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GOULD NOT LIVE ALWAYSPaul Narcelle, a Settler of 1841.Passes Away—Oldest Dakotian.A TYPICAL MAN OF THE FRONTIEREmployed as a Trapper During-the Forties.—Brief Sketch ofan Eventful Life.Fort Pierre, S, D., Feb. 20.—The Stock Journal, speaking of the death of the late Paul Narcelle, says: Narcelle was undoubtedly the oldest settler in what is now known as the Dakotas. He was born near Montreal. Can., in the year 1812. At the age of 15, in company with about two hundred Frenchmen ir* the employ of the American Fur company, he left Canada and has ever since been in the northwest. Leaving Canada in the spring of 1K3( under the direction of Louis Fran-cher, they pushed out into the thenunexplored west. They came down the lakes to Fort Deaborn, now Chicago, and remained there a few days awaiting the arrival of a half-breed living on the Winconsin river and who had some cattle, and wasfamiliar with all the trails leading to the rivers. They carried Mackinaw boats and moved considerable provisions and followed the water courses, going across to the Wisconsin river, then down the Wisconsin, thence up the Mississippi to SLAnthony falls, thence up the Minnesota to St. Peter where part of the company remained, together with some, others who had been sentup from St. Louis. From St. Peter they embarked in carts which thevmade from logs, and started for Fort Pierre, arriving here in time to prepare for winter.These were the first white men most of the Indians hereabouts had evere seen, though a few had met the Lewis and Clarke expedition, which winterd during the year 1802-3 at the mouth of Bad river. Substantial headquarters were, established and Fort Pierre was the most important point in the northwest belonging to this company. Often a thousand employes were quartered here.In thespringof 1831 Paul Narcelle, with about half of the company, were sent up the Missouri river to the Yellowstone, then to themour.tiins. This expedition was continued to Arizona and New Mexico. It required three years to make llie trip, and on the return Narcelle remained here some time. Each year thereafter he would go up to Fort Benton and other upper Missouri river points until about the year 1841, when he. left the employ of the company and located permanently at this point, and finally near the mouth of Antelope creek, where he resided until 1892, when he removed just north of the Cheyenne river. Pierre Choteau had charge of these parts for American Fur company for many years, and Mr. Narcelle was his most trusted friend.
Newspaper Details
The Black Hills Union
Rapid City, South Dakota, US
Fri, Feb 26, 1897
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 25 Jul 2022
Other Publications Near Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City The Spectator
The Black Hills Union and Western Stock Review
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