USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Memoirs of Milwaukee County : from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Milwaukee County, Volume I > Part 25
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blacksmith, and undoubtedly carned for himself the title of 'first artisan' of Milwaukee. His death occurred in 1819 (one authority says in 1820), and he is said to have been buried somewhere on the plat of ground now bounded by Wisconsin, Broadway, Milwaukee and Mason streets. After his death his wife took up her residence with the Indians and died some years later at Muskego. The younger children of his family also remained with the Indians and removed with them to the country west of the Mississippi river in 1836. Victoria Miran- deau, the fifth child of Jean Baptiste Mirandeau, married Joseph Porthier, and after living some years in Chicago, returned to Milwau- kee, where she continued to reside to the end of her life, dying at an advanced age and surviving all but one of her own large family of children.
"As to the character and accomplishments of Mirandeau, much has been written which can hardly be more than mere conjecture on the part of those who have dealt with this subject. He left no family or other records to throw light upon the mystery of his existence, and the members of his family who had grown up among the Indians and were unable to read or write, could give little information to those who sought to learn something of his career, in later years. Solomon Juneau was the only white settler of Milwaukee who ever had a per- sonal acquaintance with him, and as his impressions of the man were never given to the public, there are no avenues of information open to the historian who seeks material for a faithful pen picture of Miran- deau. While some assert with a positiveness born of conviction that he was a man of liberal education-a sort of scholarly recluse in the wil- derness-others declare with greater vehemence that he was an intem- perate camp follower of the Indians, with few of the attributes of citi- zenship, who allowed his children to grow up as ignorant as their savage neighbors, and who has left behind no evidence of his own intelli- gence. To settle this question is not within the realm of possibility at this late date, nor is it of material consequence as a matter of history. As the first white settler of Milwaukee, he is of interest only as a sort of land mark, inasmuch as no portion of the subsequent development has been traceable to his influence or existence."
It is certain that he was not a pioneer in the true sense of that word, nor can he be considered as an advance agent of civilization. He did not seek to establish a colony or start a "settlement." and had the inducement to others to locate here been left to his initiative, the site of what is now a thriving city would doubtless still have remained a gathering place for the red men. So it remained for another to take the first steps toward building up a civilized community and make for
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himself the distinction of being the founder of Wisconsin's metropolis. Mirandeau can properly be spoken of as the first white inhabitant, but Solomon Juneau is entitled to all the honor that attaches to the term of "the first pioneer citizen." It was he who made the first survey of the village, who became its first president, was the first postmaster, donated the first public square, and later on, when the village had grown to a city, was its first mayor. "Before Juneau's time there was nothing much of Milwaukee but the river and the lake, the blue sky overhead and the bluffs and the swamps and the marshes round about, and the dark, unexplored wilderness surrounding it on the west and called a part of the Northwest territory. The name of Milwaukee and the name of its principal founder are as inseparably connected as the name of Watt and the steam engine are interlocked for all time. Juneau's life, public services and picturesque career are part and parcel of the city's history, and it can be truthfully said that before Milwaukee there was not much of Juneau, and before Juneau there was nothing at all of Milwaukee."
Juneau was the first to introduce a civilized mode of living on the west shore of Lake Michigan, for with the single exception of Mirandeau, his predecessors had been simply Indian traders, who had no intention of making a permanent home and spending their days here. But when we approach the subject of Juneau's life, again we meet with difficulties, for but little is known of his career before he came to Milwaukee. No effort seems to have been made to preserve the facts of his early history, which is due no doubt to the fact that amid the vicissitudes of a pioneer existence the early settlers gave but little thought to the importance of minor events in the lives of those who were to be the objects of interest to the future historian. The greater part of Juneau's career before he came to the present site of Milwaukee is therefore shrouded in mystery, and what little is known can be briefly stated. The following account of his career is consid- ered as nearly accurate as any that has been published :
"Laurent Solomon Juneau was born on the 9th of August, 1793. at L'Assumption Parish, a few miles from Montreal, Canada. His parentage was French. His name has had almost as many ways of being spelled as that of William Shakespeare, being rendered Juno, Junot, Juneau, Jeauno and Juneaux; but Juneau was his own way of spelling it and the one that was in use by his family. His baptis- mal certificate was written in French by the priest who performed the rite, and is as follows :
" 'The ninth day of August, 1793, by us subscriber, priest of the parish of Repentiguy, Lower Canada, was baptized Laurent Solomon,
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born this day, afternoon, of the legitimate marriage of Francis Juno, surnamed Latulippe, and Maria Galeeno; both not knowing how to sign their names, were interrogated pursuant to ordinances.
"'L's LAMOTTES, Priest.'
"Juneau's certificate of naturalization is signed by Peter P. Grig- non, clerk of the circuit court of the United States, and was issued in the town of Green Bay, county of Brown, and territory of Michi- gan, June 15, 1831, so that it appears he did not become a citizen of the United States until he had resided within our national domain more than thirteen years. He is first heard of in the West in September of 1816, at Mackinaw, where he met his future father-in-law, Jacques Vieau. for the first time, and entered his employ as a clerk.
"Although Vieau never established his home at Milwaukee, and hence cannot properly be termed one of the pioneer settlers here, his history is of interest in this connection because he spent much of his time here, both before and after Juneau's coming, and some of the members of his family were born here. It is said that Jean Baptiste Mirandean, the first permanent white settler on the site of Milwaukee came here at his suggestion, and it is certain that his acquaintance with this region dates back further than that of any other man with whom the early settlers were brought into contact. He was born in Montreal, Canada, May 5, 1757, of French parentage, and leaving Canada about the time our Revolutionary war broke out, made his way into the wilds of the Northwest, for the purpose of engaging in the Indian trade. He is first heard of at Mackinaw, and next in Green Bay. Here he entered into the service of some Indian traders, with whom he worked until he became expert in the fur trading business, learning the language of many of the tribes and acquiring an exten- sive acquaintance with the chiefs and others who wished to trade with the whites. His great capacity and success attracted the attention of John Jacob Astor and the agents of the American Fur Company, who kept Vieau well informed as to the prices of different kinds of fur, and thus enabled him to trade greatly to his own advantage. He first opened a store in Green Bay, and later another one in Milwaukee, in which goods that suited the Indian trade were kept, to be exchanged for the furs and peltry of the aborigines. Vieau generally spent his winters here and his summers in Green Bay, where his family resided and where he cleared up a fine farm for those days. His wife was the daughter of a sister to the famous chief Puch-wan-she-gun, and was one-quarter French and three-quarters Menomonee Indian. Mrs. Vieau's father was not an Indian but a Frenchman, and from the fore- going statement it appears that however much the children of Jacques
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Vieau may have talked, dressed, lived and appeared like Indians, it is reasonably certain that not more than three-sixteenths of their blood was Indian, and that was Menomonee. These children were as follows: Madeline, who died at Stevens Point, Wis., in 1878, as Mrs. Thibeau, aged seventy-eight; Paul, who died in Kansas in 1865; Jo- sette, who died as Mrs. Solomon Juneau in 1855; Jacques, Jr., who died in Kansas in 1875; Joseph, who died in Green Bay in 1879; Louis, who died in Kansas in 1876, chief of the Pottawattomies, and a million- aire; Amiable, Charles, Andrew J., Nicholas, and Peter J. The two last named were born in Milwaukee; the others were born in Green Bay, except Mrs. Juneau, who was born in Sheboygan. Andrew J. Vieau once had a large store in Milwaukee, and Jacques, Jr., was well known to many of the early Milwaukeeans, having built and kept for many years a hotel, which stood on the east side of East Water street, midway between Michigan and Huron streets, and which was called the "Cottage Inn." He died in 1853, at the age of ninety-six years, and his wife was 105 years of age at the time of her death.
"Vieau's trading post, or store, was located two miles up the Me- nomonee, where the Green Bay trail crossed the river, on ground now owned by the estate of the late Charles H. Larkin, and near the site of the present stock-yards. Vieau at one time intended to become an actual settler, and took measures to pre-empt the quarter-section on which his log house stood, but the government land office set aside his claim on the ground that the lands south of the river were not subject to pre-emption at the time he made the entry. The ruins of his cabin and fur repository were objects of interest in 1836, and are well re- membered by many 'old-timers.'
"After working for Vieau two years at Green Bay Solomon Juneau came to Milwaukee in September of 1818, as an agent of the American Fur Company, to take charge of a trading post at this point. Two years later, in 1820, he married Vieau's fifteen-year-old daughter, Josette, and in the fall of that year brought his young wife to the place where he was to found a city a few years later. During the first two years of his married life he and his wife resided, with other members of the Vieau family, at the trading post on the Menomonee river, and it was not until 1822 that he moved into the cabin which became his- toric as his first home, on the site of the present city. The structure, or structures rather, were a combination of dwelling and store rooms, built of tamarack logs, in close proximity to each other, and located near the present intersection of East Water and Wisconsin streets. In this rude shanty the 'father of Milwaukee' began housekeeping in prim- itive style, and here he began trading with the Indians on his own ac-
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count, and laid the foundation of a fortune which slipped from his grasp in later years. In 1835 he built a frame dwelling, on the site of the present Mitchell Bank building, and during the later years of his life lived in a more pretentious residence at the corner of Juneau avenue and Milwaukee street, the site being that now occupied by the handsome residence of Mr. John Black. This building-familiar to some of the present generation of Milwaukeeans as the 'Juneau home- stead'-interesting as a relic of the pioneer era, now stands on North Water street near the Van Buren street viaduct. The first frame struc- ture of any kind erected in Milwaukee was built by Juneau in 1834, near his log store-house and dwelling, at the intersection of Wisconsin and East Water streets. Its dimensions did not exceed 12 by 16 feet. but, nevertheless, it served, at different times, the purposes of a jail, a justice's office, a recorder's office and a school room. During the first sixteen years of his residence here, Juneau was undisturbed by white adventurers, other than those who, like himself, were engaged in the Indian trade, or the hunters and trappers who paid him occa- sional visits. He carried on a profitable trade with the Indians, be- coming conspicuous among the men engaged in a trade which then represented all there was of commerce in the Northwest, and as agent of the American Fur Company he sustained intimate relationships to John Jacob Astor, Ramsey Crook, and other members of the famous fur company, who had great confidence alike in his sagacity and in- tegrity.
"In personal appearance he was a remarkably fine looking man both in his early life and in his mature manhood. Standing full six feet in height, straight as an arrow, broad chested and of splendid muscular development, he had black curly hair, clear dark eyes, and a face that would have attracted attention in any assemblage of men. His fine physique, his courage, tact, and good judgment made him a favorite with the Indians from the start, and in a few years he had ac- quired an almost unbounded influence over those who laid claim to the lands of this region, or who were attracted to his trading post at Mil- waukec.
"Prior to 1834 it is not probable that he had ever seriously con- sidered the project of founding a town here, although it must be ad- mitted he had selected an admirable location for his trading post, had negotiated with the Indians with a view to acquiring their title to lands lying between Milwaukee river and the lake, and may have had aims and ambitions other than those of the typical Indian trader. How- ever this may have been, it is certain that when a quartet of hardy ad- venturers arrived here late in 1833. to be followed by a dozen or more
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new settlers in 1834, he was quick to perceive the trend of events, and prompt to take advantage of the earliest opportunity to acquire title to the land upon which a hamlet was already springing into existence. When the land office was established at Green Bay in 1835, and the first sale of Wisconsin lands ceded by the Indians to the government, took place, Juneau purchased the northeast quarter of section twenty- nine, in township seven, range twenty-two, a portion of which lay be- tween Milwaukee river and the lake, and the remainder west of the river. Soon after making this purchase he exchanged the land which he had acquired west of the river, for a portion of the southeast quarter of the same section lying east of the river, which had been purchased by Byron Kilbourn, and thus came into possession of land having a mile of river frontage on one side and the same extent of lake frontage on the other side. He added to this tract of land by purchasing other claims, so that in 1835 he and his partners (Morgan L. Martin, of Green Bay, and Michael Dousman, of Mackinaw, who had acquired an interest in his realty holdings), were the owners of all the lands south of Division street on the east side of the river. In this connection it is of interest to note the fact that, in the fall of 1833, Martin had pur- chased of Juneau a half interest in the lands to which he had then only a 'squatter's' claim, for $500. The price which Juneau accepted for this interest indicates that no visions of a future city in this location, had at that time dazzled his eyes, and it is possible that the project of laying out a town here originated with Martin and Dousman, both of whom were conspicuous among the pioneers of Wisconsin for their enterprise and sagacity. Martin came here in the summer of 1833, and looked the ground over carefully, taking into consideration the facilities for harbor improvements and other essentials to the building up of a lake shore city, and the result was his purchase (in which Dousman shared) of a half interest in Juneau's claim, the following autumn.
"In the summer of 1835, a portion of this land, to which Juneau, Martin, and Dousman acquired title, was platted-the plat being duly recorded Sept. 8 of that year-and named 'Milwaukie,' and thus were taken the initiatory steps toward the founding of a city. These three men acted in concert in laying out and building up the town, and to- gether expended, within a few years after they became associated to- gether, nearly $100,000 in opening and grading streets, erecting the first court house, and making other improvements. Juneau having his residence here, and having personal charge of all these improvements, matutrally came to be regarded as the projector of the enterprise, and hence he has properly passed into history as the founder of Milwaukee.
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"Whether or not too large a share of the honor of founding a splendid metropolis has been accorded to him, may be left to critics to determine, but there can be no question that his public spirit, gener- osity, enterprise, and devotion to the upbuilding of the infant city, con- tributed vastly to its rapid growth and development. Among all the pioneers there was none more unselfish than Juneau. What he lacked in culture, education and intellectual attainments, he made up for in the warmth of his impulses, the kindliness of his nature and the rectitude of his purposes.
"For some years after Milwaukee was laid out, Juneau was pros- perous in a financial way, his operations both as merchant and in real estate being exceedingly profitable. A vast fortune was within his grasp, but nature and education had not fitted him to retain it. Grad- ually his possessions slipped away from him and passed into hands of shrewder and more sagacious men, and on the 14th day of November, 1856, he died at Shawano, Wis., a comparatively poor man."
Thus ended the career of Solomon Juneau. After losing the greater part of his wealth he had given up his residence in Milwaukee and again engaged in the Indian trade. In fact he had gone to Shawano to make a settlement with the Indians when stricken with the illness that resulted in his death. Samuel Wooton Beall, who was with him during his last hours, thus tells the pathetic story of his death and burial at Shawano :
"Mr. Juneau was too old to endure the cold and hard fare he ex- perienced for days and weeks. His age had begun to reflect the toils of his youth. His strength and vigor, as he frequently told me, had of late years gradually given away, unfitting him for the Indian trade and maturing his purpose to return to Milwaukee and his friends at an carly date. His chief pride was in the city, and certainly his affections were mostly there. The day before his death, expressing his desire to be in Milwaukee, and referring to many of his old friends by name, he observed, 'I do not think I have an enemy in the place.'
"He evinced great anxiety in the result of the presidential election, and rode over bad roads and in a lumber wagon twelve miles to de- posit his vote. The day was inclement. He returned fatigued and wet, and was not well afterwards. The Menomonee payment was made two days before luis death. From dawn to midnight of each day he was harassed by the Indians while engaged in making collections and superintending the sales of his two establishments; and, retiring to his bunk which was adjacent to my own, on Wednesday night, declared himself overcome with fatigue. He arose early, however, on Thursday morning, aroused and directed his clerks for business, and appeared
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animated and cheerful in the prospect we both had of a speedy return to our families. In a very few moments he suddenly complained of great uneasiness, attempting violently and in vain to relieve his stom- ach. Paroxysms of pain supervened, and his tortures were expressed in groans of agony, and streams of sweat bursting and pouring down his face. We removed him, as soon as a bed could be procured, to the home of Mr. Pricket, and surrounded him with every comfort and at- tention within our power. The superintendent, Dr. Heubschmann, ap- plied the proper remedies, both himself and Dr. Wiley exhibiting the most kind and anxious care. But in a few hours the vanity of hope and effort were apparent. The stubborn intensity of his malady defied the devotions of skill and affection, and it became evident that the strong frame of our friend was yielding to the shocks of his last and only enemy.
"About four o'clock the priest was introduced, and being left to- gether alone, at his own solicitation, the last consoling rites of his church, it is presumed, were administered. The type of his malady be- came milder at intervals. His reason, which had never forsaken him, became active in directing a disposition of his property on the pay ground, and in dictating messages of love to his children. Turning to me, he observed : 'It is hard to die here ; I hoped to have laid my bones in Milwaukee'; and immediately afterwards directing his eyes aloft and crossing his hands upon his breast, with a sigh of profound and peaceful languor, he breathed: 'I come to join you, my wife.' The slumbers of syncope supervened, as the night moved on, and at twenty minutes past two o'clock, a. m., Solomon Juneau breathed his last.
"Perhaps no trader ever lived on this continent for whom the Indians entertained more profound respect. The grim warrior, with stately tread and blackened face, and the silent, bending squaw passed in review the corpse of their dead friend-and the chiefs, in solemn council, summoned their braves to attend his funeral. 'Never,' said old Augustin Grignon, 'have I heard of this before.' Many instances oc- curred of individual homage. In the middle of the night an old squaw of decent appearance-the wife of a chief-entered the apartment, and kneeling before the body clasped her hands in silent prayer; then re- moving the cloths from his face, impressed kisses upon his mouth and forehead, and retired as noiselessly as she had entered. Another clipped off a lock of his hair and charged me to deliver it to his chil- dren. The place of his repose was selected by the Indians themselves, and the order of his funeral which was entrusted to Mr. Hunkins, was as follows :
"Ist. Priest in full canonicals, followed by Indian choir, chant- ing funeral forms.
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"2d. Ten pall-bearers, four whites and six Indians (Oshkosh, Carron, Lancet, Keshenah and others).
"3d. The employes of the Agency, male and female.
"4th. Indian women and Indians, two abreast, to the number of six or seven hundred.
"Appropriate services were rendered at the grave by the priest, and a few affectionate sentences of farewell interpreted to the Indians, at their request, were expressed by the Agent.
"Solomon Juneau sleeps upon an elevation far above the Agency and Council House and burial-ground of the Indians, commanding a view of the 'Wolf', as it defiles away in the wilderness of the distant hills, and overlooking the hunting grounds, which in years gone by he had known and traversed himself for many a league."
The remains of Solomon Juneau were removed to Milwaukee on Nov. 28. 1856, and after an imposing ceremony had been held in the cathedral of the Catholic church, they were interred in the old ceme- tery on Spring street, from which place they were removed later to Calvary cemetery, where they now rest.
Not much need be said of Juneau's family in this connection, as none of them made any very marked impress upon the public mind, with the exception of his good wife. Mrs. Juneau, who, as heretofore stated, was a daughter of Jacques Vieau, was born in 1804, at Sheboy- gan, grew up without educational advantages and became a wife when she was fifteen years old. She was nevertheless a woman of character and good natural endownments, and was greatly esteemed among the pioneers for her kindliness and generous hospitality. She acquired a wonderful influence over the Indians, partly owing to the fact that she had a trace of Indian blood in her veins, and also because through life- long association with them, she became thoroughly familiar with their language, customs and habits ; and this influence was always used to foster the interests of the whites and promote the advancement of civilization. She died in Milwaukee in 1855, one year before her hus- band's eventful career was brought to a close.
THE SETTLEMENT.
It was in 1835, as already stated, that Juneau and his partners laid out the little town between the river and the lake, and it is from that date that the history of Milwaukee, as a hamlet or village, may be said to begin. The village was a small and mean one. apparently, given up to Indian trading, and for a time its history was nearly de- void of interest. Like the knife-grinder, it had no story to tell, and
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