History

When early French explorers first entered Kansas around the beginning of the 18th century, the Kansas Indians dominated the northeastern section of what is now Kansas, and the Osage Indians controlled the western part of Missouri.  Both tribes probably hunted in the Bull Creek region, but there are no historical references to bull Creek until the 19th century.  With development of the Santa Fe Trail in 1812, traffic to the area increased dramatically.  Two branches of the trail crossed through the headwaters of Bull Creek about two miles north of the present Hillsdale Lake.  Located in the project area were two historic towns, Tontzville and Maryville.  Both towns were lively during the 1860's and 1870's, but when the railroad came to Hillsdale both towns were abandoned. Another historic figure, William Quantrill, came to Miami County in 1857 to teach school, During the Civil War, Quantrill frequented the area and camped near Bull Creek following his historic raid on Lawrence, Kansas.