The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-06-13
Interesting Accounts of Early In.
dian Tradersand Pioneers.
JACQUES vIEAU ESTABLISHING POSTS.
Makes Long Journey With His Family in
Mackinaw Boat.
MEETING BETWEEN TRADERS AND INDIANS
Other Historical Facts Connected With the
Early Development of Manitowoc
County, and Lake Region.

Between the years of 1885, when the
intrepid Jean Nicollet explored this
country, and 1885, when the first
authentic settler erected his house, I'M
numbered r-traders crossed and re-
crossed this county. They were either
voyageurs, licensed by the government,
or illicit traders, known as coJttfS dt'
bois. who coursed through the wilder
ness in search of the adventures and
riches. They came from Quebec,
Montreal or Michilimacinack (Macki
naw) and were, as rule, men OF little
learning, who kept no records of then
enterprising penetrations into the re
hottest regions, carrying knives, hatchets,
iron spear and arrow heads traps, fish
hooks. blankets, calico and other article
coveted by the savages, in exchange fol
their peltries They generally came
along the shores of Green Bay, but the,
soon found their way into the mos
hidden Indian village. These Canadians
had an Unborn aptitude for gaining thl
friendship, and becoming the confrere
of the Indians They adopted The
attire of their dusky friends, hunted
and fished with them. took part in, ano
even lead them, on their war paths
wooed and won their dark eyed daugh-
tiers, and in the course of time often
became more savage than the redskins
themselves Some of them became Well
known chiefs of powerful tribes
Almost every spring a tiotilla OF
cSaoes, loaded with peltries departed
from the region of La Bdye, eastern
Wisconsin, under the command of these
r0ydQeuis, and amid arduous trials and
dangers on stormtossed lakes, treacher
Gus rapids ana the painless wilderness
they proceeded to Quebec, where the
skins We're disposed of, and the traders
We're paid their wages. Then often
followed Oh gies of the widest dissipa-
ton. The earnings of years were spent
in as many days, and when the last
copper was gone the hardy adventurel
again took service and returned TO the
fascinating wilderness. The wild chants
of these boatmen We're heard on many a
river and lake in this county; their camp
fires glowed in the thickets on the water
sides; the crack of their mushets re
echoed across the beautiful green valleys
followed perhaps by the rush Of a herd
of deer or the rise of flock Of birds
When the missionaries came to Green
Bay these traders gave them a hearty
of the older ones erected their cabins.
The names of most of the earlier ones
have been lost to the world Many of
them died, surrounded by tEeir Indian
friends, and We're laid away in the I'M
marked burial places of the savages
Others, as they grew older returned TO
civilization, often leaving their dusky
wives and children behind them, and
We're buried at last with the ceremonies
of their chosen church.
In 1719 a man by the name of Fay
was located at Two Rivers with two
canoe-loads of goods with which to
supply Indians friendly to the British.
The French fur traders and agents, al
most to u man, We're in the employ of
the British during the Revolutionary
War, and also during the War of 1912.
These men We're generally employed to
arouse the Indians against the Ameri-
cans. or Bostonians as they were often
called.
In 1895 the North Western Fur Com
pany appointed Jacques Vieau to estab-
lish trading posts along the west shore
of Lake Michigan. Vieau, who lived at
Green Bay, was tall well-built man,
clean shaved with light curly hair and
ford complexion. He was of happy
social disposition and of temperate hab.
its, and very popular both with the
whites and the Indians He was of
French descent, but his wife was half
blood Ottawa
One beautiful morning in the early
summer of that year, there coursed
along the green shores of what is now
kewaunee county, rising and falling
upon the sparkling waves, heavily
loaded Mackinaw boat, manned by
twelve men; and following in large
bark canoe, containing the camping
outfit, sat jacques Vieau, his wife, three
small children and a clerk named
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