AUGUST 13, 1841

MIAMI CHIEF PECHEWA (JEAN BAPTISTE DE RICHARDVILLE) DIED

Born in 1761 in Kekionga (Fort Wayne), son of Tacumwah, Chief Little Turtle’s sister, Jean’s name meant “Wildcat.” Raised partly with his father in Quebec, he spoke fluent Miami, French, and English. Born to leadership through his mother, he became tribal leader upon Little Turtle’s death. In the 1790 Harmar Campaign, he fought against the U.S. Richardson helped negotiate the treaties of Greenville (1795), Fort Wayne (1803 & 1809), St. Mary’s (1818) and Mississinewas (1826)–the last 2 were forced land cessions due to the tribe’s neutrality in the War of 1812. From St. Mary’s Treaty, he gained land at the Forks of the Wabash where, in 1831, he moved the tribal headquarters and built a trading post. Jean learned the fur trade from Tacumwah & operated a portage on the Maumee River. Through later treaties, he moved his tribe across the Mississippi River while he & his son obtained additional land. There remains debate as to his motivations in these negotiations. Richardson died in Fort Wayne–the richest man in Indiana.

Sources:

“Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville,” Huntington County Honors.  Retrieved 10/12/2023, Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville (huntingtoncountyhonors.org)

Wikipedia

Drawing:  Author and date unknown, pre-1923, likely 19th century. Likely Public Domain, alternatively Fair Use.