Jerry Weldy holds up a reproduction of a Dance Blanket owned by the LaFramboise family next to a display dedicated to several members of the family. Weldy is a descendant of the LaFramboise family. The Joseph LaFramboise who served as an interpreter for the Traverse des Sioux treaty is Weldy’s great-great grandfather.

NEW ULM – Whether in Brown County, Nicollet County, or parts of northern Michigan, the LaFramboise name is well-known in history.

For Jerry Weldy of Franklin, Minnesota, the LaFramboise name means family. He descends from the LaFramboise family on his mother’s side.

Next week he will give a presentation on his family history for the Brown County Historical Society’s Lunch and a Bite of History series.

His great-great-grandfather was Joseph LaFramboise, who served as an interpreter for the Traverse de Sioux Treaty and even helped pick out where New Ulm was built.

Weldy said it is known that the LaFramboise family came to North America from France and immigrated to Canada in 1637. There is not a lot of information on the family during their first 200 years in North America, except for some marriage records. By the early 1800s, the family began to leave its mark. The family had become heavily involved in the fur trade, having moved into Michigan following the St. Lawrence River.

Weldy’s great-great-great grandparents Joseph and Madeleine LaFramboise worked together in the fur trade until 1806 when Joseph was murdered leaving Madeline a window with two kids to raise. Her son Joseph LaFramboise, Jr. was only a year old when his father was killed. Madeleine took over the fur trading business herself and proved to be a great businesswoman.

Weldy said at that time, a successful fur trader could make $1,000 a year. She made $5,000 a year. Madeline LaFramboise is often cited as the first business woman in Michigan.

Weldy said his great-great-great grandmother was likely successful because she was operating in territory that belonged to her family. She was also able to speak multiple Native American languages including French and English.

Her son Joseph LaFramboise, Jr. followed in the fur trading business, moving to the Minnesota River Valley in 1820. He worked across southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota until he died in 1856.

In the 1830s, settlers in the Minnesota River Valley were establishing settlements. Joseph LaFramboise, Jr. served as an adviser, suggesting to choose a site where the Cottonwood Rivers and Minnesota River converge. This is how New Ulm was founded at its location.

Like, his mother Joseph LaFramboise, Jr. could speak multiple languages and his services became vital during negotiations between settlers and Native American tribes. He served as an interpreter for the Sioux and Chippewa Treaty negations in 1837. In 1851, he also served as the interpreter for the Traverse des Sioux Treaty. Unfortunately, LaFramboise died five years later. He was buried in the Fort Ridgely Cemetery. Six years after his death, the U.S.-Dakota War began. Two of his sons would serve as U.S. Scouts during the conflict.

Weldy was born two miles from Fort Ridgely and he was raised a mile from the fort. He has lived most of his 85 years within a few miles of the famous fort and sites connected to the 1862 U.S. Dakota War. He was aware of his great-great grandfather’s connection to these sites but said interest in family history peaked after 2012. Several historical items he collected were put on display at the BCHS museum. After they learned he was a direct descendant of Joseph LaFramboise he asked to help with tours.

“I was drafted,” Weldy said.

His research into his own family went into overdrive. Weldy said he has learned much about his ancestors, but the thing that stuck with him the most was the LaFramboise family’s dedication to education.

Several of the LaFramboise family could speak and write in multiple languages. His great-great-great-grandmother even founded a school on Mackinac Island for Native American children.

When Joseph LaFramboise lived around Fort Ridgely, he made sure his kids were sent to a mission school to learn language and to write.

“They were very well educated,” Weldy said.

Weldy’s ongoing research into his family’s history is in part for his descendants. He wants his kids to know their legacy.

Weldy will give a talk on the LaFramboise family history during a special Lunch and a Bite of History event at 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. at the Brown County Historical Society Annex.