Lake Kee-waw-nay
                                      7 Years after Col. Pepper’s Councils – 1837



1844 – On revisiting “Kee waw nay” Lake, after
seven years had elapsed, friend Mas sa’s [Massa]
double log cabin still standing intact and
occupied by one of the family of Bruce, after
whom the Lake is now Known.


     I found the Indian name was not
known by the settlers around, and in the
neighborhood of this lovely interior lake of
Indiana.  The wigwam of O-ga-maus [Ogamaus] 
which was a conspicuous object in the year
1837, had naturally disappeared –
from its frail material which composed
its structure; and no other evidences of the
aboriginal existance [existence] of the former village
save Mas sa’s [Massa] cabin – could be traced.


     The old council and camp ground
where Col. Pepper held his “powwows” with the
Pottawattamie [Potawatomi] in July 1837, had lost its beautiful
park-like appearance – which was then its peculiar
characteristic.  Many a great and noble oak
had fallen before the axe, and the openings
between the trees were now chocked up with
a thick growth of saplings – making a young
forest. obstructing the view in the southerly di-
rection – when the lake spreads out its trans-
lucent waters.


     The scene her[e], now presented a wilder
and more rugged appearance – the unrestrained
growth of thrifty woodland, than when occupied
by the Indians – whose annual firing it-
had kept it in an apparently well trained con
-dition.  Keeping down the undergrowth.