There were several Indian councils in Urbana at a very early day.  They were held in a grove on or near where the old grave yard is north-east of town.  Distinguished chiefs from various tribes took part in these councils. 
     Mr. Howe says in his history that Tecumseh in the spring of 1795, took up his quarters on Deercreek near the site of Urbana, where he was engaged in his favorite amusement, hunting , and remained until the following Spring.  There never was any creek by the name of Deercreek near the site of Urbana.  "I think there is a creek by that name in Madison county but I do not think it reaches Champaign.  I find Tecumseh's biographer makes the same mistake.  I now quote from his biography:
     “While residing on Deercreek an incident occurred which greatly enhanced his reputation as a hunter.  One of his brothers, and several other Shawnees of his own age proposed to bet with him that they could each kill as many deer in the space of three days as he.  Tecumseh promptly accepted the overture.  The parties took to the woods and at the end of the time stipulated returned with the evidences of their success.  None of the party except Tecumseh had more than twelve deer-skins, and he brought in upward of thirty, near three times as many as any of his competitors.  From this time he was generally conceded to be the greatest hunter in the Shawnee nation.

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     In 1799 there was a council held about six miles north of the place where Urbana now stands, between the Indians and some of the principal settlers on Mad River, for the adjustment of difficulties which had grown up between those parties.  Tecumseh, with other Shawnee Chiefs, attended the council.  He appears to have been the most conspicuous orator of the conference, and made a speech on the occasion which was much admired for its force and eloquence.  The interpreter, Dechauset, said that he found it very difficult to translate the lofty flights of Tecumseh, although he was as well acquainted with the Shawnee language as with the French which was his mother tongue.
     Sometime during the year 1803, a stout Kentuckian came to Ohio for the purpose of exploring the lands on Mad River, and lodged one night at the house of Capt. Abner Barret, residing on the headwaters of Buck Creek.  In the course of the evening he learned, with apparent alarm, that there were some Indians encamped within a short distance of the house.  Shortly after hearing this unwelcome intelligence, the door of Capt. Barret's dwelling was suddenly opened and Tecumseh entered with his usual stately air; he paused in silence and looked around until at length his eye was fixed upon the stranger who was manifesting symptoms of alarm, and did not venture to look the  stern savage in the face.  Tecumseh turned to his host and pointing to the agitated Kentuckian, exclaimed - "A big baby, a big baby."  He then stepped up to him and gently slapping him on the shoulder several times, repeated with a contemptuous manner, the phrase, "Big baby, big baby!" to the great alarm of the astonished man, and to the amusement of all present.