Locating Kellogg’s Tavern;Prairie Way Station and Frontier Battlefield during the Black Hawk War 1832

This presentation will discuss the recent attempt to locate “Old Kellogg’s Place”; a pioneer settlement and frontier tavern located on the edge of America’s old Northwest frontier. Functioning as an early frontier institution for decades, this stop over on the Peoria-Galena trail would host two separate engagements between Illinois militia and native forces during the Black Hawk War of 1832. This presentation will discuss the conflicting images of the Black Hawk War, past and present, and its importance to the establishment of Midwest Statehood and further national territorial expansion. Contextualized at the Kellogg’s Grove settlement, the investigation for this frontier settlement elucidates the nature of Native- Anglo relations in 1830’s Illinois. Despite documentary evidence, as well as local knowledge and lore (including the graves of American combatants and a stone monument commemorating the battles), the true location of Kellogg’s tavern and the accompanying battlefield may still be unidentified.