Pierre Parrant facts for kids
Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant was the first person of European background to live in the area that would become Saint Paul, Minnesota. He became well-known in the area, and for a short time, the village was even named after him.
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Pierre Parrant's Story
Sources don't fully agree on Pierre Parrant's early life. Most say he was of French Canadian heritage. He was likely born near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, around 1777.
Early Life and Fur Trapping
For most of his adult life, Parrant worked as a fur trapper. He worked for a company called McKenzie and Chouteau. He was called "Pig's Eye" because he was blind in one eye. As he got older, the fur trade started to decline. Parrant then looked for new ways to make a living. This search brought him to a new settlement. It was near a military base called Fort Snelling in the Minnesota Territory.
Settling in Minnesota
Parrant arrived in Mendota in 1832. He started a new life in a small community near Fort Snelling. In 1838, the people living near the fort had to move. This was because their homes were using too many local resources.
At over 60 years old, Parrant claimed land near Fountain Cave. This cave was on the east bank of the Mississippi River. It was just north of what is now Downtown Saint Paul. Around June 1, 1838, Parrant finished building a small shack. An old book from 1892 says this shack was "the first habitation, and the first business house of Saint Paul." This made Parrant the first person to live in the future city of Saint Paul.
Some historians have found it interesting that the city's founder had such a unique background. One historian, J. Fletcher Williams, wrote that history must record facts as they are.
The "Pig's Eye" Tavern
Fountain Cave was a great spot for Parrant's claim. A spring inside the cave gave him a steady water supply. Parrant opened a tavern at Fountain Cave. This tavern became very popular with the people living nearby. It was also popular with riverboat crews and soldiers from Fort Snelling.
Parrant's bar was known as "Pig's Eye" or "Pig's Eye Pandemonium." It was easy for everyone to reach. In fact, Parrant became so well-known that in 1839, a local resident named Joseph R. Brown sent a letter. He simply put "Pig's Eye" as the return address. Soon after, Brown received a letter back at that address. Because of this, the growing community around Pierre's bar became known as "Pig's Eye."
How Saint Paul Got Its Name
The city's name might have stayed "Pig's Eye." But then a Catholic priest named Lucien Galtier arrived. Galtier was not happy that the village was named after Parrant. When he built his small chapel in the area in 1841, he reportedly said something like, "Pig's Eye, you will be changed, like Saul; Rise, and be, from now on, Saint Paul!" It's debated if Galtier actually said these exact words. But the story is a famous part of the city's history.
In 1844, Parrant lost his land at Fountain Cave. He had to leave the area. It's not fully clear why this happened. Some stories say he had a disagreement with a neighbor about land borders. Others say he had to sell his land because he owed money.
Later Life
What happened to Parrant after he left Saint Paul is a bit of a mystery. Some sources say he was so upset that he left Minnesota. They say he tried to return to Sault Ste. Marie but died on the way in 1844. Other stories suggest he settled near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They say he died there between 1872 and 1886. This second story is less likely. It would mean he lived to be over 100 years old, which was very rare back then.
