Louis (Lewis) F. LaFontaine was born about 1830 in Indiana. Louis married Mary Magdalene Bordeaux on 22 May 1847 in Huntington County, Indiana.
Louis was the son of Chief Francis Topeah LaFontaine, the last civil chief of Miami Indians before their removal from Indiana to the reservation in Kansas Territory. His mother was Catherine "Cates" Richardville, daughter of civil chief Jean Baptiste Richardville.
According to Chief LaFontaine's F.A.G. biography, the chief sent a delegation of five Miami leaders, including Louis, to the Kansas territory to inspect the new reservation. The delegation was not impressed, but the federal government pressed forward with the removal of the Miami from Indiana.
In October 1846, Chief Francis LaFontaine and family members traveled with the Miami during their removal from Indiana to Kansas Territory by the federal government. Some of the LaFontaine family members returned to Indiana, but Chief Francis LaFontaine stayed the winter with the Miami. He died on his return trip to Indiana in 1847. It is uncertain if Louis was among the family members who traveled with the Miami during their removal. He was living with his wife Mary, young daughter Mary, and cousin, Thomas Richardson, in Huntington County, Indiana, in the 1850 U.S. Census. Some Miami were given an exemption and were allowed to stay in Indiana, including the Richardville family and the LaFontaine family.
After the death of his father, Louis' mother married Francis D. Laselle, a well known trader. In 1851, Louis bought the inventory of Roche and Laselle to enter the trading business. He abandoned the effort one month later, "turning his goods over to John Roche for resale".
By 1856, Louis, his wife and child were living on the Miami reservation in Kansas. "An entry in the Lafontaine family Bible says that Lewis lived until 1861." His Last Will and Testament was dated 19 Jan 1861. Probate of his Will began in January of 1861, in Lykins (now Miami) County, Kansas territory. The Will named his wife, and daughters Louisa and Hester (aka Esther) as heirs. The Will stated, "I also will that the two hundred acres of land coming to me by my son Thomas be equally divided between my wife and two daughters Hester and Louisa...".
Top of headstone broken. Legible portion "Jan"... "Aged 31 yrs. 22 ds". Buried next to his children Lewis J., Agnes, and Louisa.
Known children of Louis and Mary LaFontaine:
Mary LaFontaine (1849- ) Not named in Lewis' Will; burial unknown
Lewis J. LaFontaine (1851-1858)
Esther LaFontaine Cardin (1852-1895) m. Thomas Jefferson Cardin
Agnes L. LaFontaine (1857-1858)
Louisa LaFontaine (1859-1862)
Thomas LaFontaine (unknown)
Sources:
Chief Francis LaFontaine and his family history, by Chris Leonard, retrieved from https://forksofthewabash.org/wp-content/uploads/CHIEF-FRANCIS-LAFONTAINE-2.pdf, 24 Mar 2022 (source of quotes as well as other information)
Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941; Ancestry.com
Kansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1803-1987: Louis F. Lafontaine
The Western Spirit (Paola, KS) 07 Apr 1905, p. 1; Newspapers.com: Mary Willhoit obit
U.S. Census record; Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com family trees
Louis was the son of Chief Francis Topeah LaFontaine, the last civil chief of Miami Indians before their removal from Indiana to the reservation in Kansas Territory. His mother was Catherine "Cates" Richardville, daughter of civil chief Jean Baptiste Richardville.
According to Chief LaFontaine's F.A.G. biography, the chief sent a delegation of five Miami leaders, including Louis, to the Kansas territory to inspect the new reservation. The delegation was not impressed, but the federal government pressed forward with the removal of the Miami from Indiana.
In October 1846, Chief Francis LaFontaine and family members traveled with the Miami during their removal from Indiana to Kansas Territory by the federal government. Some of the LaFontaine family members returned to Indiana, but Chief Francis LaFontaine stayed the winter with the Miami. He died on his return trip to Indiana in 1847. It is uncertain if Louis was among the family members who traveled with the Miami during their removal. He was living with his wife Mary, young daughter Mary, and cousin, Thomas Richardson, in Huntington County, Indiana, in the 1850 U.S. Census. Some Miami were given an exemption and were allowed to stay in Indiana, including the Richardville family and the LaFontaine family.
After the death of his father, Louis' mother married Francis D. Laselle, a well known trader. In 1851, Louis bought the inventory of Roche and Laselle to enter the trading business. He abandoned the effort one month later, "turning his goods over to John Roche for resale".
By 1856, Louis, his wife and child were living on the Miami reservation in Kansas. "An entry in the Lafontaine family Bible says that Lewis lived until 1861." His Last Will and Testament was dated 19 Jan 1861. Probate of his Will began in January of 1861, in Lykins (now Miami) County, Kansas territory. The Will named his wife, and daughters Louisa and Hester (aka Esther) as heirs. The Will stated, "I also will that the two hundred acres of land coming to me by my son Thomas be equally divided between my wife and two daughters Hester and Louisa...".
Top of headstone broken. Legible portion "Jan"... "Aged 31 yrs. 22 ds". Buried next to his children Lewis J., Agnes, and Louisa.
Known children of Louis and Mary LaFontaine:
Mary LaFontaine (1849- ) Not named in Lewis' Will; burial unknown
Lewis J. LaFontaine (1851-1858)
Esther LaFontaine Cardin (1852-1895) m. Thomas Jefferson Cardin
Agnes L. LaFontaine (1857-1858)
Louisa LaFontaine (1859-1862)
Thomas LaFontaine (unknown)
Sources:
Chief Francis LaFontaine and his family history, by Chris Leonard, retrieved from https://forksofthewabash.org/wp-content/uploads/CHIEF-FRANCIS-LAFONTAINE-2.pdf, 24 Mar 2022 (source of quotes as well as other information)
Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941; Ancestry.com
Kansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1803-1987: Louis F. Lafontaine
The Western Spirit (Paola, KS) 07 Apr 1905, p. 1; Newspapers.com: Mary Willhoit obit
U.S. Census record; Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com family trees
Louis (Lewis) F. LaFontaine was born about 1830 in Indiana. Louis married Mary Magdalene Bordeaux on 22 May 1847 in Huntington County, Indiana.
Louis was the son of Chief Francis Topeah LaFontaine, the last civil chief of Miami Indians before their removal from Indiana to the reservation in Kansas Territory. His mother was Catherine "Cates" Richardville, daughter of civil chief Jean Baptiste Richardville.
According to Chief LaFontaine's F.A.G. biography, the chief sent a delegation of five Miami leaders, including Louis, to the Kansas territory to inspect the new reservation. The delegation was not impressed, but the federal government pressed forward with the removal of the Miami from Indiana.
In October 1846, Chief Francis LaFontaine and family members traveled with the Miami during their removal from Indiana to Kansas Territory by the federal government. Some of the LaFontaine family members returned to Indiana, but Chief Francis LaFontaine stayed the winter with the Miami. He died on his return trip to Indiana in 1847. It is uncertain if Louis was among the family members who traveled with the Miami during their removal. He was living with his wife Mary, young daughter Mary, and cousin, Thomas Richardson, in Huntington County, Indiana, in the 1850 U.S. Census. Some Miami were given an exemption and were allowed to stay in Indiana, including the Richardville family and the LaFontaine family.
After the death of his father, Louis' mother married Francis D. Laselle, a well known trader. In 1851, Louis bought the inventory of Roche and Laselle to enter the trading business. He abandoned the effort one month later, "turning his goods over to John Roche for resale".
By 1856, Louis, his wife and child were living on the Miami reservation in Kansas. "An entry in the Lafontaine family Bible says that Lewis lived until 1861." His Last Will and Testament was dated 19 Jan 1861. Probate of his Will began in January of 1861, in Lykins (now Miami) County, Kansas territory. The Will named his wife, and daughters Louisa and Hester (aka Esther) as heirs. The Will stated, "I also will that the two hundred acres of land coming to me by my son Thomas be equally divided between my wife and two daughters Hester and Louisa...".
Top of headstone broken. Legible portion "Jan"... "Aged 31 yrs. 22 ds". Buried next to his children Lewis J., Agnes, and Louisa.
Known children of Louis and Mary LaFontaine:
Mary LaFontaine (1849- ) Not named in Lewis' Will; burial unknown
Lewis J. LaFontaine (1851-1858)
Esther LaFontaine Cardin (1852-1895) m. Thomas Jefferson Cardin
Agnes L. LaFontaine (1857-1858)
Louisa LaFontaine (1859-1862)
Thomas LaFontaine (unknown)
Sources:
Chief Francis LaFontaine and his family history, by Chris Leonard, retrieved from https://forksofthewabash.org/wp-content/uploads/CHIEF-FRANCIS-LAFONTAINE-2.pdf, 24 Mar 2022 (source of quotes as well as other information)
Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941; Ancestry.com
Kansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1803-1987: Louis F. Lafontaine
The Western Spirit (Paola, KS) 07 Apr 1905, p. 1; Newspapers.com: Mary Willhoit obit
U.S. Census record; Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com family trees
Louis was the son of Chief Francis Topeah LaFontaine, the last civil chief of Miami Indians before their removal from Indiana to the reservation in Kansas Territory. His mother was Catherine "Cates" Richardville, daughter of civil chief Jean Baptiste Richardville.
According to Chief LaFontaine's F.A.G. biography, the chief sent a delegation of five Miami leaders, including Louis, to the Kansas territory to inspect the new reservation. The delegation was not impressed, but the federal government pressed forward with the removal of the Miami from Indiana.
In October 1846, Chief Francis LaFontaine and family members traveled with the Miami during their removal from Indiana to Kansas Territory by the federal government. Some of the LaFontaine family members returned to Indiana, but Chief Francis LaFontaine stayed the winter with the Miami. He died on his return trip to Indiana in 1847. It is uncertain if Louis was among the family members who traveled with the Miami during their removal. He was living with his wife Mary, young daughter Mary, and cousin, Thomas Richardson, in Huntington County, Indiana, in the 1850 U.S. Census. Some Miami were given an exemption and were allowed to stay in Indiana, including the Richardville family and the LaFontaine family.
After the death of his father, Louis' mother married Francis D. Laselle, a well known trader. In 1851, Louis bought the inventory of Roche and Laselle to enter the trading business. He abandoned the effort one month later, "turning his goods over to John Roche for resale".
By 1856, Louis, his wife and child were living on the Miami reservation in Kansas. "An entry in the Lafontaine family Bible says that Lewis lived until 1861." His Last Will and Testament was dated 19 Jan 1861. Probate of his Will began in January of 1861, in Lykins (now Miami) County, Kansas territory. The Will named his wife, and daughters Louisa and Hester (aka Esther) as heirs. The Will stated, "I also will that the two hundred acres of land coming to me by my son Thomas be equally divided between my wife and two daughters Hester and Louisa...".
Top of headstone broken. Legible portion "Jan"... "Aged 31 yrs. 22 ds". Buried next to his children Lewis J., Agnes, and Louisa.
Known children of Louis and Mary LaFontaine:
Mary LaFontaine (1849- ) Not named in Lewis' Will; burial unknown
Lewis J. LaFontaine (1851-1858)
Esther LaFontaine Cardin (1852-1895) m. Thomas Jefferson Cardin
Agnes L. LaFontaine (1857-1858)
Louisa LaFontaine (1859-1862)
Thomas LaFontaine (unknown)
Sources:
Chief Francis LaFontaine and his family history, by Chris Leonard, retrieved from https://forksofthewabash.org/wp-content/uploads/CHIEF-FRANCIS-LAFONTAINE-2.pdf, 24 Mar 2022 (source of quotes as well as other information)
Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941; Ancestry.com
Kansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1803-1987: Louis F. Lafontaine
The Western Spirit (Paola, KS) 07 Apr 1905, p. 1; Newspapers.com: Mary Willhoit obit
U.S. Census record; Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com family trees
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