How Bon Homme County Got It's Name

Our county, Bon Homme, takes its name from a heavily timbered 4000-acre island in the Missouri River; see 1880's US Army map. Oral tradition tells of a Frenchman well respected by Native Americans with whom he traded furs. They named him "washta-pale-face" or "good white man" in English, or "bonhomme" in French. When he died, locals buried him on the island where he trapped and hunted. This site became known to river travelers as Bon Homme Island.

No written records exist about this man, so he remains anonymous. We can only honor his unintended contribution by telling his story. Yet, history does provide some validation of the legend. Clark and Ordway write in their Sep 1 & 2, 1804 diaries about their camp on "Bon hommen Isd" so the name predates the Corps of Discovery adventure. Lewis and Clark interviewed fur traders prior to departing St Louis to obtain as much information as possible for their journey. They likely learned of Bon Homme Island then.

Historical evidence of French fur traders near Bon Homme Island prior to 1804 exists. Richard Hermanek left notes to our museum about a stone etched with the date 1691 found by Charles Charuat in 1906 on family land in Highland Township, near Marty, in Charles Mix County. Charaut allegedly sent the stone to the Smithsonian Museum. Pierre-Charles LeSeur explored the Minnesota and Big Sioux rivers in 1683; so, members of his group could have ventured this far west. Note, the Verendrye Plate found near Ft Pierre holds the date March 30, 1743.

Other French traders prior to 1800 traded on the Missouri River, passing Bon Homme Island on their travels.

Jacques d'Eglise paddled from St Louis to the Arikara Villages (Bismark, ND) the summer of 1790.

Jean Baptiste Truteau traveled from St Louis in 1794 with 8-men in a pirogue and established a post in now Charles Mix County.

James Mackay with a party of 30-men in 4 pirogues travel the same route in 1795.