Detroit - Diverse Settlement

Detroit in 1760 was a picturesque, lively and rapidly growing frontier town.  The center, which lies inside the present day city, contained about 100 small houses made of wood with bark or thatch roofs.  The 25 foot high barracks surrounding the town were well built for defense.  A council house and a church comprised the only public buildings.  The houses were grouped closely together at the center along narrow streets.

Detroit was lined on both sides with river banks for eight miles.  Small farms lay along the river containing a cottage, a garden, orchard and the whole was surrounded with a picket fence.  The settlement was a happy place.  Ottowas, Potawatomi, and Wyandots lived within the settlement on free and easy terms with the settlers.  Sunday card parties were festive occasions at the home of the English commander, Colonel Campbell.  The English King's birthday was the year's elegant affair.

In 1761, Sir William Johnson, General of Indian Affairs, visited Detroit.  It became the greatest social event of the season.  Guest danced for nine straight hours, and General Johnson surpassed that mark by dancing for eleven straight hours at the following ball in his honor.  During his visit, residents gave him elaborate dinners, showing off all the magnificence of frontier's best wines and cordials.  Even the Indian spectators were impressed!

Underneath all this festive opulence, the safety of the post and the security of the English command was an issue.  Thousands of square miles of territory inhabited by settlers were under protection of just 600 troops.  The danger was not from the newly conquered French, but from the Indians who were unpredictable.  The tribes had always been close to the French, following their orders to kill and scalp the English.  Now that the English were in control, discontent began to develop.

A deep rooted dislike for the English grew rapidly after 1760.  The Indians missed the supplies and gifts provided by the French.  They resented the arrogance of the British.  The soldiers openly showed them contempt and the confiscation of their land drove them to take desperate measures.

Next time...the Prophet
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Today in Pioneer History:  "On January 10, 1843, Frank James, older brother of Jesse, and an outlaw in his own right is born in Clay County, Missouri.