Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 22, 1922

Chapter 22

Birthplace - Parentage - Early Life - Coming To America - Fought in Civil War - His Marriage to Mary Bor - Children - His Coming to the Valley cf the Eau Claire River - His Death March 25, 1894 - The Death of Mrs. Mary Deleglise.

On March 25, 1894, the city of Antigo lost its most illustrous pioneer, Hon. Francis A. Deleglise, known widely to the public as the "Father of Antigo." Hon. Francis Augustine Deleglise was born on February 10, 1835, in Commune of Baynes, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, the son of Maurice Athanase and Cath-

The father then moved with his family to Gibson, Manitowoc County, shortly after, moving to Belle Plain, Shawano County. Maurice Deleglise farmed here until 1878 when he was called by death. He was erine (Lang) Del'Eglise. The father of Mr. Deleglise was one of four brothers of the old and highly esteemed Catholic families of Valais vineyardists. Maurice, the father of the founder of Antigo, was a teacher and surveyor, he not following the occupation of his ancestors. In 1848 Maurice Deleglise emigrated to America, coming to Wisconin where he engaged in agriculture. Pioneer life was hard and new to the teacher and surveyor and after five years' residence his wife passed away at their home in Theresa

Francis A. Deleglise was the eldest of the three children brought to America. An older daughter, Catherine, remained in the native land. Young Francis, an intelligent student in the Swiss Canton, found it necessary to aid his father in their new home in America, and he was largely responsible for much of the earnings emptied into the family purse.

to Mary Bor, at Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Mrs. F. A. Deleglise was born January 1, 1835, in Taus, Boheniia. Her father died in Antigo in the year 1881.

Francis A. Deleglise answered the call of President Lincoln for troops during the Civil War. He enlisted June 28, 1861, in Appleton, Wis., in Company E of the 6th Wis. Vol. Inf., under Captain Marston. He was promoted to Corporal and in July, 1862, when the regiment became attached to the Army of the Potomac, he participated in many of the struggles of the famous "Iron Brigade" of General Bragg. At Antietam, bloodiest Civil War battle, he was wounded September 17, 1862. During the first day's fighting at Gettysburg, he was wounded and taken prisoner, but was later rescued by Union forces. On July 16, 1864, he was honorably discharged, after gloriously serving the colors of the North and leaving behind a record of a valiant soldier. Mr. Deleglise suffered be remembered as the most public spirited Antigo citizen of his day. Mr. Deleglise was a member of the Roman Catholic Church all of his life. He died Easter Sunday, March 25, 1894, in the loyal profession of that faith. Mrs. Deleglise survived her husband fourteen years, dying December 20, 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Deleglise were survived by five children of the eight born to them. Those who died were: Francis Joseph, John E., Henry, and Edmond. Mrs. Mary Teresa Deresch, eldest child, was the first white settler to enter a government homestead in the wilderness adjacent to Antigo. Mrs. Deresch was for many years the only white woman within a radius of twenty miles.

Mrs. Sophia Leslie, the wife of Sam. E. Leslie, was one of the first Antigo school teachers and assisted her father in platting the village of Antigo. She has two children. Loyal I. and Cyril.

The F. A. Deleglise Homestead

After the Civil War he started locating lands in north central Wisconsin and it was then that he selected the future site of Antigo. He brought his family to Antigo in 1877, located and platted the village, more of which is told elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Deleglise dealt largely in real estate in Antigo. He was an early Town Chairman, the first County Treasurer, and was elected to the Assembly in 1892, a Republican victor in the Democratic landslide. During his legislative career he made a brilliant record, manifesting his intelligence and his welfare for the constituents whom he represented. He was liberal in all things, donated many sites to industries, churches, and business interests in Antigo. He secured the first storekeeper, the first mill proprietor and banker who came to Antigo. He was farsighted and will forever

Anna E. Morrissey, as a girl of ten, accompanied her father, Antigo's founder, to Langlade County, when he brought with him the first vanguard of settlers. She was the first white child to come to what later became the city of Antigo. Anna E. Morrissey, wife of Thomas Morrissey, has four children, Margaret Virginia, John Francis, Gerald Deleglise, and May.

Alexius L. Deleglise is an able civil engineer and has for many years been City Engineer of Antigo, but at the present time is City Engineer at Merrill, Wisconsin. He has three children, Margaret, Irene and Germaine.

The Deleglise family have enjoyed the respect, confidence and esteem of the citizens of Antigo and Langlade County and their place as pioneers is equalled only by their standing as citizens.