Francis Hubert

HUBERT LAMBERT LACROIX CHICOINE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/22/2010 at 17:22:25

History of Woodury County, Iowa 1984

Francis Hubert
By Paul Hubert

Francis Hubert, son of Laurent Hubert, born 1776 in Canada, and Ursula Lambert Hubert, was born in Contre Coeur County of Vercheres, Canada, February 16, 1834. He married Miss Aglae Lacroix in October 1853, daughter of Theodule Lacroix and Emily Chicoine. Aglae was born November 28, 1855, in Canada.

Mr and Mrs Hubert, with several small children, came to Woodbury County and settled on a farm in Section four, Lakeport Township, southwest of Salix, in 1869. This farm was recently purchased by Bill Kirk.

These early-day pioneers suffered many hardships, including grasshopper plagues, drought, floods and economic depression.

The first house built was a one-room log cabin with only a dirt floor. After living in the log cabin for a time, a better and larger frame dwelling was erected. This house was made from Cottonwood lumber. The lumber used was much the same as bridge planks, about three inches thick and six to eight inches wide. The corners of the house were made of eight-inch square poles extending up about eight feet on each corner. These corner uprights were notched the full length on two sides by hand with an axe or hatchet and then the planks were slipped into the notches and then secured with handmade wooden pegs. These planks made up the side walls. A layer of paper was put on the outside of the planks and then boards were nailed over the paper and into the planks with square nails.

The old house was lived in by some of the descendants of the Hubert family from time to time. It was torn down by Joe Moreau around 1975.

Mr Hubert was a carpenter and cabinet maker and made most of their furniture. He also worked as a carpenter for the neighbors, which occupation he combined with farming.

In 1908, Mr and Mrs Hubert retired from the farm and moved into town. They were the parents of five children: Napoleon J married Rosanna Pepin, Marie Louise married Alfred Pepin; Ann Marie married William Gregoire; Cordelia married Stanilaus Gendreau; Malvina married Joseph Choquette.

Francis passed away in 1910, Aglae in 1912. Both are buried in St Joseph’s Cemetery.