CategoriesFamily Tree

Solidifying the French-Canadian Line

I haven’t spend a lot of time on my personal family tree in awhile. I always seem to work on the same people over and over, which is fine, but if you keep hitting that same brick wall sometimes you get discouraged and take a break.

Instead, I have decided to do more work on my French-Canadian line. When I originally entered a lot of this information many years ago, I didn’t exactly source everything like I do now. This line connects me to some big French-Canadian family lines including CLOUTIER, ST LOUIS, and MANSEAU. This is a line that I know I have a lot of cousins on, and I know a lot of them show up consistently in my DNA matches lists. I’d like to confirm a lot of this information before using it elsewhere.

The gateway ancestors I always start with are my maternal 4th-great-grandparents, Ephraim ST LOUIS and his wife Marie DesAnges MANSEAU. So far, I’ve confirmed a bunch of births and deaths using FamilySearch’s family tree and I am finding a lot more solid sources (thanks to the old Quebec parishes for keeping records.)

Hopefully, this turns out to bring in more information I never had.

Categories52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Jean Baptiste

The thirtieth ancestor in my 52-week challenge is my maternal 3rd-great-grandfather, Jean [John] Baptiste LAURENT.

He was born in 1825 on January 18th. A birthday he shares with another famous person. Me. He was born at the small town of Biez in the Chaumont-Gistoux municipality in Walloon Brabant, Belgium. Chaumont-Gistoux is located on the KW-line, which was a defensive line built during World War II to help prevent the German invasion. His parents were Constant Joseph & Marie Josephe (Bero) Laurent.

I have noted that he emigrated from Belgium in June 1856 through Detroit, Michigan, but I have no source attached, so I don’t know how true that is. I’ll need to confirm that.

In September 1856, he married Olivine Marie ST. LOUIS in Little Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin, daughter of Ephraim and Marie DesAnges (Manseau) St. Louis. I wrote about Marie earlier in this challenge.

Together, they had nine children, including my ancestor, Mary Philomene (Laurent) DeBroux in December 1865. They lived and farmed in the same general area in central Wisconsin throughout these years. Jean passed away on 31 July 1886 in Phlox, Langlade, Wisconsin and is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in nearby Norwood Township.

This post is 30 of 52 in the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” Challenge” begun by Amy Johnson Crow.

Categories52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

The French-Canadian Connection

The twenty-fourth ancestor in my 52 week challenge is my maternal 4th-great-grandmother, Marie DesAnges (MANSEAU) ST. LOUIS.

Marie DesAnges Manseau
Marie DesAnges Manseau

Marie was born sometime in 1806 in Yamaska, Quebec, Canada to Antoine MANSEAU and Catharine CLOUTIER. Her mother Catherine is my connection to the so-called French-Canadian “super ancestor” Zacharie Cloutier. Through him, I share a connection to a bunch of celebrities and other famous people like Celine Dion, Robert Goulet, and Beyoncé.

Sometime around 1831, Marie married Ephraim ST. LOUIS in Quebec. In 1834, my ancestor, Olivine Marie ST. LOUIS was born in Quebec. The family left Canada and settled in central Wisconsin around 1837 or 1838.

To the right is the only photo I have seen of Marie. She looks like a hard, tough woman, which is to be expected while living in rural Wisconsin the 19th century.

I have written down that Marie passed away on 16 October 1895 in Florence County, Wisconsin and is buried there, but I have no documented source for this entry. This is something I probably added early in my research when I wasn’t the smartest genealogist. My guess is that it’s probably close to the real date, but can’t confirm.

This post is 24 of 52 in the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” Challenge” begun by Amy Johnson Crow.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: May 16th – 22nd

The history of my family for this week. As always, you can find this information anytime on the Dates & Anniversaries page.

May 16th

1842 – Born – John HUIZEL – John is my wife’s great-great-grandfather on her father’s side. He was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. He married Barbara REINDL in about 1864 and they had 5 children, all of them before emigration to the US. He passed away on 19 Mar 1903 in Iowa and is buried at Bohemian Cemetery in Plymouth, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa.

May 17th

1809 – Married – Constant Joseph LAURENT & Marie Josèphe BERO – Constant and Marie are my 4th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at Piétrebais, Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgium. Together, they had 4 children including my ancestor Jean-Baptiste LAURENT. They both passed away at Biez, Chaumont-Gistoux, Walloon Brabant, Belgium, Constant in 1841 and Marie in 1853.

May 18th

1848 – Born – Peter MUHM – Peter is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Palatine, Montgomery Co., New York. He married Ida SCHAVANDIE in about 1870. They had 4 children born in Wisconsin. Peter passed away at 39 on 6 May 1888 in Langlade Co., Wisconsin. His wife lived almost 50 more years when she passed away in 1934.

May 19th

1872 – Died – Dorothea (COOK) MORAN – Dorothea is my wife’s 3rd-great-grandmother on her father’s side. She was born 8 May 1825 in Cork County, Ireland. In 1845 she married Robert MORAN. Together they had 9 children on their travels from Quebec, Canada to Wisconsin. Dorothea died in Grant Co., Wisconsin and is supposedly buried at Old Rock Church in Livingston, Grant Co., Wisconsin.

May 20th

1920 – Died – Olivine (ST. LOUIS) LAURENT – Olivine is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 17 Sep 1835 in Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. In 1857 she married Jean-Baptiste LAURENT (son of Constant and Marie above.) They had 9 children including my ancestor, Mary Philomene LAURENT. According to my notes, Olivine was the first school teacher in Phlox, Wisconsin. Note write up on the History of Outagamie County regarding the early days at Phlox, Wisconsin. The school is now torn down. Olivine passed away in Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin and is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in the nearby Norwood Township.

May 21st

1838 – Died – Lawrence MINKLawrence is my wife’s 5th-great-grandfather on her father’s side. He was born 8 Nov 1773 in Fredericktown, Maryland. He married Mary Elizabeth LOWRY in about 1795. He passed away in Preble Co., Ohio.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: March 14th-20th

The dates and anniversaries for my family for this week in March, though it’s not a very busy week. As always, you can find info for any day using the Dates and Anniversaries page.

March 14th

1764 – Born – John Baptiste III GADIOU St. Louis – John is my 5th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. He married Marie-Catherine GIGNAC in 1790 and had 4 children. He passed away on 16 Mar 1836 at Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada.

March 17th

1960 – Died – Angeline R ZALEWSKI – Angeline, also sometimes known as Amelia, is my great-grandaunt on my father’s side. She was born 6 Jul 1887 in Poland Germany. As with the Zalewski family, I’m not exactly sure where in Europe the family is from.  She immigrated to America with her parents in 1889 and settled in Milwaukee. She married Martin PIERZCHALSKI in 1912. She passed away in Milwaukee and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery there.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: Sept 13th – 19th

September 14th

1838 – Born – Margaret SCHUMACHER – Margaret is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born in Wurttemberg, Germany. She married Henry STEARNS in about 1862 and then immigrated to Wisconsin. She passed away on 9 May 1908 at Philips, Price Co., Wisconsin and is buried nearby at Oakwood Cemetery in Weyauwega.

September 15th

1665 – Died – Etienne LAFOND dit Mongrain – Etienne is my 10th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born about 1615 at St. Laurent, Saintonge, Xaintes, France. He married Marie BOUCHER in 1645. He passed away at Trois-Rivieres, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada.

1982 – Died – Leon Joseph DEBROUX – Leon is my great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born 2 Nov 1901 at Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin. He married Mildred Vida VAN PRICE in 1921 and had 5 children. He passed away at Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin and is buried there at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

September 16th

1656 – Married – Jean CUSSON-CALLIOU & Marie FOUBERT – Jean and Marie are my 10th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at Trois-Rivieres, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. They had 5 children including my ancestor, Marie-Madeleine CUSSON-CALLIOU.

September 17th

1835 – Born – Olivine Marie ST. LOUIS – Olivine is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born at Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. She married Jean Baptiste LAURENT  in 1831. She passed away on 20 May 1920 at Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin and is buried nearby at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Norwood.

September 18th

1718 – Born – Jeanne Catherine BARBUT – Jeanne is my 7th-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born at Contraglise, Haute-Saune, France. She married Jean Claude MARIZOT in 1748. She passed away before 1781.

1956 – Died – Mary Philomene LAURENT – Marie is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in December 1865 in Wisconsin. She married Joseph DEBROUX on 8 Sep 1891 at Langlade Co., Wisconsin. She passed away at Wausau, Marathon Co., Wisconsin and is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Norwood, Wisconsin.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: Sept 6th – 12th

One day late. Oops. 3-day weekends confuse me.

September 6th

1852 – Born – Ida SCHAVANDIE – Ida is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Prussia. In March 1870, she married Peter MUHM in Palatine, New York. She passed away on 12 Nov 1934 at Antigo, Langlade Co., Wisconsin. She is buried there at Elmwood Cemetery.

September 7th

1857 – Married – Jean Baptiste LAURENT & Olivine Marie ST. LOUIS – Jean and Olivine are my 3rd-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. Jean was born in Belgium in 1825, while Olivine was born in Quebec, Canada in 1835. They married at Little Chute, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin and had 9 children including my ancestor, Mary Philomene LAURENT.

1859 – Died – Michael John CORRIGAN – Michael is my 4th-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born abotu 1791 in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He married Rosina NUGENT at the Killeeshil Parish in 1816. Then he immigrated to Canada/United States with his family in about 1823 finally settling in Mara Township, Brechin County, Ontario. An excerpt from the book “They Came to Mara”:

Members of the Michael Corrigan family were natives of County Tyrone. They were still residents of Ireland when Patrick was baptized at the age of two days in Killeeshil Parish in February, 1819. They emigrated to Canada circa 1823 where Michael initiated Upper Canada Land Petitions on behalf of himself and his young sons. Then they briefly removed to the United States, likely to New York where their son, Hugh, was born. It was said that William was born during their voyage to North America. In time, the Corrigan family settled on Brock Township, and apparently lived their throughout the 1830s. By the time of the 1852 census, Michael, Rosina and family resided in Mara on the West 1/2 of LOT 15 CON 7.

Michael passed away in 1859 in Mara and is presumably buried there.

September 8th

1891 – Married – Joseph DEBROUX & Mary Philomene LAURENT – Joseph and Mary are my great-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. Joseph was born abotu 1864 and Mary was born in 1891 in Wisconsin. They married at Langlade Co., Wisconsin and had 8 children including my great-grandfather, Leon Joseph DEBROUX.

September 10th

1723 – Died – Marguerite BROSSIER – Marguerite is my 9th-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born about 1653. She married Louis QUINET and had 4 children including my ancestor, Georges QUINET.

1784 – Born – Phillipus Jacobus Bernardus van PARIJS – Phillipus is my 5th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Watervliet, East Flanders, Belgium. He married Anna Theresia JUNIS in 1809. He passed away on 1 Sep 1832 at Schoondijke, Netherlands.

1979 – Died – Madora Martha Louise LAST – Madora is my great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 14 May 1898 in Grafton, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. In 1919 she married Arthur Frederick THIELKE. She passed away at Grafton and is buried there at St. Paul’s Cemetery.

September 11th

1846 – Born – Johanna KREBBEKX – Johanna is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Holland. She married Charles Ludovicus van PARIJS in 1870. After immigrating to Wisconsin in about 1874, she passed away on 9 Jul 1920 at Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin.

September 12th

1709 – Died – Jeanne CERISIER – Jeanne is my 10th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born about 1627 at Amboise, Tours, Touraine, Indre-et-Loire, France. She married Francois DUCLOS in 1665. She passed away at Batiscan, Champlain, Quebec, Canada.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: July 12th – 18th

July 12th

1879 – Born – Minnie M (MUHM) VAN PRICE – Minnie is my great-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born in Wisconsin. She married Peter VAN PRICE in about 1895 and had 6 children, including my great-grandmother, Mildred (VAN PRICE) DEBROUX. She died on 6 Jul 1959 at Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin and is buried at Union Cemetery.

July 13th

1627 – Married – Guillaume TRAHAN & Francoise CHARBONNEAU – Guillaume and Francoise are my 10th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at St. Etienne, Chinon, France. They immigrated to Canada and passed away at Port Royal, Arcadia, Canada.

1720 – Born – Paulus VAN CRAYBECK – Paulus is my 7th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born at Genk, Limburg, Belgium. In about 1748, he married my 7th-great-grandmother, Maria TRUIJEN. He died 23 Sep 1781 at Genk.

1876 – Died – William “Curly Bill” CORRIGAN – William is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my father’s side. He was born either in New York or on the trip from Ireland. I’ve seen both. On 14 Nov 1848, he married Mary MCCANN. He passed away in Mara Township, Brenchin, Ontario, Canada.

July 14th

1963 – Died – Augusta (LUEDTKE) LAST – Augusta is my great-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 3 Jul 1863 in Storkow, Pommerania, which located in the western part of today’s Poland. She married Carl LAST in 1883 and had 16 children. She died just 2 weeks after her 100th birthday in 1963.

July 15th

1610 – Born – Herman VAN CREIJBECK – Herman is my 10th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born in Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium. In 1632, he married Joanna PANSARS at St. Lambertus, Herck, Belgium. He passed away on 13 Dec 1649 at St. Lambertus.

July 16th

1810 – Born – Ephraim Gadiou dit ST. LOUIS – Ephraim is my 4th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born in Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. In 1831, he married Marie DesAnges MANSEAU. He later moved to Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin where he passed away on 27 Mar 1892.

July 17th

1920 – Born – Irene (ZALEWSKI) LUTZENBERGER – Irene is my great aunt on my father’s side. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Joseph ZALEWSKI and Emily TROKA. She passed away in June 1996 and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

July 18th

1965 – Died – Frances (ZALEWSKI) CYBELA – Frances is my great-great-aunt on my father’s side. She was born 15 Apr 1895 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Frank ZALEWSKI and Anna LINDNER. She married Edwin CYBELA in 1916. She passed away in Milwaukee at the age of 70.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: May 31st – June 6th

June 1

1996 – Died – Irene (ZALEWSKI) LUTZENBERGER – Irene is my great-aunt, sister of my Grandpa Zalewski. She was born 17 Jul 1920 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I know I met her sometime in my life, but I really don’t remember ever meeting her. She is buried with her husband Ervin at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

June 3

1704 – Died – Marie Anne (DELEUGRE) ST. LOUIS – Marie is my 8th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 14 Jun 1665 in Chateau Richer, Montmorency, Quebec, Canada. She married Gilles Gadious ST. LOUIS. She passed away in Montreal, Ile de Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

1910 – Died – Paulina Henrietta (THOMPSON) FIRMENICH – Paulina is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my father’s side. She was born 5 May 1849 in Granville, Milwaukee Co., Wisconsin (which is now the Brown Deer area.) On 11 Apr 1867 she married Mathias FIRMENICH and together they had 13 children. She passed away at Morrison, Brown Co., Wisconsin and is buried with her husband at St. Agnes Cemetery in Ashland, Ashland Co., Wisconsin.

June 4

1891 – Married – Frank F BRAATZ & Margaret K STEARNS – Frank and Margaret are my great-great-grandparents on my father’s side. Frank was born 17 Apr 1867 in Germany and Margaret was born 30 Aug 1866, also in Germany. They married in Bear Creek, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin. Margaret passed away in 1943 at Ashland, Wisconsin and Frank followed 5 years later, also at Ashland. They are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ashland.

This is also my father’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad.

June 5

1926 – Died – Carl F H Last – Carl (also known as Charles in some records)  is my great-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. Carl was born 26 Sep 1851 in Doeringshagen, Pommerania. He married Augusta LUEDTKE on 25 Feb 1883 in Milwaukee and (amazingly) had 16 children. He passed away at his home in Port Washington, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin and is buried at Union Cemetery in Port Washington.

June 6

1974 – Died – Roman J TROKA – Roman is my great-great-uncle on my father’s side. He was born 1 Feb 1897 in Milwaukee, Wisconson to Joseph & Clara (SZULTA) TROKA. He is buried around the rest of the Troka family at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

Wow, doesn’t seem like a happy beginning on the month. A lot of deaths at the beginning of June. It’s a big change from May where we saw a lot of births.

CategoriesWeekly History

Weekly History: May 17th – 23rd

May 18

1678 – Died – Francois CHEVREFILS – Francois is my 9th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born in 1643 at Perigueux, Perigord, Dordogne, France. He married Marie LAUNY on 18 Mar 1678 in St. Ours, Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. Francois passed away in St. Ours.

1848 – Born – Peter MUHM – Peter is my 3rd-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. Peter was born in Hanover, Germany. He married my 3rd-great-grandmother, Ida SCHAVANDIE, on 18 Apr 1870 at Germantown, Washington Co., Wisconsin according to their marriage certificate. They had 3 children. Peter passed away on 6 May 1888 in Langlade Co., Wisconsin.

May 20

1840 – Married – Jacobus Franciscus KREBBEKX and Maria Sophia SCHALLOIR. Jacobus and Maria are my 4th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married in Hoofdplaat, Zeeland, Netherlands. They had two children, including my 3rd-great-grandmother, Johanna Maria KREBBEKX.

1920 – Died – Olivie Marie ST. LOUIS – Olivine is my 3rd-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 17 Sep 1835 in Yamachiche, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. She married Jean-Baptiste LAURENT on 7 Sep 1857. According to notes in the History of Outagamie County [Wisconsin], Olivine was the first school teacher in Phlox, Wisconsin. She passed away in Phlox at the age of 85.

May 21

1835 – Married – Jacobus Bernardus VAN PARIJS and Janneke DEES. Jacobus and Janneke are my 4th-great-grandparents on my mother’s side. They were married at Ijzendijke, Zeeland, Netherlands. They had 5 children, including my 3rd-great-grandfather, Charles Ludovicus VAN PARIJS.

1893 – Born – Joseph Frank ZALEWSKI – Joseph is my great-grandfather on my father’s side. Joseph was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Frank J ZALEWSKI, Sr and Anna LINDNER. He was the 4th child and the first to be born in Milwaukee. After serving in the Army in World War I, Joseph married my great-grandmother, Emily M TROKA, in about 1919. Emily passed away at a young age in 1941. He lived with his new wife until he passed away on 15 aug 1981 in Cedarburg, Ozaukee Co., Wisconsin. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.

May 22

1646 – Born – Nicolaes VAN CRAYBECK – Nicolaes is my 9th-great-grandfather on my mother’s side. He was born in St. Lambertus, Herck, Belgium. He married my 9th-great-grandmother, Helena WAGEMANS, on 9 Aug 1671. He passed away on 26 Mar 1721 in Kuringen, Belgium.

1743 – Died – Madeleine BENOIT – Madeleine is my 7th-great-grandmother on my mother’s side. She was born 19 Jun 1965 in Trois-Rivieres, St. Maurice, Quebec, Canada. She married Gabriel Robidas dit MANSEAU on 16 Sep 1715. They had 12 children and she passed away at Baie-du-Febvre, Yamaska, Quebec, Canada.

CategoriesCemeteriesTombstone Tuesday

Tombstone Tuesday: John Laurent

I’m starting to run out of tombstone photos. I’ll need to start posting those from my wife’s family tree pretty soon. This one is from my family tree and is that of Jean-Baptiste (John) LAURENT, 3rd-great-grandfather. He was born about 1825 is Belgium, according to census records. He married my 3rd-great-grandmother, Olivie ST. LOUIS, on 7 Sep 1857 in Little Chute, Outagamie Co., Wisconsin. Together they had 9 children including my great-great-grandmother, Mary Philomene LAURENT. He passed away on 31 Jul 1886 in Phlox, Langlade Co., Wisconsin and is buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Norwood, Langlade Co., Wisconsin. This photo was graciously taken for me by a volunteer in the area.

Click for larger image
Click for larger image

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