Dieu Donné Gagner Sr. (1863 - 1931)

Born 19 Jan 1863 in St-Jacques-le-Mineur, LaPrairie, Quebec, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Marie Olivine (Lucier) Gagner — married 21 Feb 1887 in St-Philippe, Grande Pointe, Kent, Ontario

Descendants

Died 22 May 1931 at age 68 in Pain Court, Kent, Ontario

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gilles Caron [send private message]

Biography

Dieu Donné Gagner est né le 19 Jan 1863 à St-Jacques-le-Mineur, LaPrairie, Québec. Il était le fils de Médard Gagner et Julienne Falcon.

Il épousa Olivine Lucier à l'Eglise St-Philippe de Grande Pointe le 21 Feb 1887, qui lui donna les enfants suivants:

1. Dieu Donné Louis (1887–1954)
2. Treflé Achille (1891–1963)
3. Zacharie Joseph (1893–1938)
4. Leonne (Ledeone) (1895-1895)
5. Leopold (1896–1974)
6. Marie Anne Graciella (1904–1997)

Dieu Donné Gagner - the man who built the Dover Hotel (article by John Rhodes)

Dieu Donne Gagner was born at St. Jacques, Quebec on Jan. 19, 1863 and came to Pain Court with his parents when he was two years old. In 1875 his parents, Medore Gagner and Julienne Falcom, moved their family to Tilbury East where they took up farming. There were 12 children in the Gagner household, families of this size not being uncommon. Oddly, three of the male children would become hotel keepers; one in Pain Court and the other two in the United States.

Like his father, Dieu Donne became a farmer, first on his parents’ farm until his father died in 1884, and then on his own land, in Dover Township. This would be about 1890.

In 1899, eager to try his hand at business, he built the Dover Hotel at the southwest junction of the Winter Line and the Pain Court Line (3rd Conc).

The Beer’s Record of 1901 aptly describes Gagner’s enterprise: “Moderate rates (probably $1 per day, 25 cents for a meal) and excellent service won him patronage at once, and wise financial management soon established the business upon a solid foundation. He has continued there, improving the equipment of the house from year to year, and is now considered one of the most efficient hotel keepers in the vicinity.” Probably the best thing that happened to his business occurred in 1909 when the C. W. & L. E. extended a branch line from the Baldoon Road main line, down the south side of the Pain Court Line, with the street car tracks entering the town within a few feet of the Dover Hotel. Persons waiting for a street car, or exiting one, might partake of a glass of whiskey; it would not be unheard of. Mr. Gagner did not leave the farming business. He, in fact, by 1904, had increased his land holdings to two farms containing 180 acres. This, in turn, allowed him to exploit his interest in Pacers, and was known to have owned at least two of these horses.

In politics, surprisingly, Mr. Gagner was described as an “Unwavering Conservative” which was unusual for French or Irish Catholics in that era.

Dieu Donne Gagner passed away on May 22, 1931 and with his wife, Marie Olivine Lucier (1867-1935) reposes in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Pain Court.

Sources

• Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1968; Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1091/images/d13p_1178c0710?pId=12453119 Filmstrip image 2 of 25; Registre Paroisse St-Jacques-le-Mineur, LaPrairie, Québec. Citant: Dieu Donné Gagner, bapt 20 Jan 1863, né 19 Jan. Parents: Médard Gagner et Julienne Falcon.

• Census of Canada, 1871. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, n.d.. RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels: C-9888 to C-9975, C-9977 to C-10097, C-10344 to C-10388, C-10390 to C-10395, to C-10540 to C-10570. Year: 1871; Census Place: Dover, Kent, Ontario; Roll: C-9891; Page: 59; Family No: 205. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1578/images/4396601_00645?pId=3488355 Filmstrip image 167 of 205. Listing: Médore Gané (sic) (Gagner), wife: Julie, and children: Malvina, Emma, Joseph, Dudenon (sic) (Dieudonné), Alfred, Zulma and Fraser (sic) (Euphrasie).

• Ontario, Canada, Roman Catholic Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1760-1923; Diocese of London Archives, London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/61505/images/FS_005107218_00115?pId=90347131 Filmstrip image 105 of 458. Browse3: Corunna, Grande Pointe. Registre Paroisse St-Philippe, Grande Pointe, Dover, Kent, Ontario. Citant: Mariage 21 Fev 1887, entre Dieudonné Gagner, fils de Médard Gagner et Julienne Falcon, de la paroisse de St-Pierre, et Marie Olivine Lussier, fille de Louis Lussier et Eloise Martin. Rev A. Carrières.

• Select Marriages, Ontario, Canada .Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 57; Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Genealogical Research Library (Brampton, Ontario, Canada). Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1826-1938. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/7921/images/ONMS932_57-0425?pId=1276456 Filmstrip image 44 of 190. Kent marriages 1887, pg 484, Marriage #5, registration #005478. Citing: Dieu Donne Gagnier, 23, son of Medard Gagnier and Julienne Falcon, and Marie Olivine Lussier, 20. daughter of Louis Lucier and Eloise Martin. Marriage 21 Feb 1887, Big Point, Rev. P. Langlois.

• Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2004. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels: T-6428 to T-6556. Year: 1901; Census Place: Dover, Kent, Ontario; District: Kent; District Number: 76. Sub-District: Dover, Sub-District Number 3; Page: 2; Family No: 14; Page: 2, Lines: 48-50, https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/8826/images/z000073201?pId=11665281 Page 3, Lines: 1-5. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/8826/images/z000073202?pId=11665281 Filmstrip images 27-28 of 111. Listing: D. D. Gagnie, Wife: Olivine, Children: Donnie, Trefflé, Zacharie, Leopol, Julienne, widowed mother, and Louise Bourassa, domestic.

• Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2007. Series RG31-C-1. Statistics Canada Fonds. Microfilm reels T-20326 to T-20460. Year: 1911; Census Place: 6 - Dover, Kent West, Ontario; District: Kent West, District number: 85. Sub-District: 6 - Dover, Sub-district number: 6; Page: 11; Family No: 102 and 103. Lines: 29 - 34; https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/8947/images/e080_e001995747?pId=4919825 Filmstrip image 11 of 18; Listing: D. D. Gagnier Jr, wife: Helena, and son Raoul, and his father's family D. D. Gagner Sr, wife: Olevine, children: Trefla, Zacharie, Leopole, Marion.

• Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2013. Series RG31. Statistics Canada Fonds. Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 65; Census Place: 65, Kent, Ontario; Municipality: Dover Twp, Enumeration district: 93; Sub-District number: 14. District Description: Polling Division No. 3 - Is composed of lots 6 to 16 inclusive in the Front, 2nd, 3rd and 4th concessions; lots 6 to 13 inclusive, south-east halves of lots 14, 15, 16 in the 5th concession, south-east halves lots 6 to 13 inclusive in the 6th concession, and all lots in Pain Court Block, Dover East. Pain Court Village. Page Number: 23. Lines: 37 to 42. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/8991/images/1921_065-e002935127?pId=701781 Listing: Donna Gagnier, wife: Livine, daughter: Marion. Boarders: Charles Buck (grain elevator manager), Jules Girardin (bank teller), and Leon Charlebois (bank manager).

• Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1802-1967; Original data: Gabriel Drouin, comp. Drouin Collection. Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Institut Généalogique Drouin. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/1109/images/d13p_32140267?pId=519271 Filmstrip image 56 of 104. Registre Paroisse Immaculée Conception (1911-1943), Pain Court, Kent, Ontario, Canada. Citant: Dieudonné Gagner décédé 22 mai 1931, et inhumé au cimetière de Pain Court le 26 mai 1931. Rev Loiselle, Curé.

• Registrations of Deaths, 1869-1948 (MS 935, reels 1-694, Collection: MS935; Reel: 418), Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Division Registrar Vital Statistics Records, 1858-1930. MS 940, reels 5-10, 16, 21, 26-27. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/8946/images/ONMS935_418-1287?pId=2690623 Filmstrip image 323 of 832. Citing: Dieu Donné Gagner, Pain Court, Dover, Kent, Ontairo. Died: 22 May 1931. Born: 19 Jan 1863. Age 68 yrs, 4 mths, 3 days. Parents: Medore Gagner, Julienne Falcon. Cause of death: Hemorrhage from gastric ulcer with diabetic coma. Burial: Pain Court. Registration # 313 - 019724.

• Repertoire St-Pierre à la Nouvelle Tamise. et les habitants à la Rivière à la Tranche – Rivière Thames. L'histoire de la paroisse St-Pierre à la Nouvelle Tamise, History of St-Pierre on the Thames, Baptemes 1797-1989, Mariages 1797-1995, Sepultures 1802-2013. Et cérémonies enregistrées à St-Philippe de Grande Pointe. Reseau patrimoine franco-ontarien, et Société franco-ontarienne d'histoire et généalogie. Centre de généalogie Pionnière du Sud-Ouest, 962 Old Tecumseh Road (route 22), Puce, Ontario. a.s. 2849 Francois Road, Windsor, Ontario, N8W 4T3. 1ere édition publiée 30 juin 1982 (SFOHG) et 2e édition publiée 31 décembre 2013 (RPFO). Citant: Mariage 21-02-1887, entre Dieudonné Gagner, de St-Pierre, fils de Médard Gagner et Julienne Falcon, et Marie Olivine Lussier, de St-Philippe, fille de Louis Lussier et Eloise Martin. Témoins: Noé Rémillard, ami, et Eva Cheff, amie. Note: Signé Dieu Donney Gangner et Marie Eluvina Lucier. Ptre: A. Carriere.

• Repertoire des naissances, baptemes, mariages et sepultures, Paroisse L'Immaculée Conception, Pain Court, Kent, Ontario; (1851-1988); ABBR 54; Société Franco-Ontarienne d'Histoire et de Généalogie, Ottawa,; Ontario, Publié 1990, Collection Paroisses de I'Ontario francais #20), ISBN 0823-1575. Citant: Dieudonné Gagner (Sr); d: 22-05-1931; s: 26-05-1931; 68 ans. m: Olivine Lucier (21-02-1887, Grande Pointe, Ont.) Parents: Médard Gagner & Julienne Falcon.

• https://cemetery.canadagenweb.org/person-search-details/?wpda_search_column_ID=2508256 Citing: Dieudonne GAGNER, 1863 - 1931, Age: 68. Immaculée Conception RC / Pain Court RC Cemetery - 24104 Winter Line Rd, Pain Court, Dover Township (Concession 3, Lot 44 & Part of Lot 43), Kent County, Ontario

• http://ckcemeteries.ca/cpg15x/displayimage.php?pid=26173&fullsize=1

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137926068/dieu_donn%C3%A9-gagner: accessed 17 June 2023), memorial page for Dieu Donné Gagner Sr. (19 Jan 1863–22 May 1931), Find a Grave Memorial ID 137926068, citing Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Cemetery, Pain Court, Chatham-Kent Municipality, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by Gilles Caron (contributor 48516724).
• https://archive.org/details/CommemorativeBiographicalRecordOfTheCountyOfKentOntario/page/n849/mode/2up Commemorative Biographical Record Of The County Of Kent Ontario, by J.H. Beers & Co., published 1901. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.) Pg 731 Entry for Dieudonny Gagne, proprietor of the Dover House.

• https://www.chathamthisweek.com/opinion/columnists/rhodes-dover-hotel-received-a-boost-when-the-railroad-came-to-pain-court?fbclid=IwAR2rJUoz0GsneJUwrsMGz6hqcILY4t-GSb4vckEqefBLAQdPq7YQFMLoX4g RHODES: Dover Hotel received a boost when the railroad came to Pain Court. Article on Dieu Donné Gagner - the man who built the Dover Hotel.

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K2TC-B86 Profile on Familysearch.org's One-World Tree. Various contributors.