There’s a lake, a forest, a town, a river, a county, and more — all bearing the name ‘Payette.’
The man behind the name was a French Canadian fur trapper whose legacy is woven into Idaho’s landscape today.
Francois Payette traveled from Quebec along the Columbia River at the age of 18. He spent nearly 30 years of his life working in Idaho as a fur trapper, trader, and eventually as Fort Boise’s manager.
“Moving inland to the Snake country in 1818, he trapped on the Payette River, which was named for him that year,” a historical marker in Payette, Idaho, off of 6th Avenue notes. “This park memorializes the Pacific Northwest’s most successful French Canadian fur trapper, for whom this city and county are named.”
Hudson’s Bay Company career
During the 1820s, Payette worked for Hudson’s Bay Company, trapping and trading fur throughout the Snake River, Salmon River, and southwestern Idaho areas as part of the Snake Country brigade.
In 1825, he led a hunting party of 13 along the Snake River.
“Payette’s party had a narrow escape from a Blackfoot war party,” a biography by Kolleen Bean notes. “They spotted the war party, fled into the bushes, and swam across the river to get back to the camp.”
During the swim across the River, Payette lost all of his belongings, including his horse, gun, and traps.
“The intrusion of white men into Indian territory led to many confrontations,” an article by Ron Marlow on the PayetteCounty.Info website notes. “One such clash left Payette and an Iroquois Indian companion, Baptiste, wounded with Indian arrows.”
Fort Boise tenure
In 1835, Payette moved about 20 miles from what’s now the town of Payette to Old Fort Boise, which is near present day Parma. Payette managed Fort Boise on behalf of the Hudson Bay Company until retiring in 1844.
“A merry, fat old gentleman, he was noted for his kindness to Oregon Trail emigrants who found him exceedingly polite, courteous, and hospitable.”
Payette’s long-time employer, the Hudson’s Bay Company, was established by King Charles II in 1670 and continues to operate today as North America’s oldest corporation. The company’s business model evolved over time from operating trading posts to operating department stores.
Today, there is a novel that’s inspired by the life of Payette called “Francois!” The book, written by Donnelly resident Floyd Loomis, is available for $12.95 on Amazon.
