Historical Images of Porter County

Trapper's Shanty on Indian Island
Kankakee River, Porter County, Indiana

Date: 1920
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: J. Lorenzo Werich
Postmark: Not Applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark:  An island of about thirty-five to forty acres in area located in marshland about three-tenths of a mile north of the Kankakee River. The land upon which the island is situated was purchased by Aaron Brody, Senior, in 1854. The Indian Island Saw Mill Company purchased the island from the Brody family around 1866. The Bissell-Cornell Steamboat Canal was excavated between Indian Island and the Kankakee River in 1868 to facilitate transport of lumber to distant markets. Werich writes that hunter-trapper Mike Haskins was camping on Indian Island during the years of 1821-1823. Haskins was reportedly a guard in General William Henry Harrison’s army at Tippecanoe and, after detecting the approach of Indians, fired the Battle of Tippecanoe’s first shot.

Image Source:
Werich, J. Lorenzo. 1920. Pioneer Hunters of the Kankakee. Logansport, Indiana: Chronicle Printing Company. 197 p. [see p. 131]

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook