Alexander Beaubien

Beaubien, Alexander (1822-1907) born in Chicago on Jan. 28, 1822, to Jean Baptiste Beaubien and his wife Josette (LaFramboise); he was likely born on the premises of the military fort proper, prompting the local Indians to enthusiastically celebrate the event [see John Kelleys following description from Tales, see Bibliography]. Alexander married Susan Miles of Canadaigua, NY, in 1850; worked for the Chicago Police Department in later life, and as a private detective; his grave [see Monuments] is in Graceland Cemetery. ... Five or six times had the stork visited Fort Dearborn before it brought little Alexander Beaubien, but on all previous visits it had left behind a full-blooded white child. The Indians manifested no interest in these children. But the Beaubien case was different. Word of the big event was passed from one tepee to another along the banks of the river, and the braves and sqaws came trooping over to the Fort wrapped in blankets and wearing their prettiest feathers. They brought presents fashioned from leather and beads for the mother and child. - That night bonfires were kindled on both banks of the river and the Pottawatomies danced as they never danced before, in honer of the first white-and-red papoose in Chicago. [42] [12]