Page [3]

 
glowing descriptions of the beauty and fertility of the region he had visited,
and gave such a pathetic 
account of the thousands of untutored savages who were living and dying without
the blessings of relig- 
ion, that the zeal of the Jesuits was excited and they soon organized an
expedition to establish mission 
stations in the far West. 
       The first missionary sent to Wisconsin was Father Claudeus Allouez,
who founded a mission and 
built a mission house on the present site of the village of DePere about
the year 1668. Soon after this 
the French Government took formal possession of Green Bay and surrounding
territory. About the year 
1673 Father Marquette traversed this region on his voyage of discovery. 
       In 1689 M. Perrot, commissioned by the Canadian Government, gained
possession of Green Bay 
and established a fort on the west side of Fox River. The fur trade now began
to assume immense 
proportions, the forests abounding in fur-bearing animals. 
       In 176o the conquest of Canada by the English became complete with
the surrender of Montreal, 
and the Fox River Valley region passed from French to English rule. 
       The success of the American revolution put an end to English rule,
but it was not until 1786 
that this region was formally surrendered by the English. At that date the
Fox River Valley contained 
only about fifty-six white persons and all these were embraced within five
families, namely: The De 
Langlades the Grignons, the Brunettes, the Roys and the La Dukes. These were
all of French origin 
or extraction. When the English garrison left, their places were not occupied
by American troops until 
the year 1816. 
       It is put down as a historical fact that the De Langlades and Grignons
were the first permanent 
settlers of the Northwest. They came to Green Bay in 1745. 
       "Pierre Grignon, Sr., was the grandson of Baron de Grignon, Governor
of Bretagne, France; and 
of the daughter of Marchioness de Sevigne, whose name is familiar to the
literary world. By his mar- 
riage to Miss De Langlade he became the father of nine children. One of these,
Augustin Grignon, set- 
tled permanently at Grand Ka-ka-lin about the year 1799, though engaged there
in the fur trade and 
transportation business some time previous." He entered largely into
the business of that day, and was 
noted for his princely hospitality. Descendants of this pioneer are now living
at Kaukauna. 
       In 1766 Captain Jonathan Carver, of the English army, ascended the
Fox River. Arriving at 
Doty Island he found the Indian town of the Winnebagoes. The tribe was ruled
by a queen who re- 
ceived him with great civility and entertained him sumptuously during his
stay. The town contained fifty 
houses. He found the land very fertile: grapes, plums and other fruits growing
in abundance. The 
Indians raised large quantities of corn, beans, pumpkins, watermelons and
tobacco. 
       The Winnebagoes, or Men of the Sea, were a powerful tribe of Indians.
Their name points to 
some act of migration across the great waters, but which ocean was referred
to tradition affords no 
hint. They were of the Algonquin family and had established themselves on
the headwaters of Green 
Bay many years before the visit of Nicollet, as they were then old in their
habitation of the land. 
From them the beautiful lake received its name, while the river received
its name from the tribe of 
Indians, or rather the consolidated tribes of the Sacs and Foxes. 
                                     GOVERNOR DOTY. 
       The name of James Duane Doty must always be associated with the Valley
of the Lower Fox. 
In 1822 he received at the hands of President Monroe, the appointment of
United States Judge, for this 
region o1 country. i-us circuit not only e 
an indefinite extent, as well as the norther 
Mackinaw, in 1823, then returned east and 
pleton.  He brought his young bride imme 
In 1838 he was elected Territorial Delegate 
year he was appointed Governor of the Te 
to fill the office of Delegate, made vacý