Commissioner

When you come across a database that is actually an index to other records, do you try and locate those original records? As I’m creating research notes for Hiram M. Currey of Peoria County, Illinois, I’m finding a need to do just that.

At some time in the past, I used the record, “Index to Early Illinois Records. The only other information I wrote down about the source was “Z125-0054”, which I think may have been the microfilm number used by the now defunct American Genealogical Lending Library. If so, then this source may source, “Name Index to Early Illinois Record” on FamilySearch.

One set of notes that I recorded from this source indicated that Hiram M. Curry was a commissioner on the conduct of the Pottawatomie. This information was found in the 1832-1833 Senate Journal. Thus, I started trying to find this Senate Journal. Once I figured out that this was the Eighth General Assembly for the State of Illinois, I was able to find the journal on Google Books,

In that journal there is a Commissioner’s Report that begins on page 89, concludes on page 92 and is signed by the four commissioners, including Hiram M. Curry. Thus, I was able to locate the original document referenced in the index!

Journal of the Senate
of the Eighth General Assembly of the
State of Illinois
at their first session, begun and held in the town
of Vandalia
December 3, 1832
Vandalia: Printed by Greiner & Sherman, 1833

Available on Google Books

page 89-92

COMMISSIONER’s REPORT.
VANDALIA DEC, 13TH, 1832.

page 89
To the Governor of the State of Illinois

Sm-The undersigned appointed by your Excellency, and by Brigadier General Atkinson of the United States Army,- and instructed to repair to the frontier of the state, to enquire into the alleged depredations of the Pottawata­mie Indians, upon the persons and· property, of the citizens of that section, and to take certain measures in the event, that sufficient cause should appear, for the alarm of the in• habitants-
Beg leave to report the following statement of their proceedings, under their appointment.
Pursuant to the instructions of your Excellency. and of Brigadier General Atkinson, the undersigned repaired to the settlements on and in the vicinity of Bureau Creek, in Putnam county, the theatre, as was reported, of the Indian outrages. They immediately instituted inquiries among the inhabitants, the results of which, verified by certificates, letters and affidavits of respectable· persons, were, that the Pottawatamies had come down from their own lands upon the ceded lands in the possession of the whites, with the alleged purpose of hunting for the winter support of themselves and families. A large body, composed of about two hundred and fifty, including men, women and children, formed this party, They were in expectation of an additional force of one hundred, or thereabouts, of warriors and hunters.
This purpose of hunting, the undersigned are compelled to state, if originally entertained as the sole object of the expedition, seems to have yielded to more unfriendly and mischievous notions.
The Indians have taken two horses from the white inhabitants; have shot another; they have killed the hogs of

Page 90
the inhabitants; have wantonly destroyed the hay, house and other property of the· people, by firing the prairies, regardless of consequences, and in contempt of the frequent solicitations of the owners of property, necessarily exposed, to desist.
A highly valuable bridge, across the inlet of the Winnebago Swamp, has been burnt, under circumstances tending strongly to implicate the Indians in a deliberate and incendiary act of mischief and destruction. Menacing attitudes, and threat repeatedly assumed and made by the Indians, have excited the fears of the citizens, and the undersigned deem, upon an acquaintance with, and close observation of the Indian character, these fears well grounded.
It is the opinion of reflecting men whom we consulted, and in whose opinion we entirely concur, that unless suitable measures be taken to drive the Indians to their own country, or to awe them into peaceable behavior, some seriously hostile steps. towards the whites, in the course of the present winter, may be foreboded. Already, indeed, they, the Indians, have attempted to surround, in a body, to the number of thirty or forty, some travelers, and actually, it is feared, fired with too much an intention to kill, two guns upon them.
Although not literally instructed to hold any intercourse with the Indians themselves, for any other purpose than to notify them of the necessity of their prompt withdrawal to their own country, the undersigned deem it within the scope of their duties, to demand an explanation from the chiefs, of the offensive conduct of their people. They accordingly caused an assemblage of some of the principal chiefs and warriors of the Pottawatamies for the double purpose of hearing their excuses or justification, and warning them of the evil consequences of their longer remaining in the country of the whites. In the “talk” which was had upon that occasion, the Indians denied the committal of the aggressions laid to their charge, and justified their inroad into the country by a permit, they said they had received from their agent at Chicago. The charges made against them, the undersigned deemed sufficiently proven, to justify the entire belief in their truth, this denial not ­withstanding; and we accordingly advised them to fall back upon their own country, answering them that no offi-

page 91

cer had authority to grant them any .such permission as they justified under. That they really had any written permit the undersigned had the assurance of the Indians, corroborated by the statements of some of the whites, who alleged they had seen the written permit of the agent. — ­The documents themselves were not produced to us.
On the part of the general government, the undersigned H. M. Curry, acting under the direction of General Atkinson, gave the Indians to understand that they must evacuate the country in eight days, or incur the displeasure of the United States. In this notification the remainder of the undersigned concurred: and all. now unite in the wish that it may have the effect to prevent the effusion of blood. Such was the state of alarm along the frontier, and in so daring a height had the insolence of the Indians arisen; that the undersigned believed, resort would have, ere this, been had to arms, had not the measures taken by yourself and Gen. Atkinson been adopted. The militia of the different parts of the country was in a state of readiness, and only awaited the orders of their respective · commanders to proceed against the Indians.
lt had become unsafe in the opinion of some of the inhabitants, for females to be without the protection of their· husbands, fathers or brothers; and loaded guns were considered essential to the security of sleeping families.
ln the course of the talk held with the Indians they expressed unequivocally their willingness to exchange “their territory and move across the river Mississippi; and if it be not entirely unappropriate in this Report, the undersigned would express their sincere wish that the government of the ­United States should as speedily as circumstances would permit, conclude this exchange, and effect the removal of these troublesome neighbors of our frontier citizens.
Nothing short of their removal will secure the tranquility and forward the improvement of that part of the state.
The undersigned were desired officially to communicate to you the grateful feelings entertained by the citizens o Putnam county, for the prompt interposition of your authority, from which, in conjunction with the similar exercise of his power on the part of General Atkinson, they anticipate some future peace and security.

page 92
The undersigned found it necessary to procure the services of John C. Owings, who understood the Pottawatomie language, as interpreter.. They have given him a certificate of his services, which occupied ten days.
Accompanying this Report, are submitted numerous
letters, certificates and affidavits, together with a report of
the talk held by us with the Indians to which we refer your Excellency for the details of our operations, and for the evidence we have been able to collect, touching the facts adverted to in this Report.

(Signed)
SAMUEL WHITESIDES,
HIRAM M. CURRY,
WM. MOORE,
THOS: REYNOLDS,
Commissioners

Journal of the Senate of teh Eighth General Assembly of the State of Illinois: at their first session, begun and held in the town of Vandalia December 3, 1832 (Vandalia, Illinois: Greiner & Sherman, 1833), p. 89-92; digital image, Google Books, google.com/books viewed online 13 September 2022.

Not only did I locate the transcription, but I found the images!