Bourbonnais in Kankakee County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Noël Le Vasseur
1799-1879
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2021
1. Noël Le Vasseur Marker
Voyageur, Fur Trader and
First Permanent Settler
of Bourbonnais Grove
Noël Le Vasseur and his wife Watch-e-kee arrived here in 1832. He bought large tracts of land from the Potawatomi Indians and encouraged hundreds of French-Canadian families to emigrate from Quebec Province to Bourbonnais Grove, thus forming the nucleus of the village’s population. The LeVasseur home, the first brick building in the county, stood 75 yards northeast of this marker. These bricks were salvaged from the house which was demolished in 1885.
Erected 1979 by Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society; and residents and friends of the Village of Bourbonnais.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 41° 9.297′ N, 87° 52.712′ W. Marker is in Bourbonnais, Illinois, in Kankakee County. It is on South Main Street (U.S. 52) just south of Main Street Northwest (Illinois Route 102), on the right when traveling south. Marker and monument are located in the triangular
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Night of Tragedy and Heroism (within shouting distance of this marker); Donald H. and Faith N. Bell West Campus (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Freedom Sign (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wayne Michael Hayes Freedom Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jardin aux Potages (approx. half a mile away); Dedicated to the Memory (approx. half a mile away); Bourbonnais Grove (approx. half a mile away); The Durham-Perry Farmstead Home (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bourbonnais.
Also see . . .
1. Noël Le Vasseur.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2021
2. Noël Le Vasseur Monument
Bricks salvaged from LeVasseur home are mounted on both sides of marker.
When the Potawatomi left the Bourbonnais area in 1838, La Vasseur persuaded many Québécois to migrate to the region. These efforts have given him the epithet "Father of Kankakee." (Submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Village of Bourbonnais History. Village website entry:
The Pottawatomi Indians called this area "Te-yar-ac-ke", meaning "wonderful land". Some years later, the word "Ky-an-ke-ke" evolved and eventually became Kankakee. In 1830, Francois Bourbonnais, Sr., a fur trapper, hunter and agent of the American Fur Company arrived. Bourbonnais Grove was named after this early pioneer. Two years later, Noel LeVasseur, born in the province of Quebec, located his fur trading post in Bourbonnais Grove and became the first permanent non-native American settler of the area. (Submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
via Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society, unknown
3. A young Noel LeVasseur, French Canadian fur trader
as depicted by local historian Vic Johnson.
In 1832, LeVasseur and his Potawatomi wife, Wa-che-ke, established a trading post at a place in Bourbonnais Grove called La Pointe, a "point" of timber that grew along a branch of Bourbonnais Creek and was a landmark for travelers along the Danville-Chicago road (Route 102).
(Submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Click for more information.
In 1832, LeVasseur and his Potawatomi wife, Wa-che-ke, established a trading post at a place in Bourbonnais Grove called La Pointe, a "point" of timber that grew along a branch of Bourbonnais Creek and was a landmark for travelers along the Danville-Chicago road (Route 102).
(Submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Click for more information.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 23, 2021
4. Noël Le Vasseur Monument
Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 993 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on July 19, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on July 17, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
