I'm trying to find information on how the town of Prairie du Rocher,
IL was back in the 1880's. Were there still raiding Indians on
settlers back then? Ft. Chartres was a haven of safety at times
for the farmers who lived in that area I understand.

Does anyone know if the Pawnee Indians were used as slaves
in PDR, IL back in the early 1880's or before?

My grandmother was born in PDR, IL on Feb. 20, 1882.

Parents were Louis Pelate and Emily Boyer.

My grandmother was a twin.

Just starting this research and have hit so many brickwalls.

Hope someone can help.

Thanks

My fathers side is from Prairie Du Rocher. Wikipedia has some info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_du_Rocher,_Illinois
I found this article which includes the early families: Names of some of the early settlers can still be found in the modern telephone books-Duclos, Barbeau, Dufrenne, Roy, and others-not only in the local area but in other parts of the United States where people later moved.

http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/2005/iht1220511.html

I don't know if this is related or not. I have a Desilee Boyer (1826 - 1896) who married John B Drury s/o John Baptiste Drury and Marie Olympe Placet In Ste. Genevieve 10/28/1852. If this rings a bell would like to compare notes.

If you wish we can correspond privately.

Don Drury

ddrury5840@sbcglobal.net

I have a significant amount of information on the Pilet / Pillet / Pelate family covering 10 generations dating from 1700 to the 1990's. However the only information I have on Louis Pelate and Emily (aka Millie) Boyer is that Louis was born in 1863 to Louis M. Pelate and Mary Philomen Lourvier and that he married Millie Boyer on 14 March 1885. Louis had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I have no info on their children (your grandmother). Given your grandmother's birth date in 1882 either this wedding date is wrong or there is much more to the story (e.g., out-of-wedlock birth or another husband).

My grandmother and her twin sister were adopted. I do know
that. I'm trying to find out whether Emily Pelate nee Boyer was their natural Mother or not.

I do not and cannot find a date of death or place of death
for Louis Pelate.

Emily Boyer Thebeau Pelate Weber died in 1935 and is buried
in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fairview Heights, Illinois.

Thanks

Phyllis

I have the Pr du Rocher cemetery records if you want to ask me any questions. EMILE Pelate is 1 jan 1878 c. 10 Jan 1966. No comments. The next Pelate is Florence Mauria 1874 d. 1933 Mother. I think that at that time, Emile was a man's name. Could that be the case here? Velda Moore vel_chick@verizon.net

In my tree, I have a Angelique Lasonde Pillette b abt 1733 in Praire married to Jean Baptiste Creely b 1735 New Roads, Pointe Coupee LA.
Do you know who her parents etc were?
Thank you.

My information, taken from "A French Connection II" by Ruth Bienvenu Menard is that Angelique Pilet was the daughter of Pierre Pilet and Catherine Marie Madeleine Boisron. Pierre was likely born ~1700 although I do not have a true date. He is the first person in the 10 generation list of Pilet descendants. Pierre and Catherine were married in Kaskaskia, IL. They had 9 children:
Jean Baptiste, b 20 Jul 1721 in Kaskaskia; d 20 Jul 1721 and was buried in Kaskaskia

Jean Baptiste, b 1722 in Kaskaskia; d in 1722 and was buried in Kaskaskia

Antione, b 19 April 1724 in Kaskaskia

Marie Louise

Marie Barbe

Madeleine

Angelique, b ~1733 and died 1 Aug 1776

Dorothee, b ~1739 and died 8 Sep 1764

Louis, b ~1745 and died 16 AUg 1795


Angelique married Jean Baptiste Crely on 2 Sep 1755. He was the son of Jean Baptiste Crely and Francoise Ayet.

I saw Emile listed a couple of times and was living
in the household of Emily when she lived with her
son Louis Pelate, Jr. in Illinois. Have not
connected who Emile is and where he fits into the
family.

I know where my grandmother and her twin sister are
buried. In Calvary Cemetery in Edwardsville, Il.
Cannot find Louis Pelate's place of burial or even
a date of death? He died before 1900. Emily married
a George Weber about 1900.

Thanks

Phyllis

Do you live in PDR, Illinois and know the history of
it?

Pawnee Indians were used as slaves in the late 1880's
in PDR, Illinois. I saw that in an article about PDR.

My grandmother and her twin were part or whole Pawnee.

They were adopted by the Louis Pelate family after a
hanging of their parents for cattle rustling?

Phyllis