Reply from Paulette LaCroix Chisholm (68): Newark, Delaware

I’m so glad I asked questions about Alice, Roy Anderson and the connection to the Hosmers! Lorraine Neameyer kindly wrote and informed me about Alice. Carmen Richard wrote to tell me about Sharon Gottbreht’s research, Floyd wrote about Roy and I got to hear from Sharon too! Thanks to all for your response! I didn’t know someone had done so much research on the Boucher family. Ken and I made a trip to Quebec a few years ago and found a cemetery in Contrecoeur that could’ve been sitting in Rolette or Dunseith with so many familiar names. The town historian told us how half of the families went to the plains to farm and the other to work the factories in New England.

Lloyd, thank you for your information on Roy and feel free to share more. I had no idea he had a farm or that he was related to anyone I knew. When Roy lived out back, my mother would send me out to deliver a home cooked meal or he would come in for a pail of water, so I got to know him better. From time to time I would sit and visit with him and found out that he was an avid reader and favored “Westerns.” He told me that he could never use a hammer and nail since one side of his body wanted to do exactly what the other was doing. Roy seemed quite the cantankerous character at times and scared me a little at first. Later I found that he was very appreciative and bright man who had a soft side and a warm heart. Many times in our kitchen, with pail in hand, he entertained us with stories and his flawless delivery of one liners. Our family grew quite fond of Roy. He was on my list of “town characters.”

Sharon, I am very much interested and appreciative of the research you’ve done and will contact you to see how I can get the “ream” of information. Charlemagne eh? Interesting stuff! Thanks so much for your willingness to share! Thank you too Gary for your information and for “the blog!”

Paulette Chisholm

PS Pauline Jones lived up the street from us. Does anyone know from where she came or if she had relatives in the area? She had a huge statue of the “Pieta” in her backyard.

Reply to yesterday, from Allen Richard (65):Midland, MI

Gary–

First in the cheerleader picture — next to Margaret is Doreen Houle.

Then to Sharon Gottbreht Shen–Have you connected directly with Carmen Richard? Do you have a copy of the Richard family history? I’m quite sure she has a copy of the most up to date history which should date from the early 1600’s to the present. Your comment about the Boucher name being traceable to the 9th century is fascinating. My grand mother was Anna Boucher, sister to Mrs. Vic LaCroix, and I believe sister to your grandmother too. The names escape me — but Floyd and Carmen have all those pieces to the puzzle too.

I’ve found a couple other Richards in my travels. Bill Richard is the Administrative Assistant to Congressman Oberstar of MN. Bill runs Jim’s Washington office and oversees the operation of the congressional district operations. I don’t know the exact connection, but he has copies of the same pictures that are in the family history–he had no idea who they were.

Here in Midland, Michigan I met Tim Richard. I haven’t had the chance to figure out that connection at all, but the family resemblance and body language is unmistakable. Tim kept the French pronunciation

“Ree-shard.”

Allen Richard

Lillian Houle funeral – posted by Mark Schimetz (70): Rolette, ND

Thought you would like to see this. The Church was full, Lillian Houle and her family had many friends in the area . Lillian had 44 great grandchildren, 79 great great grandchildren and 10 great great great grandchildren. We all gathered at the Senior Center after services and had wonderful visits the family, many of whom I had not seen since the early 70s. The Houle’s are relatives of mine a ways down the line. Lillian’s mother was a sister to my grandfather George Richard. Stella, my mothers aunt hence my great aunt. Lillian being an activity organizer at the home would have been proud of this turn out. Barbot’s, Awalts, Vandal’s, Richards, Schimetz’s, Flynn’s, Armondtrauts, Berube’s, Dozel’s and many more I didn’t remember here and did not know. I don’t know if you want to use this or not. Its is up to you. I expect to get some pictures from Ron’s wife Janet, or Ron’s sister Pam of the group shot of the Houle family taken at the Senior Center.

Mark, We’d love to see those pictures of the Houle family. The Senior center in Bottineau was almost like Lillian’s second home for many years.

Folks, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe all the folks in the Senior Citizen’s picture pasted below are deceased.

Picture from Glen William’s (52): Missoula, MT

Folks, we’ll have to let the class of 52 fill us in on who these 3 guys may be???

Three amigos from class of 1952

From Carmen Leonard Richard:Rolette, ND

Much has been written about North Dakota recently, and tho do not usually forward jokes, I thought some might get a kick out of this. We are really ahead of the times here in Dakota !!!

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion, that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: ‘California archaeologists, finding traces of 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers.’

One week later, The Minot Daily News, a local newspaper in North Dakota, reported the following:

After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Logan, North Dakota, Ole Olson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, North Dakota had already gone wireless.

Thank Heavens for Ole.

Who said North Dakotans are hicks?