Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 15: The French-Speaking Population, 1924

Industry, and the cotton manufacturing industry in particular, was the cause of the settlement and the remarkable increase of the French-speaking colony in Fall River, and it continues to be the reason for the new arrivals of this race here annually, and the establishment of their permanent homes. Few cities in New England, with the exceptions of Lawrence, Lowell and Manchester, New Hampshire, may in any way compare with Fall River in this regard; for what only a few years ago was a small colony of people in "Frenchtown" part of the city has been so greatly augmented that it is estimated that about one-third the population consists of families who are French-Canadian or descended from the French-Canadians. Employees in the mills at first, they are now to be reckoned with throughout the business and professional life of the city, and citizens of French descent hold the highest offices in the gift of the city. In the city government, in all public utilities, in all professions, the French name and title have become second to none here. Since the close of the Civil War, they have become mainly a steadily increasing army of operatives in the mills, and a host of builders of their colony of homes and churches. That painstaking work, "The French Guide of Fall River,' has fully elaborated the story of the French establishment and their foundations here.

But theirs is no more to be designated as a colony, rather as an effective local marching force in an army of progress and work. It was soon after the War of 1861 that the French began to come to Fall River in numbers when, as has been shown in our chapter upon the municipality, the increasing wheels of the cotton industry began to take on greater speed. Petit Canada, or French Village, as the natives referred to it at first, consisted of the tenement houses that had been constructed under the direction of the American Linen Company, at Broadway, Division and Bay streets. Making their earliest homes in that section of the city, these people were quickly employed in the mills and soon afterwards accorded places of position and trust in the city of their adoption. It has been set down by Judge Hugo A. Dubuque, by all odds the best known of the French-speaking leaders in this section of the State, that the first French family settled here in 1858; but it was in 1866 to 1868 that they began to arrive in larger numbers, so that they were here to participate in the first big business boom and the wholesale mill construction of the early seventies.

With the founding of the first of the French newspapers here in 1873, L'Echo du Canada, by Dr. Alfred Mignault and H. Beaugrand, one finds the French-Canadians becoming naturalized and in the midst of the work of organizing societies of their own. Again, as in Canada, under the parochial influence and that of the newspaper and their fraternities, they began to find themselves reunited and at one in every walk in life. Soon, then, there developed serious and intelligent leaders who made their mark in business, the professions and industry, devoting themselves to the common and increasing interests of the colony. The first French-Canadian here, for example, who was the object of municipal favor, was Frank Coté, appointed a constable in 1874, by Mayor Davenport, and the next was Francois Xavier Le Boeuf, who received appointment of police officer from Mayor Crawford Lindsey in 1878; and again, in 1884, Adélard Perron was appointed a police sergeant by Mayor Milton Reed. Later on, three justices of the peace were appointed, namely, Pierre U. Vaillant, Pierre F. Peloquin and Alfred Plante; while Joseph L. Audet and Paul H. Maynard were made assessors' assistants. In 1880, Victor Geoffrion was elected to a municipal position in the fourth ward, this being the first election of a French-Canadian to such office; and Dr. J. B. Chagnon represented the sixth ward in 1884. In 1885 and 1886 George E. Arcand represented the same ward in the municipal council; and he was succeeded by Theodule Jalbert in 1887. Judge Hugo A. Dubuque, afterwards city solicitor, was elected a member of the school board in 1883 for three years, without opposition. Mayor Braley appointed Antoine Houdé a constable in 1883. Mr. Houdé was active in the affairs of the Notre-Dame parish, and he was one of the leading speakers at parish reunions; he also gave much attention to the naturalization of the French-Canadians.

A naturalization club was started as early as 1882, the newcomers realizing the chief importance of assuming all the obligations of citizenship. The Canadians had left their native place through necessity, rather than to please themselves, and the first arrivals had come in the hope of some day returning to Canada. But after they had made their home here for some time, their children solved the problem of choosing Fall River as their habitation, by marrying and building their own homes in Fall: River; then, too, as soon as the parish priest of their own race entered, upon his duties, that ended the matter, and they adopted America as their own country. And then came the naturalization societies and clubs.

was the first French-speaking missionary who served French-Canadians in Fall River. He was vicar at St. Mary's in 1867 and 1868. Succeeding him came L'Abbé Verdier, but he went to France, and died there in 1869. Then came L'Abbé A. de Montaubricq, who was of the French nobility, and who was the means of forming St. Anne's parish in 1869-1870, the first of the French-Canadian parishes, with close to three thousand souls at that time; and in 1872 the church was enlarged, on account of the steadily increasing population. He paid a visit to France, and upon his return to Fall River, he built a parish house at Globe Village. In 1874 the new parish of Notre- Dame de Lourdes was established at Flint Village by L'Abbé Pierre J.-Bte Bédard, and it was he who founded the first parochial school and the first Catholic orphanage in Fall River.

After the death of L'Abbé Bédard came L'Abbé Laflamme. Some time after the arrival of Father Bédard, L'Abbé E. C. Norbert was appointed curate of St. Joseph's Church at Bowenville, Father William Bric pastor. Father Norbert devoted himself to the establishment of the parish of St. Mathieu; he was active in the foundation of the mixed parish at Somerset, and he organized the French parish at Warren, R. I. The history of Catholicism in this section has in high regard the name of this devoted benefactor of his parishes and his countrymen. Then came the ' Dominican Fathers to serve St. Anne parish, and the appointment of L'/Abbeé J. A. Payan to the new parish of St. Mathieu at Bowenville, in 1888.

The story of the beginnings and progress of the French newspapers is also the story of the progress of the people for whom they have been printed. L'Echo du Canada, founded in 1873, had for its first editors Alfred Mignault and H. Beaugrand, later mayor of Montreal, and founder of La Patrie in that city, who were succeeded by Charles de Gagne, and he by Messrs. Archambault and Boisseau; and in 1875 H. R. Benoit merged this paper with Ouvrier Canadien. The newspaper Le Charivari appeared in 1874, printed partly in French and partly in English. It had but a brief existence. H. R. Benoit was its founder. L'Ouvrier Canadien was published in 1875, but, like the former journal, was short-lived. Le Protecteur Canadien succeeded L'Echo du Canada in 1876, but after three years the plant was burned. The newspaper was revived, and in 1892 it was under the direction of M. H. Boisseau, and from 1892 to 1895 under that of M. A. Lafond. M. H. Beaugrand started the newspaper République here in 1877. The journal lived two years. Narcisse Cyr was the editor.

In 1882 appeared the sixth French newspaper here, namely Le Castor (The Beaver), A. E. Thivierge editor. In the following year, P. U. Vaillant became the editor and co-proprietor with M. Boisseau. In 1885 this paper passed into the hands of Antoine Houdé and Company, when the name was changed to L'Indépendent, which today is the leading French newspaper in Fall River. In 1885 Rémi Tremblay became the editor. In 1889, the journal, was purchased by O. Thibault; and September 6, 1894, Godefroy de Tonnancour, the present postmaster, became the editor. Le Bulletin du Dimanche was published in this city in 1885, by Narcisse Cyr. After two years of existence it quit the scene. Le Citoyen, founded by P. U. Vaillant in 1886, lived three years. Henry Boisseau then started Le Bourdon, which lived one season. Le Foyer Canadien appeared in 1894, under the management of A. E. Lafond, but after a few months it was no more. Five years later, in 1899, Messrs. Gagnon and O'Reilly started Le Bulletin, that existed three years. Le Dimanche was started in 1889 by John Durand, the paper going out of existence in two years. Le Journal, Edmond Coté proprietor, and J. L. K. Laflamme editor, came into existence in 1901, but it passed along after a few months. L'Eclaireur starting out in 1902, M. Gagnon publisher, had a brief existence. Le Petit Courier, Charles de Gagne editor, has been in existence since 1902.

In 1873 a society for mutual aid was started that existed for a short time, and at about that year a French-speaking Chamber of Commerce was organized. In 1875 Le Société de ,Commis-Marchans was started by Charles de Gagne. The first French literary society was Cercle Montcalm, in 1877. In 1880, L'Union Commerciale was founded by French-Canadian merchants for mutual protection, and also at about this time L'Union Cooperative Franco-Canadien. In 1881, Charles de Gagne founded the literary and dramatic organization called Club Frechette, and later its membership formed Cercle Salaberry. In 1882 the French-Canadians started a naturalization club which existed to the time of the organization of La Ligue des Patriotes, in 1885. Le Club Nationale was started September 1, 1886. The first of the French physicians here was Dr. Felix V. Marissal. Soon afterwards came Drs. Alfred Mignault, J. N. O. Provencher and others. The story of the organization of the many French convents and schools and orders is told elsewhere.

La Société St-Jean Baptiste was the first organization of the French- Canadians in this city; it preceded even the foundation of the first French parish, Ste. Anne; it is understood that it was established in 1868. Samuel P. Janson was the first president. The society was three times dissolved and reorganized. Officers in 1923: President, Hormisdas Rabouin; secretary, J. Hilair Richard; treasurer, Charles B. Fournier.

Le Cercle Montcalm, founded November 11, 1877, the first officers being: President, H. Beaugrand; vice-president, Dr. A. Mignault; secretary, N. LeBoeuf; treasurer, Guillaume Corneau.

Le Ligue Des Patriotes, founded December, 1885, by Rémi Tremblay and Hugo A. Dubuque, incorporated as a society for mutual aid in 1888. Officers in 1923: President, Thomas Lavoie; recording secretary, Joseph EK. Jalbert; treasurer, Albert C. Leclair; accountant, Cyprien Brouillet; auditor, George T. Desjardins. :

Cercle Montpellier, founded June 25, 1898, for dramatics and literature, its founders being Arthur Talbot, Bénoit Cyr, Ernest Lavoie, Wilfred C. Gamache, Emile Lavoie, Oliver Marchand, Arthur Lebeau, Camille Marchand, Dolor Paradis, Joseph Lebeau, Albéric Ménard, Georges Parent, and Misses Valentine de Champlain and Julie De Champlain.

Collet, Napoléon Beaudet, J. E. Mercier, J. N. Landry, J. S. LeBoeuf, J. A. Barré, J. P. S. Garneau, P. T. Crispo, A. St. Georges, J. E. Huard, Adélard Fecteau, J. A. Archambault, F. de Bergéron, J. E. Lenoie, J. N. Normand, A. Maynard, Guillaume Blanchette.

L'Union St. Jean Baptiste D'Amerique, Council Graneau, No. 209, founded in 1907, the principal officers then being: President, Napoleon Gendreau; secretary, H. St. Denis; treasurer, Napoléon Beauparlant.

Council Bedard, No. 210, founded in 1907; H. B. Theriault was president in 1908, and Joseph Danis in 1909; W. Roy, secretary; Rev. P. Jalbert, treasurer.

Council Bernadette, No. 227, founded in 1908, with these officers: President, Mrs. V. Cousineau; secretary, Miss R. Bergéron; treasurer, Mrs. N. Gendreau. The officers in 1923: President, Mrs. Alma Landry; secretary, Mrs. Letitia Morais; treasurer, Anna Tremblay.

Council Notre Dame de Lourdes No. 231, founded in 1908, with these officers: President, Miss M. L. Renaud; secretary, Miss Georgianna Gagnon; treasurer, Miss Louise Rioux.

Council St. Claire, No. 233, founded in 1908 with these officers: President, Mrs. B. Bergeron; secretary, Miss M. L. Tétu; treasurer, Mrs. C. Surprenant. The officers in 1923: President, Mrs. Charles F. Bergeron; treasurer, Miss Cora Moran; secretary, Mrs. Emelia Arsenault. Recently founded organizations of this order here are Garde Napoléon Premier. President, Wilfred Marois; vice-president, Euchariste Rosseau; financial secretary, Arthur Dupuis. Also Bureau Generales Cercles Lacordaire, Louis Picard president, and George Tremblay corresponding secretary and treasurer.

Order of Catholic Foresters, Court Ste. Anne, No. 604, founded July 26, 1896, with C. J. Gagnon as chief ranger; Joseph Paradis, vice-chief ranger; C. E. Janson, secretary; A. Thuot, financial secretary; E. Dupont, treasurer. The chief ranger in 1923, Aldai Goyette; vice-chief ranger, Henri Charland; financial secretary, Horace Ledoux; recording secretary, Napoléon Beauparlant; treasurer, Hugo Hebert.

Court Sauval, No. 1131, founded in 1903, with A. Letourneau as chief ranger; A. F. Lamontagne, secretary; R. Levault, treasurer. The officers in 1923: Chief Ranger, Victor Dionne; vice-chief ranger, David Gagnon; financial secretary, Joseph Pineau; recording secretary, Thomas Audette; treasurer, George Pineau.

Court Maisonneuve, No. 27, Franco-American Foresters, founded December 16, 1907, with these officers: Chief Forester, W. Bonenfant; subchief forester, A. Fournier; financial secretary, A. Courville; treasurer, iE: Belisle. Chief, Joseph Tremblay; vice-chief, Onisphore L. Theroux; financial secretary, Alfred Courville; recording secretary, Adélard Gagnon; treasurer, Napoléon Morin. |

Edmond P. Talbot; Aldermen Peter Girard, Octave O. Desmarais, George N. Bisaillon; Superintendent of Public Buildings Polycarpe L. Courchaine; Assessor E. O. Lemerise; Sinking Fund Commissioner T. Louis Gendron; School Committeeman F. F. Bergeron; Superintendent Hector L. Belisle; Watuppa Water Board Albert J. Brunelle; Public Library Trustee Hugo A. Dubuque; Registrar of Voters Alfred J. Lizotte; Board of Police, Isaie Laplante; Overseer of the Poor William H. Blanchette; Board of Health, Arthur L. Ledoux; Board of Hospital Trustees, Chairman Albert E. Perron, Eugene R. Coté; Postmaster Godefroy DeTonnancour.