DENIS MENARD (MAYNARD)(1843 - 1926)

Denis Ménard's Signature

The history of my branch of the Menards in America begins with Denis Menard who immigrated to the US in 1886.

Denis was born May 30, 1843.  He was baptized Denis Menard Bellerose.  His baptism certificate indicated that his father was Benjamin Menard, dit Bellerose, a farmer. His mother was Louise Vasseur and that he was baptized in Marieville, Quebec.*

Canadian farmers plowing - late 1800's

By the age of 11 he was living in Stukely North, Shefford, Quebec. He was raised on a farm in the eastern part of the Province of Quebec.

Denis married Henriette Gaucher (b. Aug. 1845) on February 8, 1869 in what was then the parish of Our Lady of Bonsecours in South Stukely, the city of Shefford, PQ.*

Stukeley, 1900

The Canadian Census of 1871 has Denis as a farmer in the District of Shefford, the Municipality North of the Township of Stukely.

Denis and Henriette's children included:

Denis, the firstborn, was born on December 23, 1869.  He married Marie Cornellier. They had at least 5 sons: Arthur, George, Alfred, Maurice and Henri and 1 daughter Florida. Denis died February 20, 1939 in Stukely-Nord, PQ at the age of 69.*

Louis, was born and baptized on May 5, 1871.* He adopted the spelling of "Minard." He married Mary P. Hamilton (2nd wife)  31 Dec. 1894 at St. Michael's in Smithfield, RI.  They had at least one son, Oscar who married A. Giles Corcoran and died in 1956. Louis died on Dec. 9, 1958 in Smithfield, RI.
See more information at Find-A-Grave.

Celina Agnes was born and baptized on Feb. 7, 1872. She died at 5 years of age in October 23, 1877. She was buried on October 25, 1877.*

Solomon, was born May 16, 1873.  He married Annie Tucker on April 2, 1918 in Georgiaville, RI.  He died on March 12, 1935.  Annie died in 1936.
For more information see Find-A-Grave.

Joseph Napoleon Menard was born on September 3, 1874*  He married Clarinda. He died on May 28th in 1938 and Clarinda died in 1951.
For more information see Find-A-Grave.

Rosanna, baptized Marie Rose Anna was born October 26, 1875 in No. Stukely, Quebec.  She married Wilfred Dufresne on September 21, 1896 at St. Michael's in Georgiaville, RI. and died March 9, 1953 in Smithfield, RI.

Alphonsine, born March 9, 1877 in No. Stukely.  Her godparents were  Uncle Louis and his wife Adeline Guibeault.  She married Ferdinand Goyette on June 7, 1927. She immigrated to the US in 1886. She died in 1937.

Benjamin, was born July 3, 1878 in Stukely-Nord, Quebec.  He died at the age of 33.  He was married to Marie Gilbert.  He died on October 2, 1910 at the age of 33 from Typhoid Fever.

Marie Louise, was born May 23, 1880.  She died the 11th of November and was buried the 13th in 1881.*

Wilfred Noe was born in Stukely on June 3, 1882 and baptized on the 4th.

Marie Eliza was born on June 11 (or November 6), 1884 in No. Stukely and married Noe Guilbeault on Sept. 26, 1904 in No. Stukely, Quebec.  She may have died in1967.

Regina was born on March 14, 1886. She married Henry Hyacinthe Beauregard on Aug 20, 1906.


Christmas of 1885 was celebrated as usual in the Menard household.  Denis and Henriette and their 11  children celebrated the holiday at the family farm in the town of North Stukely, Quebec, Canada.  This would be their last Christmas together in Canada.  For the holiday, everyone would gather at the house for the "Reveillon" with the traditional foods and midnight Mass celebrated at the local Catholic church.

1880 Drawing of a French Canadian "Reveillon" by Edmond Massicotte. The "reveillon," where the entire family gathered at home for feasting (usually following midnight mass), was a long-standing French Canadian tradition at Christmas. Many French Canadians who lived in New England continued the tradition well into the latter half of the 20th century

The large family must have fallen on bad times and financial hardship. As Damien-Claude Bélanger, says in his book, French Canadian Emigration to the United States, 1840-1930 

"Poverty, overpopulation, debt and infertile soils pushed French Canadians off their land. However, external factors also attracted emigrants to the United States. Indeed, during the second half of the 19^th century, Canada and the United States experienced rapid industrial growth. However industrialisation progressed far more rapidly in the USA while Canada’s economy remained more dependent on primary economic activity. Moreover, industrial wages were generally higher in the United States than they were in Canada. Simply put, jobs were easier to obtain in the USA and at better wages."

The opportunities found in the US were an answer to their prayers, so in 1886, Denis, Henriette and some of the younger children immigrated to Georgiaville, in Smithfield, RI.  They probably traveled by railroad.

Engine, 1889.

NYNHandH-RR, Georgiaville, RI  1900

In Georgiaville Denis was a mill hand.

Georgiaville Cotton Mill

According to the 1900 US Census, at that time Denis (57) and Henriette (55) were living in Smithfield with their children; Wilfred N. (18), Alphonsine (21), Mary L. (15), and Regina (14).  By 1903 he and Henriette were back in Canada.  It appears the children stayed in the US and more immigrated from Canada later.  


Henriette died on September 2, 1918 in North Stukely  and was buried on the 4th of September, 1918.*  She was 67 Years old.

In 1919 at the age of 75 he returned to live with his son, Solomon in Esmond, RI. He later returned to live in North Stukely.

Denis died at the age of 84 on October 17, 1926 in North Stukely and was buried on the 20th.* At the funeral were: Maurice Fisette, Benoit Gagnon, Noe Guilbeault and Henri Beauregard.  The Rev. Paul Cote said the Mass.

* Sources of information - Click here