Chequamegon Bay
Encyclopedia
Chequamegon Bay is an inlet of Lake Superior
, 12 miles (19 km) NE-SW and 2-6 miles (10 km) wide, in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the extreme northern part of Wisconsin
. It lies largely inside the barrier of Chequamegon Point
and Long Island
, with the Bad River Indian Reservation to the east. Ashland, Wisconsin
is on its south, Washburn, Wisconsin
is on its north. The 850000 acres (3,439.8 km²) Chequamegon National Forest lies largely S and W. The name comes from the Ojibwe name Zhaagawaamikong, "sand bar place; at the sand bar".
Chequamegon Bay is known as the site of the first dwelling occupied by white men in what is now Wisconsin. Two French traders, Médard des Groseilliers
and Pierre-Esprit Radisson
, built a hut somewhere on the west shore of the bay, probably in 1658. Other traders dwelt on this bay in 1660-1663 and were visited in the spring of 1661 by Father René Menard
, the first missionary to the Northwest. In 1665 Father Claude Allouez built a mission house near the southwest end of the bay. His successor, Father Jacques Marquette
, came there in 1669 and remained for two years. In 1693 the largest island (now known as Madeline Island
), at the mouth of the bay, was occupied by a fort built by Pierre LeSueur. This was abandoned before the close of the century. In 1718 a French fort was built on the island where Louis Denis de la Ronde had an establishment for fur trading and exploration for copper mines. The post was called La Pointe and a French garrison was maintained there until 1759. The first English trader to reach this distant post was Alexander Henry, whose French partner, Jean Baptiste Cadotte, founded a permanent trading post
at this place. In 1818 two Massachusetts
traders, Lyman and Truman Warren, came thither, married daughters of Michel Cadotte
and became the leading fur traders of the region. Truman Warren died early; Lyman maintained his home at La Pointe until his death in 1847. A village of retired voyageurs and fur traders grew up here during the early 19th century and the American Fur Company
had a post here for many years. The first Protestant mission was begun here in 1831.
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, 12 miles (19 km) NE-SW and 2-6 miles (10 km) wide, in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the extreme northern part of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. It lies largely inside the barrier of Chequamegon Point
Chequamegon Point
Chequamegon Point is a peninsula that extends into Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin in Ashland County, Wisconsin. Long Island is an extension of Chequamegon Point. Most of Chequamegon Point is owned by the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. There is...
and Long Island
Long Island (Wisconsin)
Long Island is an island in Lake Superior in Wisconsin usually identified with the Apostle Islands. It is geologically different from the other islands, though, in that it is actually just an extension of the spit off Chequamegon Point...
, with the Bad River Indian Reservation to the east. Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland, Wisconsin
Ashland is a city in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon Bay. The population was 8,695 at the 2010 census....
is on its south, Washburn, Wisconsin
Washburn, Wisconsin
Washburn is a city in Bayfield County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,280 at the 2000 census. The city is just east of and adjacent to the Town of Washburn...
is on its north. The 850000 acres (3,439.8 km²) Chequamegon National Forest lies largely S and W. The name comes from the Ojibwe name Zhaagawaamikong, "sand bar place; at the sand bar".
Chequamegon Bay is known as the site of the first dwelling occupied by white men in what is now Wisconsin. Two French traders, Médard des Groseilliers
Médard des Groseilliers
Médard Chouart des Groseilliers was a French explorer and fur trader in Canada. He is often paired with his brother-in-law Pierre-Esprit Radisson who was about 20 years his junior...
and Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson
Pierre-Esprit Radisson was a French-Canadian fur trader and explorer. He is often linked to his brother-in-law Médard des Groseilliers who was about 20 years older. The decision of Radisson and Groseilliers to enter the English service led to the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company.Born near...
, built a hut somewhere on the west shore of the bay, probably in 1658. Other traders dwelt on this bay in 1660-1663 and were visited in the spring of 1661 by Father René Menard
René Menard
René Menard was a French Jesuit missionary explorer who traveled to Canada in 1641, learned the language of the Wyandot, and was soon in charge of many of the satellite missions around Sainte-Marie among the Hurons...
, the first missionary to the Northwest. In 1665 Father Claude Allouez built a mission house near the southwest end of the bay. His successor, Father Jacques Marquette
Jacques Marquette
Father Jacques Marquette S.J. , sometimes known as Père Marquette, was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie, and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan...
, came there in 1669 and remained for two years. In 1693 the largest island (now known as Madeline Island
Madeline Island
Madeline Island is an island of the U.S. state of Wisconsin located in Lake Superior approximately two miles northeast of Bayfield, Wisconsin, and connected to that town seasonally by a 20 minute ferry ride or an ice road. It is the largest of the Apostle Islands, although it is not included...
), at the mouth of the bay, was occupied by a fort built by Pierre LeSueur. This was abandoned before the close of the century. In 1718 a French fort was built on the island where Louis Denis de la Ronde had an establishment for fur trading and exploration for copper mines. The post was called La Pointe and a French garrison was maintained there until 1759. The first English trader to reach this distant post was Alexander Henry, whose French partner, Jean Baptiste Cadotte, founded a permanent trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
at this place. In 1818 two Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
traders, Lyman and Truman Warren, came thither, married daughters of Michel Cadotte
Michel Cadotte
Michel Cadotte 1764-1837 or was a Métis fur trader who dominated business in the area of the south shore of Lake Superior. He gained a strategic alliance through marriage into the Owaazsii clan of the Anishinaabeg...
and became the leading fur traders of the region. Truman Warren died early; Lyman maintained his home at La Pointe until his death in 1847. A village of retired voyageurs and fur traders grew up here during the early 19th century and the American Fur Company
American Fur Company
The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...
had a post here for many years. The first Protestant mission was begun here in 1831.