Father Allouez Niles, Michigan

 In Niles close to the St Joseph River is this memorial to Father Allouez.  You have to climb a long staircase to get to it off of Bond Street.  St. Joseph mission was founded by Father Allouez in 1864.  The mission became part of Fort St. Joseph when it took over in 1691.  

To the memory of Claude Jean Allouez, S.J. whose intrepid courage won the admiration of Indians and whose apostolic zeal earned for him the title of Fancis Xavier of the American Missions.  Father Allouez was born at St. Didier, France and died near this spot August 27th 1689.  
Erected by the Woman's Progressive League of Niles, Michigan 1918.

Fort St. Joseph, Niles Michigan

 Fort Joseph is close to the St. Joseph River in Niles, Michigan.  It was established as a French mission and later adapted as a fur-trading post.  The fort was manned by ten soldiers, a commandant, blacksmith, Catholic priest, interpreter, and additional households.  As a mission it serviced Potawatomi and Miami Indians.  

After the French and Indian War the fort changed hands from the French to the British.  The British maintained it as a fur trade post.  During the Revolutionary War the British used it to supply loyalist who fought against the Continentals.  The British ran the fort after the war, until 1795 when the Americans conducted the Northwest Indian Wars which is considered the start of the American Indian Wars.  The British abandoned the fort and it fell to decay.  The fort was not rediscovered until 1998 and has since been excavated.  A Jesuit medal was found at the site.