Billy Caldwell: Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail – BMW of Elmhurst Dealer

Join the Elmhurst History Museum as it presents Billy Caldwell: Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail. Author Susan Kelsey will discuss the fascinating story of Billy Caldwell, who was of mixed Native American and Irish descent. Caldwell negotiated a land trade that caused thousands of Native people to be relocated from the Chicago area to “Indian Territory.” Kelsey will sign her latest book, “Billy Caldwell (1780-1841): Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail,” which can be purchased while supplies last. At BMW of Elmhurst, we appreciate the Elmhurst History Museum’s hard work to keep the past alive.

Billy Caldwell was born in a Mohawk refugee camp near Fort Niagara, Canada, in 1782. His father was a Scots-Irish fur trader, and his mother was a Mohawk. Caldwell settled in the United States in 1818. He was multilingual, having learned English, French and Potawatomi. He became a leader of a Potawatomi tribe. In 1829 and 1833, Caldwell negotiated treaties with the American government for the United Nations of Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi. He unsuccessfully attempted to reclaim the boundary long promised by the British. Caldwell negotiated the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, which led to the removal of American Indians from that region. He died in 1841, possibly from cholera.

Susan Kelsey is the author of “Billy Caldwell (1780-1841): Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail.” She is an author, historian and documentarian who has written books about Lake Forest and the North Shore, including “Downtown Lake Forest,” “West Lake Forest,” and “Legendary Locals of Lake Forest.” Kelsey is a graduate of the University of Iowa.

Date and Time:
Sunday, April 10, 2022, 2:00 p.m.

Location:
Elmhurst History Museum
120 E Park Ave.
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Admission:
Billy Caldwell: Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail is free to museum members, $5 for non-members. Registration required. Register online at https://bit.ly/3x1EmCS.

For More Information:
Call the Elmhurst History Museum at 630-833-1457 or email [email protected].