John Gable

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John "Jean" Robert Gable (12 May 1754 – 22 December 1824) is known for his exploits as a fur trader in the Northwest Territory.

Monsieur Gable was of German-Irish descent yet spoke French as a first language due to his education and upbringing at the hands of a former French whaler turned Roman Catholic Priest, Jacques Bernard Nagot. Having completed his Jesuit education in his 15th year, "Jean" left Montréal and set out West along the St. Lawrence River in pursuit of adventure and riches in the fur trade. Throughout his life he kept a journal documenting his various exploits with early settlers, indigenous peoples of the Americas, and the general hardships of frontier life. This journal in turn became the basis of many popular stories. Some of the more popular stories include La Maison De Pierre Navarre, Sang Sur Mes Initialisations, and Amour Sauvage. Although his tales have become increasingly obscure over the years, they still enjoy a certain degree of popularity in the province of Quebéc. His stories have received criticism for their portrayal of vulgar and violent subject matter, as well as controversial view points regarding widely accepted historical events. The exact details surrounding Monsieur Gable’s death are not entirely clear, but he is most likely to have died from an infected musket ball wound in the winter of 1824. He is believed to have been buried in a traditional Potawatomi burial site along the St. Joseph River in what is now present day South Bend, Indiana.