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Louis Campau: The father of Grand Rapids
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Louis Campau: The Father of Grand Rapids
By Clay Bradshaw and Amar Beslagic
Grand Rapids was founded in 1826 by a frenchman Louis Campau as a trading post where several important Ottawa indian trails. (which are now diagonal streets) converged at the rapids on the grand river. Ample waterpower generated by the 18-foot (5.5-metre) fall of the river and the availability of valuable lumber from nearby pine and hardwood forests resulted in the establishment of a number of sawmills and woodworking.
He fought in the war of 1812 and played a key role in negotiating the Treaty pf saginaw in 1819. This treaty was made between gen. Lewis Cass and Native American tribes of the Great Lakes region.
Campau in 1831 bought all of the Grand Rapids business district land from federal government for $90. He also fought in the war of 1812. He is considered the "father" of our town.
Campau purchased the land which became Grand Rapids, from what is now Michigan St. and Division Ave. to the Grand River, with monies advanced to him by the surveyor and later Michigan Statesman Lucius Lyon. Lyon had expected that Campau would in turn sell him all but the plot on wich the Campau's resided. However, Louis evidently changed his mind, only selling Lyon the northern half of the tract. This ultimately led to a long-standing feud, and irregularity in the directions of the streets of Grand Rapids which remain today.
Early Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids today
August 11, 1791-April 13, 1871
The streets of downtown Grand Rapids were planned out by Louis Campau.
Photostory video of Grand Rapids