|
|
Post by Rivergal on Jun 11, 2012 8:54:39 GMT -6
A document was composed at Prairie du Chien in 1816 and was donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society in 2010 by the descendants of one of the petitioners to Congress named in writing. It is supposed to be in the hand of John W. Johnson, fur trader, one of the few persons at Prairie du Chien who could write well in the English language in that year. The rest were French speakers. 54 individuals, mostly making their marks, asked Congress to award them legal title to their lands and homes, as their fathers or grandfathers had been settlers since 1755. In addition to its historic significance, the document should be helpful to genealogists, as it attests to certain parties being residents as early as 1816, at least. The rest of the pages of the petition, in remarkably fine condition for its age, a transcription and more information in the form of a description can be seen on the society's website at content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/tp&CISOPTR=72462&CISOSHOW=72455I am sure many of the surnames were not spelled quite correctly and a few who were literate even signed them differently than the spelling of Johnson. I have corrected a few of the names to make them more recognizable to researchers: Basile Girard Michel Brisbois Francois Lapointe Charles Menard [Minard] Joseph Montreuil Pierre Courville Joseph Chalifous Jean Baptiste Hurtebise Pierre Lapointe Claude Gagne Registre Gagne Denis Courtois J. M. Queri Antoine Lachapelle Pierre Lessard Pierre Lariviere John Simpson Jean Marie Cardinal Jean Baptiste Faribault Joseph Rolette J.S. Lamere F. Chenevre Denis Courtois, Jr. B. Ouilmette B Ouilmette, Jr. B. Cadotte Joseph Ouilette Jas. Courchenie B. Duquette F. Galerneau F. Vertefeuille Joseph Janson Augustin Hebert F. Prevost Francois Ouilette Charles Lapointe Widow Fraser Widow Colas Andre Bazin [Basin] B. Barte V. Lafantaisie Etienne Dyonne Simon Barte Pierre Bruneau [?] Joe Menet M. Robert C. Cherrier Theo. Lupien Joseph Duplessis Joseph Rocher M. Penaud [Renaud?] Antoine Brisbois Augustin Rock [Rocque] |
|
|
|
Post by Rivergal on Jul 22, 2012 8:24:07 GMT -6
Regarding some of these settlers a booklet, "Historical and Biographical Sketches of Prairie du Chien" says:
"Denis Courtois was the first white man who settled at this place. In 1820 he made affidavits showing himself to have been in the country since 1792, at which time he and his wife came from Canada."
The wife of Denis Courtois was Marie Blondeau. According to the records of Father Badin, she died at around the age of 58 on July 17, 1827 at around 9 pm. Her son, Denis Courtois, Jr., died that same day at 8:30 pm and was buried the next day, as was his mother.
"Claude Gagnier settled on farm lot No. 13, in 1794, and died leaving a family as residents of the place."
"Francois Cheneviere [or perhaps "Chenevert"] came in 1806 and married a half-blood Indian woman. In 1810 he erected a two horse sweep power grist mill which was in use until 1838."
"Pierre Chelafou came from St. Louis and settled here in 1812."
"In 1813 a Canadian named LeBlonde came in, married a squaw, and raised a family. He died in 1843. About this date came Mr. Gollanan and his wife from Canada. He died at Frenchtown in 1867, and his wife died at Missouri in 1880, at the age of 103 years."
"Frederick Stram, native of Switzerland, came with his family in 1826. They came by way of Red River of the north, accompanied by Joseph Boothe and a man named Mercheau with their families. The latter remained only three years but Mr. Boothe remained until the time of his death in 1867. His widow married Modest Corden." [Cardin?]
"In 1836 Ezekiel Tainter settled on the bluff in the town of Prairie du Chien, on what is now known [in 1884] as the Nickerson farm."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rivergal on Jul 23, 2012 15:29:02 GMT -6
Prairie du Chien businesses operating as of 1883:
Brower, T. L. [general store]
Brower and Son [drugs and groceries]
Beach, H. [hardware and farm implements]
Bassett, Huntington & Co. [grain dealers]
Butterfield, L.T. [photographer]
Baldwin, H. [Tremont House]
Bridenbauch, M. [Central House]
Chase, L. & Co. [general store]
Crehain, Dennis [St. Paul Hotel]
Conant, Dr. [Turkish bath]
Case and Co. [grain dealers]
Douglass, D. A. [notion store]
Evans, William [attorney]
Eddy. E. [physician]
Famechon, J. [grain dealer]
Garvey Brothers [dry goods]
Grelle, Charles [furniture]
Griesbaugh, Christian [meat market]
Haskins, Le Roy [soap manufacturer]
Hewitt, Byron [farm machinery]
Jones, J. D. [physician]
Kohn & Co. [clothing]
Knops, John [furniture]
Lindner, G. L. [cigar maker]
Levi, N. H. [jeweler]
Lockart, E. P. [lumber dealer]
Mathews, R. G. [jeweler]
Morrison, E. [hardware]
Nor, Frederick & Co. [meat market]
Poehler, H. C. [groceries]
Rosenbaum, S. [groceries]
Reitemeyer, A. H. [vinegar works]
Rodgers, Edward [Sherman House]
Rodway, T.F. [restaurant]
Schweizer, Mrs. J. G. [Commercial Hotel]
Stauer & Co. [saw mills]
Shumann & Menges [brewery]
Steiger, E. [physician]
Samuels, A. F. [physician]
Schumecher, R. R. [restaurant]
Thomas, O. B. [attorney]
Viele, L. F. S. [attorney]
Wright & Co. [drugs]
Weidenfeld, H. [dry goods]
Webster, Daniel [attorney]
|
|
|
|
Post by Rivergal on Aug 13, 2012 13:18:53 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Rivergal on Jun 25, 2013 21:19:17 GMT -6
One of the busiest men of Prairie du Chien was Leander Leclerc. He had an office on Church Street, across the road from St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Leclerc was an attorney, notary public, land agent and auctioneer.
"Leander Leclerc was a French Canadian, who came from the Dominion and settled in Prairie du Chien in 1842. He brought a stock of goods with him, and engaged in the mercantile business several years after his arrival. Having a partiality for the legal profession he read law, and served a number of years as justice of the peace. In 1852 he was elected sheriff of Crawford county, serving one term of two years. Subsequently he devoted his attention to the practice of law. Mr. Leclerc was not a great lawyer, but he was a man of great industry and energy and worked into quite an extensive practice, especially in the lower courts. He married before leaving Canada, and had a family of three daughters and one son. He died Sept. 14, 1872."
Taken from "History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin" - Union Publishing Company - Springfield, IL - 1884.
Leander was married to a woman named Margaret, but I only have information on one of their three daughters. Louis Boucher married Flora Leclerc on 4/13/1850.
Added on 3/1/17: Clara married Herman Booth. They ran the poorhouse at Prairie du Chien for awhile. The third daughter, Margaret, married Adel B. LaRocque, former Crawford County Sheriff, who later became a detective in Chicago, the couple having moved there. Walter LeClerc, the only son of Leander and Margaret LeClerc, lived in Chicago, as well. Flora Boucher died at Chippewa Falls. Their aunt, Penelope McLeod [mother's sister] was the housekeeper of the Villa Louis at Prairie du Chien.
|
|
|
|
Post by Charles Myre on Aug 8, 2022 17:14:14 GMT -6
Thanks for the entry on the Flora, the daughter of Leander LeClerc Her son, Louis married my grandfather’s older sister. Here is info from my family file
Name: Louis A Boucher
--------------------------------------------------
Birth: 1865 Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin
Death: Jul 22, 1952 Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Father: Louis Boucher (1838-1913)
Mother: Flora Le Clerc (1844-1906)
--------------------------------------------------
Spouse: Henrietta Nellie Myre
--------------------------------------------------
Birth: Oct 15, 1869 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Death: Sep 28, 1900 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Burial: Hope Cemetery, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Father: Charles Myre (1838-1905)
Mother: Felicite Dussault (1847-1929)
Children
--------------------------------------------------
1 M: Leon Myre Boucher (Died as Child)
Birth: Apr 30, 1898 Chippewa Falls, Wi
Death: Dec 29, 1899 Chippewa Falls, Wi
The son, Louis Boucher is buried at St Anthony Cemetery, Minneapoli, MN. To my surprise the cemetery is less than a mile from me
|
|
|
|
Post by Charles Myre on Aug 16, 2022 11:42:12 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Rivergal on Oct 7, 2023 11:39:03 GMT -6
Thanks! Nice to hear from you, Charles Myre. I say quite a bit about this family [Le Clerc and McLeod] in my book. "Tales of Old Prairie du Chien" [Amazon.com]
|
|
|
|
Post by Dennis Vavra on Feb 25, 2024 17:14:55 GMT -6
Ancestry.com shows Praire Du Chien as a prominant town for my ancestors.. Surnames such Gremore, LaRiviere, LaPointe, Pellitier, and others populate my family tree. Emma Agness (Gremore) McGuire (1874-1926) was my Great Grandmother. - Dennis Vavra
|
|
|
|
Post by Dennis Vavra on Feb 25, 2024 17:31:30 GMT -6
Another name I forgot to mention is Denis Courtois and surname Blondeau (might be misspelled)..Dennis Vavra
|
|
|
|
Post by Natalie Mcclary on Mar 6, 2024 21:16:15 GMT -6
Hi there, Natalie from Social Buzzzy , your partner in the exciting world of Instagram growth. I've unearthed something spectacular for skyrocketing your Instagram profile and I'm thrilled to share it with you! Social Growth Engine unveils a groundbreaking service that catapults your Instagram engagement to new heights. It's seamless: - Concentrate on designing stellar content. - Extremely affordable at just $36/month. - Completely safe (no password needed), highly efficient, and the ideal Instagram companion. I've experienced remarkable results firsthand, and I'm sure you will too! Amplify your Instagram presence right now: get.socialbuzzzy.com/instagram_boosterBest wishes, Natalie at Social Busy Bee |
|
