John Johnston (fur trader) facts for kids

John Johnston (1762–1828) was a successful fur trader from Britain. He worked for the North West Company in Sault Ste. Marie. At that time, Sault Ste. Marie was still Canadian territory, before the War of 1812. Johnston was an important leader in the Michigan Territory of the United States, even though he never became a US citizen. He married Ozhaguscodaywayquay (Woman of the Green Glade). She was the daughter of Waubojeeg (White Fisher), a well-known Ojibwe war chief and leader from what is now northern Wisconsin. The Johnstons were important figures in both the European-American and Ojibwe communities. The War of 1812 greatly changed Johnston's life. After the war, the U.S. stopped Canadians from trading in its territory.

Early Life and the Fur Trade

Johnston was born in Belfast, Ireland. He came from a well-off family. His family owned land near Coleraine in County Londonderry. His father was an engineer who helped build the Belfast Water Works.

In 1792, when he was a young man, Johnston moved to Canada. He saw many chances to succeed there. He had important letters that helped him meet leaders in society. These included the powerful people of the North West Company in Montreal, Quebec. The fur trade seemed like a great way to make money. Johnston planned to be a "wintering partner." This meant he would trade with Native Americans at a trading post far from the cities. He used his own money to buy goods in Montreal to take with him.

Marriage and Family Life

Johnston traveled to Sault Ste. Marie, a trip that took many weeks back then. He settled on the south side of the river. There, he met Ozhaguscodaywayquay (Woman of the Green Glade). She was the daughter of Waubojeeg (White Fisher), a respected Ojibwe chief.

Johnston fell in love with Chief Waubojeeg's daughter. But the Chief was careful about white men. When Johnston asked to marry his daughter, the Chief first said no. He told Johnston:

White Man, I have noticed your behaviour, it has been correct; but, White Man, your colour is deceitful. Of you, may I expect better things? You say you are going to Montreal; go, and if you return I shall be satisfied of your sincerity and will give you my daughter.

Johnston returned, and the couple married. After marrying, Ozhaguscodaywayquay also used the name Susan Johnston.

Most fur traders were Europeans with good social standing. They often married upper-class Ojibwa women. These couples formed the top part of society on the frontier. Family connections were very helpful for traders to succeed. Johnston is thought to be the first European-American to settle permanently in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Johnstons' home in Sault Ste. Marie was built in 1796. It was made of cedar logs in a French colonial style. When their oldest daughter Jane married Henry Schoolcraft, they built an addition for them. This addition is now the only part of the original house left. It is an important historic house in the city. Jane Johnston Schoolcraft is known as the first Native American woman poet.

The south side of the river became United States territory in 1797. This happened after treaties following the American Revolutionary War. But Johnston never became a US citizen. At that time, the border was not very strict. Native Americans had a special status and were not usually considered US citizens. For people in Sault Ste. Marie, daily life did not change much after 1797.

Johnston's Career and Challenges

As a young man, Johnston was excited about working with the North West Company. He was impressed by the company partners and their way of life. When the company started in 1787, it had many partners and employees.

Over the years, Johnston became very successful. His fur trading business grew stronger because of his wife Susan's family ties to the Ojibwe community. The Johnstons were known as a cultured family. They were leaders in both the Ojibwe and European-American communities. They had many friends and connections.

The Johnstons often welcomed important people to their home. These included explorers, traders, government officials, and political leaders. With his wife and her family's help, Johnston learned a lot about Ojibwe customs and the Great Lakes region. He played a key role in developing the Michigan frontier. He was also appointed a Justice of the Peace.

Sault Ste. Marie was a diverse community. It had fur traders, many with Native American wives. There were also Ojibwe natives, some of high status. Workers included Métis, Europeans, and Native Americans. The town had warehouses for furs, houses, and Native American wigwams. Many Ojibwe stayed in the area for the good fishing.

Economic problems between Great Britain and the US began to affect the fur trade. In 1806, changes to the Jay Treaty limited British fur traders to working only in Canada. Both the British traders and the Ojibwe wanted to go back to the old rules. These rules allowed free travel across the border for trade by people from both countries and by Native Americans.

During the War of 1812, Johnston helped the British. He had long-standing ties to them. In 1814, he sent about 100 of his men and two boats to help the British soldiers at Michilimackinac. An American force tried to stop him but failed. They then went to Sault Ste. Marie. There, the US raiders burned the North West Company warehouses on both sides of the St. Mary's River. This caused huge losses for Johnston and the Company. The troops also raided his house, called Johnson Hall. They stole from his library and burned the house down. Johnston's wife and children hid in the woods when the soldiers arrived. Johnston never became a U.S. citizen.

The Johnstons' oldest son, Louis, was a lieutenant in the British Navy. He served on the Queen Charlotte during the War of 1812. He was captured by Commodore Oliver Perry during a battle on Lake Erie. His time as a prisoner in Cincinnati, Ohio made him dislike living under American rule.

After the war, Johnston asked Governor Lewis Cass of Michigan to lift the trading restrictions. He mentioned his services to the region, but it did not help. He lost a lot of money and could not trade as much. He was never able to get back his former wealth. He asked the British government for money for his losses, but he never received any. He believed he was too old to move to Canada, so he stayed in Sault Ste. Marie. In 1821, Johnston helped negotiate an end to the rivalry between the North West and Hudson's Bay companies. He helped them merge.

The US government was still worried about the British stirring up Native Americans along the border. So, in 1822, they built Fort Brady at Sault Ste. Marie. With the fort and soldiers, more American settlers began to arrive. The culture of Sault Ste. Marie changed a lot. Johnston and others who had built the community were pushed aside by the newcomers. The military presence made the government's role more formal. The new American residents often did not want to mix with the French, Ojibwe, or Métis people. They looked down on much of the existing society.

Johnston's Children

The Johnstons had eight children. Most of them were American because they were born in Sault Ste. Marie after it became US territory. The parents taught them English, Ojibwe, and French. Johnston had a large library with many classic English books. His children used these for their education. The parents made sure their children learned about both cultures. They expected them to have good opportunities in society. Many fur traders sent their children to Montreal for formal schooling.

The Johnstons' oldest daughter, Jane, married Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. He arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 1822 as an Indian agent for the US government. His job was to build formal relationships with the Native Americans in the region. He became known for studying and writing about Native American life. Even with his marriage, he remained more separate from Native American life than John Johnston had been.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft was honored in 2008. She was added to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame for her writings and historical work. She is recognized as the first Native American literary writer and poet. A large collection of her work was published in 2007.

The second daughter, Eliza, never married. The next two daughters married well. The third daughter married Archdeacon MacMurray. He worked as a missionary with tribes along Lake Superior. Maria, the youngest daughter, married James Laurence Schoolcraft. He was a younger brother of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft.

After the War of 1812, American settlement and rule changed Sault Ste. Marie and Michigan greatly. Mixed-race men, even from upper-class families like the Johnstons, faced discrimination from the Americans. Americans often looked down on children of mixed marriages. They were also suspicious of Roman Catholics and French speakers. They often did not understand the different groups in northern Michigan society. They grouped everyone who had lived there before them together.

As mentioned, the oldest son, Lewis Johnston, stayed in Canada after the War of 1812. Because John Johnston did not want to become a US citizen, his second son, George, was shut out of the fur trade. This happened as Americans gained more control. During the 1820s, George Johnston worked for Henry Schoolcraft. He had different roles for the US Indian Agency, including as an interpreter.

After Johnston's death, his wife Susan Johnston and their son William managed the sugaring and fishing business. The youngest son, John McDougall Johnston, settled on Sugar Island. This island is along the St. Mary's River, across from Canada. He was later appointed as the last official US Indian Agent in the area.

Many of John Johnston's descendants live around the world today.