The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks M.C. C.D.
A Canadian Hero
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Louis Rousseau's eldest child Louis Albert Ephrem (aka "L.A.E.") Rousseau was born 31-Oct-1847 in Saint Isidore, Dorchester, PQ, Canada where he was also baptised. Godparents were: Michel Rousseau and Marie Anne Brochu. Ephrem lived with his family in Ste-Germaine du Lac-Etchemin sub-district of Dorchester East in his early years -- see section 3.2.4
Ephrem (pronounced "Effrum") married Mary Virginie Gagne (b. 11- Feb-1849) on 13 Jan 1873 in St Claire, Québec, Canada.
The couple would have 2 children in Quebec; Albertine and Albert.
Ephrem and family moved from St. Claire Quebec to the USA, crossing the border at Moose River, Maine December of 1876 and settling in Rye Beach N.H. at least until late 1878. (see Section 4.0.3)
Son Achille was born on March 3, 1878 in Rye Beach, New Hampshire.
At some point (date unknown) LAE and family moved to Allendale Township of ND to join his father, mother and brothers and sisters who had moved there from Quebec.
LAE, then going by the anglizied name of Lewis A.E. Brooks, took the first step in applying for US citizenship in Grand Forks, N.D. March 21, 1879. (see Section 4.0.3) The family appeared in the 1880 US Census living in Allendale Township, Grand Forks County. The families land in Allendale Township was close to father Louis, and sister Clara and her husband Eugene Turcotte.
Son Arthur was born in Dakota Territory approximately in the year 1879.
In 1885 the family moved back to Canada ending up in Manitoba. Why the family left Allendale Township in ND is not known.
The family appeared in the 1891 (see image at right), the 1901, 1906, and 1911 Canada Census in Provencher District, St. Boniface Sub-District of Manitoba (Mariapolis Village MacDonald Electoral District, Manitoba) where Ephrem was listed as a retired farmer. (see also alternative 1911 Census view)
When L.A.E. moved back to Canada (St. Boniface Manitoba and then the rural municipality of Lorne) he reverted the name from Brooks back to Rousseau and also resumed using the first name Ephrem.
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By 1921 ( as of June 1, 1921), the Canada Census recorded Virginie as Eugenie and had her living with her son Rev. JAE Rousseau in his Parish home. HOWEVER this was a transcription error from the poor Census taker's handwriting to the summary document shown below. Looking at the original "Virginie" can be seen. Clearly Ephrem had passed away by this time. (SEE IMAGE at right for 1921 Canada Census extract.)
The couple were to have 10 children, however 4 died at a very early age.
The 6 surviving children of Ephrem and Virginie Rousseau were:
Daughter Marie Josephine Albertine Rousseau (b. abt. Jan 2, 1874). Baptized in St-Nicolas, Québec.
Albertine would marry ( Manitoba Registration Number: 1891,002056) on June 15, 1891 at S. Norfolk (St. Alphonse), Manitoba to Olivier Girardin (b. January 22, 1861 to Paul and Louise Girardin).
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The couple would have several children in Bruxelles and St Boniface
However by 1900 Albertine and Olivier would loose 6 of their 7 children to influenza, diphtheria and scarlet fever epidemics. Daughter Gabrielle was the only child spared.
The physical and mental suffering resulting from the tragic loss of 6 of their 7 children pushed their marriage to the breaking point and the couple separated - however seeing each other from time to time.
Marie Josephine Albertine Girardin would die in Lorne, Manitoba on Oct 24, 1922 at the age of 48 years, 9 months and 22 days. ( Manitoba Registration Number: 1922,038370) (This would put her birth date as Jan 2, 1874)
Olivier Giradin died in St Boniface at the age of 71 years and 9 days on Jan 29, 1931. ( Manitoba Registration Number: 1931,014054).
Both Albertine and Oliver are buried in Maripolis cemetery.
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Gabrielle, when only five, was placed in St. Joseph Academy in St. Boniface. (see article above re Gabrielle.)
Records showed Gabrielle (aged 12) as a "boarder" in the July 1906 Canada Census
(scroll to the right, line 36) in what appears as a convent in Ste Rose du Lac, Manitoba (along with Anna Rousseau and others).
See also for alternative 1906 Census of Manitoba.
The 1911 Census of Canada table extract ABOVE showed her living in the house of LAE and Virginie Rousseau.
Gabrielle enetered the order of les Soeurs des Saints Noms de Jesus et de Marie in 1913. and was called Sister Gabriel Archange. After a lengthy illness, Sister Gabriel Archange died on Sept 15, 1990 and is buried in the St. Boniface cemetery.
Son Mary Joseph Albert Rousseau (aka Joseph Albert Ephrem Rousseau) who was born in Saint Claire Québec on 30-October 1875 and was ordained as a priest in St. Boniface Manitoba on 22-October-1899. He was pastor of Mariapolis, Manitoba from 1907 until his death in 1929.
According to (Rev.) Léonce Aubin, Chancellor, Winnipeg Catholic Archdiocese; Joseph Albert Ephrem Rousseau who was born in Saint Claire Quebec on 30-October 1875 and was ordained as a priest in St. Boniface Manitoba on 22-October-1899.
Father Rousseau was the first diocesan priest to be pastor of l'Assumption de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie in Mariapolis, Manitoba.
As an aside; the Mariapolis Our Lady of Assumption Roman Catholic Church (l'Assumption de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie) was built in 1908; the rectory, now the Post Office and the grocery store was built in 1914, and the cemetery dates back to 1905. Mariapolis is located just inside the West border of the Pembina Valley in Manitoba.
Before 1907,it was Religious priests who served as pastors in Mariapolis: les Chanoines Réguliers de l'Immaculée-Conception (or the Regular Canons of the Immaculate Conception).
According to the 1921 Canada Census ( as of June 1, 1921) Albert's mother Euginie ( aka Virginie - see above) was living with him at the time. Also the "widowed" handle from Virginie has been mistakenly transfered to Albert.
Albert was pastor in Mariapolis, from 1907 until 1929 or rather until his death. He died on March 3, 1929.
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Pastor Albert Rousseau died on March 3, 1929 at St. Rock Hospital in St Boniface, Manitoba at the age of 53
( Manitoba Registration Number: Registration Number: 1929,014038).
(Although cemetery headstone - see below- says March 4, 1929.)
He is buried in Our Lady of Assumption cemetery in Mariapolis, Manitoba.
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Son Louis Achille Rousseau (b.March 3, 1878 in Rye Beach, New Hampshire) (however 1877 per tombstone).
Perhaps confusingly, Canadian Immigration records indicate Achille immigrated to Canada in 1899. (his father arrived in 1885).
Achille appears (line 18) in the 1901 Census of Canada in District 163 Laval Sub-District P of Quebec as an "interne" - along with 40+ others headed by a "Chef Superior".
The Rev. Achille Rousseau was ordained to the Jesuits, June 28, 1916. Achille (age 33, b. Mar 1878, occupation: priest) and appeared in the Canada 1911 Census (line 7) as a Jesuit Father at St. Boniface College on Provencher Ave headed by Jesuit Father Superior Joseph Carrière. He was located in the electoral district of Provencher, District Number 21, Sub-District: St. Boniface, Sub-District Number 45.
Archbishop Mathieu of Regina accepted him into the Archdiocese of Regina, Saskatchewan in August of 1927. Father Achille Rousseau was appointed first parish priest of Cadillac on August 26, 1927. On October 23 the first church for the town was completed. He was Pastor in Cadillac SK from 1927-1953, and also served Frenchville for 7 years and Admiral (where he celebrated mass each Saturday). During his stay he was able to clear the parish of its debt and started a building fund for the rectory. Cadillac became part of the newly formed Diocese of Gravelbourg - July 27, 1930. He retired to St. Boniface (Manitoba) in 1953.
Father Achille Rousseau was one of the priests who officiated at the funeral of Nellie Brooks Bolstad (and was listed as a cousin). (see Section 17)
Remarkably, he never visited his brother or his parents in Mariapolis, Man.
Achille died April 1, 1969 (at Tache Hospital) at 91 years of age. See separate biography on Achille below.
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Son Arthur Brooks (b.~ 1879 in Dakota Territory) and was noted in the 1880 US Federal Census for Allendale Township of Grand Forks County, N.D..
By the 1891 Canada Census for St. Boniface, Arthur was no longer listed - so most likely died early 1880s.
Daughter Mary Josephine Angeline (b. Nov 2, 1884) and was baptised at St Michael's Catholic Church, Grand Forks, N.D. (see below) (Don't however understand the Canada 1891 Census data on her age.)
Angeline would marry Arthur Poirier (b. ~ March 1880) (son of Fabien Poirier of New Brunswick and Elise Dumontier of Quebec) on May 24, 1921 in the Rural Municipality of Lorne,
Manitoba (REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1921,034664). The 1921 Canada Census indicated that Arthur was born in Manitoba, he was a widower, and that his occupation was " Arbra Garage".
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ASIDE: It would seem that Arthur's father Fabien had died in 1896 and this is the reason his name is not a signator to Arthur and Angeline's wedding record.
In fact in
the Canada 1901 Cenus Elise appears with the occupation of a "servant" and in 1906 living as the head of a
household with son Arthur and daughters Melina, Eugenie and Anne and then in 1911, living in her son Arthur's house.
In
1901 Arthur was listed as "domestic" in another household.)
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Daughter Anna Maria Rousseau was born July 27, 1892 in Manitoba.
Anna would marry Joseph Eugene Belcourt on Oct 27, 1920 in Lorne, Manitoba. (Registration Number: 1920,05620).
Eugene Joseph Belcourt (b. Nov 16, 1894) (d. 1955) was the son of Joseph Wilbroad Belcourt and Rosaline Marie Demers (daughter of Marie Georgiana (Rousseau) Demers) (see section 2.0 Vii on Marie Georgiana Rousseau).
Eugene Joseph enlisted for WW I.
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The 1925 North Dakota State Census had Eugene and Anna living with Eugene's father and mother and their still-at-home children in North Dakota.
The 1930 US Census would indicate that the couple had immigrated to the US in 1920 and that they were living in Richburg, Bottineau, North Dakota.
Anna (age 47) and Eugene (age 45) Belcourt would turn up in the 1940 US Census living in Sergius, Bottineau, North Dakota the same house that they'd lived in during 1935.
Anna had become a naturalized US citizen.
The 1940 Census indicated that Anna, had completed 8th grade of elementary school, and had had 10 children 6 of whom appeared in the 1940 Census.
The known children of the Belcourt's are as follows:
According to the Social Security Death Index, Anna would die April 1967 while living at 58318 Bottineau, Bottineau, North Dakota.
According to The Province of Manitoba Vital Statistics Genealogy Searches for Unrestricted Records web site (Enter Rousseau and Lorne), LOUIS ALBERT EPHREM ROUSSEAU died at the age of 72 on July 18, 1920 in Lorne, Manitoba (Registration Number: 1920,039123).
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The same web site, has L.A.E.'s wife VIRGINIE ROUSSEAU dying at the age of 77 on January 29, 1927 in Lorne, Manitoba. ( Manitoba Registration Number:Registration Number: 1927,005119).
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The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks M.C. C.D.
