12101 joseph campau biography

Joseph Campau (February 20, 1769 – May 13, 1863^[a]) was among the leading citizens and wealthiest landowners in Detroit, Michigan, at the beginning of the 19th century.^[1] Campau had three trading posts and a store in Detroit until the early 1800s.

He then embarked on a real-estate career that made him very wealthy. Campau was also a newspaper man, establishing a newspaper with his nephew, John R. Williams.

12101 joseph campau biography

He held several city public offices for the city. Campau was an officer in the Michigan Territory Militia and during the War of 1812.

Campau was a Roman Catholic until he was excommunicated for selling whiskey to Native Americans and having joined the Masons.

Early life

Campau was born on February 2, 1769, in Detroit.^[2][a] His parents were Jacques Campau and Catherine Ménard.^[3] Campau's great-grandfather, Jacques Campau (1677–1751), left Montreal and settled at Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit in 1708, o