Priot to the settlement of the territory of this county, it was, like the country in general, the home of the "red men of the forest" of whom the reader will find an interesting sketch in the history of Franklin Co. Two tribes occupied this portion of the territory of the state; the Shawnees on the east of the Big Muddy River, and the Kaskaskias on the west thereof. "The great Tecumseh was chief of the Shawnee Indians, and at that time was preparing for war against Gov Harrison, of Indiana Territory; and while our Governmant was fighting England, Tecumseh left his tribe in 1811, and taking 12 of his warriors with him, started south to enlist the Creek Indians to join him. He passed through this county, coming into it from the northeast to Marion, where he struck the Kaskaskia Trail. He followed it to the hill place and then on south. About a mile south of Mairon he was met and talked with John Phelps, who had been in the country but a short time, and he was frightened very badly. But Tecumseh was a humane Indian, and was never known to ill-treat or murder a prisoner. But the Shawnees were not all like Tecumseh, they were hated and dreaded by the whites, and were overwhelmed and obliterated by the relentless flow of the pale faces, and live only in memory and history.
"The delightful valley of the Crab Orchard is replete with Indian history and reminiscences. The Kaskaskias, who were on friendly terms with the whites, continued to come to this county as late as 1828. They were sent by Col Manair, a trader of Kakaskia, to hunt for furs, etc. They would come in the fall and camp on Big Muddy, Hurricane, Crab Orchard, Caplinger Ponds, and other streams. But these were Indians n whom the petculiar characteristics of the race had given place to some of the courtesies and confidences of civilized men, A very large number of then were camped a Bainbridge as late as 1813. James Manece once visted this camp, and they asked him to eat with them, but he declined. The Crain boys and others used to go to their camps on the Crab Orchard, and have fun with them. When they camped on the Big Muddy, the white folks would go down regularly every Sunday to see them. An old Indian who came here for several years had a white wife by the name of Ellen, said to be very handsome. He would never leave her at the camp alone on Sunday, for fear the white boys would steal her. These hunters used to go quite often to farmers' houses for something to eat. In Northern Prec they got so bad that the women were afraid to stay at home alone while they were loitering around through the woods. The men banded together and gave the Indians 10 days' notice to leave the country. They produced the Governor's permit to hunt, but it was not honored. They left before 10 days were out, and were never seen in Northern Prec again. John Roberts, the Burnses, and Ratliffs were in the band."
"Wigwams were still on Carl Grave's farm in 1820; and on Hugh Parks as late as 1829 were traces of camps. But after 1818, they never went into the eastern part of the county. They had a camp at a spring on the farm of JS Neely in 1817. Also on Indian Camp Creek in the Burns' settlement. A little south of the old station, near Pond Creek, are several Indian mounds; they are piles of dirt thrown up 2 feet high, and 20 feet across to set the wigwams on to keep them dry. Many relics of the Indians have been found in this county."**
Along with the wild man, buffaloes, bears, deer, elk, wolves, wild cats, raccoons and all the smaller wild native animals of this region roamed about in the unbroken forests. The buffaloes became extinct soon after or about the beginning of this century, but their trails were perceptible for many years thereafter, and it is said that slight traces of them can be seen at the present writing. The bears were hunted and destroyed by the early settlers, and soon became extinct, and in like manner perished the wolves, which preyed upon the sheep and other domestic animals of the pioneers. The deer although hunted and kiled in almost countless numbers, did not become extinct until about the year 1860 or thereafter. All the larger and more savage animals became extinct many years ago., but the smaller ones, such as racoons, ground hogs, rabbits, and squirrels, abound in considerable numbers yet.
**Quotations from Erwin's History