Joseph Therien, father of Mrs William White of this city
and Rev Father Therien, of Niagara, died recently at
Oconto at the advanced age of seventy-five years.
Mr. Therien was born in Montreal, Canada, and lived
there with his parents until about 19 years of age. He
then went west, where he spent 15 years as interpreter
among the Indians, in the Rocky Mountains. He had
been ill for several years.
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From the Gold Star List
Wisconsin World War I
Marines

St. Louis, Roland Geny, 24, Oconto; sgt; Toulon, Aisne
defensve, Chateau Thierry, Aisne-Marne offensve (Soissons);
kia Jy 19, '18. Croix de Guerre, silver star;
citation AEF; Fourragere.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have family records from my mother and from Joseph Therien's son, Father Joseph Therien. Father Therien also recorded the stories his father told about his travels in the West. One expedition was with Kit Carson.

Joseph Therien was the son of Eduoard Therien and Theresa Cote of Terrebonne, Quebec.  His wife, Josephe Curotte, studied and taught in a convent school in Montreal until he returned from his Western expeditions.  They were married in Chateauguay, Quebec.   Their first three children were born in Canada.

 Joseph Therien  bought property in Oconto, Wis Nov. 24, 1864  (Lot 4 Pecos addition to Village of Oconto, Wis,  paid $33.00).  He became a citizen in 1868.   He worked in the sawmill and bought more land from which he made maple syrup.

 The Theriens had eleven children, with six surviving to adulthood.

        1) His daughter, Rose Anne, married a Mr. St Louis, and they had three sons,
             Leo, Joseph, and Roland.   Roland served as a Marine in World War I,
             but a few months before the war ended he was killed in action in France. The
             young Oconto man was in the major battles.

        2) Daughter Ellen married twice, to John LePage,
            and to Thomas Montpas.

        3) Daughter Josephine (Zepherine) is my grandmother and was born in Oconto.
            She married William White (LeBlanc), an immigrant from Quebec.

        4) Daughter Delia married a Mr. LaFave
            Their children were Victor, Thomas, Urbana (Mrs. Clarence Garrigan), and Joseph.

        5) Son Oliver. lived in Chicago and in Montreal.

        6) The youngest son, Joseph,  was ordained a priest in Oconto on June 24, 1902.
            He was the first priest to serve  in Niagara, WI.

Joseph Therien's wife, Josephe, survived him.  She was a fiercely independent woman and refused to live with her children.  She lived alone until her death  in Oconto Jan 4, 1928.  She was 92.

The 1880 Census lists the family as Deriern instead of Therien, living in Oconto. Father Therien also did a genealogy of the Therien family that I would be glad to share.

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