History of the Discovery of the Northwest by John Nicolet in 1634 With a Sketch of his Life   By: Consul Willshire Butterfield (1824-1899)

OF THE

DISCOVERY OF THE NORTHWEST

BY

JOHN NICOLET

IN 1634

WITH A

SKETCH OF HIS LIFE

BY

C. W. BUTTERFIELD

Author of "Crawford's Campaign against Sandusky," "History of Wisconsin" In Historical Atlas of the State, "The Washington Crawford Letters," "History of the University of Wisconsin," etc.

CINCINNATI ROBERT CLARKE & CO. 1881

COPYRIGHTED, 1881, BY C. W. BUTTERFIELD.

PREFACE.

In the following pages, I have attempted to record, in a faithful manner, the indomitable perseverance and heroic bravery displayed by John Nicolet in an exploration which resulted in his being the first of civilized men to set foot upon any portion of the Northwest; that is, upon any part of the territory now constituting the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is shown how he brought to the knowledge of the world the existence of a "fresh water sea" Lake Michigan beyond and to the westward of Lake Huron; how he visited a number of Indian nations before unheard of; how he penetrated many leagues beyond the utmost verge of previous discoveries, with an almost reckless fortitude, to bind distant tribes to French interests; and how he sought to find an ocean, which, it was believed, was not a great distance westward of the St. Lawrence, and which would prove a near route to China and Japan.

The principal sources from which I have drawn, in my investigations concerning the life and explorations of Nicolet, are the Jesuit Relations. So nearly contemporaneous are these publications with his discoveries especially those which contain a record of them and so trustworthy are they in their recital of facts connected therewith, that their value, in this connection, can hardly be over estimated. Each one of the series having a particular bearing upon the subject of this narrative has been studied with a care commensurate with its importance. Other accounts of the same period, as well as of a somewhat later date, together with the researches of modern writers, concerning the daring Frenchman, whose name stands first on the list of the explorers of the Northwest, have, likewise, been carefully examined, the object being, if not to exhaust all known sources of information illustrative of these discoveries, at least to profit by them. Aid has been received, in addition, from several living authors, especially from Benjamin Sulte, Esq., of Ottawa, Canada, to whom, and to all others who have extended a helping hand, I return my sincere thanks.

C. W. B.

MADISON, WISCONSIN, 1881.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION. PAGE. Pre historic Man in the Northwest The Red Race First Discoveries in New France, vii

CHAPTER I.

Events Leading to Western Exploration, 11

CHAPTER II.

John Nicolet, the Explorer, 26

CHAPTER III.

Nicolet Discovers the Northwest, 35

CHAPTER IV.

Subsequent Career and Death of Nicolet, 75

APPENDIX, 93

INDEX, 107

INTRODUCTION.

PRE HISTORIC MAN IN THE NORTHWEST THE RED RACE FIRST DISCOVERIES IN NEW FRANCE.