Zachariah Cicott
Encyclopedia
Zachariah Cicott (Cicotte) (1781-1850) was a French-Canadian trader and is believed to have been the first white settler to live permanently in what became Warren County
, Indiana
. He was the great-great grandson of Jean Baptiste I Chiquot (or Cicot, Sicotte/Cicotte), who was born in France
and immigrated to New France
in 1662.
He was the third child of twelve born to Jean Baptiste Cicotte and Angelica Poupard. His birthdate is disputed, ranging from 1775 to 1781. Brothers and sisters include older sisters Angelique and Agathe and younger siblings Joseph, Theresa, John Baptiste, James, Francis Assisi, Francois Xavier, Louis, Marianna and George. His grandfather, Zacharie, was an only child. His great grandfather was Jean Baptiste II Sicotte, who was the only son of the original Sicotte/Cicotte to come to North America.
Around 1802, Cicott arrived in the area to trade with the local Indians
up and down the Wabash River
. He was successful and became wealthy. He married a Potawotomie woman and they had two children, John Battiece and Sophia.
Shortly before the War of 1812
, General William Henry Harrison
at Vincennes
directed Cicott to join him there to act as an army scout since he was very familiar with the area. He left Warren County immediately and went down the river, returning later with the army and passing back through Warren County to reach Tippecanoe County
where the Battle of Tippecanoe
took place on November 7th, 1811.
Around 1816, after the war was over, Cicott resumed his trading on the Wabash. In 1817 he built a log house which became a rendezvous for travelers and settlers, and in 1832 he platted the town of Independence, Indiana
and lived there until his death in 1850; he was buried in the town cemetery. For some years before his death he was partially paralyzed, probably from a stroke, and had difficulty speaking. As of 1883 the log house still stood, though it was badly deteriorated. Cicott Park, located at Independence, was established in 1993 and contains the site of his home and trading post.
Warren County, Indiana
Warren County lies in western Indiana between the Illinois border and the Wabash River in the United States. Before the arrival of non-indigenous settlers in the early 19th century, the area was inhabited by several Native American tribes. The county was officially established in 1827 and...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He was the great-great grandson of Jean Baptiste I Chiquot (or Cicot, Sicotte/Cicotte), who was born in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and immigrated to 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...
in 1662.
He was the third child of twelve born to Jean Baptiste Cicotte and Angelica Poupard. His birthdate is disputed, ranging from 1775 to 1781. Brothers and sisters include older sisters Angelique and Agathe and younger siblings Joseph, Theresa, John Baptiste, James, Francis Assisi, Francois Xavier, Louis, Marianna and George. His grandfather, Zacharie, was an only child. His great grandfather was Jean Baptiste II Sicotte, who was the only son of the original Sicotte/Cicotte to come to North America.
Around 1802, Cicott arrived in the area to trade with the local Indians
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...
up and down the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
. He was successful and became wealthy. He married a Potawotomie woman and they had two children, John Battiece and Sophia.
Shortly before 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...
, General William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
at Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
directed Cicott to join him there to act as an army scout since he was very familiar with the area. He left Warren County immediately and went down the river, returning later with the army and passing back through Warren County to reach Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Tippecanoe County is a county located in the northwest quadrant of the U.S. state of Indiana. It was created in 1826 from Wabash County. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
where the Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
took place on November 7th, 1811.
Around 1816, after the war was over, Cicott resumed his trading on the Wabash. In 1817 he built a log house which became a rendezvous for travelers and settlers, and in 1832 he platted the town of Independence, Indiana
Independence, Indiana
Independence is a small town in Warren Township, Warren County, Indiana in the United States.- History :A trading post existed at this location as early as 1811. The village was laid out on October 5, 1832 by Zachariah Cicott, a French-Indian trader and scout for General William Henry Harrison, on...
and lived there until his death in 1850; he was buried in the town cemetery. For some years before his death he was partially paralyzed, probably from a stroke, and had difficulty speaking. As of 1883 the log house still stood, though it was badly deteriorated. Cicott Park, located at Independence, was established in 1993 and contains the site of his home and trading post.