Louis Campau
Encyclopedia
Louis Campau was an important figure in the early settlement of two important Michigan
cities.
He established the first trading post at what is today Saginaw, Michigan
, as early as 1815. He also fought in the War of 1812 and played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Saginaw
in 1819. This Treaty was made between Gen. Lewis Cass
and Native American tribes of the Great Lakes region (principally the Ojibwe, but also the Ottawa
and Potawatomi
) of Michigan. Native Americans ceded a large tract of land (more than six million acres (24,000 km²), or 24,000 km²) in the central portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
In 1826, Campau moved South and established a trading post in what is today Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although he was not the first permanent white settler (that distinction falls to a Baptist minister named Isaac McCoy
who arrived in 1825), Campau became perhaps the most important settler of Grand Rapids when, in 1831, he bought what is now the entire downtown business district of that city from the federal government for $90. He is considered the "father" of the town.
Spelling of his surname varies. It is sometimes cited as "Campeau".
He was also good friends with William Quevillon, the first white settler of Ludington, Michigan
.
In 2007, with a second printing in 2009, a book about Louis Campau came out. Written by Christopher Mabie and published by Van Naerden Publishing, the book is titled Uncle Louis: The Biography Of Louis Campau, Founder Of Saginaw And Grand Rapids.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
cities.
He established the first trading post at what is today Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, as early as 1815. He also fought in the War of 1812 and played a key role in negotiating the Treaty of Saginaw
Treaty of Saginaw
The Treaty of Saginaw, also known as the Treaty with the Chippewa, was made between Gen. Lewis Cass and Chief John Okemos, Chief Wasso and other Native American tribes of the Great Lakes region in what is now the United States, on September 24, 1819, proclaimed by the President of the United...
in 1819. This Treaty was made between Gen. Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass
Lewis Cass was an American military officer and politician. During his long political career, Cass served as a governor of the Michigan Territory, an American ambassador, a U.S. Senator representing Michigan, and co-founder as well as first Masonic Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan...
and Native American tribes of the Great Lakes region (principally the Ojibwe, but also the Ottawa
Odawa people
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
and Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
) of Michigan. Native Americans ceded a large tract of land (more than six million acres (24,000 km²), or 24,000 km²) in the central portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
In 1826, Campau moved South and established a trading post in what is today Grand Rapids, Michigan. Although he was not the first permanent white settler (that distinction falls to a Baptist minister named Isaac McCoy
Isaac McCoy
Isaac McCoy was a Baptist missionary among the Native Americans in present-day Indiana, Michigan and Missouri. He was an advocate of Indian removal from the eastern United States, proposing an Indian state in what is now Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma...
who arrived in 1825), Campau became perhaps the most important settler of Grand Rapids when, in 1831, he bought what is now the entire downtown business district of that city from the federal government for $90. He is considered the "father" of the town.
Spelling of his surname varies. It is sometimes cited as "Campeau".
He was also good friends with William Quevillon, the first white settler of Ludington, Michigan
Ludington, Michigan
Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 8,357. It is the county seat of Mason County.Ludington is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River...
.
In 2007, with a second printing in 2009, a book about Louis Campau came out. Written by Christopher Mabie and published by Van Naerden Publishing, the book is titled Uncle Louis: The Biography Of Louis Campau, Founder Of Saginaw And Grand Rapids.