Antoine Carre (explorer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antoine Carre
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| Born | |
| Died |
Petoskey, Michigan, United States
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| Nationality | French |
| Other names | Neaatooshing |
| Occupation | Chieftain, fur trader |
| Successor | Petosegay |
| Children | Petosegay, son |
| Relatives | Ignatius Petoskey, grandson Francis Petoskey, grandson Mitchell Petoskey, grandson |
Antoine Carré was a French explorer and fur trader who lived a long time ago, from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. He became a very important leader among the Ottawa people. After marrying the daughter of an Ottawa chief, he founded and led a group known as the Bear River Ottawa. In the Ottawa language, he was called Neaatooshing. His son, Chief Petosegay, and grandson, Ignatius Petoskey, also became famous Ottawa leaders. The city of Petoskey, Michigan today is named after them.
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Who Was Antoine Carré?
Antoine Carré was a Frenchman who came from France in the late 1770s or early 1780s. People say he came from a noble family. He worked as a fur trader for a big company called the John Jacob Astor Fur Company.
As a fur trader, he traveled a lot through northern Illinois and Michigan. He lived among the local Native American tribes and learned their languages. This helped him understand their ways of life.
Joining the Ottawa Tribe
Antoine Carré eventually married the daughter of an Ottawa chief. This was a big step, and he was adopted into an Ottawa family. The tribe gave him a new name, Neaatooshing, which means "the one who walks on all fours" or "the one who crawls."
Leading the Bear River Ottawa
In the late 1780s, Antoine Carré started his own group of Ottawa people along the Bear River. His home was set up near a place called Middle Village, about seven miles northwest of Harbor Springs.
The Story of Petosegay
One spring in 1787, Antoine Carré and his tribe were traveling north along the Kalamazoo River. After spending the winter in what is now Chicago, they were near the mouth of the Manistee. This is where his wife gave birth to their son.
Local stories say that Carré held his new baby up to the rising sun. He then said, "His name shall be Petosegay and he shall become an important person." This son, Petosegay, did indeed become a very important leader.
A Voice for His People
Antoine Carré was a representative for the Ottawa people. He signed many important agreements, called treaties, between the Ottawa and the United States government. After he passed away, his son, Ignatius Petoskey, took over as the chief and leader of the Bear River Ottawa.
