John Kinzie Clark
Encyclopedia
John Kinzie Clark was a trader and trapper who was a prominent early settler in the Chicago
area. He was raised by Native Americans
who called him Nonimoa or Prairie Wolf. Clark first arrived at Fort Dearborn
in 1818. In 1830, Clark settled in the vicinity of today's Jefferson Park
area where he built a log cabin on the prairie. Hired to carry mail by horseback between Chicago
and Milwaukee, he would make stops in Deerfield
with provisions for early settlers there. Clark eventually moved to Deerfield
where he is buried at the Deerfield Cemetery.
Prairie Wolf Slough
, a forest preserve in Deerfield, Illinois
just north of Deerfield High School
is named for Clark using his Native American name.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area. He was raised by Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who called him Nonimoa or Prairie Wolf. Clark first arrived at Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
in 1818. In 1830, Clark settled in the vicinity of today's Jefferson Park
Jefferson Park, Chicago
Jefferson Park is one of Chicago's 77 well-defined community areas located on the city's Northwest Side. The neighborhood of Jefferson Park occupies a larger swath of territory than the community area by including within it land of adjacent community areas...
area where he built a log cabin on the prairie. Hired to carry mail by horseback between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Milwaukee, he would make stops in Deerfield
Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and is located approximately 25 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. A portion of the village is in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
with provisions for early settlers there. Clark eventually moved to Deerfield
Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and is located approximately 25 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. A portion of the village is in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
where he is buried at the Deerfield Cemetery.
Prairie Wolf Slough
Prairie Wolf Slough
The Prairie Wolf Slough, officially known as Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve, is a forest preserve in Deerfield, Illinois just north of Deerfield High School. The name refers to the Native American name of early Deerfield and Jefferson Park pioneer John Kinzie Clark which was nonimoa, or prairie wolf...
, a forest preserve in Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and is located approximately 25 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. A portion of the village is in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
just north of Deerfield High School
Deerfield High School (Illinois)
Deerfield High School, or DHS, is a public four-year high school in Deerfield, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 113, which also includes Highland Park High School....
is named for Clark using his Native American name.