During a drought, 850 Potawatomi Indians were force-marched more than 600 miles from Indiana to Kansas from Sept 4 to Nov 4, 1838. Forty died, mostly children. After a 6 mile march from McCoy's Mill east of here, the Potawatomi encamped at Island Grove. A child died a few hours after making camp and is buried near this spot. The Potawatomi left for Jacksonville on Oct 1, 1838.