History of Kaskaskia
How it came to be...
In 1673, the French explorers, Louis Joliet
and Pere Marguette, began the journey which
would memorialize them for centuries to come.
They began their journey south and west of
Lake Michigan, in search of a route to the
Gulf of California.
Along the way they were warned by Indians
not to go any farther south, as in the "great
waters", meaning the Mississippi River,
there were fish so large they could tip the
canoe and eat them alive! Also, there were
fierce tribes who lived along those shores,
and they would surely be captured and tortured.
The men ignored the natives, and proof of
the Indian warnings soon followed. Marguette
recorded an incident of a giant fish nearly
tipping the canoe.
After a time, the explorers realized they
were not going to find the Gulf of California
on the Great River, but it was taking them
into hostile Spanish territory. They turned
around and began the journey back home, returning
by way of the Illinois River. It was along
this river, near present day Utica, they
found a peaceful tribe who called themselves
the Kaskaskia.
The men stayed for awhile and rested among
the Kaskaskia, becoming friends with them.
Marquette was in bad health and had to return
to Canada, but promised them he would return.
This he did in 1665, and founded the Mission
of the Immaculate Conception. When his health
worsened, Marquette began the journey back
to Canada. He died along the way at the age
of thirty-eight.
The mission was relocated several times because
of conflict between the Kaskaskia of the
Illini Confederation and the more warring
Iroquois. Finally, the Kaskaskia and Tamaroa
Indians settled in what is today, south St.
Louis, near the Des Peres River. Here they
stayed with Father Marest for about 3 years,
then moved near the Michigamea River, now
known as the Kaskaskia River.
It was this village of Kaskaskia, in 1703,
that Randolph county began.
The only inhabitants were a few French traders
and their Indian wives, and Father Marest.
For the first few years, it was little more
than a mission station. Their tranquil lifestyle
would prevail for another ten to twelve years
before the French government would send Commander
Boisbriant to build a fort for protection
of the increasing commercial ventures to
the area.
A grant of land for Commons was made on August
14, 1743, by M.VANDRIEUL and M. SALMON, governor
and Commissary ordonnateur respectively.
It is said that Kaskaskia became an incorporated
town in 1725.
With near 100 soldiers, officials, engineers,
and workmen, Boisbriant oversaw the building
of the first Ft. deChartres, located very
close to the Mississippi River. It was located
approximately eighteen miles north of Kaskaskia,
on the East side of the river, and was named
to honor the son of the French regent.
By all laws of nature, being so close to
the river, the fort should have succumbed
to the inevitable, the floods...but yet today
sits proudly in the midst of flood plain
land, a monument to the tenacity of the people
determined to save the areas French heritage.
In the last century (1700's), Kaskaskia was
essentially a French village. The French
style of architecture prevailed, and rows
of low one-story houses lined the streets.
The only brick house in the place was built
about 1750 with bricks brought in boats from
Pittsburg. In time, the French exclusiveness
broke away and society began to be taken
by men of English blood.
Early in the present century (1800's), a
large floating population poured into the
town. Immigration to Illinois had set in
rapidly, and every new settler directed his
course to Kaskaskia, from which point he
explored the country and selected his location.
From 1810 to 1820, the town probably contained
more people than any other period of its
history. A census taken at that time showed
a population of seven thousand. Its merchants
carried on a heavy trade and an air of bustle
and activity pervaded the streets. About
1820, other towns began to spring up, and
Kaskaskia was no longer the center of immigration,
and gradually and quietly it lost its importance,
and gave way to rival settlements.
The flood of 1844 gave the finishing blow
to its prosperity. Many of the inhabitants
left after that disaster, moving farther
inland in Illinois and into St. Louis, Missouri.
It was the seat of government of the Territory
of Illinois from 1809 to 1818. It was the
county seat of Randolph county from 1795
to 1848.
(More on Ft. deChartres)
(More on Kaskaskia Indians)
ss: Randolph County Illinois, Vol.1, 1795-1995
Return to INDEX, Randolph County/Kaskaskia