Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1856-09-20
The Late col. N. u. Menard.

aence received, as we we're gong TO press, q
The death II Col. Mabel b, Menard, Of Thu
lclly. This melancholy event occurred OF
( Tuesday, the 26h inst, NJ half past =, NJ
/ His disease was an immense caTbuncle, cOm
lncncing below the right shoulderbIade, AMI
extending over The spine, Under ordinary cir
cumslnnrcs, his great physical strength and
powerful constitution wonll not have succumb
I'D 10 such M attack Bt il has been know
10 his friend, thar f"r more than year pas
his spirit, have been much depressed, Ola nc
rounl a. the pcrun,Iry re,erses Of the mer
cnniilr firm, lnr whose liabilities he was re-
spunsihlr, though moi connected with the man
ngrmcnl Of is business, aud that his Efforts Il
retrieve them honorahly have overrSycd his en-
ergics. Daring the summer he tou'SNa horse
hack trip into Eastern Texas, and after his re-
mrn was unwell for several weeks, aud mucl
Frustrated The cnrbuncle d 'velopins soon
afterwards, nnl bUrrnwing into hls most vita
parts, he had not strength to Withstand il, and
the functions of his body gave way. Ia the
early stages he suffered excessively, but FOL
several DAYS preceding his death, was in litrle
pain. lie met death calmly and serenity
without murmur aud without fear, The
funeral services were performed by the Catho.
, lie Church, and his rcmains were followed IA
the grave BY very large procession Of our cit
izcnS.
We should have been glad had time and
opportunity permitted, 10 have obtained the
leading events of his life, but could do so only
very imperfecily, mud hope Tint some friend
will rolect them in detail, and give them TO
the public.
Michel Branamour Menard was born in
Canada, ut the little village of In Prairie, near
Montreal, on the 9TH Of December, 1905. His
parents were French. Az the age OF sixteen
he engaged in the Norlh.Westrrn Fur Trade.
in the employ of an American company al
Detroit. AT about nineteen he went to Mis-.
souri, NJ The solicitation Of his uncle, Pierre
Mennrd. then Lieut. Governor. and an extrn-
>ive Indian trader aud for several YEARS lradrG
for him among the Indians. Becoming nriarh-
ed 10 Indian life, he determined 10 remain
among them, and was elected Chief 10y the
powerful tribe Of the Shawnees, which station
he held for several years. His influence over
them and other tribes, among whom he was
known, was very great. Truth. justice, hon.
or, aud courage were instinct in his character,
and displayed in all his actions-qnaliiic>
which command confidence and affection
among all men-he red and bark, even more
than the white. The Indians still cherish his
name, aud il is common expression among
them, speaking of him by his Indian name,
"liiche lee nerer deceired u.s." A few years
ago, brother Of ''ecumseh. and several other
Shawnees, came TO Galveston to See him. His
IL,
to his house. hut woald not enter. He sat on
the ground with them for hours, and they beg
sed hun to go back again aud be their Chief
Such was his known influence with the H.
dans, that at one time he was in treaty with
The Unired States government for the removal
of all the tribes of Northwestern lnlians 10
the present country of Uah and California
Tbs, ct course, was never cOnSumna'ed, bat
we have heard him shy that he came very near
uniting all the Indian tribes into one great ma
ton, and being their king, with over 100000
subjects.
About 1888 or he came TO II Xas, settled
in Nacogdochss and traded with the Mrxicans
and Indluns When the revolution broke out,
the Mexicans endeavnred TO incite the ludan
tribes OIL our Northeastern frontier TO overrun
and de>olate the country. AT the solicitation
Of the Texas Government Col Menard went
imong them, and BY his personal exertions no
1oubt prevented an invasion and kept them
luet
He considered that the event in his life,
which he had the qualification to feel assured
vas Of important service to his country.
He was member of the convention which
declared the independence of Texas and iorm-
ID the constitution of the Republic.
In 1889 he was member of Congress from
Galveston county; and was the author and
powerful advocate Of the system OF finance by
he issue of exchequer bills, which failing that
esson was recommended by Gen. Houston
he next and adopted, and at time when the
6untry was flooded with d-hacks at a mere
,ominal value, and credit entirely gone, pro-
ided revenue and currency which carried on
he government and saved the country.
In December, 1886 the first Congress of the
Republic. for the price Of $4,000, granted 10
JoI. Menard the league o. land on winch Gal
eston n W stands, then occupied by single
labitaton. He was, emphalcally, the found
r of the city of Galveston From that day
O this he has been identified with every step
# the progress of our city. OF ena'gcd pub
ic spirit and the truest benevolence, there has
,een no enterprise which has not received his
,elping hanI. No man possessed larger
hare OF the confidence and respect of our en-
ire community, or stronger hold on It's re-
yard and affection.
Col Menard possessed mind If very great
originality and vigor. He was a strong, d.
ect, practical thinker, who went 10 1.-The inner
net of things" and expressed himself in the
most senleniious, nervous and apt language.
His conversation was very agreeable and in
eresing, Astounding in anecdote, enlivened by
seen wit, and rendered especially striking by
lis French gesture and accent.
His domestic character was admirahe-a
devoted husband and fa,her-a kind master
l hospitable neighbour warm and generous
'riend. He leaves widow and an only child,
l bright lille boy, five years of age, and two
,dopied daughters.
His death will carry painful shock TO all
he "old Texians," and TO a large circle OF