The French Connection

Waubojeeg's daughter, whose name is not known, married a French fur trader Francios DesCarreaux about 1800. They had 4 children: Susan Ogeememaqua (The Chief Woman) who married Ambrose Davenport Jr.; Marguerite who married a Mr LaPointe of Odanah, WI; Mary who married Edward St. Arnaud (St. Arnold) of Canada and Henry who took the name Blatchford after his sponsor by that name after being enrolled in a mission school on Mackinac Island.

Francios DesCarreaux, after serving in the French Army, came to MN to become a fur trader and settled in the Leech Lake, Red Lake and Sandy Lake areas of MN. It is probable that he was born around 1750 and came to MN in the 1790s. Two of DesCarreaux's daughters maintained a French connection by marrying French men (see above).

Mary was the only one of the 4 children who did not receive a formal education. It is told that before her father died he expressed his wish of having the children educated at a mission school in Mackinac Island. However, after the death of Mary's mother, her maternal grandmother wanting to bring her up in the ways of her people had secreted her away in a canoe up the Bad River.

After marrying Edward St Arnold, they had 10 children (5 girls and 5 boys). After her father's death in 1818, Marguerite, Susan and Henry were sent to the Presbyterian Mission school as their father had wished. Henry was 13 at the time and reported as being a good student. He was called upon by the board and the president Rev. Henry Blatchford adopted him and was given the name Blatchford. He retained this name for the rest of his life. Later, Henry went to a mission at Bad River. He later died there at the age of 93 after nearly a century of service.