Baptiste Peoria, chief of the Confederated Peoria Tribes, and his wife Mary Ann Isaacs Dagenet Peoria helped found and shape Paola by taking leadership roles in its development. Most of the Paola Town Company were members of the tribe by birth, marriage, or adoption, and Baptiste served as President of the Town Company until it was dissolved. His vision helped provide the Town Square, long the heart of the community. Known as "Mother Batees" to early townspeople, Mary Ann offered caring, guidance, and leadership, helping provide land for the Catholic Church and supporting other charitable projects. Together they watched over the town's earliest days through the difficult periods of Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War, in a community that has celebrated over one hundred fifty years of racial diversity and cooperation.