Dubois County, Indiana - Chapter 21: Part I, 1910

Part Military History Of Captain Dubois

Toussaint Dubois, a native of France, disinherited by father, went to Lower Canada; came to Indiana territory; became an expert at fur trading - Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison gave Dubois the rank of captain in the Tippecanoe campaign - Tecumseh and his brother. The Prophet - The Prophet's Town - Indians commit depredations - Extract from Dillon's History of Indiana; extract from Beard's Battle of Tippecanoe - Annuity salt - Dubois and the Prophet - Mr. Barron and the Prophet - Gen. Harrison's army at Vincennes - Roll of Capt. Dubois' Company of Spies and Guides - The march, the camp, the desire of Gen. Harrison to prevent hostilities, the battle - Absence of Tecumseh - Burial of dead - Result of battle - Tippecanoe battlefield - Dubois county named in honor of Capt. Toussaint Dubois - Countiesnamed in honor of faithful soldiers of Tippecanoe campaign - Indian names.

In this sketch we have no desire to make a hero of our subject, but simply to present some history of local interest not generally known. That full justice may be done, this sketch goes somewhat into detail, for the subject deserves it, and the younger citizens of Dubois county should know it.

If Dubois county were in New England, a monument would have been erected long ago in the county's public square, proclaiming the services of Captain Dubois; and, perhaps, an oil painting of our subject would hang in the county court room to introduce the features of Captain Dubois to the citizens of the county bearing his name.

The lives of our pioneers were marked with so many striking characteristics of heroic daring, of sacrifice, and of danger in the wilderness, as to afford a theme of manifold importance. "Peace has its victories no less renowned than war."

Dubois county was named in honor of Captain Toussaint Dubois, a Frenchman, of Vincennes, Ind. It is said his father was a French nobleman and that Captain Dubois was disinherited by his father for leaving France and coming to America with General Lafayette. At any rate, at one time, there was a legal notice in a French newspaper, copied in the New York papers, calling for the Dubois heirs, of which Toussaint was one. It seems that the property had been willed from him for ninety-nine years, but it was to be given to his heirs after a certain length of time. Nothing ever became of the case so far as now known. Captain Dubois found his way to lyOwer Canada at an early age. From Lower Canada he came to the territory of Indiana and soon became one of its prominent pioneers; a man of much influence both among the citizens of Vincennes and the red men of the surrounding forests. He was a gentleman of means, having both money and landed interests. At the same time, he gave considerable attention to trading with the Indians, an employment by which he acquired a powerful influence over them.

In 1800, when the territorial government of Indiana was organized, although many parts of the state had been settled for more than fifty years by whites, the territory was but a wilderness. Its scattered settlements were filled with scenes and incidents of border life, many of which were full of romantic situations. A considerable traffic was carried on v\ith the Indians by fur traders at Vincennes and other places.

"The furs and peltries which were obtained from the Indians," says Dillon, "were generally transported to Detroit. The skins were dried, compressed and secured in packs, of about one hundred pounds in weight. A boat was made large enough to carry about forty packs, and it required four men to manage it. Such boats were propelled fifteen or twenty miles a day, against the current. After ascending the river Wabash, and the Little river, to the portage near Fort Wayne, the traders carried their packs over the portage to the head of the river Maumee, where they were again placed in boats to be transported to Detroit. At this place the furs and skins were exchanged for blankets, guns, knives, powder, bullets, liquors, etc., with which the traders returned to their several posts." Captain Dubois became an expert at this kind of work, and thereby acquired an important influence in adjusting difficulties with the Indians; for, he bought their furs and knew their habits, likes, and dislikes.

When General William Henry Harrison decided to move against the Indians on the upper Wabash, in iSii, Toussaint Dubois offered his services. He was given the rank of captain, and had charge of the .scouts and spies in the Tippecanoe campaign. He was sent ahead of the troops to confer with the Indians. He took part in the battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 181 1. This battle and our subject are so closely related that a short account of the actions of the Indians previous to, during, and after the battle, seems necessary.

The administration of General Harrison, as governor of Indiana territory, was distinguished by the great number of treaties which he had made with the Indians, and the large tracts of land that he had secured from them. These, however, were not obtained without trouble.

Tecumseh and his brother, "The Prophet," were the two main causes of trouble with the Indians. Tecum.seh was an Ohio Indian, born in 1768. His father and mother, as well as himself, were above the ordinary level of the Indian. He excelled all his fellows in the use of the bow and arrow, and in many other ways exerted a great influence over the young men of his tribe. He was an orator, and his strong argument was that "no one tribe could sell land, because the land belonged to all tribes in common, even though a certain section of the country was inhabited by one particular tribe." He aimed at consolidation. His brother, "the Prophet," did not have the mental acumen of Tecumseh, but claimed supernatural power, and led his followers to believe it. In the religion taught by ' 'the Prophet" were found many virtues, gained, for the most part, from contact with the white travelers, and adulterated with Indian superstition. He preached total abstinence. He taught Teverence for old age, and sympathy for the infirm. He claimed his will to be supreme, and whoever controverted it endangered himself. The superstitious character of "the Prophet's" associates made him a dangerous man to the white men in the wilderness. He soon had great influence over the Indians for evil. "The Prophet" and Tecumseh settled on Tippecanoe creek, near the present city of Lafayette, Indiana, and they claimed that they were directed to do so by the "Great Spirit." Their village was called "The Prophet's Town." These two Indians were the leaders against whom the early settlers of Indiana territory had to contend. Tribes previously friendly to the settlers were won away by these Indians. The Indians began to steal horses, and to murder the settlers. These depredations multiplied rapidly, and they kept crowding their depredations closer and closer to Vincennes. In Dillon's "History of Indiana" we read:

"Throughout the course of the year 1810 various rumors of the growing power and hostile intentions of the "Shawnee Prophet" produced a state of some alarm among the people, and retarded the progress of settlements and improvments in the several counties of the Indiana territory. In the summer of this year a small party of Indians stole four horses from one neighborhood in the northern part of Knox county, and committed some depredations on the property of a few pioneers who had made a settlement on the east fork of White river."

The fact is mentioned by several historians, and it is interesting to us because it is said the horses referred to belonged to the McDonalds, and the settlement mentioned was the one now known as the "Sherritt Farm and Graveyard" in Dubois county. We can find no record of any other settlement at that early date that answers this description. The McDonalds in this county had their horses stolen by the Indians in that year. Horses in those days were valuable, both to the Indians and settlers. The Indians were taking all the horses they could obtain for their own use in the conflict then contemplated. The British in Lower Canada were encouraging the Indians.

Dillon, in his History of Indiana, says: "In order to defeat the hostile designs of the Prophet, to counteract the influence of British traders and to maintain the pacific relations between the United States and the Indian tribes of the west. Governor Harrison frequently sent confidential messengers to the Prophet's Town, and to the principal villages of the Miamis, Delawares, and Pottawattamies. Francis Vigo, Toussaint Dubois, Joseph Barron, Pierre Laplante, John Conner, M. Brouillette, and William Prince, were the most influential persons among those who were, at different times, sent with messages from the governor to the Miamis and Delawares; and they were authorized and instructed to assure those tribes of the protection and friendship of the government of the United States, and to warn them of the danger of encouraging the claims and pretentions of the Shawnee "Prophet."

In Beard's "Battle of Tippecanoe," the same information is given in slightly different words. One of the considerations, in the sale of the Indian lands, was that the government should furnish the Indians with a certain amount of salt, called "annuity salt."

We again read from Dillon, the father of Indiana history: "In the spring of the year 1810, the Indians who resided at the 'Prophet's Town' refused to receive their proportion of 'annuity salt' and the boatmen who offered to deliver the proper quantity of salt at that place, were called 'American dogs,' and treated with great rudeness. About this time Governor Harrison sent successively, several messengers to the 'Prophet's Town' in order to obtain exact information of the feelings and designs of the Prophet and to warn him, especially, of the danger of maintaining an attitude of hostility toward the government of the United States. In an interview with one of these messengers, who visited the 'Prophet's Town' in the month of June, 1810, the Prophet declared that it was not his intention to make war on the white people; and he said that some of the Delawares and some other Indians, 'had been bribed with whiskey, to make the false charges against him.' When pressed by the messenger, Mr. Dubois, to state the grounds of his complaints against the United States, the Prophet said that the 'Indians had been cheated out of their lands; that no sale was good unless made by all the tribes; that he had settled near the mouth of the Tippecanoe, by order of the 'Great Spirit;' and that he was likewise ordered to assemble as many Indians as he could collect at that place."

In the month of July, 1810, Governor Harrison sent to "The Prophet" a letter that was intended to convince him of the folly of his hostility to the government of the United States, and to give him assurance of the disposition of the national government to promote the welfare of the Indian tribes. When Mr. Barron, who was the bearer of this letter, arrived at the "Prophet's Town," his reception was somewhat remarkable. He was conducted, in a ceremonious manner, to the place where the Prophet, surrounded by a number of Indians of different tribes, was sitting. Here the attendants of Mr. Barron left him standing before "The Prophet," at the distance of ten or twelve feet from him. "He looked at me," said Mr. Barron, "for several minutes, without speaking or making any sign of recognition, although he knew me well. At last he spoke, apparently in anger: 'For what purpose do you come here?' said he. 'Brouillette was here; he was a spy. Dubois was here; he was a spy. Now you have come. You, too, are a spy. There is your grave - look on it.' ''The Prophet' then pointed to the ground, near the spot where I stood." Tecumseh, at this moment, came out from one of the Indian lodges. He spoke to Mr. Barron in a cold, formal manner; told him that his life was in no danger, and requested him to state the object of his visit to the "Prophet's Town." The contents of the letter of Governor Harrison were then communicated to the "Prophet." Mr. Barron received no definite answer to this letter, but he was told that Tecumesh would, in a few days, visit Vincennes, for the purpose of holding an interview with the governor.

The visit was made, but no agreement could be reached. All attempts to find a friendly solution of the trouble were at an end, and General Harrison began to organize his army at Vincennes, for the purpose of driving the Indians from "The Prophet's Town " His army consisted of about nine hundred ten men. About the same number of Indians were at Tippecanoe.

Since Captain Dubois had often gone through the country from Vincennes, along the Wabash river, to Detroit, he was made captain of the spies and guides. The army left Vincennes, September 26, 181 1.

The following list of names is taken from the rolls now on file in the city of Washington of the various companies under command of General Harrison in this campaign. After the roll of the general staff of the army, follows that of Captain Dubois, namely:

Captain Dubois guided the army safely to within sight of "The Prophet's Town." Beard, in his History of the Battle of Tippecanoe, says: "The march to Tippecanoe was conducted with great caution. There were two routes leading to 'The Prophet's Town' in general use by the Indians; one on each side of the Wabash River. The one on the left or southeast side was the shorter, but lay in a wooded country where the armj' would be exposed to ambuscade. The route on the right, or northwest side of the Wabash, presented less opportunity for such attacks, and was therefore preferred by General Harrison over which to conduct his army. On the night of the 5th of November, the army encamped near the present village of Montmorenci, in the western part of Tippecanoe county, about ten miles from the 'Prophet's Town.' On the following day the march was resumed. Indians were seen lurking about, and the interpreters in front of the army were instructed to interview them. The Indians refused to talk, and replied only with defiant gestures. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th of November, the army arrived within about a mile and a half of the 'Prophet's Town.' General Harrison was urged to make an immediate attack. But his instructions were to avoid hostilities, if possiple, and he still hoped for the arrival in his army of a deputation of friendly Indians, which he had sent while yet at Fort Harrison, concerning whom nothing had been heard or seen. General Harrison sent Captain Dubois, accompanied by an interpreter, forward with a flag of truce. The Indians refused to converse with them, and endeavored to cut them off from the army on their return. Harrison determined to encamp for the night, and started in search of suitable ground. When he had almost reached the town, 'The Prophet' sent forward a deputation of three Indians, including his chief counsellor. With much pretended innocence they inquired why the American army had approached so near their town. They disclaimed all hostile intentions, and told Harrison that 'The Prophet' had sent a pacific message to him by the friendly Indians, who had returned to Fort Harrison by the road on the southeast side of the Wabash, and had by that cause failed to meet him. It was arranged that General Harrison should meet 'The Prophet' on the following day and conclude a treatj^ of peace. He inquired of the Indians for a suitable camping ground, where the army could have plenty of fuel and water. They referred him to a site on a creek near the town. Harrison dispatched two of his officers, Major Marston G. Clark and Major Waller Taylor, to inspect this ground. After an examination, thej^ reported everything satisfactorJ^ and the army went into camp for the night."

"The army came in view of of the 'Prophet's Town,' on the afternoon of the 6th of November. During the march of this day, small parties of Indians were constantly seen hovering about the army; and General Harrison's interpreters made several unsuccessful attempts to open a conference with them. On reaching a point about a mile and a half from the "Prophet's Town" the army was ordered to halt, and General Harrison directed Toussaint Dubois (who was captain of the spies and guides), to go forward with an interpreter and request a conference with the Prophet. As Captain Dubois proceeded on his way to execute this order, several Indians, to whom he spoke in a friendly manner, refused to speak to him; but, by motions, urged him to go forward, and seemed to be endeavoring to cut him off from the main army. On being informed of these apparently hostile manifestations on the part of the Indians, Governor Harrison dispatched a messenger to recall Captain Dubois; and soon after the return of that officer, the whole army, in order of battle, began to move toward the town, the interpreters having been placed in front with orders to invite a conference with the Indians."

What would have been the result if "The Prophet" had never told Captain Dubois, in June, of his intention to assemble all Indians possible, at Tippecanoe? What would have been the effect if "The Prophet" had received Captain Dubois? Would peace have been declared? Would the battle of Tippecanoe have been fought ? Would the British have continued their acts of exciting the Indians against the Americans? Would General Harrison have gained such renown as a warrior ? Who would have had the good will of the Indians in the "War of 1812?" We leave you to draw your own conclusions.

On the morning of November 7th, 181 1, just as General Harrison was about to order the morning call, the army was attacked by the Indians, and, by reason of the carelessness of one of the sentries, the result came very nearly being disastrous to the American arms. The battle has caused many heated political discussions. In the end, however, the Indians were defeated. The American loss was thirly-seven killed and one hundred fifty-one wounded, of which twenty-five were mortally wounded. The loss to the Indians was about the same as that of the Americans, there being thirty-eight bodies found on the field after the battle. This fact, when considered with the Indian custom of carrying off the dead, indicates a heavy loss.

The defeat of the Indians in this battle caused them to lose faith in "The Prophet," and the great majority of them returned to their tribes. The battle of Tippecanoe was fought contrary to the orders of Tecumseh, who, when he returned from the South with his confederacy completed, found that all had been ruined by the folly of his brother. In this fight the Indians chewed the bullets they used, that wounds created might be more lacerating. This partially accounts for the great mortality among the wounded.

General Harrison buried his dead and burned logs over their graves to conceal the spots for interment. The Indians, however, found the places and disinterred the dead soldiers. General Hopkins, who visited the battle-field the following year, gathered the scattered remains and replaced them in graves. Beard, the historian, in commenting on this battle, says:

"The battle of Tippecanoe was the precursor of the War of 1812. It was a great struggle, in which civilization triumphed over barbarism. It was by far the greatest military engagement ever fought on Indiana soil. It effectually checked the Indian depredations in the northwest, and had it not been for the War of 18 12, this check would have been a permanent cessation of hostilities. It broke Tecumseh's confederation into fragments. The calm that followed, however, was deceptive, preceding, as it did, the storm that broke forth on the northwestern frontier during the war which shortly followed, Tecumseh revisited the tribes and assisted in forming an alliance with the British and Indians against the United States. But the defeat of his brother at Tippecanoe forever put at rest his dreams of a vast Indian empire. This battle, though national in its results, has been more particularly appreciated by the people of Indiana. No fewer than fifteen counties of the state have been named in honor of heroes who participated in this conflict."

The constitution of Indiana provides for the permanent enclosure and preservation of the battlefield of Tippecanoe. In 1872, an iron fence was placed around the field at a cost of $18,000. Avery creditable Soldiers' Monument, on the battle ground, near L<afayette, Indiana, commemorates the only notable battle fought on Indiana soil, by General Harrison.

Capt. Dubois was the last white man to visit the head-strong Prophet before the tocsin of war sounded the alarm. One cannot help but think that the days of the Indian of the northwest territory had been numbered. The Indian had been weighed in the balances and found wanting. Indiana's magnificent capitol was to take the place of his "long house," comfortable country homes were to succeed his wigwam, and bounteous fields of corn and wheat were to follow the destruction of his happy hunting grounds.

In 1814, appeared a notice in the Western Szin, published at Vincennes, in which Captain Dubois informed his men who served under him in the Tippecanoe campaign, that he had received the money to pay them for their services and that they could receive it by calling on him.

As previously stated, Dubois county was named in honor of our subject. This was in keeping with the unwritten law in the early days of Indiana, of naming newly created counties in honor of some faithful soldier of the Tippecanoe campaign.

About one-sixth of all the counties in the state of Indiana thus honor heroes of Tippecanoe. Bartholomew county was named in honor of Lieuienant-Colonel Joseph Bartholomew, who commanded a detachment of Indiana infantry in this battle, where he was severely wounded. Daviess county bears the name of Major Joseph Hamilton Daviess, a distinguished orator of Kentucky, who was killed in the battle while commanding his dragoons. Harrison county was named in honor of General Harrison. Owen county honors Colonel Abraham Owen, aid-de-camp to General Harrison. He was the only member of the general staff killed in the battle. Spencer county, and also the city of Spencer, in Owen county, perpetuate the name of Captain Spier Spencer who was killed at the head of his company, known as the "Yellow Jackets," because of the color of the uniforms. Warrick county honors Captain Jacob Warrick, also killed in the battle. Wells county is named in honor of Major Samuel Wells, of Kentucky, who - distinguished himself in the battle. White county carries the name of Col. Isaac White, who fell by the side of Colonel Daviess.

Add to this list those names which we may have overlooked, including the counties bearing Indian names, such as Delaware, Miami and Tippecanoe, and it will be observed that participants in this battle, on both sides, have been remembered with honor in Indiana. When we look at things in this light, our county has been properly named Dubois. Toussaint Dubois, Jr., and Henry Dubois, the two older sons of Captain Dubois, were privates in Captain Benjamin Parke's Troops of Light Dragoons, in the battle of Tippecanoe. This is shown, at Washington, in General Harrison's report of the battle.

Religion, occupation, and property of Capt. Dubois - Citizen of Vincennes - Member of board of trustees of Vincennes Universitj- - Use of lottery - Copy of patent issued to Toussaint Dubois, by Thomas Jefferson - First marriage of Dubois - Death and burial of first wife - Her grave - Extract from English's Conquest of Northwest Territory - The children of Mrs Dubois - Second marriage of Dubois - Three sons - Senator Fred T. Dubois of Idaho - Estate of Jesse K. Dubois near Springfield, 111. - Oil painting of Dubois - Silverware - Mrs. Ophelie Dubois McCarthy - Children and grand children of Capt. Dubois - Last will and testament - Provisions made for wife, children and slaves - Arpent - Signature - Bond of Mrs. Dubois - Tragic death of Capt. Dubois - Extract from the Westerti Sun - No record of burial; Dubois county, his monument.

Captain Dubois is thought to have been a member of the Catholic church. He was a merchant and Indian trader and did a verj^ large business for that early period in the histor}- of Vincennes and accumulated a ver3' large fortune, both in personal property and in real estate, situated both in Indiana and Illinois. He owned a very large estate near Vincennes^ containing the imposing hills, which for manj' years were commonly referred to as "Dubois Hills. ' ' This estate, with many others, descended tohis children.

Captain Dubois was a very important and influential citizen of Vincennes during his daj-. His mercantile and trading operations extended over a vast extent of territory. He made frequent trips as far west as St. Louis and as far east as Philadelphia. Part of the route was covered on horseback, as no other mode of conveyance was available at that early day. Many business notices of Capt. Dubois appear in the Western Siin, Here is a copy of one, under date of Saturday, December 2, 1812:

Notice

We earnestly solicit all those indebted to us to make payment by the first of January, as one of us intends setting out for Philadelphia and Baltimore on that day.

When General Harrison was president of the board of the trustees of Vincennes university, Toussaint Dubois was one of its members, and he was on the building committee of the first structure He thus became one of the quasi-founders of the first university west of the Allegheny mountains.

In those days a lottery was often used as a means to raise funds for the public benefit. Colleges and churches raised money in this manner,, and no questions were asked. Vincennes university was benefited in this way. Here is a copy of a lottery ticket, of the old Vincennes lottery, an institution chartered in 1807:

B}' the will of Father Rivet (Vicar General for Bishop Carroll, at Vincennes), vi^ho died of consumption, February 24, 1804, Captain Dubois, Francois Racicot, and Jean Baptiste Desloriez were named as his executors. Father Rivet was a Sulpitian, and at one time was a professor in the celebrated seminar}^ at Limoges, in France. Mention in made of this fact to show that Capt. Dubois must have been highly respected, otherwise he would not have been named as an executor by such a man as Rev. Rivet. Rev. John Francis Rivet was a great Indian missionar}', and gathered many Indians into his church at Vincennes. He was Captain Dubois' pastor, and wrote the burial record of Mrs. Dubois. [Page 407.]

Captain Dubois was the first man to buy land in what is now Dubois county. On February 16, 1809, Thomas Jefferson, president of the United States, issued to Toussaint Dubois a patent for part of section 3, township I south, range 5 west. This patent is now in possession of the present owner of the lands. It is a quaint looking document, yellow with age, and variegated with the oil that usually oozes from parchment. It reads as follows:

Know Ye, That Toussaint Dubois, of Vincennes, having deposited in the Treasury a certificate of the Register of the Land Office, at Vincennes, whereby it appears that he has made full payment for the northeast quarter of section number three, of township number one (South of the Basis line) in range number five (West of the second meridian) of the lands directed to be sold at Vincennes by the act of Congress, entitled "An act providing for the sale of Lands of the United States in the Territory northwest of the Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky river," and of the acts amendatory of the same. There is granted, by the United States, unto the said Toussaint Dubois, the quarter lot or section of land above described: To have and to hold the said quarter lot or section of land, with the appurtenances, unto the said Toussaint Dubois, his heirs and assigns forever.

Thos. Jefferson

Upon the land "entered" by Captain Dubois (as buying from the government was then called), the first settlement in Dubois county had previously been made by the McDonald family.

Our subject was twice married. His first wife was Miss Jeannette Boniieau, also of French descent. She was a woman of noble character and considerable wealth. This wife died November 15, 1800, at the age of twenty-eight years. Her remains were put to rest in the Roman Catholic cemetery at the rear of St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral at Vincennes, Ind. Her monument mav be seen to-day, and it alone, of those now standing there gives evidences of enduring for a long time, under the kind care of the reverend rector of the cathedral. The record at the cathedral bears a glorious tribute to this lady, in an extended mention of her funeral a thing not often done for women in the eighteenth century.

On the i6th day of November, iSoo, was buried in the cemetery of this parish (St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes, Ind.), the body of Jeannette Bonneau, wife of Toussaint Dubois, who died on the preceding day, as a true Christian, mourned by the young and old people, being loved and esteemed by them, on account of her charily, her beneficence, her good disposition, and other precious traits of character.

The whole village assisted at her funeral, and few there were who did not shed tears. The burial service was interrupted two or three times, a testimony to her virtue, which we make mention of in the parish records, thinking it a proper thing to do.

The grave of Mrs. Dubois is the best preserved and marked of the thousands that lie buried in "God's Acre," around her three or four deep. The stone that covers her grave bears this inscription:

Aged 28 Years

At the time Mrs. Dubois was buried the cemetery was nearly a century old. It is a distinguished mark of respect that she lies buried alone, for so great was the desire of the early French, at Vincennes, to be buried in consecrated ground and have their dust mingle with that of their ancestors that they buried one above another until the city authorities forbade it.

In speaking of this old grave yard, which is also near old Fort Sackville, renowned in history since its capture by General George Rogers Clark, Wm. H. English, in his "Conquest of the Northwest Territory" says:

The entire space where the church now stands, and in the rear and on the river side of the church, is filled with the remains of human beings buried two and three deep. It was used for burial purposes until the fall of 1846, and long after is was impossible to dig a grave anj'where in it without digging up two or three skeletons.

Mrs. Duboi.s left four sons, whose names were Toussaint, Jr., Henry, Charles and Emanuel L. , and one daughter named Susanne. The daughter, Susanne, married Wm. Jones, E.'^q., and of this union were born Edward, Elizabeth Ann, Susanne O., Mary Jane, and Maria C. Mr. Jones secured the two quarter-sections of land in Dubois count}^ that his wife'sfather, Capt. Dubois, had entered.

A part of this land is now a part of the "Sherritt farm." The daughter, Susanne O. Jones, mentioned above, married Robert Smyth, Esq., of Vincennes, in 1S33. Mrs. Smyth died in 1888, aged seventy-five. Their son, Samuel Smyth, Esq., lived at Crawfordsville, Indiana. The son,. Edward, died in early manhood. The daughter, Elizabeth Ann, became the wife of William Binford, Esq., also of Crawfordsville, Indiana. She died September 17, 1897, aged 85. Maria C. became the wife of Dr. W. P. Dunn, a son of Judge Williamson Dunn, a remarkable man in the earlyhistory of Indiana. Mrs. Maria C. Dunn resided at Frankfort, Clinton, county, Indiana. As the reader will observe she is the grand-daughter of Toussaint Dubois, by his first wife. These children of Susanne Dubois- Jones were baptized in the Catholic church at Vincennes. Their parentsdied young and the orphans were reared by relatives on the Jones' side of the family, who were Protestants. These children became Episcopalians,

For his second wife. Captain Dubois took Miss Jane Baird from near Bloomington, Indiana. Miss Baird was a Protestant. By this marriage three sons were born, Thomas, James, and Jesse Kilgore Dubois. The latter was the youngest child and as he grew up to manhood's years became a warm personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln. His son. Senator Fred T. Dubois, is perhaps the most widely known descendant of Captain Dubois. Senator Dubois was born in Crawford county, 111., not far from Vincennes,, in 1 85 1. He was graduated from Yale in 1872, and became Secretary of the board of railway and warehouse commissioners of Illinois, in 1875.

In 1880, he went to Idaho aud engaged in business. He was United States marshal of Idaho for four years. He represented his district in the fiftieth and fifty-first congresses. He was United States senator from Idaho. His home is at Blackfoot, Idaho. vSenator Dubois has an oil painting of Captain Toussaint Dubois. An etching of it appears at the head of this sketch. Notice the resemblance to Lafayette, Jefferson, and Hamilton, of the same period.

At his death Jesse K. Dubois, youngest son of Capt. Dubois, left a large mansion on sixty acres of ground now within the city limits of Springfield, Illinois. This estate remained intact for many years. Finally the mansion and thirty acres were sold, by the heirs of Jesse K. Dubois, to Catholic sisters, who now occupy the property as a convent.

In this old mansion were the oil paintings and silver of Capt. Dubois. At the distribution of this personal property, to U. S. Senator Fred T. Dubois, of Blackfoot, Idaho, fell, by common consent, the paintings and silverware of Capt. T. Dubois.

The oil painting of our subject is two-thirds natural size, and executed by the brush of an artist of ability. Senator Dubois thinks the painting was executed in France, but it may have been painted at Vincennes, by a French artist, since such artists were sent to Vincennes from Europe to execute work for the church and early bishops of Vincennes. Some of the earlier bishops of the diocese of Vincennes, who lived there, have left to future generations paintings of themselves. Capt. Dubois ma}' have employed one of these artists to paint the oil canvas now at the home of Senator Dubois, of Idaho. There is also an oil painting of Jesse K. Dubois as a child.

The silverware of Capt. Dubois consists of about thirty pieces, such as plates, spoons, pitchers, bowls, posset-cups, hand-servers, etc , all hand made, and of solid metal. One of the cups remained at the bottom of a well, into which it had fallen, for twent}' years. When recovered it soon presented its true metal under the polishing to which it was subjected. These pieces of silver bear the monogram "T. D." or "T. T. D.," also some kind of a scroll or coat of arms.

Senator Dubois seems to be the embodiment of the spirit of his fathers. All labored for the advancement of civilization and the good of mankind at large. Capt. Dubois labored for white colonization and civilization in Indiana. His son, Jesse K. Dubois, was Abraham Lincoln's intimate friend and confidential advisor in Illinois, laboring for the freedom of the negro, while Senator Fred T. Dubois, son of Jesse K. Dubois, is at this time leading the movement in the United States for an amendment to the Federal constitution to prohibit polygamy in the United States, now the darkest and most threatening cloud in the American heavens.

Mrs. Ophelie Dubois McCarthy, wife of Peter R. McCarthy, Esq., of Vincennes, is a great-great-grand child of Captain Dubois, by the first marriage. Mr. McCarthy is remembered as State President of Indiana Council of Catholic Knights of America.

The children and grandchildren of our subject are far above the ordinary run of people. The kindness and generosity of Capt. Dubois seem to have descended to his children. His generosity and nobleness are fully shown in his will, wherein he makes provisions for the support of his slaves and for the children of his second wife, if any, by a future marriage. His will, in the language of his day, is unique and interesting to the student of the documentary history of Indiana. It reads as follows;

Last Will And Testament Of Captain Dubois

"In the name of God, Amen. I, Toussaint Dubois, Sr., of the county of Knox, Indiana territory, taking into consideration that all mankind are born to die, and being in perfect health of mind and memory, do wish and advise that, touching the worldly property that it hath pleased God to endow me with, the following regulations and distributions be attended to:

Premus. It is my desire that my wife, Jane Dubois, be my executrix and that the said Jane make choice of two other associates to enable her to carry this my last will and testament into complete effect, and that the said Jane and associates together shall make choice of some able attorney that they may employ by the year, month, etc., as they shall think necessary, to advise with, etc., for the good of the property.

Second. Whereas, There is unsettled business between Mr. Barber and myself, I wish my said executors, assistants, etc., to maturely consider the matter, and as I have left papers as I hope sufficient to elucidate the matter and pray that no ^ difficulty may arise, as also my business with John ^N^ and James McGregory, my letter dated sometime in iSii, a copy of which they will find, will be sufficient, I hope, to explain that business.

Thirdly. The plantation whereon I now live, containing twelve arpents in front and forty back, with the improvements, with four cows and two horses, as also the necessary house and kitchen furniture, I bequeath to my beloved wife, Jane Dubois, during her natural lifetime, and then to be equally divided among her children. But provided my said wife should marry after my death, and have more than three children - the number of her children at present - then and in that case, the second set of ViJ children to have one equal half of the property, VN the other half to the three first or present children, ^^ as also I will and it is my desire that my said wife do have the services of our negroman, Gabriel and '^^ Ann, his wife, until the youngest child named * Jessie Kilgore Dubois, arrives at the age of twentyone years, and that if in the opinion of my wife (and the country permits) that the said people of color are able to make a comfortable living, they are to be free, if not, they are to be assisted out of my property during their lifetime.

Fourthly. Provided there should be any obligations on me for the conveyance of any lauds'it^is my desire that my executors comply with the conditions and make a deed without trouble. (Note - I do not remember any at present. )

Fifthly. All the property I may be possessed of in the United States of America after my just debts are paid, I wish to be equally divided, viz: Between Susanne

Dubois, alias Susanne Jones, Toussaiiit Dubois, Jun., Henry Dubois, Charles Dubois, Emanuel L.Dubois (children of my £rst wife.) Thomas Dubois, James Dubois, and Jesse Kilgore Dubois, to have each an equal part of my property so remaining after the aforesaid deductions, etc., are complied with, except my son, Charles, whose portion or part, it is my desire that the said part shall solely belong to his children if he has any, if not to himself. And, whereas, there is a probability of some money or property that may come to me from Lower Canada, in the British Dominions. Now, provided, there is any property or money, received without difficulty, as I wish none, it is my desire that the same be divided between the children of my three brothers, viz: John B., Francis and Joseph Dubois and my own children equally. It is my desire that none of the negroes now in mj- family be sold so as to be obliged to serve out of the family unless for criminal conduct. And, whereas, my daughter, Susanne Jones, etc., has already received two quarter sections of land at two dollars and one cent per acre the amount to be deducted from her part in the divisions. Also it is not my desire that any deductions be made on account of any money I may have paid for my son, Charles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, declaring all former wills to be void and this to be my last will and testiment. Done this 15th day of June, 1815.

This closes the will of Capt. Dubois. As a matter of explanation, we might add that an "'arpent" is a French measure used in the surveys about Vincennes. The plantation mentioned in the will contained four hundred acres. You will notice his reference to the two quarter sections previously advanced to Mrs. Jones. This is the land upon which the first settlement was made in Dubois county. Capt. Dubois was a slaveholder. This was when Indiana was a territory, and slavery, in a sense, was permitted. Mr. Dubois infers, also, that the custom may change. He also refers to the probability of money coming to him from Lower Canada. This is interesting in the light of notices that appeared in French papers and a subsequent accident. The will was offered to probate exactly ten months after the date of its execution.

The signature shown above is reproduced from the original will. It is interesting in that it shows how Captain Dubois himself wrote his name and shows that Dubois is spelled with a small letter "b" and not DuBois. A man's name is his own and his way of writing it is proper.

It will be noticed that the will is signed simply "Dubois," a style used by noblemen in his day. In Dillon's History of Indiana we also find the same signature to a reqtiest concerning "Vincennes Common," a tract of public pasture, containing about 5,400 acres.

Mrs. Dubois and two of the family qualified as executors and gave bond in the sum of $10,000, for the faithful performance of their duties. The original will and bond may be found in File Box No. 19, in the county clerk's office of Knox county. The Acts of 1817, 3d session, chapter 30, page 108, authorized Jane Dubois, William Jones, and T. Dubois, Jr., to sell the Dubois land. The act was approved December 31, 1818. This was under the first constitution of Indiana.

In the early days, Capt, Dubois often had business to transact away from home. While returning from one of these trips, on Monday, March II, 1816, Capt. Dubois met a tragic death. He was riding along the old "Buffalo Trace" accompanied by his colored servant. They attempted to swim their horses across the Little Wabash river, a small stream in Clay county, Illinois, not far from Vincennes. Heavy rains had caused the streams to be greatly swollen. Capt. Dubois had with him a pair of saddlebags, which contained a large amount of gold and silver money, and the weight of the money was the direct cause of the man and his horse being drawn down to rise no more.

The following extract is taken from the Western Sun of Saturday, March 16, 18 16: "On Monday last, in attempting to cross the Little Wabash river was drowned Major Toussaint Dubois. In him the poor have lost a benefactor, his country, a friend. He was a kind husband, an indulgent father and an honest man."

It is not known that his body was recovered, or if recovered, where buried. The chances are it was never recovered. At that earlj' day the country was sparsely settled and the chances of finding the body small. His remains would certainly have been brought to Vincennes for burial, but no record of it can be found. The records at the Catholic church contain no mention of his burial.

His death has been wept, but his grave is unmarked, and the beautiful lesson of his life and character have heretofore been unnoticed save by his immediate family.

After his own daring record as a frontiersman, and his nobility of character, Dubois county, created since his death, is his most enduring monument. It is a noble monument to a noble man, and an honorable recognition of an honorable life.

With the writing of this paragraph the author closes his work on this history of Dubois county. It has occupied his spare moments for half a life time. It was not written as a commercial enterprise, but for the pleasure of historical research and discovery.