Honoring Ezekiel Solomon with a Historical Marker
History isn’t always made in grand palaces or famous battlefields—sometimes it begins in a fur trader’s cabin on the edge of the wilderness. On this day in 1964, a historical marker was unveiled in Mackinaw City, honoring Ezekiel Solomon, the first known Jewish resident in Michigan and a remarkable figure of the colonial frontier.
Ezekiel Solomon’s story stretches back to 1761, when he made a daring 1,000-mile journey from Montreal to Fort Michilimackinac. His destination was a vital fur trading post nestled at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. A Berlin-born Jew, Solomon was part of a syndicate of Jewish businessmen who were granted British licenses to trade in the Great Lakes region. Armed with beads, blankets, and trade goods, he ventured into a world where cultures collided and alliances were as changeable as the northern weather.
Trading House Established
Two years into his venture, Solomon survived Pontiac’s Rebellion. During this time the Ojibwa warriors captured the fort and killed many of its British defenders. Though his trading company lost thousands of pounds in goods, Solomon returned and rebuilt—literally. He and his business partner, Gershon Levy, purchased a home within the fort walls. There they established the Solomon-Levy Trading House. This became a crucial hub in the fur trade for years to come.
Solomon’s life was as layered as the region’s history. In 1769, he married Louise DuBois, also known as Chief Bird Woman (Okimacinesikwe). She was a biracial Roman Catholic woman of high status. Together, they raised a family while honoring their separate religious traditions. He continued to support both his Jewish roots—helping to found Montreal’s first Sephardic congregation—and his wife’s Catholic faith, even contributing to Jesuit missions on Mackinac Island.
Moving to the Island
As Fort Michilimackinac gave way to Fort Mackinac on the island bluffs, Solomon likely moved his operations there. He stayed active in the fur trade until his death around 1805. His wife remained on the island until her death in 1813—just before the U.S. officially took control of the territory.
In the 1980s, archaeologists uncovered the remnants of Solomon’s house at the old fort. Family descendants returned to see where he once lived, some even assisting in the excavation. Today, visitors to Colonial Michilimackinac can explore a reconstructed version of Solomon’s home. They can peek into his original cellar, and imagine life in the rugged frontier days.
The 1964 historical marker was dedicated by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan and commemorated by Senate Resolution No. 121. It serves as a tribute not just to one man, but to the resilience, diversity, and enduring stories that shaped Michigan.
Wrapping It Up
Ezekiel Solomon’s life was a unique thread in Michigan’s rich historical tapestry. It was a story of commerce, cultural connection, and faith lived out on the edges of empire. Whether you visit his reconstructed home in Mackinaw City or just pause to read the historical marker, his legacy is a reminder that history is full of unexpected pioneers.
Michigan’s First Jewish Settler Historical Marker
Revolution and War (1760-1815) – Registered in1963 and erected in 1964 – ID #S249
Located at Fort Michlimackinac State Park, Mackinaw City, Wawatam Township -Lat: 45.78616200 / Long: -84.73464600
Ezekiel Solomon, a native of Berlin, Germany, who had served with the British army, arrived at Michilimackinac in the summer of 1761. He is Michigan’s first known resident of the Jewish faith. Solomon was one of the most active Mackinac fur traders until his death about 1808. He was one of those who narrowly escaped death in the massacre of 1763. During the Revolutionary War, he and other hard-pressed traders pooled their resources to form a general store. In 1784 he was a member of a committee of eight formed to regulate the Mackinac area trade. Ezekiel Solomon’s business often took him to Montreal where he is believed to have been buried and where he was a member of Canada’s first Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel.
