in building at the time, including a focus on ventilation.

Quotes:

• “The Morgan/Boyd/Skinner house, called Walnut Grove by the present owner, meets National Register criterion C. It is an outstanding example of a Late Victorian Italianate rural residential architecture and the only remaining Italianate house in Lake County, Indiana, that included a cupola in its construction.”
• “This circa 1877 brick house has no peers in Ross Township and very few in Lake County, Indiana.”
• “The home incorporates several contemporary technical innovations, such as inside running water, fresh air ventilation and heating with stoves instead of open fires into its construction.”

Source 3: “https://walnutgrovehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Mystery-of-Me-Gwuns-Village-and-the-Tragedy-of-the-Last-of-the-Potawatomi-in-Lake-County-Indiana-1.pdf”

Main Themes:

• Me-Gwun’s Village: This document focuses on the history of a Potawatomi village at present-day Merrillville, Indiana, traditionally referred to as “McGwinn’s Village,” and provides evidence that the correct name of the chief and village was actually “Me-Gwun.” The paper is an attempt to rectify the historical record with a more accurate accounting of local indigenous history.
• Potawatomi History: The document provides a brief background of the Potawatomi people and their presence in Indiana and the Calumet region. The document states that the Potawatomi moved further south into Indiana and Illinois and became one of the most populous nations of the Old Northwest. It also states that after the War of 1812 the Potawatomi were increasingly forced off their land through dubious treaties and the threat of military force. The Potawatomi were a part of the resistance against white encroachment led by Tecumseh, Tenskatawa, Main Poc and Turkey Foot.
• Treaties and Forced Removal: The paper details the unjust treaties that ceded Potawatomi lands in Northern Indiana and the forced removal of many Potawatomi people. It highlights the story of Chief Menominee who refused to sign the treaties and was forcibly removed from his land, in what has been described as “the Potawatomi Trail of Death.”
• Misinterpretation of History: The paper outlines how the first histories of Lake County, namely T.H. Ball’s Lake County Indiana 1834-1872, misread the name of the chief, which became accepted as fact in following histories. The document states “Every historian unknowingly carried on this mistake because they did not check their original sources.”
• Settler encroachment: The paper outlines how early settlers began squatting on Potawatomi lands, using the land before it was legally opened for sale. Many joined the Lake County Squatter’s Union, including some of the most prominent settlers in the area. The paper highlights the desecration of the Potawatomi burial grounds at Me-Gwun’s village by a squatter-settler, Jeremiah Wiggins, who began farming over the site.
• Me-Gwun’s Life and Village: The document pieced together the details of the village, noting it was “just off the great Sauk Trail.” The paper states the Potawatomi built “lodges or wigwams, made of poles driven into the ground, tops converging into a circle shape, and “wound by a species of matting made of flags or rushes.” Men wore calico shirts, leggings, moccasins, and a blanket, while women wore broadcloth skirts and blankets. The village was described as having a large dance floor, as well as a burial ground “In the center of this was a pole, perhaps twenty feet in height, surmounted constantly by a white flag. Here the Indian dead of this neighborhood were decently buried, according to the custom.”
• Potawatomi “Floats”: The paper provides a detailed listing of Potawatomi “floats” (small reservations) awarded to specific chiefs around Lake County in the treaties.
• Importance of Remembering: The paper notes “Hopefully the community, its historians, and historical societies will help to rectify the record and correctly remember the Potawatomi people, and other Indigenous peoples, who once hunted, grew crops, lived in, and were buried in the Calumet Region and Lake County, Indiana.”

Key Ideas/Facts:

• The Potawatomi people were long-standing inhabitants of the Calumet region.
• The misinterpretation of the name of chief Me-Gwun has led to a misrepresentation of the history of Lake County and the Potawatomi in many historical accounts.
• The Potawatomi villages, ceremonial grounds, and burial sites were disrespected by early settlers.
• The Potawatomi had a complex system for burying their dead, with some placed on scaffolds or in trees.
• The 1832 treaty resulted in several “floats” or land reserved for Potawatomi chiefs throughout the area.

Quotes:

• “Important trails passed through this marshy, sandy land just as today railroads go in all directions. There was once an important Indian village at what is now Merrillville.”
• “I have not sold my lands. I will not sell them. I have not signed any treaty, and will not sign any. I am not going to leave my lands…”
• “Every historian unknowingly carried on this mistake because they did not check their original sources.”
• “Not many yards distant [from the dance-floor], the situation well chosen and beautiful, was the village burying ground. In the center of this was a pole, perhaps twenty feet in height, surmounted constantly by a white flag. Here the Indian dead of this neighborhood were decently buried, according to the custom.”

Cross-Source Analysis:

• Converging Narratives: All three sources highlight the significance of the area where present day Deep River County Park and Merrillville are situated, with the two areas being linked to the old Sauk Trail, and their connection with both Potawatomi settlement and early white settlement. The sources show how the areas’ histories are inextricably linked.
• John Wood vs. Potawatomi: The John Wood profile contrasts with the history of the Potawatomi. While John Wood is celebrated as a founder and industrialist, the Potawatomi experienced forced displacement and the desecration of their sacred spaces.
• Misrepresentation: The Me-Gwun article highlights a significant error in recorded local history that occurred due to a misreading of a treaty.

Conclusion:

These sources provide a more nuanced understanding of Lake County’s early history. They establish John Wood as a significant figure while acknowledging his actions occurred within a context of displacement of the Potawatomi people. It underscores the need for careful historical research and a respectful accounting of the past that includes the often marginalized voices of indigenous peoples. They also illustrate how early historical accounts often fall short of adequately telling the whole story of an area. These sources emphasize the importance of preserving the complex history of Lake County, and striving to remember, honor, and respect all the people who lived in and shaped the region.

Timeline of Events

• Early Life (Pre-1826):
• John Wood is “reared in a community rich in revolutionary history and learning” and is well-developed in science, art, literature, etc.
• His father, Moses Wood dies when John is young.
• He is placed in the care of family friends by his mother.
• He becomes an apprentice tanner as a young boy.
• 1826-1828:
• John Wood is commissioned as a Cornet and later promoted to Lieutenant in the Massachusetts Militia.
• During this time he practices his trade, buys a farm, raises a family, and serves the state.
• 1820s – 1830s:
• The Potawatomi tribe is prominent in the Calumet region in northern Indiana.
• Me-Gwun is the chief of a large Potawatomi village in what is now Merrillville, IN.
• The Potawatomi engage in the fur trade, farming, hunting, and fishing.
• The Potawatomi practice burial traditions that include platforms, trees, and burial grounds, they also use white flags to mark the area.
• The Potawatomi are party to multiple treaties with the U.S. Government that cede land in northern Indiana.
• Some Potawatomi are given “floats” or reservations of land in the treaties.
• John Wood was not involved in the treaties, but later purchased land with a float upon it.
• 1832:
• The Potawatomi sign multiple treaties in October that cede land in northwestern Indiana, including areas where John Wood would settle later. These treaties are confusing, with some Potawatomi allowed to remain on land, others given time tables to leave, and others with no specific answers given.
• Some Potawatomi chiefs oppose the treaties and continue to live in the area.
• 1832-1835
• The Blackhawk rebellion against white encroachment.
• 1835:
• Land in Porter County, IN, is legally sold.
• 1835:
• A Potawatomi burial site near Me-Gwun’s village is disturbed by settlers, one of whom was Jeremiah Wiggins.
• 1836:
• John Wood lays claim to land along the Deep River in Lake County, Indiana (the site of the future Deep River County Park) after surveying.
• Land in Lake County is not yet legally available to purchase, and early settlers are technically squatters on government owned land still occupied by Potawatomi peoples.
• John Wood discovers the land he claimed has been designated a float for Potawatomi Chief Quash-mau.
• John Wood purchases his claimed land from Quash-mau to legally establish his claim.
• John Wood returns to Massachusetts to gather his family, pack up his old life, and then moves to Lake County with his wife and children.
• The Lake County Squatter’s Union is formed on July 4th with 476 signatures to help protect early settlers’ claims from speculators. It is unclear if John Wood is a member.
• John Wood and family settle initially on the east side of the Deep River.
• 1837:
• John Wood builds a saw-mill to clear the land for further construction.
• 1838:
• Jeremiah Wiggins dies during an unknown epidemic, possible cholera.
• John Wood builds the first grist-mill on the property, powered by a horizontal tub-wheel. This is the first grist mill in Lake and Porter Counties, and first industrial site in the region.
• John and his family move to the west side of the river.
• Late 1830s/Early 1840s:
• Many Potawatomi are forced from their lands due to treaties.
• Many villages continue on though some are abandoned by the mid-1830s.
• A forced removal occurs in Indiana, the Potawatomi are marched to Kansas.
• Some Potawatomi linger in the area until as late as the 1860s.
• Me-Gwun’s village is taken over by settlers including Jeremiah Wiggins and the Saxton family.
• 1839:
• Land in Lake County is legally sold.
• The legal standing of the first settlers becomes questionable due to the illegal nature of settling on Potawatomi lands.
• 1840s:
• John Wood’s mill and settlement are prosperous.
• The mill becomes well known and is located on the dividing line between Lake and Porter counties and directly on the old Sauk trail.
• The settlement around Wood’s mill becomes known as Wood’s Mill, later Woodvale and then much later Deep River.
• John Wood develops a two acre common area with planted elm trees near his mill.
• John Wood establishes a settlement that includes a blacksmith shop, a shoemaker’s shop, a wagon and carriage shop, a cheese and butter factory run by George Wood, and a school house.
• John Wood dedicates land on the east side of Deep River for the first settler’s cemetery in Lake County, Woodvale Cemetery.
• John is active in local politics.
• He purchases land in Liverpool when it was briefly named the county seat.
• 1860:
• John Wood turns ownership and operation of the mill over to his sons George and Nathan.
• George Wood later sells his share to Nathan, to focus on the cheese and butter operation.
• The population of Woodvale/Deep River reached about 50 people.
• 1872
• Nathan Wood builds a new home across the street from the mill.
• 1873:
• Hannah Wood, John Wood’s wife, dies.
• 1876:
• Nathan Wood builds a new, improved, red-brick, 3-story mill that stands today.
• 1877:
• The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house was built on the site of the former Potawatomi village Me-Gwun’s village.
• 1879:
• Eli Boyd purchases the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house and adds a side addition.
• 1898-1979:
• The Morgan/Boyd/Skinner home is owned by descendants of the family.
• 1904:
• A church is built in Woodvale on land donated by Nathan Wood.
• 1912:
• The old Sauk trail is named Lincoln Highway.
• 1924:
• The McMahan-Wood Company separates, and B.H. Wood forms the B.H. Wood & Son Company.
• Lee Boyd inherits the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house.
• Lee Boyd marries Olind Skinner.
• 1920s – 1930s:
• The B.H. Wood & Son Company operates the mill site and grows as a trusted grain company.
• 1939:
• The State Highway Department purchases the mill and some surrounding acreage, but plans for a parkway are not pursued.
• The mill is said to still be producing milled grains run by the state.
• 1976:
• The mill property is approved and dedicated as a historic landmark on October 10th.
• 1977:
• John Wood’s settlement and mill is formally re-opened to the public as a county park and national historic site called Deep River County Park in May of 1977.
• 2009:
• The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd homestead is nominated for the National Register of Historic Places.
• 2020s:
• The parks department owns Wood’s Mill, Nathan Wood’s historic brick home, and the former church/gift shop at the Deep River County Park.

Cast of Characters

• John Wood:
• Early settler, craftsman, industrialist, businessman, social activist, and politician.
• Founded the Woodvale settlement (now Deep River County Park) in Lake County, Indiana.
• Master tanner, militia Lieutenant, miller, anti-slavery Free-Soil party member, Master-FreeMason, business entrepreneur, temperance advocate.
• Built the first grist-mill in the area, and founded a successful milling operation.
• A deeply principled man who believed in democracy, freedom, equality, and self-governance.
• He died on December 18th, 1882.
• Moses Wood:
• Father of John Wood, revolutionary minuteman.
• Hannah Wood:
• Wife of John Wood.
• A “sweet woman” and peace maker.
• Unitarian.
• She kept saloons out of the settlement.
• She died September 27th, 1873.
• Nathan Wood:
• Son of John and Hannah Wood.
• Took over the mill operation with his brother George.
• Built the red-brick mill that stands today.
• Built a large brick home that still stands to this day, and was called one of the finest houses in the county at the time.
• Donated the land for the local church.
• George Wood:
• Son of John and Hannah Wood.
• Ran a cheese and butter factory in the settlement.
• Sold his share of the mill to Nathan.
• Augustus Wood, Abbie M. Wood, John W. Wood (died at birth), Oliver S. Wood, and Mary Wood:
• Children of John and Hannah Wood.
• Dr. Vincent:
• Son-in-law of John and Hannah Wood.
• An early physician of the county.
• Had his doctor’s office in the Woodvale settlement.
• B. H. Wood:
• Son of either Nathan or George Wood.
• Worked in the milling business with the McMahan-Wood Company and later with his own company B.H. Wood and Son.
• He was an expert on milling.
• Olive Wood:
• Descendant of John Wood.
• She lived at the mill when the state bought it in 1939.
• Quash-mau (Quash-ma, Quash-maw, Quash-man):
• Potawatomi chief who had a land float in the area where John Wood wanted to build his mill.
• Sold his land claim to John Wood to enable his settlement and mill business operations.
• Me-Gwun:
• Potawatomi chief who led the village at what is now Merrillville.
• His name was misremembered as McGwinn in early histories.
• Signed Potawatomi treaties.
• Menominee:
• Potawatomi chief who opposed white settlement in the region.
• He did not agree to treaties that ceded Potawatomi land.
• He was forced off of his land at gunpoint and marched to Kansas.
• John Tipton:
• Indiana Senator who laid the land float for Quash-mau.
• David Wallace:
• The then Governor of Indiana who gave orders to Senator John Tipton.
• Jeremiah Wiggins:
• Early squatter in the area of Me-Gwun’s village.
• Disturbed the burial grounds of the Potawatomi near what became his land claim.
• Died in 1838.
• The Saxton Family:
• Early settlers who lived near Jeremiah Wiggins’ claim.
• Bought the land where Wiggins lived after his death, and ran a mill on the property.
• Sold their property to the Morgan family in 1877.
• Sarah (and Gilbert) Morgan:
• Built the original two-story portion of the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house in 1877.
• Settled in West Chester Township in Porter County.
• They had a son in 1860 in the Coffey Creek post office.
• Gilbert listed himself as a “Lumberman” in the 1860 census.
• Gilbert helped to establish the Methodist Episcopal Church in Chesterton.
• He moved to Chicago as a “Lumber Merchant” in 1869.
• Eli and Levi Boyd:
• Brothers who bought the house and land from the Morgan family, and then sold to the railroad company for their right of way.
• They also sold part of the land to the person who would build the side addition to the house.
• Alex Boyd:
• Son of Eli Boyd.
• He inherited the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house.
• He died with no children.
• Lee (Flora) Boyd/Skinner:
• Wife of Alex Boyd.
• Inherited the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd property when Alex Boyd died, and then remarried Olind Skinner.
• Olind Skinner:
• Married Lee (Flora) Boyd and inherited the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd property.
• Solon Robinson:
• Founder of Crown Point, Indiana, and a leader in the settlement of Lake County.
• Organized the Lake County Squatter’s Union.
• William Ross:
• Namesake of Ross Township.
• The Fowlers, The Dinwiddies, The Pierces, The Earles:
• Other notable early settlers in the Lake County region.
• The Merrill Brothers:
• The namesakes of the town of Merrillville.
• Winamac:
• Two Potawatomi chiefs with the same name, one was an ally to America, and the other was hostile to U.S. forces.
• Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh:
• Shawnee leaders who inspired other Indigenous tribes to fight against U.S. encroachment.
• Mary V. Wood:
• Daughter of John Wood.
• Early settler of the region, who wrote a testimonial about local settlements.
• John S. Billings and John R. Niese:
• Architects involved in implementing ideas of fresh air and ventilation in homes.

1. Who was John Wood and why is he significant to Lake County, Indiana?

John Wood was a multifaceted individual who played a pivotal role in the settlement and development of Lake County. He was a craftsman of various trades, a pioneer, an early industrialist, a businessman, and a social activist who was deeply involved in local politics. He established the first grist mill in the region which was the first major industry in the area. His settlement and mill operation played an essential role in the growth of the region and he helped lay the foundation for what became one of Indiana’s most populous and business-oriented counties. He is also remembered as a prominent early settler and citizen who embodied ideals of freedom and democracy, and for the legacy he left, with the park, school, and many more sites named after him.

2. What was the significance of the Sauk Trail in relation to John Wood’s mill and the area’s early settlement?

The Sauk Trail was an important route of travel and trade, and John Wood deliberately situated his mill at its intersection with the Deep River, which also provided water power for the mill. The mill’s location on this trail made it accessible to a larger number of people and facilitated trade and commerce, making it a prosperous and well-known site. It was a crucial element in the mill’s success, as it allowed for a steady stream of customers from across the region.

3. What was the “Squatter’s Union” and what was its connection to John Wood and early settlement in Lake County?

The Squatter’s Union was an organization formed by early settlers in Lake County to protect their land claims, especially since much of the land they settled on was still government-owned and not yet legally available for purchase. Before formal land sales, people were living on land that was still the territory of the Potawatomi. Though it is not certain if John Wood was a member, he likely would have considered joining due to his own need to secure his claim which was almost taken from him while he was away. He did legally purchase his land through a treaty agreement, but the Union offered additional “insurance” for his claim and business, as many settlers experienced confusion and difficulties. It also seemed that he was in-line with many of their principles, and it was an organization of like-minded people in the county.

4. What was the relationship between John Wood’s settlement and the local Potawatomi people?

John Wood’s settlement was initially established in an area where the Potawatomi people had established villages, trails, and sacred grounds. While some Potawatomi were allowed to remain after treaties, others faced forced removal. The mill site itself was originally claimed by a Potawatomi Chief, Quash-mau, who John Wood ended up purchasing the land from in order to keep his mill claim, because a mill-site claim lawfully superseded that of a float. Despite the displacement of the Potawatomi, interactions continued between the two groups, and John Wood’s daughter, Mary, remembered trading with and seeing the Potawatomi peoples. John also amassed a small collection of Potawatomi artifacts over the years. The Potawatomi were crucial to the region’s history, and even their villages were built along the Sauk Trail, just as Wood built his settlement along the Trail as well.

5. What is the significance of the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd House, and what architectural style is it?

The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd House, also known as Walnut Grove, is a significant example of Late Victorian Italianate architecture in Lake County, Indiana. It is a two-story brick house with a cupola, built in the late 1870s. It showcases several notable architectural features, including segmentally arched windows, detailed woodwork, a three-tiered front porch, and many unique features that reflect the tastes and ideas of the late 19th century. The building is also important because it was originally built in the 1870s near the Sauk Trail at what was the former site of a Potawatomi village, Me-Gwun’s Village.

6. What is the real name of “McGwinn’s Village”, and who was the chief of that village?

The Potawatomi village, once erroneously called “McGwinn’s Village” by early settlers and historians, was actually led by Chief Me-Gwun. He was a prominent figure in the region and was recognized in several treaties with the U.S. government, though early historians misread and misremembered his name. The village is located at present-day Merrillville, Indiana.

7. What was the fate of Me-Gwun’s Village and the Potawatomi in that area?

Me-Gwun’s Village, like other Potawatomi settlements in the region, faced displacement as a result of treaties and the encroachment of white settlers. While some Potawatomi families lingered, most were eventually forced out of their lands by the 1840s. Settlers also destroyed and desecrated sacred burial grounds and other sites in and around the village. The land was then purchased and sold by white families, and Me-Gwun’s village was built over, never to be the same, though still existing in its old location of present-day Merrillville.

8. What efforts have been made to preserve and remember the history of the Potawatomi in Lake County?

While their history is often overlooked, some work has been done to remember the Potawatomi presence in Lake County. Through re-examination of original treaties and documents, secondary sources, primary settler testimonials, and archaeological finds, we are able to better understand the locations of village sites, burial grounds, and trails. Further historical work has helped correct the name of the village at Merrillville, and there are community efforts being made to acknowledge and honor their heritage in the region. There are also several public historical sites and parks that attempt to remember some of the history, but more work needs to be done.

Local History of Lake County, Indiana: A Study Guide

Quiz

1. What were John Wood’s primary trades before settling in Lake County, and how did these skills influence his later endeavors? John Wood was a master tanner and a militia cavalry soldier. These trades taught him craftsmanship, attention to detail, organization and the importance of service, skills he would utilize to establish and manage his mill and community.
2. Describe the nature of the legal and land ownership situation for settlers in Lake County before 1839, and what measures, if any, were taken to address this complicated land situation? Before 1839, settlers in Lake County were technically squatting on government land, as the Potawatomi still had land rights. Many settlers formed the Lake County Squatter’s Union to protect their claims when the land would become available for purchase, seeking to prevent land speculators from taking the cleared and developed land they labored on.
3. Explain the circumstances surrounding John Wood’s acquisition of his land in Lake County, including the role of Chief Quash-mau. John Wood originally claimed his land but learned that Chief Quash-mau had a float on it due to a treaty. Wood then purchased the land from Quash-mau which gave him legal ownership, as a mill claim would have superseded the float.
4. What made the location of John Wood’s mill uniquely ideal, and how did this contribute to its prosperity? Wood’s mill was ideally situated on the dividing line between Lake and Porter counties, directly on the Sauk Trail, and was powered by the Deep River. This location made it accessible to numerous travelers and farmers, along with the consistent water supply.
5. Besides the gristmill, what other businesses and facilities were part of the Woodvale settlement, and what did this diversity reflect? Besides the gristmill, Woodvale included a saw-mill, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a shoemaker’s shop, a wagon and carriage shop, and a cheese and butter factory. This diversity reflected a self-sufficient and thriving community.
6. Briefly describe the design and operation of John Wood’s gristmill, including key components and the milling process. The gristmill was powered by a horizontal tub-wheel connected to a sluiceway that drew water from a mill pond. The mill utilized two four foot granite millstones with etched grooves that grinded grains into flour.
7. Describe John Wood’s involvement in local politics and his personal stance on major social issues of his time. John Wood was a township trustee, served on various county commissions and committees, and was on the first grand jury in Lake County. He was an anti-slavery advocate, a pro-Union Free-Soil Party member, a supporter of temperance and also a Lincoln Republican.
8. Who was Me-Gwun, and why is it important to re-evaluate his role in the history of Lake County? Me-Gwun was the Potawatomi chief who led the village at present-day Merrillville, misidentified as “McGwinn” in early histories. It’s important to re-evaluate his role to correct historical inaccuracies and properly acknowledge the Indigenous presence in Lake County.
9. What were some of the burial practices of the Potawatomi people in the Merrillville area, and what happened to these sites after settlement? The Potawatomi of the area buried their dead with ceremonial items, sometimes on platforms or in trees. These burial sites were later desecrated by early settlers and some were plowed through by settlers like Jeremiah Wiggins.
10. Describe the features of the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house and how it demonstrates a typical Late Victorian Italianate style? The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house has several architectural features of the late Victorian Italianate style, such as a cupola, narrow double hung windows with full or segmental arched lintels, ornate brackets under the eaves, and a prominent two-tier front porch.

Answer Key

1. John Wood was a master tanner and a militia cavalry soldier. These trades taught him craftsmanship, attention to detail, organization and the importance of service, skills he would utilize to establish and manage his mill and community.
2. Before 1839, settlers in Lake County were technically squatting on government land, as the Potawatomi still had land rights. Many settlers formed the Lake County Squatter’s Union to protect their claims when the land would become available for purchase, seeking to prevent land speculators from taking the cleared and developed land they labored on.
3. John Wood originally claimed his land but learned that Chief Quash-mau had a float on it due to a treaty. Wood then purchased the land from Quash-mau which gave him legal ownership, as a mill claim would have superseded the float.
4. Wood’s mill was ideally situated on the dividing line between Lake and Porter counties, directly on the Sauk Trail, and was powered by the Deep River. This location made it accessible to numerous travelers and farmers, along with the consistent water supply.
5. Besides the gristmill, Woodvale included a saw-mill, a general store, a blacksmith shop, a shoemaker’s shop, a wagon and carriage shop, and a cheese and butter factory. This diversity reflected a self-sufficient and thriving community.
6. The gristmill was powered by a horizontal tub-wheel connected to a sluiceway that drew water from a mill pond. The mill utilized two four foot granite millstones with etched grooves that grinded grains into flour.
7. John Wood was a township trustee, served on various county commissions and committees, and was on the first grand jury in Lake County. He was an anti-slavery advocate, a pro-Union Free-Soil Party member, a supporter of temperance and also a Lincoln Republican.
8. Me-Gwun was the Potawatomi chief who led the village at present-day Merrillville, misidentified as “McGwinn” in early histories. It’s important to re-evaluate his role to correct historical inaccuracies and properly acknowledge the Indigenous presence in Lake County.
9. The Potawatomi of the area buried their dead with ceremonial items, sometimes on platforms or in trees. These burial sites were later desecrated by early settlers and some were plowed through by settlers like Jeremiah Wiggins.
10. The Morgan/Skinner/Boyd house has several architectural features of the late Victorian Italianate style, such as a cupola, narrow double hung windows with full or segmental arched lintels, ornate brackets under the eaves, and a prominent two-tier front porch.

Essay Questions

1. Analyze John Wood’s life and career as a reflection of the broader social, economic, and political developments of the early to mid-19th century American frontier, specifically in the context of Lake County, Indiana.
2. Compare and contrast the experiences of European settlers, such as John Wood, and the Potawatomi people in Lake County during the early to mid-19th century, focusing on issues of land ownership, cultural conflict, and social change.
3. Evaluate the impact of early industrial development, using John Wood’s mill as a case study, on the social and economic landscape of Lake County, and assess the long-term consequences of this development.
4. Discuss the importance of preserving local historical sites like Deep River County Park and the Morgan/Skinner/Boyd House, and explain how these places help to better understand the past and its relevance to the present.
5. Examine the ways in which historical narratives, like the misidentification of Chief Me-Gwun, can obscure the true experiences of underrepresented groups, and argue why it’s important to revisit and revise these narratives.

Glossary of Key Terms

Calumet Region: A geographic area in Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois, known for its unique ecology, history, and industrial development. Cornet: An officer of the lowest rank in a cavalry regiment. Deep River: A river in Lake County, Indiana, that provided the water source for Wood’s Mill. Also the current name of John Wood’s settlement. Float: A land reservation or property grant given to individual Potawatomi chiefs in treaties with the U.S. government. Free-Soil Party: An American political party that opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories during the mid-1800’s. Gristmill: A mill that grinds grains into flour. Horizontal Tub-Wheel: A type of water wheel with horizontal blades which spins in a tub-like mechanism, as opposed to a traditional overshot or undershot vertical wheel. Italianate Architecture: An architectural style popular in the mid-19th century America characterized by low-pitched roofs, wide eaves, and ornate trim, especially with arched or segmented windows and doors. Lake County Squatter’s Union: An organization formed by early settlers in Lake County to protect their land claims before the land was officially available for purchase. Lieutenant: A military officer ranking below a captain. Me-Gwun: A Potawatomi chief who led the village at present-day Merrillville, previously misidentified in early county histories as “McGwinn.” Militia: A military force composed of citizen soldiers, as opposed to a standing army. Potawatomi: An Indigenous nation originally from the Great Lakes Region, who lived throughout Lake County before forced removal. Sauk Trail: An important Indigenous trail used by various groups, that ran through Lake County that was also a trade route for early fur traders and settlers. Sluice Gate: A gate that regulates the flow of water in a canal, channel, or mill stream. Sluiceway: A channel or passage for water to flow through, often used to direct water to a mill wheel. Squatters: Individuals who settle on land without legal title or right of ownership. Tanner: A craftsman who prepares animal hides for leather by curing and tanning processes. Temperance Movement: A social movement advocating for moderation or abstinence from alcohol consumption. Unitarian: A religious movement that emphasizes freedom of belief, reason, and individual conscience, as opposed to traditional creeds and doctrines. Woodvale: The original name of the settlement founded by John Wood, now known as Deep River.