Francis La Fontaine

La Fontaine's grandfather, Peter LaFontaine, was a French trader from Fort Detroit who came to Kekionga in 1776.

[3] Richardville and La Fontaine worked together on a treaty in 1840 which removed half of the Miami nation to an area west of the Mississippi River.

Speculation exists that he may have been poisoned by a member of the Western Miami tribe who viewed La Fontaine with suspicion.

[5] La Fontaine's body was returned to the Forks of the Wabash, and his remains lie in Mt.

The youngest of the children were placed in the care of the Roman Catholic Church, and the sons were educated at the University of Notre Dame as payment for a mortgage Francis had granted the school to keep it financially stable.

A historic marker with the following text, “CHIEF FRANCIS LA FONTAINE (TOPEAH) 1810-1847; In 1840 the Miami Indians agreed to move from the upper Wabash area to eastern Kansas. Francis La Fontaine was his tribe’s last principal chief. After leading his people west in 1846, he died at Lafayette, Indiana, en route to his home. The body was returned to his beloved Forks of the Wabash and is buried in Mount Calvary cemetery.”
This historic marker is on Indiana State Road 5