Marantette House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Marantette House
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Marantette House, 2018
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 25538 Simpson Rd., Mendon, Michigan |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001947 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
The Marantette House is an old house located on Simpson Road in Mendon, Michigan. It's special because it shows a unique style of Greek Revival architecture. This house is also one of the few in the area that faces the St. Joseph River. This was important long ago when rivers were the main way to travel. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
It was built for Patrick Marantette, who came from Detroit. He settled here in the 1830s. He was a trader who worked with the Potawatomi and other Native American groups. The Marantette family owned the house for many years, even into the 1970s.
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History of the Marantette House
Early Trading Post Days
In 1829, two brothers, Peter and James Godfroy, set up a trading post. This spot was called Nottawaseepe by the local Potawatomi people. These Potawatomi had joined with some Odawa and Ojibwa (Chippewa) groups. The brothers' father, Gabriel Godfroy, worked for the government with Native American affairs.
The Godfroy brothers lived in Detroit. They had an agent named Frances Mouton run their Nottawaseepe trading post. They also had another trading post in Coldwater. Patrick Marantette, James's brother-in-law, was their agent there. Patrick was also from Detroit and had French ancestors.
Patrick Marantette Arrives
In 1833, Patrick Marantette took over from Mouton at Nottawaseepe. However, that same year, an important agreement was signed. This was the Treaty of Chicago. It was signed by Native American leaders and the United States. This treaty gave a lot of land in southwestern Michigan to the U.S. government.
Even though some land was left for the Potawatomi, the U.S. government wanted Native Americans to move. This was part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The government encouraged them to move west of the Mississippi River.
Building the Marantette Home
In the early years, many new settlers were French people from Detroit. Later, more people from New York and New England arrived. In 1840, the U.S. government forced most Native Americans to leave this area.
In 1835, Patrick Marantette married Francis Mouton. She was the daughter of the trader Frances Mouton. This was the first European marriage in the settlement. In the same year, Patrick started building this house. It was built to face the St. Joseph River. This was because the river was the main way to travel back then. Their daughter, Elizabeth Marantette, was born in 1836. She was the first European American born in the township.
Life at the Marantette House
Marantette continued to trade and provide supplies to the local Native American groups. But in 1840, the government decided to make the Native Americans move. Talks about this move happened at the Marantette House. The Potawatomi were convinced to move. Marantette was told to give them supplies, which cost thousands of dollars.
The U.S. government did not pay him back until 1850. Because of this, he had to sell much of his land to cover the costs. Patrick and Francis Marantette raised their family in this house. They lived there until they passed away. The house then went to their children and grandchildren. Marantette family members owned the house until at least the early 1970s. A famous descendant, Elliot Marantette "Pete" Estes, was born in Mendon. He became the president of General Motors from 1974 to 1981.
Design of the Marantette House
The Marantette House is a two-story house. It is built in the Greek Revival style. It sits on a small hill overlooking the St. Joseph River. The side of the house facing the river has porches on both floors. A small entrance faced the road. The windows have a classic design with six small panes of glass on the top and six on the bottom.
