This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: OHaraHaworth68 Surnames: ARBOUR LESSARD BERTRAND GIROUX Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.arbour/290/mb.ashx Message Board Post: 16 April 1876 - Born in St-Raphael, QC, Leon ARBOUR was the 2nd of 12 children of farmer and later mill employee Jean-Michel ARBOUR and his wife Josephine LESSARD. These 12 children are the reason Michel and Josephine were able to apply for a special land grant from the Government of Quebec, which extended such a privilege to families simply because they had 12 children. However, it is not clear that Michel and Josephine ever received their land, as they decided to emigrate to the US in about 1898, initially settling in the Willimantic, Connecticut, area. Just a few years after their arrival, Leon married 18-year old Sophronie BERTRAND in Willimantic on 21 June 1901. Between 1902 and 1916, Leon and Sophronie had 10 children born in Connecticut, Quebec, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, indicating how much they moved around. Throughout his life, Leon supported his family in various ways: Cotton Weaver (1900), Carpenter at a Mill (1910), Machinist with an Auto Repair Company (1! 918), Repairman with an Auto Shop (1920). According to his WWI Draft Registration, Leon was of medium height and medium build, with brown eyes and grey hair. Leon was just 49 when he died in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on 09 July 1925. Sophronie then enlisted a partner to assist her in raising her children. On 15 October 1927 in Holyoke, Sophronie married 47-year old Jeremie GIROUX. Sophronie was 66 when she died in Holyoke on 07 January 1950. Leon and Sophronie gave rise to 17 grandchildren and 23 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.