“First Permanent Fur Post”

The partnership of Registre Loisel and Hugh Henry in 1802 set up a fur post on Cedar Island, within sight, about 5 miles down stream. Loisel was called Little Beaver by the Indians. This was part of Louisiana, receded by Spain to France in 1800 and ceded by France to the United States in 1803. On September 22, 1804 Lewis and Clark stopped at this post and described it. ‘Log palisade 13½ feet high with sentry boxes at the corners 65 x75 in size. Four room house within, one room for storage, one for trade, a common hall and a family house.' Trade went on until 1810 when it burnt down, then the property of the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company.

Manuel Lisa, after his Fur Post up river, Ft. Manuel, was burnt by British actuated Yanctonaise in March 1813, came down to this area by wiles and stratagem, kept the Eastern Sioux, allies of the British, on tenterhooks, so they were of little value to the British. Many historians think Lisa’s part a most significant one in that War of 1812.

Hughes County, Intersection of US Highway 34 and Chappelle Road (2006)