Treaty of Greenville
On this day in history—August 3, 1795—Chippewa Chief Matchekewis ceded Bois Blanc Island to the United States as part of the Treaty of Greenville. Described as an “extra and voluntary gift of the Chippewa nation,” but the reality of the treaty came in the shadow of military defeat and expanding settler colonialism. Along with Bois Blanc, the treaty forced Native American tribes to give up most of present-day Ohio, part of Indiana, Mackinac Island, and sixteen strategic sites across Michigan.
The Treaty of Greenville followed the Native American loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. General “Mad” Anthony Wayne’s forces defeated a confederation of tribes determined to resist U.S. expansion into the Northwest Territory. The treaty promised the tribes $20,000 worth of goods, including blankets, utensils, and domestic animals. This in exchange for vast swaths of land.
Chief Matchekewis
One of the signatories of this treaty, Chief Matchekewis, was a respected leader of the Ojibwe people. Their ancestral lands included much of Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. His life reflected the turbulent clash of empires: In 1763, Matchekewis took part in Pontiac’s Rebellion, helping to capture Fort Michilimackinac from the British. Decades later, during the American Revolution, he led Native forces allied with Britain in the Battle of St. Louis, where his troops were defeated by Spanish gunpowder weaponry. Despite these setbacks, Matchekewis remained a prominent leader and negotiator for his people.
Bois Blanc Island—known affectionately as “Bob-Lo” by locals—is located in Lake Huron, not far from Mackinac Island. Rich in natural beauty, the island stretches twelve miles long and six miles wide and is dotted with six inland lakes. Over the centuries, it has served as a military refuge, a lumber resource, and a peaceful retreat.
The Island’s Storied Past
During the War of 1812, American naval forces under Captain Arthur Sinclair used the island as a staging point in an unsuccessful attempt to retake Fort Mackinac. In 1880, the island made headlines as the hideout of Henry English who was accused of murder. Pinkerton detectives captured English while living on Bois Blanc.
The 20th century saw the island’s wilderness fuel a thriving lumber industry before shifting toward tourism. In 1908, Pointe Aux Pins became Bois Blanc’s first resort community. The U.S. Coast Guard established a lifesaving station at Walker’s Point in 1890 to aid the many ships navigating the straits.
Electricity didn’t reach Bois Blanc until 1964, when a 3.7-mile underwater cable brought power to the island’s 200 structures. A major upgrade in 1999 replaced this with twin submarine cables to ensure reliable service. Despite this modernization, the island retains its rustic charm. The roads are not paved and transportation off the island is limited to ferries operated by Plaunt Transportation. Or when conditions allow—an ice road marked by evergreen trees across the frozen Straits of Mackinac.
Bois Blanc Today
Bois Blanc remains a tranquil escape. Much of the land is state-owned forest, with towering white and Norway pines. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the island’s unspoiled beauty, peaceful trails, and rich history—a place where time moves just a little slower.
So the next time you hear about “Bob-Lo,” remember the story of Chief Matchekewis and Treaty of Greenville,
