This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: OHaraHaworth68 Surnames: ARBOUR LECLERC RABY Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.arbour/310/mb.ashx Message Board Post: 06 May 1881 - Born in St-Raphael, Quebec, Guillaume ARBOUR was the 5th of 9 children of farmer and saw and grist mill operator Hilaire ARBOUR and his wife Marie-Louise LECLERC. William married 20-year old Demerise RABY in St-Raphael on 16 June 1908. Immediately after this, the young couple moved to the United States and settled in Lowell, Massachusetts, where William worked as a fixer at a hosiery mill and Demerise worked as a stitcher at a hosiery mill. They only resided in the US for a few years, however, before packing up for the long trek to Saskatchewan. William must have moved his family to Zenon Park, SK, to take advantage of the Homesteading Act. This provision sold folks 160 acres for $10 -- a deal they could not get back in Quebec or Ontario, or even in the US. In 1911, their first of 3 children was born in Zenon Park, although one died while young. William worked as a tanner that year. In 1916 and in 1922, his occupation was reported as farmer, but the family knew! him to be a carpenter, making cupboards, doors, butter churns, etc. In May 1922, William and family travelled to the US via the port of Montreal, QC. They left St-Raphael, QC, were headed for his brother Joseph's place at 208 French St in Lowell, MA, and planned to once again remain in the US permanently. William was noted to be 5'8" tall with a medium complexion, brown hair, and green eyes. Demerise was noted to be 5'3" tall with a medium complexion, brown hair, and green eyes; she also had goiter problems. Seven-year old daughter Juliette had a medium complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes. Eleven-year old son Albert had a medium complexion, light brown hair, and brown eyes. The family carried $530 with them. Despite their good intentions, the family did not stay in the US. By November 1925, they were back in Saskatchewan, where they seem to have lived continuously through 1949 and even into 1952. William died in Zenon Park on 09 January 1952. He was buried there in Zenon! Park Cemetery. Shortly after this, Demerise moved to Kelowna, British Columbia, to live with Juliette. She apparently died there but we have no details of her demise. William and Demerise are responsible for 11 grandchildren and an unknown number of great-grandchildren. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.