The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-05-11
WHO WAS JAMBO?
lRY Emil Baenschl

since the announcement that a monu-
ment near the Jambo Creek School is
to he dedicated on June 18th. Jambo
was an Indian trader, one of the mis-
sionaries of civilization" as Prof.
Fred Turner terms them, whose adven-
lures and activities form the chapter
of Romance in Wisconsin history.
For two hundred years after the
first white man, Nicollet, entered our
state, its main industry was the fur
trade, carried on by the French and
Indians, The French in Canada pene-
trated the Northwest along natures
highways, passing with their canoes
through the Great Lakes, and then,
from Green Bay, over the Fox and
Wisconsin rivers, finding their way to
the Mississippi. A typical trading ca
noe is described as being forty feet
long, five feet wide, drawing three feet
of water and capable Of carrying four
tons of freight, yet so constructed that
four men could easily carry it.
Jambo was a Frenchman, born near
Montreal in 1857 His real name was
Jacques Nieau but he was usually call
ed Jean Veux (Vo), which was later
Amercanized into Jambo. He entered
the fur trade at an early age, was sta
toned at various points on the lakes,
and finally made his permanent home
at Green Bay,
In 1886 he married Angelina Leroy,
a daughter Of Joseph LeRroy, a trader
at Green Bay. She was niece of
Onaugesa, the Indian chief at Milwau-
kee. This family relationship paved
the way to Indian friendship, although
his winning personality would have won
him success without that He was six
feet tall, tipped the scales at two hun
dred and ten, had light, curly hair, was
always clearly shaven, had a broad,
smiling face, and spoke English,
French, and several Indian dialects.
In 1895 he was in the employ of the
Northwest Fur Co. and was sent to es-
tablish trading posts along the West
shore of Lake Michigan, with his head
quarters at Milwaukee. The principal
Offices of the Company were at Mack
nae. In July of that year he left Mac
kninac with two large canoes, one
manned by twelve men and loaded with
his stock of goods, the other carrying
himself and family with the camp
equipment
His first landing was at Two Creeks
From here he trailed westward through
the woods until he came to Mauvais
! Creek, later named after him. On the
banks of this stream he built log
hut, stocked it with goods and placed
one Of his men in charge. He then
continued his journey along the lake
shore, also stopping at Sheboygan,
where he established a post at the
Falls. He arrived at Milwaukee the
third week in August. Here he beach
ed his canoes, put up two tents, and
later built warehouse and dwelling,
thus being one of the first white set
tiers in what is now the metropolis of
our state
For forty years he was actively en-
gagged in the Indian trade in the lake
shore territory, tho not always with
the same company. 1t was his custom
to leave Milwaukee with his family in
the spring, visit his trading posts and
there gather up furs and maple sugar.
These he would take to Mackinac,
where he would be supplied with
stock of goods to distribute among his
posts on his return to Milwaukee in
the fall. His success may be gathered
from the correspondence of that period.
Thus, letter from the main office of
the American Fur Co. to John Lave,
its agent at Green Bay, urges the lat
ter "to see Jean NeuX by all MEANS"
and to offer him a stock of goods and
promise him good prices for furs in
the spring We get a glimpse of the
extent of his credit in an invoice of
goods entrusted to him and valued at
S2,22S, quite an amount in those days.
AS to our own county we CLEAN from
the published correspondence an inter
esting insight with reference to Jam
bo's difficulties in business. About
1920 one Moses Swan appeared in the
field as a competitor. Judging from
his name he was not a Frenchman, but
came from race of keen traders And
he made ii unpleasant, for in 1928 it is
reported that Moses is in ManitowOc
and "while he may not have a good as
sortment", Jambo had better be on the
lookout "for that is the only quarter
from which he has anything. to fear"
Some time later comes the encouraging
message that "Swan is wasting his
goods and won't last long. But in the
following spring this is repeated in
more dsquieting form, namely "Swan
at Manitowoc is selling the best quail
ity Of Indian goods very low which has
opposed Jean Neux great DEAF.
Jambo met Misses cut in prices but
apparently went too far, for in 1926