Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-02-24
MINNESOTA FUR TRADE.

MINNESOTA FUR TRADE.
Before Captain Miles Standsh and his men,
orable comrades saw the rocky coast of Plym-
outh Champain, the founder of the city OF
Quebec, had penetrated to the shores of Mer
Douce, (Lake Huron), and learned of the exis-
tence of CASTOR Rapns, (Sault Ste Marie),
Grand Lac, (Superor), and the nation of Puans,
(Winnebagos), living upon Bay, (Green Bay).
Previous to 1860, two voyageurs had passed
Lake Superior, towards the head waters of the
Mississippi, and were possibly the first that tra-
ded with the Dakotas upon their own soil.
The persons whose names are preserved, that
first attempted to engage in trade with the Da-
kotas were Michael .Ako, and Picard du Gay,
alias Anthony Anguelo, who was a native of
Amiens, and a nephew of Du Cauroi Abbot of
Beaulieu. They were the voyageurs who left
Fort Crevecoeur on the Illinois, and acted rs
the oarsman of the Franciscan Hennepin. In
April, 1850, as is we'll known, the party were
taken captive by the Dakotas of the Mile Lac.
The outfit of these voyageurs was furnished
about one hundred and eighty dollars. Besides
this, there were given TO Hennepin ten knives,
twelve shoemakers' avis or bodkins, a roll of
tobacco, parcel Of needles, and some beads.
While Hennepn was at work in the month
of July, 1850, with the wives of a chief, in tend
ing the European pulse" he had planted up
on an isle in Mile Lac, he was much gratifed
by the unexpected arrival from Lake Superior
of Sieur du Luth. This man was accompanied
by five men, and was anxious to trade with the
Dakotas. AT his request Hennepin accompanied
him to the surrounding villages and acted as a
kind of interpreter. Some of the villages visi-
ted were probably on the west side of the Miss
issppi, as they did not reach them until the 18th
day Of August. After they had exchanged their
manufactures for peltries, Du Luth returned to
the vicinity of Mile Lac, the old home of the
Observation-Disclosures. Upon the promise of re-
turning again with iron and other commodities,
he and Father Hennepin were permitted to 60
to Canada, by the way of the Wisconsin and
Green Bay. Seur Du Luth was man great
enterprise and decision of character, and his
name is conspicuous in the annals of the wars
between the French and the Indians of New
York. He had been absent from Canada two
and half years when he arrived in Minnesota
Either before or upon his return he had caused
two lroquois to be killed, who had assassinated
two Frenchmen upon Lake Superior. This so
incensed the Five Nations, that they declared
war against the French. De la Barre, the Gov
ernor of Canada, did all in his power to appease
their wrath, but Notwithstanding his protesta-
tions in the month of March, 1854, a band of
two hundred Seneca and Cayuga warriors, hav-
ing met seven canoes manned by fourteen
Frenchmen, with fifteen or sixteen thousand
pounds of merchandise, who were going to trade
with the Scious, pillaged them and took them
prisoners without any resistance; and after de-
taing them nine days, sent them away without
arms, food or canoes,
This attack caused the French much uneasi-
ness, as they feared that the English, by form
ing an alliance with the lroquois, might take
possession of their posts at Mackinac, Fort
Creveceur, and Green Bay, and thus command
the trade of all the distant nations. Governor
De la Barre therefore despatched orders to ST.
eur du Luth, who was then at Green Bay, act
ing as Lieutenant under Durantaye, who was
commander at Macknac, to come to Canada and
the number of allies he could obtain. With
great speed he came to Niagara, the place Of
rendezvous, with band of Indians, and would
alone have attacked the Senecas, had it not been
for an express order from De la Barre to the
contrary.
When Louis the fourteenth heard of this
he felt, to use his words, T" that it was
a grave misfortune for the colony of New
France" and then in his letter to the Governor,
he adds: " 1t appears to me that one of the
principal causes of the war, arises from one Du
Luth having caused two Iroquois to be killed,
who had assassinated two Frenchmen on Lake
Superior, and you sufficiently see how much
this mans voyage, which cannot produce any
advantage to the colony, and which was per-
mitted only in the interest of some private per-
sons, has contributed to distract the repose of
the colony" The English taking advantage of
the embarrassments of the French. in the year
1886, one Roseboom, and Major Mac Gregory,
with sixty young men from Albany, went beav-
er trading with the far nations, and did not stop
until they exchanged goods with the Hurons of
Mackinac. Denonvile, the new governor Of
Canada, knowing the bravery of Du Luth, Or
dered to the Detroit of Lake Erie, where he
might capture any English on their way to
Lake Huron. With fifty good men, well armed,
he there stationed himself, and thus gave secu-
rity from the Iroquois to the savages about
Green Bay. In the year 1859, Immediately pre-