2011 Summer Newsletter

History’s Mysteries T his is a new addition to our quarterly as well as our website which features historical mysteries in and around the county. These articles have so far been researched and written by our local historian, Phil Reaka. Please read them and give feedback on how you like them. These stories can also be found at the following website: http://www.thinkmiamicountyhistory.com/Reaka.html History’s Mysteries Number 1 Baptiste Peoria who is noted as one of the founders of Paola has had much history written about him. However, while I was helping to put together the new displays at our Miami County history at the MCHS muse um, I ran on to two interesting notes about this man.If these are true, then these tidbits become part of his and our history: • Baptiste may have been a black man rather than an Indian? • He may have also “owned” a slave woman while living in Miami County? Get to researching fellow historians! Contact the MCHS in Paola if you discover any history relating to these History’s Mysteries Number 2 The town of Paola was referred to by many names. Depending upon whether you were a Catholic Missionary (maybe from Italy?) or a Native American Indian, a settler, a surveyor, a Union or Confederate army member, the U. S. Post Office, or a typesetter for a newspaper/ book, you may have used one of these names (acci dentally or on purpose) in reference to the community that we now call Paola. Here is a list that I have compiled from my research efforts: Battiesville, Osage River Indian Agency, Baptiste Peoria’s Trading Post, Wea Village, Bulltown, Peoria Village, Paoli,* and Paola.* Get to researching fellow historians! Contact the MCHS in Paola if you discover any new names from old maps, books, family history, etc. relating to these mysteries! You then will be shedding more light on our local history!! Phil Reaka *Note: Paoli and Paola are both Italian names! History’s Mysteries Number 3 Another mystery during the Civil War is the building of a fort on Tower Street (redoubt as it was referred to by the military). The first evidence of such a structure came from a military inspector’s report by the name of Sutton in 1865 and a drawing (see it in the history book that the MCHS published in 2005 on page 36). The black military map by Col. Drake indicates the location as being on Tower Street in 1864—see the map on display at the muse um. mysteries! Phil Reaka

Further research indicates the building of the “fort” took place in late summer of 1864. A preparation effort to deal with the pending invasion of Kansas by General Sterling Price, who was in Missouri at that time, was taking place. The mystery is: where is there a picture of it? Or other records of its existence? Please contact the MCHS at 913-294-4940 or at museum@mchgm.org or info@think miamicountyhistory.com if you discover anything? Get to researching! Contact the MCHS in Paola if you discover any new information relating to these mysteries! You then will be shedding more light on our local history!! Phil Reaka

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