Biography

Julie was born about 1822. She is the daughter of Augustin Grignon and Therese Decora.

Life

"The mother of Julia Grignon (Man-ne-te-se) is the full sister of the Décarra Chiefs, the principal most influential Chiefs of the Tribe. ... Madame Lequyér (or Man-nau-te-see) has always lived in the midst of the Winnebagoes, & the latter part of her life in Prairie du Chien, where she still resides. Her daughter Julia (the present applicant) was born several years after the death of Lequyér, to Augustin Grignon of green bay. Julia has generally lived with her mother as her friend & companion, & they have continued to extend kindness and hospitality to the Indians to the fullest extent or beyond their ability. Julia had been married, but was early left a widow early separated from her husband, an habitual drunkard—She has a house in Prairie du Chien, in which she & her mother resided until recently—it is known to the citizens of Prairie du Chien as the resting place of the Winnebagoes when in the Village, in consequence of the large family connection of Man-nau-te-see, & the continued kindness of her & her daughter. It is known to the undersigned that Julia Grignon has given her last loaf of bread to hungry Indians & on some occasions sold her own clothes to relieve their distress. The mother and daughter, no longer able to bear this state of things, are now living with the brother of the former, awaiting the decision of the present Commissioner, whose award may again establish them at home." (Waggoner, 32a)

“… deponent Louisignon knows that they were married by Charles Rayon about the Year seventeen hundred & ninety seven. … deponents have known said Children since their birth, and always knew them as, and believed them to be the Children of said Ecuyer and Man, na, tee, see, which said children are as follow:

Therese, now the wife of Francis Roy

Benjamin, married to Elizabeth a Menominee Woman

Jacques, married to Margaret Brunet

Simeon married to Margaret Grignon

Felice, now the Wife dead

Juliette [probably refers to Man-na-tee-see’s daughter, Julia Grignon]”

(Waggoner, 66b)

Residence

She resided with her mother in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, until around 1837. (Waggoner, 32)

Sources

• Linda M. Waggoner (ed.), “Neither White Men Nor Indians: Affidavits from the Winnebago Mixed-blood Claim Commissions, Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, 1838-1839” (Roseville, Minnesota: Park Genealogical Books, 2002). Extracted from Territorial Papers of the United States, Wisconsin, 1836-1848. M236. “Special Files of the Office of Indian Affairs,” 1836- 46. “Special File 161” (Roll 41). “Special File 190” (Roll 42). National Archives, Washington D.C., Documents on Microfilm, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (Record Group 75).
• Charles J. Kappler, Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, Vol. 2, Treaties (Washington : Government Printing Office, 1904) 2:301.