Vigo County Historical Society

No matter how you say it, county got its name from Col. Francis Vigo

Vigo County in the State of Indiana was so named to honor Col. Francis Vigo. In 1778-79, he provided supplies and money to the soldiers from Virginia, who fought and won the Midwest from the British in the fight for American independence.

Giuseppe Maria Francesco Vigo was born in 1740 in Mondovi, part of the kingdom of Sardinia in what is now northwest Italy. As a young man he joined the Spanish army, was sent to Havana and then on to New Orleans. When he left the army he made his way to St. Louis, where he found employment as a fur trader. Although unschooled, he learned the language, customs and character of the Native Americans with whom he traded and soon became a successful independent fur trader and merchant and was known as the Spanish Merchant. He remained single until 1774 when he married a young lady by the name of Elizabeth Shannon.

Col. Vigo became a good friend of Gen. George Rogers Clark, who was in charge of the Western Troops of Virginia serving in the Illinois campaign of 1778 and 1779. When Vincennes fell to the British under the command of Gen. Hamilton, Col. Vigo immediately left his business and went to Gen. Clark to ask what he could do. Gen. Clark commissioned him to go to Vincennes to find out the conditions in the city. On the way, Col. Vigo was captured by Native Americans and taken to Vincennes. He tore up the paper on which his orders were written and swallowed it; still, he was under suspicion and imprisoned.

Father Gibault of Vincennes immediately rallied his parishioners, and on a Sunday morning went to the fort and told Gen. Hamilton that they would not provide supplies to the fort unless Col. Vigo was freed. Gen. Hamilton agreed, providing Col. Vigo would return to St. Louis without contacting Gen. Clark.

Col. Vigo kept his word and returned to St. Louis, but left the next day to report what he had learned about conditions in Vincennes to Gen. Clark. This information was very important in the capture of Vincennes. But the times were hard, and when the Virginia troops needed food, supplies and horses, Col. Vigo advanced large sums of money, receiving bills of exchange drawn on the State of Virginia under whose authority Gen. Clark was serving. The claim for reimbursement remained in his possession until 1802 when he became seriously ill, and after remaining ill for several years, he finally presented the claim for payment.

Col. Vigo was made commander of the Vincennes Militia in 1790 and in 1810 Gov. Harrison made him one of his confidential messengers to the Native Americans, to maintain peaceful relations between the United States and the tribes of the West.

After the county surrounding Terre Haute was named Vigo County, a large celebration was planned on July 4, 1832, in honor of Col. Vigo. The elderly gentleman was escorted in state from Vincennes and placed in a fine carriage at the head of a large parade. In gratitude for this tribute, he wrote in his will, dated April 5, 1836, "Whereas the County of Vigo has been named after me, and I feel towards it and its citizens a great degree of esteem and affection for many favors conferred and services rendered me, especially by the inhabitants of Terre Haute, it is my wish, will and desire, and earnest request, that if the claim aforesaid is recovered and the amount due me paid to my executors that they, or some one of them, shall pay out of the same, five hundred dollars to the County of Vigo to be laid out by the Commissioners of said county in the purchase of a bell for the Court House of said County, on which shall be inscribed, "Presented by Francis Vigo."

Col. Francis Vigo, a generous patriot of his beloved adopted county, died on March 22, 1836, and is buried in the City Cemetery in Vincennes.

His claim for reimbursement was 51 years old when he came to Terre Haute as its guest. Almost a century after his claim originated, in 1875 the claim was finally paid to his estate. In 1887 the 6-foot, 2-ton bronze bell was finally installed and hung in the high tower of the then new courthouse.

If you visit the courthouse and hear the tolling of the bell as the clock strikes the hour, you are listening to the "Liberty Bell of the Midwest" as it has been called. Come to the museum to view the picture of Col. Vigo.