Francis Jay Duperron

Francois was born 8 Sep 1856 in Canada to Francis Duperron and Marie Angeline Gagnon. He is the second son named Francois, with his brother being seven years older.

The 1861 Canadian Census - Arthabaska, Canada East - lists Francois (#1) as 45, farmer, Catholic; Marie is 44; Francois is 4. Other children in the family are Elenore, 18; Mosule, 17; Jart?, 15'; Francois, 11; Evangilus, 9; Julius 7 and Jacques 1. Also on the page are Francois, age 67 and his wife Marie Blanchette, 70, possible parents of father Francois (#1); and Jean Chrisartome, 27 and family, possible son of Francois (#1) and Marie.

Frank, a he was called, came to the US with his parents in 1868, settling in Provemont, Leelanau county, Michigan.

The 1870 Federal Census of Centreville township, Leelanau county has Dupeiron, Francis, male, 54, farmer, personal estate valued at $325; Angeline, female, 58, keeping house; Francis, male, 20, farm laborer; Vancelis, female, 18, at home; Julia, female, 16, at home; Francis Jay, male, 13, at home; William, male, 10, at home, The entire family is born in Canada, none can read or write.

The 1880 Federal Census of  lists Frank out on his own, living next to his parents. Duperron, Frank, male, 23, single, farmer, cannot read or write, born Canada, parents born Canada.

In 1882 Frank married Priscilla Brow. Priscilla, the daughter of Ambrose Brow and Philomina Martin, was born 15 Nov 1863 in New York.

Daughter Mary was born 28 Mar 1884 in Centerville.

Daughter Minnie was born in 1886 (possibly 23 Mar), in Centerville.

The summer of 1887 was a sad one for Frank as his mother Marie Angeline died 20 Jun 1887 and his father Francois died 23 Jul 1887.

Daughter Josephine was born 19 May 1888.

Daughter Minnie died 30 Aug 1889 at the age of three, Leelanau county deaths, page 129 #1342.

Daughter Hattie was born 25 Dec 1890 in Centerville.

Son Louis Joseph was born 27 Aug 1892

The 1894 Michigan state census of Centerville Township, Leelanau county lists Frank Dupperrent, husband, 38, born Canada, parents born Canada, farmer, cannot read or write, speaks English, in state 28 years, in US 28 years.

Bresillia, wife, 30, 7 children born, 5 living, born Canada, , parents born Canada, housewife, can read and write, speaks English, in state 25 years, in US 25 years;

Children are Mary, daughter, 10, born Michigan, parents born Canada, at home, did not go to school, cannot read or write, speaks French; Josephine, daughter, 6 , born Michigan, parents born Canada, at home, did not go to school, cannot read or write, speaks French; Hattie, daughter, 3, born Michigan, parents born Canada; Louis, son, 2, , born Michigan, parents born Canada; Lize, daughter, 7/12, born Michigan, parents born Canada. The three youngest did not go to school, cannot read or write and have no language listed.

Daughter Mary married 16 Oct 1899 to Frank Kirt.

Frank's father-in-law, Ambrose Brow, died 21 Jan 1909.

1900 Federal Census - Centerville, Leelanau county. Frank Duperonnt, 48, married 17 years, born Canada, came to US in 1868, occupation Stationary Engineer, owns mortgaged home. Wife Precilla, is 36, born New York, 9 children born, 7 children living. Children are Josephine, 12; Hattie, 9; Louis, 7; Lizzie, 6; Adaline, 4 and Annie, 2 months.

Daughter Martha was born 25 Aug 1902. She died 1 Feb 1903 in Centerville township.

Son Julius was born 29 Jun 1906. Sadly baby died 4 Sep 1906 in Centerville township.

Daughter Josephine married George Keller on 10 Nov 1908 in Provement.

Son Fredrick was born 28 Mar 1909.

1910 Federal Census - Centerville, Leelanau County. Frank Duperron, 52, married 27 yearas, to US 1868, citizen, farmer, owns mortgaged farmer. Wife Pricelle, 45, born Vermont, 13 children born, 8 children living. Children: Addeline, 13; Annie, 10; Liola, 6; Fredrick, 11 months.

Son Fredrick died 26 Mar 1911 in Centerville township.

Daughter Adeline married Leo Gauthier on 27 Oct 1913 in Provemont.

Frank's mother-in-law, Philomina Brow, died 9 Nov 1915 in Kingsley, Grand Traverse county.

The Provemont Courier of 12 Nov 1915 tells of

From the Provemont Courier of 17 Mar 1916 - Frank along with George and Richard Keller were in Cedar.

Daughter Hattie marred John Cyril Reese. This couple makes their home in Minnesota.

Provemont Courier 29 Dec 1916 - Frank and Priscilla went to St. Vincent, Minnesota because daughter Hattie was ill.

Frank, Priscilla and son Louis' return is written about in the Provemont Courier of 26 Jan 1917. What is not mentioned is that daughter Hattie recovered and went on to have three children.

Son Louis registered for the draft on 5 Jun.

Louis served in the 8th Provisional Company, infantry. He sailed on the Matsonia on 6 Jun 1918

The Leelanau Enterprise of 9 Jan 1919  reported Frank and Priscilla received word that Louis, serving in France, was wounded.

The Provement Courier of 20 Feb 1919 reports Louis is home with stories to tell.

Daughter Elizabeth married Emery LeVeque (Lavake) on 17 Jun 1919 in at St. Francis in Traverse City

1920 Federal Census - Centerville, Leelanau county. Frank Duperron, 63, born Canada, farmer at general farm; wife, Priscilla, 56, born New York; son, Louis, 27; daughter, Loyole, 15.

Louis married Genevieve St. John on 18 Oct 1921 in Leelanau county.

The Suttons Bay Courier 20 Oct 1921 mentions the marriage.

Daughter Anna married Glenn Plucker on 29 Nov 1924 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan.

The Suttons Bay Courier of 24 Aug 1922 tells Priscilla has been visiting in Detroit and Saginaw, and daughters Elizabeth Laveck from Saginaw and Mary Kirt from Detroit are visiting in Leelanau county.

The 1924 Saginaw City Directory shows Frank and Priscilla living at 809 N. 6th Avenue rear, with Frank working as a doorman.

The Suttons Bay Courier of 30 Sep 1926 state Frank and Priscilla returned home from Detroit - daughter Mary is very ill.

The Suttons Bay Courier of 7 Oct 1926 state the couple returned home after visiting their daughter in Saginaw.

Daughter Mary died 11 Oct 1926 in Detroit.

1930 Federal Census - Centerville, Leelanau county. Frank Dupron, 73, married at age 26, rents home for $5 per month, no occupation listed; wife Prisilla, 66, married at 18.

Times are hard and everyone does what they can. The Suttons Bay Courier of 9 Jul 1931 has the following ad for a quilt made by Priscilla.

Daughters Elizabeth and Josephine are in Lake Leelanau for a visit according to the Suttons Bay Courier of 13 Jul 1933.

Frank died 14 Apr 1936 in Leland

The Suttons Bay Courier of 9 Apr 1936 announced his death.

He is buried at St. Mary's in Lake Leelanau.

Priscilla died 28 Aug 1939 in Traverse City.

She is buried at St. Mary's Lake Leelanau with Frank.

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Elmer Weins

Elmer David Weins was born 24 Jun 1897 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest child of Frederick Nicholas Weins and Isabella A. Krupp.

Oldest sister Appolonia married John Leack on 17 May 1898, and with the birth of the couple's first child, Gilbert, on 18 Oct 1899, Elmer became an uncle at the age of two.

See this link for the 1900, 1905, and 1910 Federal Census records.

Elmer - age unknown.

The 1915 Milwaukee City directory has Elmer working as a clerk, living at 645 Homer St.

The 1917 Milwaukee City directory has Elmer working as a clerk at 107 Wells St, 6th floor, living at 645 Homer St.

On 9 Apr 1918 Elmer enlisted in the US Army.

Elmer sailed from New York on 4 Jun 1918 aboard the Baltic. He is a private MDNA, BH22 (base hospital 22), nearest relative Mrs. Isabelle Weins - mother, home at 645 Homer St., Milwaukee.

The men are going to Base Hospital 22, M402, 2nd phase.

The Baltic

Elmer's unit was stationed at Beau Desert.

"In the late fall of 1917, Beau Desert, in the vicinity of Bordeaux, was selected as the site for a hospital center, and construction was begun in December of that year. The site, about 5 miles west from Bordeaux and near the small village of Pichey, was a nearly level tract of land of approximately 550 acres."

"Originally it was planned that there would be 10 base hospital units at this center, each of 1,000 beads, with an emergency expansion to 1,500, but during the summer of 1918 the construction of 7 additional units was authorized."

"Construction was effected by the United States Army Engineers. A large force of men was employed for this work, and during the summer of 1918 more than 4,000 American soldiers, prisoners of war, Chinese, and other laborers were at work. On June 22, 1918, when the first base hospital group arrived, only one unit had been completed. Nine hospital units were eventually completed, in addition to the convalescent camp, steam laundry, and warehouses, making a total of nearly 600 buildings. Twelve miles of gravel walk and 8 miles of board walk were constructed and 4 miles of roads and over 11 miles of railroad track were built."

"When the Medical Department took over the center there were available a few old wells, mostly in a dirty condition. Only one of these was in use, furnishing about 50,000 gallons of water daily. This output was barely enough for drinking  and a reasonable amount of washing, so that on many occasions the entire center was practically without water for 24 hours at a time and with none whatever for fire purposes. An artesian well, 1,500 feet deep, was sunk, but could not be used for some time through lack of a powerful enough pump. Later this well, connected with a 100,000-gallon cement storage tank, afforded ample supply."

"Though only two base hospital units arrived prior to the armistice, the following hospital units eventually were located at this center: Base Hospitals Nos. 22, 114, 104, 106, 111, 121, Evacuation Hospital No. 20, and the convalescent camp."

"Shortly after the armistice began, the Beau Desert center was changed into an evacuation center. Base Hospitals Nos. 114 and 22, because of their experience, were designated as evacuating hospitals and the remaining four as receiving hospitals. Later only Base Hospital No. 22 performed this evacuation duty. In this way all the responsibility of evacuation was placed on one unit, thereby eliminating all differences in method and standards which would have existed if all the hospitals had been charged with evacuation. All patients for evacuation were divided, according to the classification required, into companies of 150 or less, all papers were completed, and five copies of passenger lists made for each company. All patients were examined physically, issued new uniforms, and paid in full. They were inspected when leaving the center and again while boarding the transport at Bordeaux."

Source http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwi/adminamerexp/chapter23.html which in turn sources: "The statements of fact appearing herein are based on the "History of The Beau Desert hospital center," prepared under the direcion of the commanding officer by members of his staff. The material used by these officers in the compilation of the history comprised official reports from the vaious divisions of the hospital center. The history is on file in the Historical Division, S.G.O. - Ed."

 Due to a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973 Elmer's military records are not available, so we don't know what his exact job was at the Base Hospital 22. His civilian job was clerk, so he may have been sitting in a room making five copies of each list.

From the records that did survive we see Elmer was admitted to the hospital for medical care on 27 Aug 1918 with abdominal pain. He was released from the hospital 29 Aug 1918.

The 1919 Milwaukee City Directory has Elmer working for the USA.

Elmer with detachment No. 270 Brest, returned to the United States aboard SS. Maui, on 17 May 1919, leaving Brest, France. He is now a cpl (corporal), MD BH 121 [medical department, base hospital 121]. Elmer's nearest relative is Fred Weins, father, 645 Hamer St., Milwaukee.

SS Maui

Elmer is admitted into USA GH [general hospital] #28 from Camp Stuart, VA on 8 Jun 1919. He is suffering from a deviation of nasal septum received by playing football. Also shows that Elmer had the childhood illnesses of measles, mumps and chicken pox.

Records that also survived are the final payment rolls dated 28 Jun 1919.

Elmer received $96.55 as final pay.

The 1920 Federal Census of Milwaukee, ward 17, finds Elmer, age 22, living with his parents and sister Julia at 645 Homer. His occupation is office clerk for the railroad.

Elmer met Frances Zingsheim. Their son, Joseph Edgar, was born in 23 Nov 1922 in Milwaukee. Baby was born at a home for unwed mothers, so Elmer might have never known about his son.

Elmer married Leoa Palmer. The couple had two children: Evelyn born 1924 and William born 1926.

The 1929 Milwaukee City Directory shows Elmer and Leoa living at 1223 12th Street in Milwaukee, occupation is conductor.

The 1930 Federal Census - Milwaukee, ward 17, finds the family living at 723 Clarence St.. paying $35 a month rent. Elmer is 32, married at 26, occupation is conductor on electric street car line. Wife Leoa is 31, married at 25. Daughter Evelyn is 5 and son William is 3.

The 1930 Milwaukee City Directory also has the family living at 723 Clarence, with Elmer's occupation conductor.

Photo of a Milwaukee Streetcar - 1933

In 1935 the family was living in Delavan as shown by the Delavan gossip column in the Janesville Daily Gazetter of 4 Oct 1935.

The 1940 Federal Census - Lake Geneva, Walworth county, has the family at 461 Ann St. Elmer is 42, occupation chief clerk at the central WPA office. Leoa is 41, Evelyn is 15 and William is 12. The family states they were living in Delavan, Walworth county in 1935.

The WPA (Works Pregress Administration was a program created by President Roosevelt in 1935 to put people to work during the bleakest years of the Great Depression.

Between 1940 and 1946 the family moves again. The 1946 Janesville City Directory finds Elmer and Leoa living at 703 Glen St. Elmer is a storekeeper.

The 1949 Janesville City Directory has Elmer and Leoa at 403 S. Jackson. Elmer is a salesman.

Leoa died in April 1950. The Janesville Daily Gazette of 11 Apr 1950 states the funeral of Mrs. Elmer Weins was on Friday, April 7th.

The Janesville Daily Gazette tells of Elmer Weins and Viola Brown getting a marriage license.

 

Elmer married Viola Pierce Brown on 28 Jun 1952 in Janesville.

After the wedding the couple lived at Viola's 449 N. Pine St. address - a 4 bedroom home built in 1929.

The Janesville City Directories of 1956, 1958 and 1960 show Elmer and Viola living at 449 N. Pine. Elmer is a saleman at Lein Oil.

1956

 1958

1960

From the Janesville Daily Gazette - 31 Dec 1964, Elmer is a store salesman with the Lein LP Gas Corp.

In 1966 Elmer and Viola took a trip to Europe and were stranded in London during an airline strike.

Janesville Daily Gazette, 12 Aug 1966.

The Janesville Daily Gazette of 15 Mar 1969 tells of Elmer and Viola co-hosting a party at the Senior Center.

The Janesville Daily Gazette of 2 Aug 1969 states Elmer won a prize at the annual picnic.

Elmer died 31 Dec 1971 in Janesville.

Elmer's obituary

Elmer is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Janesville.

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