Antoine Bissonnette Sr.

Son of Dominique Bissonnette & Marie-Josephte Bray (Berry)

Born: April 16, 1835, Saint-Polycarpe, Soulange, Québec

Married: Marie Cane (Kane, Kuhn),
Daughter of Philip Cane/Kuhn & Marguerite Picotte
November 22, 1864 at St. Simon & St. Jude, Belle River, Ontario

Married: Artimise Dupuis, Abt. 1873

Died: April 26, 1905, Staples, Ontario

Antoine Bissonnette Sr. came from Saint-Eustache, Québec at the age of 17 and homesteaded on the French Line, running two miles south of St. Joachim, Ontario. This farm is the first one at the south end of the French Line on the east side of the road. Mr. Antoine Bissonnette Sr. sold this farm in 1908 to a Mr. Pierre Levasseur, who later turned it over to his son. The Leo Lavasseur family presently occupy this centennial home.

Mr. Antoine Bissonnette Sr. moved to the 7th concession of Rochester Twsp. west of Staples, Ontario where he had two farms. He sold the one on Malden Road to his son Pierre and the other on the 7th concession to his son Antoine, who later passed it onto his son Antoine the 3rd. who had no children. After his death the farm was sold to the Olsen family who presently own the farm. The house and buildings no longer stand.

Antoine Bissonnette Sr. married Mary Cane (Kane, Kuhn) November 22, 1864, a German lady from the U.S.A. According to Mr. Frank Trepanier (local historian & retired clerk of Rochester Twsp.) she spoke French and they met at Mr. Philip Kuhn's corner store (Mary Kuhn's Uncle) at the corner of Belle River Side Road and Highway Two. Mary came there to help & visit quite often.

Mary Bissonnette (nee Kuhn) passed away leaving three small boys. The oldest at the time drowned in a well when he was six years old leaving Antoine who was four and Pierre who was two years old.

Mr. Antoine Bissonnette Sr. later remarried to Artimise Dupuis from St. Joachim, Ontario. They had five children, Louis, Fred, Onesime, Israel and Emma. Fred married Ethel McQueen and Emma married Willy Damphouse. The other three did not marry. His two sons from the first marriage to Mary Kuhn married as follows. Antoine Jr. married Elise Beaune from Stoney Point, Ontario. Pierre married Linda Trottier.

Mary Bissonnette (nee Cane, Kane, Kuhn) with Antoine Jr.
Circa 1869

Antoine Bissonnette & Sons

Circa - 1903

Left to Right:
Antoine Jr., Antoine Sr., Pierre

Children of

Antoine Bissonnette Sr. & Mary Cune (Cane, Kuhn)

Clement Bissonnette
Born: Abt. 1875
Died: July 17,1879 at Belle River, Ontario (Age 4)

Antoine Bissonnette Jr.
Born: December 17, 1867 at Rochester Twsp, Staples, Ontario
Married: Elise Beaune on September 24, 1895 at Annunciation Catholic Church, Stoney Point, Ontario
Died: May 05, 1950 at Staples, Ontario (Age 82).

Pierre (Peter) Bissonnette
Born: February 8, 1870 at Rochester Twsp, Staples, Ontario
Married: Linda Trottier
Died: November 10, 1941 at Tilbury, Ontario (Age 71).

Artimise Dupuis (Antoine Bissonnette Sr. 2nd wife)
& daughter Emma Bissonnette.

Children of

Antoine Bissonnette Sr. & Artimise Dupuis