Simon-Amable Drouillard

From Drouillard

Simon Amable DROUILLARD (Jean Baptiste, Simon Argentcour, Jean) was born on 4 Mar 1733/1734 in Montreal, Quebec, CANADA. He died on 26 Jul 1805 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA.

Simon married Marguerite MARTIN, daughter of Jean MARTIN and Theresa ENAUD, on 29 Aug 1757 in Soulanges. Marguerite was born in 1739. She died on 18 Nov 1803 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA.

Simon and Marguerite had the following child:
+ 5 M i. Jean Baptiste DROUILLARD was born on 28 Aug 1773 and died on 11 Nov 1819.

From Yelnam @ Tripod

Simon Amable Drouillard was the son of Jean Baptiste Drouillard and Elizabeth Rapin. Simon was born on March 3rd 1734 and was the second of eleven children. Simon was baptized on March 4th in the church of Saint Francis de Sales on the Ile Jesus. Like most boys in New France Simon had to grow up quick in the French settlement of Lachine, located just below Montreal.

Life back then was not easy in this harsh climate and untamed wilderness. Amazingly at the age of seven the family was on the move to even more dangerous territory as Simon’s father entered the military service under Joseph Marin de la Malgue, enlisting in the War with the Foxes in Wisconsin and Illinois. Simon with his family, during this period, moved from one trading post (or fort) to another.

At the age of ten Simon’s father left the military and began managing canoe trains from Montreal to Detroit. This had Jean Baptiste gone for long periods of time, but after a few years his father finally settled down a bit and in July 1749 the family of father, mother, five sons and 3 daughters moved to the settlement in Detroit on 3 arpents of farm land situated on the south side of the Detroit River.

Simon like his father worked as a young man as a voyageur and a trapper. The family built a homestead, but in 1755 father John Baptiste went back into the service and left the farm to defend Fort Duquesne with another 100 Frenchmen and several hundred Indians. Simon’s father would not return.

In April 1757 Simon and his brother Francois entered into a Voyageur Engagement in Montreal. to take goods to Detroit. In that same year Simon would marry Margaret Martin dit St. Jean, (born 1739, the daughter of John Martin dit St. Jean and Teresa Henault dit Canada). Simon and Margaret had twelve children. They were known to be faithful members of Assumption Parish.

On 21 Feb 1759 Simon Amable Drouillard was godfather to two Indian children who were born at the Sault St Louis. Both children were named Simon after their godfather.

In 1780 a petition was granted to the inhabitants of Petite Cote for a watermill to be built, owned and operated by Simon Drouillard. Simon would run this mill for eleven years. Simon sided with England in the Great War and his name is on tax roll in 1802, stating that he remained a British subject at close of revolutionary war.

Margaret would die in 1803 and at age of seventy Simon re-married May 14, 1804 to his second wife, sixty year old Mary Meny daughter of Anthony Meny and Jane Seguin dit Laderout. Simon would die a year later in 1805. 72 years of a life with purpose.

Jean-Baptiste Drouillard

Father Jean Baptiste Drouillard 1707 - 1754

A Voyageur who traveled from Quebec to Detroit. Killed by British in the French and Indian War as a member of Beaujeu force that fought at Fort Duquesne in 1755 against the British led by George Washington. 

Drouillard.US 

If ever there was a Voyageur (which literally means "traveller") it was Jean Baptiste Drouillard. Born February 14th 1707 on the Ile Jesus, which is in the Saint Lawrence River across from Montreal. Jean Baptiste was the son of Simon dit Argentcourt Drouillard and his mother Marquerite. It would be no surprise to learn that he was born in the rear of a canoe, but it for certain that Jean Baptiste was born with adventure in his veins and a spirit as large and as brave as New France itself.

Jean Baptiste was a courageous man who had learned his fighting skills from his father, who was a soldier with Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac. He was also a young entrepreneur who trapped furs and traded with the Native Indians. Much of Jean Baptiste youth was spent on the rivers of New France, in a canoe trapping and fur trading which was very lucrative for New France. Jean Baptiste risked the journey west and north through hostile Iroquois territory from the settlements around Montreal to the pays d'en haut, or "upper country" (the area around the Great Lakes) to trap and trade with Native Indians.

In 1731 at the age of 26, Jean Baptiste was married at Lachine to Elizabeth Rapin who was born in 1712. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Baptiste Rapin and Catherine Janson dit Lapalme. The wedding was a family affair and it was recorded in church records that it was well attended. Lachine was a settlement just below Montreal at Lake St. Louis. Jean continued his free-spirited trade while at the same time started a family having three children in Lachine. Sometime around 1741 the family was on the move. John Baptiste was in the military service under Joseph Marin de la Malgue who was a French officer that was involved in the War with the Foxes in Wisconsin and Illinois. Jean and his family, during this period, moved from one trading post (or fort) to another, and this fact alone, may explain the reason why some of the birthplaces of his children are unknown.

In 1744 Jean Baptiste left the military and began managing canoe trains from Montreal to Detroit. This route was filled with danger as the fierce Iroquois it seemed where hiding behind every tree. The canoe trains started from Montreal up the Ottawa River to Lake Nipissing then down the French River to Georgian Bay. Entering Lake Huron they drifted past Cape Kurd following the coast line of Lake Huron down to Port Huron. They were in large groups of 100 or more and at the time they were the lifeline for the struggling settlement at Detroit.

Jean Baptiste Drouillard took a liking to area and on the 26th of July 1749, he arrived in Detroit to settle there with his Elizabeth, five sons and 3 daughters. They took up 3 arpents of farm land situated on the south side of the Detroit River. The family built a homestead, but farming it seems was no life for the adventurous John Baptiste and he went back into the service as a Major in the French militia. Duty called and Jean Baptiste left Fort Pontchartrain in 1755 with about 100 Frenchmen and several hundred Indians under Beaujeu, their leader, to reinforce the garrison at Fort Duquesne, which is today the town of Pittsburg Pennsylvania. In this campaign of the French and Indian War, Jean Baptiste would fight but not survive the fray. Jean Baptiste would never return to his family but he died as he lived, adventurous to the end.

Private Francis J. Laurain - Killed in Action

Photo on Findagrave, courtesy of Anita Sedlacek

I found this wonderful headstone of my grandmother Lenore Barron's first cousin.  He was one of her first cousins I did not have a birth and death date for in our family tree.  I hadn't realized he died in World War II and am extremely touched by the bravery this young man and blood relative has done for our country and the world.

There is a slight discrepancy on his headstone versus the synopsis written by the US Government that states he passed on May 31, 1944 while the other says he died on June 1, 1944 in Italy.

The biography on his Findagrave profile reads:
PVT, 135 INF, 34 INF DIV WORLD WAR II
 *Synopsis: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Francis J. Laurain (36131186), Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company K, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 31 May 1944. Private Laurain's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army. Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 175 (1944)

From MilitaryTimes.com:
SYNOPSIS: Private Francis J. Laurain (ASN: 36131186), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company K, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 1 June 1944. Private Laurain's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
General Orders: Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 175 (1944) 
Action Date: 1-Jun-44
Service: Army
 Rank: Private
 Company: Company K
 Regiment: 135th Infantry Regiment
 Division: 34th Infantry Division

From HomeOfHeroes:
*LAURAIN, FRANCIS J. (KIA)
Synopsis: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Francis J. Laurain (36131186), Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company K, 135th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 1 June 1944. Private Laurain's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 34th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 175 (1944)
Home Town: Carleton, Michigan

From United States World War II Army Enlistment Records:

• Name: Francis J Laurain 
• Name (Original): LAURAIN FRANCIS J
• Event Type: Military Service Event
• Date: 22 Oct 1941
• Event Place: Detroit, Michigan, United States
• Race: White
• Citizenship Status: citizen
• Birth Year: 1920
• Birthplace: MICHIGAN
• Education Level: 1 year of high school
• Civilian Occupation: Semiskilled welders and flame cutters
• Marital Status: Single, without dependents
• Military Rank: Private Army
• Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
• Army Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
• Source Reference: Civil Life Serial Number: 36131186
• Affiliate ARC Identifier: 1263923
• Box Film Number: 10375.99
• Affiliate Publication Title: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946
• Source: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8PD-ZHM : accessed 27 Oct 2014), Francis J Laurain, enlisted 22 Oct 1941, Detroit, Michigan, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).

From Wikipedia:
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military award that can be given to a member of the United States Army (and previously, the United States Army Air Forces), for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps), the Air Force Cross (Air Force), and the Coast Guard Cross (Coast Guard).

The Death of Cha Seung Yul, 성길 차

Today, I asked my mother about the death of her father, why exactly he died and what she remembered about the death.  My maternal grandfather's name was Seung Yul Cha (or by Korean tradition of surname first- Cha Seung Yul, 성길 차).  He was a journalist and a politician of the Democratic party in South Korea, and in the middle of a campaign to become one of the leaders of his town (a mayor, a governor, councilman, we're unsure).  An article was written by my grandfather and was printed in the Chosun Ilbo that basically brought his life to an end.

Apparently, he knew too much about something he wrote and men came to my mother's home in the middle of the night while everyone was asleep, and dragged him out.  My mom said she was told that her father was tortured for days regarding this article, and was interrogated to which he could not give a sufficient enough answer as to why he knew what he knew.

My grandmother called upon one of her nephews (her sister's son), a high ranking officer in the Korean army, by the name of "Oh" (phonetic spelling) to help her find Cha Seung Yul.  He knew exactly where to go.  When he found my grandfather, my grandfather was on the floor, still being electrocuted and begging to be shot to end the torture and interrogation. Oh stopped the men from the attacks and scooped my grandfather up and put him on his shoulder and carried him home.

He made it to a hospital and my grandmother was pregnant with my uncle at the same time.  They laid side-by-side in the hospital.  My grandfather called my mother's name, asking for water.  He was breathing hard.  The last thing he said was my mother's name when he passed away.  My grandfather was still in the midst of his campaign and needed only 6 more votes when he passed.

Against Korean tradition of the eldest son to be the role of Sangju (master of ceremonies), my mother, the second born between her father and mother (her father had children from a different relationship), got the role.  She attended his funeral for the duration of 3 days up until the burial.  My mother doesn't know the official "cause of death" but she said he was bleeding internally.  He was buried on a mountain (possibly Surak mountain) near a tree.

Jean-Baptiste Drouillard dit Argentcourt

Jean-Baptiste Drouillard was a known as an adventurous voyageur who traveled from Québec to Détroit.   He was born February 14, 1707 at Île Jésus, Québec in the back of a canoe.  He grew up to be a fur trader among the Native Americans.  At the age of 26 in 1731, Jean-Baptiste Drouillard married Isabelle Rapin in Lachine, Québec.  At about 1741 Jean-Baptiste was in the military under the order of Joseph Marin de la Malgue, a French officer involved with the "War with the Foxes" in Wisconsin and Illinois.  At this time, Jean and his family moved from one trading post to the next.   In 1744, Jean-Baptiste left the military and began managing cone trains from Montréal to Détroit.

Jean-Baptiste liked the Détroit settlement and moved his wife and children there.  They had 3 arpents of land on the south end of the Rivière Détroit.  He tried his hand at farming which didn't prove to be successful, so he rejoined the military as a Major in the French militia.  Jean-Baptiste Drouillard and about 100 other French men and hundreds of Natives left Fort Pontchartrain in 1755 under Beaujeu to reinforce the garrison at Fort Duquesne (Pittsburg, Pennsylvania).  This war was known as the French and Indian War.  He was killed by the British, led by first President and General George Washington.

Simon Drouillard dit Argentcourt

Simon Drouillard being assassinated by the Iroquois while he was defending Détroit.

Drawing of Simon Drouillard, courtesy of defunct website Drouillard.us

My 9th great-grandfather, Simon Drouillard, was born November 10, 1668 and baptized Catholic at St. Pierre church on November 11, 1668, in the diocese of Saintes, Saintonge, France. His godparents were Simon Chaudart and Marie Dumas. 

While a teenager in France he was a day laborer and a ship carpenter.  In 1684, at the age of 16, Simon Drouillard dit Argentcourt came to Nouvelle France as a soldier with Lestringant de Saint-Marin.  In 1698, Simon married Marguerite Ferré.  A year after his wife's death on September 12, 1711, Simon married Anne Cadoret.  It was at this time, Simon was recruited by the French pioneer Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, Sieur de Cadillac (also known as Antoine Cadillac) in the campaign against the Iroquois.

Simon was killed by the Iroquois while defending the Détroit settlement, approximately 3 miles east of the fort.  His body was brought back to the settlement to buried on October 21, 1733.

Huntington Sans Sauna and Oriental Gardens Spa

In the 1970s my mom began working for a company called Huntington Sans Sauna.  It was located at 16385 Bolsa Chica Road, Huntington Beach, California, 92649.  The cross-streets were Bolsa Chica Road and Heil Avenue.  There were 2 spas in the same center, 2 doors from each other, my mom's and another spa.  The other spa had a jacuzzi and my mom had the dry sauna.  Although it seemed there would be competition, my mom and the other owner, Norma, were great friends and sent each other clients.

My mom eventually bought Huntington Sans Sauna and the name from the previous owner.  This image is an ad from March 25, 1981 in the Orange County Register. My mom's ad is second from the top-right.  To the left of the ad there's an advertisement for Cal-Copa Spa.  My mom learned of Cal-Copa Spa because of the then-owner of the CalCopa massage school, Roland Clark (she called him Rollie).  She was good friends with him, and he was someone who my mom turned to as a mentor.  Roland Clark's name is in the baby book my father started for me, as someone who gave my mom a babyshower when she was pregnant with me.  My mom bought Cal-Copa Spa and changed the name to Oriental Gardens Spa in the mid-late 1980s, after she closed Huntington Sans Sauna.  Oriental Gardens Spa was located at 17061 Newland Street, Huntington Beach, California, 92647 at the corner of Newland and Warner in "Dutch Haven Plaza."  

March 25, 1981 - Orange County Register - pg. 72

August 22, 1986 - Orange County Register - pg. 96

In the beginning of the massage industry in Huntington Beach, there was no license or certification required to work or operate a spa.  By the time my mom owned Huntington Sans Sauna, 100 hours of massage education was required and she attended CalCopa to become a certified massage therapist.  During the operation of Oriental Gardens Spa, it went up to 200 hours, then 300 hours, and it kept going up and then the new requirement was to become Nationally Certified.  

English being her second language, made things difficult for her, and she chose to not become a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, yet continued her Massage Therapy education.  In 1997, Oriental Gardens Spa came to a close and she relocated to Fullerton, California where we had a family-owned massage spa.  In 1998 I became a certified massage therapist, also having attended CalCopa massage school.

1940 Census - Barron and Butterman Household

I thought this was a great image of the US Census featuring the household of my great-grandfather Harvey Barron and Susan Barron (née Laurain), the parents of my paternal grandmother Lenore Evelyn Barron.  In that household (Ward 16, Detroit, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, United States - year of 1940) lived:

1940 Census - Ward 16, Detroit, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, USA

1. Harvey Barron, head of household, male, White, 53 years old, Married, born in Canada French, occupation as a Printer, industry Printing Shop
2. Susan Barron, wife, female, White, 54 years old, Married, born in Michigan
3. Norby Barron, son, male, White, 24 years old, Single, born in Michigan, occupation as inspector of engine parts, industry Auto factory
4. Lorraine Barron, daughter, female, White, 20 years old, Single, born in Michigan, occupation as "new worker."
5. Lenore Barron, daughter, female, White, 17 years old, Single, born in Michigan, occupation as "housework", industry Private Home
6. Marilyn Barron, daughter, female, White, 12 years old, Single, born in Michigan
7. George Butterman, son-in-law, male, White, 39 years old, Married, born in Canada English, occupation as assembly line laborer, industry Auto Factory
8. Velma Butterman, daughter, female, White, 27 years old, Married, born in Michigan, occupation as Sales Lady, industry Department Store
9. Robert Butterman, grandson, male, White, 3 years old, Single, born in Michigan
10. Patricia Butterman, granddaughter, female, White, 1 year old, Single, born in Michigan 

1870 Census of Isadore Roe's Household

This is the 1870 Census of Isadore Roe and Teresa Lauzon's household.  They were my 3rd great-grandparents, the parents of Sarah Roe, whom was my 2nd great-grandmother, whom was the mother of Susan Laurain, whom was my great-grandmother, the mother of my grandmother Lenore Evelyn Barron.

This census states that my 3rd great-grandfather, Isadore Roe, was 40 years old in 1870 and his occupation was Laborer.  He was born in Michigan and could not read or write.  My 3rd great-grandmother was, Teresa Roe (neé Lauzon) and she was 35.  She kept house, was born in Michigan and also could not read or write.  The children in the household were Sarah (my 2nd great grandmother), whom was 10 years old at the time.  She was born in Michigan and was attending school at the time.  She had younger siblings.  Sisters, Frankie (age 9), Mary (age 5), Laura (age 4), and brothers Thomas (age 2), and George (an infant under a year old).