Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Black French-speaking trader of African descent, established the first permanent settlement at “Shikaakwa” (later anglicized to Chicago), meaning “the place of wild onions.” Recognized as the founder of Chicago, du Sable also operated trading posts in what are now Peoria, Illinois; Port Huron, Michigan; and Michigan City, Indiana. His legacy as a pioneering merchant and settler underscores the foundational role of African Americans in early American frontier history.
© 2025 KnowThyHistory.com. Know Thy History
