Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-23
PIONEER MEMORIES.
Here Sleeps Count Pierre Louis
La Point.
Frind of Lafayette and Co-patriot
of Dn M cling, Merle
ment and LauE
and ObtIvtou.
tcol. D. W. H. Howard in Sunday Journal }

was Count Pierre Loui4 La Point"
genial, kind-hearted old Frenchman, who,
while yet in his teens, left wealth, position,
and cultured associations to follow the
fortunes OF his relative and personal friend.
Gen. Lafayette, and left his "beautifnl
France" for America To md the wesk and
struggling colonists in fighting the battle
Of the Revolution, for Washington aud
American independence. A warm person
al friend and intimate Of Washington's, he
was never weary Of extolling the virtue,
wisdom and patriotism OF those two great
men.
Possessed OF fine education, high cnl-
ture and large experience Ms = soldier and
frontier fur-trader, he had at command nm
ineIhaus ible iund Of intensely interesting
Information, winch never I lied to interest
his visitors aud pass an enjoyable hour at
his hospitabIe table.
Al the close Of the Revolutionary War,
when peace once more ruled our beloved
country, Count La Point did not return to
his native sunny France with his friend
Gen. Lafayette, hut followed the natural
inclination Of most Frenchmrn who cnme
10 America NJ that early day. adopied the
life of an Indian fur-trader, nnd followed
this lucrative bssiness for miny wears,
Visiting slmoa all portions OF N"rii,
Amcrica during his warderings after the
rich fcrs, and skins taken by the Indian
fur-hnnters, in the endless wilds Of tbs
counirv, at that e,rly day. TTis rel,,icn
10 me when hoy, oi the exciting scenes
of alm,st d,ilv occurrence, running the
wild rapids of the rivers IN bark camec,
If the hear or deer chase with the Indians,
and the hundred and one other adventure,
coniaun tu the fronlirrman Of Americ,,
were most entertaining, and have sat fnr
hours listening to his slorie, Of advcntur.
ous frontier lie.
After spending a life lar passed its prime
and enduring the harishirs snd privalions
OF acquiring competency sufficient To live
at e,sr, to n comfortable old age, Count
La Point settled uron beautiful spot on
the bluff tank Of the Maumee river, about
one mile below where the little village Of
Waierville now stands, and when the Gov
ernment sold the lands. he purchased a
tract aud opened small farm on the rich
bottom on the margin of the river, where
lie raised all the products usual TO a new
countr! snch AZ Indian corn, beans, po.
| tatoes, pumpkins and squnshes. He erect
ed commodi,us block dwelling and out
buildings, and surrounded himself with all
the comforts possible 10 so new and wild
country had great focks of turkeys and
ducks domesticated from the wild ones,
once so plentiful in the country; and do
| n,a sti fnkv Ia. n nd Mi 10, oh
| that, in addition to the wild game SO easily
procured. he was never Mt loss for the
necessary facilities to supply bouniiful
table. lie planted an apple and peach
orchard, and in a few years had an abund.
ance of these valuable fruits One of the
most genial and social of men, always
pleased to greet his friends and entertnin
theR at his table, it was his custom Ia
invite the nabohs OF the valley, such a.
Gen. John E. Hunt, Judge r. A. FORSYTH,
Judge John and Frank Hollisrer, Col. Geo
| Knsggs, Judge Violent, Wash and Bill
Ewing. Peter Manor and n few others of
his friends, at least twice each year, and
occasionally invited the ladies 10 accom-
pany their husbands, when he wonlI
prepare banquet, with the aid Of his MN
servants las no woman was permitted Ia
reside there fit for king. What q
lacked from his own farm and garden
productions woull be supplied ny hi. m any
Indian friends, at short notice. all the
game of the forest and stream. HIS cellar
was always well stocked with demijons OF
pure brandy. pert and mederia wines, an,
always one OF old Bourbon, which most o
the old pioneers preferred TO any ethe
exhilerating beverage. This was the grea
treat of the season for these jolly frontiers
men. They seldom failed to avail them
selves of the invitation to meet at tb,
festive board Of "Uncle" La Point AM
have jolly and enjoyable good time.
The old Count was known from Detroit
to Fort Wayne bv all the French and
Americas fnr-traders, as all had partaker
Of his hospitality at various times when
passing from point 10 point as business OF
pleasure called them 10 the differen
trading ports, several times each year
The comfortable log mansion Of the ole
soldier was located upon the main Travelled
trail, leading from the trading ports a
Detroit to those on the upper Maume,
and down The banks of the Wabash, wher
the great American fnr traders w. g. 1
u. w. Ewing. and the French traders Col
Comparrelt & Bonne, piled their lnsrativ,
and profitable business with The tribes o
the Me-aw, Pi-an-Iea--siaw, and Mi-am-i
nj their village on those noted hnniin.
ground. OF the West. No one p,.seh with
ont ut least calling and taking glass o
the generous Frenclimsn'S brandy or B,nr
hon, for none knew the virtue af the pur
and exhilerating beverage better than III
hearty fur trader, and nll were welcom,
guests. When iae few ladies' who reside,
in the country formed a PARTON of lb
| snn at Al. IN
sion, music and dancing were al~ars
| part 81 the entertainment. for all. wiihnn
exception. NJ that enriy dny. enj wed The
pleasures Of the dance, and many Ion,
evening was,passe,I in this pleasant exer.
else. The violin. IN the hands Of u Frencl
hoa,man. or trader, furnished The mnsic a
these gay and jsvial gatherings. For NOR
than third Of n century Uncle" Peiel
l., Points mansion w,sa familiar land
mark 10 all who inhabited the country o
pnssed that way; hut The kind old man
Ike nearly all who enjoyed his generon
hospi' alily, has long since heen gsthere,
TO his fathers, and the pleasant spot on tn
banks Of tie Manmse, where snch pleas
nres were enjnye,l by those early rioneer,
0t the wilderness comniry. IL now in silenc
and decay. TIE traveller speeding alonl
on the busy railway would sca rcrly he liev,
that the waving fields oi grain in snmme
or The lev sheet OF snow in white, cover
the silent place OF the once hospiiable hon,
Of n noble and cultured French Court, tn
friend and intimate of Washington ant
Lafayette. For the only monument ave
the grave OF This patriot. soldier and pion-
eer, In the spreading branches of the old
apple tree, planned by his own hands
Such il life.
Here sleeps Count Pierre Louis l.
Point.
Ayers Sarsnrarilla Ia the most psten
blood purifier, and fountain o heal
and strength. be wise In time. All bane
lnl infections are promtly removed by ihi
uneauallyd Alternative