Chicago Area Information:

Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable (1745-1818), a black man whose father was French Canadian and mother who was Haitian, came to Chicago around 1780 as a fur trader and built his house on land where the Wrigley building and Pioneer Court now stand on the north bank of the Chicago River, just east of what is now Michigan Avenue. He traded with the Indians until 1796. The Potawatomis adopted Du Sable as one of their own and allowed Du Sable to marry Catherine, who was a Potawatomi and cousin of their chief, Pokagon. By marrying into one of the Midwest's largest tribes, and being of dark skin, Du Sable was trusted and successful in his trade. He started the city's first commercial enterprise which was a trading post on the Chicago River. He conducted business regularly with other traders, merchants, and adventurers.

The city's first recorded marriage took place at his trading post as well as the first election. Also housed the first city's post office and court.

In 1800, Du Sable sold his property to Jean Lalime, a French-Canadian trapper. Shortly after, John Kinzie purchased it. (information on John Kinzie provided after Du Sable's information)

In 1805, Du Sable and his family moved to Peoria where he lived for ten years and then settled with his granddaughter and husband in St. Charles, Missouri, where he died in 1818.

Chicago's first official resident is remembered today with a high school and museum named after him.

Du Sable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place
Chicago, IL
947-0600

Founded in 1961, one of the finest African American museums in the country. This museum is dedicated to exploring the experience of American blacks.

Du Sable Museum is located in Washington Park and is housed in the former Washington Park Administration building designed in 1910 by D.H. Burnham & Co. The museum has a library and archives. Activities like films, lectures, arts and crafts festivals, creative performances and book fairs are presented at the museum.

John Kinzie was Chicago's first permanent white settler. Born in Quebec in 1763. He arrived in Chicago in 1804 and became successful trader. Kinzie sold supplies to the soldiers at Fort Dearborn and bought furs from the Indians. He died in Chicago, January 1828 at age sixty-five.