Jean Baptiste Points Sand

Jean Baptiste Points Sand (1745 - August 28th 1818), was the first foreigner to be settled in the area which will become later Chicago in Illinois. Although " founder of Chicago " , he was ignored a long time by the historians on the one hand because of his origins (he was Métis born free man in St-Marc, Saint-Dominique in Haiti) and on the other hand, because the first historical accounts were written by friends or descendants of John Kinzie, with which Sand sold its house in 1800. It is only in 1968, that Sand was finally recognized founder of Chicago.

Of Sand said one, was the son of a French sailor and a African mother become slave.

His/her father brought it in France where it accepted his education.

In 1770, Of Sand goes up the the Mississippi until in the current area of Chicago or it builds its first house, thirty years before the construction of Fort Dearborn. There, it establishes a commercial counter on northern bank of the mouth of the Rivière Chicago. Its trade became prosperous and was at the origin of the permanent colony. Its commercial counter was the station of principal supply for the Trappeur S, the merchants, the runners of wood and the autochtones.

Sand married the girl of a local leader Potawatomi with whom it had a son, Jean and a girl, Suzanne. During the War of independence, he was briefly imprisoned with Detroit, Michigan, by the English who suspectaient it to be a spy with the pay of American.

Of Sand made several voyages to the Canada to acquire furs and one tells that it was very closely associated with French of the News-France.

In 1800, Sand left Chicago for the West for unknown reasons. It is thought that it was disappointed that the local tribe of Potawatomi does not make him its chief.

The Museum Afro-American DuSable Museum in the south of Chicago owes him its name.

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