Indian Creek (Fox River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lee County north of Paw Paw, Illinois 41°42′12″N 88°58′26″W / 41.7033632°N 88.9739768°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Fox River north of Wedron, Illinois 499 ft (152 m) 41°26′24″N 88°45′46″W / 41.4400321°N 88.7628529°W |
| Length | 52 mi (84 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Indian Creek → Fox → Illinois → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 421866 |
Indian Creek, also known as Big Indian Creek, is a creek in Illinois. It flows for about 51.5-mile-long (82.9 km). This creek is a branch of the Fox River. You can find it in Lee, LaSalle, and DeKalb counties.
Where Indian Creek Flows
Indian Creek starts its journey north of Paw Paw, Illinois. It begins near a place called Shabbona Grove. The creek then winds its way through parts of Lee, LaSalle, and DeKalb counties. Finally, it joins the Fox River near Wedron.
This creek is an important part of the Lower Fox River watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common river. Indian Creek flows close to several towns. These include Paw Paw, Shabbona, Rollo, Earlville, Harding, Serena, and Baker.
History of Indian Creek
In 1830, a man named William Davis and his family settled along Indian Creek. He built a sawmill there in 1831. A sawmill uses water power to cut wood.
On May 21, 1832, a group of Potawatomi and three Sauk people attacked the Davis settlement. This event is known as the Indian Creek massacre. During the attack, some settlers lost their lives. Two young girls were taken, but they were later set free after a payment was made.
The attack likely happened because of something William Davis did. Davis had built a dam across Indian Creek to power his sawmill. The creek was a very important source of food for a nearby Potawatomi village. The dam stopped fish from swimming upstream, making it harder for the Potawatomi to fish near their village.
A young Potawatomi man named Keewasee was especially upset about the dam. He asked Davis to remove it. When Davis did not, Keewasee tried to take the dam apart himself. Davis caught him and hurt him, which made Keewasee even angrier.
Most people believe that only the Potawatomi and three Sauk attackers were involved. This event happened shortly after the Black Hawk War began. However, there is no proof that Black Hawk himself approved the attack. Many historians see the violence at Indian Creek as an act of personal revenge, not a main part of the war.
Indian Creek also helped new settlements grow. It provided clean drinking water to early communities near Ross, Coon, and Paw Paw Groves.
Today, you can visit a monument for the Indian Creek Massacre. It stands at Shabbona County Park. This park is located southeast of Earlville, between Earlville and Harding. There is also a lake and State Recreation Area named after Chief Shabbona in the community of Shabbona.
Indian Creek's Branches
A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. Paw Paw Creek is a short tributary of Indian Creek. It flows southeast near Paw Paw, Illinois, before joining Indian Creek.
