The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-08

maps. Nicollet gives its early name as
Wasabe Wakandige, which is derived
from the Indian, possibly the Kansas
or Kaw tribe who occupied this locality
up to century and a quarter ago.
Lewis and Clark, the Louisiana Pur-
chase explorers, landed on this island
on July 2, 1904, and repaired their mast
which had become broken three days
before by running against a tree over
hanging the river. In their journal they
refer to it as "a large island called
by the Indians Wau-car-da-war-ca card
da, or the Bear Medicine Island,'' but
why it was so named they do not state.
That night these intrepid explorers
camped on the east or north side of
the river, Just above the island, or
somewhere in the vicinity of the pres
ent site of Weston. Opposite our
camp" they record in their journal, "is
a valley. in which was situated an old
village of the Kansas, between two high
points of land, on the bank of the river.
About a mile in the rear of the village
was a small fort, built by the French,
on an elevation. There are now no
traces of the village, but the situation
of the fort may be recognized by some
remains of chimneys, and the general
outline of the fertilization, as well as
by the fine. spring which supplied it
with water. The party who were sta
toned here were probably cut off by
the Indians. as there are no accounts of
them"
Salt Creek Valley.
The valley above alluded to was un-
doubtedly that of Salt Creek, which lies
above Kickapoo Island. The writer of
this, who has carefully examined that
locality. will reverse the statement of
Lewis and Clark, and say that all
traces of the fort have now disappear
ed, but that he has found at the mouth
of Salt Creek, much evidence of an old
Indian town, which remains were over
looked by Lewis and Clark. The writer
believes the ruins of the old French fort
were obliterated by cultivation at an
early day, as that locality has been
under continuous cultivation ever since
the days of the Kfckapoo Indians, or for
more than three-quarters of a century
Major Stephen H. Long stopped in the
vicinity of Kickapoo Island while on his
exploring expedition in 1919. and says
that the old village and fort, or rather
the location of them, was pointed out
to him few miles below Isle au Vache
or Cow Island. which would place it at
about Salt Creek.
The Kickapoo Indians. from whom
I this island gets its present name. set
tied at what is now, the site of Kicka-
poo, opposite or little above the
island. in 1882, and remained there
until 1854. A Missouri pioneer. who
settled near Weston in 1889, once told
! the writer that he had frequently seen
these Indians cross over to the island
not only in canoes, but by swimming
the channel of the river, and that they
killed many wild turkeys and other
game in the thickets on the island.
Part of Platte.
Kickapoo island originally belonged
to the Platte Purchase, but at a later
date by sudden change in the river
/ it was declared by court decision to
have become part of Kansas. and it
/ has never reverted to the parent SOIL
IT, earliest recorded settlement of
this island that the writer has been
able to find, was during the early
SOS. Judge William NJ. Paxton, in
his annals of Platte County" does
not mention any early settlements
thereon.
Wesley Jones, who lives near cum
: mings. +. 1sas. says that he visited
Kickapoo island. in 1858 while wait
ing for the opening of Kansas terri
tory, and that the only residents he
found there at that time Were men