10 Facts About Leopold Pokagon

Leopold Pokagon emerged as a very successful tribal leader after 1825.

Leopold Pokagon traveled to Detroit in July 1830, where he visited Father Gabriel Richard to request the services of a "black robe".

Leopold Pokagon believed that affiliation with the Catholic Church represented an important political alliance in the struggle to avoid removal.

Leopold Pokagon unsuccessfully tried to found a school and an orphanage, and then in 1832 he purchased 524 acres of land around South Bend, half from the government and half from two landowners.

Leopold Pokagon then built a log chapel to serve as chapel and residence, and later gave the land to the bishop on condition that an orphanage and school be built.

In 1833, Leopold Pokagon negotiated an amendment to the 1833 Treaty of Chicago that allowed Leopold Pokagon's Band to remain on the land of their ancestors in Michigan.

Later the Leopold Pokagon Band removed to L'Arbre Croche.

Leopold Pokagon ultimately used the monies paid pursuant to the Treaty to purchase lands for his people in Silver Creek Township, near Dowagiac, Michigan.

Leopold Pokagon patented the land in his name and becoming a private land owner same as the surrounding settlers.

In 1841, Leopold Pokagon obtained the assistance of Associate Michigan Supreme Court Justice Epaphroditus Ransom to halt US military attempts to remove the Catholic Potawatomi in violation of the 1833 Treaty.