Antoine Le Claire | |
|---|---|
 A portrait of Le Claire derived from an oil painting | |
| Born | (1797-12-15)December 15, 1797 |
| Died | September 25, 1861(1861-09-25) (aged 63) |
| Occupation(s) | Interpreter, merchant |
| Known for | FoundingDavenport, Iowa |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Informally adopted nephew Louis Le Claire |
| Parent | François LeClaire |
| Signature | |
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Antoine Le Claire (alsoLeClaire; December 15, 1797 – September 25, 1861) was an Americanmilitary interpreter, businessman, philanthropist, and principal founder ofDavenport, Iowa.
Le Claire was born on December 15, 1797, in present-daySt. Joseph, Michigan, then in theNorthwest Territory. His father, François Le Claire, wasFrench Canadian and came to the Americas withLafayette. His mother was aNative American from thePotawatomi tribe.[1] His father opened a trading post inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, where he traded with several Native American tribes. François supported the side of theUnited States during theWar of 1812. He was subsequently captured by the territorial militia at his trading post inPeoria, Illinois, and held as a prisoner inAlton, Illinois. While his father was imprisoned, Antoine met GeneralWilliam Clark who was impressed with Le Claire's faculty with languages; Clark sent Antoine to school to improve his English and he entered government service. Le Claire spoke English, French, Spanish, and a dozen Native American dialects.[2][3] He came toFort Armstrong in 1818, where he became the interpreter for ColonelGeorge Davenport. A short time later, he moved to Peoria, where he met and married his wife Marguerite LePage in 1820. She was born on October 16, 1802, inPortage des Sioux,St. Charles County, Missouri. She was the daughter of a French Canadian, Antoine LePage, and the granddaughter of theSauk chief Acoqua. After Peoria the Le Claires spent a short time inArkansas where he observed the movements of Native Americans before moving back to Fort Armstrong in 1827.[citation needed]
In 1832, at the end of theBlack Hawk War, Le Claire was present at the peace treaty signing as an interpreter. Sauk andMeskwaki territories west of theMississippi River were purchased by the United States government. Because he was respected by the Native Americans, the Le Claires were given three parcels of land. One of the parcels was at the head of the Rock Island Rapids on the west side of the river. The second was given to Marguerite byKeokuk, the Sauk chief. It was also located on the west side of the river and had been the location of the Meskwaki village.[1] Keokuk stipulated that Le Claire build a house on the spot where the peace treaty was signed, or lose the land. After theUnited States Congress approved the peace treaty in 1833, Le Claire built a house, known as the Treaty House.[3] The third parcel of land was given by thePotawatomie on the Illinois side of the river where present dayMoline, Illinois, is situated.
Le Claire was named the postmaster and the justice of the peace in 1833. His jurisdiction included all the lands that had been included in theBlack Hawk Purchase.[1] He was responsible for resolving disputes between the Native Americans and the white settlers. He generally took a hands-off approach which the independent-minded settlers found appealing.[4] In 1834 he established the area's first ferry service across the river.[3] LeClaire also served asBlack Hawk's translator when the Sauk warrior wrote his memoirs.[4][5]
George Davenport gathered a group of investors at his home on February 23, 1836, to create a company in order to develop a new town. It was to be located on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River opposite the town of Stevenson, Illinois, which is now the city ofRock Island.[6] Antoine Le Claire was part of the group. While he owned a great deal of land, he did not have a great deal of money. The other investors paid him $1,750 for the site that now lies between the river and Seventh Street and between Harrison Street to just past Warren Street.[6]
While Le Claire was the driving force in the development of Davenport, the town was not named for him. Not only did he not have enough money to develop buildings on the land, but he was also a half-breed with a French surname and a devoutCatholic. The other investors had English surnames, money to invest and government contracts. George Davenport also failed to have his name attached to the new town across the river (Stevenson), and so the town on the Iowa side of the river was named after him.[6]
Le Claire had the town laid out in the conventional fashion of a grid pattern of 36 squares. Three of the squares were set aside for public squares: Lafayette Square, which is a public park today; Bolivar Square, site of theScott County Courthouse; and Washington Square, present site of the downtownYMCA.[7] The levee along the river was also left open for public use. The east–west streets but one were named for Native American tribes: Sac, Fox (another name for the Meskwaki), Ottawa,Chippewa, and Potawatomie. Later those streets would be renamed Second through Sixth Streets. Front Street, now River Drive, was along the levee. The north–south streets retain their original names: Ripley, Scott, Western, Gaines, Brown and Warren.
Le Claire joined with George Davenport to develop the first public house in the area, which was named the Le Claire House.[4] He also established the first foundry in the young town, and with A. C. Fulton he built the first mill. He was involved with a group of investors who brought the railroad to Davenport in the 1850s.[1] On his property north of the Rock Island Rapids Le Claire owned and operated a sandstone quarry. Stone from this quarry was used for the Clock Tower onRock Island Arsenal, the first buildings on theAugustana College campus in Rock Island, and theabutments on theGovernment Bridge.[8]
When the first addition was made to Davenport, Le Claire set aside one of the squares for a Catholic church. In April 1837 he joined with the missionary priestSamuel Charles Mazzuchelli to lay thecornerstone for the originalSt. Anthony's Church.[9] The title to the property, named Church Square, was deeded to BishopMathias Loras ofDubuque in 1839 to support the Catholic Church in Davenport. Because of this support Davenport was named aSee City with its own bishop in 1881.[9] When the church decided to establish a third parish in Davenport, Le Claire donated another square on a bluff on the east side of the city forSt. Marguerite's, also called St. Margaret's. The LeClaires also built and furnished the rectory, and provided financial support for building the new church.[1][10] Le Claire donated property two miles outside of Davenport forSt. Marguerite's Cemetery.[11] Both St. Anthony's and St. Marguerite's were named in honor of the LeClaires for their generosity.[11] Antoine LeClaire had also been a member of the St. Anthony's choir, where he played thebass viol. While they were devout Catholics their generosity was not limited to the Catholic Church. LeClaire also provided the land for the initialFirst Baptist Church, Edwards Congregational, and other churches.[11]
The Le Claires' philanthropy existed in other areas of society as well. He donated Bolivar Square to Scott County, which sealed Davenport's attempt to be named the county seat. In 1846 he donated the land for the establishment of Iowa College, which eventually left Davenport and becameGrinnell College. In 1855 he built a new house and donated the Treaty House to theMississippi and Missouri Railroad and it became Davenport's first railroad station.[12] The LeClaires hosted members of the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, who camped on their estate and were allowed to stay as long as they liked.[1]
The Le Claires had no children of their own. When his half brother Alexis died in 1849 Antoine and Marguerite informally adopted his son Louis. He even introduced Louis to former PresidentMillard Fillmore as "my boy."[3]
During thePanic of 1857 many banks in the Midwest failed, and the Cook and Sargent Bank in Davenport appeared to be in danger. Le Claire called for calm among the citizens of Davenport and to keep their money in the bank. He assured them the bank was secure and guaranteed its safety with his own money. The bank, however, failed for other reasons and Le Claire still made good on his promise. The strain may have hastened his death.[3][4]
Antoine Le Claire died on September 25, 1861. His funeral was held in St. Marguerite's Church and he was buried in the church yard.[3] The Rev.J.A.M. Pelamourgues from St. Anthony's presided at the funeral with two other priests.[1] The Rev. John Donlan preached the funeral sermon. Marguerite Le Claire died on October 18, 1876, and was buried next to her husband. WhenSacred Heart Cathedral was built in 1891, and St. Marguerite's was torn down, the Le Claires' bodies were moved to St. Marguerite's Cemetery, nowMount Calvary Cemetery.[3]
Numerous places in theQuad City area of Iowa and Illinois are named for Le Claire. They include:
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