1820 – Before this time Manitoqua was wilderness, inhabited in succession by the Illini, Sauk, Fox and Potawatomi Native Americans.



1820-1830 – During these years Manitoqua was part of the property owned by Chief Manitoqua, a Potawatomi Native American who was one of the signers of the treaty at Tippecanoe.  An old map shows that the Chief attempted to provide for his family by setting aside one parcel of ground for “The Sons of Manitoqua” and another for “The Wife of Manitoqua”.  The retreat center is located on part of the ground reserved for his wife.

”Mani” in many Native American tongues means “Great Spirit”.

Late in this period the land was taken from the Potawatomis and opened for settlers.  Most of the Potawatomis were moved to a reservation in Iowa.



1852 – Manitoqua was part of a parcel of ground bought by the James Boorman family who were the first settlers on the property.  The acreage he purchased is still referred to on official documents as the “James Boorman subdivision of the Manitoqua Reservation”.  Much of the property changed hands several times.



1945 – Gerald Cleary and his wife bought the farm, lived on it for several years, then rented it to the Bell family who were the last residents.