Paola

David Lykins, a Baptist missionary, who built a log mission on the
banks of Wea Creek. The county was settled by Indians who had
emigrated here from Illinois in 1832. They had been living in the
Northwest Territory, now Illinois and Indiana, but as the white man
Peorias and Kaskaskias were granted 150 sections of land in Miami
County by the Federal government under the jurisdiction or the Osage
River Agency.

Under the Treaty of 1854, the Peoria, Wea, Piankishaw, (sic) and
Kaskaskia tribes united to become the Confederated Peoria tribe. These
tribal members were remnants of the mighty Illinois Nation. Illinois
means “ tribe of superior men.” Today, their descendants are Peoria
Tribe of Oklahoma.

The land for the town (403 ½ acres) was in the head right of Baptiste
Peoria. The name Paola, evolved from the Indian pronunciation of the
word Peoria, in honor of Baptiste Peoria. The Paola Town Company was
formed in 1855. Paola City was incorporated in 1859. Streets were laid
out at a angle and east and west streets were named after various tribes
having reservations in this part of the territory.

The town was built around a square given to Paola by the town Council
headed by Baptiste Peoria. The gift carried a proviso that no building
would ever be built on it. Baptiste made the square a playground for his
people, and many horse races were held there.

Baptiste Peoria lived in a log house just outside of Paola, now 314 North
Pearl Street, where he ran a store and hauling service. The Indians got
their water from Mitchler Spring which has never gone dry at this location,
now on the grounds on Penwell Gabel funeral home. A cupola from the
demolished Brescia Hall at the Ursuline Convent, is now over the spring.

An Indian burial ground was located at 402 North Pearl Street and
extended back the distance of the full lot. David L. Peery requested
permission from the City Council in 1910 to move the graves from this
location to Oak Grove Cemetery. These graves are now in the Oak Grove
Addition in the Paola Cemetery, and were a part of the tombstone
preservation project started in the fall of 1992.

Baptiste Peoria married a Miami Indian named Mau me wah. The couple
had several children, four of whom survived and lived in Paola. Several
buried in Paola Cemetery.

After the death of Mau me wah, Baptiste married Mary Ann Isaacs
Dagenett, whose ancestors were French and American Indian. She
came to be known as Mother Batees and was highly reguarded by the
community and was influential in the selection of Paola as the county
seat. After Batiste moved his people to the Oklahoma Territory, Mary Ann
remained in Miami County and became a U.S. citizen. Mary Ann Isaacs
Dagenett Peoria is buried in the Indian Cemetery south of Louisburg.
Baptiste was the chief of the Peorias for 30 years and died in the Indian
Territory, Oklahoma on September 13, 1873, at the age of 87.

Early symbolism tended to pattern life and the motifs were generally
harsh and severe. By the latter 19th century attitudes had changed and
the art work was more focused on a life in the hereafter. These stones
show willows, meaning earthly sorrow and the doves are symbolic of the
soul and purity.

Paola Cemetery is located at the intersection of Miami and West Street.
To find Lot 397, enter Paola Cemetery at the Otttawa street entrance off of
West Street. It is the second lot on the north side of the drive in the first lot
row of the section marked Oak Grove Addition.

Swan River Museum

Miami County Historical & Genealogy Society