Dominique Ducharme

Dominique Ducharme, born François Ducharme on May 15, 1765, in Lachine, Quebec, was a prominent French Canadian fur trader, settler, militia officer, and public servant. He made history in 1793 as the first white European to settle in the Fox Valley, acquiring land along the Fox River near the Kaukauna rapids by trading two barrels of rum with local Indigenous tribes. This transaction resulted in the Ducharme deed, recognized as Wisconsin's first recorded deed.

Following his initial settlement, Ducharme expanded his influence by securing a 999-year lease on a substantial tract of land from the Menominee Indians. His trading activities flourished, and he developed a deep understanding of various native dialects while engaging with the local Menomini and Chippewa tribes. After spending approximately fifteen years in the fur trade, he returned to the Montreal district, where he settled at Lac des Deux Montagnes.

On June 26, 1810, Ducharme married Agathe de Lorimier, a Métis woman and daughter of a resident Indian agent. His military career began shortly after, as he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Pointe-Claire Battalion of Militia during the War of 1812. Ducharme played a crucial role in the conflict, leading a contingent of Six Nations Indians and participating in significant battles, including the Battle of Beaver Dams, where his leadership contributed to the American detachment's surrender.

Despite his military achievements, Ducharme's later years were marked by a return to a quieter life at Lac des Deux Montagnes, where he served as an interpreter for the Indian Department. He passed away on August 3, 1853, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure in the early history of Wisconsin and a respected leader among Indigenous communities.