Bernard Walter Brisbois - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

History

Bernard Brisbois was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....

, in 1808, to Michel Brisbois

Michel Brisbois

Michel Brisbois was a French-Canadian voyageur who was active in the upper Mississippi River valley as early as 1781. Originally a fur trader for the Hudson's Bay Company, he eventually settled in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin where he became a baker....

, a French-Canadian voyageur, and his second wife Domitelle (Madelaine) Gautier de Verville.

Like his father, Brisbois also began his career in the fur trade, working as agent for the American Fur Company. Bernard married Therese LaChappelle [daughter of metis Pélagie LaPointe (herself the daughter of Pierre LaPointe and Etoukasahwee) and Antoine LaChapelle]. Later he engaged in the mercantile business in Prairie du Chien until 1873 when he was appointed consul at Verviers, Belgium. He returned to Prairie du Chien in 1874 and lived there until his death in 1885.

Etoukasahwee's parents are listed as Gaa-dawaabide (Broken Tooth or DeBreche) and Obenege shipequay. Gaa-dawaabide was a long time Ojibwe Chief of the Sandy Lake village

Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa

Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa are a historical Ojibwa tribe located in the upper Mississippi River basin, on and around Big Sandy Lake in what today is in Aitkin County, Minnesota...

whose family belonged to the Aan'aawenh (Pintail) doodem or clan. Gaa-dawaabide (1750–1828), son of Biauswah II, was at the taking of Michilimackinac. He married Obeneg eshipequag. His sons were Maangozid (Loons Foot), Gaa-nandawaawinzo (Ripe berry hunter) and Zagataagan (Spunk) and daughters Charlotte who married Charles Oakes Ermitinger, Nancy (Keneesequa) born 1793 married 1822/23 Samuel Ashmun and a daughter who married Hole in the Day. He was principle spokesperson at Sandy Lake before 1805. The name DeBreche attributed to him is likely one of his sons as it was used at the signing of treaty in 1837 at Fort Snelling after his death.

Brisbois Store

Located on St. Feriole Island in the city of Prairie du Chien, the historical Brisbois Store was built in 1851-52 by Bernard Brisbois. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the stone building sits on land with a long association with the North American fur trade. Prior to the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

, the property was owned by a number of prominent traders and companies. During the War a log structure on the property was used by U.S. soldiers for housing while nearby Fort Shelby

Fort Shelby (Wisconsin)

Fort Shelby was a United States military installation in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, built in 1814. It was named for Isaac Shelby, Revolutionary War soldier and first governor of Kentucky. The fort was captured by the British during the Siege of Prairie du Chien in July 1814...

was under construction. After the War, the property became the site of a U.S. Fur Factory. In the 1820s the land was sold to the American Fur Company

American Fur Company

The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...

who held it until its sale to Bernard Brisbois in 1850. Through much of the twentieth century the building was known as the Riverside Boat Repair. The Brisbois Store was acquired by the Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...

in the 1970s and was established as the Fur Trade

Fur trade

The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...

Museum. The Brisbois Store is listed as a National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...

and on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

Brisbois House (II)

For Brisbois House (I), see Michel Brisbois House

Also located on St. Feriole Island, the second Brisbois House was built by Joseph Rolette as part of a separation contract negotiated in 1836 for his estranged wife, Jane Fisher Rolette. The limestone house was erected on property owned by Jane’s maternal relatives, the Brisbois. The limestone for the building came from the surplus stone sold by the United States government after the construction of Fort Crawford

Fort Crawford

Fort Crawford was an outpost of the United States Army located in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, during the 19th Century. The Second Fort Crawford Military Hospital was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1960....

.

After Rolette’s death, Jane married his business partner, Hercules Dousman, and transferred the property to her cousin, Bernard Brisbois, and the house remained in his family until the end of the 1900s. In the 1950s the Cornelius family restored the residence and gave the property to the Wisconsin Historical Society