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Arthur and Agathe Poirier


Arthur and Agathe Poirier

Born in St. Jacques l’Achigan, County of Mont Caime, Québec, he was the twin brother of Paul, one of 21 children. He came west to Edmonton in the late 1890s and worked among the Cree, learning their language fluently. Later he was a fur trader and interpreter for the Hudson's Bay Company.

In 1908, he married Agatha Garneau of Edmonton and freighted from Edmonton to St. Paul. Sometime before April 10, 1909, he homesteaded at St. Vincent. He often spoke of Father Lacombe and Brother Antoine; he admired them both greatly. Arthur did a lot of blacksmith work and ran a livery stable.

Agatha died in 1918 of the Spanish Flu. In 1919, he married Marie Murray (Landry). They moved to Ashmont and Arthur worked as road foreman in the Spedden area. In 1928, they moved to Rycroft, Alberta. He homesteaded in the working area.

Arthur's forte was singing the Latin mass. When they moved to the Peace River country he travelled many miles with horses to sing at funerals, marriages and special Church functions.

Arthur and Marie had five children: Arthur Jr., Anita, Bernadette (Bunny), Maurice and Lorraine. He and Agatha adopted one daughter, Germaine.

Source:

Comité du Musée St. Paul Museum, l, ACFA régionale

 
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