Settling at Vincennes about 1780, Toussaint Dubois, a friend of William Henry Harrison, became a merchant, trader with Native Americans, soldier, and politician. His holdings included a land tract purchased from the United States Government on May 7, 1807. This parcel included land in what became Dubois County in 1818. By signing the official documents using a lower case “b” in his surname, Dubois broke with French tradition. During the crisis of Tippecanoe, Dubois served as Harrison’s messenger to The Prophet and in September 1811 was appointed Captain of Spies. After guiding the army safely to the vicinity of the Prophet’s Town, Dubois and an interpreter made a final unsuccessful effort to conference with Native Americans. Harrison’s Army prevailed at the Battle of Tippecanoe and Dubois became a well-known figure following the encounter. Serving in the War of 1812, Major Toussaint Dubois led Company D, Dubois’ Battalion, Mounted Spies, Kentucky Volunteer Militia. An act of the Indiana Legislature creating Dubois County passed December 20, 1817, and the county, named in honor of Toussaint Dubois, organized February 1, 1818.