Jean Joseph Rolette
Encyclopedia
Jean Joseph Rolette often known as Joseph Rolette, was a prominent fur trade
r and member of the Mackinac Company who operated a trading post in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
.
Rolette was born in Quebec
in 1781, and as a young man he trained for the priesthood at a Jesuit seminary
there. However, Rolette never completed his studies, and instead he became involved in the fur trade. He worked briefly in Windsor, Ontario
before finally establishing a trading post for the Mackinac Company in the remote village of Prairie du Chien sometime between 1801 and 1805. In 1811, the Mackinac Company was reorganized into the South West Company, and Rolette was a major partner in the business. It’s believed that he had two partners that owned a third of the South West Company, when it was taken over by John Jacob Astor
in 1815.
During the War of 1812
, Rolette, like many other French-Canadian Fur Traders in the Old Northwest, was an active supporter of the British Empire
against the United States
. He participated in the British capture of Mackinac Island
in the Siege of Fort Mackinac, and later commanded a British militia unit in the Siege of Prairie du Chien. Animosity between Rolette and the Americans at Prairie du Chien would continue for some time after the war. Despite this, in 1821 Rolette was appointed as an associate justice of Crawford County, Wisconsin, and he briefly rose to chief justice of the county in 1830. In the interim, he had married Jane Fisher in 1818, a local girl twenty-three years his junior, who was related to a fur trader of note, Michel Brisbois
.
Meanwhile, Rolette's business continued to prosper. In 1820 Rolette made an alliance with Astor's powerful American Fur Company
and became the company's sole agent in Prairie du Chien. This, coupled with numerous investments in real estate, propelled Rolette to become the wealthiest man in the village, and he was often called "King Rolette" by the American Indian
s with whom he traded. However, in 1826, Rolette's authority began to wane as Hercules L. Dousman
arrived in Prairie du Chien to work for the American Fur Company. The two operated as equal partners for some time, but Dousman slowly came to rise past Rolette in the business.
In 1836, Rolette and his wife, Jane Fisher, were legally separated. The couple had had two children during the 1820s, Joseph
, who was elected to the Minnesota State Legislature in 1851, and Virginia. As part of the separation contract, Rolette agreed to construct his wife a two-story stone house on the riverfront in Prairie du Chien. Known as the Brisbois House
, this structure is now a National Historic Landmark
and is owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society
.
In the Panic of 1837
, Rolette lost significant wealth and became indebted to Dousman and the American Fur Company. Then in 1842 the American Fur Company declared bankruptcy, and in order to continue in the trade Rolette entered into a joint venture with Dousman, Henry Hastings Sibley
, and Pierre Chouteau to organize a new company which would take its place on the upper Mississippi. While Rolette was given an ownership stake in the new company, he was not given any control over its operation. Only a few months later, Rolette died in debt to the new company, and most of his estate was seized by the remaining partners. Dousman
also married Rolette's widow Jane Fisher Rolette two years later.
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
r and member of the Mackinac Company who operated a trading post in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. Its Zip Code is 53821....
.
Rolette was born in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1781, and as a young man he trained for the priesthood at a Jesuit seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
there. However, Rolette never completed his studies, and instead he became involved in the fur trade. He worked briefly in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
before finally establishing a trading post for the Mackinac Company in the remote village of Prairie du Chien sometime between 1801 and 1805. In 1811, the Mackinac Company was reorganized into the South West Company, and Rolette was a major partner in the business. It’s believed that he had two partners that owned a third of the South West Company, when it was taken over by John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor , born Johann Jakob Astor, was a German-American business magnate and investor who was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States...
in 1815.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Rolette, like many other French-Canadian Fur Traders in the Old Northwest, was an active supporter of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He participated in the British capture of Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island is an island and resort area covering in land area, part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located in Lake Huron, at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between the state's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The island was home to a Native American settlement before European...
in the Siege of Fort Mackinac, and later commanded a British militia unit in the Siege of Prairie du Chien. Animosity between Rolette and the Americans at Prairie du Chien would continue for some time after the war. Despite this, in 1821 Rolette was appointed as an associate justice of Crawford County, Wisconsin, and he briefly rose to chief justice of the county in 1830. In the interim, he had married Jane Fisher in 1818, a local girl twenty-three years his junior, who was related to a fur trader of note, Michel Brisbois
Michel Brisbois
Michel Brisbois was a French-Canadian voyageur who was active in the upper Mississippi River valley as early as 1781. Originally a fur trader for the Hudson's Bay Company, he eventually settled in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin where he became a baker....
.
Meanwhile, Rolette's business continued to prosper. In 1820 Rolette made an alliance with Astor's powerful 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...
and became the company's sole agent in Prairie du Chien. This, coupled with numerous investments in real estate, propelled Rolette to become the wealthiest man in the village, and he was often called "King Rolette" by the American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s with whom he traded. However, in 1826, Rolette's authority began to wane as Hercules L. Dousman
Hercules L. Dousman
Hercules Louis Dousman was a trader and real-estate speculator who played a large role in the economic development of Wisconsin. He is often called Wisconsin's first millionaire.-Early life and trading activities:...
arrived in Prairie du Chien to work for the American Fur Company. The two operated as equal partners for some time, but Dousman slowly came to rise past Rolette in the business.
In 1836, Rolette and his wife, Jane Fisher, were legally separated. The couple had had two children during the 1820s, Joseph
Joe Rolette
Joseph Rolette was a well-known American fur trader and politician during Minnesota's territorial era and the Civil War. His father was Jean Joseph Rolette, often referred to as Joe Rolette the elder, a French-Canadian and a trader himself. Joseph Rolette’s mother was Jane Fisher, who married Joe...
, who was elected to the Minnesota State Legislature in 1851, and Virginia. As part of the separation contract, Rolette agreed to construct his wife a two-story stone house on the riverfront in Prairie du Chien. Known as the Brisbois House
Brisbois House
Brisbois House, also known as Bernard Brisbois House, is a house that was thought to be associated with Michael Brisbois, but is actually a later house.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.-External links:...
, this structure is now a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
and is owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
.
In the Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
, Rolette lost significant wealth and became indebted to Dousman and the American Fur Company. Then in 1842 the American Fur Company declared bankruptcy, and in order to continue in the trade Rolette entered into a joint venture with Dousman, Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley
Henry Hastings Sibley was the first Governor of the U.S. state of Minnesota.-Early life and education:...
, and Pierre Chouteau to organize a new company which would take its place on the upper Mississippi. While Rolette was given an ownership stake in the new company, he was not given any control over its operation. Only a few months later, Rolette died in debt to the new company, and most of his estate was seized by the remaining partners. Dousman
Hercules L. Dousman
Hercules Louis Dousman was a trader and real-estate speculator who played a large role in the economic development of Wisconsin. He is often called Wisconsin's first millionaire.-Early life and trading activities:...
also married Rolette's widow Jane Fisher Rolette two years later.