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History of Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
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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.
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History, News and Stories of Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA

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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.
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In 1853, the Illinois legislature split Iroquois County, and Bourbonnais Grove became part of new Kankakee County.
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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.
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1865 - (Bourbonnais) - In 1865 clerics of St. Viator founded St. Viator College for boys.[
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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...
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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...
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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
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