Pierre Menard
Encyclopedia
Pierre Menard was a fur trader and U.S. political figure. Pierre Menard was born at St. Antoine-sur-Richelieu, near Montreal
, Canada
, third in a family of ten children. His father was Jean Baptiste Menard, a French soldier in the regiment of Guyenne.
After a short period of formal schooling in Montreal, Pierre, at about age fifteen, signed on with a trading expedition to the vast Illinois Country
. By the early 1790s Menard had established a solid trading business of his own; his Kaskaskia
business ledgers, which survive, begin in the spring of 1791. Granted a St. Clair County
commercial license in 1793, Menard was, at the age of thirty, already a respected entrepreneur.
In 1792 Menard married Therese Godin, who died in 1804 leaving four children. Two years later, he married Angelique Saucier, granddaughter of Francois Saucier, Engineer General in the French army and construction supervisor of nearby Fort de Chartres
. Eight children were born to Pierre and Angelique.
Menard was a member of the Indiana territorial legislature
, 1803–1809, and president of the Illinois territorial council
1812–1818.
Illinois Territory
was a frontier region of the United States, formerly part of the Illinois Country
, a portion of New France
administered originally from Quebec
and later transferred to Louisiana
. Upon the admission of Illinois
as a state in 1818, the population of the new state was divided between French-speaking and English-speaking citizens. To balance the ticket, Menard became the state's first Lieutenant Governor
, serving from 1818 to 1822 with the first governor
, Shadrach Bond
.
Economic forces, however, were already leading people inland from the French-speaking
areas along the Mississippi River
, and largely to promote real estate interests, the first Illinois General Assembly
decided in 1820 to move the state capital from Kaskaskia
, Menard's home town, to Vandalia
.
Menard left office in 1822 and returned to private life. He died in 1844 and was buried at Fort Kaskaskia, near his house.
Menard County, Illinois is named for the Lieutenant Governor. His house, near Chester, Illinois
, is preserved as the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site
.
Bayou Manard (spelled with two "a"s), a branch of the Arkansas River
, was named for Pierre Menard. (source: Muskogeephoenix.com)
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, third in a family of ten children. His father was Jean Baptiste Menard, a French soldier in the regiment of Guyenne.
After a short period of formal schooling in Montreal, Pierre, at about age fifteen, signed on with a trading expedition to the vast Illinois Country
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country , also known as Upper Louisiana, was a region in what is now the Midwestern United States that was explored and settled by the French during the 17th and 18th centuries. The terms referred to the entire Upper Mississippi River watershed, though settlement was concentrated in...
. By the early 1790s Menard had established a solid trading business of his own; his Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
business ledgers, which survive, begin in the spring of 1791. Granted a St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Illinois
St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in St. Clair County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 270,056, which is an increase of 5.5% from 256,082 in 2000. Its county seat is...
commercial license in 1793, Menard was, at the age of thirty, already a respected entrepreneur.
In 1792 Menard married Therese Godin, who died in 1804 leaving four children. Two years later, he married Angelique Saucier, granddaughter of Francois Saucier, Engineer General in the French army and construction supervisor of nearby Fort de Chartres
Fort de Chartres
Fort de Chartres was a French fortification first built in 1720 on the east bank of the Mississippi River in present-day Illinois. The Fort de Chartres name was also applied to the two successive fortifications built nearby during the 18th century in the era of French colonial control over...
. Eight children were born to Pierre and Angelique.
Menard was a member of the Indiana territorial legislature
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
, 1803–1809, and president of the Illinois territorial council
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
1812–1818.
Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
was a frontier region of the United States, formerly part of the Illinois Country
Illinois Country
The Illinois Country , also known as Upper Louisiana, was a region in what is now the Midwestern United States that was explored and settled by the French during the 17th and 18th centuries. The terms referred to the entire Upper Mississippi River watershed, though settlement was concentrated in...
, a portion of New France
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
administered originally from 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....
and later transferred to Louisiana
Louisiana (New France)
Louisiana or French Louisiana was an administrative district of New France. Under French control from 1682–1763 and 1800–03, the area was named in honor of Louis XIV, by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle...
. Upon the admission of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
as a state in 1818, the population of the new state was divided between French-speaking and English-speaking citizens. To balance the ticket, Menard became the state's first Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for...
, serving from 1818 to 1822 with the first governor
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
, Shadrach Bond
Shadrach Bond
Shadrach Bond was a representative from Illinois Territory to the United States Congress. In 1818, he was elected the first Governor of Illinois, becoming the new state's first chief executive...
.
Economic forces, however, were already leading people inland from the French-speaking
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
areas along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, and largely to promote real estate interests, the first Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
decided in 1820 to move the state capital from Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
, Menard's home town, to Vandalia
Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States, northeast of St. Louis, on the Kaskaskia River. From 1819 to 1839 it served as the state capital of Illinois. Vandalia was the western terminus of the National Road. Today it is the county seat of Fayette County and the home of the...
.
Menard left office in 1822 and returned to private life. He died in 1844 and was buried at Fort Kaskaskia, near his house.
Menard County, Illinois is named for the Lieutenant Governor. His house, near Chester, Illinois
Chester, Illinois
Chester is a city located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,400 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County and is located south of St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
, is preserved as the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site
Pierre Menard House
The Pierre Menard House, located in Ellis Grove, Illinois, U.S.A., was the home of Pierre Menard, a trader who became the first lieutenant governor of Illinois from 1818 to 1822. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970...
.
Bayou Manard (spelled with two "a"s), a branch of the Arkansas River
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's initial basin starts in the Western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas...
, was named for Pierre Menard. (source: Muskogeephoenix.com)