Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 134; Notable People Part 6; Rosalie Menard Leonais

Rosalie Menard Leonais, otherwise known as First Bride was the first white woman married in what became Sioux City. After her death she was buried on a bluff that later becamse South Ravine Park in the Morningside area of Sioux City. Rosalie married Joseph Leonais, one of the earliest developers of Sioux City.

Tucked in a pocket of South Ravine Park, a series of steps leads up into the woods. At the end of the trail is the First Bride's Grave.

The First Bride's Grave monument was built in 1938 by the Woodbury County Pioneer Club near the grave of Rosalie Menard Leonais. The Pioneers Club called her the "first bride" because she was believed to be the first bride of a non-Native American in the area that would become Sioux City.

Rosalie was born in 1838, the daughter of French/Canadian fur trader, Louis Menard, and his Native American wife, Klanhaywin. She had two sisters and four brothers.

Sometime around 1852, Rosalie's family moved into the area of Perry Creek and the Missouri River. There, the family became acquainted with Joseph Leonais, another French/Canadian fur trapper making his home in the area. Rosalie and Joseph were married by a traveling Catholic priest in 1853. She was in her teens and her husband was about twenty-nine.

Rosalie and Joseph had four children together: Joseph II, Josephine, Rosalie and William. At first, they lived in the cabin Joseph had built near Perry Creek, close to what is now 2nd and Water Street. Later they moved to a farm along the Floyd River.

Rosalie died in 1865, shortly after the birth of their son William. She was 27 years old.

Sioux City History web site link;
Rosalie Menard Leonais

Previous blog posts on Rosalie Menard Leonais, (First Bride);
Sioux City History & Culture by Bicycle Part 9: First Brides Grave.