family tree created on Family Echo by Erin Gaul (FamilySearch, n.d.; Genealogy.com user, 2001; Renshaw, 1998; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.; and Willard, 1997)
Pierre Navarre
Pierre was born in Detroit then later moved to Monroe, Michigan (Kasper, 2012). As an adult, Pierre was a manager for the American Fur Company, trading on the St Joseph River at South Bend, St Joseph County, Indiana in 1820 (Kasper, 2012; Ray, 2019). He is cited as being the first white settler (of European descent) in St Joseph County (South Bend Tribune, 2015; Stoll, 1922) and founder of South Bend, Indiana (Kasper, 2012).
He married Kechoueckquay (pronounced Ke-show-a-kwae) in a Potawatomi ceremony in approximately 1820 (although the precise date is not noted in the historical record), and they later had a Catholic ceremony on September 12, 1834 (Kasper, 2012; Renshaw, 1998; Willard, 1997). Based on their first marriage ceremony and the fact that Pierre was the first white settler in St Joseph County, it is possible that Pierre and Kechoueckquay were the first biracial couple in St Joseph County. Pierre's one-room log cabin on the north bank of the St Joseph River was both his trader office and his family's home, making it the first permanent home in St Joseph County, Indiana (The History Museum, n.d.). There, Pierre and Kechoueckquay raised their children. The Navarres went west in the late 1830s or early 1840s to join the Potawatomi who had been forcibly relocated during or shortly after the Trail of Death (Ray, 2019; Renshaw, 1998; South Bend Tribune, 2012; The Navarre Cabin Homestead Project, 2020; Willard, 1997). Upon Kechoueckquay's death in Kansas, Pierre returned to living in the cabin in South Bend (Ray, 2019; The History Museum, n.d.), being recorded as living there in an 1850 parish census (The Navarre Cabin Homestead Project, 2020). Pierre died in 1864, in the home of one of his daughters named "Frances", although the historical record is conflicting as to whether this referred to Theresa Frances (Navarre) Milot (Renshaw, 1998) or Mary Francis (Navarre) DeGroff (South Bend Tribune 6/1970 article, Monroe County Museum System, n.d.; Willard, 1997). He is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, Indiana (AncestryLibrary, n.d.; Renshaw, 1998; South Bend Tribune, 2015). |
Pierre Navarre, undated (The History Museum, n.d.)
Pierre Navarre grave marker at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, Indiana (AncestryLibrary, n.d.)
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Kechoueckquay
Kechoueckquay was born in 1805 (Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.). Her parents aren't specifically identified in the historical record. One story is that her father might be Potawatomi chief Wabaunsee (Willard, 1997). Another story is that her father was English and tried to take her back to England with him after her Potawatomi mother died but the tribe took her back and raised her among the tribe because they believed inheritance was through the mother (South Bend Tribune 6/1970 article, Monroe County Museum System, n.d.). Another similar story is that she might have been "part European" as well as Potawatomi (Renshaw, 1998).
Upon her marriage to Pierre Navarre, she took the Christian name of Angelique (Renshaw, 1998), although the historical record doesn't say if this occurred after their first (Potawatomi) marriage ceremony or their second (Catholic) marriage ceremony. Kechoueckquay is referred to in the historical record alternately by her Christian name Angelique and by various spellings of her Potawatomi name (Kechoueckquay, Keshawaquay, Keshewaquay, Kes-he-wa-quay, Kis-naw-kwe, Kish-wa-qua, Kiskwalka, Kish-wa-quah, and Kichoueckouay). It is possible that such varied spellings exist because European/white settlers heard her name but didn't know how to spell it and/or struggled with pronouncing it. She received a grant of land in Indiana under the Treaty of 1828 (which was officially signed in January 1829) (Howard, 1907; Kasper, 2012). It is believed that Kechoueckquay died a year or two after moving to Kansas in the late 1830s or early 1840s to join the Potawatomi who had been forcibly relocated during or shortly after the Trail of Death (Ray, 2019; Renshaw, 1998; South Bend Tribune, 2012; The Navarre Cabin Homestead Project, 2020; Willard, 1997), although there is no historical documentation to support her date or place of death conclusively (Renshaw, 1998). Although it is believed she may be buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, Indiana, with Pierre (Genealogy.com, 2001; Kasper, 2012; South Bend Tribune 6/1970 article, Monroe County Museum System, n.d.), there is no historical documentation to support this (University of Notre Dame Archives, n.d.). |
Treaty of 1828 in which Kechoueckquay was allotted "one section of land" (Indiana Public Library, n.d.)
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Peter Navarre
It is difficult to locate historical records definitively identified as referring to Peter, due to the fact that Pierre is the French version of Peter (so Peter's father Pierre was sometimes referred to as Peter in later works) and the fact that Peter's father Pierre had both a brother and a cousin named Peter Navarre.
It is noted that Peter taught at the Choctaw Academy school for Native Americans in Kentucky (South Bend Tribune 6/1970 article, Monroe County Museum System, n.d.). Peter died in 1874 and is buried in Rossville Cemetery, Rossville, Kansas (Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.). |
Peter Navarre's gravestone (AncestryLibrary, n.d.)
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Judique Navarre
Judique is also referred to as Judith and Judas in the historical record, as well as by various spellings of her married name (Bourdon, Bordeau, and Bourdeaux are in the historical record).
It is reported that Judique spoke "perfect" English, French, and Potawatomi, read English and French literature, and read the daily papers up to the time of her death (Jackson County Historical Society, n.d.). She died in 1914 and is said to be buried in a Catholic cemetery in Hoyt, Kansas (n.d.). A notable descendant of Judique's is Charles Chaput, who was previously the Archbishop of Rapid City, South Dakota (Willard, 1997) and is now the Archbishop of Denver, Colorado (Kasper, 2012). |
Judique (Navarre) Bordeau obituary in Rossville Reporter newspaper, undated
(Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.) |
Joseph Navarre
Joseph was the twin brother to Anthony. Like with his brother Peter, it is difficult to locate historical records definitively identified as referring to Joseph, due to the fact his father Pierre had an uncle named Joseph Navarre.
He died in 1912 from "catarrah of the stomach" (a build-up of mucus in the airway or a body cavity) and is buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, St Marys, Kansas (Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.). |
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Anthony Navarre
Anthony was twin brother to Joseph. It is said that Anthony taught in a "county school" in Indiana, prior to relocating out west (Howard, 1907; South Bend Tribune 6/1970 article, Monroe County Museum System, n.d.).
Once relocated to Kansas, Anthony is said to have been very active in tribal affairs with the Prairie Band of Potawatomi, having lobbied Congress for compensation for tribal members' lost land and serving as attorney on behalf of the tribe in court cases with the federal government (Kasper, 2012; Lamirand-Young, 1995). He and his wife Sonaneque were also said to have been founding members of the town of Rossville, Kansas (Kaw Valley USD, n.d.). Anthony also converted to Mormonism and was an influential Mormon preacher (Kasper, 2012).
Anthony died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1893 in Washington, D.C (AncestryLibrary, n.d.). Interestingly, Anthony had previously noted that his new wife wanted to "send him to the happy hunting grounds" (in his words), leading some friends to wonder if he had been poisoned (Lamirand-Young, 1995).
Once relocated to Kansas, Anthony is said to have been very active in tribal affairs with the Prairie Band of Potawatomi, having lobbied Congress for compensation for tribal members' lost land and serving as attorney on behalf of the tribe in court cases with the federal government (Kasper, 2012; Lamirand-Young, 1995). He and his wife Sonaneque were also said to have been founding members of the town of Rossville, Kansas (Kaw Valley USD, n.d.). Anthony also converted to Mormonism and was an influential Mormon preacher (Kasper, 2012).
Anthony died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1893 in Washington, D.C (AncestryLibrary, n.d.). Interestingly, Anthony had previously noted that his new wife wanted to "send him to the happy hunting grounds" (in his words), leading some friends to wonder if he had been poisoned (Lamirand-Young, 1995).
Theresa Frances Navarre
Theresa was baptized by University of Notre Dame's Father Badin at Lake St. Mary on the university's grounds in 1838 (University of Notre Dame Archives, n.d.).
As noted above, Pierre died in 1864 in the home of one of his daughters named "Frances", although the historical record is conflicting as to whether this referred to Theresa Frances (Navarre) Milot (Renshaw, 1998) or Mary Francis (Navarre) DeGroff (South Bend Tribune 6/1970 article, Monroe County Museum System, n.d.; Willard, 1997). Theresa died in 1914 in Wanette, Oklahoma (AncestryLibrary, n.d.; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.). |
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Mary Francis Navarre
Jean Francoise Navarre
Jean Francoise is also referred to as John Francoise and John in the historical record. Because these name variations were quite common, I was not able to locate any definitive historical records for this Jean Francoise, other than his birth in South Bend, Indiana in 1833 (Renshaw, 1998; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.).
Isidore Navarre
Isidore is also referred to as Isador, Isadore and Isadorium in the historical record. Isidore is noted as being "well known in early community life" in South Bend, Indiana (Stoll, 1922).
However, like with his brothers Peter and Joseph, it was difficult to locate any definitive historical records for this Isidore, other than his birth in South Bend, Indiana in 1834 (Renshaw, 1998; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.) due to the fact that there were several Navarre ancestors and descendants with these name variations.
However, like with his brothers Peter and Joseph, it was difficult to locate any definitive historical records for this Isidore, other than his birth in South Bend, Indiana in 1834 (Renshaw, 1998; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.) due to the fact that there were several Navarre ancestors and descendants with these name variations.
Monica Navarre
I was not able to find any historical records for Monica, other than her birth in South Bend, Indiana in 1835 (Renshaw, 1998; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.).
Catherine Navarre
I was not able to find any historical records for Catherine, other than her birth in 1837 (Renshaw, 1998; Rossville Kansas Genealogy, n.d.). I also could not find in the historical record whether Catherine was born in South Bend, Indiana or in Kansas, since her birth in 1837 was during the period of "the late 1830s or early 1840s" when the Navarre family went west to join the Potawatomi who had been forcibly relocated during or shortly after the Trail of Death (Ray, 2019; Renshaw, 1998; South Bend Tribune, 2012; The Navarre Cabin Homestead Project, 2020; Willard, 1997).
created by Erin Gaul for LIS-623 Genealogy and Local History class, IUPUI MLIS program, DLIS Dept
last updated: June 30, 2021
last updated: June 30, 2021