USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
'Lawson's "Bravest of the Brave, Captain Charles de Langlade, " 1904.
164
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Louis B. Porlier homestead, in an unmarked grave. In the War of 1812 he joined the forces of Colonel Mckay, who captured Prairie du Chien, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the militia. When the American troops came to Mackinac, bound for Green Bay, they found Captain Grignon there and impressed his services, very much against his inclination, to pilot one of the three boats to bring the first American soldiers to Wisconsin in 1816. During the Black Hawk war he was commissioned a captain in the Colonel Stambaugh command of Menominee braves, who were enlisted to aid the settlers.
Major Mathew Irwin, who was sent by the Indian department of the United States with Indian goods to maintain a government factory or trading post at Green Bay in 1816, with the advent of the military establishment, says that John Jacob Astor sent goods in 1818 to Augustin Grignon and Peter Powell, licensed by the Indian agent at Mackinac, for trade with the Indians. That Peter Powell has his post on the Menominee river. Mr. Lusienaux was sent by Mr. Astor to trade on Winnebago lake. He does not say where Augustin Grignon was located; but all the histories of the county-Judge Osborn in 1856, Finney, 1867, and Harney, 1880-state that Augustin Grignon, associated with James Por- lier, maintained a post at Butte des Morts in 1818; but none of these give the source of the information. Augustin Grignon may have had what was known as a jacknife post in this county in 1818, by which is meant a temporary winter quarters built of logs or poles, abandoned as soon as the ice left the river in the spring. Major Irwin says1 that Augustin Grignon, James Porlier and son and Lewis Grignon went on to the Wisconsin river in 1819 with their boats loaded with goods for the Indian trade, and the Indians were friendly to them, going with them for the pur- pose of hunting for them during the fall, winter and spring. He at the same time reports the Indians at Winnebago lake as hostile to the Americans, having fired on a boatload of goods in charge of Mr. Armitinger. an American trader; and at another time Colonel Whistler was fired on at Winnebago lake; while at an- other time Dr. Madison, of the army, was plundered by Indians at Winnebago lake.“
Mr. Henry Merrill mentions a talk with Daniel Whitney in which he mentions a visit to Augustin Grignon's trading encamp-
17 " Wis. Hist. Colls." 279.
2 7 " Wis. Hist. Colls., " 277-279.
165
THE TRADING POSTS.
ment, thirty miles above Prairie du Chien, in 1821.1 Captain Augustin Grignon learned to read and understand English, though he spoke it very little. In 1830 "he built and established himself at Grand Butte des Morts, leaving his place at Kaukauna to the care of his sons. His chief attention was given to Indian trade, although he opened a good farm at the Grand Butte des Morts, as he had previously done at Kaukauna." and he owned the land on which the village of Butte des Morts is located, as he is recorded as the proprietor of the plat of the village of record July 5, 1848. "He was noted for his penetration and excellent judgment in the fur trade, and for his suavity of manner. The natives held him in the utmost reverence. Living so closely in the Indian country, he held few public offices, though regarded with high respect by the French and American, as well as the military, and was an honored guest at social gatherings. His house was often crowded at night to the great inconvenience of himself and family, all without fee or reward."
Miss Brevoort attended a wedding at Captain Augustin Grig- non's in 1828, of which she says: "At that time there was noth- ing between Fort Howard and Fort Winnebago but Grand Kau- kaulin, where stood one house occupied by Augustin Grignon, where I was invited to attend his daughter's wedding to Mr. Ebenezer Childs. Quite a large party attended. All came in large boats called batteau. The bride was dressed in white mus- lin. On the table for supper were all kinds of wild meat, bear, deer, muskrat, racoon, turkey, quail, pigeon, skunk, and porcu- pine cooked with the quills on. Her mother was an Indian woman. Most of the old settlers were married to Indian women ; splendid looking, clean, respectable.''3
In the personal narrative of John T. de la Ronde' he states that in 1832, while engaged with the American Fur Company, he made a voyage up the Fox river, and "when we came to the place where is now the city of Oshkosh there was a small log house where Charles Grignon was living, and about four miles above Nex a son-in-law of Charles Grignon was residing. About six or seven miles above that Captain Grignon was living; he had goods and was trading with the Menominee Iidians." This was Captain Augustin Grignon at Butte des Morts, where General
17 "Wis. Hist. Colls.," 370.
? Gen. Albert G. Ellis, 7 "Wis. Hist. Colls .. " 245.
18 "Wis. Hist. Colls., " 303.
' 7 " Wis. Hist. Colls.,'' 349. ---
.
.
166
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
Albert G. Ellis said he had gone to live in 1830. Hon. Morgan L. Martin, passing that place in 1828, notices a large Menominee village, in which the women and children were shy and kept out of view; but does not mention any trading posts. By the treaty of the Cedars in 1836 he was awarded $10,000 for goods sold the Indians.
Dr. Lyman C. Draper visited him in 1859, and obtained from him a rich fund of frontier information, which is published as "Grignon's Recollections." He records that he was at seventy- seven "robust and healthy," due to a life in the wilderness, also "intelligent and well read," and the last of the grandchil- dren of Captain Charles de Langlade. He was then residing with his son-in-law, Louis B. Porlier, son of Judge James Porlier, at Butte des Morts village on the fractional lot west of and adjoin- ing the site of the old trading post on the banks of Big Butte des Morts lake. At this place in the house still standing Captain Grignon died the following year and was buried beside his wife in the cornfield about two hundred feet east of the dwelling. At first some stones and rose bushes marked the spot, but after the Porliers moved away about 1900, the house and farm was leased and the graves plowed over. The children of Captain Augustin Grignon were (1) Margaret, who married Ebenezer Childs; (2) Charles A., born in Kaukauna June 15, 1808, and married Mary E. Mead; (3) Sophia, who married Louis B. Por- lier, of Butte des Morts; (4) Louis; (5) Alexander; and (6) Paul.
Mr. Robert Grignon, a nephew of Captain Augustin Grignon, came to Butte des Morts with the establishment of Captain Grig- non and Judge Porlier in 1818, and at later dates whenever the post was maintained there, which may have been each season. He relinquished his duties as agent and clerk of the post to Mr. James Knaggs, and went to Algoma. Mr. James Knaggs acted in the capacity of clerk and agent, maintaining a ferry until about 1832, when he also went to Algoma. IIe was succeeded by Mr. Louis B. Porlier, who resided there all his life, and during many years maintained a trading post, at least as late as 1880. and he was one of the three who composed the first board of supervisors of the county. He purchased the most westerly land in the town of Oshkosh, adjoining the land on the east, on which the old trading post stood, and built thereon a two-story frame farmhouse, which still stands there. He is said to have been "an intelligent gentleman," and "a good business man." As a
.
.
.
·
167
THE TRADING POSTS.
son of Judge James Porlier and a half-blood Menominee mother, he was a quarter-blood creole.
The Tomahawk trail passed this post where a ferry was main- tained until 1835, when it was changed to James Knaggs' at Algoma. The mail of the pioneer was carried over this trail to Chicago on horseback in summer and on snowshoes in winter. The site of the post was in its day the business center of the up- per Fox. The opposite shore, now a wet marsh, was much harder ground then, and afforded footing for a horse. A ferry was main- tained and a public house kept for travelers. At times a goodly number of Indians congregated there, trading their furs for In- dian goods.
Lieutenant Robert Grignon, the nephew of Captain Augustin Grignon, who had been in charge of his posts at the Butte des Morts, removed to Algoma, at a point just above the present Algoma bridge, where he established a trading post and ferry in 1832. It was over this ferry that Mrs. Kinzie passed the river in 1832. Mr. Robert Grignon took an active part in all public affairs. He was a man of great energy, perseverance, good sense and fair business qualification, though having had but slight op- portunity for education. As lieutenant of the Indian force under Colonel Stambaugh, who marched to the Black Hawk war, he was wounded seriously by his own men, for which he had a pen- sion. He was long engaged in the recovery of Indian claims and was greatly beloved by the Menominee. Robert Grignon is said to have led the forces of half bloods and rivermen to the election for a name at Oshkosh, which decided for the name of the old chief. When the committee for the selection of a site for a county seat were appointed Robert Grignon was elected one of the mem- bers, with Harrison Reed and Clark Dickinson. They selected Butte des Morts as the location, which the enterprise of Oshkosh would not permit to stand. In the treaty of 1836 made with the Menominee at Cedar Point the tribe included an annuity of $1,000 per annum for twenty years to Robert Grignon, "their friend and relation," "for valuable services rendered by him to their nation"; but the senate of the United States cut this gen- erous provision out on the ratification of the treaty. He was awarded jointly with William Powell the sum of $4,500 for goods sold the Indians, by the same treaty. "He was not rich, but in comfortable circumstances." He purchased a tract of land west of Algoma, where he lived on a farm after the settlement of Osh- kosh, and is said to have been located there as late as 1857. Here
.
168
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
he met a tragic death one winter night while returning home in a snowstorm, when near his house he became bewildered in the blinding snow, lost his way, and the next day was found frozen. A few years before his wife fell into the fireplace and was burned to death.
"The original trail from Green Bay to Fort Winnebago crossed the Fox river at Augustin Grignon's place, in the northeast cor- ner of section 30, town 19, range 16; thence by boat, following the south bank of the river around to the trading post of Robert Grignon, near the section line between sections 34 and 35, and quarter line of section 35, town 19, Range 15, and from there directly south. This distance over four miles from the landing at Augustin Grignon's ferry was good footing for horses then, is now under water." The above from Mr. Richard Harney's History of Winnebago, intended to explain that the wide marsh at the confluence of the Wolf and Fox rivers was not always so wide, we have repeated to show another location for Robert Grignon on the Fox river, just below Omro. This location must have been about 1830 to 1832 or later.
Mr. James Knaggs, a quarter blood Menominee and three- quarters white, came down from the Butte des Morts trading post in 1831, or 1832, to Algoma and took Robert Grignon's place, just above the present Algoma bridge. He established a trading post, gave scant entertainment to travelers and kept a ferry. This was the place at which Colonel Whittlesey crossed in 1832, and earlier the same year Mrs. Kinzie's saddle party, described in a former chapter. IIe had two old log huts, with slight sleep- ing accommodations. Mr. Henry Merrill mentions that in 1834 "the usual way was to follow a trail on the west side of Lake Winnebago, and across the river at Knaggs' Ferry, where Osh- kosh now is."' In the treaty of Cedar Point Mr. James Knaggs was awarded $550 for goods sold the Indians. He remained at this post until Mr. Webster Stanley came over from Neenah with a boatload of lumber prepared at the government mill, and lo- cated on the south side of the river opposite Knaggs' Ferry, . erected a small shanty and bought Mr. Knaggs' ferry, which he proceeded to conduct himself. It was this ferry which took over Governor IIenry Dodge and his escort, who informed him on their return of the cession of the Menominee lands, which gave him the first selection, which he made with Mr. Gallup on the north side of the river east of the future ferry street in Oshkosh. Mr
17 " Wis. Hist. Colls., " 371.
.
169
THE TRADING POSTS.
James Knaggs continued to reside in the vicinity, and his de- scendants still live in the county. Mr. James Knaggs was a can- didate for county offices in 1842-1843. Mr. George Wright was appointed justice of the peace in 1838, and James Knaggs was plaintiff in the first case had before him and the first lawsuit in the county. The sons of James Knaggs, Sr., are Moses, Louis, James, Charles, William. The wife of Mr. Knaggs, Sr., was Chip- pewa and French.
.
Lieutenant Peter Powell, an Englishman, was an Indian trader residing at Green Bay, and selling goods in 1816 and 1817 for the Southwest Fur Company on the Menominee river. Later he had winter posts on the Wisconsin river. IIe was a lieutenant of militia with Colonel Mckay in the capture of Prairie du Chien. Lieut. Peter Powell, about 1832, located on a point of land on the north bank of Big lake Butte des Morts, about two miles west of Algoma, where he engaged in trading, and cultivated a farm until 1838, when he died. In the treaty of Cedar Point he was awarded for goods sold the Menominee, $1,750.
Capt. William Powell, his son, resided with his father on this tract of land until his death, and then removed to Algoma with Robert Grignon. He was well known by all the older citizens, and took a lively interest in all things of a public nature. His acquaintance with the Indian character, as well as with their language, gave him great influence with the Menominees and closely allied him to their interests while here; and after the re- moval of the tribe to their reservation at Keshena Captain Powell was still retained for many years as interpreter, and in govern- ment employ. He was noted for kind-heartedness and eccentric- ity, and was a man of great urbanity and good address; but the driest of jokers. He was said to always have plenty of money, but when going away from home invariably left his money be- hind which was probably the cause of his always having a fund laid by.
Mr. Charles Grignon, a brother of Capt. Augustin Grignon, was one of the first settlers in Oshkosh. He located a post for trade at what has since been known as Jackson Point, in Osh- kosh, now the foot of Wisconsin street, in the heart of the city, where he engaged in trade. The year as given for his location in most of the histories is 1839, though it was possibly many years earlier, as La Ronde found him there in 1832. He brought his family with him and established a home. A band of Menominee joined him and established an Indian village, with their plant-
-
170
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
ing grounds. By the treaty at the Cedars in 1836 he was awarded $1,200 for goods sold the Indians.
Mr. George Johnson, father of William Johnson, well known to the pioneer as the Indian Interpreter, who formerly resided at Green Bay, built on what was afterwards known as Coon's Point two log houses, established a ferry and opened a tavern. The year is given as 1835 by Mr. Richard Harney, who also says he sold to Lieut. Robert Grignon and Capt. William Powell, and that they sold to Mr. James Knaggs, who established a trading post with a large stock of Indian goods. He says this was the first business enterprise in the limits of the present city of Osh- kosh.
James Cowan maintained a trading post on the east shore of Lake Winneconne, during the occupancy by the Menominee of Poygan, some time between 1836 and 1852. His post was on the farm site recently occupied by R. Lasley. It is possible that this was not James but George Cowan, or properly George Coustaugh.
"On the southern shore of Lake Poygan, in section 16, is the site of the old Menominee 'Pay Ground,' where annually from 1837 to 1851, about October in each year, occurred the Indian an- nuity payments. Here the tribe were visited by the government agents, whose duty it was to deal out a small quantity of rusty pork, a few pounds of damaged tobacco, with blankets and some money. A company of soldiers were generally on duty to guard these treasures from the avarice and cupidity of the hundreds of white men, who congregated here as promptly as the natives themselves. White and half-breed traders, who for the year past had been scattered over the country trapping with the Indians for furs, peltries, maple sugar and cranberries, would invariably manage to be on the ground at pay day. Merchants from all parts of the country, from Green Bay, Appleton, Neenah, Oshkosh, Mil- waukee, Prairie du Chien, Chicago, Detroit, and elsewhere, would each lay in a stock of Indian goods, which about the appointed time were shipped to the pay ground. Gamblers went there in flocks, and eating houses were distributed over the ground in profusion. As the only thing prohibited was spirituous liquors. large quantities were offered for sale upon the outskirts of the forbidden ground."
After the Menominee located on Lake Poygan, Father Bonduel established there a Catholic mission for the Indians. This mis- sion was commenced in 1844, and it included a school presided over by Madam Donsemond of Green Bay. About the same time
171
THE TRADING POSTS.
Mr. George Coustaugh, commonly known as George Cowen, a half blood from Mackinac, established a trading post with a large stock of Indian goods, which was maintained for a number of years. The site of the pay grounds, on section 16, was for many years the village site and headquarters of the band under - the chief Grizzly Bear. The first annuity payment was made in 1844 by Mr. D. Jones of Green Bay, and continued annually un- til 1851.1
The agent, having distributed the goods brought for that pur- pose, and everything in readiness, he proceeds to pay out the money in specie. As the interpreter calls the name of the head of a family from the roll, the individual called enters the pay house, walks up to the counter, reports the number comprised in his family, and if this corresponds with the number on the roll he receives the amount for the entire family, which he secretes under his blanket and emerges from the building at the end op- posite the door he entered, and passes along between two files of soldiers, who protects him for a considerable distance from the mob of traders, who are greedily awaiting an opportunity to pounce upon him. He no sooner passes the last soldier than he is seized by two, three, or, perhaps, a half dozen of this mot- ley crowd, each one claiming to have an old account against him, and each striving to get the first chance at the pittance just drawn from the pay table. In an instant he is stripped of every- thing that could hide a dime, and each of his captors taking an amount sufficient to satisfy his rapacity, the victim is released and left to gather up his scanty clothing and depart with the small amount, if anything, he has left. In the meantime another debtor has been turned loose from the pay house, to run the same gauntlet, and another set of traders are relieving him in the same manner. The true definition of "Indian trader" is: "A man to whom the Indians are always indebted." This constitutes the main difference between that class and merchants, or peddlers. Having escaped this debtor's court, from which there is no ap- peal, he is now beset at every step with temptations to part with what remains. Blankets, broadcloths, calicoes, saddles, fancy bridles, beads, brass buttons, ear-rings and finger rings are every- where conspicuously displayed. Pint bottles of whisky, two- thirds water, are offered him at about the price of a gallon, and are seldom declined.
At last the payment is over, the eating houses have received ' Finney and Davis, "Hist. Oshkosh," 1867.
172
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
a considerable money for a small amount (in value) of provis- ions, the gamblers have reaped a rich harvest, the whisky dealers have figured up a profitable trip, the merchants have taken a great deal of money, and have a large proportion of their goods left, and the spectators have been handsomely remunerated in amusements, and all in the space of three or four days."1
Arrived at Winnebago Rapids, now Neenah, in 1836, Mr. Henry Gallup, a pioneer settler of Oshkosh, says in his narrative:
"These farmers were the only inhabitants of the place, at the house of one of whom, Mr. Clark Dickinson, we were welcomed and furnished with our dinner. We could make but a short stay, as we still had sixteen miles to travel without a habitation. Our . trail now ran across the country, through prairies and openings, to Knaggs' Ferry, now in the Fifth ward of the city of Oshkosh, and just above Algoma bridge. I do not suppose I could at this time trace that trail through all the highly cultivated fields be- tween these two points. But at that time it was a lonesome jour- ney, indeed; all the low ground was covered with water a foot deep, and grass up to our arms, and in the whole distance we did not see a living thing with the exception of a few prairie chickens. Arriving at the river at the point mentioned, we found a log house belonging to Mr. Knaggs, a half-breed, and owner of the ferry, but which was then run by Webster Stanley, who lived on the opposite side of the river in a board shanty, and who, in answer to our call, came over for us. We were once more among friends. Mr. Stanley had, about two years before, left Ohio and went to Green Bay, and then to Winnebago Rap- ids, and had, within thirty days previous to our arrival at the ferry, moved to this point. We now learned that our journey, from where we had crossed the river five miles from Green Bay, had all been through Indian territory, and that we were now for the first time on government land."
' From Harney's "Hist. Win. Co.," 1880.
XIII.
TREATIES MADE WITH THE ABORIGINAL TRIBES, BY WHICH THE TITLE TO THE INDIAN LANDS PASSED TO THE UNITED STATES.
Treaties With the Winnebago.
The general impression of the modern occupants of the region now included in Winnebago county is that the United States be- came at once the owner of the soil after the treaty with Great Britain in 1783, which closed the war of the American revolu- tion. The suzerainty or ultimate control of the country and its people passed to the United States, with the right of eminent do- main. The country belonged to the United States; but the soil was regarded as the property of the Indian tribes. These aborig- inal nations having been enemies were regarded as such and formal treaties made with them, each making to the other reci- procal concessions. The land was regarded by the United States as the property of the Indian occupants and was protected and respected by the majesty of the government and her troops em- ployed in many instances in this state in keeping white people off the Indian lands, even if they had the consent of the Indians, un- less they also had the right from the proper authority of the United States under properly made treaties with the regularly constituted authorities of Indian nations or tribes. No one was permitted to enter on Indian lands to trade with the tribes, or build sheds, or cut any timber or shingle or commit any acts of trespass, unless they had the proper license issued by the regular Indian agent appointed by the United States to watch over the interests of the Indians and see that justice was accorded them and their property respected. Prior to 1816, when the United States soldiers took possession of Fort Howard, the Indians of this region had always been under the control and influence of Great Britain, although the country was part of the United States after 1783, and the traders all had the license of the Indian agent of England. After 1816, when the United States appointed an agent at Mackinac and at Green Bay, they assumed the control
173
174
HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
of license. The Indian agent at Green Bay had a habit of charg- ing fifty dollars for a license to trade, which sum he claimed as his own property. Mr. Lewis Rouse and Mr. Thomas P. James were licensed and fitted out with Indian goods for trade by the United States Indian agent, and factor at Green Bay in 1819. Mr. Ramsey Crooks, Lieut. John Lawe, Mr. Lewis Grignon, Capt. Augustin Grignon, Lieut. Peter Powell, Mr. Peter Grignon, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Chaperaux, Mr. J. B. Grignon, Mr. Lusienaux, were all licensed by the United States Indian agent at Mackinac to trade along the Wisconsin waters in 1819. At other times licenses were issued to James Porlier and son, and to a Mr. Armitger. It was for this reason these people were permitted to trade in the territory of the Indian lands. Some of the people like the Grig- nons and Knaggs had rights as mistiffs or creoles in the lands of the tribes and therefore would be permitted to occupy the lands as natives, or they had old French claims, which were recognized and confirmed to them by the government by special acts. No un- authorized person would be permitted to occupy Indian lands. When Mr. Webster Stanley selected a site on the south side of the Fox river at Coon's Point he was obliged to remain on that side of the river, as at that date he would not have been permitted to erect his shanty on the north side of the Fox river.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.