Saturday Aug 16, 2025
Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters
fwsqhistoricsite@wsdar.com or call (608) 742-2949
The life and legacy of an early Portage settler will be celebrated Saturday, Aug. 16, at Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters Historic Site (FWSQHS).
The public is invited to the free 1 p.m. event honoring Francois LeRoi, builder of the fur trader’s cabin that later served as the U.S. Army’s Surgeons Quarters.
Titled “Meet the LeRois: Descendants of the Fort’s First Family,” the afternoon will include:
• Meet LeRoi family descendants who will be visiting or have contacted FWSQHS to learn about their family tree. Descendants are asked to call event co-coordinator Sandra Snow at (608) 844-9545 for information on activities planned for the day.
• A presentation by Reed Perkins, historian for the Jonathan Clark House museum in Mequon. His talk will focus on the Old Military Road in Wisconsin.
• Free special tour, titled “The Fur Trade and the Portage,” by Curator Nancy Olson that includes the log cabin built by LeRoi.
• See the 175-year-old Garrison School, which just underwent a new flooring system and floor replacement. The $80,000 project funded by the Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution (WSDAR), foundation gifts, grants and community donors was completed July 18, and its wonderful, fresh pine smell evokes that which greeted pupils when the schoolhouse opened in 1850.
• View the newly updated Fort Winnebago diorama, created by Scott Dyar, a social studies teacher and adviser to the History and Railroad clubs at Eleva-Strum Central High School.
Born in 1790 in Green Bay, Francois LeRoi was the son of French-Canadian fur trader Joseph LeRoi and Marguerite Oskinanotame, daughter of Chief Standing Earth of the Menominee Tribe. He married Therese L’Ecuyer in 1812 at the Fox-Wisconsin portage where she grew up.
LeRoi inherited a portaging business from his father-in-law and was paid to transport goods and boats between the rivers. He built the log cabin between 1819 and 1824.
Overlooking the Fox-to-Wisconsin rivers portage, the large cabin built of tamarack served as both his place of business and family home. In 1828, he sold the cabin, located adjacent to the site of Fort Winnebago, to the U.S. government. The Army surgeons resided there from 1834-54.
LeRoi remained in Portage until 1838, operating a tavern and trading post. In 1850, he was listed as a farmer in Green Lake, where he lived until at least 1860. He died in his late 70s between 1860 and 1870.
“While no pictures of LeRoi remain, he lives on through his many descendants today,” said Snow. “I hope, as history lovers, you will take this opportunity to visit us on the 16th. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!”
WSDAR has owned and operated the site at 1824 State Highway 33 in Portage since 1939. In addition to special events, Surgeons Quarters is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until mid-October.
For more information, visit www.fortwinnebagosurgeonsquarters.org, email fwsqhistoricsite@wsdar.com or call (608) 742-2949.
Date and Time
Location
1824 E. State Rd. 33Contact Information
LeRois Family Celebration at Surgeons Quarters
"Meet the LeRois: Descendants of Fort's 1st family"
LeRois Family Celebration at Surgeons...