​​BOISSONNEAULT JOSEPH-NAPOLÉON
(1865-1953)

OCCUPATION: Weaver and Woodcutter

     Napoléon Boissonneault was born in Saint-Flavien, Lotbinière, youngest son of François and Émilie (Demeules) December 17, 1865(1).  He stood little chance of inheriting the family farm as it was, in most cases, inherited by the eldest son. Napoléon was the youngest, with three elder brothers ahead of him.

           Instead, he became a weaver and a man of commerce. Family stories mention he made and lost his fortune many times.

           He married Émilie Côté, daughter of Arcade and Marie (Therrien) February 7, 1892(2), at the church in Saint-Apollinaire, Lotbinière. He was twenty-six, while his bride was just eighteen.

           The couple had a family of thirteen children:  Alberta, Alcide, Laura, Alma, Adélard, Marie-Louise, Henri, Lucien, Marie-Aurore, André, Adrien, Apollinaire and Madeleine.

           Napoléon lived most of his life in Saint-Flavien except for a few years when work was meagre and he took the family to Fall River, Massachusetts where he worked as a weaver. He died on January 25, 1953(3). He was buried in the Cemetery of Saint-Flavien.