Person:John Bourie (1)

John Baptiste Bourie, Sr.

John Baptiste Bourie, Sr. was born March 25, 1801 in his father's trading post at present Elkhart, Indiana. His father was Louis B. Bourie and it is believed that his mother was a Miami or Potowatomi Indian. However, in 1801 John Bourie was christened in Detroit where his father and his father's wife, Mary Francoise Meloche Bourie maintained a home.

About 1825 or 1826, John B. Bourie marries a Miami Indian wife. They have at least one child, So-ne-lan-gish-eah or John B. Bourie, Jr.

In June 1827, Ann Chen and John B. Bourie are married in Detroit, Wayne county, Michigan "before the civil magistrate'. This could be taken that he could not be married in a Catholic Church. Perhaps because of the first union with a child from the Miami Indian had not been annulled. This couple had one daughter whose name is unknown. It is known that the daughter, married Henry G. Olds.

In 1834, John B. Bourie was elected as one of five trustees of the township of Fort Wayne.^S3

Later, John B. Bourie and Maria Ann "Nancy" Chapoton were married. Nancy was the daughter of Maria Catherine Meloche and Louis Alexis Chapoton. Maria Catherine Meloche was the sister of Mary Francoise Meloche Bourie, so if John was the son of his father's wife, they were first cousins. However, John's close life with the Miami Indian tribe would seem to valdate that his mother was a Miami Indian maiden. John and Nancy had three children: Desdemona Bourie, Louis Thompson Bourie, and Brutus A. Bourie.

John Baptist Bourie, Sr. and US Treaties with the Indians

October 2, 1818

The map below^I2 provides location of two parcels of land in Allen County given to John B. Bourie the Treaties of October 1818 and October 1826^S3.

October 16, 1826

On October 16, 1826, John B. Bourie is mentioned as being of Indian descent in a US Government Treaty which provide “Articles of a treaty made and concluded near the mouth of the Mississinewa, upon the Wabash, in the State of Indiana, this sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, between Lewis Cass, James B. Ray, and John Tipton, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the Chiefs and Warriors of the Potawatomi Tribe of Indians.” This treaty land ceded by the Potawatomi Tribe extends to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Treaty provides: “To John B. Bourie, of Indian descent, one section of land, to be located on the Miami River, adjoining the old boundary line below Fort Wayne.”

October 23, 1826

On October 23, 1826 in a US Government Treaty which provide “Articles of a treaty made and concluded near the mouth of the Mississinewa, upon the Wabash, in the State of Indiana, this twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, between Lewis Cass, James B. Ray, and John Tipton, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the Chiefs and Warriors of the Miami Tribe of Indians.”

Article 1

The Miami Tribe of Indians cede to the United States all their claim to land in the State of Indiana, North and West of the Wabash and Miami Rivers, ad of the cession made by said tribe to the United States, by the treaty concluded at St. Mary's October 6, 1818.

J. B. Boure is named as Interpreter, and his Brother-in-law, G.W. Ewing is a witness. The Treaty provides: “To John B. Boure, one section on the North side of the St. Joseph, including Chop-patees village."

February 11, 1828

February 11 1828 Treaty. "Articles of a Treaty made and concluded at the Wyandot village near the Wabash in the State of Indiana between John Tipton, Commissioner for the purpose, on the part of the United States and the Chiefs, Head Men, and Warriors, of the Eel River, or Thorntown party of the Miami Indians. Art. 1 The Chiefs, Head Men and Warriors of the Eel River of Thorntown Party of the Miami Indians agree to cede, and by these presents do cede, and relinquish to the United States all their right, title, and claim to a reservation of land about tem miles square, at their village on Sugartree Creek in Indiana, which was reserved to said party by the second article of a Treaty between Commissioners of the the United States and the Miami nation of Indians, made and entered into at St. Mary's in the State of Ohio, on the sixth day of October, on thousand eight hundred and eighteen."

J. B. Boure is named as the Interpreter.

May 7, 1828

And on May 7, 1828, John Baptist Bourie is a witness to a US Government Treaty. Specifically, “Articles of a treaty made and concluded at the Wyandot village, near the Wabash in the State of Indiana between John Tipton, Commissioner for that purpose, on the part of the United States, and the Chiefs, Head Men and Warriors, of the Eel River, or Thorntown party of Miami Indians”. The Agreement has “The Chiefs, Head Men, and Warriors of the Eel River or Thorntown party of Miami Indians, agree to cede, and by these presents do cede, and relinquish to the United States all their right, title, and claim to a reservation of land about ten miles square, at their village on Sugartree Creek in Indiana, which was reserved to said party by the second article of a Treaty between Commissioners of the United States, and the Miami nation of Indians, made and entered into at St. Mary's in the State of Ohio, on the sixth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. It is understood and agreed on by said Indians, that they will not burn or destroy the houses or fences on said reservation, and that they will leave them in as good condition as they now are; and remove to the five mile reservation on Eel River by the fifteenth day of October next”. In return, the Indians were paid $2000.00.

September 20, 1828

Later on September 20, 1828, Jean B Bourre (sic Bourie), is mentioned in a US Government Treaty with the Potawatomi Tribe where a large section of South West Michigan is ceded to the Government. J.B. Bourie is to receive “$700, for goods furnished the Indians in relation to this treaty.” Dependent on consumer or wage-earner trends, this $700 would be equivalent of about $17,000 to $350,000 in 2010 dollars.

October 20, 1832

On October 20, 1832, a US Treaty with the Potawatomi contain "Articles of a treaty made and concluded at Camp Tippecanoe, in the State of Indiana, this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, between Jonathan Jennings, John W. Davis and Marks Crume, Commissioners on the part of the United States of the one part, and the Chiefs and Headmen of the Potawatamie Tribe of Indians of the Prairie and Kankakee, of the other part". In the Treaty, "The said Potawatamie Tribe of Indians cede to the United States the tract of land included within the following boundary, viz: Beginning at a point on Lake Michigan ten miles southward of the mouth of Chicago river; thence, in a direct line, to a point on the Kankakee river, ten miles above its mouth; thence, with said river and the Illinois river, to the mouth of Fox river, being the boundary of a cession made by them in 1816; thence, with the southern boundary of the Indian Territory, to the State line between Illinois and Indiana; thence, north with said line, to Lake Michigan; thence, with the shore of Lake Michigan, to the place of beginning." Under the Article relative to US Government paying certain claims against the Indians, it was stipulated that: "John B. Bourie, (be paid) twelve hundred dollars" John's brother-in-law, Lucien P. Ferry, is also mentioned.

October 26, 1832

On October 26, 1832, a US Treaty with the Potawatomi contain "Articles of a treaty made and concluded on Tippecanoe River, in the State of Indiana, between Jonathan Jennings, John W. Davis and Marks Crume, Commissioners on the part of the United States, and the Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors, of the Pottawatimie Indians, this twenty-sixth day of October, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-two." In the Treaty, "The Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors, aforesaid, agree to cede to the United States their title and interest to lands in the State of Indiana, (to wit:) beginning at a point on Lake Michigan, where the line dividing the States of Indiana and Illinois intersects the same; thence with the margin of said Lake, to the intersection of the southern boundary of a cession made by the Pottawatimies, at the treaty of the Wabash, of eighteen hundred and twenty-six; thence east, to the northwest corner of the cession made by the treaty of St. Joseph's, in eighteen hundred and twenty-eight; thence south ten miles; thence with the Indian boundary line to the Michigan road; thence south with said road to the northern boundary line, as designated in the treaty of eighteen hundred and twenty-six, with the Pottawatimies; thence west with the Indian boundary line to the river Tippecanoe; thence with the Indian boundary line, as established by the treaty of eighteen hundred and eighteen, at St. Mary's to the line dividing the States of Indiana and Illinois; and thence north, with the line dividing the said States, to the place of beginning." John B. Bourie is listed as a Witness and interpreter.

September 26, 1833

On September 26, 1833, a US Treaty with the CHIPPEWA, ETC. contain "Articles of a treaty made at Chicago, in the State of Illinois, on the twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, between George B. Porter, Thomas J. V. Owen and William Weatherford, Commissioners on the part of the United States of the one part, and the United Nation of Chippewa, Ottawa and Pottawattamie Indians of the other part, being fully represented by the Chiefs and Head-men whose names are hereunto subscribed--which Treaty is in the following words, to wit: The said United Nation of Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawattamie Indians, cede to the United States all their land, along the western shore of Lake Michigan, and between this Lake and the land ceded to the United States by the Winnebago nation, at the treaty of Fort Armstrong made on the September 15, 1832--bounded on the north by the country lately ceded by the Menominee’s, and on the south by the country ceded at the treaty of Prairie du Chien made on July 29, 1829--supposed to contain about five millions of acres. In part consideration of the above cession it is hereby agreed, that the United States shall grant to the said United Nation of Indians to be held as other Indian lands are held which have lately been assigned to emigrating Indians, a tract of country west of the Mississippi river, to be assigned to the____ by the President of the United States--to be not less in quantity than five millions of acres, and to be located as follows: beginning at the mouth of Boyer's river on the east side of the Missouri river, thence down the said river to the mouth of Naudoway River, thence due east to the west line of the State of Missouri, thence along the said State line to the northwest corner of the State, thence east along the said State line to the point where it is intersected by the western boundary line of the Sacs and Foxes -- thence north along the said line of the Sacs and Foxes, so far as that when a straight line shall be run there from to the mouth of Boyer's river (the place of beginning) it shall include five millions of acres. And as it is the wish of the Government of the United States that the said nation of Indians should remove to the country thus assigned to them as soon as conveniently can be done; and it is deemed advisable on the part of their Chiefs and Headmen that a deputation should visit the said country west of the Mississippi and thus be assured that full justice has been done, it is hereby stipulated that the United States will defray the expenses of such deputation, to consist of not more than fifty persons, to be accompanied by not more than five individuals to be nominated by themselves and the whole to be under the general direction of such officer of the United States Government as has been or shall be designated for the purpose.--And it is further agreed that as fast as the said Indians shall be prepared to emigrate, they shall be removed at the expense of the United States, and shall receive subsistence while upon the journey, and for one year after their arrival at their new homes.--It being understood, that the said Indians are to remove from all that part of the land now ceded, which is within the State of Illinois, immediately on the ratification of this treaty, but to be permitted to retain possession of the country north of the boundary line of the said State, for the term of three years, without molestation or interruption and under the protection of the laws of the United States."

Schedule B of the Treaty stipulates the John B. Bourie be paid $2500. By this time his father had died and his mother had remarried. His mother, Frances (Meloche Bourie) Felex is to be paid $1100. John B Bourie and his siblings: David, Caroline Bourie Ferry, Harriet Bourie Ewing, Nancy Bourie Hedges and her husband John P. Hedges, are also mentioned as being paid $500 each for approved claims.

December 10, 1834

John B. Bourie again serves as a witness and interpreter to 10 December 1834 TREATY WITH THE POTAWATOMI. In this treaty, "The above named chief and his band hereby cede to the United States, six sections of land reserved for them by the second article of the treaty between the United States and the Pottawattamie Indians on Tippecanoe River, on the twenty-sixth day of October, in the year, eighteen hundred and thirty-two. The above named chief and his band agree to yield peaceable possession of the said sections of land to the United States within three years from the date of the ratification of said treaty of eighteen hundred and thirty-two. n consideration of the cession aforesaid the United States stipulate to pay to the above named chief and his band, four thousand dollars in goods at the signing of this treaty, and an annuity of one thousand dollars for two years, the receipt of which former sum of (four hundred dollars in goods) is hereby acknowledged."

December 16, 1834

John B. Bourie again serves as a witness and interpreter to December 16, 1834 TREATY WITH THE POTAWATOMI. In this treaty, the chiefs, head men and warriors aforesaid agree to cede to the United States their title and interest to a reservation made to them at the treaty on the Tippecanoe River on the 27th day of October 1832 of two sections of land to include their mills on said river. In consideration of the cession aforesaid the United States agree to pay the Pottawattamie Indians, at the payment of their annuities in 1835, the sum of seven hundred dollars in cash, and pay their just debts agreeably to a schedule hereunto annexed, amounting to nine hundred dollars."

John Baptist Bourie, Sr. and younger brother, David Proctor Bourie Buy Land

John Baptist Bourie's younger brother, David Proctor Bourie moved from their family home in what is now Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan to the Fort Wayne, Indiana area in the 1820’s or 30's. Older brother John Baptist is said to have been born in his father's trading Post on the Elkhart River. Their early visits were as trappers in the French Canadian tradition. They seem to have made friends with the local Native American tribes, learned their languages and medicine. John Baptist Bourie may have been a half brother with a Pottawattamie tribe mother. John B. Bourie is a signatory of several Treaties with the US Government in the settlement of Indian lands. David P. Bourie and others in the family are often mentioned in these treaties as well.

February 10, 1835

On February 10, 1835, John Baptist Bourie and David Proctor Bourie, of Allen County, Indiana, purchased Forty acres of public land from the US Government. The location is given as “The South East Quarter of the North West Quarter of Section Thirty, Township Thirty Five, North of Range Nine East, in the district of Lands subject to sale at Fort Wayne, Indiana, containing Forty acres.” The certificate, Number 2922, was signed by President Andrew Jackson. The ownership is stated to be held as tenants in common and not as joint tenants. Further investigation will be required to see if this has an interesting meaning.

March 20, 1835

Again on March 20, 1835, John B. Bourie and David P. Bourie, of Allen County, Indiana, purchased Sixty Four acres of public land from the US Government. The location is given as the “West half of the South West Quarter of Section Thirty, in the Township Thirty Five, North of Range Nine East, in the district of Lands subject to sale at Fort Wayne, Indiana, containing Sixty Four Acres and Twenty Nine hundredths of an Acre.” The certificate, Number 7757, was signed by President Martin Van Buren. The ownership is stated to be held “as tenants in common and not as joint tenants”.

August 1, 1837

On August 1, 1837, John B. Bourie and David P. Bourie, of Allen County, Indiana, purchased Eighty Acres of public land from the US Government. The location is given as the “East half of the South West Quarter of Section Thirty, in the Township Thirty Five, North of Range Nine East, in the district of Lands subject to sale at Fort Wayne, Indiana, containing Eighty Acres.” The certificate, Number 9195, was signed by President Martin Van Buren. The ownership is stated to be held “as tenants in common and not as joint tenants”. So this parcel is contiguous to the other two mentioned above. Just to the south of the first parcel and to the East of the second parcel for a total of 184+ Acres.

John Baptise Bourie, Sr. and Miami Indian Maiden Family

They had the following son:

1) John Baptist Bourie, Jr. aka So-ne-lan-gish-eah

John Baptist Bourie, Jr. or So-ne-lan-gish-eah received land on the Kansas Potawatomi Reservation since he was Miami. The reason for this grant is not known at this time

June 5, 1854

In the June 5, 1854 Treaty with the Miami, "Articles of agreement ad convention made and concluded at the city of Washington, this fifth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, between George W. Manypenny, Commissioner on the part of the United States, and the following named delegates representing the Miami tribe of Indians, viz: Nah-we-la-quah, or Big Legs; Me-cat-a-cjin-quah, or Little Doctor; Lan-a-pin-cha, or Jack Hackley; So-ne-lan-gish-eah, or John Bourie; Wan-zop-e-ah; they being thereto duly authorized by said tribe--and Me-shin-go-me-zia, Po-con-ge-ah, Pin-yi-oh-te-mah, Wop-pop-pe-tah, or Bondy, and Keah-cot-woh, or Buffalo, Miami Indians, Residents of the State of Indiana, being present, and assenting, approving, agreeing to, and confirming said articles of agreement and convention.

Article 1

The said Miami Indians hereby cede and convey to the United States, all that certain tract of country set apart and assigned to the said tribe, by the article added by the Senate of the United States, by resolution of the date of February twenty-fifth, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, to the Treaty of November twenty-eight, one thousand eight hundred and forty, and denominated among the amendments of the Senate as "Article 12," which was assented to by said Indians, on the fifteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty-one; which tract is designated in said article as 'bounded on the east by the State of Missouri, and on the north by the country of the Weas and Plankeshaws, on the west by the Pottowatomies of Indiana, and on the south by the land assigned to the New York Indians, estimated to contain five hundred thousand acres,' excepting and reserving therefrom seventy thousand acres for their future homes, ad a section of six hundred and fourty acres for school purposes, to be selected and assigned to said tribe as herein provided"

November 15, 1861

In the November 15, 1861 TREATY WITH THE POTAWATOMI, again a Bourie is a signatory on Behalf of the Tribe. This treaty allows the Potawatomi Kansas reservation to be surveyed, the tribe to have a census taken, a railroad to be given right-a-way, and tribe members to receive individual land grants and to benefit from sale of land to the public. By this date, John Baptist Bourie, Sr. has died. He had a Miami Indian wife in his first marriage. They had a son, John B. Bourie, Jr. or So-ne-lan-gish-eah. This reference is most likely that of John B. Bourie, Jr. as directly indicated in the June 5, 1854 treaty above.

1.   Jim Biddle. Biddle e-mail 19 July 2008. (E-mail from Jim Biddle to A.E. Holmes 19 July 2008)
   3, 19 July 2008.
2.   Kapper, Charles J. Indian Affairs, Laws and Treaties. (Washington, DC: US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs).
3.   Griswold, Joseph Elbert, and Samuel R. Taylor. The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana: a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River. (Chicago [Illinois]: Robert O. Law, 1917).