The Washington herald., 1909-05-16

Duluth, MINI, Nay 15.-Eustacs Rous-
ssin. Of Fond du Lac, Is tie first man OF
caucasian blood born IN Duluth
His father. Francis Roussain, was agent
a. the old fort at Fond du Lac for Ishn
Jacob Astor and for many years traded
furs with the Indians on the ST Louis
River and in the vermflion country.
When Eustsce was born. fl IESe. there
were no settlers on the present site OF
Duluth, and all the white men IN this
part OF the country made their headouar-
ters in the Indian village Of Fond du Lac.
On their return from trapping expeditions
they traded their furs az the store oue--
ated by Francis Roussain. and she little.
village was the commercial center at the
head OF the lakes.
Eustace lived al the fort with his par-
ents until he was sixteen years ole. Eta
father then thought he was old enough 10
be educated, so ne engaged passage for
him on e fur-tradfng ssiIboat from the
head Of the lakes 10 Detroit From De-
troit he vent By rail 70 Montreal, where
he attended school for three years
he returned 70 Fond du Lac at the end
Of his school career and went 10 work
helping his father in the store and about
the farm At odd times he taught sons
OF the Indians 70 read and write and was
g great favoTite with the red men
Began Trapping ar Twenty.
When he was about twenty years Old
ROussain set out trapping. ana with the
help Of his Indian friends soon became
sn expert. At that tine there were many
deer. wolves, moose. bear. mink. and
Wildcats On the woods nszT Fond d. Lac,
and Roussain made the country between
West Duluth and MS home his trapping
territory. He caught many dollars worth
Of fur-beaTing animals along the stream
that now bears the name OF Keene-s
Creek Mink we're plentiful On the creek
al that time and on ali the creeks rul-
ming into the St Louis River
RoUssein sold lis furs 20 his father and
they were shipped down the lakes 20 the
Eastern cities. He made several trading
trips 70 VerTnili0n Lake. a distance OF
about 100 miles by the old Indian trail.
and he packed back the valuable furs.
and spent most OF & n improving the
farm he had settled on.
This farm was later plated for the
town which now stands there. and the
old man is still living on the land he re-
claimed from the wilderness when he
vas q boy.
r B. Carlton. after whom Carlton,
MINI. is named, was e trader al the VII
lage when Roussain was q boy and was a
great friend Of Roussain. 81
Indians Always Friendly.
Roussain says that the Indians were a.
ways friendly 70 the whites at the village
and that he had never heard o. any trou-
bic between the races az the head OF the
lakes. He can distinctly remember when
''BiiT' Nettleton settled OF lis claim and
put I'D his house. at about where Third
avenue east Is now, and ne says Nettle-
tons house was the first built where Du-
lUth now stands
He also remembers when the first set
tIement was established OF Minnesota
Point. Just below where Superior street
Is now. Roussain was trapping here be
fore the beaver were exterm.nated. and
he says that up until about forty years
ago there were many beaver about four
rliles back Of Duluth
Roussain's father died thirty years ago.
and ROussaia has lived with his sister
Cecilia al The old place ever sinCs- he
has a niece. Cecilia Durfee, who is teach
ing school now IL Fond du Lac
Within the memory OF Rousszin a good
sized island has formed IN the ST Louis
River opposite Fond du Lac, and IN the
case Of the Northern Power Company
against the Chambers be testified as 20
whether the island was there all thetfne
or had been formed since he could re-
member He has seen the face os the
earth change IN several places along the
river
Roussain never married. He Is still
hearty and comes into West Duluth three
or four times a year 70 visit old trends
He IS known BY al the Old residents and
has q host Of friends in West Duluth