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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent etre filmis 6 des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour etre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmi d partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche 6 droits. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 PI .ISTS I .) V PIERRE MEXARD, lERRE-MEXARD PAPERS. NOEL LE VASSEUR, .ISTS OF EARLY ILLLXOLS CITIZEXS. ^>.V4.e^. Xc C3Lrr\Q«0 ■ »•••!•■•• I ■■■■■■■■i \ .(I 11 NK» M Till i ■!!«■. rT - . FE ER K®| N STS \"oL •I FERGUS' HISTORICAL SERIES, No. 31. PIERRE MENARD, AND ERRE-MENARD PAPERS, HISTORICAL SKETCH AND NOTES BY EDWARD GAY MASON, President of the Chicacjo Hi^ToRicAt. Socikty. I NOEL LE VASSEUR, BY STEPHEN R. MOORE. STS OF EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS, INTRODUCTION BV EDWARD GAY MASON. REI'RINTED FROM \"()L. IV, Chicago IIistoricai. Society's Coi.lkctions; "Early Chicac.i.. and Illimhs." CHICAGO: FERGUS P R I N T l5v h \ &) M P A N Y. 1890. > • • V • « • ft • • t t .•-••• 01 e« •!-■•• ••>• I « * • • • - I •• « » • • ' • • ••••• • •?•". • r % « • » • « • • « • ' • • • » • • • • t: ■— *w — ." , ,'"x!ii^a!yj I W I f I t ( I t I I ( t. t C I f \ 1 * • EARLY ILLINOIS. m PIERRE MENARD, THE FIRST LIEUTENANT-dOVKRNOR OE ILLINOIS. By Edward G. Mason of Chicago. PIERRE MENARD was born Oct. 7, 1766, at Saint Antoine upon the river Chambly or Richelieu, in the Province of Quebec, in Lower Canada. The historians of Illinois who mention him have uniformly described him as a native of the City of Quebec, born in 1767* But these statements are shown to be erroneous by the register of his baptism, still preserved in the parish church of Saint Antoine, which states that in 1766, on October 8, was baptized Pierre, born the day before of the legitimate marriage of Jean Baptiste Menard, called Brindamour, and Marie Frangoise Ciree, called St. Michclf And the ante-nuptial contract between Pierre Menard and Therese Godin, found among his papers? as well as the register of their marriage in the Church of the Im- maculate Conception at Kaskaskia, Ill.f both signed by him, alike describe him as a native of Saint Antoine, in Canada. The village and parish of Saint Antoine are situated ^ Reynolds' " Pioneer History of Illinois," page 242; Montague's "Directory and Historical Sketches of Randolph County," p. 38; "History of Randolph, Monroe, and Perry Counties, Illinois," p, 306; Davidson & Stuve's "His- tory of Illinois," p. 297. * Parish Register of Saint Antoine de Richelieu, October 8, 1766. " Original contract in Chicago Historical Society's possession. * Parish Register of Church of Immaculate Conception, Kaskaskia, Illi- nois, Juifc 13, 1792. 2 17 ''>Jfid23 i8 EARLY ILLINOIS. in the Sci^nory of Contrcccuur and County of Vercheres, thirty-five miles from the City of Montreal, upon the north shore of the river Richelieu, and the place is usually known as Saint Antoine de Richelieu.' This river, taking its name from the fort at its mouth, called after the famous cardinal, was also known as the Sorel, from M. de Sorel, who commanded at that fortf and as the Cham- bly, from M. de Chambly, who was once in command of a fort built at the foot of the rapids on this stream. It has also been called the St. Louis and the St. John? Pierre Menard's father, Jean Baptiste Menard, called Brindamour, was the son of Jean Baptiste Menard and Madeleine Reboulla, who were of the parish of Saint Hypolitc in the diocese of Alis^ This diocese was prob- ably that of Alais, in France, founded in 1694, and in the Province of Narbonne, in Southern F'rance? There is a village of St. Hypolite in this diocese, in the modern Department of Gard, which probably was the birth-place of Pierre Menard's father, who described himself as a native of Languedoc, in France, the ancient name of that region? The younger Jean Baptiste was born in 1735, and was in the French service as a soldier in the regiment of Guienne. On February 14, 1763, when he was twenty-eight years old, he was married at Saint Antoine to Marie P^an^oise Ciree, then twenty-two years of age, daughter of Jean Baptiste Ciree, called Saint Michel, and of Marguerite Bonin of that parish. Of this marriage were born five sons, the two elder at Saint Antoine, Jean Marie on April 2, 1765, and Pierre on October 7, 1766. The three younger sons were born at ^ Houchette's "Topographical Dictionary of Lower Canada," article St. Antoine. ** Charlevoix's "History of New France," (Shea), III, 83. ' Bouchette's " Topographical Dictionary, " article Richelieu. * Parish Register of Saint Antoine, February 14, 1763. ^ Letter of John Gilmary Shea, P'ebruary 2, 1889. " Letter of Mrs. Augustine Menard, F'ebruary 5, 1889. iJ39mi wm PIERRE MENARD. 19 St. Denis de Richelieu ou Chambly, opposite Saint An- toine, on the other side of the river Richelieu, to which place their parents had removed. Their names and dates of birth were: Hypolite on January 8, 1770, Michel on January 11, 1772, and Jean Francois on January 26, 1775! The family subsequently resided at Montreal, and at St. Philippe, LaTortue, and La Prairie, places in the neigh- borhood of that city? Jean Baptiste Menard was in several engagements, and is said to have taken part in the campaign about Fort DuOuesne. When the war of the Revolution broke out, he joined the American forces and fought under Montgomery at Quebec? It was from Montreal that the young Pierre Menard went forth to seek his fortune, and found his way to V^in- cenncs certainly as early as 1788. A letter to him from his father, addressed to Mr. Pierre Menard, clerk for Mr. Vigo at "Poste Vinsene," is indorsed by him as received April 28, 1788; and a letter from his mother, dated at Montreal, June 9, 1789, refers to a letter from him of July 6 of the year before. The mother's letter is addressed to "Mr. Pierre Menard, called Brindamour, at the house of Mr. Vigo at Poste de Vinsenne."* These epistles and others from his parents, treasured by him to his death, breathe a spirit of the tenderest affection for the absent son, and those of his mother, especially, show the writer to have been a person of superior intelligence and educa- tion. She died at LaPrairie, a village on the south shore of the river St. Lawrence, nine miles from Montreal, Sep- tember 19, 1807? Pierre Menard, while living at Vincennes in 1789, accom- panied Francois Vigo across the Alleghany Mountains ^ Parish Register of Saint Antoine. ' Letters from Pierre Menard's parents in Chicago Historical Society's possession. ' Reynolds' "Pioneer History of Illinois," p. 242; letter of Mrs. Augus- tine Menard, Feb. 5, 1889. * Letters u/ su/>ra. ^ Ibid. i < I i ■i ■^ ..<. 20 KAKI.V Il-LINOIS. to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where they had an interview with President Washington in relation to the defence of the Western frontier."' He subsequently removed from Vincennes to Kaskaskia, where he was married, June 13, 1792, to Miss Thcrcse Godin, then nineteen years of age, daughter of Michel Godin, called Tourangeau, and Therese St. Gemme licauvais.f The civil contra^j^t relating to their property matters was entered into the same day before Mr. Carbonneaux, the notary-public of the County of St. Clair in the country of the Illinois; and the original document, preserved among his papers, is an interesting instance of the late existence of French law and custom in this region. The marriage ceremony was performed at the church of the Immaculate Con- ception at Kaskaskia, by the Rev. Father Saint Pierre. Among the witnesses were Gen. John Edgar and his wife Rachel Pklgar, William St. Clair and his wife Jane St. Clair, and William Morrisson, rJl well-known names in the early history of the Illinois Territorj-. Mrs. Therese Godin Menard died in 1804, leaving four children. On Sept. 22, 1806, Pierre Menard was married the sec- ond time, at Kaskaskia, in the same church, to Angelique Saucier, daughter of Francois Saucier and Angelique La Pensee, and granddaughter of Francjois Saucier, once a French officer at P'ort Chartres, who resigned and settled in the Illinois country. The ceremony was performed by Donatien Ollivier, the priest of the parish. | Mrs, An- gelique Saucier Menard was born at Portage des Siou.x, March 4, 1783, and died F'ebruary 12, 1839, leaving six children, and was buried in the Menard burial-ground at Kaskaskia.^ During his long life in Illinois, Pierre Menard held * Letters /// supra. + Parish Register, Kaskaskia, June 13, 1792. X I'arish Register, Kaskaskia, September 22, 1806. § Letter of Mrs. Augustine Menard, November 25, 1888. ^^4Nwi riEKRE MENARD. 21 many positions of trust and honor, among which were the following: October 5, 1795, he was commissioned a major of the first regiment of militia of Randolph County by Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory; August I, 1800, he was again commissioned to the same office by John Gibson, acting-governor of the Indiana Territory; February 5, 1801, he was appointed one of the judges of the court of common pleas of Randolph County by William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory; September 24, 1802, he and John Edgar were associated by the same governor with John Griffin, one of the judges of the territorial supreme court, on a com- mission of inquiry concerning crimes in the Territory; December 14, 1805, he was appointed by the commis- sioners of the land-office for the district of Vincenncs, a commissioner to take depo.sitions and examine witnesses within the county of Randolph; December 27, 1805, he was again appointed by Gov. Harrison one of the judges of the court of common pleas for Randolph County; July 12, 1806, Gov. Harrison appointed him lieutenant- colonel commandant of the first regiment of militia of Randolph County, a position formerly held by John Edgar; April i, 1809, Meriwether Lewis, governor of the territory of Louisiana, appointed him captain of infantry in a detachment of militia on special service; May 6th, 1809, Nathaniel Pope, secretary of the Illinois Territory and acting governor, again appointed him lieutenant- colonel of the first regiment of Randolph County militia; April 2, 18 1 3, he was made United States sub-agent of Indian affairs oy John Armstrong, secretary of war; and on May 24, 1828, he and Lewis Cass were appointed commissioners to make treaties with the Indians of the Northwest by John Quincy Adams, president of the United States.* Of his territorial and state offices, and * Original commissions in possession of tlie Chicago Historical Society. 22 EARLY ILLINOIS. public services, and of his life and character, an interest- ing account will be found in the address of Hon. Henry S. Baker, delivered at the unveiling of the statue of Pierre Menard at Springfield, 111.* Two of Pierre Menard's brothers, Hypolite and Jean Francois, followed him to Illinois and settled at Kaskas- kia. The former was a successful farmer, and the other a famous navigator of the Mississippi. Both led useful and honored lives, lived to an advanced age, and both rest near their brother Pierre in the old cemetery at Kas- kaskia.-f* A nephew, also, Michel Menard, having as well the family patronymic of Brindamour, who was born at LaPrairie, December 5, 1805, made his way to Illinois at the age of eighteen. For several years he was employed by his uncle Pierre in trading with the Indians. He obtained great influence among them, and was elected chief of 'the Shawnees. It is said that he almost suc- ceeded in uniting the tribes of the Northwest into one great nation, of which he would have been king. In 1833, Michel went to Texas, was a member of the con- vention which declared its independence, and of its con- gress. A league of land was granted to him, including most of the site of the City of Galveston, which he founded, and where he died in 1856. It is related that the Indians said of him, as of his uncle Pierre, whom in many respects he resembled, "Menard never deceived us."j Pierre Menard died at the good old age of seventy- seven years and eight months, on June 13, 1844, and was buried, June 14, 1844, in a vault prepared under his own supervision in the graveyard of the Church of the Im- maculate Conception, at Kaskaskia. And the parish * Vol. IV, Chicago Historical Society's Collections. t Reynolds' "Pioneer History of Illinois," 2d ed., p. 294. Z "Appleton's Cyclopa-dia Biography," IV, 295. 1 PIERRE MENARD. 23 an interest- Ion. Henry le of Pierre i and Jean at Kaskas- 1 the other led useful , and both iry at Kas- ing as well as born at Illinois at employed lians. He as elected Imost suc- t into one king. In f the con- of its con- including which he lated that rre, whom ■ deceived r seventy- |., and was r his own f the Im- lie parish burial -record says: "Thither he was accompanied by an immense concourse of people."* His children by his first wife were: 1. Odile Menard, born at Kaskaskia in 1793; married in 181 1 to Hugh H. Maxwell, a native of Ireland, deceased in 1832. She died October 8, 1862. They had twelve children, of whom two are living. Col. L. Maxwell of New Mexico, known in connection with the "Maxwell land-grant," was their son. 2. Peter Menard, born at Kaskaskia in 1797, married first Caroline Stillman, in 1830, at Peoria, where she died in 1847; and second, Emily Briggs, at Tremont, 111., in 1850; she is still living with two children. He died in Tremont, November 30, 1871. 3- Berenice Menard, born at Kaskaskia in 1801, mar- ried in 1 8 19 to Francois C. Chouteau, deceased in 1836. She died at Kansas City, Mo., November 19, 1888, at the age of eighty-seven years, leaving grandchildren, but no children surviving her. 4. Alzira Menard, born at Kaskaskia in 1802; married in 1824 to George H. Kennerly; and died at Carondelet, Mo., in 1885, leaving five children. His children by his second wife were: 1. Francois P. Menard, born at Kaskaskia in 1809, and died in January, 1831. 2. Edmond Menard, born at Kaskaskia, February 8, 1813, educated at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmetsburg, Maryland, and died at Kaskaskia in July, 1884. 3. Matthew Saucier Menard, born at Kaskaskia, April 22, 18 17; married at Ste. Genevieve, Mo., to Constance Detchemendy; and died September 29, 1832, at St. Louis, Mo., leaving no children. 4. Louis Cyprien Menard, born March 2, 18 19; edu- cated at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmef burg, Mary- * Parish Register, Kaskaskia, June 14, 1844. ' 1 1 i «i. 24 EARLY ILLINOIS. land, and admitted to the bar at St. Louis, Mo., in 1843. He was married Oct. 15, 1845, to Augustine Ste. Gemme, and died June 2, 1870, kviving his widow and six children. 5. Amedee Menard, born in 1820, and died in 1844 at Peoria, 111. 6. Sophie A., born November 13, 1822; married, in July, 1843, to John D. Radford of St. Louis, deceased in 1868. She died June 22, 1848, and none of her children survive. 1 T '% K'i I f f?^? -:f.' ■f » .' I' Ha ^•^■•■■■PB T '4.. i^^^^^^ l^l n (),:>. '^■'. /'///>. \ ■••" 1 PIERRE MENARD PAPERS. P'rom the originals in the possession of the. Chicago Historical Society. Ante -Nuptial Contract between Pierre Menard and Miss Therese Godin, called Tourangeau, June 13, 1792: (Translated from the French. ) BEFORE the Notary Public of the County of St. Clair in the country of the Illinois. The undersigned, residing in the parish of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady of the Kaskaskias, the place of meeting, and the undersigned witnesses were present. In person Mr. Pierre Menard, bachelor, having attained his majority, legitimate son of Mr. Jean Baptiste Menard, called Brindamour, and of Dame Marie Frangoise Ciree Saint Michel, his father and mother, native of the Parish of Saint Antoine upon the river Chambli, Province of the holy diocese of Quebec in Canada, a trading merchant living in the said Parish of Kaskaskia, agreeing for himself and in his own name for one part. And Miss Therese Godin, called Tourangeau, daughter of the late Mr. Michel Godin, called Tourangeau, and of Dame Thesese Ste. Geme Beauvais, her father and mother, living in this before-mentioned parish of the Kaskaskias. The said Dame Therese Ste. Geme Beauvais agreeing for the said Miss Theresa, her daughter, aged nineteen years, in her name and with her consent for the second part. Which parties, to wit, on the part of the said Mr. Pierre Menard, Mr. Francois Janis, Esquire, Captain of a Com- pany of Citizen militia of this parish, Messrs. Pierre Bon- neau, and Pierre Latulippe his witnesses and friends: And on the part of the said Miss Therese Godin Tcur- 25 26 EARIA' ILLINOIS. angeau, Dame Therese Ste, Geme Beauvais, her mother; Charles Danis, her maternal uncle, as having married the late Miss Ursule Ste. Geme Beauvais; Nicholas Canada, her maternal uncle, as having married Miss Marie Helene Ste. Geme Beauvais; Ambroise Dagne, her cousin; Jean Baptiste Cailliot Lachanse; all her relatives and friends, which parties by the advice and consent of their relatives and friends herein named having knowledge of it, have agreed to have made between them the agreement and articles of marriage as follows, to wit: The said Dame Therese Ste. Geme Beauvais promises to give and deliver the said Miss Theresa Godin, her daugh- ter, with her consent, to the said Mr. Pierre Menard who promises to take her for his true and lawful wife and to cause to be celebrated and solemnized the marriage in the presence of our holy mother Church Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman, the rather that doing so would be what one of the parties would require of the other. For to be, the said future husband and wife, one and the same in all property personal and real increase and acqui- sitions, present and future, without being held for the debti?, the one for the other, made and incurred before the celebration of the said marriage, and if any are found, they shall be paid and discharged by him or her who shall have made and incurred them and from his own property without the other or his goods being at all held for the same. The said future husband and wife take each other with their goods and rights actually belonging to each, such as have come to them through inheritances or as gifts and those that may fall due in the future in whatever sum they may amount, and of whatever nature and value they may be, and in whatever place they may be found located, which shall become wholly in common from the day of the marriage ceremony. i PIERRE MENARD TAPERS. 27 her mother; f married the olas Canada, Marie Helene cousin; Jean > and friends, their relatives ^e of it, have Treement and is promises to in, her daugh- Menard who il wife and to larriage in the lie, Apostolic, I be what one e, one and the se and acqui- held for the •ed before the ny are found, her who shall own property 1 held for the Lch other with > each, such as r as gifts and ever sum they alue they may bund located, the day of the ^^ In consideration of which marriage the said future hus- band has endowed and does endow the said future wife, with a thousand livres of fixed dower paid at one time to have and to take out of all the property of the said future husband without being held to make demand for it in court, to be enjoyed by the said future wife and her chil- dren, according to the custom of Paris. The marriage-settlement provision shall be equal and reciprocal to the survivor of them to the amount of five hundred livres to be taken by the said survivor in per- sonal property from their common stock, or the said sum in full in cash at the choice or option of the said survivor. It shall be lawful for the said future wife, the said future husband happening to be the first to die, herself and her children to renounce the present community of goods, and of it to retake and hold in renouncing it all she will be able to prove she has contributed to it, with her dower and marriage settlement provision such as it is hereinbefore written free from all the debts of the common stock except if she was bound for any of them, or had been impleaded or adjudged to pay any of them, in which case she and her children shall be indemnified by the parents of the said future husband, and out of his property. In consideration of which marriage and for the good true affection which the said future partners feel the one for the other, they have made and do make by these pres- ents free gift pure and simple and for ever irrevocable, and in the most binding form in which a gift can be made to the last survivor of them, all and ever their property real and personal increase and acquisitions which the first one dying shall leave at the day and hour of decease to enjoy by the last survivor in full property, and as to whatever belongs to that one this present deed of gift is thus made for life and upon the understanding that there is no living child born or to be born of the said marriage; in which 1 ■mr 28 EARLY ILLINOIS. case of a child the said deed or gift will be wholly null, it beiqg well understood that the property of the patrimonial inheritance of the one and the other shall return to their family. And in order to place on record these presents at the registry of this district in the aforesaid place at the date of these presents, they have constituted their procurator the bearer of these presents. For thus it has been agreed upon. Promising, etc., undertaking, etc., renouncing, etc. Done and decided in the house of the said Dame Therese Ste. Geme Beauvais, widow of the late Michel Godin Tou- rangeau at the said Kaskaskias, the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, and the thirteenth day of the month of June, in the afternoon; the sixteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America, in the presence of the relations and of friends of whom some have signed with the future husband and wife and we the notary have subscribed and the others have made their ordinary mark, after reading made according to the ordinance. (Two witnesses in the margin are approved.) Francois Janis. Nicolas x' Canada. mark J. Bte. x' Lachanse. mark Pierre Menard. Therreuese Godin, ve Godin. Pierre x' Bonneau. mark ^ his Pierre x Latulippe. mark Ambroise x' Dagnet. mark PIERRE MENARD PAPERS. 29 oily null, it patrimonial urn to their >ents at the at the date procurator )een agreed uncing, etc. me Therese Godin Tou- e thousand mth day of ;nth year of \merica, in 3 of whom nd wife and have made ding to the approved.) kD. ODIN, s^NEAU. rULIPPE. Dagnet. Pierre Menard's Commissions as Major of Militia: Territory of the United States | Arthur St. Clair Esquire • Northwest the River Ohio j Governor and Com- mander in Chief of the Territory of the United States North West the River Ohio. To Peter Menard Esquire: You being appointed Major in the first Regiment of Militia of the County of Randolph by Virtue of the Power Vested in me I do by these presents Reposing Special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty Courage and good Conduct, Commission You Accordingly. You are there- fore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Major — in leading — ordering and exercising Said Militia in Arms both Inferiour Officers and Soldiers and to keep them in Good order and discipline. And they are hereby Commanded to Obey you as their Major — and you your- selfe to observe and follow Such Orders and Instructions as you Shall from time to time receive from me or your Superiour Officers. Given under my hand and the Seal of the Said Territory of the United States this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thous seven hundred and ninety-five and of the Independence of the United States the twentieth. Ar. St. Cla^r. [Endorsed:] Before me John Edgar Leut. Colonel Com- mandant of the first Regt. of Militia of the County of Randolph by Virtue of a Dcdimus Potcstatcm to me and Lordner Clark directed or either of us Personly appeared Peter Menard who being duly Sworn did take the oaths prescribed by an \ct of the United States entitled an Act to regulate the time and maner of administring certain Oaths and the Oath of Office. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Kaskaskias the 25. day of Octr. 1792. [Seal] 1 ■-86): 30 EARLY II.I-INOIS, By John Gibson, ICsq'r, Secretary and now acting as Gov- ernor and Commander in Chief of the Indiana Territory: United States, ) To Peter Menard, ICsq'r, of the County Indiana Territory. J of Randolph, Greeting: — You being Appointed a Major of a Regiment of tlie Militia in said County. By Virtue of the power Vested in me; I do by these presents, (reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty; Courage and Good Conduct) Commission you accordingly; You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Major in leading, ordering, and exercising said Regiment in Arms, both inferior officers and Soldiers; and to keep them in good order and discipline; And they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Major. And you are yourself to observe and follow such orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or your Superior Officers: — Given under my hand and the seal of said Terri- tory, the first day of August in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America, the Twenty- fifth. J NO. Gibson. [Endorsed:] Peter Menard, Esq'r, Major. Before me, John Edgar, Lieut'-Colonel, Commandant of the First Regiment of Militia of the County of Randolph, by Virtue of a Dedimus Potestatan to me directed Person- ally appeared Peter Menard who, being duly sworn, did take the Oath prescribed by an Act of the United States entituled an Act to regulate the time & manner of admin- istering certain Oaths & the Oath of Office. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Tenth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred. J. Edgar. [Seal] I'lERRE MENARD I'Al'ERS. 31 ig as Gov- le Indiana the County lent of the ,vcr Vested i Trust and d Conduct) re carefully in leading, \rms, both ;ni in good imanded to f to observe I shall from Officers: — said Terri- :he Year of •f the Inde- le Twenty- GlIiSON. mandant of Randolph, ted Person- sworn, did lited States r of admin- y hand this r Lord one [. Edgar. Pierre Menard's Commission as Judge of the Courts of Randolph County: William Henry Harrison, Esq., Governor and Commander in Chief of Indiana Territory, . ,. ^ . (To Peter Menard, Esquire, of the Indiana Territory, j ^ . ^ ,. , , , , „ ^ y County of Randolph sends Greeting: Know you that reposing Especial trust and confidence in your abilities, integrity and judgement, I, the said William Henry Harrison have appointed, and do by these presents appoint and commission you, the said Peter Menard, to be one of our Judges of the court of common pleas, in and for our said County, hereby giving and granting unto you full right and titlo to have and Execute all and singu- lar the powers, Jurisdictions and authorities, and to recieve and enjoy all and singular the Emoluments, of a Judge of the court of common pleas, of a Judge of the Orphans Court, and of a Justice of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the peace in and for the county aforesaid agreeably to the constitution of the laws of this Territory to have and to hold this commission and the office hereby granted to you so long as you shall behave yourself well. r,^ ,^ Given under my hand and the seal of the Ter- I iC3.ll ^ -• ritory at Vincennes this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one and of the Independence of the United States the twenty fifth. By The Governor, J NO. GiBSON, Secretary. [Endorsed:] Commission Peter Menard, P2sq. Pierre Menard and John Edgar's Commissions as Associate Judges Criminal Court, Randolph Co.: Indiana ) William Henry Harrison Esquire, Gov- Territory j ernor and Commander in Chief of the Indiana Territory, to John Edgar and Peter Menard of the County of Randolph Esquires, Greeting: ^ 32 EARLY ILLINOIS. Whereas we assigned the Honble. John Griffin P2sqr. one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the Indiana Terri- tory, our Justice to enquire by the Oaths of Honest and Lawful Men of the County of Randolph, by whom the truth of the Matter may be better known, of all Treasons, Insurrections and Rebellions, and of all Murders, Felonies, Manslaughters, Burglaries, Rapes of Women, unlawfull uttering of Words, unlawful assemblies. Misprisions, Con- federacies, false allegations, Trespasses, Riots, Routs, Con- tempts, falsities. Negligences, Concealements, Maintainces, Opressions, deceits and all other Misdeeds, Offences & Injuries whatsoever, and by whomsoever and howsoever done, had or perpetrated and Committed, and by whom, to whom, where, how and in what Manner the same have been done, perpetrated or Committed and all and singular the premises and every of then:" for this time to hear and determine according to Law, and to cause to be brought before him all the prisoners who shall be in the Jail of the said County together with all and singular the Warrants, attachments, Mittimuses, and other documents, touching the said prisoners, and for this time to deliver the Jail of the said County of all the prisoners in the said Jail, for all and every of the said offences, according to Law. And we have associated you the said John Edgar and Peter Menard to act in the premises with the said John Griffin. Yet so, that if at certain days and places, which the same John Griffin shall appoint for this purpose, you shall happen to be present, then that he admit you a Companion, otherwise the said John Griffin (your presence not Being expected) may proceed to act in the premises. And therefore we command you and each of you that you attend to act with the said John Griffin in form aforesaid in the premises For we have Commanded the said John Griffin the admit you as a Companion for this purpose as aforesaid. 1 1 '''MP^ ^«L.^M.MMiiiBlliMii PIERRE MENARD PAPERS. 33 r^ jl Witness: William Henry Harrison Esquire Gov- ernor and Commander of the Indiana Territory at Vincennes this 24th September 1802 and of the Inde- pendence of the United States the Twenty Seventh. By the Governor. ^ f) Jno. Gibson, yL/L^€Z^^/^<^22±^ /^-gyn^n^ oy^^ Secrety. -— ^^ Indiana | William Henry Harrison Esquire Gov- Territory j ernor of the Indiana Territory to the Honble. John Griflfin Esqr. one of the Judges in and over said Territory and John Edgar and Peter Menard Esquires of the County of Randolph, Greeting: Whereas, we have assigned you the aforesaid John Grif- fin our Justice, to Inquire more fully by the Oaths of Honest and lawful men of the County of Randolph, by whom the Truth of the Matter may be Better known, of all treasons. Insurrections and Rebellions, and of all Mur- ders, Felonies, Manslaughter, Burglaries, Rapes of Women, unlawful Uttering of Words, unlawful Assemblies, Mis- prisons, Confederacies, Maintainances, Oppressions, deceits and all other Misdeeds and offences and Injuries, whatso- ever and by whomsoever, and howsoever done, had, per- petrated or Committed and all and Singular the premises and every or any of them for this time, to hear and deter- mine according to Law. And afterwards associated the said John Edgar and Peter Menard with you the aforesaid John Griffin in the premises, We Command you, that if You all cannot conveniently attend to act in the premises, that you or any two of you, who shall happen to be pres- ent, of which we will that you the said John Grifiin be one, proceed to act in the premises according to Law. IS n ^'t"^ss William Henry Harrison Esquire Gov- ernor of the Indiana Territory at Vincennes this Twenty Fourth day of September in the Year of our Lord 3 ■■M 34 EARLY IIXINOIS. one thousand eight hundred and two and of the Indepen- dence of the United States the Twenty Seventh. By the Governor, (sd) WiLLM. HENRY HARRISON. Jxo. Gibson, Secrety. Pierre Menard's Commission to take Testimony in Land -Office Claims: To Pierre Menard, Esquire Reposing full Confidence in your Integrity, we hereby appoint you a Commissioner to examine witnesses and take Depositions within the County of Randolph, in sup- port of Claims entered in the Registers Office of the Dis- trict of Vincennes. Given under our Hands this 14th day of December 1805. John Badollet Nathl. C. Pring Commissioner of the land office for the District of Vincennes. Pierre Menard's Commission as Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Randolph County: William Henry Harrison, Governor, and Commander in Chief of the Indiana Territory, To Pierre Menard, Esquire, of the County of Randolph, sends Greeting: — Know you, That reposing special trust and confidence in your integrity, judgment and abilities, I have appointed, and by these presents I do appoint and commission you the said Pierre Menard a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in the said County of Randolph, hereby giving and granting unto you, as judge of the common pleas, full right and title to have and execute all and singular the powers, jurisdictions and authorities, and to receive and enjoy all and singular the lawful emoluments of a judge 1; '■^ ■•«*i»aK«wii PIERRE MENARD TAPERS. 35 le Indepen- :h. Harrison. timony in we hereby nesses and Iph, in sup- of the Dis- is 14th day iT id office Vincennes. ' Court of imander in re Menard, Greeting: — )nfidence in appointed, nission you )f Common giving and pleas, full ingular the 'eceive and of a judge [Seal] of die said court of common pleas: to have and to hold this commission, and the office hereby granted to you, the said Pierre Menard, so long as you shall behave yourself well. Given under my hand, and the seal of the said territory, at Vincennes, this Twenty Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Plve, of the independence of the United States of America the thirtieth. This Commission to be in force from and after the ist day of January, 1806. By the Governor's Command, Jno. Gibson, Secrerary. [Endorsed:] Peter Menards Commission as Judge of the Court of Common pleas. Indiana Territory ) , Before me, Michael Jones (duly Randolph County J authorized to administer the oaths of office to all officers civil & Military of said County, by Dedimus potestatem from the Governor of said Territory dated the third day of May 1806), personally appeared Peter Menard Esquire, and took the oaths of office as Judge of the Court of common pleas for said County as required by law. Given under my hand at Kaskaskia the eighteenth day of July 1806. Pierre Menard's Commission as Lieutenant -Colonel of First Regiment Randolph County Militia, under the Laws of Indiana Territory: William Henry Harrison, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Indiana Territory, to Pierre Menard, Esq'r, Greeting: — Reposing special trust and ccMi-fidence in your fidelity, courage and good conduct, L h^ave appointed you a Lieu- 1 1 • » 4 1 . J - » I ) I ■ y 9 • I 5 ft k -• » fc I 9 » ^ 5 'I 5 ,■ > , t 1' '• Of' i 30 EARLY ILLINOIS. tenant Colonel Commandant of the first regiment of the Militia of the county of Randolph and you are hereby appointed accordingly. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Lieut. Colo. Commandt. in leading, ordering and exercising the said regiment in arms, both inferior officers and soldiers, and to keep them in good order and discipline, and they are hereby com- manded to obey you as their Lieutenant Colo. Commandt. and your are yourself to observe and follow such orders and instructions as you shall from time to time receive from me or your superior officers. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto caused '■ ^^ J the seal of the territory to be affixed, the twelfth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the thirty first. WiLLM. Henry Harrison. By the Governor's conimand, J NO. Gibson, Secretary. [Endorsed:] Indiana Territory, ) Before me the subscriber (author- Randolph County. ) ized by Dcdimus Potestatem from the Governor of said Territory, dated the third day of May, 1806, to administer the oaths of office to all offi- cers civil and military of said county) personally appeared Peter Menard Esquire, and tooi< the oaths of office as Colonel of the first Regiment of Militia of Randolph County as required by law. Given under my hand at Kaskaskia the i8th day of July, 1806. Micil. JONES. Pierre Menard's Commission as Captain of Infantry in Louisiana Territory: Meriwether Lewis, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Territory nf Louisiana, to all who shall see these presents, Greeting: — • J I I I • • I • •■ PIERRE MENARD PAPERS. 37 me receive Harrison. [Seal] Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valour, fidelity and abitities of Peter Menard I have appointed him a Captain of Infantry in a Detachmt. of Militia, on special service he is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all manner of things hereunto belonging, and I do strickly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers, under his command to be obedient to his orders as Captain and he is to obey such orders and direc- tions from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or his superior officers. This commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the Governor of the Territory for the time being. In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Seal of the Territory t'^ Se hereunto affixed this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine and of the independence of the United States the thirty third. Meriwether Lewis. By Frederick Bates,* Secretary of the Territory of Louisiana. [Endorsed:] Territory of Louisiana, &c.. Personally appeared before me, the subscriber duly authorized to ad- minister the several oaths to Office within the Territory aforesaid, Peter Menard who took the Oath to Support * Frederick Bates, third of seven sons of Thomas Fleming Bates, merchant, was born at Belmont, Goodrich Co., Virginia, June 23, 1777; after receiving a rudimentary education, was, when about seventeen, apprenticed to a court- clerk, thereby supporting himself, by doing the practical duties of the place, and studying law— intending, as was then the common practice in Virginia, to go through the clerk's office to the bar. About 1795, he obtained employ- ment in the quartermaster's department of the Army of the Northwest on the frontier ; intending to return as soon as he was able to the study and practice of his profession. He was stationed at Detroit but was often on business at Mackinac and other posts. In a few years he acquired some capital as a merchant but lost the greater portion of it by the fire of 1805— which was a ?Ba«£L3m£ ^^PP 38 EARLY ILLINOIS. the Constitution of the United States as well as the oath faithfully to discharge the duties of a Captain of Militia on special service to the best of his abilities, skill, and judgment, and in conformity to the within Commission. Given under my hand at St. Louis this i8th of May, 1809. TlIOS. F. RiDDICK. Pierre Menard's Commission as Lieutenant -Colonel of First Regiment Randolph County Militia, under the Laws of Illinois Territory: Nathaniel Pope, Secretary of the Illinois Territory, and exercising as well the Government as Commander in Chief of the Militia thereof, To all who shall see these Presents, Greeting: — Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valour, fidelity and abilities of Pierre Menard I have appointed him Lieutenant Colonel of ist Regiment of Militia of Randolph County he is therefore carefully and diligently to, discharge the duty of Lieuten- ant Colonel by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging, and I do strictly charge and require all officers and .soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Lieutenant Colonel and he is to obey such orders and directions from time to time, as he shall receive from the Commander in Chief, or his superior officers. lucky turn, as it forced him from a business that was unsuited to his taste and talent. Having by this time acquired a large experience of frontier character and business, he was about to enter the profession when in 1805 he was appointed senior associate-judge of the territorial district and land commissioner ' i'resident Jefferson, who with his Secretary of State, James Madison, were t.-r ^> :>f his family. In 1807, he was transferred to St. Louis, Upper Louisi- p- . as secretary of the Territory and United -States recorder of land-titles; i"'*-. ces he held many years — as secretary till the admission of Missouri ill iS: ... and the recordership till 1824, when he was elected the second governor of Missouri, and died in office Aug. 4, 1825. Edward Bates, Lincoln's attorney-general, was his youngest brother. g. h. k. PIERRE MENARD PAPERS. 39 This commission to continue in force during the pleas- ure of the Governor of the territory, for the time being. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed '- -' my private seal, there being no seal of office, at Kaskaskia, the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine and of the Indepen- dence of the United States, the thirty-third. Nat Pope. [Endorsed:] Lewtenaat Colo. P. Menard. This day came before me the within named Piere Men- ard and took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. Kaskaskia May 26th 1809. Pierre Menard's Commission as Indian Agent: War Dept, April 2nd, 18 13. Pierre Menard Esqr. Sir — You are hereby with the approbation of the Presi- dent of the United States appointed sub agent of Indian affairs. In discharging the duties of this appointment you will be governed by such instructions as you shall receive from this Department or from General William Clark, Agent of Indian Affairs at St. Louis, M. Territory. Your compensation will be at the rate of Six hundred dollars per annum, to commence on the date of your enter- ing upon the duties of this appointment. re n Given at the War Office of the United States, [SealJ & thirteen. this Second day of April, eighteen hundred John Armstrong. c ^ ■ i u <» > i i ii ii ii -i. i i ni i'ii i 40 EARLY ILLINOIS. Lewis Cass and Pierre Menard's Commissions to make Indian Treaties: John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of America, To all who shall see these presents^ Greeting: — Know Ye, That in pursuance of the Act of Congress passed on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1828; entitled "An act to enable the President of the United States to hold a treaty with the Chippewas, Ottawas, Pattawattimas, Winnebagoes, Fox and Sacs Nations of Indians," and reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Abilities, Prudence and Fidelity of Lewis Cass of the Territory of Michigan, and Pierre Menard of the State of Illinois, I have nominated and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint them Commissioners of the United States, with full power and authority to hold con- ferences and to conclude and sign a treaty or treaties with the Chippewas, Ottowas, Pattawattimas, Winnebagoes, F'ox and Sacs Nations of Indians, of and concerning all matters interesting to the United States, and the said Nations of Indians, transmitting the same to the President of the United States of America, for his final ratification by and with the consent and advice of the Senate of the United States. This commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. In Testimony whereof, I have caused these Let- [Seal] ters to be made patent, and the Seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the twenty-fourth day of May, A.D. 1828; and of the Independence of the United States, the fifty-Second. J. Q. Adams. By the President, H. Clay, Secretary of State. ''a m 'icawft^"* PIERRE MENARD PAPERS. 41 ions to d States presents^ Congress ; entitled States to ivattimas, ms," and Abilities, rritory of Illinois, I i consent s of the hold con- aties with [lebagoes, rning all the said President itification ,te of the in force d States lese Let- il of the nder my- th day of ; United DAMS. e. Extracts from the Parish Registers of Saint Antoine de Richelieu ou Chambly, Province de Quebec^ Comte de Vercheres, Canada: RECORD OF MARRIAGE OF PIERRE MENARD'S PARENTS: Le 14 Fevrier, 1763, J. Bte Menard dit Brindamour soldat du regiment de Guienne, age de 28 ans, fils de feu J. Bte Menard, et de Madelaine Reboulla ses pere et mere de la paroisse de St. Hypolite Diocese d'Alis, epousa Marie Fran9oise Cir^e, agee de 22 ans, fiUe de J. B'e Ciree dit St. Michel, et de Marguerite Bonin, de cette paroisse, (Translation:) The fourteenth of February, 1763, J. Baptiste Menard,, called Brindamour, soldier of the regiment of Guienne, aged 28 years, son of the late J. Baptiste Menard and of Madelaine Reboulla, his father and mother of the parish of Saint Hypolite, diocese of Alis, married Marie Fran- 9oise Ciree, aged 22 years, daughter of J. Baptiste Ciree, called ^aint Michel, and of Marguerite Bonin of this parish. RECORD OF THE BAPTISM OF PIERRE MENARD: "L'an mil sept soixante et six le huit d' Octobre par Nous pretre soussigne cure de cette paroisse a ete baptise Pierre ne d' hier au soir du legitime mariage de Jean Bap- tiste Menard dit Brindamour et de Marie Fran^oise Ciree ditte St. Michel. Le perrain a ete Pierre Vandaridaigue dit Gadbois, et la marraine Louise Ciree ditte St. Michel tante de 1' enfant qui ont declare ne savoir signer. J. B. Menard. Gervaise, P'tre." (Translation:) The year seventeen hundred and sixty-six, the eighth of October, by us the undersigned priest, vicar of this parish, was baptized Pierre, born yesterday evening of ^ 42 EARLY ILLINOIS. the legitimate marriage of Jean Baptiste Menard, called Brindamour, and Marie Fran^oise Ciree, called St. Michel. The godfather was Pierre Vandandaigue, called Gadbois, and the godmother Louise Ciree, called St. Michel, aunt of the infant, who have declared that they do not know how to write. J. B. Mknari). Gervais'", Priest. Extracts from Parish Registers of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Kaskaskia, Illinois: RECORD OF THE FIRST >L\RRIAGE OF PIERRE MENARD: "L'an mil sept cent quatre vingt douze, le treize de Juin apres av^oir donne dispense de trois bans de mariage entre Pierre Menard fils legitime de Jean Menard et iM'ancoise Cireey, natif de la paroisse de Saint Antoine en Canada, Commer^ant de ce poste, et Therese Gaudin Durangeau fille legitime de defunt Michel Gaudin dit Durangeau, et Therese Raphael, native de cette paroisse, ne s' etant decouvert aucun empechement, j' ai fe9U leur consentement mutuel, et leur ai donne la Benediction nuptiale selon les ceremoines de notre Sainte i;nere I'Eglise Catholique et Romaine, et ce en presence des temoins et leurs parents reciproques selon 1' ordonnance apres lecture faits. De Saint Pierre, Miss, apost. JN. Edgar, William St. Clair, w. morrisson, la marque de + Nicholas Canada, Elisabeth Maxwell." Therese Godin, Pierre Menard, B. Tardiveau, dan IS Francois Janis, Jeane St. Clair, (Translation:) The year seventeen hundred and ninety-two, the thir- teenth of June, after having dispensed with the three •-*■ .ui^i. riERRE MENARD PAPERS. 43 bans of marriage between Pierre Menard, legitimate son of Jean Menard and Francois Ciree, native of the parish of Saint Antoine in Canada, trader at this post, and Thcrese Gaudin Durangeau, legitimate daughter of the deceased Michel Gaudin, called Durangeau, and Theresa Raphael, native of this parish, not having discovered any impediment, I have received their mutual consent, and have given them the nuptial benediction according to the ceremonies of our holy Mother the Catholic and Roman Church, and in the presence of the witnesses and their respective parents, according to the ordinance after read- ing made. By Saint Pierre, Mission Apostolic. RECORD OF THE BURIAL OF PIERRE MENARD: "On the fourteenth of June, 1844, I the undersigned ]5uried the remains of Colonel Pierre Menard in his vault in the graveyard of this Parish, thither he was accompanied by an immense concourse of People. "He died yesterday the at 1}^, having previously received the last sacraments, he was 72 years old.* J. M. I. St. CYR.t parish Priest." * The blanks in the above entry represent words in the original entry which can not now be deciphered. The statement of his age is manifestly incorrect, and some one has scratched with a lead pencil the figure " 2 " in the original entry and has written "6" over the "2", and has also written " 76" in pencil over the " 72". This approximates to the truth, but Pierre Menard's exact age at the time of his death, as shown by the register of his baptism, w^as seventy-seven years, eight months, and six days. k. g. m. t John Mary Ireneus St. Cyr, born in November, 1803, and educated in France; ordained in St. Louis, April 6, 1833; arrived in Chicago, May i, 1833, ^"d became its first resident priest; organized its first congregation and built its first Catholic church — southwest corner Lake and State Streets; where he remained until 1837, when he returned to St. Louis; and died at Carondolet, Mo., Feb. 21, 1884. — c. H. K. ■Hi -.t--- |~lK5.i .1 \ NOEL LE VASSEUR. By Stephen R. Moore of Kankakee, Illinois. AT a meeting of the Old Settlers' Association of Iro- l\. quois County, held on the ground where Gurdon S. Hubbard and Noel le Vasseur, in the service of the American Fur-Company, had a stock of merchandise and established a trading-post with the Pottawatomie Indians, Mr. Hubbard said that he first visited this site in 1822. Noel le Vasseur claimed to the writer of this sketch, that he came to this place in 1820, and at one of the old settlers' meetings, which he attended, I spoke for him and made this statement, at his request, and he pointed out the ground on the south side of the Iroquois River where Mr. Hubbard and himself built the first dry-goods store, in the territory tributary to Chicago. It will be difficult to reconcile with exactness the dates of the pioneer lives of Hubbard and Vasseur in their first trading with the Indians in Illinois. I shall briefly give the events and times as I gathered them from the lips of Mr. Vasseur. It is possible that Hubbard may have sent Vasseur to Illinois two years br7fore he went there.* In this connection it is well to stale that Mr. Vasseur had no educational advantages, and could neither read nor write, and hence he relied wholly upon memory to fix dates. In a log-cabin at Saint Michel d' Yamaska, Canada, on Christmas night, 1799, was born the subject of this memoir. * Since writing the above, I am positively informed that Mr. Vasseur pre- ceded Mr. Hubbard to Illinois two years, and is therefore the pioneer mer- chant and trader for this part of the Northwest.— S. R. Moore, Mar. 5, 1889. 44 I ;.■£ ■L «f iMi -tm XT? nois. n of Iro- ; Gurdon :e of the idise and ) Indians, in 1822. stch, that ' the old for him i pointed ois River Iry-goods »> :ivl the dates their first iefly give 1 the Hps nay have It there.* ;seur had read nor ry to fix :f anada, on 3 memoir. Vasseur pre- pioneer mer- klar. 5, 1889. Nof^f -- Vai^xi^e ^^^^^ I wilfJIWiwi iiiiiBiiim'IfcMiii ■ • — i'Tc (.;ur'' ■ )mic lncl':..n.- / -i :i!tc in 8JJ- ' ■■■■ k.:tA;l:. tlKit .. ■:.'. >.( the '.'.; ' i s|>wkc fnr hi ill ■ -.' ..i\ I lie poin: r the IroquDi'i Hi ... ..!■ .■ . me il.t' ■•-:'- .11' i'l their r r^haU briefly ;:; '"tn {V(>ai the h' h'>.'ird uiAy ji; •■• ^^■,•■ ' • fV.ri t'ser read '.■^r.iorv in •f th!> n\cn • .' r \'aK.ii [ru- (j lire. itti^se an in hi I t Ihc • ' for ' ■ ' ■ C ii' ' tl ■ ■ \ .I'- oi-; 11 m. mmmr f 5.«;'^l •If NOEL LE VASSEUR. 45 His parents were poor and unlettered. They commemo- rated the event by calHng the boy Noel, which means Christmas. He led a quiet and uneventful life on the farm until May, 1817, when he astonished his parents by announcing to them that he had entered the service of one Rocheblave,* in company with eighty young men, who were hired to go into the West to trade with the Indians. His parents were startled at this unexpected announcement, and sought to dissuade him from going. The love of adventure was too strong for the parental love and authority, and without a penny in money or a change of clothing, in his seventeenth year, he sought his fortune in the great and unknown West. They left Montreal, May 15, 18 17, and embarked on the St. Lawrence, with two years' supplies of food and cloth- ing, destined to reach Mackinac. I do not think that Vasseur knows the route followed to reach the Straits of Mackinac. He was certain they did not come by way of Niagara Falls. He said the company made two fatiguing portages with their boats and supplies, and, after undergo- ing very great hardships they reached Lake Huron and again embarked for the Straits.f John Jacob Astor had established a trading-post and depot of supplies at Macki- nac, and when they reached there, in the summer of 18 17, Rocheblave sold all his rights to the services of his men and his outfit and supplies to the American Fur-Company, and Vasseur and his companions passed into the service of this powerful association. These Canadian voyagcurs soon learned that all was not * This is the name of the last governor of the Illinois under British authority, who was in Canada and in trade after the war of the Revolution, and it is possible that this is the same person or his son. — e. c. m. t This party doubtless went up the Ottawa River to the Mattawan, by this stream and a portage to Lake Nipissing, and thence down French River to the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, a route explored by Champlain in 1615, and often used by the early traders.— e. c. m. wuf ——_ 46 EARLY ILLINOIS. gold that glittered. The labor was very severe and often- times perilous, and the fare coarse and frequently scanty. Vasseur's love of adventure was not satisfied; he had met an Indian who told him of a beautiful land in the West and the greatest river in the world, and he invited Vasseur to go with him. Actuated by a spirit of adventure which seems almost foolhardy, young Vasseur and a companion left the service of the Fur Company, and in company with their Indian friend, in a slight Indian canoe, started "to go West." They followed the we.st shore of Lake Michi- gan until it led them into Green Bay. They ascended Fox River to where Portage City now stands, made the portage, and embarked their little craft on the Wisconsin River, on which they floated down to the present site of Prairie-du-Chien. The Indians claimed they were the first white men who had ever made the voyage over the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.* Vasseur said he found the Indians exceedingly friendly, and he became a great favor- ite with the chief of the tribe. He taught the Indians many useful things in fishing and hunting, and he accom- panied them on their annual fall hunt, when they were making provision for a winter supply. When spring came, he concluded to return to Mackinac. Here an unexpected obstacle presented itself. The Indian chief refused to let him depart. He claimed to have adopted him into his tribe. The outlook was not very encouraging to a boy eighteen years old, and many thou- sand miles away from home, and in a country that he knew but little of Vasseur and his companion had learned much of the Indian language, but the Indians had not learned their language. While appearing to be willing to remain, they were forming plans to get away, and in the French tongue freely discussed the ways and means to accomplish it. * It is evident that the Indians were deceiving iheir young white friends, or had never heard of Joliet and Marquette, and their successors.— E. (.. M. f\ K -U ~ NOEL LE VASSEUR. 47 They supplied themselves with some dried venison and smoked coon meat, and seizing a favorable opportunity they started on foot for Green Bay, following the course of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, and after many weary days of travel they reached the bay, in an almost starved and naked condition. The rivers abounded with fish, and they were able to secure enough to keep them from starv- ing. Fortunately a temporary camp had been established at the mouth of Fox River by the American Fur-Com- pany, and in this camp they were given shelter and pro- visions, and sent to fur-company headquarters at Mackinac. He went to work again for the company, and was em- ployed in assorting and packing the furs for shipment East. Frequently during this and the succeeding year he was sent out to distant posts to trade with the Indians. He had learned to talk with the Indians while at Prairie- du-Chien, and this knowledge was valuable to the com- pany, and gave Vasseur a wider field of operations. With- out affirming it as a positive fact, it is my impression that he met Gurdon S, Hubbard at Mackinac for the first time in the fall of 1818, and this was the beginning of a friend- ship very dear and an intimacy lasting as long as they lived. Mr. Hubbard did not leave Montreal in the service of the fur company until April, 18 18, and reached Macki- nac, July 14, which was shortly before the time Vasseur had returned from Prairie-du-Chien. In 1820, the company determined to establish a trad- ing-po.st in Illinois, with the Pottawatomies, a tribe that, was reported to be very strong and very successful in securing furs. In the winter of 18 19 or spring of 1820, young Vasseur, under the direction of Gurdon S. Hubbard, started around Lake Michigan, bound for the Illinois coun- try, with an outfit of provisions and a stock of goods suitable to trade with the Indians. He took with him sufficient men to man the boats, and they followed the f ■■ - jj rs^ i ^ ■H ■•"•WW*"*- 48 EARLY ILLINOIS. west shore of Lake Michigan until they reached Chicago. They proceeded up the Chicago River as far as they could go, and then made the portage to the Desplaines River, and thence down that river to its junction with the Kan- kakee. The descent to the Kankakee was easily accom- plished. At this point the real hardship of the voyage began. The water was high and the current very swift. They had engaged an Indian guide before they reached Chicago, The Kankakee River was ascended partly by rowing, sometimes by wading along the shore and dragging their boats, or getting aU ig-side and pushing them. Frequently but a few mde i;' ' be made in a day. When they reached the Iroquois, the river was narrower and the cur- rent less swifi, aial its ascent was not so difificult. In the fall of 1820, they landed on the bank of the Iroquois River, at the point where the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis & Chicago Railroad crosses the river. For many years thereafter the place was called Bunkum. It is now called Iroquois. As all roads now lead to Chicago, then all trails led to this crossing on the Iroquois. There was a trail running west and south from this point, following the river to Spring Creek, and then up the creek and westward toward where Paxton now stands. Another trail went north and' east, following the sand ridges west of Beaver Lake in Indiana, crossing the Kan- kakee west of the .state line, and on northward to Lake Michigan. Another trail led north and west, following the Iroquois River to the Kankakee, and along the Kan- kakee through Bourbonais' Grove; then to Rock Village, the home of Yellow Head, an Indian chief; then to Hick- ory Creek, in Will County; and then to the Desplaines River, and on to Chicago. Another trail branched ofif at Rock Village, going south and west near to where Ottawa is. A trail went almost due south through Danville, and NOEL LE VASSEUR. 49 then south to southern Illinois. The most important trail ran south and east to the Wabash River, where was fought the battle of Camp Tippecanoe. This point was in the heart of the Pottawatomie country, and was well chosen by the fur company, as an advantageous point to establish a trading-post. At the old settlers' meeting, heretofore referred to, Vas- seur pointed out the exact spot on the south bank of the river where they built their storehouse, which they com- pleted and occupied before the cold weather set in, in the fall of 1820. The Indians were very friendly to the white men, and a very successful commerce was carried on. The furs were assorted and packed, and for ten years or more were carried to Chicago by the same route they had come. As early as 1823 or 1824, they packed to Chicago on In- dian ponies and returned with goods. From whatever time Hubbard came to the Iroquois, Vasseur assisted him in conducting the American Fur-Company's business in Illi- nois. They feared no danger from the Indians. The white traders could have been destroyed at any moment, but the Indians looked upon the traders as their best friends. Vasseur was never threatened by them but once. In 1822, he went to Rock Village, on the Kankakee, to open a trade with the Indians congregated there. The Indians were in receipt of an indemnity from the general government, and were supplied with gold and silver. He took two men with him, and an outfit of merchandise and two kegs of "life water," as it was called by the Indians. This was his mistake, and it nearly cost him his life. He is not the only person who has made a mistake in the use of "life water." The Indians discovered he was supplied with it, and refused to trade until they were given some of this water. He had concealed the precious stuff in the woods. The Indians refused to be comforted. The chief approached him and said they had made a vow to the 4 f .'"l^ ^- •Jfif^aBBiriffTin 50 EARLY ILLINOIS. M^ Great Spirit, which could not be broken, tl>at they would buy nothing until he brought out the kegs. Vasseur had to yield. They formed a circle around him and praised his great qualities as a good friend, until they drank the kegs empty, and all btcame magnificently drunk and fiercely warlike. Yellow Mead, their chief, foresaw the trouble that was coming, and helped Vasseur and his companions pack up their goods and move a dozen miles away before they camped for the night. So well were the white traders liked, that Hubbard mar- ried the daughter of one of the head men, in 1824. Her name was Watseka. She was a very beautiful girl, with features and form more like the Caucasian than the Indian, Hubbard maintained wifely relations with her until he left the service of the fur company, and went to Danville to live. After Hubbard went away, Vasseur carried on the business of Indian trader until the tribe removed West, after the treaty of Camp Tippecanoe, in October, 1833. Hubbard had an Indian divorce from Watseka when he went away. The year following, Vasseur married her, and she bore him three children. Just what the ceremony of an Indian marriage and the process of an Indian divorce was, I am not advised. But it was all done in accordance with the customs of the Indians, and was entirely satisfactory to their chief men. Nor let it be inferred that Watseka held immoral rela- tions with these men. She was a true woman, and faith- ful to her husband while he remained her husband. And she was equally faithful to Vasseur, and he ever spoke kindly of her, and when he left her he gave her a large fund amounting to several thousand dollars. A better civilization would condemn such easy marriage and easy divorce, but when I see how easy marriage and divorce are made in Illinois, I do not think we have made the same progress in this line as we have in commerce and trade 'f: ■ V ■mi^ ^«p NOEL LE VASSEUR. 51 since the days of Hubbard and Vasseur on the banks of the Iroquois River. Vasseur says that the Indians told him that formerly game was very abundant on these prairies, and that great droves of buffaloes made this valley their home. They spoke of the Storm Spirit getting very angry at the In- dians, and sending a great snowfall and very cold weather, and this storm drove the buffaloes away, and they never returned. He locates the time of the great storm between 1770 and 1780. Vass'^ur made several trips to Mackinac, where he per- sonally superintended the shipment of furs and the selec- tion of goods suitable to the wants of his Indian friends. He had learned the Indian language, and, with Hubbard, was employed by the United-States commissioners as in- terpreters in the negotiations of the treaty of Camp Tip- pecanoe, conducted October 20, 1832, and ratified January 21, 1833. By this treaty the United States received a magnificent territory, and the Indians were induced to give up the finest hunting and fishing ground that ever existed. The Kankakee River and its tributaries and creeks abounded with the mink, musk-rat, raccoon, otter, and beaver, while the deer were as plenty as are now the horned cattle. The river was the home of the salmon, black-bass, rock- bass, and pickerel. The two leading chiefs of the Pottawatomies were Sha- bonee and Sha-wa-na-see, They were warm friends of Hubbard and Vasseur, and were known to be the friends of the white men. In the Black-Hawk war, the Sacs and Foxes tried to form an alliance with the Pottawatomies, and made two visits to Shabonee and Sha-wa-na-see to induce them to join in the war, but it was of no avail. There is no doubt that Hubbard and Vasseur had much to do in influencing these chiefs. Had they joined Black mm 52 EARLY ILLINOIS. Hawk, it is certain the contest would have been prolonged and many lives would have been lost. The secret of their great influence over the Indians was the fact that they treated them fairly, gave them full value for their furs, and under no circumstances would they ever deceive them. By the treaty of Camp Tippecanoe, the Indian title was extinguished to all that tract of land included within the following boundary, t7^..- "Beginning at a point on Lake Michigan, ten miles south of the mouth of the Chicago River; thence in a direct line to a point on the Kankakee River, ten miles above its mouth; thence down said river and the Illinois River to the mouth of the Fox River, being the boundary of a cession made by them in 1816; thence with the southern boundary of the Indian territory to the state line between Illinois and Indiana; thence north with said line to Lake Michigan; thence with the shores of Lake Michigan to the place of beginning." For this magnificent domain, this government gave the Indians an annuity of $15,000 for the term of twenty years, and the further sum of $28,746 was applied to the payment of certain claims, and $45,000 in merchandise to be paid immediately, and $30,000 in merchandise was to be paid them in Chicago in 1833. Inasmuch as the party of the first part put its own price on the merchandise, and Mr. Indian did not know the true value thereof, the mer- chandise does not count for very much in this trade. As a recognition of the friendly character of Indians during the late war with the Sacs and Foxes, the treaty contains this clause: "The said tribe [of Pottawatomies] having been faithful allies of the United States during the late contest with the Sacs and Foxes, in consideration thereof the United States agree to permit them to hunt and fish on the lands ceded, as also on the lands of the government on Wabash and Sangamon rivers, so long as the same shall remain the property of the United States." :^l NOEL LE VASSEUR. 53 rolonged of their lat they furs, and hem. title was ithin the on Lake Chicago vankakee 5aid river 3X River, in 1816; I territory i; thence with the ng- gave the of twenty ied to the handise to ise was to 5 the party indise, and f, the mer- •ade. of Indians , the treaty awatomies] during the nsideration im to hunt ands of the , so long as :ed States." Inasmuch as the poor Indian was*sent west of the Mis- sissippi River the following year, and there were no bridges acro;>s the river, and civilization had taken possession of tlie state bordering the river, and it was quite unhealthy ior an Indian to travel east ./ard, it is not perceived that this clause was of much bene^t to the tribe. A much more practical clause was placed in the treaty, allowing them pay "for horses stolen from them during the late war," wherein we find the cheapest horse stolen by the United States "during the late war" was $40, and the highest was $160, with a general average of about $80. Since the United States had obtained the land so cheap, they could afford to be liberal in making restitution for stolen horses. Among the moneys to be paid is an item of $5573 to Gurdon S. Hubbard, and to Noel le Vasseur, $1800. Hub- bard and Vasseur had rendered the government valuable II services before and at the time of the Black-Hawk war. They learned through Shabonee and Sha-wa-na-see the plans of the hostile tribes, and Hubbard, in person, com- manded a company of scouts, that went to the relief of the settlements in LaSalle, and these payments were made to them in compensation for such services, as well, also, for acting as interpreters in the negotiation of the treaty. Vasseur was appointed the agent of the United States to remove the Indians to their reservation at Council Bluffs, Iowa. This work was completed in 1836. Many of them did not want to leave Illinois, and made many objections thereto. Who can blame them .'' They had sold their lands for a mess of pottage, and they knew it. Vasseur accomplished this difficult uudertaking without any acts of violence and to "the entire satisfaction of the government. In the meantime he had made a purchase of some land at Bourbonais Grove, where St.Viateur's College now stands. .^"' 54 EARLY ILLINOIS. 'I In 1837, he married* Miss Ruth Bull of Danville. She died in i860. He had eight children by this marriage, four boys and four girls. The oldest, Edward, was a mem- ber of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and died in the service; George died in Memphis, in 1871, with yellow fever; Wil- liam died while very small; and Alfred died in 1876. The girls died after reaching woman's estate, except the young- est, Mrs. Dr. Monast, who now lives in Chicago. Father Perry, connected with the catholic bishop of Chicago, is a grandson. In 1861, Vasseur married Miss Elenore Franchere of Chicago, who now survives. This remarkable man died in 1879, at his home in Bourbonais Grove, in the eightieth year of his age. He was a devout adherent to the tenets of the catholic church, and lies buried in the church-yard, but a few steps from where he made his home in 1837. Mr. le Vasseur was a man of strong individuality. Had he been an educated man, he would have been an explorer of world-wide renown. His love of adventure was a born passion. He knew no fear, had unbounded confidence in himself, and overcame all obstacles. His success with the savage men by whom he was surrounded lay in his integ- rity and simplicity. He joined them in their hunts and took part in their sports. He was a second William Penn, but greater than Penn. The friendship of Hubbard and Vasseur was knit to- gether by the hardships they had endured, and was as lasting as that of Jonathan and David, They died, carrying to their graves the stories of many adventures and historical facts, which are now forever sealed to us. The true lives of these men in Mackinac and in Illinois will read to our children more like a romance-than a reality. It is due to history, it is due to these pioneer lives, that a complete biography of Gurdon S. Hubbard and Noel le Vasseur shall be written. The writer has only touched upon a few points in the remarkable career of the latter. LISTS OF EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. By Edward G. Mason of Chicago. SOME thirty years ago, or about the year 1858, VVm. H. H. Terrell, afterward the secretary of the Histor- ical Society of Indiana, purchased at Vincennes in that State, fifteen manuscripts relating to the early history of what is now the State of Illinois. From him these papers were acquired in 1883 by the Chicago Historical Society, and they proved upon examination to be of decided interest and value. They comprise four lists of heads of families in Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Prairie du Pont, TVairie <'•' Rocher, and St. Philip in the Illinois country in or ire the year 1783; three general returns or rolls of the uiiiitia in the counties of Randolph and St. Clair in Illinois Territory on August i, 1790, a list of the names of the persons returned as entitled to the donation of 100 acres of land for militia service in the counties of Randolph and St. Clair; five rolls of militia companies at Kaskaskia and in the county of St. Clair in the year 1790; a petition of certain citizens of Vincennes, formerly of Kaskaskia, concerning donation lands, dated October 26, 1797; and an original proclamation with a duplicate in French, relat- ing to public lands, dated at Kaskaskia, June 15, I779. issued and signed by Col. John Todd, jr., civil governor and commandant of the county of Illinois, commonwealth of Virginia. These documents are important as showing the names of many of those residing in Illinois at the close of the war of the Revolution, the probable white population of that region in the last decade of the last century, and the 55 ^i^^^ i mmmtmiittk* 56 EARLY ILLINOIS. beginnings of republican government there. "They have another attraction in that they bear the autograph signa- tures of some of the most prominent of the early citizens of Illinois, of John Todd, jr., its first governor under the authority of Virginia, and of the first governor of the Northwest Territory, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, in whose chi- rography one at least of these papers is written. These lists of heads of families and militiamen were prepared in order to secure the benefit of certain legisla- tion originating with the Continental congress under the Articles of Confederation. That body transacted but. little business in the last year of its feeble existence, but among its few acts during that period we find some relating to what is now Illinois. The year after its adop- tion of the great Ordinance of 1787, this congress had before it a memorial of one George Morgan, and his associates "respecting a tract of land iri the Illinois country on the Mississippi." And on June 20, 1788, the committee to whom this matter had been referred reported^ among otl ar things, resolutions that "separate tracts shall be reserved for satisfying the claims of the ancient settlers "^ in the Illinois country, that "measures shall be immediately taken for confirming in their possessio»is and titles, the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers on these lands, who on or before the year 1783, had professed themselves citizens of the United States or any of them"; and that three additional reserved tracts shall be laid off "adjoining the several villages, Kaskaskies, La Prairie du Rochers and Kahokia," * * * "of such extent as shall contain 400 acres for each of the families now living at either of the villages of Kaskaskies, La Prairie du Roch- ers, Kahokia, Fort Chartres, or St. Philips. The additional reserved tract adjoining the village of the Kaskaskies shall be for the heads of families in that village; the tract adjoining La Prairie du Rochers for the heads of families pmttr;;^^|VCBaBK.s^| EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. 57 hey have iph signa- y citizens ander the )r of the rhose chi- nen were n legisla- mder the cted but tence, but ind some its adop- gress had and hi& le Illinois 1788, the i reported^ racts shall t settlers "^ imediately titles, the lettlers on i professed of them"; be laid off Prairie du nt as shall ' living at du Roch- additional iskies shall the tract Df families in that village; and the tract adjoining Kahokia for the heads of families in that village, as also for those at Ft Chartres and St. Philips" and "that the governor of the western territory be instructed to repair to the French settlements on the Mississippi, at and above the Kaskas- kies; that he examine the titles and possessions of the settlers * * and that he take an account of the several heads of families living within the reserved limits." * * And congress resolved to agree to this report.* On August 28, 1788, the Continental congress again considered the Morgan memorial and resolved to change the location of the three additional tracts of land to the east side of a certain ridge of rocks instead of the west side as provided in the act of June 20, j* and on August 29, it was resolved that measures be taken for confirming in their possessions and tides the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers at Post St. Vincents who on or before the year 1783, had settled there and professed themselves citizens of the United States or any of them ; that 400 acres of land be reserved and given to every head of a family of the above description, settled at Post St. Vincents; and that the governor of the western territory cause to be laid out a tract of land, adjoining Post St. Vincents, sufficient for completing the above donations. And the governor was instructed in the same resolution to proceed without delay to the French settlements on the Mississippi in order to give dispatch to the several measures to be taken according to the acts of June 20 and August 28, 1788, to report the whole of his proceedings to con- gress, and to take Post St. Vincents on his return and pur- sue the measures directed to be taken by the act of Aug. 29, and report his proceedings accordingly. | These were among the latest proceedings of the congress of the con- * Journals of Congress (of the Confederation), XIII. 30-32. + lb, p. 90. t lb. pp. 91, 92. mz: mk. ^m^.,::^^ !. 58 EARLY ILLINOIS. il federation which transacted its final piece of business October lO, 1788, and expired November i, of that year for the want of a quorum * Arthur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory pursuant to the last -mentioned resolution, and also in obedience to the instructions of President Washington of October 6, i/SQ.-f- set out for Kaskaskia, and arrived there March 5, 1790. J On March 7, he issued a proclamation calling on the inhabitants to prove claims as provided for in the act of congress of June 20, 1788, and he directed measures to be taken to confirm the titles of the inhabitants who had professed themselves citizens of the United States, and to lay off the tracts of land to furnish the 400-acre donations pro- vided for in said act. On April 5, the governor visited Cahokia for the same purpose, stopping at Fort Chartres and Prairie du Rocher by the way, and appointed militia and other officers, and embarked at Kaskaskia on his return journey on June 1 1.§ It appeared from his report and that of Winthrop Sar- gent, the secretary of the Northwest Territory, j| that further legislation was needed, and on March 3, 1791, the congress of the United States passed "an act for granting lands to the inhabitants and settlers at Vin- cennes and the Illinois country in the territory northwest of the Ohio, and for confirming them in their possessions." This provided among other things, that 400 acres of land should be given to each of those persons who in 1783, were heads of families at Vincennes or in the Illinois country on the Mississippi, and who had since removed from one of said places to the other, and that heads of * lb. 126-7. t " St. Clair Papers," II. 125. t Governor St. Clair's Report to President Washington of official Proceed- ings in the Illinois Country, "St. Clair Papers," II. 164. § lb. pp. 165, 166, 169, 179. 11 Ibid and "American State Papers. Public Lands," I. 5-16. .^V l»rw EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. 59 icial Proceed- families at either of said places in 1783, who afterward removed without the limits of the territory were notwith- standing entitled to the donation of 400 acres of land pro- vided by the act of congress of August 29, 1788, and also to the lands allotted to them before 1783 according to the laws and usages of the government under which they had settled. This act also gave 400 acres of land to each person who had not obtained any donation of land from the United States, and who on August 7, 1790, was enrolled in the militia at Vincennes or in the Illinois country, and done militia duty. And it once more changed the location of the three additional tracts of land set aside for donations, and directed them to be laid out as at first provided in the act of June 20, 1785.* It was to obtain the gifts of 400 acres of land to heads of families, and of 100 acres to those enrolled in the militia, provided for by one or more of these various acts, that the lists before us were compiled. Governor St. Clair revisited the Illinois country in the fall of 1795, and, as we learn from two of these militia rolls, he was at Caho- kia, September 28, and at Kaskaskia, October 4, of that year. The list of Capt. James Piggott's company at the former place, and of Capt. John Edgar and Capt. Fran9ois Janis' companies at the latter place were sworn to before him on these dates, respectively. In his report of official proceedings in the Illinois country at this time, made to the secretary of state in 1796, Gov. St. Clair says — that the donations to the heads of families were not yet laid out, although ordered in 1790, owing to the lack of a surveyor, the poverty of the people who had no means to cultivate new lands, and doubt as to the proper party to issue the patents. But as to the donations to those enrolled in the militia he had no difficulty, and had ordered these to be laid out, and enclosed a list of the persons entitled.f It * " U.-S. Statutes at Large," I, 221. t "St. Clair Papers," II, 398, 400. ..■v^-.i^jE.'ia ^^•SKSts^ifi A» »*•■ 60 EARLY ILLINOIS. I is probable that at this time he prepared the list of names of the persons returned as entitled to the donation of 100 acres of land for militia services in the counties of Ran- dolph and St. Clair, among the documents in question, which is without date or signature, but bears an endorse- ment stating it to be the handwriting of Gov. St. Clair. All of these documents seem to be originals, doubtless once preserved in the archives of the Northwest Territory, and then scattered abroad by accident or official careless- ness. And three of these papers are in the handwriting of John Rice Jones, the earliest and ablest lawyer in the Northwest Territory. Those which he wrote are: i. "The List of the Heads of Families in Kaskaskia on or before the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty three and who professed themselves citizens of the State of Virginia;" 2. "List of the Inhabitants of Prairie du Rocher and St. Philips who were heads of families therein on or before the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty three;" 3. "General Return of the Militia enrolled In the (now) County of St. Clair on the first day of August one thou- sand seven hundrea and ninety." Accompanying these three documents, when they came into the possession of the Chicago Historical Society, was a memorandum stat- ing them to be in the handwriting of John Rice Jones, and they have since been submitted to his only surviving son, Hon. George W, Jones, formerly United - States senator from Iowa, now residing at Dubuque in that State, who was born at Vincennes, Indiana, April 12, 1804. He has indorsed upon each of the lists last above named, a state- ment subscribed by him. that it is the handwriting of his deceased father, Hon. John Rice Jones. .; » EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. 6l LIST^ of the Heads of Families in Kaskaskia on or before the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and who had professed themselves Citizens of the State of Virginia: [For convenience in reference these names have been arranged alphabetically.] Domitilde Alary, widow. ^rjohn Allison. Jean Andre. Antoine Antaya, Senior. Antoine Antaya, Junior. Michel Antaya. <7Antoine Arkouet. *Mathais Barker. Francois Barrois. Blaize Barutel. Joseph Baugi. Antoine Bauvais. rtjean Bap. St. Gem Bauvais. Marie Louise Bauvais, widow. rtVital Bauvais. Tean Beaudoin, Alexis Beauvais. Bellow. *Thomas Bentley^ Antoine Bienvenu, Senior. Antoine Bienvenu, Junior. Daniel Blouin.^ Shadrach Bond.* rtjoseph Bonvouloir. ^Richard Brashears. ^Tobias Brashears. ]-,ouis Brazot. izWilliam Brocus. Anthoine Buyat. Louis Buyat. Benjamin Joseph Byram. rtfPierre Cailloux. [a "Removed into foreign parts."] [* Americans.] [^ This list is written on eight pages of old, laid paper, water-marked "J. S, O. G. " It is indorsed "List of the Heads of Families in Kaskaskia on or before 1783." The list, note, and affidavit are all in the same hand- writing, which is stated in a pencil memorandum to be that of John Rice Jones. And this document now bears the further indorsement : " The within lists are in the handwriting of my deceased father, Hon. John Rice Jones, who died at St. Louis, Missouri, on the 1st of Feb'y, 1824, he being at that time a justice of the supreme court of the State of Missouri. Dated at Dubuque, Iowa, this 8th day of Feb'y, 1889. Geo. W. Jones."] [^ A trader at Kaskaskia who incurred the enmity of Rocheblave, and was by his orders arrested and sent to Canada, whence he escaped. A voluminous correspondence concerning this matter preserved in the " Haldimand Papers. "] [* A man of ability and much influence among the French inhabitants of the Illinois. As their representative, he petitioned the British crown for a better form of government.] [* One of Clark's soldiers in his expedition to the Illinois.] t 1 ^i r 62 EARLY ILLINOIS. rrGeorge Camp.^ Marie Louise Delisle, widow, ^rlchabod Canip.^ *Timothe Demumbrun.- Nicholas Canada. [neax. rtPaul Deruisseau. Louis Pierre Francois Carbon- ^ilsrael Dodge. (jMartin Carney. Antoine Cassou. Catherine Cassou, widow. Charles Charleville. Francois Charleville. Joseph Chauvin Charleville. Louis Charleville. rtjohn Dodge. ^ ^Alexander Douglas. Arcange Doza, widow. Joseph Doza. Francois Drouard. William Drury. John McEl Duff.3 asil l.aChapelle, who, with his eleven brothers, removed from Canada to Kaskaskia. Barbau, fils. said County of Randolph. J. Edgar. General Return* of the militia inrolled in the (now) County of St. Clair on the first Day of August one thou- sand seven hundred and ninety: A-Clement Allary. .vMichel Antaya. aLieutt. Jean Baptiste Allary. Joseph Archambeau. Alphonso. William Arundel. .vLaurent Amelin. Alexander Atcheson. [v] " Received Donation. " f * 'Ihis list and accompanying affidavit cover seven pages of old crown water- marked paper. The part of the sheet which in a corresponding list contained the initals " Ci R " has been cut out. The names are all in the handwriting of John Rice Jones, and so certified l)y his .son.] I EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. 89 Lieutt. George Atchison. Timothy Ballew. Jfjean Baptiste Baron. Bazile Beaulieu. Jean Beaulieu. Louis Beaulieu. Michel Beaulieu. Joseph Beland. Antoine Belcour. Laurent Jean Berger. ^cjean Baptiste Bergeron. Louis Bergeron. Louis Bibeaux. George Biggs. August Biron. Henry Biron. Louis Bisson. Jean Marie Bissonet. Josiah Bleakly [erased]. A-Joseph Boisver. Andre' Boquet. Pierre Bourassa. .rRene' Bouvet. Ebenezer Bovven. ^Antoine Boyer. Thadious Bradley. John Brady. & .^Thomas Brady. Alexis Brisson. James Bryan. Isaac Bryson. Charles Buteau, Junr. .vjoseph Buteau. Antoine Cabassier. Charles Cabassier. PVancois Cabassier. Jean Baptiste Cabassier. Joseph Cabassier. Pierre Cabassier. Charles Cadron, Junior. Etienne Cadron. Francois Campeau. Sanson Canadien. Peter Casterline. Isaac Chalfin. William Chalfin. Jean Baptiste Champlain. Pierre Chartier. Alexis Chartran. Jean Bap. Chartran, alias Labou- Jean Baptiste Chartran. [asse. Michel Chartran [erased]. Thomas Chartran. Toussaint Chartran, A:Louis Cbatele. John Baptiste Chenie. Joseph Chenie. Claude Chenier. ^Fran^-ois Chevalier. Pierre Chretien. Louis Clermond. Auguste Clermont. Pierre Clermont. Jean Marie Compare t. Louis Coste. Alexis Courtois. A'William Crow. Raphael D'Aubuchon. .rjoseph Deloge, Senior. Joseph Deloge, Junior. Hubert Delorme. Joseph Demaret. Francois Deme'te. Alexander Dennis. I w 90 EARLY ILLINOIS. A-Jean Marie Dorion. vrClement Drury. ^Raphael Drury. Pierre Dubois, Junior. A'Capn. Jean Baptiste Dubuque, A'Charles DuCharme. vCapn. Philip Engel. Isaac Enox. [Enoch] Jean Baptiste Fleurant. Pierre Jacques Foubert. James Garretson. A-Louis Gaud, Senior. Louis Gaud, Junior. Louis Gendron. Antoine Gerardine, Jr. A'Ensign Charles Germain. ^Francois Gerome. Louis Gervais. A'Ensign Phillip Gervais. tCharles Gill. I-,ouis Giroux. Jean Noel Godin. Pierre Godin. Joseph Goneville. Louis (joneville. Antoine (irandbois. Joseph Grenier. Francois Grondine. Ignace (irondine. Joseph Grondine. Louis (irosle'. William Grotz. vDavid Guise. +Jean Guittar [erased]. * Pit'Tc (iuittar, Junior. * In I'lairie Christopher Smith. Claude St. Aubin. Jacque St. Aubin. Louis St.Germain. Pierre Locuyer dt St. Sauveur. John Sullivan. Pierre Antoine Tabeau. Amant Tellier. Gabriel Tellier. Pierre Texier. Edward Todd. Thomas Todd. William Todd [erased]. Joseph Touchet. Auguste Trotier. Clement Trotier. Jean Baptiste Rapelais alias Francois Trotier, son of Louis. [Genville. Joseph Trotier, son of Louis. Daniel Raper. Jesse Ray nor. John Ritchie. William Robins. Michel Roche. Benjamin Rodgers. Louis Rohle. Pierre Roilhe. Louis Rouliard. *Josiah Ryaji. A-Captain Francois Saucier. .vLieutt. Jean Baptiste Saucier. A-Ensign Matthew Saucier. Joseph Trotier. jcLouis Trotier, Senior. Louis Trotier, Junior. ^Francois Turgeon. Nicholas Turgeon. Louis Vadboncoeur. Dennis Valentin[e]. Jean Vandet. Joseph Vaudry, Junr. Francois Villaret. Josei)h Vizina. Alexander Wadle. David Wa[d]dle. I 1 ( * In Prairie du Rocher list. [' One of George Rogers Clark's soldiers on his expedition to the Illinois.] 'M EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. 93 ill' Thomas Winn. John Worley. Samuel Worley. Francois Young. .rPeter Zippe. Rene Zureau. Jesse Wadle. George Ware. Hardy Ware. Isaac West. Laton [Leighton] White. George Wilkinson. Personally appeared before me William St. Clair Duly authorized by his Excellency the Governor to take proof of the Claims appertaining to the Militia of the County of St. Clair James Piggot Jean Bapt. Dubuque Jean Bapt. Saucier and Jean Bapt. Allary who severally affirmed that the Within is true Rolls of their respective Company of Militia in the Month of August one thousand seven hun- dred and ninety. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Cahokia this thirteenth day of Septe. one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven. William St. Clair. '\ ^ Malicia [Militia] List* of [James] Piggot's Company in the first Regiment, County of St. Clair, September, 1795 if George Atchison, Lieutn ^^ John Brand Amoris Baily rttWm. Branham Timothy Ballew a Richard Barrow John Basye Wm. Basye George Biggs John battest Blundey Shadrac[k] Bond, Sargt. 'J'hadeus Bradley a Robert Callvvell Robbart Casbold a Peter Casterlin Wm. Chaffin ^^Josepli Chance (7 William Clark Adam Clover (I Jacob Clover * This list is written on paper the same as the one that appears on page 78; and written by the same person; is endorsed "Piggot's Company, year 1795"; and is not certified. — i". i [Those marked [a] were "Settlers at New Design and Belle fountain"; the others, "The people at Whiteside Station."] J 1 i 94 ^^Wni. Clover John Dempey rtElexander Denis Clement Drury a Isaac Enix [Enoch] « James Espy John Everet ^? James Garrotson John Geins <7 Isaac Gillham a James Gillham rt Samuel Gillham ^? John Givoon n Wm. Going, jr. cWm. Going, sr. (I George Griffin a John Griffin Wm. Groots Solomon Guice Thomas Halfpenny aWm. Hamilton ^? Leonard Harness James Hedd ^? James Hendrison a George Hendrix (T Elisha Herrington rttWm. Herrington ^Joseph Hogan Adam House John Hufman [Hoffman] Daniel Hull (ieils Hull Nathaniel Hull, Ensin. ^Harmon Huslands Henry Jones John Jones Wm. Jones EARLY ILLINOIS. Samuel Judy Lawrence Kenon '? Abraham Kinney « Andrew Kinney rt Joseph Kinney « Samuel Kinney ci Winder Kinney ^ V <^ '"^^r^" Vv^ '! •96 EARLY ILLINOIS. Vital St.Geme Beauvais BelleCour Antoine Bellelettre the nephew Henri Bienvenue Michel Bienvenue 7'George Biggs Johannes Blay, junr Johannes Blay, junr Louis Blay, junr 7'Isaar Brison 7 James Bryan Johanneb Calais Francois Carbonneaux 7'Peter '"asterlin 7'William Chalfin Antoine la Chapelle Baptiste la Chapelle Bazil la Chapelle Johannes la Chapelle Ciiarle Chevalier Antoine du Clos Johannes Conite Pierre Comte Aime Conte, junr John Cook, junr Jean Baptiste Cotine John Davis Dechochis, junr ^Alexander Denis Jacque la deroute Alexi Doza Raphael Drore 7'Clement Drury f'Ralph Drury 7'Isaac Knix [Enoch] Jean flandre 7james Garisson Jacque Gautiaux Baptist Gendron, junr Louis Germain, junr 7/Charles Gill Francois Girard Johannes Guiguelle 7'David Guise 7'Leonard Harness 7'James Henderson 7'George Henricks 7'Michel Huff 7'John Jack Francois Janis F'rancois Janis Jean Baptiste la joye Pierre la Joye Juliien 7'Lawrence Ken[y]on J^'Avay, junr 7'James Lemnion [Lemen] Antoine de lines Johannes longVal 7'George Lunceford Alexander McNabb James McNabb Francois le mieux Louis le mieux Pierre Misrard [Menard] 7john Moore 7'Samuel Morris * 7john Murdocli 7'Williani Murray 7josei)h Oo'le, senior r-Joseph Ogle, junior 7 James O'Hara 7 John O'Hara EARLY ILLINOIS CITIZENS. 97 Joseph Page Baptiste Perier Baptiste Perier [erased] x/William Piggot z/Daniel Piper 7' John Porter z'George Powers rAVilliam Robins Philipe Rocheblave 7'Benjamin Rogers Andre Roi Francois Rousseau ^Joseph Ryan z James Scott 7'Daniel Shoultz i'Ebenezer Sovereigns Jerome St. Pierre PhiUpe St. Pierre 7'John Sullivan z'Robert Sybold Francois Tangue Johannes Tangue Jerome Tibaux Francois Tibo, junr ?/Ed\vard Todd ^'Thomas Todd Nouel Toulouse Pierre Toulouse Ambroise Vapeur Antoine la Vigne 7 J esse Waddel 7/Isaac West 7'I.aton [Leighton] White 7/George Wilkinson (ieorge Witmer Nicolas Witmer 7'Samuel Worley 7'Peter Zipp[e] Petition of Certain Inhabitants of Vincennes :* To the Honorable VVinthrop Sargent, Esquire, Secre- tary of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the Ohio, now vested with all the Powers of the Governor thereof. The Petition of certain Inhabitants of Vincennes, Most respectfully showeth: That your Petitioners were heads of Families at Kaskas- kia in the Illinois Country in 1783, where they are entitled • This petition is written on the first pnge of a sheet of laid letter-paper, with the water-mark of "FLOYD & CO. iy,H"; on the last page is the address "The Honorable Winthrop Sargent, Ksqr."; and endorsed in the handwriting of Gov. St. Clair, " Petition of certain Persons for donations who were heads of Families at Kcskf», and had removed to St. Vincennes."— K. 6a 98 EARLY ILLINOIS. to the Donation of the United States of Four hundred acres of land each. That previous to the year 1791 they removed thence to this Place, where they have fixed their Residence. They therefore pray that your Honour would be pleased to cause to be laid out for them, their respective Dona- tion lands adjoining those already laid out for the heads of Families at Vincennes, agreeable to an Act of the United States, passed the third day of March, One Thou- sand Seven hundred and Ninety- one. And Your Peti- tioners will evei pray. X Jerome Crely. PosTviNCENNES, 26 Octore. X Francoise Tonton, 1797. X Antoine Renaud. pro. Charlote Renaud,. his heir at law M' FERGUS' HISTORICAL SERIES, No. 31. nmiUS PRINTINQ OOMPANV, OHIOMM). / .^ *-■