Frederick Notrebe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1780 |
| Died | April 4, 1849 |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Known for | Early settler and wealthy businessman in Arkansas Post |
| Spouse |
Mary Felicite Bellette
(m. 1811) |
| Children | 6 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  France |
Frederick Notrebe (1780–April 4, 1849) was an early settler and businessman in Arkansas Post, Arkansas. A Frenchman and former soldier, Notrebe immigrated to the United States around the year 1810 and soon moved to Arkansas Post. He originally was involved with the fur trade and trade with the Native Americans, but became a dominate figure in the eastern Arkansas cotton market, both growing his own cotton and purchasing cotton from others for resale. He was one of the founders of Napoleon, Arkansas, which he named after Napoleon Bonaparte. Having to conduct some of his business on the barter basis and desiring greater circulation of money in the region, Notrebehelped bring a branch of the State Bank of Arkansas to Arkansas Post, for which purposes he donated land. Notrebe's land holdings grew to 5,500 acres (2,200 ha) and he owned 119 slaves; for a time he was the largest slaveholder in Arkansas County, Arkansas. He entertained many notable guests at his home, including Albert Pike and Washington Irving; Notrebe may have been the inspiration for a character in Irving's short story "The Creole Village". Notrebe died in 1849 of either cholera or pneumonia in New Orleans, Louisiana.