Madam La Compt information

Madam La Compt is a legendary figure in the Pioneer History of Illinois written by John Reynolds (1788–1865). The book tells the stories of the early settlers of Illinois, based on Reynolds' own memories.^[1] Reynolds claims to have known La Compt for 30 years,^[2] but his La Compt is semi-fictional, a composite of the lives of three women — a daughter, mother, and grandmother — one of whom was "Mme. Le Comte".^[3]

The three generations of women who inspired Reynold's Madam La Compt include Mme. Marie Joseph Le Compte, her daughter, Marie Josette, and mother, Marie Josephte, and perhaps her grandmother, Marie Magdeleine. Although much of these women's lives are centered in Fort St. Joseph, Fort Michilimackinac, and Cahokia, it began in the late 17th century in the frontier of New France with Symphorosa Ouaouaboukoue, a Native American woman, likely a Menominee, and Jean Baptiste Réaume, parents of Marie Magdeleine. French government in Quebec operated forts throughout the territory for fur trading. This family engaged in the fur trade and supplied food and goods to fur traders and the forts. As they navigated through their lives, many indigenous people were their friends, some were enemies of the forts, where more people lived with families. Later generations lived in Cahokia, a settlement on the Mississippi River, across from what is now St. Louis, Missouri. It was an important fur trading center and along the fur trade river network within New France.