Alexander Robinson (chief) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Robinson
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| Born |
Che-che-pin-quay
c. 1789 |
| Died | April 22, 1872 Leyden Township, Cook County, Illinois
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| Nationality | Odawa, American, Potawatomi |
| Occupation | fur trader, farmer |
| Known for | Rescued victims of the Fort Dearborn Massacre; translator during Treaty of St. Louis (1816); Potawatomi chieftain during the Second Treaty of Prairie du Chien (1829), Blackhawk War and Treaty of Chicago (1833) |
Alexander Robinson (1789 – April 22, 1872) was an important leader. He was also known as Che-che-pin-quay, which means The Squinter. He was born on Mackinac Island to an Odawa mother. His father was a fur trader from Scotland and Ireland.
Robinson became a fur trader himself. He was special because he could speak many languages. He knew Odawa, Potawatomi, Ojibwa, English, and French. This skill helped him a lot in his life. He helped people during a difficult time called the Fort Dearborn Massacre in 1812. Later, he became a Potawatomi chief. He worked with the United States government to make important agreements, called treaties, for Native American tribes. Even though many Native Americans moved west, Robinson chose to return to the Chicago area. He lived there as a respected citizen until he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Alexander Robinson was born around 1789 on Mackinac Island. This island is at the northern edge of Lake Michigan. His mother was Odawa, and his father was a fur trader. When he was very young, his mother died. He was then raised by Daniel Robinson and his wife Charlotte Ferly. Daniel Robinson was a British soldier and the island's Governor.
As a young man, Alexander learned the fur trade. He worked for a fur trader named Joseph Bailly in Michigan. He learned how to trade furs and keep records. Interestingly, he never learned to read or write in European languages. Instead, he made up his own way to keep track of his business.
Robinson married twice. His first wife was a Menominee woman named Okemawabon. They had children together. Later, in 1826, he married Catherine Chevalier in Chicago. Catherine was the granddaughter of a Potawatomi warrior. Her family lived near Lake Calumet in Illinois. Alexander and Catherine had several children.
Career and Contributions
By the age of 11, Alexander Robinson was already working. He helped Joseph Bailly with his fur trading business. He traveled along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. This included trips to what would become Chicago.
By 1809, Robinson was buying grain for Bailly in the Chicago area. By 1812, he had built his own house. It was located near the Chicago River. This area was a small settlement.
Helping During the Fort Dearborn Massacre
In 1812, a terrible event happened near Chicago. It was called the Fort Dearborn Massacre. After the battle, Robinson played a brave role. He, along with other Native American leaders like Black Partridge, Waubonsie, and Shabbona, protected American families.
Robinson helped the Kinzie family escape danger. He took them by canoe to a safer place in Indiana. He also took a wounded U.S. Captain, Nathan Heald, and his wife to a British fort. This was a very risky journey. It took them over two weeks to reach Mackinac Island. Robinson's actions saved many lives during this difficult time.
After the fort was destroyed, Robinson and another trader, Antoine Ouilmette, farmed the land. They sold their crops to the U.S. Army when the fort was rebuilt in 1816. Robinson continued to work as a fur trader for many years. He worked for companies like the American Fur Company.
Signing Important Treaties
Because Robinson could speak many languages, he became a translator. In 1816, he helped translate during the Treaty of St. Louis. This treaty changed the boundaries between lands for white settlers and Native American lands. It was the first time the Potawatomi sold land near their villages.
By 1829, Robinson and his friend Billy Caldwell were elected as Potawatomi chiefs. They were both of mixed Native American and European heritage. As chiefs, they represented the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes. They negotiated treaties with the United States.
One important treaty was the Second Treaty of Prairie du Chien. Around this time, the U.S. government wanted to move Native American tribes. This was called Indian removal. For his work on the 1829 treaty, Robinson received money each year and a large piece of land. This land was known as the Robinson Reserve.
In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, Robinson helped keep his people safe. He made sure the young warriors stayed away from the conflict. This prevented them from getting involved in the fighting.
Robinson and Caldwell also negotiated the 1833 Treaty of Chicago. This treaty was very important. It meant that many Native American lands east of the Mississippi River would be exchanged for lands to the west. This led to the final removal of many tribes from the region. However, Robinson and some other mixed-heritage people were allowed to stay on their private lands.
Later Life and Legacy
Around 1840, Alexander Robinson returned to the Chicago area. He lived on his land, the Robinson Reserve. This area is now near Schiller Park. He built a house there in 1845. He became a respected farmer.
Robinson continued to welcome visiting Native Americans to his land. He lived a long life. His son, David Robinson, fought in the American Civil War and sadly died. Alexander Robinson himself lived until 1872. He was known for telling stories, including meeting Abraham Lincoln.
Alexander Robinson died on his land on April 22, 1872. He was buried in his family graveyard. Part of the Robinson Reserve, including the burial ground, was later acquired by the Cook County Forest Preserve District. This helped preserve the area.
In 1940, a mural called "Indians Cede the Land" was painted. It might show a younger Alexander Robinson at one of the treaty negotiations. This mural is now in the Park Ridge Public Library. Robinson's life shows how important he was in the history of Chicago and Native American relations.
Images for kids
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Retrospective map showing how Chicago may have appeared in 1812 (right is north).
