John Baptiste Gauthier

   Cause of his death was asthma.⁷

   Other names for John were Goche, Goga, Goka, Goke, Gothier and Gotier.

  General Notes:

"He will be remembered by old timers as Old Man Gokey..." ("Family Reunion" article; see citation).

Resided in Galena, Illinois after marriage "where Mr. Gauthier was engaged in tannery work for Gen. U.S. Grant's father. The family, which was then small, was the first to settle where the city of Dubuque is now located. Mr. Gauthier erected the first cabin on the site of that city." ("Largest Family" article; see citation)

From "Pen Pictures" (see citation):

"JOHN B. GAUTHIER.

I am trying to pick up the old stragglers so as to get them all in line at the muster call, and away back on the road side, sitting on the green grass and under the shade of an aged tree, is a somewhat bent form whose hair is gray and whose eyes are dim, and who ever and anon mutters to himself, "Yes, yes; it is a long time ago, forty-eight years, near half a century, since I came here. Then there was no ST. PAUL; no, no; no whites; no, no; Indians, elm trees thickly skirting the river; teepees, war songs and war dances; hark! I hear them now! No, no; only a passing thought! Oh, dear, how the years have fled, and so my children tell me I'm getting old; I guess I am." The breeze comes up from the river, the old man drops his head upon his staff, stray locks of long, gray hair float out from under his faded hat, he clutches his cane with his bony hands and dreamily wanders off into the silent chambers of memory--and sleep! He starts, rubs his eyes, looks around him, arouses up and feebly says: "I guess I've been dreaming; yes, yes, I'll go home; I'm growing old;" and hobbling off slowly his form fades away and is lost in the mists of eternity--he's dead!

Mr. Gauthier was born in New York state in 1803 and was one of the original contractors of the Erie canal; went to Texas in 1833 and to St. Louis in 1835, where he married; was one of the first settlers in Dubuque in 1837, and removed to ST. PAUL in 1838. He was an active and prominent man in ST. PAUL, especially in WEST ST. PAUL, where he platted an addition which will ever remain as a monument to his memory. He died in our city in 1884." (Page 7) ^{8 9}

  Notes on his death:

He died at "Robie St. 6th Ward".

  Burial Notes:

Lot 1, Block 26, Section 16 (Dufrene plot).

"GAUTHIER - On Thursday, January 8th, after a lingering illness, John B. Gauthier, at his residence in West St. Paul, aged 81 years and 11 months.

Funeral services will be held at St. Louis Church (French), an Saturday next, at 10 a. m. The friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend without further notice."

...St. Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer Press, 9 Jan., 1885, page 7.

"DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN. John B. Gauthier, an old resident of St. Paul, died yesterday at the age of 82 years. He was born at Whitehall, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1803; took an active part in the preliminary work on the Erie canal; went to Texas in 1883 and located at St. Louis in 1835, at which latter place he was married. He built the first house in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1837, coming to St. Paul in 1838. He built the first house in Mendota, and laid out the property now known as Gauthier's addition to West St. Paul. Mr. Gauthier raised a family of twelve children, nine of whom are living. One daughter is the wife of Alfred Dufresne, of the mercantile firm of P. H. Kelly & Co."

...St. Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer Press, 9 Jan., 1885, page 7.

  In his life:

• He was counted in the 1840 US census for Dubuque County, Iowa Territory. ¹⁰ Second District.

• From 1842 to 1848 he lived in Potosi, Grant, Wisconsin. ¹¹

• In 1850 John lived at District No. 24 in Grant County, Wisconsin. ¹²

• He worked, in 1850, as a miner in Grant County, Wisconsin. ¹²

• John was counted in the 1850 US census for District No. 24, Grant, Wisconsin. ¹² Dwelling number 787.
Enumerated as John B. Goga.

• He purchased two lots of land on 9 September 1850 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota Territory. ¹³
"This indenture made this nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred fifty Between John B. Coty and Julia Ann, his wife, of the County of Ramsey and Territory of Minnesota of the first part, and John Gautier, of the second part. Witnisseth, that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of Eight hundred Dollars in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt thereof is hereby aelknowledged, we have given granted bargained sold conveyed and confirmed and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever all the following discribed piece or parcel of land, situate lying and being in the County or R and Territory of Minnesota, and known and designated as follows. viz: fronting on Robert Street fifty feet, opposite the Dwelling of Thomas Odell and extending back one hundred and fifty feet, said Lot being fifty feet front and rear and one hundred and fifty feet in depth. Also the second Lot from above T. Odell on the west side of Robert Street being fifty feet front and running one hundred and fifty feet back, said Lots lying and being in the Town of St. Paul, Minnesota Territory. To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the appurtenances and privilages thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest and Claim whatsoever of the said parties of the first part either in law or Equity, in and to the above described premises, to the only proper use benefit and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said parties of the first part, for their heirs, executors and administrators do Covenant and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that they are well seised in fee of the aforesaid premises, and have good right to sell and convey the same in manner and form as above written, and that the aforesaid premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, heirs and assigns, against all the every person lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof will forever Warrant and Defend. In Testimony whereof, the said party of the first part have hereunto set their hand and seal the day and year first above written
Sealed and Delivered in Presence of:
Nathan Spicer
W.P. Murray County of Ramsey ss.
Be it known that on the nineteenth day of September, A.D., 1850 before the undersigned personally came John B. Coty and Julia Ann, his wife, the grantors to the foregoing and within Deed from them as such grantors to John Gautier to me personally known to be the identical persons described in and who executed the said Deed and has acknowledged that they executed the said Deed freely and voluntarily for the uses and purposed therein expressed.
W. P. Murray
Notary Public"

• From 1851 to 1860 he lived in West St. Paul, Dakota, Minnesota. ¹¹

• He purchased 71.8 acres of land on 15 May 1855 in Ramsey County, Minnesota. ¹⁴ Pre-emption Certificate No. 10: Minneapolis land office, Minnesota Territory.

"the lots numbered Seven and Eight of Section Four in Township Twenty-eight, of Range Twenty-two, in the District of lands subject to sale at Minneapolis, Minnesota Territory, containing Seventy-one acres and eighty-hundredths of an acre"

This land eventually became part of Holman Field (St. Paul Downtown Airport).

• In 1857 he lived in West St. Paul, Dakota, Minnesota. ¹⁵

• He was counted in the 1857 Minnesota census for West St. Paul, Dakota, Minnesota. ¹⁵ Enumerated as Gokey.

• John was counted in the 1860 US census for West St. Paul, Dakota, Minnesota. ¹⁶ Listed as John Goche.

• In 1860 he lived in West St. Paul, Dakota, Minnesota. ¹⁶

• He worked, in 1860, as a farmer in West St. Paul, Dakota, Minnesota. ¹⁶

• John was counted in the 1870 US census for Winsted, McLeod, Minnesota. ¹⁷ Page 7
Listed as John Goke.

• He worked, in 1870, as a farmer in Winsted, McLeod, Minnesota. ¹⁷

• John was counted in the 1875 Minnesota census for Winsted, McLeod, Minnesota. ¹⁸ Listed as John Gothier.

• In 1875 he lived in Winsted, McLeod, Minnesota. ¹⁸

• He was counted in the 1880 US census for St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁹ SD 3, ED 5, Sheet 27.
Living in the home of Alice Brisette.

• John worked, in 1880, as a carpenter in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ¹⁹

• In 1880 he lived at 85 East 11th Street in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ^{19 20}

• John worked, in 1881, as a carpenter in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²¹

• In 1881 he lived at 135 Eleventh in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²¹

• In 1882 John lived at 315 Robie Street in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ^{22 23} His address is given as 91 Sherburne Ave in the city directory for 1882.

• In 1883 he lived at 81 Sherburne Ave. in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²⁴

• In 1884 John lived at "n s Robie 2w of Brown ave" in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²⁵

• He worked, in 1884, as a carpenter in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. ²⁵

• He was mentioned in the Freeborn County Standard, 21 January 1885. ²⁶
"John B. Gauthier, an old resident of St. Paul, died recently at the age of eighty-two years. He was born at Whitehall, N.Y., Jan 24, 1803; took an active part in the preliminary work on the Erie Canal; went to Texas in 1833 and located at St. Louis in 1835, at which latter place he was married. He built the first house in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1837 coming to St. Paul in 1838."

John married Cecilia Clermont, daughter of Clermont and Unknown, in 1831 in Warsaw, Hancock, Illinois.¹ (Cecilia Clermont was born on 21 June 1818 in St. Charles, St. Charles, Missouri,^{27 28 29} died on 8 May 1907 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota ³⁰ and was buried on 10 May 1907 in Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota ^{30 31}.) The cause of her death was senile debility.⁷