About the year 1800 he pushed farther west, to St.Joseph's, Michigan.

In this year he married Mrs.McKillip, the widow of a British officer, and in 1804 came to make his home at Chicago.

It was in this year that the first fort was built by Major John Whistler.
By degrees more remote trading-posts were established by him, all contributing to the parent one at Chicago; at Milwaukie with the Menomonees; at Rock River with the Winnebagoes and the Pottowattamies; on the Illinois River and Kankakee with the Pottowattamies of the Prairies, and with the Kickapoos in what was called "_Le Large_," being the widely extended district afterwards erected into Sangamon County.
Each trading-post had its superintendent, and its complement of engages--its train of pack-horses and its equipment of boats and canoes.
From most of the stations the furs and peltries were brought to Chicago on pack-horses, and the goods necessary for the trade were transported in return by the same method.
The vessels which came in the spring and fall (seldom more than two or three annually), to bring the supplies and goods for the trade, took the furs that were already collected to Mackinac, the depot of the Southwest and American Fur Companies.

At other seasons they were sent to that place in boats, coasting around the lake.
* * * * * Of the Canadian voyageurs or engages, a race that has now so nearly passed away, some notice may very properly here be given.
They were unlike any other class of men.

Like the poet, they seemed born to their vocation.