The continuation of the Goodreau/Gautreau/Gotreau story.
This story was started in my earlier post, The Gautreau Brothers.
The Gautreau family stayed in the area Illes de Orleans / Island of Orleans in Canada for several generations.
More on Jean Edward and Marie's children here: Godreau children
John-Baptiste Gaudreau, Augustin Gaudreau and the first Jerome Gaudreau all lived their entire lives in Cap St Ignace. The second Jerome Gaudreau and Edouard Gaudreau lived their entire lives in L'Islet-Sur-Meer.
Jean Edouard Godreau was born in Islet-Sue-Meer. . He married Marie Claire Gamache in L'Islet on January 24, 1871. They came to the United states in 1880 or 1881 with their oldest two children, who had been born in Quebec. Farming conditions in Quebec weren't able to support the growing population, and many were leaving for new opportunities.On coming to Michigan, Edouard's name was anglicized to Edward Goodreau.
Their first few years in Michigan they farmed and cleared wood from their land in the area of Houghton. According to family history, the farming was done in the warmer months, and the logging was done by Edward and Joseph in the winter. Later Edward worked for the Worcester Lumber Company in Chassell, Michigan. Chassell was a logging town, and most of the residents were employed in that industry. On the 1900 US Census, Jean Edward Goodreau is listed as being a teamster, but it is said he did any job that was necessary.
The first school was started in Chassell in 1888, but it was only for the 1st-6th grades. The Roman Catholic church St. Anne's was built in 1890. The Goodreaus were devoted Catholics. Edward and Clara had their last five children after arriving in the United States. Edward could nor read or write, but it was said that Clara was literate in both French and English and highly valued any education they could get for the children.
In 1907,William Goodreau, son of Edward and Claire, married Emma Trudel in Chassell
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| William and Emma (Trudel) Goodreau wedding. back: George Goodreau and Laura Trudel |
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| The Goodreau and Trudel families about 1907. L to R: Mary Goudreau (Joe's wife), William G, Emma G, Napolean, Grandma Clara, Grandpa Edward, Annie G, George G, Laura (Trudell) Bellmore and Jess Bellmore. In the back are George and Aurora Goudreau, children of Joe Goudreau, who likely took the picture. |
We think the above family picture was taken around the time of William and Emma's wedding.
In 1910, Jean Edward is listed as a laborer at the mill, and William Goodreau is listed as working at the meat market. As an interesting note, Jean Edward is listed as not being able to read or write. In 1920, at the age of 71, Jean Edward is still working as a laborer in the saw mill. In 1930 Jean Edward is retired in Chassell, and William is listed as a sawyer. In 1930, William lost his job in Chassell, and his family had to relocate to Wells, Michigan. There he worked at the I. Stevenson mill as a sawyer.
Emma died in Chassell on Spetember 11, 1930, and and Edward died in Chassell on August 5, 1934. They are buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Houghton, Michigan. Their son William Goodreau, my great grandfather, was born in Houghton County and died in Wells, Michigan (near Escanaba).
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| back, left to right: Margaret, Helen, Emma, William, Bernice, Bert, Maurice. front: Ruth, Grace. about 1930. |
William and Emma's daughter Bernice graduated from Escanaba High in 1934, and married Alfred Meinz in 1943.
One interesting story I have come across is Eli Goodreau. I have a copy of a baptism record my Grandma found that has his parents listed as Elias Gagnon and E. Goodreau. This was confusing until I learned that Amelia had been born Emilie. I found Eli's WW1 draft card from 1917. On it he is listed as living in Detroit and working as an Oiler for Studabaker. He had previously served two years in the Navy, but I don't know if he served in the Great War. More on Eli in a new post.
Chassell pictures:
Next Post: The Children of Jean Edward Goodreau
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