Page "Pierre Parrant" Paragraph 4

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 ” () 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 west 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: