Pierre PAUQUETTE

   Cause of his death was murdered by Mauzemoneka (Iron Walker).

   Other names for Pierre were Peter PAQUETTE, Pierre PAQUETTE and Peter POUQUET.

  Death Notes:

Portage, WI

  Noted events in his life were:

• Alt. Birth, 1799.

• Physical Description: six-foot two and 240 pounds. "At six-foot two and 240 pounds, Pauquette was famous for his strength. His thighs were as thick as most men's waists, he could carry an 800-pound barrel of lead, and more than once he lifted a horse clear off the ground. "

[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/odd/archives/002296.asp]

• Biography: Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Term: Paquette, Pierre 1799? - 1836
Definition:
half-breed Indian trader, scout, interpreter, b. Missouri. He moved to the portage of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers (Portage, Wis.) about 1818 where for several years, as agent for Joseph Rolette and the American Fur Co., he conducted a trading post and a transportation service between the two rivers. He was known for his remarkable physical strength and for his fluency in French, English, and several Indian languages. He frequently acted as Winnebago interpreter in the treaty making of the 1820's and 1830's, and during the Black Hawk War (1832) served as government scout, and participated in the Battle of Wisconsin Heights (near Sauk City). He later served as translator for Henry Dodge (q.v.) until assassinated by an Indian during treaty proceedings in 1836. Colls. State Hist. Soc. Wis., 5 (1868), 8 (1879), 12 (1892); Galena (Ill.) Advertiser, Dec. 22, 1836.

[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org:80/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=1477&letter=P]

• Reference: Indian Treaty, 1832. "Another piece of information I have is an Indian Treaty with the Winnebago Indians from 1832. Part of this treaty was at the Winnebago's request to grant land to several people. Pierre Paquette, Pierre Paquette Jr., Theresa Paquette, and Caroline Harney all received land. Pierre and his family ran the trading post at Portage for the American Fur Trading Company. He was well known and liked, often acting as an interpreter for traders and soldiers in the area. The oddest things about the treaty is that the interpreter for the Winnebago Indians was Pierre Paquette and one of the soldier witnesses for the treaty was Captain William S. Harney (1st Infantry). The coincidence of Harney being present when a 3yr old girl named Caroline Harney received an acre of land seem too great. Perhaps Harney felt by granting her some land she would be properly taken care of (perhaps by Pierre Paquette and his family)."

[ Brian Wiegand
http://homepage.mac.com/wieganbr/Harneyrelationship.html]

• Court: Indenture of Therese Payser, 1836, Iowa County, WI. actual location today: Lafayette County, WI
Written: July 9, 1836
Recorded: December 10, 1836

Iowa County, WI, Deed Books, Vol. B, Page 405-407

Rec'd 10th Dec'r, 1836} This indenture made the nine day of July in the year of
our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-Six, between Therese Payser or
Mannah-See [or Mannah-Sec] of the first part, and Peter Paquette [also known
as Pierre Paquette, Pierre Pauquette or Peter Pauquette] of the second part.

Witnesseth that the said party of the second part for and in
consideration of the sum of eight hundred dollars to her in hand paid,
confessed and acknowledged; has granted, bargained, sold, remised, released,
aliened and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, remise,
release, alien, and confirm unto the said party of the second, and to his heirs
and assigns forever, a certain section of land situate in the mining county,
No. 21, Township Third, Range Four East of the Fourth Principal Meridian [this
is now a part of Lafayette County] or any other section of land which may be
allotted to me under the provision of the Treaty made by the United States with
the Winebago Indians at Prairie du Chien on the 3rd day of August __, 1829.
Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto
belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions,
remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof, and all the estate
right, title, interest, claim, or demand whatsoever of the said party of the
first part, either in law or equity of, in, and to the above bargained premises
with the said hereditaments and appurtenances; To have and to hold the said
hereditaments as above described, within appurtenances unto the said party of
the first part and to his heirs and assigns forever, and the said party of the
first part for his heirs, executors and administrators doth covenant, grant,
bargain, and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and
assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents he is
well seized of the premise above conveyed as of a good , sure, perfect,
absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in law, in fee simple, and that
the above bargained premises in the quiet and peacable possession of the said
party of t the second part, his heirs and assigns against all and every person
or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, she
will warrant and defend.

In witness whereof the said party of the first part hath hereunto set
her hand and seal the day and year first above written. Sealed and delivered in
the presence of L. Rotille, S. P. Wood. [signed] Therese, her mark, Paysour or
Man-Nah-See.

I hereby certify that the accompanying deed of conveyance made by
Therese Paycur, surnamed Manah-per-See to Peter Paquette in consideration of
the sum of eight hundred dollars having been paid in money and otherwise to
said Therese Paycur by Peter Paquette now in my presence acknowledged, the said
Therese Paycur further acknowledges that the above named sum of eight hundred
dollars was paid and secured as above stated of the said Peter Paquette at Fort
Winebago on the 9th day of July 1836. I further certify that she is known Peter
Paquette for several years and that he is fully competent to manage and take
car of his property and that in my opinion the consideration above named is a
full and fair price for the land conveyed. I further certify that although I
did not see the money paid, from my personal knowledge of the parties, I have
not the least hesitation in believing it was done as stated above, and that the
whole transaction is altogether fair and correct. Given at Fort Winebago this
9th day of July, 1836. Signed, G. ?Sace, Captain 5th Infantry, and sub-agent
for Indian Affairs.

That on the 19th day of October, 1836, personally came before me, the
undersigned, one of the justices of the peace in and for the County and
Territory aforesaid, Therese Paycur, otherwise called Manah-Te See, known to me
as the person who executed the within deed of bargain and sale from her to
Peter Paquette, and acknowledged the same to be her act and deed for the
purposes therein mentioned. That the consideration therein expressed had been
received and that she was therewith fully contented and satisfied. Given under
my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. Signed, H. L. Dousman, Justice of
the Peace.

[transcribed by Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com June 26, 2007
See pages 177 and 178 of Book B.
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wi/iowa/deeds/paysourp35gdd.txt]

• Court: Indenture of Antoine Grignon, 1836, Iowa County, WI. Written: September 24, 1836Iowa County Deed Books, Book B, pages 247-248:

This indenture made the 24th day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1836, between Antoine Grignon of Prairie du Chien, in the County of Crawford and Territory of Wisconsin, of the first part, and Peter Paquette [aka Peter Pauquette, Pierre Paquette, Pierre Pauquette] of the second part.

Witnesseth that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of eight hundred dollars in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, and sold, remised, released, conveyed, and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien, and confirm unto the said party of the second part in the actual possession now being and to his heirs and assigns forever, all that certain piece or parcel of land lying and being situated in the County of Iowa [now located in Lafayette County] known and designated in the survey made by the United States as Section 16 of Township Three North of Range 4 East, together with all and singular hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity of, in and to the above bargained premises with hereditaments and appurtenances; To have and to hold the said Section of land to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, and the said party of the first part for his heirs and executors and administrators, do grant, covenant, bargain, promise and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, the above bargained premises in quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part of the above mentioned and described premises will forever warrant and defend.

In witness whereof the said party of the first part hath set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. Signed Antoine [his mark] Grignon. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of G. Low, D. Bushnell.

Territory of Wisconsin, County of Brown} Be it known that on the 24th day of September, 1836, before me, Daniel Bushnell, Esq., one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County, personally came the within named Antoine Grignon and acknowledge the within indenture to be his act and deed, and desires that the same might be recorded as such according to law. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. D. Bushnell, Justice of the Peace.I do hereby certify that the accompanying deed of conveyance has been made by Antoine Grignon to Peter Pauquette in the consideration of the sum of eight hundred dollars having been paid in money and otherwise to the said Antoine Grignon, the said Peter Pauquette as the said Antoine now in my presence acknowledged. The said Antoine Grignon further acknowledges that the above named sum of eight hundred dollars was paid and secured as above stated by the said Pauquette at Fort Winnebago on the 24th of September, 1836. I further certify that I have known the said Antoine Grignon several years and that he is fully competent to manage and take care of his property, and that, in my consideration above named is a fully fair price for the land conveyed. I further certify that I did not see the money paid; from my personal knowledge of the parties, I have not the least hesitation in believing that it was done as stated above, and that the whole transaction is altogether fair and correct. Given under my hand at Fort Winnebago, W. T., this 24th day of September, 1836. G. Low, Captain 5th Infantry, acting Agent, Indian Affairs. Test. Robt. Dougherty, Register}

[See pages 3-4 and 5, Book B
transcribed by Nancy Poquette
http://files.usgwarchives.org/wi/lafayette/deeds/barrette39gdd.txt]

• Court: indenture of Louis Barrette and Madeleine, 1836, Iowa County, WI. Written: September 20, 1836
Iowa County Deed Books, Book B, pages 249-250:

This indenture made the 20th day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1836, between Louis Barrette and Madeleine his wife, of Prairie du Chien, in the County of Crawford and Territory of Wisconsin, of the first part, and Peter Paquette [aka Peter Pauquette, Pierre Paquette, Pierre Pauquette] of Fort Winnebago in the County of Brown and Territory of Wisconsin of the second part.

Witnesseth that the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of eight hundred dollars in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened, and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien, and confirm unto the said party of the second part in his actual possession now being and to his heirs and assigns forever, all of a certain piece or parcel of land containing six hundred and forty acres granted to Madeleine Brisbois under the treaty made with the Winnebago Indians at Prairie du Chien on the first day of August, 1829, which said section of land has been located in the County of Iowa [now located in Lafayette County]and Territory of Wisconsin, and is known as Section Number thirty [30] in Township Number Three North of Range Number 4 East of the Fourth Principal Meridian;

Together with all and singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity in and to the above bargained premises with hereditaments and appurtenances; To have and to hold the said Section of land to the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, and the said party of the first part for themselves, heirs and executors and administrators, do grant, covenant, bargain, promise and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, the above bargained premises in quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part of the above mentioned and described premises will forever warrant and defend.

In witness whereof the said parties of the first part have set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. [Photocopy did not contain the signatures. May have been cut off.]

Territory of Wisconsin, County of Crawford} Be it remembered, that on the 20th day of September, 1836, before me, the undersigned, one of the justices of the Peace in and for said County and Territory aforesaid, personally came Louis Barrette and Madeleine his wife, being known to me as the persons who executed the foregoing deed of bargain and sale from them to Pierre Paquette, and acknowledged the same to be their act and deed, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned, that the consideration therein expressed has been received and that were therewith contented and satisfied. And that the said Madeleine by me examined privately and apart from her said husband declared that she executed the said deed freely and voluntarily without any fear or complusion of her husband, and that she frely relinquished all her right of dower in and to the land therein mentioned. Given under my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. Signed J. H. Lockwood, Justice of the Peace.

I, Z. [Zachary] Taylor, Colonel in the United States Army commanding the military post at Fort Crawford, and at present acting Indian agent at Prairie du Chien, do hereby certify that on this day Louis Barrette and Madelein, his wife, known to me as the persons who have executed the foregoing deed of bargain and sale from them to Pierre Paquette, personally came before me and acknowledged that they had received the compensation expressed in the said deed, having been paid in money and or its equivalent, is sufficient for the land therein mentioned, and that the said Louis Barrette and Magdalain, his wife have sufficient knowledge and capacity to transact business, and I do therefore recommend that the foregoing deed and transfer of the land therein mentioned be approved by the President of the United States. Given under my hand at Fort Crawford the 20th day of September, 1836. Z. Taylor, Col. U. S. Army and acting US Indian Agent. Test. Robt. Dougherty, Register}See pages 5-6 -7, Book B.

[http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wi/lafayette/deeds/barrette43gdd.txt]

• Cemetery: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, 1836, Columbia County, WI. Pauquette, Pierre 1796 1836 [lot] 18 20,--

[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wicolumb/stmarys/stmarys10.html]

I want to close my narrative with an account of the condition of the grave of my father, Pierre Paquette. His remains were originally buried under the Catholic chapel which had been built by him on what is now known as Conant street, near the northeast corner of Adams. The land then belonged to the government, but afterwards a strip of territory was granted to Lecuyer, across the marsh, along the transportation route, and it included this place. Webb & Bronson succeeded to the possession of the Lecuyer claim. The little chapel was afterward burned down, and a wooden railing was placed around the grave, to mark the spot. A wooden cross, unpainted and uninscribed, was the only monument. In 1857 the remains were removed and placed under the rear doorway of the new church, built on the old site; but there was nothing ever put up to mark the grave, nothing to show to the world that under the door-sill my father lay.
[p. 432
R. G. Thwaites's Moses Paquette's account of Wisconsin Winnebagoes
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2000.03.0131;query=spage%3D%23454;layout=;loc=431]

• Court: The Estate of Pierre Paquette, Deceased, 1840, Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, WI. Wiskonsan Enquirer
3 Oct 1840, 10 Oct 1840, [...]

THE ESTATE OF PIERRE PAQUETTE, DECEASED

Notice is hereby given , that the subscriber will apply to the Court of Probate for Crawford county, Wisconsin Territory, at the regular session of said court, to be held at Prairie de Chein [sic], on the first Monday of November next, for the final settlement of his accounts as one of the administrators for the estate of Pierre Paquette, and that he be discharged therefrom.

H. L. DOUSMAN, Administrator
on the estate of P. Paquette
Prairie du Chien, Sep. 10, 1840 #45.5w.

• Land, 1843.
Author/Creator:Paquette, Pierre.
Title:Land patent, 1843.
Quantity:0.1 c.f. (1 item in an oversize folder)
Summary:Original land patent [seal missing] granting three sections of land in Wisconsin Territory to Pierre Paquette under the terms of the Winnebago Treaty of 1832.

Subjects:Land grants --Wisconsin.
Form/Genre:Manuscript collection.
RLIN Number:WIHV96-A706



Location:Archives Main Stacks
Call Number:SC-O 76
Shelf Location:MAD 4 /15/SC-O 76

[http://arcat.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?Search_Arg=rlin+%22wihv96-A706%22&SL=None&Search_Code=CMD&DB=local&CNT=30]

• Namesake: Poynette, Columbia County, WI, 1850. James Doty filed the plat for a village called Pauquette in Columbia Co., in memory of the popular fur-trader. About 1850 its residents applied for a post office, but officials in Washington misread the handwriting on their application as "Poynette," and the name of the post office was entered that way in official records.

[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/odd/archives/002296.asp]

• Biography: Odd Wisconsin Archive, 2006, Columbia County, WI. Towns Named for Murderer & Victim

In the 1830s, a giant named Pierre Pauquette traded with the Ho-Chunk at the portage on the Wisconsin River. At six-foot two and 240 pounds, Pauquette was famous for his strength. His thighs were as thick as most men's waists, he could carry an 800-pound barrel of lead, and more than once he lifted a horse clear off the ground.

He was also famous for his honor. Though illiterate, Pauquette spoke French, English, and several Indian languages, carried his accounts accurately in his head, and "all who knew him would take his word as soon as any man's bond." He was especially respected by the Ho-Chunk, who looked to him for advice and guidance in their dealings with white authorities.

On Oct 17, 1836, Pauquette interpreted for the Ho-Chunk at a council with U.S. officials, and advised them to reject the government's latest offer. A warrior named Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah, whose name translates as "Iron Walker," wanted to accept their offer, and publicly charged Pauquette with deliberately mis-translating it. This challenge to Pauquette's integrity sparked a quarrel, but friends of the two men separated them and Pauquette went to the home of Henry Merrell, who takes up the story:

"In conversing with us until eleven o'clock," Merrell recalled, "ever and anon he would speak about the reports about him and the lies told, so that I saw it was the one thing uppermost in his mind. He said he would not tell a lie for any man, not even his father, and they should not lie about him. All at once he started out of the door and down across the bridge …"

Pauquette marched through the woods to the lodge of Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah. The quarrel resumed, and when Pauquette confronted him, Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah fetched a gun. Thinking this was a bluff, Pauquette tore open his shirt, put his hand on his chest, and dared the Indian to shoot him, saying, "Strike, and see a brave man die!" Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah promptly shot him through the heart and Pauquette died instantly.

Beloved by the Ho-Chunk as well as by the whites, Pauquette's murder astonished and amazed everyone in southern Wisconsin. Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah was arrested and tried, but was ultimately acquitted when the court concluded he had acted in self-defense. Like any assassin of a great figure, he could never raise his head among his people again. Some years later an officer from Fort Winnebago found him hiding out on an island in Horicon Marsh. Man-za-mon-e-kah "said that he was never happy after killing Pauquette, as he dare not venture himself among his nation and had to secrete himself. He probably lived the rest of his life away from his people."

What has all this go to do with the names of two well-known Wisconsin towns?
A few months after the killing, James Doty filed the plat for a village called Pauquette in Columbia Co., in memory of the popular fur-trader. About 1850 its residents applied for a post office, but officials in Washington misread the handwriting on their application as "Poynette," and the name of the post office was entered that way in official records. This mistaken official version caught on, and by 1853 it was firmly established in the popular mind and in printed references.

A similar twisted fame awaited Pauquette's assassin. Stories of the trader's great feats of strength and of his murder were widely repeated in subsequent years, and Man-za-mon-e-kah's name was kept in circulation. In 1855 the railroad reached western Dane Co., and a group of enterprising settlers established a new village along its route in the town of Black Earth. One of them, Edward Brodhead, attached the warrior's name to it, perhaps because its meaning, "One Who Walks on Iron," heralded the approach of the proverbial Iron Horse. Brodhead altered the spelling to make it easier to pronounce, spell and remember, though for a few years it was usually parsed it into two words -- "Mazo Manie."

This is just one of the thousands of stories whose original sources will become available later this summer when Wisconsin Historical Collections goes online <http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/highlights/archives/2006/02/digitization_gr.asp> in its entirety.

:: Posted in Curiosities on June 29, 2006

[http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/odd/archives/002296.asp]

• Reference: play Pierre Pauquette: Myth into Man. Written and performed by English Instructor Michael Irwin, Pierre Pauquette: Myth into Man, examines the murder of the Ho-Chunk hero and traitor, Pierre Pauquette. Using historical records of both the white settlers and the native people of the Portage area, Irwin weaves characters as diverse as Governor Dodge, Pauquette and the Ho-Chunk tribal leader Whirling Thunder, into a fascinating mosaic of intrigue, misplaced trust and passion.

[http://matcmadison.edu/matc/news/february01/play.shtm]

• Reference: Personal Narrative by John T. de La Ronde, 1836, Columbia County, WI. "On the seventeenth of October [1836], Gov. Dodge came to Portage, to hold a council with the Indians; H. L. Dousman and Joseph Brisbois came also. Pierre Pauquette acted as interpreter. The result of the council was, advising the Winnebagoes to sell their lands east of the Mississippi. The Indians could not agree, and the matter was postponed until the next year, and a treaty for the sale of the lands was abandoned, they preferring an annuity, and Pierre Pauquette demanded for them twenty-one boxes of money--$21,000; declaring that that was the amount due him from the Indians for goods and provisions advanced to them.

"Man-ze-mon-e-ka, a son of one of the chiefs of the Rock River band, residing a mile or two above the present locality of Watertown, named Wau-kon-ge-we-ka, or Whirling Thunder, or One-who-walks-on-the-iron, objected on the ground that he belonged to the Rock River band, and had received no provisions or goods from Pauquette, desiring that the money should be divided between the several bands; then those who were indebted to Pauquette, might pay him if they chose; as for himself, or his band, they had their own debts to pay to the traders at Rock River. The result was, that the council dissolved without coming to a decision.

"Pauquette crossed the Wisconsin, going to a saloon where Carpenter's house now stands, and there indulged in drinking. Man-ze-mon-e-ka, who had spoken so frankly in the council, also happened there, when Pauquette whipped him. I came there at the time, and with the help of others rescued the Indian from Pauquette. The chief retired to the other end of the portage, near where the house of Henry Merrell once stood, on Fox River; Pauquette followed him there and whipped him again. Satterlee Clark and I took the Indian away from him again, who was by this time badly bruised. He went home, which was near where Armstrong's brickyard now is; and Pauquette went to the old post of the American Fur Company near the grist-mill; and while on his way home, between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning, he stopped at my place. I was then living in the house that used to belong to Francis Le Roy, near where O. P. Williams' house stood before it was burnt. I did all that I could to persuade him to stay with me that night, seeing that he was under the influence of liquor; but he would go on--his brother-in-law, Touissant St. Huge, and William Powell (not Capt. William Powell, of Butte des Morts,) from Green Lake, were with him. There were some Indians drinking at the house of Paul Grignon--the same house now used for a stable by O. P. Williams. Among these Indians were Black Wolf and his son, Rascal De-kau-ry, the Elk, Big Thunder and others.

"When Pierre Pauquette arrived there, he whipped Black Wolf; Rascal De-kau-ry ran away north from where they were, right in the direction of the lodge of Man-ze-mon-e-ka, whom Pauquette had beaten the preceding day. On arriving at the chief's cabin, he informed him that Pauquette was coming to whip him again. Man-ze-mon-e-ka emerged from his lodge and told Pauquette very pointedly not to come any farther! that he had whipped him twice the day before without a cause, and if he advanced another step he was a dead man. Pauquette, putting his hand to his breast, said, 'fire if you are brave,' when Man-ze-mon-e-ka shot, and Pauquette fell. William Powell was close to Pauquette at the time, and as soon as I heard the report of the gun I ran for the spot as fast as I could. It was close to where I was living. I met William Powell running towards the fort, and asked him was the matter; but he was going so fast that he did not hear me. I went where Pauquette was, took his hand, which was warm, and asked him if he knew me to press my hand; but he was dead. The ball had passed through his heart. Old Crelie, father-in-law to Pauquette, wanted to carry him home, but I would not allow him to touch him until the jury came. William Powell arrived there with Lieutenant Hooe, Sergeant Pollinger, ten private soldiers, Satterlee Clark, and, I believe, Henry Merrell. Lieutenant Hooe refused to go into the lodge to take the Indian; the chief, White French, went and brought him out, when they took him across in a scow; the body of Pauquette being also taken over. They asked Man-ze-mon-e-ka if he shot Pauquette, which he frankly acknowledged. I really believe that he thought he was going to be killed on the spot, as he sang his death-song. He was taken to the garrison, kept in strict confinement, and afterwards conveyed to Green Bay, where he was tried by regular authority, and finally acquitted, it being determined on a second trial that he had killed Pauquette in self-defence."

[From John T. de La Ronde, "Personal Narrative" in Report and Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Vol. VII (Madison, 1876), pp. 356-358
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wigmvhs/naming.html]

• Reference: Early Times at Fort Winnebago, and Black Hawk War Reminiscences. "I now come to that part of my recollections in which the people of Portage and the Fort Winnebago region, feel the greatest interest, and have the most curiousity. I allude to my acquaintance with Peter Pauquette. His strength was so immeasurable, and his exploits so astonishing, that while relating what I have seen I shall tell only the exact truth, I will promise not to be offended if some of my readers should be a little skeptical.

"Peter Pauquette was born in the year 1800 of a French father and a Winnebago mother; the latter was buried nearly in front of the Old Agency house opposite the Fort. He was thirty years old when I first knew him, and was the very best specimen of a man I ever saw. He was six feet two inches in height, and weighed two hundred and forty pounds--hardly ever varying a single pound. He was a very handsome man, hospitable, generous and kind, and I think I never saw a better-natured man.

"I had heard much of his strength before I left Green Bay, and of course, was anxious to see him perform some of the wonderful feats of strength of which I had heard. From my first acquaintance with him to the day of his death I was his most intimate friend, and consequently had a better opportunity to know him than any other person. I will now endeavor to give an idea of his strength and activity, which to me seemed almost super-human. He often told me that all persons seemed alike to him. When I was nineteen or twenty years old, my business kept me constantly in training, and though I weighed less than one hundred and fifty pounds, my muscles were like iron; notwithstanding he often said it was no more trouble to take me across his lap than a child one year old, and so it seemed to me. I was told that on one occasion when he was making the Portage with a heavy boat, one of his oxen gave out, and he took the yoke off, and carried the end against an ox all the way over. I did not see this, but I asked him if it was so, and he replied it was.

"I once saw him take hold of the staple to a pile driver weighing 2650 lbs., and lift it apparently without any exertion, and swing it back and forth a minute of time. I have several times seen him get under a common sized horse, put his arms round the hind legs, his back under the horse's stomach and lift the horse clean off the ground. A great many other things I have seen him do which would tire the reader's patience were I to relate them. It can readily be imagined, however, that scarcely anything could be impossible to such a man.

"He was employed by the American Fur Company up to the day of his death. For the last four years of his life he had a bookkeeper, but previous to that time, (not being able to read or write) he gave credit to hundreds of Indians, relying entirely on his memory, and their honesty. Those who have been acquainted with the Indian character only since their association with the whites has degraded them, will be amused to hear of the honesty of the Indians; and I desire to do them the justice to say, that while they saw no impropriety in stealing from another and a hostile tribe, I never knew them to steal from a trader, or refuse to pay what they owed him, till whisky was introduced among them by the worst class of whites. The women were especially honest and virtuous. Their marriage amounted to the purchase of the daughter from the father, whether by an Indian or a white man; when, as soon as the trade was made, the girl considered herself the wife of the purchaser, and accompanied him home often (when purchased by a white man who could not speak the Indian language), very reluctantly, and in tears; still the right of the father was never resisted.

"But to continue as to Pauquette. In the last of September, 1836, the War Department (then having the Indian Bureau), directed Gov. Dodge to assemble the Winnebagoes, at Fort Winnebago, and if possible treat with them for all the lands they owned east of the Mississippi; and he called to his assistance all the half-blood Winnebagoes he could get. The council lasted several weeks, during which time every possible effort was made to induce them to sell; but there seemed to be an under-current somewhere to prevent it, and the Governor failed. This he attributed to the influence of Pauquette and myself, and I think we never denied it. In the Governor's next official report, he recommended that no license be granted to one Satterlee Clark to trade with the Winnebagoes, for the reason that his influence with the Indians was so great that he prevented them from doing what the Government desired, and caused them to do what the Government did not desire to be done; and that he further induced them to give large sums of money out of their annuity to himself and friends. Pauquette would undoubtedly have been included with me in this report, but for his death.

"This council closed on the 17th day of October, 1836, and the next day Pauquette came to my store to rejoice over our victory. On this occasion he drank too much wine, and became just enough intoxicated to be impatient of contradiction. In this condition, he started home on foot, and when within about one quarter of a mile of the ferry, opposite his house, he found an Indian and his wife sitting by a little fire in the bushes. The Indian was Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah, or Iron Walker, who was also drunk. What there occurred, is only known as related by the squaw that night. She said Pauquette kicked the fire apart, the Indian arose up and said something that offended Pauquette, who slapped the Indian's face, knocking him down. The Indian got up, saying, 'You knocked me down; but I got up. I will knock you down, and you will never get up. I will go for my gun.' Pauquette only laughed, and sat down. The Indian returned, when Pauquette stood up, pulled open his coat, placed his hand on his breast and said, 'Strike and see a brave man die.' The Indian fired, killing him instantly, the ball severing one of the main arteries leading from the heart. No man in Wisconsin could have died who was so much regretted. His death can safely be attributed to intoxication, though it was the first time I ever knew or heard of his being in that condition.

"Mah-zah-mah-nee-kah was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung; but the judgment was reversed by the Supreme Court, and he never was punished. He is long since dead.

"There has been some doubt as to where Mr. Pauquette was buried, and I will state what I know of his burial. In the first instance, while he did not claim to belong to any religious denomination, his wife being a Catholic, he built a small church near the centre of what is now Portage City. At his death I assisted to bury his remains under the floor of this church. Subsequently the church was burned; and still later while I was living at Green Lake, I received a summons to come up and point out the grave, some of his friends being desirous to remove his body. I came up and found the locality without difficulty; but never heard whether he was removed, or, if so, where. At that time Portage city had been surveyed, and his grave was in the middle of a street."
[From Satterlee Clark, "Early Times at Fort Winnebago, and Black Hawk War Reminiscences" in Report and Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Vol. VIII (Madison, 1879), pp. 316-320
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wigmvhs/naming.html]

• Reference: Pioneer Life in Wisconsin. "Pierre Pauquette lived opposite Fort Winnebago on what was called the Agency Hill. I considered him the best specimen of Nature's noble-men I ever met. He was born, I think, in Missouri, and engaged in the Indian trade at an early day. When I knew him he was six feet two inches in height, large, and fleshy, but his flesh was hard, and felt more like my knee-pan than common flesh. I once took my handkerchief and measured around his thigh, and it just reached around my waist. He was the strongest man I ever knew; he would pick up a barrel of pork and throw it into a wagon as easily as a man would a ten gallon keg. I had a cask of dry white lead at my door, with 800 pounds of lead in it, and I was told by my clerk that he took it by the chimes, and lifted it off the ground. At one time, I was informed, he was hauling a boat across the Portage with ox-teams, and one of the oxen gave out and would not pull. He took off the bow, pushed the ox one side, and taking hold of the yoke, he pulled beside the other ox across the Portage. Many other feats of his strength are related. He was of a mild disposition, could neither read nor write; but had as fine a sense of honor as any gentleman I ever knew; and all who knew him would take his word as soon as any man's bond.

"He and a companion (as he told me) were trading among some Indians in the North-west until some others, the Flat Heads, I think, took them prisoners, and determined to burn them; they tied them each to a tree with their arms around it, then piled brush and wood around them, and set fire to the pile around his companion. He thought his time had come; but witnessing the excruciating sufferings of his fellow, he gave one superhuman pull at his thongs, and felt them give way. As he did so, an old squaw, the only one near him, caught him by the arm and gave a scream. He tried to shake her off, but could not; so he caught her hatchet and embedded it in her head, which loosened her hold, and he jumped and ran, the Indians at his heels after him; but he could outrun almost any man, and outstripped them. Night coming on, he secreted himself, and finally got to a trading-post, after three days. He finally settled at Portage in the Indian trade; and at the time I knew him, he had such influence over the chiefs of the Winnebagoes, that he was considered at the head of the nation. He could talk the Winnebago, French and English languages fluently, and was the only good Winnebago interpreter in the country.He was with Colonel Dodge in the Sauk war, and the Colonel would always call for him to interpret when he held councils with the Winnebagoes. He used to trust the Indians, from year to year, I was informed, without any books, carrying their accounts in his head; and when they would come in with their furs, he would tell them what they owed him, and they were invariably satisfied. When I arrived, he was trading for the American Fur Company, they furnishing him with goods and a book-keeper, he in the Spring turning over to them his furs, they fixing the prices of his goods and furs. Thus they of course had it all their own way. John T. De La Ronde was his clerk when I came, but he finally discharged him.

"In the fall of 1836, Governor Dodge came to the Fort, and had the Indians called in to meet him, and receive their payment. The chiefs met him in council, with Pauquette as interpreter. The Governor proposed to make a treaty with them, and buy their country between the Wisconsin and the Mississippi. After they had counseled for some days, they refused to sell their country. It was generally supposed, as Pauquette had advised them, they would act; therefore, the story was raised that Pauquette had advised them not to sell, and that he had not interpreted truly, which came to the ears of Pauquette, and he said it was untrue. He told me the chiefs asked his advice, but he told them he could not advise them, for he did not know anything about the country the Government wanted them to go to; and, therefore, they must make up their own minds about it.

"The traders and half-breeds, all the way from Prairie du Chien and Green Bay, were assembled here; and it was supposed many of them, if not most of them, wanted the Indians to form a treaty, so they could get money by it. As it was thought that Pauquette had as much influence with the nation as a king, he was courted as well as feared by all; therefore every man of them wanted to court his favor, and would treat him, and urge him to drink. The consequence was, that after getting through interpreting, and settling up with Governor Dodge, which was the latter part of the third day, he drank too much--the first time I ever saw him under the influence of liquor. I had a long talk with him in the afternoon, when he told me he was satisfied the Agents of the Fur Company had cheated him, and he should settle off with them as soon as the payment was over, which was to take place the next day, if he could get any one to furnish him. I told him I would furnish him all the goods he wanted. 'Will you?' said he, 'If I had known that, I would have proposed it long ago.' I told him that no one supposed that he could be induced to leave the Fur Company. He then appeared to be perfectly himself.

"After tea, Satterlee Clark and I went down to the Sutler's store, met there Pauquette, and Messrs. Powell and Gleason. We stood in the yard in front of the store talking for some time. Pauquette said some of the traders had been lying about him, and he would lick some of them before they left the ground. As he felt so aggrieved, and dwelt so much upon it, I feared he would get into a quarrel with them. While we were talking, Paul Grignon rode up on horseback, and Pauquette caught hold of him and pulled him off of his horse, playfully; and laughing, commenced talking to him, but we, not understanding the language, did not know what was said. Finally, I saw he became enraged, having hold of the man's cravat, a black silk one, tied loosely around his neck, with his left hand, and flourishing his right as though he would strike him. I said to the men, 'don't let him hurt Grignon,' and remarked to Pauquette, 'don't hurt him, for he is no more than a child in your hands.' Three men, all strong ones, caught hold of his right arm, but he would sway them backwards and forwards as though they were children; but as long as they held on to his arm he could not strike him; I, in the mean time trying to unfasten his grip, but finding I could not, as his grasp seemed like a vise, I took out my knife and cut the cravat in two, jerking Grignon away at the same time, and telling him to clear out, as Pauquette was crazy, and would kill him; he then readily jumped upon his horse, and rode off. Pauquette seemed to give up, and did not try to stop him, but said he would whip some of them yet. He stayed and talked with us for a time.

"There were quite a number of the Grignons at the Portage from Green Bay and the country, and Pauquette said it was some of them who had lied about him. By this time it was getting dark, and he started to go over to the Agency Hill, as it was called, about half a mile opposite the Fort, where the traders and half-breeds were encamped, some in tents, and some in wigwams. I said to Satterlee Clark, he had better go and see that he did not get into a fight, for if he did he would kill some one, or would get killed himself. He started, but Pauquette told him to go back as he did not want to get any of his friends into a scrape, so Clark turned back, and I asked him if he was not going, when he said no. I then said to Mr. Gleason, we must go. Agreed, said he, and we followed him over. I told Gleason we would keep out of his sight, but watch him, which we did. Pauquette went into a wigwam, and chatted a few minutes, and then went into Judge Law's tent, and talked with him a short time. After coming out, he met Amable Grignon, who had on a plaid cloak, hooked at the neck. He commenced talking with him, but soon got into a rage, as he had before, and insisted upon fighting him, pulling off his coat. Several went up and tried to appease him, but could not. Louis Grignon finally came up, and I supposed he would quiet him, as I had reason to believe Pauquette thought a great deal of him, as he always called him Father Grignon; but he would not listen to him.

"Then I thought I would try and see what I could do; so I took his coat, and went up to him saying, Pauquette, what are you doing out here, a sick man, in the night air, without his coat on? I ain't sick, he replied. Well, you will be, if you expose yourself in this way; put on your coat, and go with me over to the shanty; there is no use quarrelling, for we are all friends here. Well, I will, if you say so, said he. He then put on his coat, and went over with us to the Sutler's store, to my astonishment; for I never supposed I had so much influence over him as the circumstances indicated. This night he stayed with us (there being several officers in) conversing with us until eleven o'clock. Ever and anon he would speak about the reports about him, and the lies told, so that I saw it was the one thing uppermost in his mind. He said he would not tell a lie for any man, not even his father, and they should not lie about him. All at once he started out of the door, and down across the bridge, Gleason and I after him. When Gleason got on the bridge, he called to him; when Pauquette stopped, and asked what he wanted. Merrell wants you, said Gleason. What does he want, said Pauquette.

"Just then I came up, and said to him, 'Pauquette, there is no use of your going over there; you will only get into a scrape if you do; but go over home; Gleason, Powell and Toutsant will go home with you, and stay to-night.' 'Well, agreed,' he replied, 'if you say so.' They all started, and went over towards the Wisconsin River, across which he lived, and Satterlee Clark and I went to bed, thinking he was safe; but about twelve or one o'clock, Mr. Powell rapped at our window, and said Pauquette was killed by an Indian. We sent word to the officers, and a number of us mounted our horses--Lieutenant Hooe taking a file of soldiers--and went over and found, sure enough, he lay dead in the bushes, near where the Catholic church now stands. We took the body and carried it over to his house, he having a ferry-boat for his own use.

"I, being a justice of the peace, commenced taking the testimony, when an Indian came in, and said the Indian who shot Pauquette was in a wigwam across the River; and if the soldiers would go, he would show them where he was. So Lieutenant Hooe went with his men; but before reaching the wigwam, the Indians proposed going in and pinioning him, as he was armed, which they did, and delivered them up to Lieutenant Hooe, who said the Indians wanted he should let them kill him on the spot; but he would not let them, and brought him over to the house. The Indian proved to be Man-za-mo-ne-kah, son of the chief Whirling Thunder, who, according to his mother's statement, came up from the Mines determined to kill Pauquette.

"Mr. William Powell, from Green Lake, who was with Pauquette when he was shot down, testified that on their way, they stopped at Mr. Gleason's house, a short distance from where we found the body, and Pauquette went out. That he, Powell, went to look for him, and found him sitting, talking with an Indian by a small fire; and seeing he was without his coat, he went to the house and got it, and helped him on with it, and started for the ferry. Soon they met the Indian with his gun on his shoulder, and passed him, who immediately turned and said, 'Pauquette, is that you?' Pauquette, turned and said 'Yes--what do you want?' The Indian asked 'Are you a man?' 'Yes,' was his reply, striking his breast with his hands, 'and a good man, too.' The Indian leveled his gun, and shot, the ball passing through the left lung; and Powell further related, that he was so near the Indian that he caught hold of the gun, but it went off at that instant. Powell ran to the house, and called the men out, thinking the Indian would fall on him. When they got to Pauquette, he was just breathing his last. The Indian said Pauquette struck him over the head with a brand from the fire; but there was no mark on his head, and his mother's statement who witnessed it, was thought to be the correct one.

"I committed Man-za-mon-e-kah, and requested the commanding officer at the fort to keep him until the sheriff from Green Bay could come up and take him to jail; which was done, and he was taken to Green Bay, tried, and sentenced to be hung. The sheriff made all preparations to hang him, but on the day he was to be executed, there came an order to the Sheriff to stay proceedings, that a new trial would be granted; so he was not hung on that day, and then it was found out he could not be tried a second time, and so was released; but he never dared let himself be seen in the nation again, as many Indians were determined to kill him if they could find him, for they felt--and there was no doubt in the minds of any one--that they had lost the best friend they ever had. Pauquette was always called upon to divide the provisions and goods, furnished them by the Government, among the several bands, of which there were six or eight, which was done in this way: The heads of families of each band were seated on the ground in a large circle; and Pauquette would go into the center of the ring, and deal out to each, the proportion according to the size of the families, of flour, pork, salt, tobacco, etc. Here was one cause of jealousy. Then he trusted the Indians, receiving their furs when they came in; and of course those who were the best hunters got the greatest credits--and this was another cause of jealousy.

"In the preceding summer of 1836, the chiefs came in, and requested the commanding officer, who was acting as Indian Agent, by order of the War Department, to pay Pauquette when their payment was made, for goods and provisions, to be furnished the nation, as they were in a starving condition; and the Commandant agreed to pay him at their request twenty-two thousand dollars which would have been paid him the next day had he lived; but, after his death they refused and forbid it being paid to the agent of the American Fur Company. Whirling Thunder had fallen into disgrace with the other chiefs, as he did not live in the country with the Nation; but lived in the Mines, pitching his wigwam near the dwelling of a man by the name of Doherty, who had taken Thunder's daughter's for his wife; and as Pauquette, Doherty thought, stood in his way of influence with the Nation, as well as trade, it was believed he felt it for his interest to prejudice the chief and his son against Pauquette, and the son got so wrought up that he determined to make way with him.

"At one time, Doherty came up to the Fort, and tried to get the chiefs to sign an agreement to give his wife and children each a section of land when they made a treaty; and Pauquette laughed at it, as he knew the Government had decided not to give any more lands to the half-breeds, but would give money instead; but Doherty would not believe it. In this way, probably, the feeling against Pauquette was kept up. Man-za-mon-e-kah said Pauquette did not give them their share of goods and provisions, and would not trust them as he did other Indians.

"I have dwelt upon this the longer as many stories were raised in regard to the cause of the Indians being incited to the deed. One was, that Pauquette had whipped him once or twice, which was the cause; but there was no evidence of it, and no one who knew all the facts believed it for a moment.

"Some years after, Capt. Thompson was out with a party of soldiers gathering up the Indians to remove them west of the Mississippi, and came across a young Indian whom he induced to guide him to Man-za-mon-e-ka's camp; and he surrounded his wigwam before the Indian knew it. The Captain said he found him on an island in Winnebago swamp--since Lake Horicon--and never could have discovered his retreat but for his guide. Man-za-mon-e-kah was taken to Prairie du Chien, from which he soon disappeared, and no one knew what became of him. Captain Thompson said that Man-za-mon-e-kah, after taking him, said that he was never happy after killing Pauquette, as he dare not venture himself among his nation, and had to secrete himself. He probably lived the rest of his life away from his people.

"Pauquette had purchased a number of sections of land from half-breeds, besides three sections which were given him by the Indians under their treaties, so that at his death he had twelve or sixteen sections of land, a large number of cattle and horses, together with a fine store of Indian goods and other personal property.

"The Agent of the Fur Company took possession of the goods, and sold them for the benefit of the company, giving, as he said, Pauquette credit for them.

"In 1838, the Company received the $22,000 which the Indians owed Pauquette at his death. The lands were disposed of by the administrator, and all this property disappeared without the heirs receiving a cent of it; and some outside debts were never paid. Had he lived, I have no doubt he would have been very wealthy. He had put up a log building for a Catholic Church, which was not finished, and his remains were deposited under it. The building was afterwards burned down. The lot belonged to Benjamin L. Webb, of Detroit, who reserved it from sale, for he the owner esteemed Pauquette so highly that he intended erecting a monument to his memory. Webb was the proprietor of Portage, platted as Fort Winnebago, originally a French grant of six hundred and forty acres, granted to a Frenchman named L'Ecuyer. I being Webb's agent, the Catholic priest applied to me for the lot; but I could not let him have it. He then got the consent of the family, which Mr. Webb required, and the lot was deeded to the church, stipulating that they should take care of the grave. Another church was built near the spot, which has since been turned into a Catholic school-house.

"At one time, Pauquette proposed when the old men of the Winnebago Nation were in, that he would get them together, and inform me so as to have them give their history, and I take it down; but to my regret, the opportunity never occurred, as he was too soon cut off. He told me the Nation was divided into two sects; one believing the Great Spirit was a large animal, describing the mammoth, and they took their tribal names from animals, such as the bear, the elk, the wolf, beaver, fox, &c., &c., and carved the likeness of some animal upon their war-clubs, guns, and other things. The other believed him to be a great bird, and took their names from thunder and birds, such as eagle, the hawk, the crow, etc., etc., and always marked upon their articles the likeness of some bird.

"There was an old Indian and his squaw who lived in their wigwam close by Pauquette's house--whether any relation or not, I never knew; but Pauquette was very kind to them, and supplied them with provisions. We at the Fort called him Pony Blau or Blaw. One day he and wife had been over to some whisky shanty, and came across the Portage singing, hand in hand; and when they got near the bridge leading to the Fort, one says to the other, 'Let's go and see the Great Spirit'--believing him to be in a cave under Fox River. 'Agreed,' said the other; so they walked off into the River. Pauquette happened along just then and pulled them out, else they would have drowned.

"I was told that in the Sauk war, there was a company of rangers, I believe from Illinois, who encamped on the bank of the Wisconsin River, and Pauquette was walking around, looking at them, when a large man kicked a little dog following Pauquette, who said to him, 'Don't kick that dog, as he is mine.' The man replied, 'I'll kick you, if you say much. Who are you?' 'My name is Pauquette.' 'Ah!' said the man, 'you are the very fellow I want to see. I have heard of you, and came up here on purpose to lick you.' Thereupon he pitched at Pauquette, who struck the man but once, pealing the skin from his cheek, knocking him down, when Pauquette caught him by the throat, raising him to his feet, and shaking him like an aspen leaf, asked him if he called himself a man. 'I was a man where I came from, but I see I aint here,' was his reply. Thus it ended. The soldier concluded he would not whip Pauquette."
[From Henry Merrell, "Pioneer Life in Wisconsin" in Report and Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Vol. VII (Madison, 1876), pp. 382-391
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wigmvhs/naming.html]

• Reference: The History of Columbia County Wisconsin, Chapter XXI. History of Poynette

The naming of the Village of Poynette was a rather unfortunate mistake. As Rowan's Creek perpetuated the name of the County's first permanent settler, it was the intention of the pioneers that Pauquette, the widely known fur trader and interpreter at the portage, should be remembered in the christening of this village on Rowan's Creek; but fate decreed that it should receive a meaningless name.

James Duane Doty, who was to become governor of the territory in 1841, entered 120 acres of land in the Southeast Quarter to be laid out as the Village of Pauquette. In the earlier years the intelligent and faithful trader Pierre Pauquette was a friend of the able and enterprising governor. But the following year after the village was platted Mr. Doty was elected to Congress and his long after career of public serve tended to divert his mind from such minor affairs as the village-to-be on Rowan's Creek. The plat was therefore vacated.

About the year 1850, application was made by Mr. Doty to the post office department for establishment of a post office at that point, to be called Pauquette. Through a clerical error it was called Poynette. No effort was ever made to correct the name, and when the village was again platted it was called Poynette, after the post office.

One of the residents of Poynette writing about 1880 stated; "there were about a dozen residents in the village of Poynette and four dwelling houses, including the public house kept by Hugh Jamieson who married and occupied one apartment of a double log house, while the other served as a schoolroom. It was Poynette's first school." The residents contemplated building a schoolhouse, and in order to draw the public money they had to have a school; so they taxed the residents to raise money to pay a teacher, for whose services they paid six dollars per month.

For a number of years Poynette was quite a flour center, the Lower Mills being erected in 1858 and the Upper Mill in 1860. The Lower Mills had a large local trade and were patronized by the farming community. But the coming of the railroad in 1870 brought better brands of flour to the village than could be supplied by the local plants.

Until that time the growth of the village was quite slow; its population had not reached more than one hundred and fifty and its business was all on the south side of Rowan's creek.

On the completion of the railroad R.B. Wentworth & Company, of Portage built a small warehouse and for two seasons purchased grain at Poynette. In the summer of 1871, Hug Jamieson built what was then a large elevator, with a storage capacity of 12,000 bushels and commenced the business of buying and shipping. He continued the business for seven years until turning the business over to his son.

The bank of Poynette was established in 1894 as a private institution by the Jamieson brothers. In 1903 under the general law it was incorporated as a state bank.

In 1852, a school district was formed comprising Town of De Korra and Arlington. A one-story frame schoolhouse was built half a mile south of the Village of Poynette which was used until 1867, when it became too small for the needs of the community. A room was rented in the village for the higher departments, the primary alone occupying the schoolroom. In the fall of 1867, a large two-story schoolhouse was erected and occupied by the high school and the grammer grades. William Koepke was the principal of the Union School of Poynette.

[http://www.poynettechamber.com/history.html]

• Reference: Pauquette Park: Columbia County, WI. Pauquette Park

This 8.8-acre park is the most picturesque park in Portage. It is located at the west entrance of Portage at West Conant Street and Highway 33. This park bears the name of Pierre Pauquette, a famous fur trader - translator for the French and Indians. Pauquette operated a ferry from 1828-1857 and a marker is located near the "Pauquette Park" sign on the north side of the bridge. Originally used as a brickyard, Pauquette Park was later dredged to form the present pond. William Armstron, owner of "Armstron Brick Yard" obtained this land from the U.S. Government in 1869 and used it to produce bricks for the construction of homes in Portage. Attorney Charles H. Hall donated the land to the City of Portage in 1924. This park has three shelters. Shelter #1 has an indoor restroom facility, a pop machine, picnic tables and electricity. Shelter #2 has a portable toilet during the spring and summer months, a pop machine, picnic tables and electricity. They share the basketball court, play equipment, flower gardens and walking path and the pond. Shelter #3 is the Gazebo and has electricity. A bridal arch is located on the east side of the park, which was erected when a couple on their honeymoon missed the turn and drowned in the pond. Pulitzer Prize winner, Zona Gale, wrote the short story "Bridal Pond" in memory of the couple.

[Guide to Portage Parks
http://www.ci.portage.wi.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={981A5C1B-F459-45DA-854A-5E8CDC4ED8FF}&DE={AA4E7413-55B1-449F-81B9-28FDECCD2F08}

picture
http://home.wi.rr.com/glsonn/Hwy33/portage.htm]

Pauquette Park
W. Conant Street, Portage
608-742-2178
This 8.8 acre park is the most picturesque of Portages many beautiful public parks. Named after the famous fur-trader Pierre Pauquette who operated a ferry from 1828 to 1857, the park features two shelters, each with water and electricity, picnic tables, play equipment, a skating and fishing pond, walking path, flower gardens, a Victorian band gazebo; and, a bridal arch erected near the spot where a couple on their honeymoon missed the turn and drowned in the pond, inspiring Pulitzer Prize winner, Zona Gale's short story "Bridal Pond."

[http://www.explorewisconsin.com/countypages/Columbia.asp]

• Reference: Prelude to the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. The U.S. force of 600-750 militia men had picked up Black Hawk's trail following the Battle of Pecatonica . Colonel Henry Dodge and James D. Henry pursued the band up the Rock River, engaging in minor skirmishes along the way. The militia marched 25 miles (40 km) from Four Lakes the day of the battle, discovering the body of a dead Native American along the way, in whose pouch they found the watch of George Force, a lieutenant who was killed in an attack at Fort Blue Mounds on June 20 . Ahead of the main party of militia, a small band of U.S. allied Ho-Chunk warriors had been sent ahead to scout the area with Pierre Pauquette, a trader from Portage, Wisconsin . Rumors that Black Hawk's band was at Lake Koshkonong persisted and Dodge and his men attempted to intercept Black Hawk there. Although Black Hawk's band had already moved on by the time the militia arrived at the lake, they found evidence of his presence and picked up his trail again, continuing their pursuit toward the Wisconsin River .

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wisconsin_Heights]

• Reference: A Brief History of Columbia County. Another familiar person at portage was Pierre Pauquette. Born in St. Louis in 1796, his early years were spent among the Indians in the far western fur trade. Subsequently he became the agent of the American Fur Company at the portage. His help as a translator aided Father Samuel Mazzuchelli to convert many to Catholicism. Inspired, Pauquette erected a small log church in 1833 or 34, which stood near the corner of Adams and Conant Streets in Portage. This was the first church built in Wisconsin between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. Pauquette was assassinated in 1836 near where the current Catholic Church is in Portage by an Indian with whom he had had some trouble. In about 1850 Wallis Rowan and others in what is now the town of Poynette applied to Washington D.C. for a post office. They wanted to name their community after their admired friend Pauquette as an enduring tribute. The application was filled out in long hand. It was misunderstood in Washington and Poynette it is.

[http://www.travelcolumbiacounty.net/ccvb/historical/historical.asp]

• Reference: A Brief History of Fort Winnebago. A French fur trader, John T. De La Ronde, who later became a resident of Columbia County, arrived four months before the military troops. He recollected his first visit by saying, "There were at the portage a log house and barn which formed a trading post of the American Fur Company. Pierre Pauquette and his family lived there. There was another house where the sub-agent was living; and still two others, occupied by half-breeds, and on the other, or east side of the river, there was a nice house belonging to Francis LeRoy." The Grignon family of Green Bay also has a storehouse on the Wisconsin River end of the trail.

[http://www.wlhn.org/wisconsonian/sept99/FortWinnebago.html]

• Reference: History of Portage. In 1824, the Prairie du Chien headquarters of the American Fur Company hired Pierre Pauquette, a man of French and Indian descent, to manage its affairs here. He was a giant in stature and strength, and because of his honesty and integrity, was trusted by Indian and white men alike. He could speak both Winnebago and French fluently and became invaluable to the government as an interpreter at treaties and councils.

[History of Portage
By Ina Curtis, Author and Historian (1973-1979)
http://www.portagewi.com/v_visitor.asp]

• Reference: Narrative By Louis B. Porlier. In An Interview With The Editor.: WI. [p. 440]
About 1826, the federal government had established a mail route between Forts Winnebago (Portage) and Howard, the trail crossing the Wolf near our trading post, where the company kept a scow for the transportation of the carrier and such other equestrians as passed that way; the charges were 25 cents for ferrying a man and horse, in the summer season, and 50 cents when ice had to be broken; 12½ cents were charged for a gallon of oats for the horse, and 25 cents for a like quantity of corn, while the man was fed for 50 cents per meal. Pierre Paquette was the mail-contractor; but Joseph Crelie1 and Antoine Courcielle, two relatives of his, were the actual carriers, taking the trips alternately. In those days the marshes opposite Butte des Morts were capable of bearing up a horse and rider, and, coming up the Fox valley from the southwest, travellers along the trail rode to the very edge of the Wolf River, within easy hailing distance of our post.

[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:2000.03.0133&query=page%3D%23468]

• Reference: Emma Kerwin, Granddaughter of Pierre Pauqeutte, 1919, Dane County, WI. Article Date: October 12 1919
Newspaper:Madison Democrat
City:Madison
County:Dane
State: WI
Names associated with this article Kerwin, Emma 1872-

5 pages

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wlhba/articleView.asp?pg=5&id=2784&hdl=&np=Madison+Democrat&adv=yes&ln=&fn=&q=&y1=&y2=&ci=&co=&mhd=&shd=

Pierre married Therese Josephine CRELY, daughter of Joseph CRELIE and Francoise PELLETIER dit ANTAYA, in 1818 in St. Louis, MO. (Therese Josephine CRELY was born on 4 Dec 1798 in St. Louis, MO and died on 16 Mar 1866 in Racine County, WI.)

  Marriage Notes:

year from R. G. Thwaites's Moses Paquette's account of Wisconsin Winnebagoes page 400