This line continues down my maternal grand-mother side. This is the story of my great great gramma and grampa on my grandma’s dad’s side.
This is the story of Louis Napoléon Allard and Eva Beaulieu.
Louis’ Birth
Louis Napoléon Allard was born on/about November 24, 1874, in Curran, Ontario to Marie Louise Gariepy, age 20, and Hillaire Allard, age 19.
The 1901 Census indicates that his date of birth is 7 Sep 1873. However he was baptized on 24 Nov 1874 and in that day it wasn’t uncommon to be baptized the day of your birth – so I am using that date for now, until I can find concrete evidence. Normally one wouldn’t wait over a year to have your child baptized.
Louis’ Baptism
Paroisse St-Luc de Curran • 24 Nov 1874 • Curran, Ontario, Canada
Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad
In 1881, Louis was living in Prescott, Ontario when the Canadian Pacific Railroad was under construction. When the Canadian Pacific Railway laid its first spike in Bonfield in the early 1880’s Bonfield township prospered. Recognition of Bonfield as the place where the first spike of the CPR was driven was recognized in 2002 in the Railway Hall of Fame.
Louis’ Residence
Louis lived in Prescott, Ontario, in 1881. In the Township of Plantagenet North
Eva’s Birth
Eva Beaulieu was born on May 6, 1882, in Taunton, Massachusetts, USA, to Georgina Prêtaboire, age 27, and Napoléon Beaulieu, age 31.
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately 64 km south of Boston, 29 kms east of Providence, RI.
Louis’ Residence
Louis Napoléon Allard lived in Prescott, Ontario in 1891.
He was living at home with his parents and siblings. No job noted in the census or if he was in school.
Eva’s Death of Father
Her father Napoléon Beaulieu (1851–1889) passed away on May 6, 1889, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, at the age of 38. Eva was 7 years old.
Eva’s Death of Mother
Her mother Georgina Prêtaboire (1855–1892) passed away on July 26, 1892, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, at the age of 37. Eva was 10 years old.
Eva’s Arrival to Canada
The 1921 census states that she immigrated to Canada in 1891 from the U.S.A. We know that she came back to Canada after her PARENTS died – her mother passed in 1892. So we know that she immigrated to Canada in/about 1892 or later.
Folklore from my Mémère (her grand-daughter Desneiges Lamothe) and a handwritten letter from a relative, Yvonne M. Beaulieu, indicates that she was told that Eva went back to Canada with the Shanks after her parents died. The letter also goes onto say that the family name was Hudon de Beaulieu, and that when they arrived at Ellis Island that they dropped the Hudon and so it became Beaulieu. She also states in the letter that she is unsure as to the relationship with the Shanks and why she returned with them. She says that the Beaulieu’s immigrated to the USA during the time of the French Revolution (April 20, 1792 – March 25, 1802) – this is NOT fact from what I have found so far. The facts show that the Hudon de Beaulieu’s were born in Québec, Canada – at one point they did emigrate to the U.S. but why? What was going on in Lower Canada/USA at that time that my French 3x Parents would have moved to the USA from Québec between 1851 and 1889 (as Napoleon Beaulieu – Eva’s dad was born in Québec according to what I have found)?
The original of this letter was given to me by my Mémère Lamothe. It was given to her by someone on the Allard side doing the family tree back then. She passed it along to me.
Marriage
Eva Beaulieu and Louis Napoléon Allard were married in Bonfield, Ontario, on January 8, 1900, when she was 17 years old. Louis was 25.
He was a farmer. Marriage Certificate indicates that Eva immigrated from Taunton, USA. Witnesses: SHANK, Leo of Bonfield and ALLARD, Celina also of Bonfield.
Canada’s First Francophone Prime Minister
Eva and Louis may have benefited from the compromise-seeking administration of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier while living in Ontario, in 1901. As prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier fought for the autonomy of Canada and led the country through a prosperous period of growth.
Residence
They were living in Bonfield, Ontario, in 1901.
They are living with Louis’ mother, Marie Garipye Allard (Marie is noted as the head of the household) and all of his siblings per the 1901 census. So, we assume that Louis’ dad, Hillaire Allard, has passed by this time (I cannot locate a date of death for him as of yet).
The Creation of Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Eva and Louis probably enjoyed sipping a new style of ginger ale in 1907 in Ontario. In 1907 chemist J. J. McLaughlin patented Canada Dry Ginger Ale, helping to pioneer the soda and bottled beverage industry.
Residence
They were living in Bonfield, Ontario in 1911.
Marie Garipye Allard (Louis’ mother) is living with them at this point. The census states that Eva immigrated in 1847 which we know is incorrect & there is also a note that her husband is Dorando Shenk (this isn’t accurate, but we know that she can to Canada with the Shanks).
Louis’ Death of Mother
His mother Marie Louise passed away on November 27, 1914, in Bonfield, Ontario at the age of 60.
1854–1914
Canadian Women Win the Right to Vote
It took more than 100 years of lobbying but women finally won the right to vote in Canada in 1918 when Eva lived in Bonfield, Ontario. Maybe she voted in the next election?
Residence
Eva and Louis lived in Bonfield, Ontario on June 1, 1921.
Attendance at Son, Dollard’s Wedding
Marriage Certificate for Dollard & Josephine Boissoneault indicate that Louis and Eva were witnesses. Apr 1936 • Bonfield Ontario.
Residence
1938 Rural Preliminary List of Electors. Note that Louis is listed on the electors list as retired.
Residence
Eva and Louis lived in Bonfield, Ontario in 1949. Desneiges Lamothe (grand-daughter) said that they sold the farm during WWII and moved downtown and lived near St. Bernadette’s church (this appears to be supported by the Rural Preliminary list of Electors below). She and Louis had a big farm – they had sheep, cow, horses, chickens and pigs. They used to sell wool and cotton from the sheep to send to Montréal. They also made and sold cream made from cow utters. They lived on the farm, off of the land. She says that they had a big big house, it had a big kitchen with large farmers table and a fire wood stove. She had a separate sewing room – Eva used to make her sort through all of the odd buttons. The house had a huge dining room – had an old gramophone which she used listen to. It was a 2 story house, 3 bedrooms. The home had a parlour room. Their bedroom was on the main floor and had a sleigh bed. They had a yarn spinner, they used to spin wool and used to make member hold her arms out to make balls of wool. I’d like to see if I can get a photo of their house or their farm, they may have some at the town hall in Bonfield if my Mémère doesn’t.
As per the Rural Preliminary list of Electors for the Town of Bonfield for 1949. Note that Louis is listed as a “Gentleman”. Generally speaking a Gentleman, needed to do no paid work to support himself and did not rely on handouts of any sort from others he would live off his investments.
50th Wedding Anniversary
1950
Death of Louis
Louis passed away in 1954 in Bonfield, Ontario, at the age of 80. He had Eva had been married 54 years. Of what did he pass from? I wasn’t able to locate a death certificate for him
Death of Eva
Eva died in 1961 in Haileybury, Ontario, when she was 79 years old. Desneiges told me that after Louis died, their daughter Marguerite took care of her. She was crippled with arthritis. She was placed in a South River nursing home for a year, maybe more, and then she was placed in Haileybury in a nursing home. Haileybury is a city in Northeastern Ontario.
Other Side Notes
I spoke with my Mémère further about her grand-parents. She also commented that they were very religious. They went to church every Sunday, and prayed a lot. They said the rosary each night (on their knees). She says that they went to church by horse and buggy. She described her as a “very nice lady” and a “very loving lady”. She added that she used to make good butter cookies. She described her Pépère as a “quiet man”.
Burial
They are buried together in Bonfield Ontario.
I still have some additional work to do and things to look into and some more research do to. I’d like to find some more photos and talk to my Mémère some more.
My Better Life 
I am looking to find out more of my Moms side of the family. Her name is Irene Allard. My name is carrol Hedley (Boni|). I am in touch with my Aunt Helen who lives in Toronto. …..
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I can talk to my grandma and see what she has to tell me about Irene
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