The house has been restored to its appearance in 1846, the last year that Chief Lafontaine lived in the house. |
Whose House is This?
In about 1834, Miami Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville (whose Miami name, Peshewa meant "the wildcat") ordered construction of a council house at the Forks of the Wabash. This council house was built in preparation for the treaty negotiations which were held at the Forks in that year. In addition to using this house during treaty negotiations, he would also have used it during Miami Council meetings, which took place at the Forks after 1831, and on his frequent travels among the settlements of his people. Richardville's principal residence was in Fort Wayne, on the St. Mary's River. According to several historical sources, this council house survives as "the Chief's House" at Historic Forks of the Wabash. |
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Richardville was Civil Chief of the Miami from 1816 to 1841.
He was a skilled negotiator who won important concessions from the U. S. Government in treaty negotiations.
He was also an able businessman with many business interests. He was said to have been the wealthiest
Indian in North America at the time of his death, with an estate valued, in 1841 dollars, at about $1,000,000.
His wealth derived partly from his control of the Long Portage and the tolls he charged those who used the portage. He is said to be buried on the grounds of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Fort Wayne.
Richardville was succeeded as Civil Chief by his son-in-law, Francis Lafontaine, also known by his Miami name Topeah ("frost on the bushes"). Credible historical sources indicate that it was actually Lafontaine who constructed, in the early 1840s, the building we know as "the Chief's House". Lafontaine used this building as his main residence. To Lafontaine fell the responsibility for presiding over the Miami Nation in Indiana during the forced removal to Kansas Territory. Continuing the efforts established by Chief Richardville, Lafontaine successfully kept nearly one half of the Miami Nation in Indiana. When the remainder of the tribe was forced to move west in 1846, he went with them. Lafontaine died while returning to Indiana in 1847. He is buried in Huntington. In the 1970s, an architectural analysis indicated that "the Chief's House" had been constructed in two separate phases at two separate times. Is the northern wing of "the Chief's House" the remnant of Richardville's council house? Did Lafontaine add the southern "ell" during the 1840s? Sometimes History answers our question with more questions. What is known is that "the Chief's House" is the jewel in the crown of Historic Forks of the Wabash. It was the primary residence of Chief Francis Lafontaine and his family, and it exists today because of the devotion, care and efforts of a devoted group of concerned individuals. Come and visit "the Chief's House" at Historic Forks of the Wabash. Come and join us as we continue to learn about this unique and priceless place. |
Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville |
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This site is maintained by Historic Forks of the Wabash. |