Charles T. Rouleau, Sr.
- Born: 20 June 1811, Upper Canada 3
- Marriage: Therese Brunelle on 8 August 1836 in LaPointe, Wisconsin Territory 1 2
- Died: 5 October 1885, Ramsey County, Minnesota at age 74 4
- Buried: 12 October 1885
General Notes:
"Mr. Rouleau was born in Canada in 1807, and is consequently seventy-eight years old. He came west in 1829, or fifty-six years ago, and was in the employ of the American Fur Company for nine years, or three terms; was mail carrier from Point Douglas to Taylor's Falls in 1844; lived at St. Croix and removed to ST. PAUL in 1845. His family consisted of fourteen children, eight of whom are still living. A carpenter by trade he was the first cooper in the city; made casks for the government; hewed the logs for the first hotel--"The ST. PAUL House,"--later worked for the Lamb Brothers, but is now living upon the weight of his years. He also built the first ferry boat at Anoka and also the old ferry house at Fort Snelling; made the first barrels in the State, and labored in the saw mill of John S. Prince. He now resides with a married daughter in an humble dwelling in the Sixth ward, or WEST ST. PAUL.
PERSONAL MENTION.
I visited Mr. Rouleau only a short time since. He is a bright, cheery old man, about medium height, clear eyes, thin face, yet sprightly and polite. He is pleasant in conversation and philosophical in his conclusions. Of course he has endured many hardships and has seen many changes. Last year he visited Montreal for the first time in fifty-four years, and in response to my question--"How many old friends did you meet there?" he responded--"Three! all the rest are dead." While absent on his visit he met a sister 102 years old. She was blind, and deaf, and bent over, yet she could sing well, and did sing for him. "Oh, I don't want to live so long!" he said, with a sorrowful tone, "we be so much trouble." This aged sister has since died. One of his daughters, aged forty years, now the mother of a family, said she could scarcely realize that when a little girl she used to attend school in the log hut which then stood on Bench street, and yet such was the fact. Mr. Rouleau is a pleasant man and a good deal of a philosopher. Judging from what I saw of him he throws out rays of sunshine wherever he goes, and I trust he may live long to enjoy a more serene and genial old age. He died Oct. 5, 1885"
...Pen Pictures of St. Paul, page 48
"The settlers in 1846 were William H. and William Randall, Jr., father and son, James McBoal, Thos, S. Odell, John Banfil, Harley D. White, David Faribault, Louis Denoyer, Jo Monteur, and Charles Roleau."
...Fifty Years in the Northwest, page 536
"After Many Years.
Charles T. Rouleau, and (sic) old citizen of St. Paul, starts this morning on a trip to Burthe, Lower Canada, which point he left fifty-four years ago a young man in pursuit of fame and fortune. In 1842 he made his advent into St. Paul, at a time when the present site of the city was a howling wilderness, with nothing but a few scattered cabins, and a surplus of savage aboriginess (sic) held the fort against the advance of progressive civilization. Previous to coming hither he was in the employ of the American Fur company, his immediate superintendent being the father-in-Jaw of John S. Prince, the latter now of St. Paul, and was accustomed to the trials and hardships incident to a pioneer life. Upon reaching the present city he established his family in a rude home near what is now known as the corner of Fifth and Pine streets, and opening a cooper shop at the foot of Jackson street toiled there year after year for nearly a quarter of a century. He has witnessed the growth of St. Paul from its infancy, has participated in the trials and triumphs of her growth and development, and now having almost reached the allotted period of man, returns to the home of his childhood to dwell for a brief season amid surroundings of a different age and generation, and recall memories that have for years dwelt undisturbed in the tomb of forgetfulness. Of late years he has resided with his son, Charles T. Rouleau, a member of the police department of this city, in the enjoyment of a hale old age, and the reflections that come from the knowledge that his service in the cause of humanity is not without rewards. The best wishes of the pioneer citizens of this vicinity and his numberless friends attend him on his journey, and the hope ventured, that he may be permitted to return hither with a renewed lease of life."
...St. Paul Daily Globe, 8 June 1883, page 4.
5
Burial Notes:
"ROULEAU -- Charles T. Rouleau, at the residence of his son-in-law, Frank Archanbault, on Costar <?> street between Flynn and Fairfield avenue, Monday, at 1:15 p.m., aged 77 years.
Funeral from St. Louis Catholic church, Monday, 9. m. (sic) Friends of family invited to attend."
...St. Paul Pioneer Press, 16 Oct 1885
In his life:
• He immigrated in September 1831 to Detroit, Michigan Territory. 3
• In 1850 he lived in Pig's Eye, Minnesota Territory. 6
• Charles worked, in 1850, as a farmer in Pig's Eye, Minnesota Territory. 6
• He was counted in the 1850 US census for Pig's Eye, Minnesota Territory. 6
• In 1857 he lived in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 7
• Charles was counted in the 1857 Minnesota census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 7 Page 48.
• In 1860 he lived in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 8
• He worked, in 1860, as a foreman at a saw mill in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 8
• Charles was counted in the 1860 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 8 First ward, page 51.
As Chas. Rouleau.
• In 1865 he lived at Ward 5 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 9
• Charles was counted in the 1865 Minnesota census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 9
• He was counted in the 1870 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 10 Ward 5, page 73
• In 1870 he lived in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 10
• Charles worked, in 1870, as a hunter in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 10
• In 1875 he lived at Ward 4 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 11
• Charles was counted in the 1875 Minnesota census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 11 Page 958.
• In 1877 he lived at North Side, Fifth between Locust and John in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 12
• Charles was counted in the 1880 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 13 SD 3, ED 20, Sheet 4
Enumerated in the household of son Michael Rouleau
• In 1880 he lived at Robert Street in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 13
• Charles worked, in 1880, as a cooper in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. 13
Charles married Therese Brunelle, daughter of Louis Brunelle, Sr. and Angelique Cote, on 8 August 1836 in LaPointe, Wisconsin Territory.1 2 (Therese Brunelle was born about 1822 in Michigan Territory,14 15 16 died on 20 February 1880 in Ramsey County, Minnesota 16 17 and was buried on 22 February 1880 in Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota 17 18.)
|