My family came to North America from France in 1669, settling originally in Quebec province. Antoine Blanc Gingras was born in 1821, of French and Chippewa Indian parentage. This carving depicts him in 1840 or so when he came to the Red River area of what is now North Dakota and engaged in Indian trade, primarily fur trapping and trading. He and his wife raised twelve children. In 1851 he was elected to serve in the territorial House of Representatives. Between 1873 and 1881, the county now known as Wells was named Gingras, after him. He died in 1877 and is buried in Walhalla, North Dakota. The Gingras Trading Post Historical Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 15" h Original design, hand carved from Minnesota butternut. Wood left unfinished.