Why did the Valades and Lessards move to Bay City? Perhaps for the same reasons many people move ~ work opportunities. Historically, Michigan became a territory in 1805 and a state in 1837. Most of the early settlement was in the southern part of the state near the Lakes. The northern part of the state was settled from 1860-1890 with the lumber boom along the Saginaw River. During this time 270,000 persons were added to this area. It's quite plausible, there were great job opportunities in the growing Bay City area that would attract someone looking for a change. Perhaps jobs weren't as plentiful in Ottawa. Or perhaps there were other reasons to leave.
Joseph Arthur Lessard and wife Domatilde Gravel moved their small family to Bay City before June 2, 1880, the date of the U.S. 1880 Census. Their oldest three children, Mathilde, May and Arthur were born in Ottawa. The next five children, Marie Dora, Marie Victoria, Emma, Francis Daniel and Thomas Oscar were all born in Bay City between 1881 and 1892. 1892 is the year Mathilde Lessard and Francis X Valade were married. Her family returned to Ottawa in 1894 where their youngest child, Joseph Louis Lessard was born.
Emma Lessard was born about 1886. She is mentioned in two 1890 news articles regarding her ill health. The 1894 Michigan Census also lists Emma, age 8, living with the family. That is the year the Lessard family returned to Ottawa, reasons unknown.
While living in Bay City, Joseph Arthur Lessard worked as a Carpenter. He is listed in several City Directories. From 1881-1883 they lived at 506 14th, Bay City, Bay County, Michigan. In 1884, they were living at 209 N Farragut, Bay City, Bay Co, Michigan. That same year, Joseph Arthur also had a business listing... Lessard & Bergeson ~ Carpenters, Builders and Mnfrs Cisterns and Wire Screens, 404 N. Water. It's not clear whether the partners split up, but by 1886, Joseph A Lessard is listed as a carpenter and August Bergeson is listed as Screen door mnfr, now located at 414 Saginaw, Bay City. By 1889 August Bergeson is now listed as a laborer.
In The Bay City Times: Thursday, March 13, 1890 there is a three line notice that "J. A. Lessard has the contract to build a $3,000 store and saloon on the corner of madison avenue and 22d street."
Perhaps as the lumber boom subsided, the Lessards decided to return to Ottawa.
(Michelle Valade Woodham ~ 2018)
Joseph Arthur Lessard and wife Domatilde Gravel moved their small family to Bay City before June 2, 1880, the date of the U.S. 1880 Census. Their oldest three children, Mathilde, May and Arthur were born in Ottawa. The next five children, Marie Dora, Marie Victoria, Emma, Francis Daniel and Thomas Oscar were all born in Bay City between 1881 and 1892. 1892 is the year Mathilde Lessard and Francis X Valade were married. Her family returned to Ottawa in 1894 where their youngest child, Joseph Louis Lessard was born.
Emma Lessard was born about 1886. She is mentioned in two 1890 news articles regarding her ill health. The 1894 Michigan Census also lists Emma, age 8, living with the family. That is the year the Lessard family returned to Ottawa, reasons unknown.
While living in Bay City, Joseph Arthur Lessard worked as a Carpenter. He is listed in several City Directories. From 1881-1883 they lived at 506 14th, Bay City, Bay County, Michigan. In 1884, they were living at 209 N Farragut, Bay City, Bay Co, Michigan. That same year, Joseph Arthur also had a business listing... Lessard & Bergeson ~ Carpenters, Builders and Mnfrs Cisterns and Wire Screens, 404 N. Water. It's not clear whether the partners split up, but by 1886, Joseph A Lessard is listed as a carpenter and August Bergeson is listed as Screen door mnfr, now located at 414 Saginaw, Bay City. By 1889 August Bergeson is now listed as a laborer.
In The Bay City Times: Thursday, March 13, 1890 there is a three line notice that "J. A. Lessard has the contract to build a $3,000 store and saloon on the corner of madison avenue and 22d street."
Perhaps as the lumber boom subsided, the Lessards decided to return to Ottawa.
(Michelle Valade Woodham ~ 2018)
Why did the Valades and Lessards move to Bay City? Perhaps for the same reasons many people move ~ work opportunities. Historically, Michigan became a territory in 1805 and a state in 1837. Most of the early settlement was in the southern part of the state near the Lakes. The northern part of the state was settled from 1860-1890 with the lumber boom along the Saginaw River. During this time 270,000 persons were added to this area. It's quite plausible, there were great job opportunities in the growing Bay City area that would attract someone looking for a change. Perhaps jobs weren't as plentiful in Ottawa. Or perhaps there were other reasons to leave.
Joseph Arthur Lessard and wife Domatilde Gravel moved their small family to Bay City before June 2, 1880, the date of the U.S. 1880 Census. Their oldest three children, Mathilde, May and Arthur were born in Ottawa. The next five children, Marie Dora, Marie Victoria, Emma, Francis Daniel and Thomas Oscar were all born in Bay City between 1881 and 1892. 1892 is the year Mathilde Lessard and Francis X Valade were married. Her family returned to Ottawa in 1894 where their youngest child, Joseph Louis Lessard was born.
Emma Lessard was born about 1886. She is mentioned in two 1890 news articles regarding her ill health. The 1894 Michigan Census also lists Emma, age 8, living with the family. That is the year the Lessard family returned to Ottawa, reasons unknown.
While living in Bay City, Joseph Arthur Lessard worked as a Carpenter. He is listed in several City Directories. From 1881-1883 they lived at 506 14th, Bay City, Bay County, Michigan. In 1884, they were living at 209 N Farragut, Bay City, Bay Co, Michigan. That same year, Joseph Arthur also had a business listing... Lessard & Bergeson ~ Carpenters, Builders and Mnfrs Cisterns and Wire Screens, 404 N. Water. It's not clear whether the partners split up, but by 1886, Joseph A Lessard is listed as a carpenter and August Bergeson is listed as Screen door mnfr, now located at 414 Saginaw, Bay City. By 1889 August Bergeson is now listed as a laborer.
In The Bay City Times: Thursday, March 13, 1890 there is a three line notice that "J. A. Lessard has the contract to build a $3,000 store and saloon on the corner of madison avenue and 22d street."
Perhaps as the lumber boom subsided, the Lessards decided to return to Ottawa.
(Michelle Valade Woodham ~ 2018)
Joseph Arthur Lessard and wife Domatilde Gravel moved their small family to Bay City before June 2, 1880, the date of the U.S. 1880 Census. Their oldest three children, Mathilde, May and Arthur were born in Ottawa. The next five children, Marie Dora, Marie Victoria, Emma, Francis Daniel and Thomas Oscar were all born in Bay City between 1881 and 1892. 1892 is the year Mathilde Lessard and Francis X Valade were married. Her family returned to Ottawa in 1894 where their youngest child, Joseph Louis Lessard was born.
Emma Lessard was born about 1886. She is mentioned in two 1890 news articles regarding her ill health. The 1894 Michigan Census also lists Emma, age 8, living with the family. That is the year the Lessard family returned to Ottawa, reasons unknown.
While living in Bay City, Joseph Arthur Lessard worked as a Carpenter. He is listed in several City Directories. From 1881-1883 they lived at 506 14th, Bay City, Bay County, Michigan. In 1884, they were living at 209 N Farragut, Bay City, Bay Co, Michigan. That same year, Joseph Arthur also had a business listing... Lessard & Bergeson ~ Carpenters, Builders and Mnfrs Cisterns and Wire Screens, 404 N. Water. It's not clear whether the partners split up, but by 1886, Joseph A Lessard is listed as a carpenter and August Bergeson is listed as Screen door mnfr, now located at 414 Saginaw, Bay City. By 1889 August Bergeson is now listed as a laborer.
In The Bay City Times: Thursday, March 13, 1890 there is a three line notice that "J. A. Lessard has the contract to build a $3,000 store and saloon on the corner of madison avenue and 22d street."
Perhaps as the lumber boom subsided, the Lessards decided to return to Ottawa.
(Michelle Valade Woodham ~ 2018)
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