History of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in 1634

Of the existence, in what are now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, at a remote period, of a race superior in intelligence to the red men who inhabited this region when first seen by a European, there are indubitable evidences. Who were these ancient occupiers of the territory just mentioned-of its prairies and woodlands, hills and valleys? There are no traditions of their power, of their labor, or of their wisdom-no record of their having lived, except in rapidly-decaying relics. They left no descendants to recount their daring deeds. All that remain of them-the so-called Mound-Builders-are mouldering skeletons.