Waubonsie (c. 1760 – c. 1848) was a leader of the PotawatomiNative American people. His name has been spelled in a variety of ways, including Wabaunsee, Wah-bahn-se, Waubonsee, Waabaanizii in the contemporary Ojibwe language, and Wabanzi in the contemporary Potawatomi language (meaning "He Causes Paleness" in both languages).
The documentary record of Waubonsie's life is sparse. His birth name, parentage, and place of birth are unknown.[1] The year of his birth has been estimated from 1756 to 1765.[1] His brother Mucadapuckee ("Black Partridge") was also a chief.[1] According to tradition, Waubonsie acquired his name (which means "Break of Day" (waaban-izhi)[1] or "He Causes Paleness" (waabaanizii)[2]) after sneaking into a place where some enemy Osages were located, killing and scalping one or more of them, and escaping at daybreak.[1][3]
During Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812, Waubonsie supported Tecumseh and the British against American expansion. In September 1811, Waubonsie led an attack on one of William Henry Harrison's supply boats as it ascended the Wabash River in Indiana. Waubonsie jumped on the boat, killed the lone American on board, and leapt off before the Americans on the far shore could respond.[2] Waubonsie, Shabonna, and Winamac led Potawatomi warriors against Harrison's troops at the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811.[4]
Waubonsie opposed the attack on Fort Dearborn in 1812, and protected the family of John Kinzie during the massacre that followed.[1] After the war, he signed treaties with the United States, and thereafter worked to avoid confrontation with the Americans. With other Potawatomi leaders, in 1827 he refused to join the Winnebago War against the Americans.[5]
When the Black Hawk War erupted in 1832, Waubonsie and other Potawatomi leaders worked to keep their people out of the conflict, but found it difficult to do so.[6] Many white settlers, recalling the Fort Dearborn massacre, distrusted the Potawatomis and assumed that they would join Sauk leader Black Hawk's uprising.[7] Potawatomi leaders worried that the tribe as a whole would be punished if any Potawatomis supported Black Hawk. Waubonsie and Potawatomi chief Shabbona told Black Hawk that they would not come to his aid.[8] Hoping to demonstrate their good intentions to the Americans, the Potawatomis offered military assistance, fielding a force under Billy Caldwell and Waubonsie. They were less than enthusiastic allies, but managed to demonstrate support for the Americans while avoiding battle.[9]
After the war, Waubonsie visited Washington D.C. on two occasions, and met once with President Andrew Jackson.[1] He signed treaties that sold Potawatomi land in Indiana and Illinois to the United States, and moved westward to Iowa. The U.S. government built Waubonsie a house near Tabor, Iowa, where he died in 1848 or 1849.[1]
Additional sources indicate Chief Waubonsie died as a result of injuries he sustained in a stage coach accident in Ohio, December 1845, upon a return trip from Washington, D.C., [10] another states he died in Booneville, Missouri, as a result of his injuries in early 1846. [11]
USS Waubansee (YTM-366), a United States Navy harbor tug placed in service in 1944 and stricken in 1983, was also named for him.
References
^ abcdefghDavid Holmgren (2009). "Waubonsie". The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa. University of Iowa Press Digital Editions. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
^ abR. David Edmunds, The Potawatomis: Keepers of the Fire (University of Oklahoma Press, 1978, ISBN0-8061-1478-9), 176.
^The narrative in the Ojibwe language, the word waabanose translated as the English phrase "escaping at daybreak" or "walks away at daybreak" is a near homophone both to waaban-izhi ("Break of Day") and to waabaanizii ("He Causes Paleness").
^Elliott, Richard (1883). Notes Taken in Sixty Years. St. Louis, MO: R. P. Studley & Co. p. 212.
^Hurbult, Henry (1881). Chicago Antiquities. Chicago: Printed For The Author. p. 444.
External links
Kansas State Historical Society Quarterly
Treaty with the Potawatomi text
"Chief Waubonsie". Potawatomi Indian Chief. Find a Grave. Oct 23, 2003. Retrieved Aug 18, 2011.
January 28, 2023
waubonsie, several, terms, redirect, here, other, uses, wabaunsee, disambiguation, 1760, 1848, leader, potawatomi, native, american, people, name, been, spelled, variety, ways, including, wabaunsee, bahn, waubonsee, waabaanizii, contemporary, ojibwe, language,. Several terms redirect here For other uses see Wabaunsee disambiguation Waubonsie c 1760 c 1848 was a leader of the Potawatomi Native American people His name has been spelled in a variety of ways including Wabaunsee Wah bahn se Waubonsee Waabaanizii in the contemporary Ojibwe language and Wabanzi in the contemporary Potawatomi language meaning He Causes Paleness in both languages Waubonsie Contents 1 Biography 2 Toponyms and Memorials 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditThe documentary record of Waubonsie s life is sparse His birth name parentage and place of birth are unknown 1 The year of his birth has been estimated from 1756 to 1765 1 His brother Mucadapuckee Black Partridge was also a chief 1 According to tradition Waubonsie acquired his name which means Break of Day waaban izhi 1 or He Causes Paleness waabaanizii 2 after sneaking into a place where some enemy Osages were located killing and scalping one or more of them and escaping at daybreak 1 3 During Tecumseh s War and the War of 1812 Waubonsie supported Tecumseh and the British against American expansion In September 1811 Waubonsie led an attack on one of William Henry Harrison s supply boats as it ascended the Wabash River in Indiana Waubonsie jumped on the boat killed the lone American on board and leapt off before the Americans on the far shore could respond 2 Waubonsie Shabonna and Winamac led Potawatomi warriors against Harrison s troops at the Battle of Tippecanoe on November 7 1811 4 Waubonsie opposed the attack on Fort Dearborn in 1812 and protected the family of John Kinzie during the massacre that followed 1 After the war he signed treaties with the United States and thereafter worked to avoid confrontation with the Americans With other Potawatomi leaders in 1827 he refused to join the Winnebago War against the Americans 5 When the Black Hawk War erupted in 1832 Waubonsie and other Potawatomi leaders worked to keep their people out of the conflict but found it difficult to do so 6 Many white settlers recalling the Fort Dearborn massacre distrusted the Potawatomis and assumed that they would join Sauk leader Black Hawk s uprising 7 Potawatomi leaders worried that the tribe as a whole would be punished if any Potawatomis supported Black Hawk Waubonsie and Potawatomi chief Shabbona told Black Hawk that they would not come to his aid 8 Hoping to demonstrate their good intentions to the Americans the Potawatomis offered military assistance fielding a force under Billy Caldwell and Waubonsie They were less than enthusiastic allies but managed to demonstrate support for the Americans while avoiding battle 9 After the war Waubonsie visited Washington D C on two occasions and met once with President Andrew Jackson 1 He signed treaties that sold Potawatomi land in Indiana and Illinois to the United States and moved westward to Iowa The U S government built Waubonsie a house near Tabor Iowa where he died in 1848 or 1849 1 Additional sources indicate Chief Waubonsie died as a result of injuries he sustained in a stage coach accident in Ohio December 1845 upon a return trip from Washington D C 10 another states he died in Booneville Missouri as a result of his injuries in early 1846 11 Toponyms and Memorials EditWaubonsie State Park Iowa Wabaunsee County Kansas Wabaunsee Township Kansas Wabaunsee Creek Kansas Lake Wabaunsee Kansas Waubonsie Valley High School Aurora Illinois Waubonsee Community College Sugar Grove Illinois Wabansia Ave Chicago Illinois Waubonsee Trail Batavia IllinoisUSS Waubansee YTM 366 a United States Navy harbor tug placed in service in 1944 and stricken in 1983 was also named for him References Edit a b c d e f g h David Holmgren 2009 Waubonsie The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa University of Iowa Press Digital Editions Retrieved March 27 2011 a b R David Edmunds The Potawatomis Keepers of the Fire University of Oklahoma Press 1978 ISBN 0 8061 1478 9 176 The narrative in the Ojibwe language the word waabanose translated as the English phrase escaping at daybreak or walks away at daybreak is a near homophone both to waaban izhi Break of Day and to waabaanizii He Causes Paleness Edmunds 176 77 Edmunds 231 John W Hall Uncommon Defense Indian Allies in the Black Hawk War Harvard University Press 2009 ISBN 0 674 03518 6 125 Hall 122 Patrick J Jung The Black Hawk War of 1832 University of Oklahoma Press 2008 ISBN 0 8061 3994 3 86 87 Hall 165 67 Elliott Richard 1883 Notes Taken in Sixty Years St Louis MO R P Studley amp Co p 212 Hurbult Henry 1881 Chicago Antiquities Chicago Printed For The Author p 444 External links EditKansas State Historical Society Quarterly Treaty with the Potawatomi text Chief Waubonsie Potawatomi Indian Chief Find a Grave Oct 23 2003 Retrieved Aug 18 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Waubonsie amp oldid 1002434236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
