Campau's Trading Post

Campau's Trading Post. . , Located near this site was the trading post of Louis and Sophie Campau, Grand Rapid's first permanent white settlers. Louis, a veteran of the War of 18 12 and an experienced fur trader, arrived in November 1826 to begin trading with the area's Ottawa Indians. He and two assistants built log cabins and a small blacksmith shop across the river from the Baptist Indian mission. Louis' wife Sophie and his brother Toussaint arrived in the spring of 1827. Joined in the next few years by two more Campau brothers, Antoine and George, the family built a successful trading business. , , The Campaus were real estate investors as well as fur traders. In 1831, they paid $90 for the 70-acre plot now bounded by Michigan Street, Division Avenue, Fulton Street, and the river. By the late 1830's their net worth reached an estimated $100,000, and Louis was elected a village trustee. Then came a national economic depression and the Campaus lost much of their property. , , Louis and Sophie Campau lived to see Grand Rapids become a city of more than 15,000. Sophie died in 1869, followed two years later by the 80-year-old Louis. Although they had no children, the Campaus are remembered today by the streets, buildings, and landmarks that Grand Rapids citizens have named in their honor. , , A gift from Meijers Inc. on April 5, 1988.