Augustin Odawa Grignon, (Menomenee)

Augustin /Grignon/ birth: 27 June 1780 Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin (Northwest Territory) death: 2 October 1860 Butte Des Morts, Winnebago County, Wisconsin

spouse: Nancy /McCrea/ birth: 1783 marriage: 1805 death: 24 October 1842 spouse: (show children) Therese /DeKaury/ birth: about 1770 marriage: about 1800 death: about 1805

Additional Information for Augustin /Grignon/ Notes (1)

some informatiom from : Grignon, Augustin. "Seventy-two years' recollections of Wisconsin." Wisconsin Historical Collections (Madison, Wis.: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1857), vol. 3: 195-295. Online facsimile at: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=28;

Appleton Public Library 225 N. Oneida St. Appleton, Wisconsin http://www.apl.org

[Excerpted from the article "Kaukauna: "Lion of the Fox" by Mary Grogan-Seleen which appeared in the Summer 1985 issue of Voyageur magazine]

The first person of European descent to live in the Fox River Valley was Dominique Ducharme, a French Canadian fur trader.

In 1790, Ducharme built a wooden house and trading post on the north bank of the Fox River, where the city of Kaukauna stands today. At the time, 1,500 American Indians lived in the village. Three years passed, however, before Ducharme purchased the land from the Menominee Chief, Tobac Noir. In a written agreement that became Wisconsin's first deed, Ducharme paid two barrels of rum for a tract of several hundred acres.

This land was later purchased by "Augustin Grignon", one of the sons of Domitelle and Pierre Grignon, and a grandson of Charles de Langlade. Augustin enlarged the original Ducharme house, and went on to build Wisconsin's first gristmill and first sawmill.

1813: Augustine Grignon moves to Kaukauna with a government grant of 1,000 acres on the lower rapids.

1816: Grignon builds grist mill and later a sawmill using hydro power.

1820 Brown County census: 76 Grigman, Augustine white males under 10...3 white males 10-15....1 white males 19-25....1 white males 26-44....4 white females under 10...1 white females 10-15...1 white females 26-44 foreigners not naturalized...5

Although he had business interests there and his wife and children were there, Augustin Grignon did not actually settle in Kaukauna until 1813; by that time his eldest son, Charles, was 5 years old. In 1816, he built a grist mill on his property and shortly thereafter, a sawmill.

About 1830 Augustin and Nancy left Kaukauna for their holdings at Buttes des Morts. His sons, Charles and Alexander took over the business and family homestead. (Research):Historic Building About 1830 Augustin and Nancy left Kaukauna for their holdings at Buttes des Morts. His sons, Charles and Alexander took over the business and family homestead in Kaukauna.

Grignon, Augustin, Hotel ** (added 1975 - Building - #75000084) Also known as Nevitt Site;47 Wn 162 SE corner of Main and Washington Sts., Butte des Morts Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Architectural Style: Greek Revival Area of Significance: Historic - Aboriginal, Commerce, Transportation, Architecture Period of Significance: 1825-1849 Owner: Private Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Government, Transportation Historic Sub-function: Department Store, Hotel, Post Office, Water-Related Current Function: Commerce/Trade Current Sub-function: Specialty Store

This village - the scene of the sanuguinary conflict which resulted in expelling the fierce Foxes from the valley - was also a favored Indian haunt. Here it was that Father Marquette landed, and first learned from the Mascoutins of the great river which flowed toward the south. In 1818, Augustus Grignon and James Porlier established a trading-post one mile below the site of the village. A son of the latter still lives upon the site of the old trading-post, and is one of the most prominent and intelligent residents of Butte des Morts. In 1832, L.B. Porlier, the gentleman referred to, succeeded Robert Grignon, a nephew of Augustus, as agent of the post, his father James Porlier, being a resident of Green Bay. Augustus Grignon lived formerly in Kaukauna, a short distance below Appleton. In May 1846, George Bell and family settled in this vicinity, and after them a few weeks, Greenbury Wright and family, with his brother Dr. A.B. Wright. They took up land upon the present site of Butte des Morts. During the same year, Julius Ashby, Stephen Allen, William Calkins and others, swelled the settlement.

In 1849, a post office was established and Augustus Grignon appointed Postmaster. The Postmaster, not content with the "emoluments of his position." put up a house which he called a hotel.

F.F. Hamilton opened a general store in the first frame building erected in the village, which saw the light of day also during that year. The village had been platted during July of the previous year, and, in 1849, Augustus Grignon and other leading villagers (as have been previously detailed), made another and final, and unsuccessful effort to have the county seat fixed at Butte des Morts. This failure appeared to be the rock upon which the village split as a really progressive burgh, and she is now looked upon as a curious momentio of a noted historical point in the historical valley of the Fox. Among the oldest settlers still living within the limits of the village are Thomas B. Patford, L.W. Hull, Samuel L. Odell, Whitman Brown, J. Neubiert and Peter C. Peterson.

In early times, Butte des Morts was busy as a lumber market. In 1851, Smith & Vibbert erected the first mill. In 1868, after lying idle four years, it was rebuilt by Allan Vosburg & Co., who continued the business until the mill burned in 1871. During this period, her dealings in wheat were also quite large. But later the village became chiefly known for the enormous traffic which it carried on in muskrats, the transactions amounting to thousands of dollars annually. Butte des Morts has a number of thriving general stores, an Episcopal Mission under the charge of Rev. John Blyman, and is accommodated by a good district school.

1881 History of Northern Wisconsin Illustrated Bios transcribed by Kay R. & History by Jan Cortez

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Land: 1832 Portage County, Wisconsin "CLAIM TWENTY-ONE.'

The land upon which a large portion of Portage now stands presents historical features of interest. Although the city is still young, title to a very important part of its site dates back many years. The land in question is that covered by what is known as the " Grignon Claim," frequently referred to as " Claim No. 21."

The following is a copy of a deed made by the United States Government in 1832: UNITED STATES TO AUGUSTIN GRIGNON. The United States of America to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know ye that there has been deposited in the General Land Office a certificate, numbered 266, of the Register of the Land Office at Detroit, in the Territory of Michigan, whereby it appears that, by the second section of the act of Congress approved on the 17th day of April, 1828, entitled "An Act to confirm certain claims to lands in the Territory of Michigan," Augustin Grignon was confirmed, saving the rights of the heirs of John Ecuyer [or Lecuyer], deceased, in his claim in volume numbered one of the Reports of the Commissioners on Land Claims in the Territory of Michigan, to the tract of land containing six hundred and forty-eight acres and eighty-two hundredths of an acre, situate at the portage of the Ouisconsin and Fox Rivers, bounded and described as follows, to wit:

Beginning on the northeast bank of the Ouisconsin River, one-fourth of a mile below the landing-place, at a post from which a birch twelve inches in diameter bears north 35 degrees west, distant eleven links, and a birch 14 inches diameter bears south 64 degrees east, distant 75 links ; thence up the river north forty degrees, west twenty chains, to the landing-place (entered prairie at five chains), north 70 degrees, west five chains, north 61 degrees, west 26 chains and 50 links (at three chains foot of island), south 81 degrees, west eight chains and 50 links to an aspen seven inches in diameter (corner on the bank of the river); thence north 10 degrees and 15 minutes, west thirty chains through prairie to the top of the hill to the corner of the pickets which surround the grave of the late John Ecuyer (no post, no bearings near); thence north 50 degrees east (at 15 chains enter barrens, after passing through old field at 41 chains a pond, at 46 chains left the pond, and at 58 chains a wet prairie), 118 chains to a post on the left bank of Fox River, from which a white oak five inches in diameter bears north 561 degrees west, distant three chains and 46 links; thence up Fox River south five degrees, west three chains, south 16 degrees, west 9 chains and 50 links to landing-place at Portage, south 47 degrees, east 23 chains and 40 links to a post on the margin of river in a marsh; thence south 25 degrees and 30 minutes, west 116 chains and 70 links (entering timber land at 100 chains) to the beginning.

There is, therefore, granted by the United States unto the said Augustin Grignon and to his heirs, saving any right or claim which the said heirs of John Ecuyer, deceased, may have in and to the same, the tract of land above described; to have and to hold the said tract, with the appurtenances, unto the said Augustin Grignon and unto his heirs and assigns forever, saving, as aforesaid, any right, title or claim which the said heirs of John Ecuyer, deceased, may have in and to the hereby granted premises. In testimony whereof, I, Andrew Jackson, President of the United States, have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 26th day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and of the independence of the United States the fifty-ninth. ANDREW JACKSON., By the President. ELIJAH HAYWOOD, (SEAL). Commissioner of the General Land Ofice. Recorded on Friday, the 17th of August, A. D. 1832, at 6 o'clock P. M. SAMUEL IRWIN, Deputy Register.

Augustin Grignon came into possession of the above described lands by purchase from the heirs of John Lecuyer, who acquired title to it by priority of settlement. Under an act of Congress entitled " An act to confirm certain land claims in the Territory of Michigan," commissioners were appointed and sent out by the Government of the United States to inquire into the validity of title to "certain claims," and it was in accordance with the report of the commissioners that the Grignon claim became a valid one, recognized by the United States, from whom a patent accordingly issued. The boundaries of this claim have ever since been relied upon and followed by local surveyors, and frequent reference to " Claim No. 21" are made in the land records of Portage. The land was patented to Grignon in April, 1832, and on the 18th of June, of the same year, an indenture, made "between Augustine Grignon and Nancy Grignon, his wife, of the first part, and Daniel Whitney, all of Green Bay, county of Brown, of the second part, to wit: That the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of $500 to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, conveyed the property to Whitney. This conveyance was witnessed by Peter B. and Charles A. Grignon, and acknowledged before L. Grignon, a Justice of the Peace, being recorded June 26, 1832. by Samuel Irwin, Deputy Register of Brown County.

On the 14th of June, 1836, Sheldon Thompson, of Buffalo, N. Y., and De Gamo Jones, of Detroit, Michigan Territory, became the purchasers and owners of the land, paying therefor $12,500. Messrs. Thompson and Jones were trustees for themselves, Robert McPherson, Daniel Whitney, G. P. Griffith, and others, constituting "the Wisconsin Shot Company." They remained the owners of the Grignon claim until October 17, 1839, when the Portage Canal Company came into possession through purchase. The consideration was $34,234.61. "This indenture" was witnessed by Evan Griffith, B. L. Webb, Asher B. Bates and Samuel Haines Porter, and acknowledged by Sheldon Thompson before N. K. Hall, Commissioner of Deeds for Erie County, N. Y., and by De Gamo Jones before Samuel Haines Porter, a Notary Public in Wayne County, Mich.; received for record May 30, 1840, by Jacob McKinney, Register of Deeds, Brown County.

Thompson and Jones, it appears, again came into possession of the property, for in September, 1842, Claim 21 was sold by them, as trustees for themselves, and others, constituting the Shot Company, to Benjamin L. Webb, and in May, 1844, Alvin Bronson became the purchaser of an undivided four-nineteenths of the claim, paying Webb therefor $2,500.

In November, 1849, a plat of the town of Fort Winnebago, covering the Grignon claim, was made by Messrs. Webb and Bronson, John Mullett, Surveyor. The boundary lines of this plat may be easily traced upon any of the modern maps of the city of Portage. The northwesterly boundary, designated as " the line of public lands," as distinguishing them from the early Menomonee possessions, begins at a point on the Fox River, opposite old Fort Winnebago, and runs southwesterly to the corner of Adams and Conant streets; thence almost directly south across the canal to the Wisconsin River; thence southeasterly along the bank of the river to a point half a block east of Ontario street; thence northwesterly on a direct line to Fox River, and down that stream to the place of beginning.

(excerpt from: History of Columbia County, chapter 20)

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List of Mixed Blood of the Menominee Indian Nation - 1849

Notice is hereby given, that, at a council held in Green Bay, the 20th inst., by Thomas Wistar, Jr., the Commissioner of the United States for the distribution of the $40,000 appropriated by the Congress for th benefit if the mixed blood of the Menonimee Nation - in conjunction with the Chiefs of said Nation, awards in favor of the following persons were agreed upon and declared, that is to say: Fiftty dollars to every individual, man, woman, or child, enumerated in the roll prepared by the council: and a further award, to fifty individuals - designated below by an asterisk (*) affixed to their names - of the residue of the aforesaid $40,000, in equal shares; after the first mentioned awards shall have been set apart.

GRIGNON, Agathe and child GRIGNON, Alexander wife and children GRIGNON, Alexander - GRIGNON, Andrew - GRIGNON, Angelique daughter of Robert Grignon GRIGNON, Augustin - GRIGNON, Augustin David with Charles GRIGNON, Jr. - GRIGNON, Catherine M. widow of Louis GRIGNON, Charles A. and children, including Augustin David GRIGNON, Charlotte - GRIGNON, Christian and children, including Alexander and Andrew GRIGNON, Elizabeth daughter of Catherine GRIGNON, Emilia with Louis Harteau GRIGNON, Ersula - GRIGNON, George and children GRIGNON, Ignasius - GRIGNON, Josette with Rayeu, Luke GRIGNON, Louisa - GRIGNON, Marguerite daughter of Augustin GRIGNON, Marguerite of Mud Creek, daughter of Robert Grignon GRIGNON, Mary widow of Charles Grignon GRIGNON, P.B. wife and children GRIGNON, Paul wife and children GRIGNON, Peter Louis wife and children, including Charles GRIGNON, Robert and children GRIGNON,Therese -

Appleton Post Crescent Newspaper: Oct. 12, 1961 Century Old Bones Of Grignon Family Pioneers Reburied Today.

Originally buried in a family plot near Butte des Morts, Wisconsin, the remains of Augustin Grignon and several of his family members were removed in 1940 and held until 1961 when they were buried in a common grave and casket at Holy Cross Cemetery in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Citing This Record

"Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/3QDQ-G53 : accessed 2014-09-11), entry for Augustin /Grignon/.

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,5769::0

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1,5769::1864551

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@R1050710867@ Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2177::0

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Volume: Vol. 4 Sect. 2 : Gli-Jin; Page: 376 1,2177::231429

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Quebec, Genealogical Dictionary of Canadian Families (Tanguay Collection), 1608-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2177::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: Vol. 4 Sect. 2 : Gli-Jin; Page: 376 1,2177::231429

GEDCOM Source

@R1050710867@ Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,5769::0

GEDCOM Source

1,5769::1864551