Baptiste and Mary Ann Peoria
Dedicated to a couple who helped found and shape Paola, Baptiste Peoria, chief of the Confederated Peoria Tribes and his wife Mary Ann Isaacs Dagenet Peoria chose to take a leadership role in developing Paola. Most of the Paola Town Company were members of the tribe by birth or marriage and adoption. Baptiste served as President of the Town Company until it was dissolved. His vision helped provide the Town Square which has been the heart of our community for so long. Mary Ann was known as "Mother Batees" to all the early members of the town for her caring, guidance and leadership helping provide the land for the Catholic Church among other charitable projects. Together these two served as parents who watched over our earliest days through the difficult periods of "Bleeding Kansas" and the Civil War.
Celebrating over 150 years of racial diverity and cooperation.
Marker is at the intersection of Peoria Street and Silver Street, on the right when traveling east on Peoria Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
