South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-08
FAMILY PAPERS
FOR n. D. LIBRARY
Much Early History of MiChi-
gan and Indiana Included
in Letters.


Dame university, has just secured pos
session OF the valuable family papers
OF the Mclaughlin family Of Sturgis,
Mich. and the Mirantette family of
Nendon. Mich. two Of the Oldest fam
lilies Of the state. and descendants OF
Robert. King OF Navarro.
The Michigan Historical society has
recognized the value Of these papers
and has endeavored on several Occa-
siOns to gain possession Of them. In
giving them to the NOtre Dame uni
vcisity archives, the two families have
retained the right forever for any or
them or their descendants to have
tree access to these historic docu-
meuts.
The first ancestor OF these families
"a settle in Michigan was Robert Ma
varre. a great grandson and namesake
Of Robert. the king. He was sent by
King Louis Ky Of France as his repre-
sentative 10 Detroit. when that city
was a trading post established by the
rench for commerce with the In
dams
Nevertheless it was a post Of such
Importance that many prominent per-
sons from France and Canada had
taken up residence there.
Robert Navarre's descendants were
among the earliest settlers, and were
IN a way. the founders of Monroe,
Mich. Grand Rapids, Mich, Mendon,
Mich, and Of Joliet and Chicago, Ill
Whether Robert Navarro was a rela-
tive OF Pierre Navarro, the hrst Wnlte
settler OF South Bend, whose old CABIN
home is now in Leeper park. pos
session of the city. and in whose honor
the handsome residence section known
as Navarro place is named, is an IN
+erestfnn question that may be an
sweTed soon.
Descendants of Navarro.
Patrick Mirantette and his wife.
and the MoUtaws,-a well-knOwn
family in MicEigan-were descendants
of this Robert Navarro, and settled
at an early date in St. Joseph county,
Mich. A Francis Moutaw took charge
OF "A trading post in MendOn. Mich, IN
1881. In 1893 Patrick Mirantette took
charge of this post and had a big
trade with the Indians. The Mirantette
home in MendOn is now near the site
of this post. which was first estab-
lished by one Peter Godfrey.
Peter Godfrey figures in one OF the
interesting documents entrusted TO
Notre Danes archives. This paper is a
certificate Of agreement entered into
by the Indians and Peter Godfrey
whereby the Indians turned over to
Godfrey the lands they possessed in
these parts. The document is signed
by Pres't Andrew Jackson. In the
collection also. is an early number
An extra '-Of the South Bend Free
Press. In this is an account OF the
removal OF the Indians TO the Mlssls-
sippi.
signed by w b. Mitchell, United States
commissioner of Indian affairs, and
addressed to Indian claimants against
the united bands of Ottawas and Chip
pewas and POttowatOmies OF Indiana.
notifying them that certificates would
be issued at Elkhart village COM
mencing Monday. Feb. rs. 1912. This
notice warns the Indians that the de-
partment Of war requires that the IN
debtcdness Of each Indian be set out
SO that if the papers alre@Gy or nle
in the office of the commissioners viii
not enable him TO charge the Indians
separately, the claimants will be re-
quired TO furnish such additional evil
dence as viii accomplish that object
Difference in Claims.
This does not apply TO 'depreda-
tons" where the individual trespass- |
ers cannot be designated. Certificates
for "depredations" must be assented |
TO BY the tribe where the individual |
Indian is unknown, and Will be paid |
at the rate of one-third annually.
This order also distinguished between !
claims originating before. and those |
originating at the time of the immi- |
grafton 10 the Mississippi.
The first class had TO be presented !
20 the Indian debtors for their assent
before the creditors could collect from |
the agent out Of the annuities of each |
individual Indian" The second class !
of claims did not have 10 be assented !
10 BY the debtor in order to have the |
agent pay for them. Both classes Of |
claims against the Indians were TO be /
paid a the rate Of One-hfth annually |
out Of the income provided by the !
government.
old Prayer Book.
a curious old prayer book, in |
French. leather bound but much worn |
and frayed is also found in this col ]
lection. IL was the property Of Rob |
ert Navarro, the third hneal descendant |
OF King Robert OF Navarro. and bears |
ms signature. Ii has been an heir |
loom in the Mirantette family for |
many generations Letters of early /
missionaries and a number of legal |
documents make up the greater part !