Fur Trade in the Ottawa Valley



May 10, 2002:
Lawrence Burns (Larry the Trapper) my Grandfather's brother married to Bridget McCabe
See the following references at our bibliography:
There is an excellent account of the fur trade in the Bytown area in the article Bytown and the Fur Trade by Michael Newton. The Fur Trade in Canada, by Harold Innis, is a must for every history library. Since Time Immemorial by Stephen McGregor has a lot of information regarding the Algonquin Nation's role in the fur trade of the Ottawa River Valley Watershed.
August 18, 2004: In August 2004 I made a trip to Minnesota, USA to do historical research on the substantial migration from the Ottawa area to Minnesota during the 1880's. We ended up finding out mostly about the French Canadian voyageurs who were active in the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan areas long before the emigration of farmers from the Ottawa area. The great fur trade route started at Montreal and followed the Ottawa River past the Chaudiere Falls, the Chats Falls, Allumette and Calumet Islands and Fort Coulonge. The Mattawa River was followed, upstream to North Bay and Lake Nipissing. From there it was downriver along the French River to the north shore of Lake Superior. We visited Grand Portage at the head of Lake Superior where we set new records in an all-you-can-eat walleye restaurant in Grand Marais. Many of the towns have French names -- called after the voyageurs. The records of Notre Dame in Bytown prior to 1855 list the occupation of many French Canadians as "voyageur". The books, The Voyageur, by Grace Lee Nute of Minnesota and Freshwater Saga by Eric Morse (deceased) of Ottawa, are two excellent works regarding the canoe routes and the fur trade. See bibliography (link above). ... Al
August 22, 2004: Hi Al Here's a picture of the Ottawa River, 1 1/2 hour East of North Bay, in Stonecliffe. On the right is Quebec, and these lands have been untouched for 200 years. What we see today, is what the Fur Taders and Settlers saw back then. If you land on the Quebec side and start walking inland, the first road is 45 miles in. Quebec has reserved this land, and has stayed that way this long. What I found interesting, was the depth. The deepest part of the Ottawa River is over 200 feet. Thought it would add a view to your Fur Trade story, but like I stated, what you see in this picture is the view our ancestors had 200 years ago. Take care
Bye for now Taylor ___________________ And here's one of the north shore of Lake Superior (Old Woman Bay).
The wind was called "La Vieille", or the Old Woman. La Vieille led to layovers of up to a week until she subsided. This is a very powerful lake which can turn from flat calm to six foot rollers in an hour. Eric Morse and his wife canoed from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie in a 17 foot Grumman canoe. ... Al
February 2, 2005: See also the lumber industry.
February 12, 2005: Friday afternoon. February 11, 2005. Sun shining. Winds light. Playing hookey.
Following the trail
A modern day voyageur
Islands in a bay along the Ottawa River, west of the city

February 23, 2005: Hi Al I snapped this picture on my way back from Stonecliffe. It is a Jesuit burial site, and was possibly used as a landmark during the Fur trade. It is situated directly across from the mouth of the Mattawa River coming unto the Ottawa River. Located high on the Quebec mountain. On the attached map, the {Tree Symbol} shows the approximate location of the Three Crosses. Take care Taylor

There is a village named Bonfield on the above map. James Bonfield migrated from Huntley Township to Renfrew County c. 1850. ... Al
August 12, 2006:

E-mail Taylor Kennedy and Al Lewis

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