BOUCHARD, JAMES. - American Jesuit, born in 1823 at Muscagola to a Delaware chief and a French woman kidnapped by the Indians. After various adventures within his tribe, the young Natomika allowed himself to be won over by a Presbyterian missionary and, after his initial studies at Marietta College, Ohio, chose the career of Protestant minister. Having converted to Catholicism
at St. Louis in 1848, he entered the Society of Jesus. He was a great friend of Fr. De Smet. In 1861 he was transferred to the California mission, where through his zeal and the success of his preaching he contributed greatly to the progress of the Catholic Church. He died at San Francesco on 27 Dec. 1889. His childhood adventures and the beauty of his person inspired various authors writing for young people.