Trader at the Lower Sioux Agency, killed at the outbreak of the Dakota War.
A fur trader of mixed descent, he was the son of Michel LaBatte and Angelique Wapahasha (Wabasha). He married Judith Provost Brisbois on Sept. 21, 1829 at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. According to family history researchers, they had 17 children, most of whom were born at Prairie Du Chien.
He was a longtime, trusted employee of the American Fur Company. More than 30 years before the US-Dakota war, in 1830, he had built one of the first houses and trading posts in Winona County. It was built in Rollingstone township on section 17 near the Mississippi river and below the Bald or Whitewater bluff, later known as "Chimney Rock". During the Black Hawk war in 1832, the house was abandoned for a time. For several years, it was again occupied and used as LaBatte's main storage location for supplies. The building was permanently abandoned in 1845.
In about 1835, Joseph LaFramboise established Chanopa Post, a fur trade post near Goodwin, South Dakota. It was later operated by François LaBatte when he worked for Pratte, Choteau and Co. Because it was located on the east side of Two Woods Lake, it was also referred to as the Two Woods Lake Post.
The "History of Wabasha County" compiled by Dr. L. H. Bunnell recounts a story about Francois LaBathe that was told by Gen. Henry H. Sibley:
"Indian etiquette demands on all occasions that the visitor shall leave nothing unconsumed of the meat or drink placed before him. There was a tea-party given at one time at Fort Snelling by Capt. Gooding, of the army, and Joseph Laframboise, Alex Faribault and Labathe were invited. It was in July, and the weather very warm. It appears that Laframboise spoke with fluency several different languages, and both he and Faribault were practical jokers. In due time the party were seated around the table, and the cups and saucers of those days were of the generous proportions ignored in these days. The large cup filled with tea was handed to Labathe and soon disposed of. At that time the poor fellow could speak nothing more of English than the imperfect sentence "tank you." When his cup was emptied, Mrs. Gooding, who was at the head of the table, said, "Mr. Labathe, please take some more tea." Labathe replied, "tank you, madam," which the waiter understood to mean assent. He took the cup and handed it to the hostess, which was forthwith supplied with the tea. Labathe managed to swallow that, sweltering meanwhile with the fervent heat of the evening, and was again requested to permit his cup to be replenished. "Tank you, madam," was the only reply the poor victim could make. Seven great cups full of the hot tea had been swallowed, Laframboise and Faribault in the meantime almost dying with laughter. For the eighth time the waiter approached for the cup, when the aboriginal politeness which had enabled him to bear up amid his sufferings gave way entirely, and rising from his seat, to the amazement of the company, he exclaimed frantically, "Laframboise, pour l'amour de bon Dieu, pourquoi ne dites vous pas a madame qui je ne vout point davantage?" (translated: "Laframboise, for the love of God, why do you not tell madam that I do not wish any more tea?") Gen. Sibley says Labathe never heard the last of that while he lived."
In 1837, Francois LaBathe accompanied the delegation of Dakota chiefs to Washington to finalize the terms of the treaty that would allow settlement of the land on the west side of the Mississippi River. Also accompanying the delegation to represent the American Fur Company were Alexis Bailly, Joseph LaFramboise, Henry Hastings Sibley, Alexander Rocque, and Alexander and Oliver Faribault. In 1853, he was the county coroner for Nicollet County.
In 1860, he opened his store at the Lower Sioux Agency. He sold dry goods and food. A separate log building nearby served as a summer kitchen. By August 1862, there were four trading buildings (or stores) at the Agency. All were made from hand-hewn logs and were located west of the main Agency buildings. LaBatte's was first, then Andrew and Nathan Myrick's, just east of the ravine. Across the ravine and to the north, near the east of the bluff, was William H. Forbes's store, and to the west of Forbes's, about 150 yards, was Lewis Robert's. When hostile Dakota attacked the Agency in the early morning of Aug. 18, 1862, Francois LaBatte was killed while in his store.
After the war, LaBatte's log kitchen was used by a military commission as a kangaroo courtroom to try Dakota prisoners of war for the war crimes or atrocities committed against civilians during the war. It had been one of the few buildings to survive the fires set at the Agency during attacks by the Dakota. Many of the trials lasted only 10 minutes or less and in some cases, resulted in convictions for simply being present at a battle. Ultimately, 38 Dakota men were sentenced to death by hanging. The result was the largest simultaneous mass execution in US history at Mankato, Minn. on Dec. 26, 1862. Most historians now believe that many of those executed were innocent of the crimes of which they were accused.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy K Coffin
Related Links:
Dakota (Sioux) Memorial - 1862
A fur trader of mixed descent, he was the son of Michel LaBatte and Angelique Wapahasha (Wabasha). He married Judith Provost Brisbois on Sept. 21, 1829 at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. According to family history researchers, they had 17 children, most of whom were born at Prairie Du Chien.
He was a longtime, trusted employee of the American Fur Company. More than 30 years before the US-Dakota war, in 1830, he had built one of the first houses and trading posts in Winona County. It was built in Rollingstone township on section 17 near the Mississippi river and below the Bald or Whitewater bluff, later known as "Chimney Rock". During the Black Hawk war in 1832, the house was abandoned for a time. For several years, it was again occupied and used as LaBatte's main storage location for supplies. The building was permanently abandoned in 1845.
In about 1835, Joseph LaFramboise established Chanopa Post, a fur trade post near Goodwin, South Dakota. It was later operated by François LaBatte when he worked for Pratte, Choteau and Co. Because it was located on the east side of Two Woods Lake, it was also referred to as the Two Woods Lake Post.
The "History of Wabasha County" compiled by Dr. L. H. Bunnell recounts a story about Francois LaBathe that was told by Gen. Henry H. Sibley:
"Indian etiquette demands on all occasions that the visitor shall leave nothing unconsumed of the meat or drink placed before him. There was a tea-party given at one time at Fort Snelling by Capt. Gooding, of the army, and Joseph Laframboise, Alex Faribault and Labathe were invited. It was in July, and the weather very warm. It appears that Laframboise spoke with fluency several different languages, and both he and Faribault were practical jokers. In due time the party were seated around the table, and the cups and saucers of those days were of the generous proportions ignored in these days. The large cup filled with tea was handed to Labathe and soon disposed of. At that time the poor fellow could speak nothing more of English than the imperfect sentence "tank you." When his cup was emptied, Mrs. Gooding, who was at the head of the table, said, "Mr. Labathe, please take some more tea." Labathe replied, "tank you, madam," which the waiter understood to mean assent. He took the cup and handed it to the hostess, which was forthwith supplied with the tea. Labathe managed to swallow that, sweltering meanwhile with the fervent heat of the evening, and was again requested to permit his cup to be replenished. "Tank you, madam," was the only reply the poor victim could make. Seven great cups full of the hot tea had been swallowed, Laframboise and Faribault in the meantime almost dying with laughter. For the eighth time the waiter approached for the cup, when the aboriginal politeness which had enabled him to bear up amid his sufferings gave way entirely, and rising from his seat, to the amazement of the company, he exclaimed frantically, "Laframboise, pour l'amour de bon Dieu, pourquoi ne dites vous pas a madame qui je ne vout point davantage?" (translated: "Laframboise, for the love of God, why do you not tell madam that I do not wish any more tea?") Gen. Sibley says Labathe never heard the last of that while he lived."
In 1837, Francois LaBathe accompanied the delegation of Dakota chiefs to Washington to finalize the terms of the treaty that would allow settlement of the land on the west side of the Mississippi River. Also accompanying the delegation to represent the American Fur Company were Alexis Bailly, Joseph LaFramboise, Henry Hastings Sibley, Alexander Rocque, and Alexander and Oliver Faribault. In 1853, he was the county coroner for Nicollet County.
In 1860, he opened his store at the Lower Sioux Agency. He sold dry goods and food. A separate log building nearby served as a summer kitchen. By August 1862, there were four trading buildings (or stores) at the Agency. All were made from hand-hewn logs and were located west of the main Agency buildings. LaBatte's was first, then Andrew and Nathan Myrick's, just east of the ravine. Across the ravine and to the north, near the east of the bluff, was William H. Forbes's store, and to the west of Forbes's, about 150 yards, was Lewis Robert's. When hostile Dakota attacked the Agency in the early morning of Aug. 18, 1862, Francois LaBatte was killed while in his store.
After the war, LaBatte's log kitchen was used by a military commission as a kangaroo courtroom to try Dakota prisoners of war for the war crimes or atrocities committed against civilians during the war. It had been one of the few buildings to survive the fires set at the Agency during attacks by the Dakota. Many of the trials lasted only 10 minutes or less and in some cases, resulted in convictions for simply being present at a battle. Ultimately, 38 Dakota men were sentenced to death by hanging. The result was the largest simultaneous mass execution in US history at Mankato, Minn. on Dec. 26, 1862. Most historians now believe that many of those executed were innocent of the crimes of which they were accused.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy K Coffin
Related Links:
Dakota (Sioux) Memorial - 1862
Trader at the Lower Sioux Agency, killed at the outbreak of the Dakota War.
A fur trader of mixed descent, he was the son of Michel LaBatte and Angelique Wapahasha (Wabasha). He married Judith Provost Brisbois on Sept. 21, 1829 at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. According to family history researchers, they had 17 children, most of whom were born at Prairie Du Chien.
He was a longtime, trusted employee of the American Fur Company. More than 30 years before the US-Dakota war, in 1830, he had built one of the first houses and trading posts in Winona County. It was built in Rollingstone township on section 17 near the Mississippi river and below the Bald or Whitewater bluff, later known as "Chimney Rock". During the Black Hawk war in 1832, the house was abandoned for a time. For several years, it was again occupied and used as LaBatte's main storage location for supplies. The building was permanently abandoned in 1845.
In about 1835, Joseph LaFramboise established Chanopa Post, a fur trade post near Goodwin, South Dakota. It was later operated by François LaBatte when he worked for Pratte, Choteau and Co. Because it was located on the east side of Two Woods Lake, it was also referred to as the Two Woods Lake Post.
The "History of Wabasha County" compiled by Dr. L. H. Bunnell recounts a story about Francois LaBathe that was told by Gen. Henry H. Sibley:
"Indian etiquette demands on all occasions that the visitor shall leave nothing unconsumed of the meat or drink placed before him. There was a tea-party given at one time at Fort Snelling by Capt. Gooding, of the army, and Joseph Laframboise, Alex Faribault and Labathe were invited. It was in July, and the weather very warm. It appears that Laframboise spoke with fluency several different languages, and both he and Faribault were practical jokers. In due time the party were seated around the table, and the cups and saucers of those days were of the generous proportions ignored in these days. The large cup filled with tea was handed to Labathe and soon disposed of. At that time the poor fellow could speak nothing more of English than the imperfect sentence "tank you." When his cup was emptied, Mrs. Gooding, who was at the head of the table, said, "Mr. Labathe, please take some more tea." Labathe replied, "tank you, madam," which the waiter understood to mean assent. He took the cup and handed it to the hostess, which was forthwith supplied with the tea. Labathe managed to swallow that, sweltering meanwhile with the fervent heat of the evening, and was again requested to permit his cup to be replenished. "Tank you, madam," was the only reply the poor victim could make. Seven great cups full of the hot tea had been swallowed, Laframboise and Faribault in the meantime almost dying with laughter. For the eighth time the waiter approached for the cup, when the aboriginal politeness which had enabled him to bear up amid his sufferings gave way entirely, and rising from his seat, to the amazement of the company, he exclaimed frantically, "Laframboise, pour l'amour de bon Dieu, pourquoi ne dites vous pas a madame qui je ne vout point davantage?" (translated: "Laframboise, for the love of God, why do you not tell madam that I do not wish any more tea?") Gen. Sibley says Labathe never heard the last of that while he lived."
In 1837, Francois LaBathe accompanied the delegation of Dakota chiefs to Washington to finalize the terms of the treaty that would allow settlement of the land on the west side of the Mississippi River. Also accompanying the delegation to represent the American Fur Company were Alexis Bailly, Joseph LaFramboise, Henry Hastings Sibley, Alexander Rocque, and Alexander and Oliver Faribault. In 1853, he was the county coroner for Nicollet County.
In 1860, he opened his store at the Lower Sioux Agency. He sold dry goods and food. A separate log building nearby served as a summer kitchen. By August 1862, there were four trading buildings (or stores) at the Agency. All were made from hand-hewn logs and were located west of the main Agency buildings. LaBatte's was first, then Andrew and Nathan Myrick's, just east of the ravine. Across the ravine and to the north, near the east of the bluff, was William H. Forbes's store, and to the west of Forbes's, about 150 yards, was Lewis Robert's. When hostile Dakota attacked the Agency in the early morning of Aug. 18, 1862, Francois LaBatte was killed while in his store.
After the war, LaBatte's log kitchen was used by a military commission as a kangaroo courtroom to try Dakota prisoners of war for the war crimes or atrocities committed against civilians during the war. It had been one of the few buildings to survive the fires set at the Agency during attacks by the Dakota. Many of the trials lasted only 10 minutes or less and in some cases, resulted in convictions for simply being present at a battle. Ultimately, 38 Dakota men were sentenced to death by hanging. The result was the largest simultaneous mass execution in US history at Mankato, Minn. on Dec. 26, 1862. Most historians now believe that many of those executed were innocent of the crimes of which they were accused.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy K Coffin
Related Links:
Dakota (Sioux) Memorial - 1862
A fur trader of mixed descent, he was the son of Michel LaBatte and Angelique Wapahasha (Wabasha). He married Judith Provost Brisbois on Sept. 21, 1829 at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. According to family history researchers, they had 17 children, most of whom were born at Prairie Du Chien.
He was a longtime, trusted employee of the American Fur Company. More than 30 years before the US-Dakota war, in 1830, he had built one of the first houses and trading posts in Winona County. It was built in Rollingstone township on section 17 near the Mississippi river and below the Bald or Whitewater bluff, later known as "Chimney Rock". During the Black Hawk war in 1832, the house was abandoned for a time. For several years, it was again occupied and used as LaBatte's main storage location for supplies. The building was permanently abandoned in 1845.
In about 1835, Joseph LaFramboise established Chanopa Post, a fur trade post near Goodwin, South Dakota. It was later operated by François LaBatte when he worked for Pratte, Choteau and Co. Because it was located on the east side of Two Woods Lake, it was also referred to as the Two Woods Lake Post.
The "History of Wabasha County" compiled by Dr. L. H. Bunnell recounts a story about Francois LaBathe that was told by Gen. Henry H. Sibley:
"Indian etiquette demands on all occasions that the visitor shall leave nothing unconsumed of the meat or drink placed before him. There was a tea-party given at one time at Fort Snelling by Capt. Gooding, of the army, and Joseph Laframboise, Alex Faribault and Labathe were invited. It was in July, and the weather very warm. It appears that Laframboise spoke with fluency several different languages, and both he and Faribault were practical jokers. In due time the party were seated around the table, and the cups and saucers of those days were of the generous proportions ignored in these days. The large cup filled with tea was handed to Labathe and soon disposed of. At that time the poor fellow could speak nothing more of English than the imperfect sentence "tank you." When his cup was emptied, Mrs. Gooding, who was at the head of the table, said, "Mr. Labathe, please take some more tea." Labathe replied, "tank you, madam," which the waiter understood to mean assent. He took the cup and handed it to the hostess, which was forthwith supplied with the tea. Labathe managed to swallow that, sweltering meanwhile with the fervent heat of the evening, and was again requested to permit his cup to be replenished. "Tank you, madam," was the only reply the poor victim could make. Seven great cups full of the hot tea had been swallowed, Laframboise and Faribault in the meantime almost dying with laughter. For the eighth time the waiter approached for the cup, when the aboriginal politeness which had enabled him to bear up amid his sufferings gave way entirely, and rising from his seat, to the amazement of the company, he exclaimed frantically, "Laframboise, pour l'amour de bon Dieu, pourquoi ne dites vous pas a madame qui je ne vout point davantage?" (translated: "Laframboise, for the love of God, why do you not tell madam that I do not wish any more tea?") Gen. Sibley says Labathe never heard the last of that while he lived."
In 1837, Francois LaBathe accompanied the delegation of Dakota chiefs to Washington to finalize the terms of the treaty that would allow settlement of the land on the west side of the Mississippi River. Also accompanying the delegation to represent the American Fur Company were Alexis Bailly, Joseph LaFramboise, Henry Hastings Sibley, Alexander Rocque, and Alexander and Oliver Faribault. In 1853, he was the county coroner for Nicollet County.
In 1860, he opened his store at the Lower Sioux Agency. He sold dry goods and food. A separate log building nearby served as a summer kitchen. By August 1862, there were four trading buildings (or stores) at the Agency. All were made from hand-hewn logs and were located west of the main Agency buildings. LaBatte's was first, then Andrew and Nathan Myrick's, just east of the ravine. Across the ravine and to the north, near the east of the bluff, was William H. Forbes's store, and to the west of Forbes's, about 150 yards, was Lewis Robert's. When hostile Dakota attacked the Agency in the early morning of Aug. 18, 1862, Francois LaBatte was killed while in his store.
After the war, LaBatte's log kitchen was used by a military commission as a kangaroo courtroom to try Dakota prisoners of war for the war crimes or atrocities committed against civilians during the war. It had been one of the few buildings to survive the fires set at the Agency during attacks by the Dakota. Many of the trials lasted only 10 minutes or less and in some cases, resulted in convictions for simply being present at a battle. Ultimately, 38 Dakota men were sentenced to death by hanging. The result was the largest simultaneous mass execution in US history at Mankato, Minn. on Dec. 26, 1862. Most historians now believe that many of those executed were innocent of the crimes of which they were accused.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy K Coffin
Related Links:
Dakota (Sioux) Memorial - 1862
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