Beaver Lake

Facts from Beaver Lake, Land of Enchantment, Elmore Barce, 1938

In the Summer of 1937 Mr. Barce sat with Alexander Lanier Bark at his cabin, located today where Rafferty Ranch was located. Just at the edge of Beaver Lake.

Copies of this book are available from the Newton County Historical Society.

Mr. "Ned" Barker with his pet owl "Hoot." Mr. Barker gave many presentations to the area schools, accompanied by his friend.

• Beaver Lake was located in McClellan Township. Bogus Island was in Section 16.
• Southern extremity was just north of Oakland Cemetery.
• Continue north passing over the lakebed 7.5 miles to the former Conrad Station.
• Approximately 10 miles wide, from the Ellis Slough on the west and north to the center of Range 8 located in Colfax Township.
• Total Beaver Lake country was 36,000 acres of land.
• Beaver Lake (also referred to as Big Lake) was an area of open water 16,000 acres.
• Free of rush and reeds, 8-9 ft. deep at the most with clear waters. The southern line was indented with numerous arms and inlets. See the 2006 Map of Newton County for an outline of the Beaver Lake shores. It’s most-westward point in McClellan Township the east portion of Section 13; and most-eastward point in Colfax Township the east portion of Section 18; most northward point in Lake Township, Sections 33 and 34; most southward point in McClellan Township, Section 22.

Bogus Island

• It obtained its name by its occupation by horse thieves and counterfeiters.
• Located in McClellan Township, Section 16, 2.10 miles north of Enos, ½ mile west of 41, it faced southeast.
• Formed by the waves and winds of Beaver Lake, it covered 40-50 acres. The perpendicular southeast precipice was 75’ high.
• The cave of the horse thieves and counterfeiters was located on the northwest end of the island, which was 13 acres. 25’ to 35’ high on the north-northeast end and sloped south to the southwest. It could be approached from the northwest via sandbars.
• Stolen horses were brought here for preparation to sell. Hair dye and paint was used to disguise their coats. The heavier horses were shipped to the north to Michigan and Wisconsin; smaller faster horses were sent to the East.
• Thieves began using the island in the 1830’s, and began passing Bogus coins in the vicinity of Iroquois (Bunkum) and points south in 1839.
• The first attempt to clear the island of its inhabitants began about 1839, with the capture of three men. They and their equipment was taken to the home of Jacob Troup, and tried by Wesley Spitler, the Justice of the Peace. They were bound over to the court, which was in Williamsport, one man Crane managed to escape; the other two were taken by sheriff’s posse but were never tried.
• After this raid, they began to use the island again until 1858.
• In 1857, a group of vigilantes called The Jasper County Rangers made a plan to eradicate the bandits, but the plans were not carried out.
• A horse that was stolen from Milford, Illinois was found at a house a little east of what is now known as Conrad Station. It was the home of William Shaffer, a well-known thief of the area. He ran from the posse, and attempted to jump the ditch between Beaver Lake and the Kankakee River, and he was shot and killed.
• This action struck terror into the Bogus Island thieves and they left the island. This was discovered soon after Shaffer’s death by another raid on the island. The thieves had left guns, saddles, ammo, bogus coins and equipment behind.

The Children of the Place of the Fire – the Potawatomi Indians

Inhabited the Beaver Lake Country from 1850-1883. They were known to be peaceful and friendly neighbors to the hunters, trappers and settlers in our area.

Other Landmarks in Beaver Lake Country – there may be others not listed here.

• Eagles Nest Ridge – an island 2 ½ miles east of Enos, 2-3 acres rising about 25’ above sea level. About 2 ½ miles south of Little Lake.
• Bald Knob –  an island 2 miles east and ½ mile north of Enos. Not a tree or vine covered the area. In the time of the Zoborosky family (1857) it was covered by short poles of young oak and known as Pole Grove. It is short distance from Eagles Nest Ridge.
• Cherry Island – located near Bogus Island.
• Black Marsh – 3 miles south of Roselawn.

The Draining of the Lake

• The State of Indiana had most of the holdings of the swamp lands in the state, and the Swamp Act Law of 1852 provided the mechanism enabling the State to sell the swamp lands, with the proceeds used to drain the swamps.
• In 1853, Austin M. Puett was awarded a contract to cut a drainage ditch. Puett was the grandfather of Judge William Darroch.
• There wasn’t an outlet for Beaver Lake, and the over flowed into Beaver Creek.
• Beaver Lake was about 35’ higher in elevation than the Kankakee River at its nearest point, which was 4 ½ miles from the lake.
• Puett dug at the northwest corner, lowering the lake and left a band of shoreline about 100 yards wide as the lake receded.
• In 1869 heavy rains and flooding resulted in the enlarging the original ditch, and settlers dug additional tributaries and ditches. After the flooding subsided there was an increase of drainage of the lake.
• By 1871, ¾ of the lakebed had been drained, from 16,000 acres to 4,000.
• By 1880, the lake was gone.