Of Pottawatomie Indian and French ancestry, Louis Vieux was an early
resident of this area. Probably born near Lake Michigan, Vieux, with a
portion of the Pottawatomies, moved to Iowa and later Indianola, Kan.,
near Topeka. In 1847 or 1848, Vieux moved to this area of what became
Pottawatomie County, located on the Oregon Trail near the Vermillion
river crossing. The Vieux family, with its seven children, lived in a
log cabin and Vieux built and operated a toll bridge over the river. He
charged Oregon Trail travelers one dollar per outfit and it was
estimated that he earned as much as $300 per day during the peak season
of wagon travel. In 1861, Vieux was one of the signers of a treaty
allowing the Pottawatomie to hold lands in common or establish
individual claims of 80 acres per person or more, depending on their
position in the tribe. Vieux served as a business agent and interpreter
and occasionally represented the tribe in Washington, D.C. Near here is
the Vieux cemetery where members of the Vieux family and other early
settlers were buried.
Erected by the Pottawatomie Highway Department
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