Joe Rolette
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rolette was a well-known American fur trade
r 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 Rolette, Sr. in 1818 when she was either 13 or 14 years old. Jane's relatives took young Joseph to New York
. Joseph's parents never divorced as they were Catholics, but the couple became separated in 1836. As part of the settlement, Joe Senior built what is today known as the Brisbois House
for his estranged wife on Water Street, St. Feriole Island, Prairie du Chien, WI.
As his sense of adventure developed, Joe Jr. headed back west in 1840 and by the time he was 21 he was working for his fathers partners in the Red River valley
area of Minnesota
. Some of the best-known names in Minnesota history (Henry Hastings Sibley
and Ramsey Crooks) were active and running a fur trading company in the area. While in their service Joseph Rolette rebuilt a trading post
at Pembina
. He was responsible for the building and the defense of the post as well as managing the business being conducted there. The area where the Pembina Trail crossed the Red Lake River is now the county seat for Red Lake county.
In 1842 young Rolette put into a place a unique method of transportation between created a line of carts that ran on the Red River Trails
between Pembina and the head of Mississippi navigation at Mendota, Minnesota
. As a result a substantial portion of the trade enjoyed by the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada was diverted to the United States. Rolette ran this concern with his mother's brother. By this time the trading post had grown and a Canadian native, Norman W. Kittson, was managing it. Kittson adopted the system of Red River ox carts, growing and adding more lines until it consisted of several thousand vehicles.
During the late 1840s Rolette also had a hand in defending the posts, both from commercial rivals and unfriendly Native Americans
. At one point he burned down a rival post which was trading whisky
for furs, a transaction that was illegal during that time. In 1845 he married Angelique Jerome. Together they had eleven children.
In 1851 he was elected to the Minnesota Territorial Legislature and served four terms. It was from his time in the legislature that the best-known story about him originates. A bill making St. Peter
the capital of Minnesota was about to be enacted and, as he was chairman of the enrollment committee, bills of this nature had to pass through him. Rolette took physical possession of the document and disappeared for the rest of the session, not returning until it was too late to pass any more bills. St. Peter did not become the capital and it ended up in St. Paul where it remains today. According to the story, he spent the week away from the legislature drinking and playing poker in a hotel room with some friends. According to other versions of the story, the "hotel room" was actually a brothel.
During the Civil War
he was unable to get a commission in the Union army
and by the end of the war had lost much of his fortune. His health declined and he died on May 16, 1871.
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 politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
during Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
's territorial era
Territorial era of Minnesota
The territorial era of Minnesota covers the history of the land that is now the modern U.S. state of Minnesota from the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, to its achieving statehood in 1858. The Minnesota Territory itself was formed only in 1849 but the area had a rich history well before this...
and the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. His father was Jean Joseph Rolette
Jean Joseph Rolette
Jean Joseph Rolette , often known as Joseph Rolette, was a prominent fur trader and member of the Mackinac Company who operated a trading post in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin....
, 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 Rolette, Sr. in 1818 when she was either 13 or 14 years old. Jane's relatives took young Joseph to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Joseph's parents never divorced as they were Catholics, but the couple became separated in 1836. As part of the settlement, Joe Senior built what is today 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:...
for his estranged wife on Water Street, St. Feriole Island, Prairie du Chien, WI.
As his sense of adventure developed, Joe Jr. headed back west in 1840 and by the time he was 21 he was working for his fathers partners in the Red River valley
Red River Valley
The Red River Valley is a region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North. It is significant in the geography of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba for its relatively fertile lands and the population centers of Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks, and Winnipeg...
area of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Some of the best-known names in Minnesota history (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 Ramsey Crooks) were active and running a fur trading company in the area. While in their service Joseph Rolette rebuilt a 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 Pembina
Pembina, North Dakota
Pembina is a city in Pembina County, North Dakota in the United States. The population was 592 at the 2010 census.The area of Pembina was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples...
. He was responsible for the building and the defense of the post as well as managing the business being conducted there. The area where the Pembina Trail crossed the Red Lake River is now the county seat for Red Lake county.
In 1842 young Rolette put into a place a unique method of transportation between created a line of carts that ran on the Red River Trails
Red River Trails
The Red River Trails were a network of ox cart routes connecting the Red River Colony and Fort Garry in British North America with the head of navigation on the Mississippi River in the United States...
between Pembina and the head of Mississippi navigation at Mendota, Minnesota
Mendota, Minnesota
Mendota is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. The name comes from the Dakota word for "where the waters meet." The population was 198 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. As a result a substantial portion of the trade enjoyed by the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada was diverted to the United States. Rolette ran this concern with his mother's brother. By this time the trading post had grown and a Canadian native, Norman W. Kittson, was managing it. Kittson adopted the system of Red River ox carts, growing and adding more lines until it consisted of several thousand vehicles.
During the late 1840s Rolette also had a hand in defending the posts, both from commercial rivals and unfriendly Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. At one point he burned down a rival post which was trading whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
for furs, a transaction that was illegal during that time. In 1845 he married Angelique Jerome. Together they had eleven children.
In 1851 he was elected to the Minnesota Territorial Legislature and served four terms. It was from his time in the legislature that the best-known story about him originates. A bill making St. Peter
St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,196 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nicollet County.St...
the capital of Minnesota was about to be enacted and, as he was chairman of the enrollment committee, bills of this nature had to pass through him. Rolette took physical possession of the document and disappeared for the rest of the session, not returning until it was too late to pass any more bills. St. Peter did not become the capital and it ended up in St. Paul where it remains today. According to the story, he spent the week away from the legislature drinking and playing poker in a hotel room with some friends. According to other versions of the story, the "hotel room" was actually a brothel.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he was unable to get a commission in the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and by the end of the war had lost much of his fortune. His health declined and he died on May 16, 1871.
Further reading
- Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota (Chicago, Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1904), page 49.
- Joe Rolette Politics