Jean La Lime
Encyclopedia
Jean La Lime. La Lime first arrived in the Chicago area on August 17, 1792 as an agent for William Burnett. In 1800, he worked to purchase the homestead of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable for Burnett for 6,000 livres, although by 1804, it was owned by Burnett's partner, John Kinzie
. The bill of sale was filed in Detroit, Michigan
on September 18, 1800, although it is dated in Chicago on May 7 of that year. From 1804 until his death, he worked as an Indian interpreter at Fort Dearborn
. An improperly set broken leg during the winter of 1809 left La Lime lame.
On June 17, 1812, La Lime got into a quarrel with Kinzie, who killed him. Kinzie, who fled to Milwaukee in Indian territory, claimed La Lime had shot at him and Kinzie stabbed La Lime in self defense. Kinzie was eventually exonerated of the murder when Nathan Heald
, the captain of Fort Dearborn determined he had acted in self-defense. There is speculation that La Lime was acting as an informant on the corrupt activities within the fort and Kinzie killed him to silence him. Death threats had been made to La Lime as early as April of that year. La Lime was originally buried within sight of Kinzie's house; Kinzie made sure to maintain the site properly. After Kinzie's death, his son, John H. Kinzie
, exhumed La Lime's bones and buried them within the churchyard of St. James Church.
In 1891, a coffin was discovered at Wabash Avenue and Illinois Street near the Rush Street Bridge
. Based on the research of Joseph Kirkland, the bones inside were believed to be La Lime's and are currently in the possession of the Chicago History Museum.
John Kinzie
John Kinzie was one of Chicago's first permanent European settlers. Kinzie Street in Chicago is named after him.-Early life:...
. The bill of sale was filed in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
on September 18, 1800, although it is dated in Chicago on May 7 of that year. From 1804 until his death, he worked as an Indian interpreter at Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
. An improperly set broken leg during the winter of 1809 left La Lime lame.
On June 17, 1812, La Lime got into a quarrel with Kinzie, who killed him. Kinzie, who fled to Milwaukee in Indian territory, claimed La Lime had shot at him and Kinzie stabbed La Lime in self defense. Kinzie was eventually exonerated of the murder when Nathan Heald
Nathan Heald
Nathan Heald was an officer in the United States Army during the War of 1812...
, the captain of Fort Dearborn determined he had acted in self-defense. There is speculation that La Lime was acting as an informant on the corrupt activities within the fort and Kinzie killed him to silence him. Death threats had been made to La Lime as early as April of that year. La Lime was originally buried within sight of Kinzie's house; Kinzie made sure to maintain the site properly. After Kinzie's death, his son, John H. Kinzie
John H. Kinzie
John Harris Kinzie was the eldest son of John Kinzie, one of Chicago's first permanent settlers...
, exhumed La Lime's bones and buried them within the churchyard of St. James Church.
In 1891, a coffin was discovered at Wabash Avenue and Illinois Street near the Rush Street Bridge
Rush Street (Chicago)
Rush Street is predominantly a northbound one-way street in the Near North Side community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
. Based on the research of Joseph Kirkland, the bones inside were believed to be La Lime's and are currently in the possession of the Chicago History Museum.