Greetings! I am new to this digest but have been reading it and the archives for several weeks. I've found information that makes me believe one of many of you may have the information I'm seeking, so offer thanks to the many contributors! My paternal great grandfather was Israel Francis Bernier. According to his Civil War discharge papers he was born 1845 at Maskinonge, Quebec, CA. On his citizenship application he says he emigrated to the US in July 1846 through Detroit. He enlisted in Company B, the 46th Infantry from Grand Rapids, WI in 1865, catching the last months of the war. Family information says he married Mary Susan LaVigne about 1873 and probably in Juneau County, perhaps Necedah, WI. He died there 11 Sept 1895. Mary Susan, born 11 June 1850, was the daughter of Charles LaVigne and Ursula Lessard LeRoy (Roy, Roi) LaVigne of Portage, WI. I am drawing blanks on the US census lists for Israel Francis Bernier. This family was Catholic--Charles and Ursula LaVigne are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery at Portage. The story is that Ursula was born at Prairie Du Chein, 1818 to Pierre Lessard and Julie Crelie, was a sister to Pierre Pauquette's wife and a granddaughter to Joseph Creley (Creli). Charles LaVigne claimed Michigan as a birth place and gave the year as 1810. His parents are supposed to be Jean Baptist LaVigne and Elizabeth Hyotte of Prairie du Chein. I would appreciate any help you can give confirming any of this. I am especially interested in any traditional names and tribal affiliations you might have for any of the above as that information is lacking from the information that's been passed to me by distant cousins. I discussed this with my father before he died and it was all new information to him although he said his German cousins from his mother's side always called him and his sister "The Indian" and "The Squaw" and they weren't being nice about it. He questioned his parents but was only told he was half French and to be quiet about "that Indian nonsense". I would like to claim with pride something that appears to have been lost to him, if in fact it was there. Unfortunately I'm 2000 miles distant from being able to research any records in Wisconsin and am unable to travel so I'm depending on your generosity to help me put the family story together for younger generations. Thanks so much! Linda.