Joseph Nazaire Grandpre 1820-1902
Joseph Nazaire Duteau de Grandpre was born in St. Cuthbert, D’Autray, Quebec, the oldest son of Joseph Duteau de Grandpre and Marie “Angele” Dacier Trunet. He was baptized in the St. Cuthbert parish (shown left) on December 16, 1820. Joseph’s 3rd great-grandfather was Charles Duteau, who fled France with his mother Jeanne Perrin in 1658. Their story is told in Grandpre Roots Part 1.
Marriage and Family
On February 5, 1844 Joseph married Marie “Adeline” Berard (right) in the St-Barthelemy parish near his home in St-Cuthbert. The couple would go on to have fourteen children who lived to adulthood and several who died in infancy.
Moving to America
After years of subjugation by the British, the habitants (early French settlers in Quebec) felt under-represented within the government and were concerned about being forced to abandon their French culture and language. Joseph and his extended family joined other Quebecois, like Siste
In 1857, Joseph, his brothers Alexandre and Charles, and Claude Petit started the first French newspaper in Illinois, “Le Journal de
This newspaper before the American Civil War, which bears the epigraph “independent in all, neutral in nothing “, is lodged as a sign of the French republican faith and its corollary almost inevitable at this time of anti-clericalism. The few papers we have left from 1858, are from the time of the assassination attempt against Napoleon III by Orsini and his companions: an event that occupied the opinion of the whole world for several months. The convicts were proclaimed martyrs of freedom and their deaths set off great events in cities like New York and Chicago. The Journal then gave a heartfelt rejoinder against Napoleon, tyranny, despotism, and absolutism.
Later Years in Chicago
After a short move to Fowler, Indiana for a farming venture the family decided to move back to Chicago. It is here that Joseph and Adeline celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1894, which was written about in their paper “Courrier de
It was given to one of our excellent director’s family members to take the opportunity to celebrate his golden wedding.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Grandpre, were married fifty years ago, on February 5, 1844, and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at Chicago, 1174 Superior St. Mr. Joseph Grandpre is the elder brother of Misters. A. [Alexandre] and M. [Michel] Grandpre. This union has always been happy and there are 14 children, 13 of whom are alive today. One can understand that the table was imposing, the guests including children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, etc.
A beautiful gold-handled cane was donated to Mr. Joseph Grandpre, and Mrs. Grandpre received a splendid silver tea service to commemorate this anniversary.
While living in Chicago Joseph also was part of a French gentlemen’s club known as the “Cercle Francais.”
Next Generations
Adeline passed away in 1899 and Joseph followed a few years later in 1902. They spent their later years surrounded by children and grandchildren. After following the family to Fowler, Indiana, their son Victor Grandpre moved to Minnesota around 1896 with daughter Lillian Grandpre, who would eventually marry Robert Joseph Gregoire.
Sources
Kimberly G DeGrandpre
March 24, 2021Thanks for putting this together! I’m a DeGrandpre descended from Charles Duteau DeGrandpre and Pierre Duteau, our family lines seem to split after Charles, we seem to split after that though as our lineage follows Charles’ son Alexis and then his son Jacques. Super cool to see what the other branches did!
Michelle
April 17, 2021Hi Kimberly,
Thank you for saying hello! It is great to hear from a Grandpre/DeGrandpre cousin. Is your DeGrandpre family remain in Canada or did they migrate to the US?
Michelle
Kimberly
April 19, 2021Hey Michelle, my Great Grandpa (Arthur Vital DeGrandpre b1897) and Great Grandma (Andrea L’Etoile) came to the US in the early 1930s and became citizend in 1936. He learned English when he came here (although I hear it was never great). They settled in Jaffrey, New Hampshire and had 4 children (Gerald, Andrea, Charles, and Collette). Andrea and Collette went from Jaffrey to Long Beach, CA decades ago and didn’t have children. Charles stayed in New Hampshire (and Florida) but he passed last year. His two adopted children Sarah and David live in Montana. Gerald (my Grandpa) stayed in Jaffrey, married Juliette Martin and had 3 boys (Martin, Paul, and Steven). Marty and Steve are still in Jaffrey and my dad Paul is now in Lyle, Washington. The family is kind of slimming down as fewer of us are having kids and the ones who are have taken their husbands names, but Andrea and Collette will be very interested to hear that theres a whole Grandpre branch that went to the midwest far earlier! I stumbled across another DeGrandpre (Mike) in Montana whose father was adopted by a DeGrandpre in Massachusetts, but he is the only person outside of my family I’ve ever talked to that was (potentially) related.
Michelle
April 25, 2021Hi Kimberly,
Thanks so much for sharing about your family. It is interesting how many of us moved west. If you are interested in joining a Grandpre Facebook group, send me an email and I will send an invite to you.