Antoine Janis

Quick Facts

Significance:

Son of Nicolas Janis, original owner of Green Tree Tavern.

Place of Birth:

Kaskaskia, British Illinois

Date of Birth:

1765

Place of Death:

St. Charles, Missouri

Date of Death:

1832

Place of Burial:

St. Charles, Missouri (?)

Cemetery Name:

Unknown

While living in Ste. Genevieve in the 1790s, Antoine became involved in a relationship with a mixed-heritage enslaved woman named Marie-Louise. Because of the social norms at the time, this relationship caused the Janis family and local townspeople to become very upset. In January of 1796, Lt. Governor Zenon Trudeau of the Upper Louisiana Territory received a letter from Spanish Governor Carondelet in New Orleans. This letter informed Trudeau of the relationship and claimed that the couple had two children in Ste. Genevieve. He also added that Marie-Louise's enslaver, Vital Bauvais was planning to "rent" her to his son-in-law in St. Charles, Missouri. 

Marie-Louise was sent to work in Marie Bauvais’ home on what would become Decatur Street in St. Charles’ Frenchtown (St. Charles was referred to as "Petite Cotes" in the historical record). Undeterred by Marie-Louise's relocation, Antoine moved to St. Charles to be close to her. She eventually bought her freedom, likely with money raised by Antoine, and lived with him on a lot adjoining the home of her former enslaver Marie Bauvais. They had eight children, and Antoine became a “Marguillier” (a churchwarden or lay official for the parish) at the newly built St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Antoine received several Spanish land grants and was one of the first grand jurors in the American Circuit Court for the St. Charles district.