Pierre Parrant

Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant was the first person of European descent to live within the borders of what would eventually become the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. His exploits would eventually propel him to local fame and infamy, in addition to seeing his name briefly adorn the village that would one day become Minnesota's capital city.

There are conflicting sources as to Pierre Parrant's exact history before settling in the Minnesota Territory. However, most sources indicate that he was of French Canadian origin and born near Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, in or around 1777. For most of his adult life Parrant made his living as a fur trapper while working for a company called McKenzie and Chouteau. During his days as a fur trapper "Pig's Eye" Parrant, so called because he was blind in one eye, would start to gain a somewhat dubious reputation with law enforcement. This is most likely due to his dabbling as a part-time bootlegger. With the onset of age and the decline in the fur trade Pierre Parrant began seeking new endeavors to earn a living. His search for new opportunities would bring him to a fledgling new settlement near a military outpost called Fort Snelling in the Minnesota Territory.

Arriving at Mendota in 1832, Parrant would begin to carve out a new life for himself while residing in a squatter's colony near Fort Snelling. His new career found him distilling his own liquor which he then sold to other squatters, the indigenous people of the area, and even to the soldiers of the fort. This new business served "Pig's Eye" (French: L'Œil de Cochon) well until 1838 when the squatters were forced off the land surrounding the fort due to their strain on surrounding resources. It was at this time that the sixty-plus year old Parrant made a claim on a tract of land at the entrance of what was known as Fountain Cave. This cave was situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River just upstream from what is now Downtown Saint Paul. Then, on or around June 1, 1838 Parrant completed building a small shack that, according to a historical publication by Albert A. Jones, dated 1892, became "the first habitation, and the first business house of Saint Paul." Thus Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant became the first inhabitant of the future city of Saint Paul. Such an honor being given to a man with Parrant's reputation raised the ire of some historians such as J. Fletcher Williams who lamented:

...
Wikipedia