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The Other Trail of Tears: The Removal of the Ohio Indians
The Story of the Longest and Largest Forced Migration of Native Americans in American History
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the culmination of the United States’ policy to force native populations to relocate west of the Mississippi River. The most well-known episode in the eviction of American Indians in the East was the notorious “Trail of Tears” along which Southeastern Indians were driven from their homes in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to reservations in present-day Oklahoma. But the struggle in the South was part of a wider story that reaches back in time to the closing months of the War of 1812, back through many states―most notably Ohio―and into the lives of so many tribes, including the Delaware, Seneca, Shawnee, Ottawa, and Wyandot (Huron). They, too, were forced to depart from their homes in the Ohio Country to Kansas and Oklahoma. The Other Trail of The Removal of the Ohio Indians by award-winning historian Mary Stockwell tells the story of this region’s historic tribes as they struggled following the death of Tecumseh and the unraveling of his tribal confederacy in 1813. At the peace negotiations in Ghent in 1814, Great Britain was unable to secure a permanent homeland for the tribes in Ohio setting the stage for further treaties with the United States and encroachment by settlers. Over the course of three decades the Ohio Indians were forced to move to the West, with the Wyandot people ceding their last remaining lands in Ohio to the U.S. Government in the early 1850s. The book chronicles the history of Ohio’s Indians and their interactions with settlers and U.S. agents in the years leading up to their official removal, and sheds light on the complexities of the process, with both individual tribes and the United States taking advantage of opportunities at different times. It is also the story of how the native tribes tried to come to terms with the fast pace of change on America’s western frontier and the inevitable loss of their traditional homelands. While the tribes often disagreed with one another, they attempted to move toward the best possible future for all their people against the relentless press of settlers and limited time.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was the culmination of the United States’ policy to force native populations to relocate west of the Mississippi River. The most well-known episode in the eviction of American Indians in the East was the notorious “Trail of Tears” along which Southeastern Indians were driven from their homes in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to reservations in present-day Oklahoma. But the struggle in the South was part of a wider story that reaches back in time to the closing months of the War of 1812, back through many states―most notably Ohio―and into the lives of so many tribes, including the Delaware, Seneca, Shawnee, Ottawa, and Wyandot (Huron). They, too, were forced to depart from their homes in the Ohio Country to Kansas and Oklahoma. The Other Trail of The Removal of the Ohio Indians by award-winning historian Mary Stockwell tells the story of this region’s historic tribes as they struggled following the death of Tecumseh and the unraveling of his tribal confederacy in 1813. At the peace negotiations in Ghent in 1814, Great Britain was unable to secure a permanent homeland for the tribes in Ohio setting the stage for further treaties with the United States and encroachment by settlers. Over the course of three decades the Ohio Indians were forced to move to the West, with the Wyandot people ceding their last remaining lands in Ohio to the U.S. Government in the early 1850s. The book chronicles the history of Ohio’s Indians and their interactions with settlers and U.S. agents in the years leading up to their official removal, and sheds light on the complexities of the process, with both individual tribes and the United States taking advantage of opportunities at different times. It is also the story of how the native tribes tried to come to terms with the fast pace of change on America’s western frontier and the inevitable loss of their traditional homelands. While the tribes often disagreed with one another, they attempted to move toward the best possible future for all their people against the relentless press of settlers and limited time.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2014
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269 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 22, 2023
In preparation for attending a presentation to be given at the Ohio History Connection in early May, the organizers suggested reading THE OTHER TRAIL OF TEARS: THE REMOVAL OF THE OHIO INDIANS. I had recently read AMERICAN INDIANS OF THE OHIO COUNTRY IN THE 18TH CENTURY by Paul R. Misencik which I thought presented very useful background. This book continues the story through the Indian Removal Act and the forced expulsion of the tribes out of Ohio.
One of the gifts of the writer, Mary Stockwell, is her ability to "flesh out" what could otherwise be seen as dry history. Not satisfied with a mere retelling of facts, she provides plenty of backstory and tales of the time to bring the history alive. For instance, when the last of the great Ohio tribes (the Wyandot) finally agreed to relocate West, writer Charles Dickens was visiting the area they were leaving. Dickens did not take time to learn much about the Wyandot and had a stereotypical impression of them as a forlorn people. As Stockwell notes, "Dickens left never knowing that the orderly farms that he admired everywhere in Upper Sandusky belonged to these wild people and would soon be for sale."
The story of this "Other Trail of Tears" is fascinating, although hardly surprising. People either through greed, prejudice or because they thought they were doing "what was best" for the tribes forged ahead with "Removal" as the only possible solution. Along the way, many "wrongs" were committed especially in promises that weren't fully kept. This was nowhere more apparent than in some truly appalling conditions of transportation from Ohio that resulted in massive hardship and unnecessary loss of life. Much of this was precipitated by an insatiable thirst for land. And, as was predicted by one of the Leaders who did not want to be evicted from the state, it would play out again ten years after the move as settlers ... and the railroad ... had eyes on the West.
At the end of the book, the writer asks the question that has likely been in the Reader's mind through most of the reading, "Was this really necessary?" Of course, there is no easy answer to that. Many tribal members wanted to move. Yet, many others did not, and the decision was forced upon them even after they had complied with all of the previous conditions set upon them to grant them ownership of their Ohio land.
The Promise of America and its Greatness contains many stories that I learned nothing about when I was attending public school. Naturally, I couldn't have expected my classes to have gone into the depth found in this book, but I had been completely unaware of the Indian history in Ohio during those formative years of my education. It is a story that I'm fortunate to have finally discovered.
One of the gifts of the writer, Mary Stockwell, is her ability to "flesh out" what could otherwise be seen as dry history. Not satisfied with a mere retelling of facts, she provides plenty of backstory and tales of the time to bring the history alive. For instance, when the last of the great Ohio tribes (the Wyandot) finally agreed to relocate West, writer Charles Dickens was visiting the area they were leaving. Dickens did not take time to learn much about the Wyandot and had a stereotypical impression of them as a forlorn people. As Stockwell notes, "Dickens left never knowing that the orderly farms that he admired everywhere in Upper Sandusky belonged to these wild people and would soon be for sale."
The story of this "Other Trail of Tears" is fascinating, although hardly surprising. People either through greed, prejudice or because they thought they were doing "what was best" for the tribes forged ahead with "Removal" as the only possible solution. Along the way, many "wrongs" were committed especially in promises that weren't fully kept. This was nowhere more apparent than in some truly appalling conditions of transportation from Ohio that resulted in massive hardship and unnecessary loss of life. Much of this was precipitated by an insatiable thirst for land. And, as was predicted by one of the Leaders who did not want to be evicted from the state, it would play out again ten years after the move as settlers ... and the railroad ... had eyes on the West.
At the end of the book, the writer asks the question that has likely been in the Reader's mind through most of the reading, "Was this really necessary?" Of course, there is no easy answer to that. Many tribal members wanted to move. Yet, many others did not, and the decision was forced upon them even after they had complied with all of the previous conditions set upon them to grant them ownership of their Ohio land.
The Promise of America and its Greatness contains many stories that I learned nothing about when I was attending public school. Naturally, I couldn't have expected my classes to have gone into the depth found in this book, but I had been completely unaware of the Indian history in Ohio during those formative years of my education. It is a story that I'm fortunate to have finally discovered.
April 17, 2017
This book is a heartwrenching testament to the trials of the Ohio Indians. I picked this up after reading the title and wanting to find out more about the Indians in this state. My great great grandmother (a Cherokee) was born in Ohio and my family has always wanted to find out more about her history. Of course I didn't find out specifically about my family, but there was a family of Cherokees in Ohio and that has given me hope of finding more about her. This book has opened my eyes about how the white people treated the Indians at that time. Of course, we all know how the government moved Indians off their lands, but this gives shocking details how they were treated by whites before these events happened. How the Indians were asked to become civilized to keep their lands (and they did) and then they were moved anyway. Also a thorough history behind the many treaties made by the government that were broken again and again. An excellent read.
June 20, 2022
Read this book after getting a little bored with some of the other ones I was reading and I just couldn’t put it down.
Yes some of the chapters dragged a bit as she goes over some of the same details, but at the same time I respected that as she gave equal devotion to each tribe that was in Ohio at the time and their individual story of removal. I had heard so much of the folklore behind these Native Ohioans growing up and am humbled to have the knowledge of their removal from the places that I grew up. I wish everyone in NW Ohio knew these stories. Great read and I know I will revisit it and it will push me to go to some of these places and dig deeper into the history
Yes some of the chapters dragged a bit as she goes over some of the same details, but at the same time I respected that as she gave equal devotion to each tribe that was in Ohio at the time and their individual story of removal. I had heard so much of the folklore behind these Native Ohioans growing up and am humbled to have the knowledge of their removal from the places that I grew up. I wish everyone in NW Ohio knew these stories. Great read and I know I will revisit it and it will push me to go to some of these places and dig deeper into the history
July 16, 2020
The Removal of the Ohio Indians
This a touching and sad 😢account of the Ohio tribes. Ohio experienced the largest migration of immigrants and migrants of any state. This caused the Indians to be forced out and sent to Missouri and nearby states. In 30 years, they'd be forced out again or give up their native American status in exchange for American citizenship. Many presidents including Lincoln pressed and supported Indian removal. The quickly expanding country made it difficult to cope. Unsurprisingly, the Southern slave states were the most brutal with Indian tribes. I was surprised \unsurprised that conversion to Christianity and assimilation was highly stressed as what Indians needed to do but the Indians who better assimilated often were the most abused and lose autonomy. Very well written and was very glad I read it.
This a touching and sad 😢account of the Ohio tribes. Ohio experienced the largest migration of immigrants and migrants of any state. This caused the Indians to be forced out and sent to Missouri and nearby states. In 30 years, they'd be forced out again or give up their native American status in exchange for American citizenship. Many presidents including Lincoln pressed and supported Indian removal. The quickly expanding country made it difficult to cope. Unsurprisingly, the Southern slave states were the most brutal with Indian tribes. I was surprised \unsurprised that conversion to Christianity and assimilation was highly stressed as what Indians needed to do but the Indians who better assimilated often were the most abused and lose autonomy. Very well written and was very glad I read it.
July 11, 2023
Stockwell brings the story of Indian removal down to specific places and time, helping the reader understand how it happened and imagine what it felt like to be caught up in the sweep of westward expansion.
April 23, 2025
The Other Trail of Tears: The Removal of the Ohio Indians by Mary Stockwell
Mary Stockwell’s The Other Trail of Tears is a deeply moving and meticulously researched account that expands our understanding of one of the darkest chapters in American history. While the Trail of Tears in the Southeast is more widely known, Stockwell shines a vital light on the parallel story of the forced migration of Native tribes from Ohio, revealing the broader and equally devastating scope of the Indian Removal era.
From the very beginning, the book situates readers in the political and cultural complexities following the War of 1812, particularly after the death of Tecumseh and the collapse of his confederacy. That moment feels like a symbolic turning point, and Stockwell explores it with both clarity and empathy. The narrative then moves forward into the diplomatic failures at Ghent, where Britain’s inability to secure a homeland for its Native allies left many Ohio tribes vulnerable to U.S. policy and settler expansion.
What really stood out to me was how Stockwell doesn’t present the Native experience as a single, unified narrative. Instead, she honors the differences among the Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot, and other tribes, each with their own leaders, internal debates, and survival strategies. These weren’t just passive victims of U.S. aggression; they were complex, intelligent communities trying to navigate an impossible situation with dignity and foresight.
There’s a strong emotional undercurrent as the book details how these tribes were steadily stripped of their land, sovereignty, and way of life, yet it never falls into sensationalism. Stockwell presents history honestly and with compassion, allowing the weight of facts to speak for themselves. She also underscores the role of treaties, betrayals, and broken promises, not just military force in displacing these people.
This book was enlightening, often heartbreaking, and incredibly important. It adds much-needed nuance to our national understanding of Native American history by telling the story of a removal that happened further north, yet was no less brutal or transformative. Stockwell’s writing is clear and engaging, and her scholarship is impeccable.
Rating: 5/5
An essential read for anyone interested in Native American history, early American policy, or the legacy of removal. The Other Trail of Tears is a powerful reminder that history stretches beyond the borders of what we’ve been taught and that many stories, like those of the Ohio tribes, are still waiting to be fully heard.
Mary Stockwell’s The Other Trail of Tears is a deeply moving and meticulously researched account that expands our understanding of one of the darkest chapters in American history. While the Trail of Tears in the Southeast is more widely known, Stockwell shines a vital light on the parallel story of the forced migration of Native tribes from Ohio, revealing the broader and equally devastating scope of the Indian Removal era.
From the very beginning, the book situates readers in the political and cultural complexities following the War of 1812, particularly after the death of Tecumseh and the collapse of his confederacy. That moment feels like a symbolic turning point, and Stockwell explores it with both clarity and empathy. The narrative then moves forward into the diplomatic failures at Ghent, where Britain’s inability to secure a homeland for its Native allies left many Ohio tribes vulnerable to U.S. policy and settler expansion.
What really stood out to me was how Stockwell doesn’t present the Native experience as a single, unified narrative. Instead, she honors the differences among the Delaware, Shawnee, Wyandot, and other tribes, each with their own leaders, internal debates, and survival strategies. These weren’t just passive victims of U.S. aggression; they were complex, intelligent communities trying to navigate an impossible situation with dignity and foresight.
There’s a strong emotional undercurrent as the book details how these tribes were steadily stripped of their land, sovereignty, and way of life, yet it never falls into sensationalism. Stockwell presents history honestly and with compassion, allowing the weight of facts to speak for themselves. She also underscores the role of treaties, betrayals, and broken promises, not just military force in displacing these people.
This book was enlightening, often heartbreaking, and incredibly important. It adds much-needed nuance to our national understanding of Native American history by telling the story of a removal that happened further north, yet was no less brutal or transformative. Stockwell’s writing is clear and engaging, and her scholarship is impeccable.
Rating: 5/5
An essential read for anyone interested in Native American history, early American policy, or the legacy of removal. The Other Trail of Tears is a powerful reminder that history stretches beyond the borders of what we’ve been taught and that many stories, like those of the Ohio tribes, are still waiting to be fully heard.
July 4, 2020
This is more of an academic history than a popular history. Makes local Ohio history feel epic. There is so much drama in between the lines. Thought provoking, informative, misconception dispelling, and it has inspired me to learn more.
You can read all the details of the dirty dealing during the trails of tears. It’s fascinating how nobody wants to be the baddies of history, yet society still finds a way to make the bad things happen. Reminds me of the refugee children in cages at the border. There is the president at the top, the actors in the middle, and the hateful people at the bottom. And all three can believe they are not completely responsible for the evil being done. Or that they are doing the best thing possible for the people in their power.
Lalawethika “Loud Mouth” aka Tenskwatawa “Open Door” aka the Prophet and his brother Tecumseh, are two of the most interesting characters in world history.
The story of the Eastern Native Americans is a sad story, but also an amazing story of survival and versatility.
Private companies being aloud to trade with the tribes was damaging.
“Only a misguided romanticism which demanded the Indians of the present must be like Indians of the past could drive the Wyandot across the Mississippi River.”
What I learned: William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, was a red head and the governor of Missouri. The Shawnee moved from Pennsylvania to Florida, back up to Ohio and then to Oklahoma. The Cherokee demanded the removal of the Osage from Arkansas. “Iroquois” is an Algonquin word meanings “snakes.” The Seneca burned a woman at the stake for witchcraft in 1828, in Ohio, they were not Christian. Charles Dickens visited Cincinnati in 1842, and he passed through the lands of the Wyandot, he complained that he couldn’t buy any good liquor. The Cherokee supported the confederacy, and lost some of their lands, in Oklahoma, after the civil war.
You can read all the details of the dirty dealing during the trails of tears. It’s fascinating how nobody wants to be the baddies of history, yet society still finds a way to make the bad things happen. Reminds me of the refugee children in cages at the border. There is the president at the top, the actors in the middle, and the hateful people at the bottom. And all three can believe they are not completely responsible for the evil being done. Or that they are doing the best thing possible for the people in their power.
Lalawethika “Loud Mouth” aka Tenskwatawa “Open Door” aka the Prophet and his brother Tecumseh, are two of the most interesting characters in world history.
The story of the Eastern Native Americans is a sad story, but also an amazing story of survival and versatility.
Private companies being aloud to trade with the tribes was damaging.
“Only a misguided romanticism which demanded the Indians of the present must be like Indians of the past could drive the Wyandot across the Mississippi River.”
What I learned: William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, was a red head and the governor of Missouri. The Shawnee moved from Pennsylvania to Florida, back up to Ohio and then to Oklahoma. The Cherokee demanded the removal of the Osage from Arkansas. “Iroquois” is an Algonquin word meanings “snakes.” The Seneca burned a woman at the stake for witchcraft in 1828, in Ohio, they were not Christian. Charles Dickens visited Cincinnati in 1842, and he passed through the lands of the Wyandot, he complained that he couldn’t buy any good liquor. The Cherokee supported the confederacy, and lost some of their lands, in Oklahoma, after the civil war.
July 31, 2019
It's so difficult to find a recent book on Ohio tribes. The detail is great, down to the names of the Indian agents who negotiated treaties. It could use more maps and sometimes the chapters are repetitive, losing the overarching narrative.
I would have liked to see some mention of the intellectual underpinnings of the beliefs about Indians at the time among whites- Stockwell notes that it was misunderstood how settled and successful the Ohio Indians were and how Jackson especially never got over the paranoid nostalgia of them as savages, but what about the stadial view of civilization? That had to play a role in how white Americans thought of Indians.
I would have liked to see some mention of the intellectual underpinnings of the beliefs about Indians at the time among whites- Stockwell notes that it was misunderstood how settled and successful the Ohio Indians were and how Jackson especially never got over the paranoid nostalgia of them as savages, but what about the stadial view of civilization? That had to play a role in how white Americans thought of Indians.
August 27, 2020
I’ve been waiting for a book like this for a long time - the complete history of Ohio’s Indians between the 18th and 19th centuries, and how they were all completely removed. Sad book, and sad because the repercussions still affect people today.
Ohio can at least be pleased that the big forces behind removal were President Jackson (and his successors), the deep south whites, and the territorial governor of ❌ichigan.
The author writes, “when the final drive to remove the Indians across the Mississippi River came in 1830, many Ohioans, including the state’s two senators and most of its representatives, tried to prevent it.”
Ohio can at least be pleased that the big forces behind removal were President Jackson (and his successors), the deep south whites, and the territorial governor of ❌ichigan.
The author writes, “when the final drive to remove the Indians across the Mississippi River came in 1830, many Ohioans, including the state’s two senators and most of its representatives, tried to prevent it.”
December 13, 2022
This well researched book gives the untold story of the last chapter in the story of the Native American culture in Ohio. It only took thirty years from the death of Tecumseh for every Native American tribe to leave Ohio. This book is presented with candor to give perspective on the politics of the time, and the struggles as the tribes adopted and assimilated before moving west. A must read telling the whole tale of the history of the Northwest Territories and the fate of the Ohio tribes.
September 6, 2019
After attending some of the "Celebrations" of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, I wanted to know more about how the natives lived and were driven out of Ohio. Very good history by Mary Stockwell. Didn't realize that where I live was within the Native lands set by the Greenville Treaty that only lasted after the war of 1812. Another dark part of our history.
December 28, 2020
Who should read The Other Trail of Tears?
Everyone
All Americans
Native Americans
Descendants of Native Americans
Life-Long Learners
Young People
Old People
History Buffs and Those Without a Clue
Current Residents of the former Northwest Territory
Current Residents West of Mississippi River
Ohioans
Monument Tippers & Monument Lovers
All of Us
Everyone
All Americans
Native Americans
Descendants of Native Americans
Life-Long Learners
Young People
Old People
History Buffs and Those Without a Clue
Current Residents of the former Northwest Territory
Current Residents West of Mississippi River
Ohioans
Monument Tippers & Monument Lovers
All of Us
September 19, 2018
Very well researched history of NW Ohio and the native Americans who used to live there. The footnotes are great. The author does a great job of having compassion on figures on both sides of the issue. Highly recommend.
March 22, 2020
Definitely made me ashamed to be white. What was done to the tribes never should have happened. There was balance in this telling, and I didn't feel like whites were being excused or bashed unnecessarily.
August 17, 2018
Very informative about the northern (Ohio) tribes removal to the west. Does not include information that I was looking for in particular and so was disappointed in that respect but good read
July 31, 2019
Good first half about Tecumseh and the War of 1812. Interesting details about Indian removal in Ohio, but way too long.
April 8, 2025
Dated, especially in language and approach to Native Americans, but fills a gap.
August 23, 2015
Dr. Stockwell has just provided one of the greatest historical works relating to Native Americans and the state of Ohio that ever will be written. This work was necessary and far past due for being written. She has taken a topic with which very few have even any passing familiarity, and written a lively, vivid, and amazingly insightful account of this amazing page of history. In the removal of the Native American tribes, you could literally see the pages of history being turned before your eyes. It was almost as if with the exit of the Wyandots by the end of the book, you could see the hand of fate closing the back flap on the volume of Ohio's frontier history. As Dr. Stockwell reminds the reader, the Cherokee Trail of Tears is fairly well known to Americans. I honestly feel that most Ohioans probably have given little thought to what happened to the state's tribes after Fallen Timbers. The usual narrative regarding Ohio's native people seems to be: French and Indian War, Pontiac's Rebellion, Lord Dunmore's War, American Revolution, Harmar/St. Clair/Wayne, Fallen Timbers, Greeneville, Peace, TECUMSEH!...then dead silence. Almost as if upon Tecumseh's death, Ohio tribes ceased to exist. Every American should read this account. At the very least, every Ohioan should read this. We like to think of ourselves as smugly superior to those "racist Southerners", what with our prohibition of slavery under the Northwest Ordinance and ardent Unionism during the Civil War. But this sheds a bit more light on a long forgotten page of tragedy. Ohio's tribes were given the short end of the stick, to say the least, but Dr. Stockwell has finally given them some redemption, even if we still have a long way to go in making it up to them.
August 6, 2019
This book was not easy to get through as it is a history book with lots of facts and names. I did have to read this for school and I can't say I would've read it otherwise. That being said it was very informative and I do think it is important information to know. Especially where I live in Ohio, this touches close to home as the book talks about the 5 tribes who lived in Ohio and were pushed to smaller reserves and then eventually forced to move west rather they wanted to or not. I did find the story to be heartbreaking and wishing it could've been different as a culture was lost, also I am constantly shocked to why the US didn't just offer them citizenship. Some would've gladly been citizens while others did want to leave. But there could've been other ways to go about the whole situation, and instead you're just left with a heartless bitter piece of history.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this as it is not an enjoyable read but if it is something you're interested in and want some factual basis then I would recommend it, but I am sure there are other more narrative books to read regarding the removal that may be more interesting. This one is good for giving a broad view of everything and background. I'm glad I read it but I am also glad I'm done.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this as it is not an enjoyable read but if it is something you're interested in and want some factual basis then I would recommend it, but I am sure there are other more narrative books to read regarding the removal that may be more interesting. This one is good for giving a broad view of everything and background. I'm glad I read it but I am also glad I'm done.
May 26, 2015
I got this as a digital library book and loved every bit of it. It is an easy read and fills in the huge 30 something year gap in history regarding what happened between the end of the War of 1812 and how the Ohio Indians moved across the Mississippi. I am a big fan of this time period and topic and will be purchasing my own copy very soon as it is filled with great info and sources.
April 16, 2017
I was at Williamsburg in March and attended a performance which referred to the Indian school at William and Mary, a Wyandot Chief's son that attended there and the Indian removal from Ohio. I immediately came home and started this book. It shows a very bad side of our history. I was familiar with the Cherokee Trail of Tears, however, did not know that the Native Americans were removed from Ohio in much the same way. Broken promises, broken treaties, greedy settlers - all taking advantage of a population that at times could not protect themselves. Even when the tribes became "civilized" by the settlers standards, the government still moved them West of the Mississippi. I was not familiar with this part of Ohio history. I would highly recommend the book for people interested in the treatment of the Native Americans in Ohio.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews