Alexis Coquillard

Alexis Coquillard (September 28, 1795 – January 8, 1855) was an American fur trader, explorer, and the founder of South Bend, Indiana.

Early life Alexis Coquillard was born on September 28, 1795, in Detroit. He fought in the War of 1812 under William Henry Harrison.

His parents, Alexis Cerat (Serat) dit Coquillard and Cecile Tremblay, were born in Montreal, as were his paternal grandparents, Jean-Baptiste Cerat dit Coquillard (1716–1771) and Marie-Madeleine Jourdain (1719–1791). In 1839, Coquillard built the first mill in South Bend with John A. Hendricks and John Rush. He also built a second flour mill called the Merchant's Mill. He established the Kankakee Race.

In 1840, Coquillard was appointed to assist with the removal of the Potawatomi. Coquillard and Lathrop M. Taylor gifted land for the South Bend City Cemetery.

Personal life Coquillard married Frances C. Comparet of Detroit. They had one child, Alexis T.

Coquillard died following a head injury from a beam falling during a fire at his mill on January 6, 1855. He died on January 8, 1855, at the age of 59. He was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the Notre Dame campus.