Joseph Bougard

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: BOUGARD, FLORNITIN, VALANCE, WALDO

 

JOSEPH BOUGARD. Among those who left "their own native land," few have been more successful than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Bougard was born January the 23d, 1822, in the province of Lorraine, France, and is the son of Sebastine and Marian (FLORNITIN) BOUGARD.

His early life was passed near the place of his birth, where he received his education in the common schools; at the same time assisting his father upon the farm. At the age of seventeen he went to learn the trade of shoemaker, which business he followed for eight years. During this time, July 4th, 1843, he was married to Victorine VALANCE, a young lady of his native province.

Becoming tired of his trade at the age of twenty-four he, with his young bride, returned to the farm. He was also a contractor on public works, having most of the time from sixty to seventy-five men in his employ. In 1854, he removed with his family to the United States, settling at first in the city of Chicago, but during the same year removed to a farm in Cooke county, and in 1857, came to this county, and bought 80 acres of land in Raymond township, and two years afterwards bought 120 acres more, where the residence now stands. Here he began the work of making a farm, breaking 55 acres the first year, with a single yoke of cattle, living during the time in a small shanty. By his relentless will and industrious habits, he has overcome every obstacle, and is now in possession of one of the largest farms in the township, consisting of over 500 acres of productive land, which he is rapidly bringing into a high state of cultivation.

The first fruit marketed from Raymond township, came from this orchard. Two children have come to bless the fireside. The eldest, Mary H., is the happy wife of Harry WALDO, while Amelia is still with her parents. Mr. Bougard and family are members of the Roman Catholic

Church