This man, who may with propriety be called the founder of Galveston, was a Canadian. He moved from Illinois to Texas. Was a member of the Texas Congress from Galveston county. He died in 1854. [A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875
Contributor: Sherry
----
MENARD, Col. M. B.
Michel Branamour Menard was born in the village of La Prairie, near Montreal, Canada, December 5, 1805. His parents were French. At the age of sixteen he engaged in the Northwestern fur trade, in the employ of an American company at Detroit. Later he went to Missouri at the solicitation of his uncle, Pierre Menard, then Lieutenant Governor of the Territory of Missouri, and an extensive fur trader, and for several years traded for him. Becoming attached to the Indians, he determined to remain among them, and was elected chief of the principal tribe of the Shawnees, which station he held for several years.
In 1833 or '84 Col. Menard came to Texas and settled near Nacogdoches, where he traded with the Mexicans and Indians. He then became interested with McKinney & Williams in the construction of a mill and trading post on a small stream flowing into the Trinity, named for him Menard creek.
When the Texas revolution broke out the Mexicans endeavored to incite the Indian tribes on the Northwestern frontier to over-run and desolate the country. At the solicitation of the Texas government Col. Menard went among them and by his personal exertions prevented an invasion and kept them quiet. He was a member of the convention which declared the independence of Texas and framed the constitution of the Republic.
In December, 1836, at the first session of the first Congress of Texas, Col. Menard obtained for the price of $50,000 a grant from Congress for a league of land, on which the city of Galveston now stands, then unoccupied by a single habitation. He laid out the town, and, associating with himself a number of other gentlemen, formed the Galveston City Company, which launched the enterprise of the Island City, with which he was identified from that date until his death.
He represented Galveston county in the Congress of Texas in 1839, and was the author and powerful advocate of the system of finance by the issue of exchequer bills, which failing that session was recommended by President Houston the next and adopted, and provided a revenue and saved the country.
Col. Menard was a man of rare intelligence and noble character, and of the highest order of enterprise and patriotism. He possessed a mind of striking originality and was most agreeable in business and social intercourse. He stood over six feet in height, was of strong, muscular build and possessed undoubted courage.
Col. Menard left a widow, who became the wife of Col. J. S. Thrasher, and a son, Doswell Menard, all of whom have been dead several years. He died September 2, 1856. His funeral took place from the cathedral, and his remains were followed to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery by almost the entire community. [History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston, etc., Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1895.
~
Michael B. Menard who organized and was the first president of the city company which founded Galveston. This company paid $50,000 to the Republic of Texas for the league and labor of land on which the city is situated, and all real estate titles go back to this city company. Michael B. Menard was also the organizer and first president of the Galveston Wharf Company, and the likeness of this pioneer is printed on all the stock certificates of this company. The founder of Galveston died in 1856. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
∼Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Michel Menard was born in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada on December 5, 1805. He had little schooling, instead working at John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company in Detroit as a teenager. In 1822 he joined his uncle in the fur business near Kaskaskia, Illinois, where he learned to read and write in both French and English. In December of 1829 he applied for citizenship in Texas, moved to Nacogdoches and continued his trade in furs, branching out into the sale of horses and land permits as well. He was very successful; within five years he owned over forty thousand acres and operated a gristmill that he had built himself. He was elected the delegate of Liberty Municipality to attend the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. Although he personally believed the argument for independence was impractical, he signed the Declaration of Independence once he realized it was the majority will. He was quickly put to work as the intermediary between the Texans and the resident Indians, negotiating treaties with the Shawnee, Delaware and Kickapoo tribes. Once Texas had won its independence, he began developing land on Galveston Island that had previously been forbidden by the ruling Mexican government. Calling his venture the Galveston City Company, he began selling land parcels and promoting the island to investors; Menard is recognized today as the founder of the city of Galveston, representing the new town in the Texas Congress from 1840-1841. He was married four times, his first three wives dying young from cholera or yellow fever; his last wife presenting him with his only child in 1850. On September 2, 1856, Michel Menard passed away in his home in Galveston. His home, built in 1838 and the oldest building in the city, is today a state historical landmark. Menard County and the town of Menard are both named in his honor.
Contributor: Sherry
----
MENARD, Col. M. B.
Michel Branamour Menard was born in the village of La Prairie, near Montreal, Canada, December 5, 1805. His parents were French. At the age of sixteen he engaged in the Northwestern fur trade, in the employ of an American company at Detroit. Later he went to Missouri at the solicitation of his uncle, Pierre Menard, then Lieutenant Governor of the Territory of Missouri, and an extensive fur trader, and for several years traded for him. Becoming attached to the Indians, he determined to remain among them, and was elected chief of the principal tribe of the Shawnees, which station he held for several years.
In 1833 or '84 Col. Menard came to Texas and settled near Nacogdoches, where he traded with the Mexicans and Indians. He then became interested with McKinney & Williams in the construction of a mill and trading post on a small stream flowing into the Trinity, named for him Menard creek.
When the Texas revolution broke out the Mexicans endeavored to incite the Indian tribes on the Northwestern frontier to over-run and desolate the country. At the solicitation of the Texas government Col. Menard went among them and by his personal exertions prevented an invasion and kept them quiet. He was a member of the convention which declared the independence of Texas and framed the constitution of the Republic.
In December, 1836, at the first session of the first Congress of Texas, Col. Menard obtained for the price of $50,000 a grant from Congress for a league of land, on which the city of Galveston now stands, then unoccupied by a single habitation. He laid out the town, and, associating with himself a number of other gentlemen, formed the Galveston City Company, which launched the enterprise of the Island City, with which he was identified from that date until his death.
He represented Galveston county in the Congress of Texas in 1839, and was the author and powerful advocate of the system of finance by the issue of exchequer bills, which failing that session was recommended by President Houston the next and adopted, and provided a revenue and saved the country.
Col. Menard was a man of rare intelligence and noble character, and of the highest order of enterprise and patriotism. He possessed a mind of striking originality and was most agreeable in business and social intercourse. He stood over six feet in height, was of strong, muscular build and possessed undoubted courage.
Col. Menard left a widow, who became the wife of Col. J. S. Thrasher, and a son, Doswell Menard, all of whom have been dead several years. He died September 2, 1856. His funeral took place from the cathedral, and his remains were followed to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery by almost the entire community. [History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston, etc., Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1895.
~
Michael B. Menard who organized and was the first president of the city company which founded Galveston. This company paid $50,000 to the Republic of Texas for the league and labor of land on which the city is situated, and all real estate titles go back to this city company. Michael B. Menard was also the organizer and first president of the Galveston Wharf Company, and the likeness of this pioneer is printed on all the stock certificates of this company. The founder of Galveston died in 1856. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
∼Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Michel Menard was born in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada on December 5, 1805. He had little schooling, instead working at John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company in Detroit as a teenager. In 1822 he joined his uncle in the fur business near Kaskaskia, Illinois, where he learned to read and write in both French and English. In December of 1829 he applied for citizenship in Texas, moved to Nacogdoches and continued his trade in furs, branching out into the sale of horses and land permits as well. He was very successful; within five years he owned over forty thousand acres and operated a gristmill that he had built himself. He was elected the delegate of Liberty Municipality to attend the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. Although he personally believed the argument for independence was impractical, he signed the Declaration of Independence once he realized it was the majority will. He was quickly put to work as the intermediary between the Texans and the resident Indians, negotiating treaties with the Shawnee, Delaware and Kickapoo tribes. Once Texas had won its independence, he began developing land on Galveston Island that had previously been forbidden by the ruling Mexican government. Calling his venture the Galveston City Company, he began selling land parcels and promoting the island to investors; Menard is recognized today as the founder of the city of Galveston, representing the new town in the Texas Congress from 1840-1841. He was married four times, his first three wives dying young from cholera or yellow fever; his last wife presenting him with his only child in 1850. On September 2, 1856, Michel Menard passed away in his home in Galveston. His home, built in 1838 and the oldest building in the city, is today a state historical landmark. Menard County and the town of Menard are both named in his honor.
This man, who may with propriety be called the founder of Galveston, was a Canadian. He moved from Illinois to Texas. Was a member of the Texas Congress from Galveston county. He died in 1854. [A Texas Scrapbook Made Up Of The History, Biography, and Miscellany of Texas And Its People, compiled by D. W. C. Baker, 1875
Contributor: Sherry
----
MENARD, Col. M. B.
Michel Branamour Menard was born in the village of La Prairie, near Montreal, Canada, December 5, 1805. His parents were French. At the age of sixteen he engaged in the Northwestern fur trade, in the employ of an American company at Detroit. Later he went to Missouri at the solicitation of his uncle, Pierre Menard, then Lieutenant Governor of the Territory of Missouri, and an extensive fur trader, and for several years traded for him. Becoming attached to the Indians, he determined to remain among them, and was elected chief of the principal tribe of the Shawnees, which station he held for several years.
In 1833 or '84 Col. Menard came to Texas and settled near Nacogdoches, where he traded with the Mexicans and Indians. He then became interested with McKinney & Williams in the construction of a mill and trading post on a small stream flowing into the Trinity, named for him Menard creek.
When the Texas revolution broke out the Mexicans endeavored to incite the Indian tribes on the Northwestern frontier to over-run and desolate the country. At the solicitation of the Texas government Col. Menard went among them and by his personal exertions prevented an invasion and kept them quiet. He was a member of the convention which declared the independence of Texas and framed the constitution of the Republic.
In December, 1836, at the first session of the first Congress of Texas, Col. Menard obtained for the price of $50,000 a grant from Congress for a league of land, on which the city of Galveston now stands, then unoccupied by a single habitation. He laid out the town, and, associating with himself a number of other gentlemen, formed the Galveston City Company, which launched the enterprise of the Island City, with which he was identified from that date until his death.
He represented Galveston county in the Congress of Texas in 1839, and was the author and powerful advocate of the system of finance by the issue of exchequer bills, which failing that session was recommended by President Houston the next and adopted, and provided a revenue and saved the country.
Col. Menard was a man of rare intelligence and noble character, and of the highest order of enterprise and patriotism. He possessed a mind of striking originality and was most agreeable in business and social intercourse. He stood over six feet in height, was of strong, muscular build and possessed undoubted courage.
Col. Menard left a widow, who became the wife of Col. J. S. Thrasher, and a son, Doswell Menard, all of whom have been dead several years. He died September 2, 1856. His funeral took place from the cathedral, and his remains were followed to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery by almost the entire community. [History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston, etc., Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1895.
~
Michael B. Menard who organized and was the first president of the city company which founded Galveston. This company paid $50,000 to the Republic of Texas for the league and labor of land on which the city is situated, and all real estate titles go back to this city company. Michael B. Menard was also the organizer and first president of the Galveston Wharf Company, and the likeness of this pioneer is printed on all the stock certificates of this company. The founder of Galveston died in 1856. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
∼Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Michel Menard was born in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada on December 5, 1805. He had little schooling, instead working at John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company in Detroit as a teenager. In 1822 he joined his uncle in the fur business near Kaskaskia, Illinois, where he learned to read and write in both French and English. In December of 1829 he applied for citizenship in Texas, moved to Nacogdoches and continued his trade in furs, branching out into the sale of horses and land permits as well. He was very successful; within five years he owned over forty thousand acres and operated a gristmill that he had built himself. He was elected the delegate of Liberty Municipality to attend the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. Although he personally believed the argument for independence was impractical, he signed the Declaration of Independence once he realized it was the majority will. He was quickly put to work as the intermediary between the Texans and the resident Indians, negotiating treaties with the Shawnee, Delaware and Kickapoo tribes. Once Texas had won its independence, he began developing land on Galveston Island that had previously been forbidden by the ruling Mexican government. Calling his venture the Galveston City Company, he began selling land parcels and promoting the island to investors; Menard is recognized today as the founder of the city of Galveston, representing the new town in the Texas Congress from 1840-1841. He was married four times, his first three wives dying young from cholera or yellow fever; his last wife presenting him with his only child in 1850. On September 2, 1856, Michel Menard passed away in his home in Galveston. His home, built in 1838 and the oldest building in the city, is today a state historical landmark. Menard County and the town of Menard are both named in his honor.
Contributor: Sherry
----
MENARD, Col. M. B.
Michel Branamour Menard was born in the village of La Prairie, near Montreal, Canada, December 5, 1805. His parents were French. At the age of sixteen he engaged in the Northwestern fur trade, in the employ of an American company at Detroit. Later he went to Missouri at the solicitation of his uncle, Pierre Menard, then Lieutenant Governor of the Territory of Missouri, and an extensive fur trader, and for several years traded for him. Becoming attached to the Indians, he determined to remain among them, and was elected chief of the principal tribe of the Shawnees, which station he held for several years.
In 1833 or '84 Col. Menard came to Texas and settled near Nacogdoches, where he traded with the Mexicans and Indians. He then became interested with McKinney & Williams in the construction of a mill and trading post on a small stream flowing into the Trinity, named for him Menard creek.
When the Texas revolution broke out the Mexicans endeavored to incite the Indian tribes on the Northwestern frontier to over-run and desolate the country. At the solicitation of the Texas government Col. Menard went among them and by his personal exertions prevented an invasion and kept them quiet. He was a member of the convention which declared the independence of Texas and framed the constitution of the Republic.
In December, 1836, at the first session of the first Congress of Texas, Col. Menard obtained for the price of $50,000 a grant from Congress for a league of land, on which the city of Galveston now stands, then unoccupied by a single habitation. He laid out the town, and, associating with himself a number of other gentlemen, formed the Galveston City Company, which launched the enterprise of the Island City, with which he was identified from that date until his death.
He represented Galveston county in the Congress of Texas in 1839, and was the author and powerful advocate of the system of finance by the issue of exchequer bills, which failing that session was recommended by President Houston the next and adopted, and provided a revenue and saved the country.
Col. Menard was a man of rare intelligence and noble character, and of the highest order of enterprise and patriotism. He possessed a mind of striking originality and was most agreeable in business and social intercourse. He stood over six feet in height, was of strong, muscular build and possessed undoubted courage.
Col. Menard left a widow, who became the wife of Col. J. S. Thrasher, and a son, Doswell Menard, all of whom have been dead several years. He died September 2, 1856. His funeral took place from the cathedral, and his remains were followed to their last resting place in the Catholic cemetery by almost the entire community. [History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston, etc., Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1895.
~
Michael B. Menard who organized and was the first president of the city company which founded Galveston. This company paid $50,000 to the Republic of Texas for the league and labor of land on which the city is situated, and all real estate titles go back to this city company. Michael B. Menard was also the organizer and first president of the Galveston Wharf Company, and the likeness of this pioneer is printed on all the stock certificates of this company. The founder of Galveston died in 1856. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
∼Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Michel Menard was born in La Prairie, Quebec, Canada on December 5, 1805. He had little schooling, instead working at John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company in Detroit as a teenager. In 1822 he joined his uncle in the fur business near Kaskaskia, Illinois, where he learned to read and write in both French and English. In December of 1829 he applied for citizenship in Texas, moved to Nacogdoches and continued his trade in furs, branching out into the sale of horses and land permits as well. He was very successful; within five years he owned over forty thousand acres and operated a gristmill that he had built himself. He was elected the delegate of Liberty Municipality to attend the Convention of 1836 to discuss the coming secession and war with Mexico. Although he personally believed the argument for independence was impractical, he signed the Declaration of Independence once he realized it was the majority will. He was quickly put to work as the intermediary between the Texans and the resident Indians, negotiating treaties with the Shawnee, Delaware and Kickapoo tribes. Once Texas had won its independence, he began developing land on Galveston Island that had previously been forbidden by the ruling Mexican government. Calling his venture the Galveston City Company, he began selling land parcels and promoting the island to investors; Menard is recognized today as the founder of the city of Galveston, representing the new town in the Texas Congress from 1840-1841. He was married four times, his first three wives dying young from cholera or yellow fever; his last wife presenting him with his only child in 1850. On September 2, 1856, Michel Menard passed away in his home in Galveston. His home, built in 1838 and the oldest building in the city, is today a state historical landmark. Menard County and the town of Menard are both named in his honor.
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