BEAUDOIN, MARIE - (466 - ENGLISH)

BEAUDOIN, MARIE - (466 - ENGLISH)


MARIE Beaudoin was originally from Grande Rivière in the Gaspé region of Quebec. 

 Around 1898-1899 she received a few letters from her father-in-law ( her mother's second husband ), François-Xavier Ladéroute.   Ladéroute described Kirkland Creek in the Yukon where he lived as a real paradise where he held various important functions: post master, mayor, bed-and-board owner, etc. The stories of Ladéroute combined with what the media was saying about the Klondike  gave Marie a seductive picture of the North.

During the Second World War, her husband died of cardiac arrest.  The young woman who lived in Montreal, found herself alone with two children, and limited finances. The enchanting descriptions of the Yukon which had been made by her father-in-law came back to tempt her. In 1918, she decided to begin a new life and crossed the country to Kirkman Creek with her two children  (Aline and Wilbrode).  It did not take her long after her arrival to realize that Ladéroute had neglected some details in his letters.: Kirkman Creek was about 100 miles (160 km) from Dawson City; the inhabitants were mostly sheep and a few dogs; the winters were long and cold, and her father-in-law's style of life did not appeal to her at all!

After a few months in Ladéroute's isolated cabin, she returned to Whitehorse very decided to purchase a train ticket  to Montreal.   When she arrived at the train station, she had a difficult time being understood for she spoke very little English.  Antoine Cyr who was there, became her translator.  Five days later, Marie married Antoine; together they had five children (Laurent, Lomer, Gloria, Paul and Rosalie.)

Marie Beaudoin died in 1970 aged 77.

Ref.  "Laurent et Corinne Cyr: Yukoners at Heart"
Details given by Laurent Cyr, Whitehorse, March 19, 1997
See the article by Antoine Cyr-"Histoire du Yukon" (blog 365)