Hillside Cemetery, Plainwell, MI
Home & Vault
September 24, 2006 Marking of the vault and home of Madame LaFramboise The Michigan State Society United States Daughters of 1812 was well represented by Stephen Preston, General Alexander Macomb and Major Andrew Hunter Holmes Chapters in attendance.
A church service at 11:00 AM was followed by the marking of Madame LaFramboise's home and then her vault located in the Church yard of Ste. Anne's Church.
Magdelene Madame LaFramboise (1780-1846)
She was born in 1780 to a French-Canadian fur trader and his wife, the
daughter of an Ottawa chieftain. At age 14, Magdelene married Joseph
LaFramboise, a French-Canadian fur trader. Starting in 1806, after the
death of her husband, until 1820, LaFramboise worked the competitive
male-dominated fur trade. She was fluent in several Native American
languages as well as French, and English, and was naturally adept at
bartering. In fact, she lacked only basic skills: the ability to read
and write.
A widowed mother of two young children and a successful business woman in the fur trade business. She donated the land next to her home to St. Anne's Church on Mackinac Island.
After a mass at the church in her honor, a dedication of her home was given by Stephen Preston Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812. Immediately following the dedication of her home, Native Spiritual Elders and Stephen Preston Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812 gave a dedication at her Vault in Ste. Anne's Church yard.
All the pictures below were taken September 23 - 24, 2006 on Mackinac Island at the "Festival of the Falling Leaves Moon". The festival celebrated the Fur Trade era and Madame LaFramboise, which was a big part of Mackinac Island's history.
Front Row; Linda & Mike Haney, Harry & Patt DeHaan, Jan McKay, Judy Hull. Kneeling behind is Mike Hull. Standing; Native American's who performed a ceremony for Madame and Dick McKay.
Ferry ride to the island front row left to right; Mike and Judy Hull, Mike Haney, Joanne & Mike Boorsma. Back row left to right; Jim and Sue VanDyke, Patt and Harry DeHaan.
