PLAMONDON, JOSEPH (1A) (17 ENG + 16 FRAN)

JOSEPH PLAMONDON + MATHILDA GAUTHIER (1A)

 Joseph Plamondon- fils de Narcisse + Elisabeth Blondin
-  n. 1861-06-11 St-Ferdinand,QC
-  m. 1884-06-04 Provemont, Michgan + Mathilda Gauthier (Adolphus)
-  d. 1923-07-04 Plamondon, Alberta        

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  It was about 1865 that the parents of Joseph Plamondon were seriously thinking of migrating to western Canada. However that was the time that Canada became a country and had it's first election. When John A. MacDonald was elected Prime Minister, it appears that he already had an agenda. He made it clear that no one from Quebec could go west to take a "homestead". 

  When Quebec people could not come West, they opt for the United States. They left in 1867 or about.

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  I will refer to the story written by the Plamondons, it is their story, and their translation. To-day we will have the first part of about five sections. Maybe you will also feel it is enough to digest.

Plamondon Story - Part 1

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      "After the Civil War,

                                                     
                                                         Joseph Plamondon - the leader !

american civil war the French immigrants left Québec, Cana  da, to come to the land of promises in the United States. They settled in the little community of Provemont, Michigan."

      "Several years after these pioneers were established in Provemont, they found their farm holdings were small, parents with large families had no future for their children,,  and they saw little hope in preserving their French heritage."

     "Isidore Plamondon, who had left Michigan to work on farms around Lacombe, Alberta, wrote such enthusiastic letters home that his father, Joseph Plamondon and several of their group decided to accept his invitation to come and see the Canadian West for themselves. Isidore's words were "Dad, I have found the most beautiful country! I have travelled many miles and for me, nothing can compare to this province of Alberta in Canada. What can a young man do on a small farm like this one here in Provemont? In Alberta we can take a homestread of 160 acres for $10.00!"

"The Missionaries in Provemont were also encouraging Catholic and French speaking families to come and settle on fertile farmlands in the Western prairies."

"The settlers saw an opportunity to establish their children close to them and cherished the hope that they would be able to preserve their language, their religion and their political beliefs in this new land."

"In the spring of 1907, Joseph, Isidore and Mary Plamondon, and the families of Evangeliste, Philip Plamondon, Francis Duperron, Olivier St-Jean, John Lamie, Joseph Harpe travelled from Provemont to Morinville, Alberta. They spent three months there and enchanted with this country that Isidore had stated was so promising. Some of the members stayed there until the following year"

"Upon Joseph Plamondon's return to Provemont, he encouraged and influenced many members of the community to become part of the migration to Alberta."

ref:   Plamondon Historical Society

Emilie Plamondon Chevigny, president