The Princess Mishawaka Society is named for the daughter of Shawnee Chief Elkhart. Legend has it that in 1801, Chief Elkhart attacked the Pottawatomie tribe led by Chief Pokagon driving them from the St. Joseph Valley, Indiana to Michigan. In the process, Grey Wolfe, a Pottawatomie Indian, abducted Chief Elkhart's daughter, Princess Mishawaka.
It is said that the Pottawatomie drove Chief Elkhart's band to the Wabash Valley. Princess Mishawaka stayed in the area and married the white trapper, Dead Shot who rescued her from the Pottawatomie.
She died in 1818 at 32 years of age. She was a beautiful, courageous Indian maiden who was loved by all who knew her. She was buried along the St. Joseph river, just west of the City of Mishawaka, which was named for her in 1833.
In the Pottawatomie language, Mishawaka means "swift water" or "thick woods rapids." A native boulder marks her gravesite and a statue of her likeness is located at 600 E. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, Indiana.
