Captain Hendrick Aupaumut monument, Nov. 6, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — His story is one of a kind in Northeast Wisconsin.
“He’s the only Revolutionary War patriot that we have that was buried here locally that has received any type of recognition,” said Sasha St. John, Appleton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution regent.
Some of that recognition came from the General of the United States, George Washington.
After his service, Hendrick Aupaumut found a new purpose.
“At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, Hendrick Aupaumut actually served the United States as a diplomat. He was working with Native American tribes and trying to help negotiate treaties between the new government and the Native American tribes,” said St. John.
Aupaumut — a member of the Stockbridge tribe — relocated to our area from Massachusetts.
“The Stockbridge tribe relocated from New England to the Kaukauna area, currently where that Thousand Islands Park is at,” said St. John.
The Daughters of the American Revolution donated his monument in the 1920s. It sits on the corner of Hendricks and Reaume Ave — the same road his family lived on.
“It pays homage to history in the area that people just aren’t familiar with. A lot of times when you see these monuments, it’s about where somebody passed away. Not necessarily where they lived,” said Dave Kittel, City of Kaukauna director of planning & community development.
He added, “They saw a really great opportunity to maybe help get a new monument, but also facilitate a nice parklet for the entire community. And when they approached us with it, we were from day one on board.”
According to Kittel, the timeline is dependent on funding. He said the hope is to start work on the foundation for the monument in spring, and for the full monument to be finished next year.
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