The Liegeois Family
of Incourt, Belgium
Written by Irene Ruth Doran
Grand-daughter to Joe and
Rachael
Liegeois, 1987
Joseph Liegeois and Rachel Collins were both born in Robinsonville. Both sets of parents were immigrants from Belgium and Wisconsin pioneers. They grew up on their parents small farms in the little settlement of Robinsonville. Joseph and his brothers John and Louis learned the blacksmith and wagon-maker trade from the village blacksmith, Paul Abts, who was their neighbor.
About 1891, the Liegeois land in the Town of Green Bay was sold. Joseph and Louis formed a partnership and began a business in Abrams, Oconto County, Wisconsin. They had a blacksmith shop, built wagons, sold farm machine supplies, and had the local saloon. John Liegeois had a similar business in Little Suamico.
Frank and William were born in Abrams. Little William died at the age of 4 and ½ months. Rachel died as the result of childbirth on September 10, 1900. The baby was stillborn.
Soon after Rachel’s death, grandfather left the blacksmith trade and went into the saloon business full time. The old saloon was torn down and he rebuilt the residence to have the saloon in the front part and the living quarters in the rear and upstairs. Uncle John left Little Suamico and took over the farm machinery business in Abrams.
Joseph married Josie Gilland of Stevens Point. They were married on April 21, 1902 in Menominee, Michigan. The marriage lasted until March 26, 1907 when Josie was granted an uncontested divorce in the Circuit Court in Oconto.
Joseph remained in the saloon business until prohibition. He then moved to Kenosha and worked for the Northern Wisconsin Railroad the “Whiskey Northern Railroad.” He was a watchman or “Cinder Dick”. Grampa lived in a rooming house at 5627 24th Ave. in Kenosha. It was here that about 3:30 PM on June 17, 1932, he died. He suffered from a debilitating skin disease called “St. Antony’s Fire.” Today the disease is easily cured with antibiotics.
Both Rachel and Joseph are buried in the Brookside Cemetery. Take the center road into the cemetery, and you will see on the left side of the road, a large tall gray stone with a cross atop.
Rachel
She
sleeps in the valley—so sleep.
But the
Spirit has taken its flight.
Tho’ her
form is but dust ‘neath our feet.
While
she is an Angel of Light.
 |
Please click on photographs below to see the full size view
 Liegeois Saloon - The Sample Room Joseph Liegeois Jr is at far left, John Liegeois is next to him, Louis Liegeois is at far right. This photograph is a fascinating study of the times. On the enlargement details that stand out include: The lead-charcoal drawing of the bartender at the top of the mirror. These were 1870 - 1890's commissions from prestigious art school instructors such as The Milwaukee School of Art and drawn from much smaller photographs. Also on the mirror are photograph portraits of lovely young ladies and the good luck horse shoe. The top surface of the nicely crafted wood bar is varnished and highly polished On the wall to the left of the bar is a advertisement featuring the likeness of a sassy lass in comely entertainment costume of that period . Also on that wall is a calender of events. Below that is a large rendering of the Wisconsin State Fair Grounds featuring the race track. A shiny polished oil lamp hangs over bar, which also features a brass foot rail and sawdust beneath, to catch spills, etc. On the back bar stands a collection of fancy glass containers. Also on the backwall are two framed outdoor views that may depict someone's original homeland. The men are dressed for work. To the far left is the thick leather apron of a blacksmith, which protected from heat and sparks. The bartender is well appointed in high collar shirt and vest. Hats need not be removed in the bar room as ladies were not present. They were sometimes served at tables in a separate Dining Room, that would be found next to a Sample Room such as this. To the right above the mirror is a sign that
says |
 Photos contributed by descendant: Dorothy Buchholz Joe Liegeois is to the right holding a grandchild. The wedding couple are left of the tree. John is wearing a dark suit. Frank Liegeois brother of John is seated third man from right. My grandparents Jennie and George F Wagner are also in the picture. Grandma Jennie is second woman on right. George is behind the first lady on the right. I believe Grampa Liegeois' brother John is the fourth gentleman on the right. John Liegeois was in partnership with Grampa Joseph Liegeois in the saloon, implements, etc businesses. He was bank president of the Abrams bank for quite some time. |
 Photos contributed by descendant: Dorothy Buchholz This photo is John Liegeois, brother to Joe, and Abrams bank president at the Dutton Farm.  Photos contributed by descendant: Dorothy Buchholz This photo is John Liegeois, brother to Joe, after a Golden Plover hunt. |
Antoine Liegeois’ parents were: Lambert Liegeois and Therese Berger.
Jean Joseph’s parents were:
Antoine Liegeois, born 03 August, 1785 in Huppaye, Province of Brabant, Belgium;
and Henrietta Joseph La Loux, born 12 February, 1794 in Incourt. Henrietta
J. La Loux’s mother was Marie Joseph La Loux. No name given for father.
They were married 07 Sept 1814.
1. Antoine Liegeois………………………………………….(M)
Born 15 May 1816 |
Joseph Liegeois Sr, was born
Jean Joseph Liegeois, 21 April, 1825 in Incourt Belgium. The town of
Incourt is small – perhaps a few hundred. It is a French speaking hamlet,
located in the Province of Brabant. Liege is not many miles away.
Joseph Liegeois Sr. and his new wife Marie Therese Moreau traveled from Antwerp
to Boston on the "Buena Vista". They left 3 March 1856 and arrived in
Boston 17 April 1856.
1. Emerance/Emerence
Liegeois…………………………………………..(F) Born 1858 in Robinson or Champion 7. Eugenie Liegeois…………………………………………......(F) Born 1876 in Green Bay, WI |
Please click on image below to see the full size view
 contributed by descendant: Dorothy Buchholz |
**Both Jean Baptiste and Jean Joseph Liegeois emigrated to America and settled in the Town of Green Bay, Wisconsin—Robinsonville, now called Champion, Wisconsin. Both were farmers.
Jean Joseph purchased land in the Town of Green Bay on 27 May, 1856.
*Belgian information is from the Maison Communal (Town Hall) of Incourt Belgium, in 1987.
IRD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
~~~~
The following is the verification of the information my mother had with the additional information on Clemence Liegeois who also emigrated to Wisconsin. Raymond is an elderly researcher in Belgium whose work is incorporated. Dorothy Buchholz
Descendants of Lambert J. LIEGEOIS
Generation One
1. Lambert J. LIEGEOIS, b. 1 Jan 1752 in Huppaye, d. 0 ___ 0000.
He married Thérèse BERGER, married 25 Jan 1780 in Huppaye, b. 20 Jul 1755 in Huppaye (see note 1), d. 25 Oct 1786 in Huppaye.
Children:
+ 2 i. Antoine LIEGEOIS
b. 3 Aoû 1785.
Generation Two
2. Antoine LIEGEOIS, b. 3 Aoû 1785 in Huppaye, d. 26 Déc 1839 in Incourt, buried 27 Déc 1839 in Incourt.
He married Henriette LALOUX, married in Incourt, b. 12 Fév 1794 in Incourt, d. 28 Mar 1852 in Incourt, buried 26 Mar 1852 in Incourt.
Children:
3 i.
Jean Baptiste LIEGEOIS, b. 30 Déc 1821 in Incourt (see note 2), baptized 31 Déc
1821 in Incourt (see note 3), d. 0 ___ 0000 in WI(USA).
+ 4 ii. Jean Joseph LIEGEOIS
b. 21 Avr 1825.
+ 5 iii. Clémence J. LIEGEOIS b. 5 Fév 1828.
6 iv.
Victoire J. Charlotte LIEGEOIS, b. 8 Jan 1831 in Incourt (see note 4), baptized
8 Jan 1831 in Incourt (see note 5), d. 0 ___ 0000.
Generation Three
4. Jean Joseph LIEGEOIS, also
known as Joseph Jean, b. 21 Apr 1825 in Incourt, baptized 21 Avr 1825 in Incourt
(see note 6), d. 24 Mar 1887 in WI(USA).
Emigré aux USA avec sa femme Marie
Thérèse Moreau. Ont quitté Anvers le 3/03/1856 à bord du "Buena Vista", arrivé à
Boston le 17/04/1856. Leur destination était Green Bay. Dans le recensement US
de 1860, ils sont répertoriés à Green Bay (maison 1926) avec deux enfants
Emérence et Eugène, tous deux nés au Wisconsin.
He married Marie Thérèse MOREAU, b. 24 Jan 1832 in Beauvechain, (daughter of Jean J. MOREAU and Marie Catherine DEBECKER) d. 4 Nov 1892 in WI(USA).
Children:
7 i.
Emérence LIEGEOIS, b. 0 ___ 1857 in WI(USA), d. 0 ___ 0000.
+ 8 ii. Eugène LIEGEOIS b. 0
___ 1859.
5. Clémence J. LIEGEOIS, b. 5 Fév 1828 in Incourt, baptized 5 Fév 1828 in Incourt (see note 7), d. 5 Avr 1905 in Red River,WI(USA).
She married Charles POTIER,
married 13 Aoû 1847 in Huppaye, b. 1 Mai 1820 in Huppaye, d. 6 Jun 1894 in Red
River,WI(USA).
Charles: Emigré aux USA avec sa femme et ses trois enfants. Ont quitté Anvers
le 3/10/1855 à bord du "Telegraph", date d'arrivée inconnue. Ils doivent avoir
fait escale à Hull, où ils ont peut-être changé de bateau. Dans le recensement
US de 1860 ils sont répertoriés à Green Bay (maison 1813) avec les filles
Victoria et Félicie. Peut-être Louis se trouvait-il à Robinsonville ?
Children:
9 i.
Victoria POTIER, b. 0 ___ 1848 in Huppaye, d. 0 ___ 0000.
10 ii. Félicie POTIER,
b. 0 ___ 1849 in Huppaye, d. 0 ___ 0000.
11 iii. Louis POTIER,
b. 0 ___ 1854 in Huppaye, d. 0 ___ 0000.
Note 1 Ou 3/04/1756 ?
Note 2 21:00h.
Note 3 Parrain : Jean
Baptiste Villers
Marraine : Marie Thérèse Van Osmael
Note 4 8:00h.
Note 5 Parrain : Charles
François Dury
Marraine : Victoire J. Delfosse
Note 6 Parrain : François
Guillaume (Roux-Miroir)
Marraine : Jeanne Joseph Looze
(Sart-Risbart)
Note 7 Parrain : Antoine Liegeois
Marraine : Anne Buit ?
(Jodoigne-Souveraine)
|
Generation 1 1. Emerance Liegeois In Oconto County John Liegeois, 86, Abrams died Thursday
afternoon at the Oconto hospital as the result of injuries received from
falling off the roof of his home which he was inspecting the chimney.
The deceased was born in Robinsville, Wis., on November 10, 1869 has
resided in Abrams for the past 60 years. He has been an implement dealer
and the president of the Abrams bank for many years. Survivors include his wife, the former Rowene
Wedgewood, one (step) daughter,
Mrs. Herbert Zilisch (Rowena
Armstrong), West Allis, and two grandsons,
Robe and David. |
| Census 1900 Pensaukee
Joseph Liegeois - head;
age 35;married 14 years; born July 1864 in Wisconsin; parents born in
Belgium; Blacksmith 1910 Pensaukee Oconto John Liegeois - head;
age 40; married 18 years; born in WI; agent farm machinery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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