USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Pilot > History of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pilot, Illinois : with an historical sketch of Sacred Heart Church, Goodrich, Illinois, and St. James Church, Irwin, Illinois, at one time forming one parish; prefaced by a general local history. > Part 8
USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Irwin > History of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pilot, Illinois : with an historical sketch of Sacred Heart Church, Goodrich, Illinois, and St. James Church, Irwin, Illinois, at one time forming one parish; prefaced by a general local history. > Part 8
USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Goodrich > History of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pilot, Illinois : with an historical sketch of Sacred Heart Church, Goodrich, Illinois, and St. James Church, Irwin, Illinois, at one time forming one parish; prefaced by a general local history. > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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GEORGE FORTIN-Born at St. George de Henry- ville, P. Q., Lower Canada, on July 22, 1845 and came with his parents to America in 1847, settling at Bourbon-
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nais. When 13 years of age he returned to Canada, attend- ing a college for a few years. Married to Adeline Tastu in 1873. Children: Orville, Julius (ordained to the priest- hood), Albert and Paul, one deceased. Bought 305 acres of land in Otto Twp. in 1868 from Abby J. Kendall for $9000. From Irwin district he moved to Kankakee and afterwards to Chicago, from where he retired to Montreal, Canada.
CHARLES (CHARLOT) FORTIN-A brother to Timothy Fortin, Sr., came to Illinois some time after 1847 and settled in Limestone Twp., section 18. Married to Cleste Brosseau. Moved near Concordia, Kansas 1878 where he died.
ALFRED FORTIN-Born in Bourbonnais, Ill., 1850, and moved to Limestone Twp. where he bought 480 acres in section 19 in 1874 for $1000 from Simeon H. McIntosh. Married to Marie Fortin, a distant relative. He also bought 500 acres with his brother George in Otto Twp. He afterwards moved to Chicago and later retired to Mon- treal, Canada.
PIERRE MERILLAT, Jr .- Born in Switzerland in 1837 or thereabouts and came to America about 1857. Lo- cated in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for some time, then in Lime- stone Twp. Married to Celestine Girard. Children: Mary, Helen and Rose. His second marriage was to Anna Hattie Girard. Children: Mathilde, Fred, Hattie, Frederick, Alice, Henry, Joseph, James. Lived with his brothers Eugene and Louis. Located at one time at Wilmington, then in Bonfield and Kankakee. Died in Kankakee in November 1917, and is buried in Mound Grove cemetery. His father Pierre Merillat, Sr. came from Switzerland. Located at Fort Wayne, Indiana, then in Pilot Twp. Married to Marie Cabot (Swiss). Children: Louis, Pierre, James, Amelie. Buried in Kankakee. He served in the army dur- ing the civil war in the 53rd Illinois infantry.
BENJAMIN TREMBLAY, Sr .- Born at Baie St. Paul, Charlevoix Co., P. Q., Canada, in 1828 or thereabouts and came to Bourbonnais in 1849 with ihs wife and chil-
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dren. After some years he moved to the Irwin district where he bought 80 acres. Married to Justine Tremblay, a cousin. Children: Benjamin, Justine, Joseph, Marie, David, Edward, Delphe and Charles. Died in Irwin in 1883, an dis buried in the old cemetery in Pilot Twp., Sec. 24. His body has never been taken up.
THEODORE CARON-Born at La Riviere du Loup (Louiseville), P. Q., Canada, October 15, 1825. About 1852 he came to Bourbonnais, Ill., and after a few years stttled in the Irwin district. Married to Julie Constantin. Chil- dren: Joseph, George, Lisa, Lucille, Marie, Bertha, Leon and Philip. Died on July 30, 1914, at Ghent, Lyon county, Minnesota.
PIERRE PROVOST-(Adopted by Charlot Fortin) -Born at St. George de Henryville, Canada. He came to Illinois about 1862, being about 18 years old. Settled in Limestone Twp., section 18. He inherited 80 acres of land from Charlot Fortin, with who mhe was living. Married to Marie Brosseau. To this union seven daughters were born. Moved to Concordia, Kansas, in a wagon like many others in 1878, with Charlot Fortin, where he died.
EDMOND BROSSEAU-Born in Canada. Married to Mary Cyrier. Children: Noel, Horace, Remi, George, Philip, Joseph, Louise, Elizabeth, Eva. Moved to the Irwin district in the 1860's. Bought 160 acres from Geo. V. Huling for $2600 in Otto Twp., section 21, in 1874. Moved to Concordia, Kansas, in 1880 where he died.
VINCENT (FRANK) BONER-Although not of French-Canadian descent, his biographical record is given here, having for the most time been a member of St. James parish during his stay in the districts of Irwin and Good- rich. This also applies to a few other similar cases. Born at Michewinaden, Oberamt Waldsee, Wuertemburg, South- ern Germany, 1837. Came to America 1857 and located in Kankakee. By trade he was a blacksmith, his shop was on East Merchant street. Worked one and one half years in partnership with Casper and Fred Sauermann. Then mov- ed to Hickory Grove or Milk's Grove, Iroquois county (1
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year) then to Pilot Twp., section 12, where he kept a blacksmith shop in 1860-1861 on a tract of 40 acres of land bought in 1860 from the Illinois Central railroad. In 1861 he enlisted in the army, where he served during three years and three months in Company A, 53rd cavalry regiment. After the civil war he followed his trade in partnership with Campbell in Kankakee, called the Campbell blacksmith shop (3 months). Then sold his property to his brother Anton and bought 116 acres at $7.75 per acre in Pilot Twp., section 2 and 3. Sold same to Leon Bertrand, less 20 acres and kept a blacksmith shop in section 3. Located and worked as blacksmith in Waldron, Aroma Twp., Goodrich, Kankakee, Custer Park, Braidwood, Diamond (Grundy county), and Coal City where he was justice of the peace and police magistrate. Located in Essex Twp. on his farm (quarter section) about 1899. Retired to the town of Essex in 1905. Contracted first marriage with Mary Bert- rand. Children: Frank, Libby and Hattie and one de- ceased. Second marriage with Philomene Bertrand, widow of Philibert Bertrand. Retired to Kankakee, where he died.
ANTOINE SAUCIER-Born at Maskinonge, P. Q., Canada in 1833. Came to the states in 1862 and located in Pilot Twp. Married first to Marie Leduc at Lac Super- ior, and then to Flore Deveau. Children: Antoine. Third marriage with Berthille Dubord. Children: Zephirin and Augustin, and two deceased. Bought 80 acres in 1862 at $35 per acre from Luc Bessette. Died in 1899 and is buried in Mount Hope cemetery, Goodrich.
LOUIS LAFLECHE (Richer)-Born in Burlington, Vermont, in 1845. Came to Bourbonnais about 1856. Re- mained in the Irwin district from about 1858 until 1870 when he located in St. Anne, Ill. until 1872, from where he moved to St. Joseph, Kansas. Married to Marie Louise Herbert, from Canada. Children: Zite, Norbert, Avilla, Rosella, Frank.
GEORGE MARTIN-Born at St. Leon, Maskinonge county, Canada, on September 15, 1825. Emmigrated to
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America in 1844 and located at Bourbonnais. Married to Claire Regnier in 1848 at Bourbonnais. Children: Heloise, Jeremie, Louise, David, Joseph, Moise, Caroline, Ferdinand, Georgiana, Simon, Josephine and Louis. Moved from Bourbonnais to St. George and afterwards near Irwin in the 1860's. Bought 40 acres at $1 per acre. Records also show 120 acres bought in 1867 from I. W. Christy at $3000 in section 28. Moved to St. Anne in 1896 where he died December 19, 1909 and where he is buried. It required a whole month to travel from Canada to Bourbonnais. The Martin family settled in Canada about 1732.
ALEXANDRE SENESAC-de la Tranquillite-Born at La Riviere du Sud, near Montreal, Canada in the 1840's. When about 8 years old he settled with his parents in Chi- cago, then went to Aurora, Ill. (one year), then to Bour- bonnais. About 1864 he settled in Pilot Twp., section 15, where he bought 80 acres from W. R. Hickox at $10 per acre. First marriage with Delina Dupuy. Children: Mi- lien, Ambroise, Alex, Zephyr, Fred, John, Elvine, Lea, Olive and Agnes. Second marriage with Marie Savoie, nee Marie Goyette (born at St. Gregoire, Canada). In 1868 Mr. Senesac settled in Manteno, Ill and later retired in Kan- kakee.
PRUDENT MENARD-Born at St. George de Henryville, Canada, in 1833, son of Benonie and Melanie Menard. Came to America in 1854 and settled first in Ga- neer Twp., Kankakee county for about three years. In 1857 he moved to Bourbonnais and then located in Pilot Twp. in 1863. Contracted marriage with Henriette Fortin on June 15, 1857. Children : George, Frederic, Joel, Elmire, Joseph, Philip and Alex. Bought 40 acres at $25 per acre in 1863. Died about 1905 and is buried in Kankakee. He was one of the early settlers, who through hard work and economy acquired a large competance.
LAURENT CHARBONNEAU-Born at St. Rose, near Montreal, Canada, on April 9, 1830. Came to America in 1863 and settled in Pilot Twp. Bought 40 acres from Narcisse Lajoie. Married to Melanise Girard. Children:
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Lawrence, Joseph, Marie. In 1879 he mover to Clyde, Kan- sas where he died August 6, 1911 and where he is buried.
JEAN BAPTISTE REINICHE-Born at Rouge Goutte , France, near the frontiers of Alsace. Located in Fort Wayne about 1850 and in Pilot Twp. about 1863 where he lived in a stone house on the present site of old Lehigh. Bought 120 acres from Hiram Whittemore in 1867 at $800. Frank, his son, sold same to Jos. Caron Sr. in 1873. J. B. Reiniche opened the first quarry at old Lehigh north of the railroad track and also a lime kiln. Married to Victorine Steinach. Children: Julius, Jacob, Jean Baptiste, Joseph, Frank and Victor. Died in 1870 and is buried in Kankakee.
BENONIE MENARD-Son of Benonie Menard- Born at Beloeil, near Montreal, P. Q., Canada, 1802. Came to America in 1865 and located in Pilot Twp. Married to Melanie Bouteiller. Children: six sons, which included Prudent and Joel, and eight daughters. Never owned land and after 21 years he returned to Canada (Pike river) where he died.
JOEL MENARD-Born at St. George de Henryville, P. Q., Canada, in 1847. Came with his parents to Pilot Twp., section 11, where the family made their home with his brother Prudent in 1865. From 1871-1872 he taught at the Bertrand school, section 14, after having acquired some knowledge of the English language during several winter school terms. In 1873 he bought 40 acres at $25.00 per acre from Isreal Patenaude, Pilot Twp., section 14. He sold this land and bought the livery stable in the village of Her- scher. After some time he bought 80 acres in Pilot Twp., section 22. This land he sold again and bought 240, and somewhat later 80 acres, all lying contiguous to the village of Goodrich. To the management of this farm he added the handling of grain at this point. Married in 1872 to Sophie Patenaude. Children: Alice, Victor, Louise, Ber- tha, Hector Benonie, George. In 1910 he sold all his land and moved to Kankakee, where he engaged in the furniture business.
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LOUIS BELAND, Sr .- Born at St. Leon, Lower Can- ada, in 1813. Came to America in 1852 and settled in Bour- bonnais until 1864, then located a year in Lincoln and in the fall of 1865 near Irwin. Bought 120 acres at $10 per acre of school land in Limestone Twp., section 16, in 1868. Marrried to Marie Louise Lafleur. Children: Thomas, Ignace, Louis. Died in 1901 and is buried in St. James cemetery, Irwin.
GEORGE BACHANT-Born at Chambly, diocese of Montreal, Canada, in 1829. Left his native country for the states in 1854 with his wife. His first stop was at Bour- bonnais, where he stayed for 11 years, when he settled in the Irwin district and bought 40 acres. Married to Esther Couture. Children: Ozilda, Mary and Nancy. In 1880 he moved to Clyde, Kansas, where he died.
LOUIS PAREE-Born at Napierville, parish of St. Cyprien, diocese of Montreal, P. Q., Canada, on January 13, 1835. Came to Illinois in 1865 and located in Lime- stone Twp. Bought 40 acres at $10 per acre from Illinois Central railroad in 1882. Married to Adeline Fournier. Children: Ozilda, Zephyr, Adeline, Peter, Joseph, Rosanna. His second wife was Reine Dupuis who was born in Canada. In 1920 he retired to Kankakee to live with his daughter, Mrs. Fred Keroack and soon after went to Fowler, Indiana, where he died in 1924.
HIPOLYTE SENESAC-Born at la Riviere du Sud, district of Montreal, Canada, about 1847. Came to Illi- nois with Alexander Senesac. Bought land in Pilot Twp., section 15, about 1864, from Jacob W. Pierce. Married to Marie Bessette. Children: Joseph, married Ida Cyr; George, married Lyddie Stebane; John, married Josephine Gervais; Frank, married Victoria Denault; Fred, married Adeline Gervais; Caroline, married John Bechamps; Mary, married Eddy Cyr. Moved near Fowler, Ind., in the 1880's and died in 1915 ,and is buried in Fowler.
PRUDENT SENESAC-A twin brother to Hipolyte Senesac-Born at la Riviere du Sud, Canada. Moved to the states with his family and bought land in Pilot Twp.,
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section 15, about 1864. Married Sophie Tarde. Children: Joseph, married Lucy Hubert; Fred, married Corine Den- ault. Moved to North Dakota about 1893 where he died in 1915.
ANTOINE ST. GERMAIN, Sr .- Whose parents came from France, was born at la Cote des Neiges, a subrub of Montreal, Canada in 1800. He was induced by Father Chiniquy to come to Illinois in 1857 and located in St. Anne. For some years he worked there at his trade as a tanner; then lived in Kankakee eight years, when he settled in Limestone Twp. and bought 164 acres from David Paree in 1866 for $1000. Married to Henriette Ouimette. Chil- dren: Henriette, Antoine, Louis, Romain, Alderic, Medil, Israel, Stanislaus, Adolph, Marie and Hypolite. When he left his country he took with him horses, sheep and fowls. Died August 9, 1888, and is buried in Kankakee.
JOSEPH BLANCHETTE-Born in Canada. Locat- ed in St. George and afterwards in Limestone Twp. Bought 80 acres from Lajoie. Records also show 204 acres bought from Darwin C. Grinnell in 1882 for $3485. Mar- ried to Angelique Beaulieu. Children: Joseph, Arthur, Denis, Mary, Alex and Ida. Died about 1889 and is buried in Bourbonnais.
ANTOINE GIRARD-Born at St. Marie de Monnoir, district of St. Hyacinthe, P. Q., Canada, about 1806. Em- migrated to Illinois about 1855 with his family of eight children. Located first in the vicinity of St. George and subsequently in Limestone Twp. First marriage to- - Lafontaine. Children: Elie, Celestine, first wife of Pierre Merillat, Jr .; Henriette, second wife of Pierre Merillat, Jr .; Rosalie, married to Joseph Cadaret; Joseph, Seraphine, Alexis, married to Julie Bertrand. Two of the daughters of the first marriage remained in Canada. Second marrige to Marceline Coache. Children: Antoine, married Scott; Napoleon, died when 24 years of age; Josephine, married Godfroi Samson; Marie, married Joseph Tremblay, Jr .; Narcisse, married Sara Papineau; Eliza, married Noel,
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son of Elie Girard; Alice, married Arthur Flageole; Julia, married Arnold Gosselin. Antoine Girard died about 1893 on a rented farm in the vicinity of Irwin.
ELIE GIRARD-Son of Antoine Girard, Sr., was born in Canada about 1829. Came with his parents to America and located at first in Bourbonais, where he married Marie Leclerc. Children: Marie, Noel, Peter, Fred, Louise, Joseph, Napoleon, Philias, Hubert and Hattie. Settled in Salina and Limestone Twps. Bought 40 acres in 1867 at $10 per acre from A. Blair. Died May 8, 1898 and is buried in St. Rose cemetery, Kankakee.
JEAN BAPTISTE LAPOLICE-Born in Canada about 1837. Came to the states about 1864. Married to Alice Hebert. Children: John, Joseph, Arselie, Bought 160 acres from Illinois Central railroad in 1867 for $3700. Moved to Aurora, Kansas, in 1871. Died about 1904 and is buried in Clyde, Kansas.
NARCISSE GERVAIS-Born in Canada, P. Q., about 1820. Emmigrated with his wife and children to the states in 1852. Located just east of the old Lehigh station in the 1860's where he bought 80 acres of land. Married to Mar- garet Deschenin. Children: Amely, Hubert, Maximillien, Mary, Caroline, Philip. After some time he moved to Martinton, and in about 1880 to Concordia, Kansas, where his death occurred in 1896 and where he is buried.
JEAN BAPTISTE LA GUE-The LaGues came or- iginally from southern France. The grandfather Jean Bap- tiste LaGue emigrated to Canada at a young age and mar- ried a Scotch maiden. The grandfather Surprenant on the mother's side was born in Canada, came to Illinois in 1858 and settled on a farm near St. George. The father Jean Baptiste La Gue II was born in Canada at Trois Rivieres He moved to the states in 1849 and landed in Chicago. Soon after he met Noel Levasseur who owned a large tract of land and timber in the vicinity of Bourbonnais. Levas- seur sold him 160 acres at $1.25 per acre. He was married to Zoe Surprenant. Jean Baptiste LaGue III, his son, came from St. George and bought prairie land in Pilot Twp., sec-
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tion 17 and 20, at $10 per acre. His first house was 12x16 with two windows. Married to Marie Martin. Children: five sons and nine daughters. In 1888 he moved on a farm near Fowler, Ind. By his good management, industry and savings he accumulated great wealth.
LOUIS LAFONTAINE-Born in New York in 1845. His mother's ancestry originated from England. Came with his family to Kankakee in 1850. Moved to the Irwin district in 1866. Bought land in Pilot Twp., section 12. Married to Lucy Dugas (born 1838, died 1910), a widow with eight children: Joseph, Agnes, Margaret, Gabriel, Liddy, Mathilda, Lucy and Eugene who drowned in the nearby small stone quarry about 1874. His second mar- riage was to Rebecca Lucier who was born at La Riviere du Loup and died 1912. The death of Lafontaine occurred in Fowler, Ind., where he had moved in 18775.
EDWARD ALEXANDRE-Born in Canada on Au- gust 16, 1817. Came to America in the 1850's with his wife and two children. His first stop was at Bourbonnais, then at Altorf, where his father died, and finally in Otto Twp., section 33, where he bought 120 acres in 1867 from Stephen Ames for $1500. Married to Clara Boudreau who died at Irwin in 1908. Children: Merand, Philomene, Edward, Catherine, Florence, Jean Baptiste, Phoebe, Joseph, Napoleon, Josephine, Chrysella, Thomas and one deceased. Died Dec. 10, 1893, and is buried in St. James cemetery, Irwin. When he settled in Altorf he worked all his land with a team of oxen.
JOSEPH DENAULT-Born at St. Jacques le Mineur, Laprairie Co., P. Q., Canada, 1845. Came to the states in 1867. About two years after he returned to Canada to get married. In 1870 he bought 40 acres of land from Tous- saint Denault, his brother, in Pilot Twp., section 15. Cul- tivated this for one year then located successively in St. George, L'Erable, Kansas state, Kankakee, St. George and finally at Currie, Minn. Married to Odile Bourgeois. Children: Henry, Emma, Minie, Fanny, Arsene, Eddy. Arthur, -.
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TOUSSAINT DENAULT-Born at St. Jacques le Mineur, Laprairie Co., P. Q., Canada, January 2, 1834. Came to America in the fall of 1856. Located at St. George for some years, then settled in Pilot Twp., section 15, in 1867. Married to Amelia Breault, who died Feb. 2, 1899. Children: Delphine, Ferial (Fred), Zedilie, Albert, Euphe- mie, Ezilda, Alexandre, Remi, Elmo and Arthur. In Sept., 1899 he contracted a second marriage with Marceline Mire. Bought 160 acres in 1867 for $1670 from Placide Richard. Died Nov. 11, 1905 and is buried in Mount Hope cemetery, Goodrich.
FRANK LANDRIE-Born at St. Leon, Maskinonge county, P. Q., Canada, June 13, 1846. Came to America about 1863. Settled at first in Michigan for a year, then in Bourbonnais for a few years, and about 1867 came to Irwin district, where he bought 80 acres from Alta M. Scobey in 1877 for $2000. Married to Marceline Tremblay. Chil- dren: George, Arthur, Fred, Emma, Napoleon, Malvina, two deceased. In 1879 he moved to Clyde, Kansas, then to Damar, Kansas, then to Concordia, Kansas, where he work- ed as a miller; then to Lowell, Mass., and in 1889 came to Kankakee. On February 2, 1865, he enlisted at Grand Rapids, Wis., in Co. B., 46 th regiment of Wisconsin. Died May 31, 1910 and is buried in Kankakee.
LOUIS JORON-Born at St. Laurent, Jacques-Car- tier Co., P. Q., Canada, October 1, 1842, the son of Louis and Amabelle, nee LeCavalier. L. Joron emigrated to the states in October 1862. Located in the township of Che- banse, remaining there for about two years then he moved to Pilot Twp., section 22, in 1867. Married to Eleonore Perrault on July 7, 1867, a native of Quebec, and a Kanka- kee pioneer of 1854. Children: Louis R., Joseph. Bought 120 acres at $25 per acre from Joseph Legris in the fall of 1871. Served eight months in the army in 1865 in Co. F, 156th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. His wife died Sept. 16, 1897, and September 20, 1900, Mr. Joron was united in a second marriage to Julia Provost, a widow, who came to America with Timothy Fortin, Sr., at the age of 4, and who
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remained in Bourbonnais until she was 22 years old, when she came to Pilot Twp. Mr. Joron died February 10, 1910 and is buried in Mount Hope cemetery, Goodrich.
THEOPHILE DENAULT-Born at St. Jacques le Mineur, Laprairie Co., P. Q., Canada, 1837. Moved with his family to the states in 1866. Located at first in St. George until 1871. Bought 40 acres of land at $25 per acre in Pilot Twp., section 15. Married to Odile Paulin. Children: Theophile, Anna, Rosanne, Delia, Leonie, Ezilda, Minie, Joseph, Adolph, Arthur, Fred and three deceased. After some years he went to L'Erable where he remained for a few months, then moved to Kentland, Ind. After some five years he bought land near Fowler, Ind.
ELIE ODET, Sr. (De la Pointe)-Born in Canada in 1843 and came to Bourbonnais wiht his parents in 1847. Located for three or four years in Irwin district, then mov- ed to Clyde, Kansas. Bought land in Otto Twp. for about $11 per acre in 1869 or thereabouts. First marriage was to Marie Betourne. Children: Louis, Denis, Mary, Ed., Ida, John, Fred. Second marriage to Rosalia Balthazar. Chil- dren: Rosanna, Josephine, Elie, Dora, Hedwige.
CASIMIR ANDEREGGEN-Born in Switzerland on March 8, 1821. He bought 40 acres of land in Limestone Twp., section 17, in 1868 for $720. Was married twice. Died in Kankakee on April 12, 1905, after retiring. He crossed the ocean in 63 days.
JOSEPH MORISSETTE-Born at Becancour, Coun- ty of Nicolet, P. Q., Canada, in January 1830. Left for the states in 1868 with his family and an aged father and set- tled in the Irwin district for ten years. Bought 80 acres from the Illinois Central railroad company at $8 per acre and later 40 acres from Thomas Clark at $30 per acre. Married to Agnes Rheault. Children: Aristide, Emile, Delia, Virginie, Eugene, Elodie, Homer, Joseph, Alex, Celina, Adelard, Theodore, Achille and Mary. Mr. Mor- rissette moved to Kansas near Clifton and Clyde, Cloud county. Died June 10, 1913, and is buried in St. Joseph's cemetery.
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DAMASE GOSSELIN-Born at St. Charles, Belle- chasse Co., P. Q., Canada, about 1833. Came to America about 1870 and lived at Bourbonnais for some years, where he kept a boarding house, then settled in the vicinity of Irwin. Bought 80 acres of school land. Married to Marie Tremblay, daughter of Matthias Tremblay. Children: Arnold, Arthur, Oliver, Adolphe, Adelard, Eugene, Bertha, Agnes, Fred, George. Died in 1910 and is buried in St. James cemetery, Irwin.
MATTHIAS TREMBLAY-Born at Baie St. Paul, near Quebec, Canada, in 1799. Came to the states with his wife and Benjamin, his brother. Settled in Bourbonnais in 1846 or thereabouts, where he lived for some years, after which he lived in the Irwin distrist since 1878 for about eight years. His name appears in the census of 1847 taken by Rev. Courjeault at Bourbonnais. In the 1880's he moved to Clyde, Kansas, where he died at St. Joseph in 1895. Married to Marie Tremblay, a cousin. Children: Mathilde, Justine, Zoe, Celina and Marie.
NARCISSE PAQUET-Born in Canada about 1813. Emigrated with his entire family to Bourbonnais about 1869 where he remained for a short time, then located in Otto Twp., where he bought 80 acres in section 22. Married to Louisa Ongrave. Children: Mitchel, Peter, Louis, Joseph, Nancy, Alice. About 1873 he sold his land to Jim Dracy and located in St. Charles, near Geneva, Ill., where he died about 1888 and where he is buried.
PIERRE LAGESSE-Born at La Riviere du Sud (St. Georges de Henryville) Iberville Co., Canada, in 1833. Came to America in 1849 with his brother Jacob. Settled at first in Bourbonnais, and in 1869 moved to Otto Twp., section 30. Bought 40 acres which he sold to Michael O'Connor for $1400. In 1873 he bought 80 acres from Newman and in 1878 moved to St. Joseph, Kansas. Mar- ried to Julie Brosseau. Children: Pierre, Julie, David, Nicholas, Hypolite, Arthur, Noe, Delia, Josephine, Melan- ise, Theodule, Evelyn, Artemise, Henry, Anna and two de- ceased. Mr. Lagesse left with about fifteen French-Cana-
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dian families for Kansas in 1878 or thereabouts, some of them as follows: Charbonneau, Bechard, Begnoche, Octave Souligny, Bachand, Pierre Provost, Charlot Fortin, Racette. They traveled by wagons to their destination. The land claims were all taken when they reached there. The sub- ject of our sketch died in 1882 and is buried at St. Joseph, Kansas.
NICHOLAS LAGESSE-Born at St. George de Henryville, P. Q., Canada. Settled in St. George, Ill., from where he went to Otto Twp., section 30, the present site of Irwin, and bought 80 acres from Joseph Legris. Married to Orelie Laflamme. Moved to Clyde, Kansas, in 1870 where he died about 1884.
GEORGE DUVAL-Born at Nicolet, P. Q., Canada, in 1831. Came to the states in 1870 and located for a short time at Lake Superior, then in Pilot Twp., where he bought 80 acres at $27 per acre from Grey Aldrich. Records also show 40 acres at $400 bought from A. Simonds in 1870. Married to Amedie Leduc. Children: Arthur and Philip. Second marriage to Elise Leduc. Retired to Herscher where he died in 1915 and is buried at Mount Hope ceme- tery, Goodrich.
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