Antoine Le Claire
Antoine Le Claire | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | September 25, 1861 | (aged 63)
Nationality | American |
Occupation | U.S. Army Interpreter/Merchant |
Known for | Founding Davenport, Iowa |
Spouse | Marguerite Lepage |
Children | Informally adopted nephew Louis Le Claire |
Parent | François LeClaire |
Signature | |
Antoine Le Claire (also "LeClaire"; December 15, 1797 – September 25, 1861) was a
Biography
Early life
Le Claire was born on December 15, 1797, in present-day
Landowner
In 1832, at the end of the Black Hawk War, Le Claire was present at the peace treaty signing as an interpreter. Sauk and Meskwaki territories west of the Mississippi River were purchased by the United States government. Because he was respected by the Native Americans, the Le Claires were given three parcels of land. One of the parcels was at the head of the Rock Island Rapids on the west side of the river. The second was given to Marguerite by Keokuk, the Sauk chief. It was also located on the west side of the river and had been the location of the Meskwaki village.[1] Keokuk stipulated that Le Claire build a house on the spot where the peace treaty was signed, or lose the land. After the United States Congress approved the peace treaty in 1833, Le Claire built a house, known as the Treaty House.[3] The third parcel of land was given by the Potawatomie on the Illinois side of the river where present day Moline, Illinois, is situated.
Le Claire was named the postmaster and the justice of the peace in 1833. His jurisdiction included all the lands that had been included in the Black Hawk Purchase.[1] He was responsible for resolving disputes between the Native Americans and the white settlers. He generally took a hands-off approach which the independent-minded settlers found appealing.[4] In 1834 he established the area's first ferry service across the river.[3] LeClaire also served as Black Hawk's translator when the Sauk warrior wrote his memoirs.[4][5]
Davenport
George Davenport gathered a group of investors at his home on February 23, 1836, to create a company in order to develop a new town. It was to be located on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River opposite the town of Stevenson, Illinois, which is now the city of Rock Island.[6] Antoine Le Claire was part of the group. While he owned a great deal of land, he did not have a great deal of money. The other investors paid him $1,750 for the site that now lies between the river and Seventh Street and between Harrison Street to just past Warren Street.[6]
While Le Claire was the driving force in the development of Davenport, the town was not named for him. Not only did he not have enough money to develop buildings on the land, but he was also a half-breed with a French surname and a devout Catholic. The other investors had English surnames, money to invest and government contracts. George Davenport also failed to have his name attached to the new town across the river (Stevenson), and so the town on the Iowa side of the river was named after him.[6]
Le Claire had the town laid out in the conventional fashion of a grid pattern of 36 squares. Three of the squares were set aside for public squares: Lafayette Square, which is a public park today; Bolivar Square, site of the
Businessman
Le Claire joined with George Davenport to develop the first public house in the area, which was named the Le Claire House.
Philanthropy
When the first addition was made to Davenport, Le Claire set aside one of the squares for a Catholic church. In April 1837 he joined with the missionary priest
The Le Claires' philanthropy existed in other areas of society as well. He donated Bolivar Square to Scott County, which sealed Davenport's attempt to be named the county seat. In 1846 he donated the land for the establishment of Iowa College, which eventually left Davenport and became Grinnell College. In 1855 he built a new house and donated the Treaty House to the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad and it became Davenport's first railroad station.[12] The LeClaires hosted members of the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, who camped on their estate and were allowed to stay as long as they liked.[1]
Later life and death
The Le Claires had no children of their own. When his half brother Alexis died in 1849 Antoine and Marguerite informally adopted his son Louis. He even introduced Louis to former President Millard Fillmore as "my boy."[3]
During the Panic of 1857 many banks in the Midwest failed, and the Cook and Sargent Bank in Davenport appeared to be in danger. Le Claire called for calm among the citizens of Davenport and to keep their money in the bank. He assured them the bank was secure and guaranteed its safety with his own money. The bank, however, failed for other reasons and Le Claire still made good on his promise. The strain may have hastened his death.[3][4]
Antoine Le Claire died on September 25, 1861. His funeral was held in St. Marguerite's Church and he was buried in the church yard.
Legacy
Numerous places in the Quad City area of Iowa and Illinois are named for Le Claire. They include:
- Le Claire, Iowa,[13]established on LeClaire's property above the Rock Island Rapids
- LeClaire Hotel, Moline, Illinois
- LeClaire Park, Davenport
- LeClaire Street, Davenport
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Chapter XI: Davenport's First Citizen". Scott County Iowa USGenWeb Project. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "Memoir of Antoine Le Claire, Esquire, of Davenport, Iowa". Annals of Iowa. 1 (4). October 1863.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Antoine Le Claire". Davenport Public Library. Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- ^ a b c d Renkes, Jim (1994). The Quad-Cities and The People. Helena, MT: American & World Geographic Publishing. p. 50.
- ^ Black Hawk; LeClaire, Antoine (1882). Autobiography of Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak or Black Hawk. Oquawka, Illinois: J. B. Patterson. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9780910847001.
- ^ Svendsen, Marls A., Bowers, Martha H (1982). Davenport—Where the Mississippi Runs West: A Survey of Davenport History & Architecture. Davenport, Iowa: City of Davenport. pp. 1–2.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Oltrogge, Sarah. "History of Le Claire". Le Claire, Iowa. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ^ a b Schmidt, Madeleine M. (1981). Seasons of Growth: History of the Diocese of Davenport. Davenport, Iowa: Diocese of Davenport. pp. 33, 152–153.
- ^ Schmidt, 54
- ^ a b c "Chapter XX: Churches and Parishes". Scott County Iowa USGenWeb Project. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ "LeClaire House". City of Davenport. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 183.