There are many publications for sale through the Museum. Click here for a list.

Father Petit - Trail of Death

New book: The Last Blackrobe of Indiana and the Potawatomi Trail of Death

On a moonlit night, with the owl hooting, we heard the hoofbeats of a horse as he came galloping down the hill. He splashed through the creek, carrying Father Benjamin Petit, hastening on to comfort his people. Across Indiana he rode to catch up with the Mission Band of Potawatomi who were being forcibly removed to Kansas. At gunpoint they had marched down Rochester’s Main Street and through Logansport and Lafayette.

This is a historical novel, with real people speaking as the author imagined them to speak. Chief Menominee, Abram Nanweshmah Burnett, Mas-saw and other Potawatomi discuss the treaties and how they feel about being bribed with whiskey to sign them. Benjamin Petit argues with his mother and his brother Paul about his decision to leave France to join Bishop Brute in the wild American frontier in Indiana. Governor Wallace and John Tipton exchange details of the plan to round up the Indians. William Polke and others converse about the problems they encounter on the emigration now called the Trail of Death. Day by day Polke must deal with the logistics of getting food for nearly 900 people, including Indians and wagon drivers and militia, and food for over 300 horses and oxen. Father Petit must perform mass and burial ceremonies and help the Indians face the deaths and daily hardships of the long trail.

Many have read the Trail of Death letters of Father Petit and the diary kept by Polke’s secretary Jesse C. Douglas. But no one has written a book like this before. The author, John McMullen, is a high school teacher at Evansville and a professor at Ivy Tech Community College. He has written other historical novels and he is a terrific writer. He writes poetically and with fervor. He describes the people and conditions so that the reader feels he is actually there. He really did his research. Fellow historians will not find anything wrong. Maybe that is because he allowed Shirley Willard - Fulton County historian, and Susan Campbell - a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, to proofread the book last summer. So any errors they found were corrected. Poetic license is taken but they are such that could have happened. For instance, there is no record of Father Petit coming back to Twin Lakes and arguing with General Tipton and Indiana Governor David Wallace. But if it had happened, this would have been the way it would have sounded. The spirit is there.

Petit’s thoughts are very religious so part of this book reflects on religion and right and wrong, how the government betrayed the Indians and condoned slavery. Discussions on merits of liberal Catholicism vs. conservative, whether to allow the Mass to be said in Potawatomi or insist on Latin, and things non-Catholics seldom hear of. Most historians know that during the French Revolution, priests were beheaded, but few realize that the priests who came to establish missions in Indiana had lived through that period of history.

Rochester and Chippeway, Fulton County’s first white village, are mentioned several times in the book, also the Manitou Monster. It documents the 61 day trek from Indiana through Illinois, Missouri and into Kansas. It is a fascinating read, and parts of it will bring tears to your eyes.

The book has a soft cover with a color picture of Father Petit, an eagle, an arrowhead, a rosary and a quill pen. It has 423 pages plus vii pages introduction. An epilogue was written by Susan Campbell to tell what happened after the Trail of Death. McMullen, a Catholic, added a glossary of Catholic terms, an appendix with thumbnail sketches of several characters in the book, notes and bibliography. Shirley Willard wrote Appendix C, how the Trail of Death is being commemorated today. The book sells for $17 plus $6 shipping and handling. It is for sale at the Fulton County Historical Society, 37 E 375 N, Rochester IN 46975. To save shipping, get a copy at the museum gift shop, which is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fulton County Images

A quality magazine of over 100 pages and dozens of photos, focusing on Fulton County life and history. Issue no. 6 will be about Wayne Township and Grass Creek schools, churches, memories and history. It will be published in 2005.

Past issues of Fulton County Images are for sale for $15 each, plus $3 shipping.

FCI No. 1, 1991: Leedy - Paxton Round Barn restored - now Museum, Elmo Lincoln/Tarzan’s Daughter Visits Indiana, Aubbeenaubbee Township School History, Mt. Hope School, Delong School, Recollecting Life at Leiters Ford, list of Leiters Ford School Teachers, Rochester Water Works, Fulton County Photos 1910-1919.

FCI No. 2, 1993: Living History Village called Loyal beside Fulton County Museum, 1852 Oregon Trail diary, Curtis Family & Meat Market, Raders Receive Homestead Award, Rochester Filling Stations, Mastodon bones found in Fulton County, Rochester Normal University & list of graduates, Aubbeenaubbee Township School History – part 2, Fulton County Photos 1910-1919, Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan.

FCI No. 3, 1995: William Polke – his family & house, I Barely Knew Magoo – Jack Mattice, Kewanna 1904, Memories of a Kewanna childhood, Kewanna Characters & High Jinks – part 2, Wildermuths come to Indiana, Where is Loyal Indiana, New Accessions at Fulton County Museum, Trail of Death memorials, Fulton County Photos 1890-1920.

FCI No. 4, 1998: Woodrow School & one room schools of neighborhood: Sawmill, Ebenezer, Union, Green Oak, School 16, Mt. Zion, Sprinkleburg, Mudsock. John E. Troutman – poet of Lake Manitou, William Polke’s writings, Polke Hill Farm, New Accessions at Museum, Smith – Nicholson Historic House, 1904 Double Murder & Suicide, 1872 Map of Fulton County, Two Round Barns Saved: Haimbaugh and Huffman, Living History Village gets more buildings.

FCI No. 5, 2000: 1998 Trail of Death Commemorative Caravan from Indiana to Kansas, Additions to Loyal - Living History Village, Athens Cider Mill & Swartz family history, Tippecanoe River Monster Killed in 1872, 1886-1887 Diary of Annie Perschbacher of Tiosa, Ruth Kelley Rockey’s Memories, More about Woodrow School, Harry Martin – Auto Racing Pioneer Killed in 1913, A Century of Fulton County in Photos 1900-1999, New Accessions at Fulton County Museum, Schools of Richland Township: Bidwell, County Line, Cross Roads, Dead Man’s College, Mt. Nebo, Red Brush, Sand Hill, South Germany/Germany, Tiosa, Whippoorwill, Richland Towship Stores & Lodges, Grandview & Richland Center Churches, Richland Center High School Memories, A Tribute to Paul Rockwell – Richland Center Coach.

How do you take advantage of this bargain and become a member? Simply send $20 for individuals or $30 for families (2 adults & children under 18) to:

and don't miss out on these . . .

Potawatomi Trail of Death Association Newsletter

News of Woodland Indians in Indiana, Miami, and Potawatomi descendants of Trail of Death, Citizen Potawatomi Nation , and Trail of Death Regional Historic Trail. Dues are $20 for individuals and $30 for organizations per year.

Fulton County Folk Finder

Published by the Genealogy Section of FCHS. Queries, family group sheets, research tips, workshop news, county records, Civil War records, etc. Published twice a year. Dues $10 a year.

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