Kaskaskia, Illinois
Origin of Chapter Name and Chapter History
In 1672, Father Marquette and Louis Joliet were sent by Count Louis de Baude Frontenac, Governor General of Canada, to find "the river broad as the sea, flowing south." They journeyed westward exploring and spreading their faith. On the second of these expeditions, Father Marquette founded a mission near Fort LaSalle, which he called the Immaculate Conception. After living at the mission for 25 years, the entire colony decided to move. They started toward an existing settlement which, according to rumor, France had established at the mouth of the Mississippi River. However, their journey ended after only about 100 miles due to the illness of their leader-priest. Taking the name of the Indians who inhabited the wilderness where they stopped, they called their new home: "Kaskaskia".
In the course of her short life, the settlement Kaskaskia first gave her allegiance to the King of France, next to George III of England, and finally she became part of the newborn country, America. This little village was the first capital of Illinois. Her story and that of the surrounding country is replete with such names as Joliet, Marquette, George Rogers Clark, Lafayette, Pierre Menard, and many others who have been written into our national history. Kaskaskia felt the impact of events which went into building the nation and later the struggle to preserve the Union.
Adapted from Kaskaskia by Miriam Thomas Cragg
To learn more about the history of the Kaskaskia Chapter, refer to Mrs. Rose Moss Scott's publication, Illinois State History: The Daughters of the American Revolution, pp. 193-196.
In the course of her short life, the settlement Kaskaskia first gave her allegiance to the King of France, next to George III of England, and finally she became part of the newborn country, America. This little village was the first capital of Illinois. Her story and that of the surrounding country is replete with such names as Joliet, Marquette, George Rogers Clark, Lafayette, Pierre Menard, and many others who have been written into our national history. Kaskaskia felt the impact of events which went into building the nation and later the struggle to preserve the Union.
Adapted from Kaskaskia by Miriam Thomas Cragg
To learn more about the history of the Kaskaskia Chapter, refer to Mrs. Rose Moss Scott's publication, Illinois State History: The Daughters of the American Revolution, pp. 193-196.
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