Lake County obit. Pioneer Passes Gathered With Saints in Hereafter on Resurrection Day Easter Monday morning word was passed that Treffly Bourque, Sr. had been called to his home in the hereafter the evening before, Easter Sunday. Another revered ‘first settler’ gone from the place where he had worked and worshipped for many a year. He and his family of thirteen living children came to East Chicago in June, 1891 soon 30 years ago. At that time but one of his children was married, Ida was Mrs. Frank Blanchard. His aged mother was also a member of his family at that time. They took up their home in Walsh Avenue. At that time but two houses stood in that street. She was the first one of that large and happy family to go; in later years the faithful wife and mother of his children was called and for many years he had been a widower living most of the time with his daughter, Mrs. Matilda DeLor Dugan of 454 Pine Street, Hammond where he died after an illness of several weeks. He was still in comparatively good health during the holidays. It had been the custom of his children for years to call upon their father on New Years day, and it was with difficulty this year that this was accomplished by some of them who lived in the quarantined section. The spirit of filial devotion, however, was so great that they attempted and succeeded in breaking the quarantine and thus paid their last New Years call on their beloved father. The funeral was held Wednesday morning from St. Mary’s church where a requiem high mass was sung at 9 o‘clock, Rev, Father Lauer celebrant. Burial was made in St. Joseph’s cemetery at Hammond. The pall bearers were Sam Jumche, Peter Gauthier, Charles DeLor, Archie LeMoges, Joseph French, and Silas Gagne of South Deering, Illinois. Fife was funeral director. Obituary Treffly Bourque was born November 1, 1844 at Three Rivers, Ontario Canada and died March 27, 1921 at the age of 76 years, 4 months and 26 days. When a young man 21 years of age he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Martin, at Three Rivers, Canada on June 13, 1865. Shortly after the young couple crossed the border into the United States at Port Henry, N.Y. now 54 years ago. Fifteen years later they came west to South Deering where they remained about 7 years and then went to Spaulding, Michigan from which place, after two years, they moved to East Chicago remaining here to the end. The bride of his young years bore him 15 children two of whom died in early childhood. Thirteen survive to revere the memory of a good father. They are Mrs. Ida Blanchard of north Magoun avenue; Henry Bourque of Northcote avenue; Thomas Bourque of South Deering, Illinois; Oliver Bourque of 4820 Forsyth avenue; Elmer Bourque of 4821 Baring avenue; Mrs. Jennie Barenie of 5002 Forsyth avenue; Treffly Bourque Jr. of Bay Shore, Michigan; Mrs. Elizabeth Barenie of 5002 Forsyth avenue; Mrs. Matilda Dugan of 454 Pine St., Hammond; Fred Bourque, White Oak avenue; Mrs. Lena Lennertz, Shell Lake, Wisconsin; Mrs. Rosa Gindl of Oak St., Hammond; Mrs. Mary Liesenfelt of Chicago Heights, Illinois. All were here to follow their venerable parent to his last resting place except Treffly and Mrs. Lennertz who could not leave their homes. The latter had been here during his illness to see him and spent a couple of weeks with him. There are 56 grandchildren to remember a beloved grandfather and there are 18 great grandchildren of whom are grandchildren to Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard. There remains to mourn also a sister to deceased Mrs. Amy Coursel of Otis, Indiana. This family were in former years residents of East Chicago and were known by the name of Gooselaw. Three of the boys are still in this city. The funeral was largely attended and mostly by the children and grand- children of deceased. The sister, Mrs. Coursel was here from Otis and so was her daughter Mrs. Bertha Herritt of Michigan City the latter being a niece to deceased. The near relatives alone formed a large gathering about the grave of this good man. How often he had figured at their gatherings. He was a fine fiddler of the old school, and had many times furnished the music at the weddings of his own children to which they gaily danced. At the christenings of his grandchildren he was the honored guest and lived to see the children of his grandchildren carried to the baptismal font. As the name implies deceased and his good wife were of French origin but termed Canadian-French. He spoke his native tongue all his life although having learned the American language with more or less success. He was a God-fearing man, a member of the Roman Catholic church. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Submitted By Thomas E. Darga Email - darga@umich.edu (copyright 1998 Thomas E. Darga)