THE TRADING POSTS.

ment, thirty miles above Prairie du Chien, in 1821.1.  Captain
Augustin Grignon learned to read and understand English,
though he spoke it very little. In 1830 "he built and established
himself at Grand Butte des Morts, leaving his place at Kaukauna
to the care of his sons. His chief attention was given to Indian
trade, although he opened a good farm at the Grand Butte des
Morts, as he had previously done at Kaukauna," and he owned
the land on which the village of Butte des Morts is located, as he
is recorded as the proprietor of the plat of the village of record
July 5, 1848. "He was noted for his penetration and excellent
judgment in the fur trade, and for his suavity of manner. The
natives held him in the utmost reverence. Living so closely in
the Indian country, he held few public offices, though regarded
with high respect by the French and American, as well as the
military, and was an honored guest at social gatherings. His
house was often crowded at night to the great inconvenience of
himself and family, all without fee or reward.2
Miss Brevoort attended a wedding at Captain Augustin Grig-
non's in 1828, of which she says: "At that time there was noth-
ing between Fort Howard and Fort Winnebago but Grand Kau-
kaulin, where stood one house occupied by Augustin Grignon,
where I was invited to attend his daughter's wedding to Mr.
Ebenezer Childs. Quite a large party attended. All came in
large boats called batteau. The bride was dressed in white mus-
lin. On the table for supper were all kinds of wild meat, bear,
deer, muskrat, racoon, turkey, quail, pigeon, skunk, and porcu-
pine cooked with the quills on. Her mother was an Indian
woman. Most of the old settlers were married to Indian women;
splendid looking, clean, respectable. 3
In the personal narrative of John T. de la Ronde 4 he states
that in 1832, while engaged with the American Fur Company, he
made a voyage up the Fox river, and "when we came to the place
where is now the city of Oshkosh there was a small log house
where Charles Grignon was living, and about four miles above
Nex a son-in-law of Charles Grignon was residing. About six
or seven miles above that Captain Grignon was living; he had
goods and was trading with the Menominee Iidians." This was
Captain Augustin Grignon at Butte des Morts, where General

1. 7 "Wis. Hist. Colls.," 370.
2. Gen. Albert G. Ellis, 7 "Wis. Hist. Colls., 245.
3. 8 "Wis. Hist. Colls.," 303.
4. 7 "Wis. Hist. Colls.,"  349.

[page 165]