Chief Shabbona aka Shabonne

Shabbona is not listed on the 1907 Wooster Roll since he was deceased by that time. However, he is an important Potawatomi chief since he signed several formal treaties (1825, 1829 and 1833). For instance, Article III of the 1829 Treaty of Prairie du Chien reserved 1,280 acres of lands for Chief Shab-eh-nay and his Band (http://www.pbpindiantribe.com/shab-eh-ney-reservation.aspx). The 1833 Treaty of Chicago did not cede the Shab-eh-nay Reservation to the United States but provided for Shabbona's community to remain on a designated tract of land in Illinois, a commitment which was unilaterally overturned by American officials in 1836.

Shabbona signed his name in different ways on different documents. Allan W. Eckert, author of the authoritative 1992 book "A Sorrow in Our Heart - The Life of Tecumseh", in a page 890 foornote acknowledges more than 13 spellings but lists 13 of the more commonly found spellings including the spellings used on specific documents. Several alternate spellings indicate a French-speaking influence: Shawbonee, Shabonee, Chaboner, Shabehnay, Shabehneh, Shabenai, Chamblee, Chaboney, Shobonier, Cowabeenai, Shabbone, Chamblie and Chambly.) Elsewhere W. A. Allen has also found: Shawbena, Zhaabne, Zhabné and Chaubenee so at least 17 spelling variants of the name are known.

- 1825 Prairie du Chien Treaty: signed as "Chaboner" - 1829 2nd Prairie du Chien Treaty: signed as "Shabehnay" - 1833 Treaty of Chicago: signed as "Shabehnay" and "Shabenai"

According to Eckert (1992, page 373) Shabonna was born on the Maumee River. He was Odawa by birth, by some accounts possibly born in either Upper Canada, Ohio or Illinois, but more likely on the Kankakee River, now in Will or Kankakee County, Illinois. He was the son of Opawana, an Odawa warrior who had fought with Pontiac during Pontiac's War and was said to be a grandnephew of Pontiac but a clearly documented genealogical link has yet to be uncovered. Shabbona himself became a lieutenant under Shawnee chieftain Tecumseh and, during the War of 1812 along with fellow Potawatomis Mad Sturgeon and Billy Caldwell accompanied Tecumseh and the British into Upper Canada where he participated in the Battle of the Thames where Tecumseh was killed (Eckert 1992:812-813). Earlier, when Gov. Harrison marched north to Prophetstown on the Tippecanoe in November 1811, Shabbona was there with Waubansee and Winamac to lead the Potawatomi warriors against the Americans. Shabbona's loyalty shifted after the War of 1812 and he became a promoter of acceptance of the wave of westward moving white settlement. Chief Shabbona may best be known for meeting Sauk Chief Black Hawk and averting most Potawatomi involvement in the 1832 Black Hawk War. Thereafter Sabbona was known as a conciliatory figure promoting co-operation between white and Indigenous populations. However, somehow the 1833 Treaty of Chicago lumped him with others who were removed to areas west of the Mississippi River along the so-called Trail of Death. September 1836 saw the removal of the Potawatomi from northern Illinois. Shabbona and his community were forced to join the 1836 trek westward as part of the US policy of "Indian Removal". The trek west was plagued by rain. At Quincy, Illinois, Shabbona and Waubonsie's party joined with the main group moving west and they traveled together to join Billy Caldwell's people in the Platte country of Nebraska. The Band subsequently engaged in efforts to reacquire their Illinois land after Chief Shabbona and the Band were wrongfully dispossessed of it in 1849. Until his death in 1859, Chief Shabonna and Band members continued to return to their treaty reserved reservation homeland in Illinois. Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Shab-eh-nay Reservation continues in modern times to recount that history. See http://www.pbpindiantribe.com/shab-eh-ney-reservation.aspx .

An 1884 publication mentioning "Shabbonee" is found at https://books.google.ca/books?id=JclMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq... . At page 135 this book, "Souvenir and Settlement and Progress of Will County, Illinois" provides a summary of "Shabbonee's" key activities: Born as an Ottawa, married Pokanoka - a daughter of Pottawatomie Chief Spotka at mouth of Fox River, declared chief, moved tribe to head of Big Indian Creek (DeKalb County), 1807 visited Tecumseh , 1810 visited by Tecumseh, 1811 at Council of Vincennes presided over by General Harrison, 1812 left with 22 warriors to aid Tecumseh, 1812 at Battle of Thames, Canada, (along with Billy Caldwell or Sanganash)

See additional information where Shabonee is listed among other Potawatomi leaders at https://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/pottawatomie-indian-chiefs-a... .