Hononegah High School - Mack Yearbook (Rockton, IL)

Page 7 text:

BOARD OF EDUCATION Kay M0c'lll'l'j7, Presidvnf, '24. 0. E. Phelps, Secretary, '23 NV. VV. Liddle, '24, F. F. Mooro, '25, E. B. Manley, '23 No.... ........... . PROPEIZTY UF Hglmneggm COlfl'1ITl1111ifY HEGH SC H UQ L Lfocifmm, - Hlinois.

Page 6 text:

DEDICATION ' To 'rho Faclllty of IIO-no-no-,9,'ah Comnlunify High School as al, mark of USUJPII and affection, we, the 1112135 of 1922, rc-specfflllly dvrlivnfv This book.

Page 8 text:

4 THE MACK THE HISTORY OF STEPHEN MACKQAND H0-N0-NE-GAH Stephen Mack, an Indian trader, was the tirst white man to settle in the Rock River Valley. He was born in Poultney, Ver- mont, during the latter part of the 19th century. After recieving good common school education, he attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. For some cause, he could not reconcile himself to the routine of college life and finally left college with- out graduating. Soon after the close of the War of 1812, he went to Detroit, Michigan, with his father's family, where his father held some position in the government service. Ambitious to start out in life for himself, and prompted by love for adventure, Stephen Mack joined a government expedi- tion around the Lakes from Detroit to Green Bay. It was at these places that he came in contact with fur tradersg From them he learned that the Rock River Country would be a good place to establish a trading post. Accordingly, he struck across the country with an Indian pony, and arrived on Rock River near the place where Janesville is now located. An Indian camp at Bird 's Grove attracted his attention, and Mack started out to find it from such directions as he could gather from the tribe. Through following the wrong trail, he reached a Pottawatomie Village at Grand Detour, where he became located. VVhile in this village Mack became seriously ill and was nursed through the fever by Ho-no-ne-gah, the daugh- ter of the Indian chief. To express his gratitude, Mack offered her his heart, hand and fortune, which she willingly accepted. For two or three years, trade was carried on with the Indians here. Their furs were exchanged for his articles. Mack took the furs to Chicago, on the backs of Indian ponies, and brought back with him more merchandise for the Indians. Mack's relations with the Indian tribe were not conducive to the best of feeling because he refused to sell fire arms and liquor to the tribe. NVhile he was making one of his trips to Chicago, a plan was made to kill him. Ho-no-ne-gah learned of this and she met her husband, on his return, far away from camp. Together, they hastened to Bird 's Grove where they were Wel- 1