Page 169 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961
P. 169
was
About this period, ROBERT IRWIN appointed the first
Justice of the Peace and the first Clerk of the Court, under
Michigan authority west of Lake Michigan; and near the
same time, in 1821 or '22, he was appointed the first Post-
master in what is now Wisconsin. The mail was then carried
from Green 13ay to Detroit and back in the winter season by
the soldiers; if we received the mail twice in the course of six
months we thought it a great treat. In the summer the mail
was transmitted by schooner to and from Detroit some four or
five times durlng the period of navigation.
ROBERT IRWIN was the first member elected from the west
side of Lake Michigan to the Michigan Territorial legislature,
and, I think, served two sessions. He was subsequently ap-
pointed Indian Agent for the Winnebagoes, and stationed at
Fort Winnebago, after its erection in 1828, and died there;
his remains were brought to Green Bay for interment. There
mas quite a large family of the IRWINS, who came early to
Green E~~-ROBERT IRWIN and lady; their sons ROBERT,
ALEXANDER J. and SAMUEL, and three daughters. They
have all passed away except two daughters, who are married
and reside in Green Bay-Mrs. J. V. SUYDA~I, and Mrs.
FOLLETT. ROBERT IRWIN ~narried a lady at Erie, Pennsyl-
vania, and brought her to Green Bay, and their eldest daugh-
ter, now Mrs. MARY C. MITCUELL, of Green Bay, was the
first A~nerican child born in what is now Wisconsin.
Old Judge CHARLES REAUME lived about two years after I
settled in the country. He was a Inan of great iniportance
when I first came to the Bay, and for a long time previously.
He had been appointed a sort of Justice, I think by General
HARRISON, when he was Governor of Indiana Territory.
When REAUME held his courts, he would tlress in his British I
uniform red coat, and cocked hat, and put on an air of pompous
dignity. There was a noted case brought before him by a
young lady for seduction and breach of marriage promise.
After hearing the testimony, the honorable court rendered
judgment in this wisc-the seducer mas sentenced to purchase