THE TALES OF NOMAQUE

                                 THE   TALES  OF   NOMAQUE

                                          NORMAN  V.  KELLY

 

What I am about to tell you was recorded in Peoria local records and newspapers way back in 1825, ten years before Peoria became a ‘Town.’  It was ten years after that that we became a City.  I have thanked, through my historical stories a lot of our early Settlers and Pioneer folks, mostly men, for the development of one of the greatest little cities in the history of America. Thanks to Mark Johnson of the Historical Society I decided to bring you the multiple stories of a local Indian that got a lot of attention during the year of 1825, and 1832 as well. However in 1832 it was strictly a local story.

 

Here is the first version:  I want you who think they are historians to understand this and that is just because it was written way back in our early history it “Aint Necessarily So,” to quote Johnny Mercer. In my short article in News & Views, November issue I am to blame for the date printed in that article entitled “Diary of our River City.”  Nomaque’s trial was held here in Peoria, Illinois on November 26, 1825.  That error was mine because the date of the jury trial of Nomaque for murder was November 26, 1825, not 1845. I will not repeat that story and would hope that you read the original or can get the November’s issue by calling Deb at Limelight 309 681-4418.

 

The other versions of Nomaque were printed as follows; that Nomaque murdered a Frenchman named Pierre Landre and was arrested and tried.  Also that William Hamilton, the man that surveyed some acreage here in Peoria defended Nomaque at the request of Judge John York Sawyer.  In fact Hamilton was said to have been held in contempt at least two times during that trial.  Eventually Nomaque was found guilty and was sentenced to die by hanging.  Now we just had a handful of buildings in our little ‘trading post area,’ so the question of where to hold this convicted man was discussed.  Finally a citizen named John agreed to hold him in a small shed on his property. Nomaque’s friends came in the middle of the night and began to tear a hole in the shed.  John, the owner came out and began to attack the Indians with what we would today call a two-by-four, severely injuring three of them.  In the melee Nomaque managed to escape off into the vastness of the Prairie.

 

Another version of that same story was that many of the local folks felt that killing a Frenchman was not all that serious and decided that since they had no place to really house Nomaque, feeding him, looking after him they decided to punish him in a rather unique way.   A large group lined up and forced Nomaque to ‘Run the gauntlet’ and then they each and every one of them proceeded to kick him in the seat of his pants as he moved along.  That my friend is also in our Recorded History.  Nomaque was then free to go on about his business.

 

Perhaps most of you have heard about the Black Hawk War that was waged when Black Hawk decided to break a few treaties and made his way across the Mississippi River into Illinois.  Actually Black Hawk was a Sauk leader and he gathered together a small band of braves, estimated at about 500 that were called ‘The British Band,’ plus a pretty large group of older men, women and some children.  The first skirmish was May 14, 1832.  The Illinois Militia and regular troops finally caught up with them in what was called the “Battle of Wisconsin” on July 14, 1832 ending the threat.  Captain Abraham Lincoln was seen walking down one of Peoria’s Streets to the river to rent a canoe to complete his trip home. Seems someone stole his horse and possessions.  Now Nomaque, according to recorded history in our local newspapers played a part here. As the story goes he had run off after his trial and eventually joined up with Black Hawk. When the Peoria Militia men were on their way home they ran across a severely wounded Nomaque. These men, being the humanitarians that they were shot him dead to put him out of his misery.  Now which of the stories do want to believe? As a Historian I pick the one in the November issue of News & Views, date corrected of course.

Editor’s Note:  Norm is a Peoria Historian and author of twelve books, many of them available in the Peoria Public Library.        noramn.kelly@sbcglobal.net