Obituary: Francois "Frank" PIERRE, d. 1914, Door County, Wisconsin

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Submitted by:  Joan Levin 
      e-mail:  jlevin@downeast.net

on May. 21, 1998

From the Door County Democrat, June 26, 1914:

                     FRANK PIERRE BURIED
              BRUSSELS PIONEER PASSES AWAY IN OCONTO COUNTY   

One of Best Known Men In The Belgian Settlement - Body Brought to
Brussels
                     ------------------------
Brussels.---The body of Frank Pierre, Sr., was on Wednesday morning,
June 17, laid at rest, the funeral being held from the Catholic church
at Union, Rev. Gloudeman officiating.  The funeral was one of the
largest ever seen at Brussels.
       The death of Mr. Pierre occurred on June 14, in Oconto County, Wis.,
where he moved after retiring from business at Brussels about twelve
years ago.  Fatty degeneration of the heart was the cause of death.
       Deceased was born in Nevoque, Belgium, in October 1836, being 77 years,
7 months, and 17 days old at death.  In 1854, with his parents he came
to this country, and settled at Alton, Ill.  His aged father, died
there, and with his mother and brother Alex he came to Brussels.  This
was in 1858.  The brothers erected a little brush shanty for their
mother to live in and the boys went to work, hiring out on farms in the
southern part of the state and also put in a couple of years in a brick
yard at Milwaukee.  Their pay amounted to fifty cents a day and this did
not include their board.  The young men at intervals walked from
Milwaukee to Brussels to look after their mother. Alex Pierre was four
years older than Frank.  He died at Appleton, Wis., at the age of 78
years.
       In 1861 Mr. Pierre married Angelique DeKeyser.  He opened a tavern at
Brussels, and was appointed postmaster, a position he held for about 38
years.   In partnership with the late Anton Virlee, a grist mill was
started under the name of the Pierre-Virlee Co., the firm also engaging
in the mercantile business, continuing in partnership for about 25
years.
       Mr. Pierre was the first chairman of the town of Brussels, when that
trown included what is now Garner and Union.  This office he held for
two terms but could not again be induced to hold this or any other
public office.
       Frank Pierre was the leadding figure in Brussels for many years. He
worked hard and became prosperous, giving his children a good start in
life and leaving his family in good circumtances.  About twelve years
ago he retired from business and moved to Beaver, Wis., wehere several
of his children reside.  Three months ago he went to Abrams, Oconto
county, for a visit and while there was taken ill.
       He is survived by his widow and nine chilren - six sons and three
daughters.  The children are:  Gabe, the oldest, who is in business at
Brussels:  Alphonse, a grain dealer at Oconto;  Joseph, of Brussels,
Frank of Calina, Colorado, manager and part owner of the Richmond Gold
Mine, of which his brother Alphonse owns the remaining stock; Jule,
postmaster at Brussels; Henry, of Beaver, Wis., Mrs. Mary Boudhuin and
Miss Ellen Pierre, of Abrams, and Mrs. Frank Svoboda, of Beaver.
       Deceased was a large and fleshy man and when the body arrived from
Beaver it was found that the hearse in waiting was not large enough for
the casket and it was necessary to send to Algoma for a larger hearse.
       The body was taken to the home of Joseph Pierre at Brussels and here it
was viewed by hundreds of his old friends of the Belgian colony of which
he had for so many years been a prominent figure.  This widow and large
family of nine sons and daughters whom he leaves to mourn the demise of
a good husband and father are not lacking in consolation because the
life of the deceased was a good one as attested by all who knew him or
had dealings with him.
              (Picture accompanied obituary).

contributed by Joann Levin