(pg. 6-7)
Since the earliest of the land cessions in which the Potawatomi were involved is to be found in the state of Ohio, our discussion of tribal distribution may logically begin with this state. Though Ohio was one of the earliest states in the Northwest to be admitted to statehood, actually the early occupation is not as well known as some of the regions farther to the west. The earliest inhabitants recorded in historical sources are the Erie. Despite the fact that this tribe has given its name to many geographic landmarks, little is known of the group since they appear to have been destroyed or absorbed by the Iroquois in the seventeenth century. Iroquois domination is basic to an understanding of at least the central and eastern portions of the region. On its far western border, particularly in the valleys designated by their tribal name, the Miami also represent a basic and early occupation of the region. Subsequent to this period of occupation, however, the Huron, Delaware, and Shawnee as well as various eastern groups are recorded in various areas of the state.
The period immediately following the entry of these tribes into the Ohio area is reasonably well known and has been considered in several histories of the Indian occupation, the most comprehensive of these being the studies of Warren K.Morrehead and H.C. Shetrone. (Warren K. Moorehead, "The Indian Tribes of Ohio, Historically Considered." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications,, Vol. VII, pp. 1-109, 1890. H.C. Shetrone, "The Indian in Ohio: with a map of the Ohio Country." Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications,Vol. XXVII, pp. 274-510, 1919.) The latter source is particularly valuable since it includes a map on which village locations are given with the tribal affiliation of the village designated and the time of occupation indicated. A copy of the map is appended to the report.
While the sources cited above give an extended discussion of specific tribal distribution, it was thought desirable to make an independent check of the primary sources (contemporary maps, traveler's descriptions, military reports, etc.), particularly since at no point do we find mention of Potawatomi occupation. A compilation was therefore made of tribal distribution, the specific locations of the villages being discussed in reference to the various land cessions. While this survey can not be regarded as exhaustive, it was sufficiently extensive to be regarded as a reliable check on the earlier historical accounts cited. The conclusions of the first section may be anticipated at this point to state that the tribal distributions as determined by the current survey are in complete agreement with the historic accounts by Moorehead and Shetrone cited above.