François-Xavier Leroux (1800 - 1894)

Born 17 Feb 1800 in Châteauguay, Bas-Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Isabelle (Berthiaume) Leroux — married about 1831 in Williamstown, ON [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 11 Mar 1894 at age 94 in St Mary's. Williamstown, Glengarry Co., Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Diane Depatie [send private message]

Biography

Francois-Xavier or Francis "Frank" was born on 17 Feb 1800 in St Joachim, Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada to Francois-Xavier Roux (called Verborea) François-Xavier Roux & Veronique Branchaud Veronique Branchaud .

Siblings

1. Marie 'Oldest' Roux 1799-1799

2. Pierre Leroux 1802-1805

3. Benjamin Benoni Leroux 1804-1884

4. Ignace Leroux 1806-1884

5. Angelique Leroux 1808-1834

6. Marie Leroux 1810-1816

7. Catherine 'Kathrine' Leroux 1812-1878

8. Gilbert Roux 1814-1835

9. Louis Guillaume Leroux 1816-1863

10. Luc Leroux 1818-1876

11. Hubert Gilbert Leroux 1819-1876

12. Antoine Leroux 1822-1823

13. Joseph Leroux 1824-1880

He married Elizabeth Isabelle Berthiaume (also called Isabelle Elizabeth) in 1831 at St Regis, Huntingdon, Qc, Canada. They had 17 to 23 children.

He passed away on 11 Mar 1894 at the age of 94 and was buried in St Mary's Parish Cemetery, Williamstown, Charlottenburg, Glengarry, Ontario, Canada.

(His wife's: Copied from original burial records St. Mary's, RC Church, Williamstown Ont

Isabelle Berthiaume, wife of Francois Roux On the 2nd day of December 1886 was interred in the Catholic Cemetery of Williamstown the body of Isabella Berthiaume aged 74 years, wife of Francois Roux. In presence of the latter and others. (T.J. MacCarthy, Priest))

Francois Larue,

On this 13 day of March 1894 the undersigned Priest have interred in the cemetery of this parish the remains of Francois Laroux age 97 years in the present of Donald Fraser, Maurice L'Abre and several others. (John Towomey Priest)

Burial information on stone different. Stone in cemetery gives name as Larue and gives Francois age as 94.(J.L.)

Name

Name: Francis Lalone (transcription error on 1850 US Federal Census)

Name: Francis Lreux (transcription error 1860 US Census)

Name: Francois Roux Leroux (Family Data Collection-Individual Records)

Name: Francis Laroux

Name: Francis Leroux (Drouin)

Using Francis Leroux as that is the name he most commonly used

Birth

Name: Francis Lalone (corrected to Leroux)

Date: 17 Mar 1800

Location: Canada

Location was actually at the family farm in what became Bombay, Franklin, New York after the treaty that created that part of the boundary between the US & Canada that changed Nouvelle France or Lower Canada into the US. The family was always identified as Canadian born in Bombay, New York, Hogansburg or St, Regis. ^[1]

Marriage

Name: Francois Roux Leroux

Spouse: Elizabeth Berthiaume

Parents: Francois Xavier Roux Leroux, Veronique Brancheau

Birth Place: Chateauguay, Pq

Birth Date: 17 Mar 1800

Marriage Date: 1831

Death Place: Williamstown, On

Death Date: 11 Mar 1894

Children

1. Catherine 1832

2. Julienne/Juliette 1834-1876

3. Ignace ' Narcisse' 1838-1863

4. Josette Malissa (Josephine) 1838-1850

5. Moses/Moise 1841-1938

6. Francis 'Frank' LaRue/Leroux 1843-1909

7. Alexander 1844-1824

8. Elizabeth Isabella 1845- 1942

9. Gilbert 1847-1941

10. Jane 1847-1850

11. Louise Harriet 1849-1942

12. Louis Amell Leroux 1849-

13. Robert 1850-1860

14. Adelaide 1851-1941

15. Philomene 1853-1874

16. Sophrona 'Frizette' 1853-

17. Libbie-Ignace 1854-

Residences

1800: Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada

1830: Huntingdon, Qc, Canada^[2]

1850: Bombay, Franklin County, New York, USA^[3]

1860: Bombay/Hogansburg, Franklin County, New York, USA^[4]

1871: Kenyon, Glengarry, Ontario, Canada

1881: Charlottenburg, Glengarry, Ontario, Canada

1894: Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario, Canada^[5]

Federal Census of 1871 (Ontario index)

LARUE FRANCOIS

Sex Male

Occupation Farmer

Age 71

District Glengarry

Birthplace Quebec

Sub-District Kenyon

Religion Roman Catholic

 : Division 2

Death

Name:

Date: 11 Mar 1894

Location: Williamstown, Ontario ^[6]

Burial

Name:

Date: 13 Mar 1894

Location: St-Mary's, Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario, Canada ^[7]

Wills

Date: 27 APR 1894

In Her Majesty's Surrogate Court of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario, Canada

Will of Francis Larue

Submitted by Patti Mitton, GG Granddaughter of FRANCOIS XAVIER LEROUX Jr. & ISABELLA BERTHAUME

#1821. Canada. Province of Ontario.

In Her Majesty's Surrogate Court of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Be it known that on the 27th day of April in the year of our Lord 1894,* the last Will and Testament of Francis Larue, late of the Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry and Province of Ontario, Farmer, deceased, who died on or about the eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord 1894 at the Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry, and who at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode at the said Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry, was proved and registered in the said Surrogate Court a true copy of which said last Will and Testament is hereunder written, and that the administration of all and singular the property of the said deceased and any way concerning his will was granted by the aforesaid court to **Moses Larue of the Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry, Farmer, and Frank Larue of the Township of Lochiel in the County of Glengarry, Farmer, the Executors named in the said will, they having been first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same by paying the just debts of the deceased and the legacies combined in the will, so far as they are thereunto bound by law and by distributing the residue (if any) of the property according to law, and to exhibit under oath a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said property, and to render a just and true account of their executorship whenever required by law so to do.

Signed: Helen MacDonald, Registrar of the Surrogate Court of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

Will Two

This is the last Will and Testament of me, Francis Larue of the Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry, farmer, made this 21st day of December in the year of our Lord 1892. I revoke all former wills and other testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be and contain my will and testament. I direct all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses to be paid and satisfied by my executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently possible after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my executors hereinafter named the mortgage now owing to me by Alexander Larue with instructions to collect the same as soon as practicable after my death and thereout to pay to my daughter Julia Ann Robidoux the sum of 100 dollars, to pay to Adeline Amel the sum of 100 dollars, to pay to Harriet Amel, my daughter, the sum of 100 dollars, to pay to Fanny Lefebre, my daughter, fifty dollars, to pay to Josephine Gauthier, my daughter, fifty dollars, and to pay to Frank Larue, my son 100 dollars, and the balance after payment of the charges in the second paragraph of this my will mentioned to pay over to my son Moses Larue. I give to my said son Moses Larue absolutely all other estate of every kind and nature and wheresoever situate that I may be possessed of or entitled to or interested in. I hereby appoint my sons Moses Larue and Frank Larue executors of this my last will.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence, who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our hands and seals, the same having been first read over and explained to the Testator.

Signed: Francis Larue Signed: Walter Baker Signed: Frank Larue Junior

3rd Will of Francis Larue

#1546. Text all the same as #1821, except at Line 3*, the date reads "the 30th of March in the year of our Lord 1894"... At Line 17**, ... by the aforesaid court to Alexander Larue of the Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry, farmer, the executor named in the said will....

The Will:

I, Francis Larue of the Township of Charlottenburgh in the County of Glengarry, Yeoman, declare this to be my last will and testament. I give to my son Alexander Larue of the said Township of Charlottenburgh all the real and personal estate to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease, and I appoint the said Alexander Larue sole executor of this my will, hereby revoking all former and other wills, codicils, testamentary dispositions and appointments whatsoever by me at any time made. Dated the 24th day of August A.D. 1892.

Signed by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time, who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses. Signed Francis Larue (His Cross X)Signed: Julien Bougie Signed: Pierre Bougie

• References at the Archives of Ontario: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Surrogate Court. Register of Wills K, 1894-1897

Francis Larue, pp. 3, 4 for #1546; pp. 430, 431, 432 for #1821. Archives of Ontario Reel GS 1-1250.

Historical Note

Ashburton Treaty (1842) Disputes over the interpretation of the border treaties, and mistakes in surveying it, required additional negotiations resulting in the Webster–Ashburton Treaty of 1842. The treaty resolved the dispute known as the Aroostook War over the boundary between Maine on the one hand, and New Brunswick and the Province of Canada the other. The treaty redefined the border between New Hampshire, Vermont and New York on the one hand, and the Province of Canada on the other, resolving the Indian Stream dispute and the Fort Blunder dilemma at the outlet to Lake Champlain. The boundary along the 45th parallel had been surveyed after the War of 1812. The US Government began to construct fortifications just south of the border at Rouses Point on Lake Champlain. After a significant portion of the construction was completed, measurements revealed that at that point, the actual 45th parallel was three-quarters of a mile south of the surveyed line; the fort, which became known as "Fort Blunder," was in Canada. This created a dilemma for the United States that was not resolved until a provision of the treaty left the border on the meandering line as surveyed. The border along the Boundary Waters in present day Ontario and Minnesota between Lake Superior and the Northwest Angle was also redefined. ^[8][9]

Akwesasne: Because of the St. Lawrence River to the north and New York State, USA to the south, the Quebec portion of the Akwesasne reserve is a practical exclave of Canada. To travel by land from Tsi:Snaine (Snye or Chenail, Quebec) or Kana:takon (Saint Regis, Quebec) to elsewhere in Canada, one must drive through New York State.

The Alburgh Tongue in Lake Champlain, location of the town of Alburgh, Vermont (Quebec) ^[10]

Notes on Miscellaneous Family Members / Temporary

Notes of Doris Ragsdale, daughter of Pearl Wheeler

During the American Civil War, Moses Leroux enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 18 December 1863, in New York. Company Regiment 14, Heavy Artillery.

Moses and his wife Angeline lived In Hogansburg New York for 8 years then came to Iowa. In 1870 they left for Nebraska but came back to Iowa in 1880 and lived on a farm 2 miles from Hopjinton unti1 1886 then moved into Hopkinton. Angeline Boudreau was born 18 April 1837, in Hogansburg Franklin County New York. She died 10 March 1926 in Hopkinton Delaware County Iowa. She is buried in Hopkinton Delaware Co. (Not sure which Moses she is referring to) -- Louis Leroux (Wheeler) enlisted into the Union Army 18 December 1863 as a a Private at the age of 16 as a Drummer Boy. He was upgraded into Heavy Artillery before 1865 and was honourably discharged at Washington D.C. 26 August 1865. Nick Miller a descendent of Louis Leroux, who has Louis's Leroux original discharge papers informs us that the discharge papers have a purple stamp on them. The reason is that at the end of the Civil War the Military awarded the Honourable Discharge but kept all records. They were not dispensed freely at the end of service and in order to obtain his discharge papers Louis had to pay someone to officially stamp them with a purple stamp. (Again, not sure which member of the family she is referring to.) -- George Patrick Larue: Bibliography George Patrick Larue came from Cornwall Ontario, with his parents and he filed land, along side of his parents. NW Sec 31 - Tp 20 - Rge 20 - W 3rd. For him to file on this property he obtained permission to enter on the location from the Land Title Office, at Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. To qualify for his title to this land he had to build a residence. His first residence was a shack to meet that qualification. He also had to reside on his land for at least six months of the year, and break ten acres of land each year for three years. He was allowed to file, an additional 160 acres which was his pre-emption.

George Patrick Larue, during his first years of homesteading, he found it necessary to make trips to Swift Current for required supplies. A distant of sixty miles. Depending on weather this was done with either wagon or sledge, drawn by horses.On one of these trips he met up with a new home steader who`s name was Mr. Rowbotham.

The following was copied from notes of Mr. Rowbotham I (Mr. Rowbotham) arrived in Swift Current on November 25, 1909 with one luggage trunk and my violin-cello. I slept on the floor of the CPR depot on the night of November 25 with about 100 others for company.

Whilst in Swift Current I got my meals at Jim's, a Chinaman who gave you all you could eat, even to a second piece of pie for 25 cents. By the way Jim was the father of Buster, who later owned the Venice Cafe in Swift Current.

On the morning of November 26 1909 I located a farmer (George Larue) who lived in what is now Cabri area. He would take my luggage trunk and cello, also myself to my homestead for $30, but he also had six other homesteaders and he had half a load of lumber on his wagon box. So the seven of us piled our belongings and his lumber started north straight up the hill, which is still there in Swift Current. The weather was cold and snowing. The team was so slow, if we sat on the load we would freeze, so we all had to walk to keep warm.

The first night we made it to Mahoney's farm (one of the Mahoney son's married Emily Larue in 1919) about 22 miles out of Swift Current, south of the present town of Success. The next night we made the Larue stopping place, father of our teamster, (Ignace) Angus Francois Larue who lived about 4 miles east of Maud Post Office (Adeline Maud DeRuchie Larue) The location of Larue farm was southwest of the present town of Cabri. It was still very cold and snowing. About 20 homesteaders were there that night. After a very good supper, we had a Prairie Hoedown, one homesteader played the violin and I played the piano and we had dances and square danced until midnight. Mr Larue, Sr called the square dances. The only females at the dance were Mrs. Larue Sr. (Sophia Ogle) and her two daughters, and any homesteader with a white band on his arm was supposed to be a female. The next day we journeyed north from the present town of Abbey into the flats south of the river. Every now and then we would part with one of our homesteaders. I was the last one & arrived on the SE 36-Tp22-Rge23-W3 I should mention here that this land was my father's and the previous summer he built a shack 12` x 14`, which was very warm because he had insulated same with soil. My brother William was at the shack having arrived about 2 weeks earlier. (copied from L.H.S. Rowbotham notes) -- The following was dictated by our father, George Patrick Larue, to our mother Bertha Anne Larue (Amell). Unfortunately the first 5 pages were lost.

...a three deck wagon box. Lanterns were kept lit in the sleigh for heat and blankets were thrown over the top to keep out the snow and cold wind.

People were all friendly and a good time was enjoyed by all and strangers became friends.The Royal Mounted Police were stationed at a point at the river north of Cabri called "The Landing". The sick had to be taken to Swift Current on the lumber wagon for treatment. A priest had to be brought in from Swift Current two or three times a year, and driven home again. If the priest from Swift Current couldn't come one was had from Gull Lake, to administer to the religious needs of the community, which included a radius of 50 or 60 miles.

Nor were we free from trials and sorrows. Tragedy struck our settlement in 1912 when two of our families little children were burned to death. A threshing crew were housed in a tent near Maud Post Office. The children were playing with matches. The straw beds caught fire and in no time was a mass of flames. The children perished in it before anyone knew they were in the tent. Nothing remained but their charred bodies.

There had been a bad fire in the district in 1907, and people talked about it with horror. But in 1912 I had a chance to witness one. There was a bumper crop that year and everything looked promising to us. However one after- noon in late August we noticed the signal in the western skies and knew only too well it`s meaning,as the glare rose in the sky and fanned by a high wind. Call for help was sent out and men women children turned out. Every available fire fighting equipment was brought out. Plows and horses gunny sacks and water. The red horror soon was upon us. Everything in it's path was swept by the flames. I remember one of us running to a shack and getting one man out of his bed just in time to see his shack go up in flames. One man Mr. Uibron was encircled by the flames in his field and burned to death before our eyes.

In 1913 the railroad which had been built from Swift Current to Cabri, the previous year was built through Shackleton and the village sprang up. This solved many of our problems.

It was the homesteaders who came to the spot which the Canadian Pacific Railway surveyed as a town site for a railway station. My brother and his nearest neighbour Nels Skillstad applied for permission to operate a post office and general store. That was the first building, then the others followed. Every homesteader who could sling a hammer was a carpenter in those days. Yes, the homesteaders built up the village of Shackleton. Some of them rented their land, others operated both business and farm. Maud`s post office was abandoned so as I said before Larue and Skillstad proceeded immediately to build the two story building as it remains to-day. The upper room served as living quarters, the first class room and dance hall as well. When Angus got married in 1917, he sold his partnership to Skillstad and went back on the farm. The terrible Flu Epedemic which broke out in 1918 claimed him as one of it's victims.

Nels Skillstad carried on the business and Post Office until his death in the mid-forties. Creigh Gossard bought the business after he came back from over-seas but sold it a few years later.

Mr. Skillstad`s residence was originally the first and only bank Shackleton ever had. It was built in 1918 and was known as the "Home Bank". It went bankrupt a few years later and Mr. Skillstad bought the building for a residence. Managers of the bank were Mr. Morrison, then Mr, Aston and Mr. Genrich.

Heath and Morrey built the first hardware on the next lot to the Post Office in 1913. It was a big business while the building boom was on, but Mr. Morrey developed an interest in politics and when he became the Liberal member for the Federal constituency he quit the business Mr. Heath moved to the coast and Mr. Gimby, Bob's Grandfather took over the business. In a short time he sold it to Mr. Cuthbertson who also had the International Harvester agency. When Mr. Cuthbertson decided to quit in 1924 his young clerk, Mr. Jim Moffat took over the implement business and the building was used as a barber shop and pool room. After a few years of crop failure the building was vacate and later sold to Olains for a store room.

Mr. Moffatt bought the property where Mr. Adair and Deruchie {Aline Maud Deruchie Laurels husband} first started the Massey Harris business and gradually built up the business. It was not long before Mr. Deruchie decided to go back east. Mr. Adair became first Notary Public and only one. He also carried a line of hardware and Insurance Agencies. His place was too small so before long he sold out to Mr. Moffatt ,he bought the building which had been built by Mr. Lorie for a general store in 1914. Mr. Lorie was compelled to leave on account of health but the store business was carried on by Aubrey Richards for a few years and Mr. Deruchie who came back to the west in 1920. However they moved to Calgary and it was then that Mr. Adair took over. Later Mr. Adair sold out to Enmin Smith and he sold to Mr. Montgomery. In a couple of years it was vacated and Mr. Olain bought it for a store room. The building in between this and Olain`s store was built in 1916 or 1917 by a Mr. Kaasa but was never properly finished for occupancy and abandoned until Olain bought it.

Billy Weismueller was our first station agent. He enlisted in the first world war and when he returned he became station agent at Pennant for many years. Then came the Fishers, the Munros, the Christies, The Davis, the Tustiaus, the Pillim, the Baldwins, the Bauers, the Thomas, and finally the Stephensons.

Bill Kyle one of our local homesteaders built the first livery barn in 1913 on the lots occupied now by Mr. Berg. When world war one broke out he joined the Fifth Canadian Infantry. Unfortunately Bill was numbered among the many Canadian heroes who never returned. My half brother Daniel Larue brought the place, tore down the barn and used the lumber to build the present livery barn in 1916. Daniel drilled a well inside the building. It was approximately 300 feet in depth. It was an answer to the water problem and remained the only source of drinking water until the early twenties when the town drilled a well at the present site.

Father Cabanel was our priest in the early days, coming out from Swift Current. In those days having no church he would say Mass at different farm homes. Quite often this would be at my father's house. The first church to be built in Shackleton in 1916. This was the St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, built by donations and voluntary labour. The altar, chalice and vestments came from France arranged by Father Caramel's relatives. The church became part of the Lancer Parish and services were now held on a regular bases.

There was no cemetery here until the early twenties. Mr. Tom Jones and Mr. Rogaschensky donated a few acres of land to the village for that purpose. (this graveyard has been abandoned. The Church of Latter Day Saints have recorded all the grave sites on film)

Believe it or not there were 3 lumber yards operating by the end of 1913 One however was closed after operating for one and a half years. The Beaver Lumber Company, with Mr. Casberg as agent was situated on the corner lot where Horst's garage used to be. It operated until 1919. When Tom Jones returned from overseas he brought the premises and buildings and started a garage business. In the middle thirties he sold out to H. Horst and went to the coast. However in 1953 Mr. Horst moved the buildings to Cabri. The Revelstoke Company first had their yard where Mr. Kienlein's garden is now and the office in the building now occupied by Mr. Maschie. Its first agent was Jim M`Corkle. Jim sent for his father the next year. He was an excellent carpenter and soon was well occupied with the trade. Many people still remember Dad Mc Corkle as he was familiarly called. The yards were moved in 1917 to where Mr. Maskie now lives. The Revelstoke Company, rented the newly built home by Mr. Cairns, where Mrs Underwood now lives Jim McCorkle and his bride lived their the first year they were married, but in 1919 he was transferred to Lethbridge. Mr. Bob Adam became the new manager after the yards were moved. He remained until the early thirties and a few years later the company vacated and Shackleton has been without a lumber yard ever since.

There was a butcher shop in Shackleton in 1915. Mr. Boutin built one on the corner across from Mackays. However it did not operate very long but the building was used in turn as a residence, a tailor shop which Mr. Joe Coulter operated for a time, a high school room and finally Mr. Adair bought the building, moved it across near the restaurant and set up a notary public, real estate and insurance agency. He operated here till his death in the mid forties.

The Alberta Pacific Elevator with Mr. Kilde as its agent was the first elevater in operation, but the Western with Percy Grant as agent, the Province with Mr. Villeneuve, the Co-op with Ernie Olson soon followed The Federal with Mr. Thomson as agent came a little later. The Co-op became the Pool about 1927 or 1928. Mr. Cudmore was agent.

The first restaurant was built by a young girl Miss. Hammond who followed the flow of immigration from England in 1913. She became Mrs. Young a few years later and settled on a farm -- Tom Jones enlisted for overseas service in 1914 and rented his land to Mr. Young --. Mr. and Mrs. Denis Charlebois operated the restaurant for a short time, then Mr. and Mrs. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Lalonde and then Ben Quon bought it and remained in it for quite a number of years. A few more Quons took over until Mrs. Hitchcock then another Quon, Mr. Philips and finally Mr. Hendrickson.

My father and I built another restaurant and rooming house across the street in 1914. We operated it ourselves for awhile and then rented it to a Chinese, who also took in laundry for awhile. Finally my father and sister operated a store in the building and used the upstairs as a dwelling. It was here that my father spent his last days 1924. My sisters and brothers lived there for awhile and then I sold it to J.H. Moffatt who tore the building down and put up the present building on that lot and the one previously occupied by the old butcher shop.

Robert Hogeveen built the first blacksmith shop on the corner lot where Mr. Pollock now lives. He did not stay very long in Shackleton and the shop was moved onto Mr. Cairn's lots. Later Frank Olson then set up a shop where Joe Coulter's home is now.

The telephone operated 1915 in Shackleton as well as in rural areas. The first operator was Miss Mabel George who later became Mrs. Conn Grimm.

The first Sports Grounds were on the grounds behind the southwest residential area. There were no buildings there before the mid twenties. Base ball, basket ball, horse shoes and tennis were played here and the early sports days as well. The present sports grounds was purchase from Bill Jackson. Surveyed and trees planted around. A race track was fixed up on the sports grounds, as well as a golf course, tennis course, and baseball diamonds a curling and skating rink.

Two Organizations became quite active in the early years. The I.O.O.F. built the present village hall and opened it on January 1, 1918. with a New Years dance. The Rebekahs were soon organized after.

Shackleton boasted at one time of a very popular six piece dance orchestra, a good baseball team both junior and senor. A dramatics club, a very active Red Cross, a Boy Scouts Girl Guides together with Cubs and Brownies. An excellent Marching Band led by Greigh Gossard and others.

I have said nothing about the school but that is a subject by itself as there is so much which can be written about it and the successful students scattered every where following important careers.

REMINISCING

When it comes to farming with horses in the spring time, the preparation of the land takes priority. Which apparently made it a poor time to be born. There is no time out for hospitals, according to my certificate of birth, which states my birthplace as NW Sec31, Tp19, W3rd, Saskatchewan.

It was not too long before I was chasing the farm animals around trying to follow Dad around the field, bare foot and all. Most people have farm dogs for herding the animals, but Mom and Dad had a different purpose for a dog. Whenever one of us kids disappeared from sight, they never called for us by name; they called for the dog instead. Then watched where the dog came from. Then they would come to investigate what sort of mischief we were into. I do not recall any rewards of cookies and ice cream.

Then came the day I got to go to school with two of my sisters and brother, an adventure. My first teacher was Miss Tucker and my class mates were Kenneth Smith, Milton McGowen, Bernard Houseman, Donald Munro, Bruce McDonald, Douglas Carleton, Rosalyn Darby, Betty Everatt and Rita Boutin. The recesses and noon hour were great, the rest of the days I will let other historians write about. The last day of my first year was a bit of a disaster. When I got home that day Mom had found out that I played hooky and she was not too pleased.

After four years at the Shackleton School of learning and showing no sign of being a genius my Mother enrolled me in the convent at Swift Current a hum' drum place of daily routine. After three years here I was then enrolled at Campion College in Regina, to see if there was any spiritual aspect in me. It took three years to decide this and I returned for my final year of school at Shackleton. Somehow I ended up with a diploma with a minimum amount of scribblers.

Now I was off to Lethbridge where my brother Angus was employed by the C. P. Railroad as a trainman. Here I soon found myself employed as a yard man working on three man shift crews. After a short stay with Angus and Isla, I took up the occupation of trying to live on ones own.

During this time I met Lorretta Borgens who at the time was employed at the hospital in Lethbridge. In the spring of 1951 I transferred to Calgary to work on the CPR there. I married Lorretta in Calgary, 1 of September 1951. We a short honeymoon in Banff playing the tourist. In January of 1952 the CPR laid off crews and this involved me as I was low on the seniority board. Later on we purchased the Cosy Lunch Cafe in Bridgeland N.E. Calgary along with Lorretta' s Mother, Hilda Borgens. The hours were long but did learn a little about cooking and washing dishes. An offer to buy the cafe and also that Lorretta was expecting Wendy to arrive we decided to sell. She became part of our world on 23 August 1953.

I then worked at Horne and Pitfield warehouse and later the Bay warehouse. During this time Lorretta informed me I was hindering her career and wanted a divorce which we did in summer of 1956.

In the spring of 1958 I went back to Shackleton, Saskatchewan to assist Dad with the farm for a year. Today I'm thankful for that as it gave me the opportunity to get to know my Father. The following year I went back to Alberta and worked for the Alberta Dept of Highways on road construction.

My application for employment with the Post Office as a letter carrier came in effect in the spring of 1961. On 1st of September 1961, I married KelIy Fehr. KelIy had a son from her previous marriage who lived with us tilI he finished school in 1963, in Forest Lawn, Calgary, Alberta. Our children Patrick and Sherry were born in the Calgary General Hospital at this time. In 1965 we sold our house in Forest Lawn and purchased a house on Alcott Cresent in south East Calgary. In 1970 I quit the Post Office and started a new career as a floor layer. This work took us to different areas of Alberta and British Columbia. KelIy passed away in Camrose, Alberta from a stroke 2 November 1985.

At this time Sherry was working in Calgary Alberta as a travel agent I also moved to Calgary about a year later. In 1987 I was informed that I had glaucoma of the eyes. This affected my work as a floorlayer so I took out my pensions. At this time Sherry and Patrick received a surprise call from Wendy who I had not seen or heard of since 1957. 0n hearing this the next day I phoned her and went the next day to visit her. I had thought about Wendy often wondering where she was and what she was doing. I cannot find the words to explain what it was like to see Wendy again and to meet her two children Jonas and Erin Kate. It was great. Erin Kate is now married to a wonderful man Ben Rock and they have 2 sweet little girls Nava and Tayor.

WONDERFUL MEMORIES by BERYL LARUE (MITTON)

Like many homesteads, our first house at Shackleton was a 14 x 14 granary, then another granary was pulled up beside it. It was cold in winter as we only had a wood range and a heater with coal for fuel. The water pail was nearly always frozen by moming. Coal oil lamps and lanterns were our faithful lights. We had gardens cattle, horses and a few pigs, chickens for eggs and those special meals. Mom made butter every week and lots of delicious home baked bread.

Each fall we would haul in about six or seven 100 pound bags of flour and a 100 pound bag of sugar, and other bulky supplies like coal, wood and coal oil for the lamps, to last us all winter.

Horses and wagons or a democrat were our transportation until 1939, with a few years in between when we did have a car. It was especially hard during the thirties -- dust and drought. We were grateful to see the relief cars come in. Flour and sugar supplemented our wardrobes.

We went to school in Shackleton, a three and a half mile drive by open sleigh in winter, and by van with wheels in summer until the cars came later. Mr. Roddy Munro was our first driver. We had a few spills in his van in the early spring when the sleighs would slip to one side and over we'd go! We'd get wet then as it was a closed-in van with canvas curtains. Another time it was a open sleigh and we were thrown out. It was colder that time, but one was hurt because we were all too bundled up.

Mr. Hugh Mcdonald, Mr. Fred Koch and Dad, took their turns at that job, and even I drove the van in 1940 and 1941. There were probably others but can't remember.

Olga and I had Marie Bums as our first teacher, then Doris (Dunn) Long. My high school teachers were Mr. Spindle, Mr. Hibbert and Mr.Wenman who is said to have walked from Regina for the job. He was a good history teacher. 1 remember Mr. Harris, Mr Cottingharn (and Olga adds Mr. Peel and Mr. Robert) I missed about four years as did my sisters when we attended school in Swift Current.;;

July 1st was usually a family picnic -- all the relatives would join together and go chokeberry picking in the coulees. The lunches were unforgettable! Summer holidays were always great and exciting for us. Many evenings and Saturday nights when the folks when to town, the four boys from Hugh Mcdonald's family, Gerald, Clarence and the twins Jack and Archie would come up to play Hide and Seek, Kick the Can and Run Sheep Run. Sundays seemed to be a gathering of the clan -- all Joe Mcdonald's family Garnet Conn'and Ambrose Amell's and occasionally others would come to our place.

Harvest was another busy time, especially before 1939. We had quite a crew of men to thresh for us, since they used horses and hay racks and threshing machines and wagons to haul the grain. The meals were prepared by the women - from 4 a.m. to about 11 p.m. or later when you would wipe the last dish, and then set another pan of bread dough up for the next day's baking. By 1939 we had a combine and truck, and the family were able to handle the harvest alone. 1 hauled many a load of grain to the grain elevators in that 1939 Chev half ton truck.

The social life was good too. School dances and picnics were memorable. The curling in winter both for families of the area and for the school bonspiels as well. Sports days were another big event. Just before school started in the falI, Mrs. Grant Heard would have a group of us out to her place to celebrate a birthday for Ruth. Later on as we grew older, we had school dances and parties, then graduated to the card parties, bridge and whist, with the older folks. The Christmas concerts were super -- everyone in the area was there. Nels Skilstad usually had charge of making the coffee in that big boiler -- such good coffee! And the super lunches of sandwiches, and cakes made from carefully guarded recipes. There were many other occasions for get-to-gethers, especially at Christmas and New Years with the Moses Pilon's and Walter Marlin's and our relatives.

Angus Francois Larue: Biography

Angus Francois Lame came from Cornwall, Ontario in 1908 to file on his homestead, along with his parents and the other family members. He filed on NW Sec 31 - Tp 19 - Rge 19 - W 3rd. Swift Current Saskatchewan was the nearest town 60 miles to the southeast.

They travelled from Ontario to Swift Current by train. Then by three deck wagons with horses and oxen, the family members came out to the homesteads they had filed on. They selected this area because they were able to obtain land for all of the family close together. The land was good and best of all was free of rocks, which they had to contend with in Ontario.

In 1913 the Canadian Pacific Railway which was being built from Swift Current reached their area. Which had been known as The Lame country. The CPR surveyed the site for a railway station, designating it the village of Shackleton.

Angus Larue along with his neighbour Nels Skillstad applied for permission to operate a post office and general store. This was the first building built, which was two stories. The upper part served as living quarters, the first class room and dance hall as well. Other buildings soon followed. Every homesteader who could sling a hammer was a carpenter in those days.

In 1917 Angus returned to Ontario to marry Bertha Anne Amell. When he returned with his wife, he sold his partnership to Nels Skillstad and went back to his farm.

The terrible influenza epidemic which broke out in 1918 claimed his life. Angus Francois Lame died 29 November 1918 at Cornwall Ontario.

Gilbert LaRue

Gilbert LaRue, retired editor of the St. Paul Journal, St. Paul, Alberta, Canada has been visiting his brother, A. A. LaRoux and his niece, Mrs. Lee Dashnaw. Mr. LaRue is gathering material for a history of the LaRue family. The book will include anecdotes about the family and in-laws residing in New York state, California, Glengarry county, Canada and Cornwall, Ontario

From the notes of Gilbert Larue

DANGEROUS DAN LA RUE

Every family produces a boxer. Some take vigorous training and develop into science boxers. Some are dangerous, rough and tumble artists. It is related that John L. Sullivan got a licking from a lanky, rough Texas cowboy, Dan La Rue, who once lived north of Cornwall, was a rough and tumble fighter and could lick any man "in Stormont and Glengarry. His quick footwork, tripIe hammer blows, as powerful as a horse, made him feared by the best.

Dan was over six feet in stockings, built proportionately, and of very fine physique. He never picked a quarrel or attacked, but woe to the aggressor! If any man made bold to say "I can lick any man in this barroom." The defy was quickly taken and he called the fellow out. A ring was formed but the fracas did not last long. A few powerful rights and lefts and, maybe one or two mule kicks and his adversary was usually K.O.'d. Dan was not mean or spiteful, he would shake hands when the fellow got up and say, "Better luck next time", Duncan or Archie or Malcolm, as the case might be.

Many a brazen, barroom braggart fell to Dan's mule kicks. The writer used to know "Buffalo" Macdonald at Greenfield and who had fought with Dan many years before when both were young. "Yes, Dan was a good boxer and dealt sledgehammer blows and was quick as a steel trap. Dan would have been a much better boxer had he kept training", said Buffalo.

Tommy Burns, ring name for Joe Brosseau of St. Hyacinthe, who boxed fifty-eight rounds with world champion, Jack Johnson in Australia in 1908, reminded the writer of La Rue. The writer saw Burns box with Tex Rickard at Saskatoon, thirty-four years ago. Rickard did not last long although Tommy was quite old even then and had a sore knee. The writer saw Jack Delancy, ring name for Chapdelaine, in action. Both reminded him of Dangerous Dan La Rue.

Old Louis Hamel, who died forty-five years ago at 89 years, was also an able rough and tumble fighter. Many were the fights he had at the halfway house between Cornwall and St. Andrews. I've forgotten the name of this licensed wayside inn. Was it Eamer's Corners? Those who challenged Hamel and said they could lick the best Frenchman in the barroom were always accommodated. He'd take off his cincture and coat on the way out to give battle.

(The writer's) My notes below

My pedigree;

 : Jean Roux dit Vadeboncouer's son -

 : Francois Xavier Roux's son,

 : Benoni Roux's son,

 : was Louis LeRoux (born 1833).

 : His son John Simon LaRue's son

 : James Jonathan LaRue's son,

 : Burford James LaRue is my father.

 : And I am Mark Lee LaRue (soon to be legally corrected to LeRoux).

Many Louis LeRoux's !!!

The farm of my great, great grandfather - Louis LeRoux (later referred to as LaRue) was on the Racquette River in Massena, NY. His wife was Marceline Helene Janvry Belair. She died in 1887 and he died, a suicide on his farm in 1914.

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 US Federal Census
2. ↑ Family Data Collection - Individual Records
3. ↑ 1850 US Federal Census
4. ↑ 1860 US Federal Census
5. ↑ Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967
6. ↑ Family Data Collection - Individual Records [1]
7. ↑ Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 [2]
8. ↑ "Webster-Ashburton Treaty". Yale Law School. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
9. ↑ Lass, William E. (1980). Minnesota's Boundary with Canada. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society. p. 2. ISBN 0-87351-153-0.
10. ↑ Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93United_States_border

• 1850 United States Federal Census

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Bombay, Franklin, New York; Roll: M432_505; Page: 223B; Image: 447. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. http://trees.ancestry.ca/pt/ViewRecordRedir.aspx?tid=59777897&pid=44049088305&dbid=8054&rpid=11869267&nam=Francois%2bXavier%2bLeroux%2b2GGF&pg=32768&pgpl=pid

• 1860 United States Federal Census

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Bombay, Franklin, New York; Roll: M653_754; Page: 254; Image: 261; Family History Library Film: 803754. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. http://trees.ancestry.ca/pt/ViewRecordRedir.aspx?tid=59777897&pid=44049088305&dbid=7667&rpid=49285317&nam=Francois%2bXavier%2bLeroux%2b2GGF&pg=32768&pgpl=pid

• Family Data Collection - Individual Records (re: Francois Roux Leroux marries Elizabeth Berthiaume:) Parents Francois Xavier Roux Leroux, Veronique Brancheau: Born Chateauguay, PQ, D|OB: 17 Mar 1800: Marriage 1831: Death Place Williamstown, ON: Death Date 11 Mar 1894

Source Citation: Birth year: 1800; Birth city: Chateauguay; Birth state: Pq. Source Information: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. [3]

• Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 re: Francis Leroux (Francis Laroux): Burial, Catholic, Williamstown, ON 1886-1900: 13 Mar 1894 buried in St Mary's Parish Cemetery, Williamstown. Aged 94 yrs

Source Information: Ancestry.com. Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. [4]

• RootsWeb: Link no longer active

See also:

• Add sources here.

• Programme de Recherche en Démographie Historique (Individu#879865) http://www.genealogie.umontreal.ca

• "Québec, registres paroissiaux catholiques, 1621-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-27981-20452-94?cc=1321742 : 1800-02-17), Châteauguay > Saint-Joachim-de-Châteauguay > Baptêmes, mariages, sépultures 1797-1818 > image 67 of 659; nos paroisses de Église Catholique, Quebec (Catholic Church parishes, Quebec).

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ancientage&id=I072801

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:849751&id=I0838

• Census of Canada 1881 http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e327/e008167048.jpg

• PRDH: Le Programme de recherche en démographie historique (membership): Individu: 879865