Jacques Vieau (or Vieaux), born Jacques Le Vieux (Montreal QC, May 5, 1757 – July 1, 1852, Howard, Wisconsin) was a French-Canadian fur trader and the first permanent white settler in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born Jacques Jean Le Vieux^[1] in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he was also known as 'Jeambeau", Jacques Vieux was a descendent of a colonial French family originally settled in Quebec City related to Nicolas Le Vieux de Hauteville,^[2] lieutenant-general for civil and criminal affairs in the seneschal’s court at Quebec, Jacques Vieux was employed by the North West Company developing trade roads from Quebec City to the Algonquines and Petawatomi Nations to the South today Kansas, he died in Howard, Wisconsin.^[3]

Biography

In 1786 (238 years ago) (1786), Vieau came to Green Bay,^[4] where he married Angelique Roy that same year. She was the granddaughter of Potawatomi Indian chief Anaugesa. They had at least twelve children together.^{[citation needed]}

In 1795, Vieau settled at Jambo Creek in Manitowoc County.^[5] While employed by the North West Company, Vieau established a fur trading post in the area that would become employed by the North West Company in 1795, along with outposts at Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan. His Milwaukee cabin was built on top of a bluff overlooking the Menomonee Valley and became his winter residence away from Green Bay. A historical monument marks this location in Mitchell Park as the first house in Milwaukee.^{[citation needed]}

In 1818, Vieau hired another French-Canadian named Solomon Juneau, who later married his daughter Josette and went on to found what was to become the City of Milwaukee.^{[citation needed]}

In 2016, a tombstone for his grave was placed.^[6]

Family

Jacques Vieux, also known as "Jeambeau", married Anqelique Roy, a lady from the Potawatomie Nation, they settled in Menomonee Valley area, they have several kids, the elders were:

• Louis Vieux, founder of the Vieux Crossing to the Oregon Trail Road, near Louisville in Kansas.^[7]
• Josette Vieux, wife of Solomon Juneau, settled in the City of Milwaukee.^[8]

Legacy

The town of Louisville, Kansas is named after Vieau's son, Louis Amable Vieau, Sr.^{[citation needed]}

Vieau is the eponym of Vieau Elementary School and also a street found in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^{[citation needed]}

The living descendants of Vieau are centered on Green Bay.^{[citation needed]}