Marie-Louise Caron was born on November 26, 1889, in Pain Court, Ontario. She was the daughter of Mederic Caron and Elmire Faubert. She thrived gracefully among 14 other siblings, namely eight sisters and six brothers. She attended the parochial school in Pain Court, and married Ovilla Cheff of Grande Pointe on November 28, 1905.
In 1906, sixteen year old Marie-Louise embarked on a long journey to western United-States and settled in Anaconda, Montana, where her husband was employed by Anaconda Copper MInes. A child was born, but died a year later on his birthday.
In 1910 they moved to Ronan, Montana when the Flathead Reservation was opened to settlement. There, she raised fourteen children in a log style home they built together.
They owned and operated the Star Bottling Firm and did some farming and hunting as well. They operated a soda pop fountain and an ice cream parlor in Ronan, Montana. Rex was born on November 4, 1910 and later married Mae Demers of Grande Pointe, born May 8, 1918. He became the eldest son as Leo died in infancy. A sister, Bernida, was born in 1918.
In 1915, another son, Bud became part of the wonderful family. To this day, he has two books published in the States Indian Trails and Grizzly Tales, a family history. A second book appeared in 1996, The Woodman and his Hatchet. These books are of utmost importance to those interested in their family histories and to all those interested in back country survival. Copies of these books are in the Pain Court Secondary School Community Library in Pain Court, Ontario.
The other children born to Ovilla and Marie-Louise were Floyd of Missoula, Montana, Chris of California, Louis and Herman of Michigan, Ovilla of Ronan, Montana, James and Clarence of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Raymond and Harry both of Colombia Falls, Montana, Grace Tuumala of Michigan, and Josephine Schwach of the Republic of Missouri.
Marie-Louise was one of fifteen children and repeated the feat by having fourteen of her own, inheriting a legacy of offsprings namely 131 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and 19 great great grand children.
Growing old gracefully while living every day to its fullest is what life is all about she would always say.
Marie-Louise adhered to her motto and convictions. In 1937, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan in the hope of a better life. At 88, and still going strong, Mrs. Cheff owned and operated a residence for women for thirty two years. Quite a task but undertaken with such strength, compassion and dignity, she personally saw to the cooking of meals, the washing of linen, the scrubbing of floors, the ironing and most of the general upkeep of the residence. I'm the oldest in this house and I can do a day's work better than the youngest she said. I raised my children on an Indian reservation in Montana. It was hard work. We were awfully poor...
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Marie Louise is 23 degrees from Herbert Adair, 23 degrees from Richard Adams, 19 degrees from Mel Blanc, 27 degrees from Dick Bruna, 20 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 35 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 24 degrees from Sam Edwards, 19 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 25 degrees from Marty Krofft, 19 degrees from Junius Matthews, 21 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 16 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.