Antoine Carre

Antoine Carre (fl. 1786-1808) was a French explorer and fur trader. After marrying the daughter of an Ottawa chieftain, he himself became founder and leader of the Bear River Ottawas during the mid-18th century as Neaatooshing (or Nee-i-too-shing).

His son Chief Petosegay and grandson Ignatius Petoskey were prominent Ottawa leaders throughout the 19th century, the land of the Bear River Ottawas being the site of the present day town Petoskey, Michigan.

Biography

A Frenchman reportedly of aristocratic origins, Carre arrived from France in the 1770s or early 1780s according to traditional accounts. While working as a fur trader for the John Jacob Astor Fur Company, he explored much of northern Illinois and Michigan living among the local tribes. He eventually married the daughter of an Ottawa chieftain and, adopted by the tribe, Carre was given the name Neaatooshing. During the late 1780s, he founded his own tribe along the Bear River. His lodge was established about seven miles northwest of Harbor Springs, near Middle Village.^[1]

After spending the winter in what is now Chicago, he and members of his tribe were traveling along north along the Kalamazoo River during the spring of 1787 when his wife gave birth to their son near the mouth of Manistee. His father, according to local legend, held him up to the rising sun and said "his name shall be Petosegay and he shall become an important person".^[2][3][4][5]

He was a representative and signatory for many of the treaties signed between the Ottawa and the United States. Following his death, his son, Ignatius Petoskey succeeded him as chieftain and head of the Bear River Ottawas.^[6]

References