George & Maria Menard

MENARD FORTIN LAMOUREUX

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/6/2010 at 22:53:20

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

George and Maria Menard
by Rosemarie Marley

Greg Napoleon Menard was born in Kankakee County, Kankakee, Illinois, January 11, 1861, the son of Andre-Prudent and Henriette Fortin Menard. Other members of the family included sister, Elmira, brothers Philip, Joel, Alfred and Alexis.

Being a late arrival due to his farm chores, George, a member of St Rose Church Choir was asked to share the hymnal of Miss Marie Lamoureux. Maria, born September 14, 1866, at Bedford, Canada, taught school in Canada and in 1889 accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fortin to Kankakee, Illinois.

George and Maria were married in May 1891, and made their home in Goodrich Pilot Township, Kankakee County, Illinois.

In August 1901, George came to Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and purchased the 743-acre Ladd farm one and one-half miles east of town.

On February 23, 1902, the parents, five children, domestic help, hired hands, household furnishings, farm machinery, livestock, poultry and pets disembarked at Salix, Iowa and made the remaining seven miles to their new home.

The children attended the Ladd Country School and various schools of higher education, the older sons returning to the family farm and eventually establishing their own operations in the immediate area.

A new family home was built in 1912.

Seven children were born to George and Maria, five while in Illinois and a son and daughter after the move to Iowa.

Georgette, born June 14, 1892, in Illinois and married February 14, 1912, to Maurice Belson, had three daughters, Yvonne, Pauline (Allen), and Florence (Lillibridge).

Paul Henry, born April 22, 1894, in Illinois and married June 11, 1921, to Genevieve Fortin, had three children: Gloria (Ricciardi), Frances (Stoneking) and Paul Fortin, Jr.

Mark Alfred born November 5, 1895, married Maude Batmen, October 29, 1936, and had two daughters: Jeanette Marie (Moeschler) and Kathleen (McAlexander).

Joel Artel, born December 13, 1898, married January 21, 1929, to Grace Owen, had had three children: Artel, deceased; Constance (Wanberg); Owen; Beth (Haindfield); and David.

Prudence Emma, born January 12, 1901, married Laurent Hubert, September 10, 1925. Their children: Rosemarie (Marley), Joan (Burns), John Menard, and Suzanne Frances (Ellensohn).

Florence Delvina, born August 9, 1903, married Albert Gray, August 31, 1935. Their children: Albert Holman, Marie Caroline (Baker), Julie (Burns), and Stephen Frederick.

George, Jr, born September 7, 1911, married Martha McNess. Their children: Martha Ann, Noel, and Paula (Chambers).

George Menard, died June 6, 1945; Maria died May 10, 1956. Both are buried at Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa.