This is excellent, John. Crazy amount of research must have gone into this.
Since I grew up in the Midwest, most of my Indiana History skipped straight past the Revolutionary War, so a lot of our role in the country's early days was mostly claiming to have been The Boyhood Home of Lincoln. Alas, I'm sorta lost on everything that happened before the War of 1812.
It's also rather sad that a lot of this stuff isn't taught these days; a quick survey of my kids tells me that most all of what they picked up about the suburbs we've lived in — or the city of Chicago — was not taught in history class.
Thanks, Dave. It was easier to research than to actually write.
My kids came up through the Chatham school district (including the Lafayette School), and do not recall being taught anything that I wrote about in this essay.
Somewhat Indiana-adjacent, I read The Frontiersmen by Allen Eckert earlier this year. Great book that goes deep on semi-forgotten but important people like Simon Kenton and the Shawnee Chief Tecumsah.
This is excellent, John. Crazy amount of research must have gone into this.
Since I grew up in the Midwest, most of my Indiana History skipped straight past the Revolutionary War, so a lot of our role in the country's early days was mostly claiming to have been The Boyhood Home of Lincoln. Alas, I'm sorta lost on everything that happened before the War of 1812.
It's also rather sad that a lot of this stuff isn't taught these days; a quick survey of my kids tells me that most all of what they picked up about the suburbs we've lived in — or the city of Chicago — was not taught in history class.
Again, a stellar article. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Dave. It was easier to research than to actually write.
My kids came up through the Chatham school district (including the Lafayette School), and do not recall being taught anything that I wrote about in this essay.
Somewhat Indiana-adjacent, I read The Frontiersmen by Allen Eckert earlier this year. Great book that goes deep on semi-forgotten but important people like Simon Kenton and the Shawnee Chief Tecumsah.
Wow! This was so good! 😊
Maybe when you retire, you should work for a newspaper doing research & writing about it!
❤️🥰❤️