Category: Villa Louis

Prairie du Chien and the Villa Louis, Wisconsin United States: Part 2 – (Jane) “Wife of the above”

The women, most importantly, “Jane”, were essential for the existence of Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien. Jane had lived her entire life at Prairie du Chien. She probably played on the mounds, forest and swam in the Mississippi. She knew and was known by the other settlers/immigrants and native americans. Her ancestry was well connected to the foundations of Prairie du Chien – both as an anglo-saxon and native American breed. She, also, knew of the wealth the fur trade brought to the world and to Prairie du Chien – as her grandfather, father and later husband’s were rain men in business.

a.k.a. Jane Fisher, when researched, has many names:(and probably more than the list below)

a.k.a Genieveve Fisher

a.k.a. Jane Fisher Rolette

a.k.a Madame Jane Dousman

a.k.a. Jane Fisher-Dousman

a.k.a Jane F. Dousman was born sometime around 1803-1804 at Prairie du Chien. Her birth date on her grave index certificate states 12 Apr 1804.

She is the daughter to Captain Henry Monroe Fisher (1776- May 21,1846) (Scottish/British) and Madeline/Magdeleine de Verville (May 1779 -1812(1809?)) (French Canadian/Native American). Madeline and Henry also had a son George Fisher.

Jane’s mother, Madeline de Verville. Munro Fisher, was a descendant of the the famous French Indian, fur trading, families in the Northwest. (Flandrau, 1890) Madeiline’s father, Claude Charles Gauthier (Gauthier) de Verville (born February 3, 1738, died 1803). Claude Charles Gautier was a trader in Prairie du Chien. He is also know to have had many children with many women of different native american tribes.

On January 1, 1779, Claude married Madeiline Paschal/Chevalier at Prairie du Chien. They had two daughters Magdeline Gautier (Jane’s mother) and Domitille Madeline Gautier born 1781 (Jane’s Aunt and who married Michael Brisbois jr.)

Jane’s father, Henry, was born on November 14 1776, in Hebron, Washington County, New York, United States. He was a descendant from a wealthy Scottish family.

Henry was the command captain and translator to the native american’s at Fort Shelby, Prairie du Chien approx September 1805 (Durrie,1872) Translators were required for the French and Englishman to negotiate with the tribesmen.

In her childhood, Jane saw many battles including:

The War of 1812. British/French Canadian and Indian Allies kept control of Prairie du Chien – not the Americans.

1814 “Battle of Prairie de Chien” Battle for Fort Shelby US Forces surrender after 3-day bombardment. (Boundaries, Page 65)

She also saw many prosperous times for Prairie du Chien.

The fur trading post and warehouse of the American Fur Company was built, in 1815, by Michel Brisbois, Uncle of Jane Dousman.

In 1816 Fort Crawford was built by American soldiers.

In 1818, Joseph Roulette (24 Sep 1781 (Grave Index States this date)- 03 Dec 1842) a French Canadian fur trader, married a thirteen to fourteen year old Jane (Genieveve) Fisher.  Jane bore three children: Frederick, Virginia and Joseph Jr.. (Frederick and Virginia died young. )

1818 Col. John Shaw built a grist mill at Fisher’s Coulee, four miles above the prairie, where the Dousman mill now stands.

June 19th, 1819 to Sept. 14th, 1819 Rolette goes to Mackinaw by canoe and boat. Possibly takes Jane with him ?

August 5 -15, 1825, the US government (William Clark) and the tribes from Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Mississippi River Valley met at Prairie du Chien for an inter-tribal council.

In her adult years, she experienced and saw many losses personally and publicly:

In 1834, the American fur company collapsed and diversified their business into real estate and fishing (Bieder, 135)

In 1836, Joseph Rolette and Jane Fisher, were legally separated, but not divorced, as they were of Catholic faith. As part of the settlement, Joe Rolette built, what is today known as, the Brisbois House for his estranged wife, Jane, on Water Street, St. Feriole Island, Prairie du Chien, WI.  Jane Fisher Rolette, a relative of Michel Brisbois, who upon her second marriage, transferred the title of the property to her cousin Bernard Walter Brisbois.

In 1837 deadly smallpox epidemic possibly lead to the 1840’s near economic collapse at Prairie du Chien.

In 1840, Joseph Rolette owned lots 16, 19, 20, and 21. The American Fur Company owned lots 14 and 18 in 1830, and Hercules L. Dousman owned lots 13 arid 17, as well as several lots to the north, in 1840.

The 1820 and 1840 census says he lived in the Wisconsin territory at Prairie du Chien. No one was listed in Joseph Rolette’s household.

In 1834, Joseph Rolette bought lot 16 at the auction of Bouthellier’s estate. Before he died, he built, on it, a two-story residence and a stone store used by the American Fur Company. In 1840, Rolette mortgaged lot 16 and other real estate to B. W. Brisbois, in trust for his wife, Jane Fisher Rolette, in order to guarantee her annuity of $800 agreed upon when they separated. This act mentions that village lot 16 and 100 feet on the south side of lot 15 were the same site “on which the store of the American Fur Company is now located.” This store was probably the largest building in the main village when it was built about 1835. Popularly referred to as the Hudson Bay Company store, although there is no evidence that they ever owned it, the building was two and one-half stories, stone, rectangular, and had five bays with a center door and twin gable-end chimneys. In 1842, Joseph Rolette sold to his daughter Elizabeth “all within the east and west boundaries of lot 16, and south of the line drawn six feet south of the stone store aforesaid (American Fur Company), and to include the new frame dwelling house now being erected by me.”

In 1842 Joseph Roulette (03 Dec 1842 Grave Index states) (and his daughter, Elizabeth died. They were buried in the Frenchtown cemetery. Jane Fisher became the heir of her estranged husband’s property.

Women at this time were not meant to be single with property. It was best to find a husband.

In 1844 Jane Fisher married Hercules Dousman. Hercules and Jane had a son, their only child, Hercules Louis Dousman II, in 1848.

The first house built, by HL Dousman, atop the mound was called the “House on the Mound” was built in 1843-44. Designer unkown …north of Brisbois house on the site of old Fort Crawford (CITY OF PRAIRIE DU CHIEN HABS No. WI-302) 85,000 red bricks were used – probably brought by steamboat and carriage as the railroad had not yet arrived in Prairie du Chien. An ice house, barn, root house, back house also built at the same time in1844. Madame Jane Dousman called her house “Chateau Brilliante” b/c of the 1000’s of candle lit on the porch.

American Civil War Apr 12, 1861 – May 13, 1865

Her son William H. Fisher, Joseph Jr. ?, died in the civil war and she became a war dependent pensioner. He was a part of the Veteran’s Military Unit 12 Wisconsin Infantry Veteran’s Military Company E

Her occupation in the 1880 US census was “keeping house”. She did manage the house along with Louis Luboun. She had several servants from different parts of the world.

1850 Census

Hurcules L Dousman M 47 Michigan

Jane F Dousman F 46 Wisconsin

Hurcules L Jr Dousman M 2 Wisconsin

George Hoffman M 40 Germany

Caroline Anderson F 18 Norway

Louisa Marsh F 12 Wisconsin

Hannah Preston F 30 Missouri

 

Hercules L Dousman senior died 12th day of September, 1868.

 

1870 Census

H L Dousman M 22 Wisconsin

Jane Dousman F 66 Wisconsin

Louis Leboun M 38 Canada

Bernard Brisbois M 61 Wisconsin

 

1880 Census

Penelope Mcleod Other F 62 Scotland

Louis Le Bron Other M 48 Canada

Hakina Johnson Other F 29 Norway

Mary Johnson Other F 40 Norway

Joseph Drew Other M 70

Daniel Swingle Other M 28 Canada

Jane Fisher Dousman died (13 Jan 1882 Grave Index states) at home and was buried beside, not below, her husband, HL Dousman in the Calvary cemetery donated to St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church.

Ponder the idea of Jane Fisher being born, into the same family, as a boy.

Considering Jane was a woman in a time when women had very little public power, I believe the fact that she survived was the backbone to the story of Villa Louis. Without Jane Fisher there would have been no Villa Louis. Whether her gender was a boy or a girl the fact that she had the property and connections in Prairie du Chien made her an asset to the town.

(Writing this Part II of the story of Villa Louis has been difficult in that not much has been published on the women. Most has been published on the men. For example, I would like to know where Jane Fisher went to school and what was her favorite subject ? Did she enjoy sports? How devout was she as a catholic? Did she have any hobbies? Did she travel to New York City ? How did she decorate her first and second homes ? Did she want to be an architect ?

If readers of this part know of any information it would be added to this blog writing. This writing is a living document which will hopefully shed more light onto a very important person in the history of Villa Louis – but one that doe not get talked about when you tour the property. )

Prairie du Chien and the Villa Louis, Wisconsin United States: Part I Ancient time to early 19th Century

The entry gate looking out over the eastern part of “St Feriole”Island
Villa Louis built upon the conical Dousman’s mound

Judging and dismissing a place, hastily, might make for a missed serendipitous experience. The city of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA is not a place that is commonly known in global travels. In the case of Prairie du Chien, certain people and events made the place significant to global history. Influences from around the globe were imbibed into Prairie du Chien’s historical making. The history of the area and the house of Villa Louis at Prairie du Chien is a succession of extremely significant events for the city, the state of Wisconsin, and the United States. Today, Villa Louis stands dignified looking at the Missippippi River as a product of its assembly and owner’s aspirations in life.

Ancient Tribes and their Work

The site of the villa is on very ancient lands. The land in the driftless area of USA was created by the last glacier which retreated about 15,000 BC to 17,000 BC (Bieder, 1995). The landscape in this driftless area has not been carved and flattened by the glacier’s power and push. But the Mississippi river was created after the glacier receded.

Approximately 12,000 BC to 10,000 BC, Paleo Native Americans dwelled in the area now known as Prairie du Chien. The proof we have of this are the tools that are dated to this time.

Also, circa 8000 BC-4000BC, the first known inhabitants occupied north eastern Iowa/southwestern Wisconsin  as evidenced by mounds, rock shelters, and other artefacts discovered and dated by archaeologists.

Approximately 800 BC, early Woodland tribes made clay pottery, stored food and built conical, round, burial mounds for their dead. (Janes, 2002)

The Mississippi River and ancient conical mounds

The Mississippi is an ancient river and one of the largest in the world. The tribes who dwelled in the Mississippi river valley made conical shaped and later effigy mounds. One such mound that was excavated and recorded was the Dousman mound located on the island called St Feriole, at Prairie du Chien. “Dousman’s” mound was explored and described by Cyrus Thomas, in 1890-1891. Dousman’s mound is seventy five feet in diameter and five feet tall. The mound was a burial place for three skeletons and their burial accessories. The house of Villa Louis was built upon the Dousman mound.

Wisconsin was traversed first by “New France”, French-Canadian, Europeans due to the alliances formed between them and the native American tribes: Menominee, HoChunk (Winnebago), Dakota (Sioux), Huron, Ottawa, Algonquian and Ojibwe. The native American tribes had been living and dwelling at the “Messippi” for thousands of years before the rivers European “discovery” on June 17, 1673. The native American tribes helped Father Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette down the Wisconsin river into the Mississippi this was the first time Europeans had discovered and recorded, in Europe, the Mississippi river. This was due to Count Louis Frontenac wanting French domination West to the Gulf of Mexico. (Bieder, 1995)

The British were also discovering the area, at this time, too.

Fur Trading: French Fur Trade 1634 – 1763 / British Fur Trade 1763-1815

When French Canadians began fur trading and dwelling with the native Americans they lived among and traded furs for goods exclusively with the tribes. Furs traded included beaver, elk, buffalo, raccoon, otter, fox and muskrat in exchange for liquor, issuing credits and other amenities. (Bieder, 1995) European amenities included: metal hatchets, knives, kettles, traps, needles, fish hooks, cloth, blankets and jewelry (Maas, 4) The French followed the tribes to their hunting grounds to trade so it became less difficult for the tribesman. Otherwise the tribes would have to go all the way to Green Bay. (Bieder, 1995) Green Bay was the first trading post in Wisconsin.

Prairie du Chien – early fur trading post in North America

Prairie du Chien is the second oldest fur trading post in Wisconsin. In,1680, Robert Cavelier and Sieur de La Salle, built a trading post. The main leaders for the fur trade travelled from Mackinac City. People from Mackinac city were connected to New York City, Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison. The French Canadians were connected with the king of France. The British connected to their rulers.

The name, Prairie du Chien, came from the area’s annual inter-tribal fur trade. The tribes came together through the branches of the Mississippi to the site of Prairie du Chien. (Butler, 1815) The name of the area/town came from Colonel Joseph Brisbois translating the Fox tribe Chief’s name. The chief’sname translated to “dog”. The Fox tribesmen occupied the prairie when French would visit. The word for dog in French is Chien, thus the name of the region, Prairie du Chien.

The village of St. Feriole began sometime in the1670’s on the mainland of Prairie du Chien, the island, where Villa Louis was built, was a floodplain. (Antoine, 2015)

In 1685, Nicholas Perrot, fur trader and mediator between French and tribes, established Fort St. Nicholas. Tribesman were being abused by the new influx of Europeans. In 1696 the fur trade was curbed, because of this abuse, and a number of trading places reduced. (Bieder, 1995)

There were struggles for both the native Americans and the new pioneers from Europe. Translators were required for the French and Englishman to negotiate with the tribesmen. Carver Henry Fisher, a translator, came to the remote site of Prairie du Chien, to work and begin their families. The fur trade brought wealth and later luxury to living at Prairie du Chien.

Mapping

A map, Le Cours de Mississippi, that included Prairie du Chien was made in 1718 by a French cartographer Fer.

Wars

The French Indian War took place between, 1754 – 1760. The war’s purpose was the French and Native American tribes fighting together against British. Some of the tribes sided with the British. Some other tribes fended for themselves and sided with neither – like the Iroquois. The US first president, George Washington, was a soldier in this war. After the war, populations were scarce so tribes like the Winnebago and French/British inter-married each other.

In 1760, the French defeated by the British at Montreal.

After the war, the British still remained, owning and navigating the land even after Americans won the 1776 American War of Independence. (Bieder, 1995)

Separating and Placing Ownership

“Thence by a Line to be drawn along the Middle of the said river Mississippi” –unknown

The Americans won the war of Independence but there was still work to be done to established the country. One of those issues was land ownership. The people living in Prairie du Chien and St Feriole did not have title/deeds to the land they had been living on for decades. In 1781, the British of Prairie du Chien helped people gain title to their lots by creating paper deeds/titles for the land. Colonel Michel Brisbois was one of those who was instrumental in “authenticating” the land ownership for the people of Prairie du Chien. (Antoine, 2015)

The Paris treaty was signed on September 3, 1783 and the British relinquished Wisconsin to the Americans. The treaty did not become effective until May 12, 1784.

In 1785, Colonel Michel Brisbois married a Winnebago woman and had three children: Angellic, Michel and Antoine. She lived with her Winnebago family and he did not.

Michel then had a second marriage on August 8, 1796, which was to Domitelle (Madelaine) Gautier de Verville. They had a son Bernard Walter Brisbois was born in Prairie du Chien in 1808. Michel died in Prairie du Chien on April 1, 1837.

This background story is important as the de Verville was the family lineage for one of the main characters of Villa Louis – Jane Dousman (1804-1882). The other main character was Hercules Dousman, born in 1796, Mackinac City.

End of Part One

References:

Antoine, M. E. (2011). Prairie du Chien. Charleston, S.C: Arcadia Publishing.

Antoine, M. E. (2015). Legendary locals of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

Bieder, R. E. (1995). Native American communities in Wisconsin, 1600-1960: A study of tradition and change. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

Butler, 1814-1815, French Fort at Prairie du Chien.

Coryer, A., Antoine, M. E., & Murphy, L. E. (2016). Frenchtown chronicles of Prairie du Chien: History and folklore from Wisconsin’s frontier.

Janes, Amelia R, Wisconsin Cartographers’ Guild. (2002). Wisconsin’s past and present: A historical atlas. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press.

Maas, Jeffry, Wisconsin Cartographers’ Guild. (2002). Wisconsin’s past and present: A historical atlas. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press.