FATHER OF 25 CHILDREN -- Belonie Menard was baptised September 6, 1841 in Quebec, Canada. His baptismal entry, written in French, stated he was a child of the legitimate marriage of Charles Menard and Catherine Guererre. He appears in the 1851 Canadian census with his parents and older siblings.
Belonie was married twice. He had six children by his first wife Eugenie Perrault and the remaining 19 by his second wife Anna Gibeault. He was 36 or 37 years old when he brought his family to America.
The first time he appears in United States records was June 16, 1879. He applied for a homestead at the land office at Crookston, Minnesota. Application No. 2574 states: "I, Belannie Menard, of Red Lake Falls Colony, do hereby apply to enter, under Section 2289, Revised Statutes of the United States, the SE q of Section 28, in Township 150 of Range 45, containing 160 acres." That same day, he made another affidavit that states, in part, "I, Belannie Menard, of Red Lake Falls having filed an application, No. 2574, for an entry under Section No. 2289, Revised Statutes of the United States, do solemnly swear that i am a marryed man and that i have made my declaration of intentian to become a citizen of the United States..." The registry entries cost Belonie $14.

Ben is listed as "Belly" Menard in the June 1895 Minnesota Territorial census. He stated that he had been living in the state for 16 years, which means he came in 1878 or 1879. His age is listed as 52, which would indicate that he was born in 1842. Five years later, "Benonie" Menard, a French Canadian, was listed as 56 years old in the 1900 Minnesota census. Ben was actually 58 years old by this time. He and his wife Anna and 11 children were living in Polk County. His childrens' marriage returns show his name as Ben, Benonie, and Beloni; however, his birth name was Belonie and his nickname was Ben.
Ben was a farmer. After selling his land in Minnesota, he moved the family to Yakima, Washington about 1901. On March 14, 1902, Ben registered his brand in Yakima County.
Meanwhile, Ben and Anna's family had grown. Nineteen children had been born to them, of which 17 still survived.
Ben died August 13, 1909 in Moxee, Washington. He was 67 years, 11 months old. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Moxee. His widow, Anna, is listed in 1910 as living with three of their younger children in Yakima County, Washington.