FREE genealogy since 1999 - History belongs to all of us!
Add YOUR Family To This Page
History of Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Journey back in time to Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Visit Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
Are you from Bourbonnais? Do you have ancestors from there? Tell us YOUR story!
The village is named for François Bourbonnais, Sr., a fur trapper, hunter and agent of the American Fur Company, who had married a Native American woman and arrived in the area near the fork of two major Indian trails and the Kankakee River circa 1830.
wikipedia
There is MUCH more to discover about Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA. Read on!
- 1832 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1832, Noel LeVasseur arrived as the American Fur Company's local agent, established a trading post, and became the area's first permanent non-Native American settler.
He married Watseka, niece of a Potawatomi chieftain, and after the Potawatomi were relocated to Iowa, recruited Canadians to settle around his store.
wikipedia.org - In 1853, the Illinois legislature split Iroquois County, and Bourbonnais Grove became part of new Kankakee County.
wikipedia.org - 1858 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1858 residents built the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, and soon nuns of the Congregation of Notre Dame arrived from Canada to teach and provide nursing care. Two years later they founded Notre Dame Academy.
wikipedia.org - 1865 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1865 clerics of St. Viator founded St. Viator College for boys.[
wikipedia.org - After a referendum in 1875, the settlement incorporated as the Village of Bourbonnais,
with George R. LeTourneau as its first mayor, and trustees Francois Sequin, Joseph Legris, Alexis Gosselin, P.L. Monast, Alex LaMontagne, Joseph...Read MORE... - 1895 - Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais, boor'bon'nā', a township of Kankakee co., Ill. Pop. 2068.
Bourbonnais Grove, a post-village of Kankakee co., Ill., 23 miles from...Read MORE... 
Bourbonnais Cave near Kankakee, Ill.
Postcard
Marsile Alumni Hall, St. Viateurs
Postcard- 1916
Bourbonnais, a post-village of Kankakee co., Ill., 2 1/ 2 miles from Kankakee. Pop. in 1900, 595.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher 
Martin's Plaster Creations
Matchbook
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Postcard
Bourbonnais Cave near Kankakee, Ill.
Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Postcard
Marsile Alumni Hall, St. Viateurs
Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Matchbook
Martin's Plaster Creations
History, News and Stories of Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
Add History/News/Story-
1832 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1832, Noel LeVasseur arrived as the American Fur Company's local agent, established a trading post, and became the area's first permanent non-Native American settler.
He married Watseka, niece of a Potawatomi chieftain, and after the Potawatomi were relocated to Iowa, recruited Canadians to settle around his store.
wikipedia.org
-
In 1853, the Illinois legislature split Iroquois County, and Bourbonnais Grove became part of new Kankakee County.
wikipedia.org
-
1858 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1858 residents built the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, and soon nuns of the Congregation of Notre Dame arrived from Canada to teach and provide nursing care. Two years later they founded Notre Dame Academy.
wikipedia.org
-
1865 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1865 clerics of St. Viator founded St. Viator College for boys.[
wikipedia.org
-
After a referendum in 1875, the settlement incorporated as the Village of Bourbonnais,
with George R. LeTourneau as its first mayor, and trustees Francois Sequin, Joseph Legris, Alexis Gosselin, P.L. Monast, Alex LaMontagne, Joseph... Read MORE...
-
1895 - Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais, boor'bon'nā', a township of Kankakee co., Ill. Pop. 2068.
Bourbonnais Grove, a post-village of Kankakee co., Ill., 23 miles from... Read MORE...
-
1916
Bourbonnais, a post-village of Kankakee co., Ill., 2 1/ 2 miles from Kankakee. Pop. in 1900, 595.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA Genealogy
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Bourbonnais.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)
Ancestors Who Were Married in Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Bourbonnais.View Them Now
Not the place you are looking for? Try again!
Search for Your Family by Place
Updated: 12/18/2019 12:10:28 PM
Are you from Bourbonnais? Do you have ancestors from there? Tell us YOUR story!
If you'd like to be contacted by others who have ancestors from Bourbonnais, leave a message here!The comments you read here belong only to the person who posted them. We reserve the right to remove off-topic and inappropriate comments.