By FRED SWIFT
The epic story of Mekinges, the American Indian woman married to pioneer William Conner, will reportedly be made into a major motion picture thanks to state legislation offering tax incentives for movie makers who film in Indiana. Mekinges’ story is one of love, heartbreak, betrayal and redemption surrounding early Indiana relations between native Indians and white settlers.
Indiana is one of several states attempting more economic development by encouraging the multi-million-dollar movie industry to choose the state as the location for filming motion pictures.
The script for the Mekinges story is being written by native Hoosier Benjamin Snyder, an avid student of Indiana history. His idea of presenting the largely true story drew interest from film producers especially in a state that plans to offer incentives for such productions.
William Conner married Mekinges, daughter of a Delaware Indian chief, possibly to secure good relations with her father’s tribe. The couple had six children. But, in 1820 under provisions of the Treaty of St. Mary’s, the tribe was removed from Indiana to Missouri.
Mekinges felt she had to go with her father’s people and took the children with her on the lengthy trek. There she had to start over. She remarried, opened a trading post and successfully raised her children, one of whom became a chief in the Delaware tribe and another who became a Texas Ranger.
William Conner remained in Hamilton County, remarried and made considerable money in land speculation. Upon his death in 1855 his will provided no money to his former family despite earlier indications they would share in his estate.
Mekinges died about 1860 in the Oklahoma Indian Territory. It’s a true story and would make a great movie.
But, that will have to wait because we are not shooting movies in Hamilton County just yet. Since it’s April 1, that part is our annual April Fool story. Sorry.