Bridge over the Maple River.
A Maple River Indian Village

Traveling about 5 miles north from Pewamo and just on the outskirts of Matherton is the Maple River. (Called La Riviere Du Plain) (river on the plain) by the early French traders, but later changed to Maple River by the English settlers.

There are numerous earth mounds, of unknown origin, along the river. These mounds were evidently sepulchers as most hold human bones. The mounds are like those constructed by Aborigines. It is believed that they were the work of a people who were superior to the Indians and the predecessors of the Indians in their occupancy of the country.

The mounds were generally circular, or oval in form, and were constructed ten to forty feet in diameter with a height of two to six feet. Though this type of mound has been discovered in various parts of the country the largest number have been found in the valley of the Maple River, in the north-east part of Clinton County.

The Sauk Indians may have inhabited this area, along the Maple River at one time. The Sauks were a powerful and warring tribe, but were overtaken by the Chippewas and Ottawas.

On the south bank of the Maple River, (located at the N-E part, section 3) (Platt Map) was the village of Makitoquet (also Black Cloud and Makey to the settlers ) There were also villages of Makey's people on section 14 and section 19. (Platt Map) These were more like camps than permanent settlements, but were always fully occupied during sugaring season.

Makey's Sub-Chief Win-ta-go-wish was a land owner in 1837. He purchased land from the government on January 11, 1837 in section 14. (Platt Map)

The Indians in this region existed mostly on hunting, but they also had corn-potatoes-turnips-beans-squash, pumpkins and melons.

It was their custom to move in the fall from their fields up to the heads of the streams. Making halts at 6 to 8 mile intervals for the purpose of hunting and fishing. Before this move about 800 Indians came together at the mouth of the Maple River. The principle chief of these meetings was Cocoosh (Old Hog) (Some claim that Cocoosh was not an Indian all but a Negro that was taken captive by the Indians in the war of 1812.) Second in command at these meetings was Makatoquet.

Cocoosh's tribe was located along the Maple River near Muir section 35. (Platt Map)

Upon the approach of winter they floated back in their canoes and went to their winter quarters sheltered in the denser forests.

The men would go out hunting and trapping until spring when all engaged in the sugar making. Sugaring was one of their principle industries. They produced large quantities, which they packed in Mokaks (vessels made of Birch Bark) and buried in the ground to preserve them for future use or sale.

The Chippaws were extremely superstitious. After the massacre of the Sauks, the Chippaws feared the spirits coming back to take vengeance. Sometimes they would become spooked and run away from their villages leaving everything behind.

For the most part the Indians and the Settlers lived at peace. During the sugaring season the woods were full of Indians and sometimes they obtained supplies of whiskey from the trading posts and the consequences were shouting, singing, and fighting, sometimes far into the night and for many moons.

In 1838 a frightening incident took place that made unrest between the Indians and settlers and scared some settlers from the area. Glass (Brief History of Lebonan Twp. )