HISTORY OF THE LUPIENT FAMILY

Contributed By: Sandra H. Coggeshall

THE CHILDREN OF THEODORE LUPIENT  (continued)

THERESA A. LUPIENT was born Oct 20, 1842 in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and died Dec 12, 1929 in DuPage County, Illinois. She married Gabriel A. Brisbois on Oct 15, 1866 in Portage, Wisconsin. Gabriel Brisbois was born circa 1830, probably in Praire du Chien. His parents were George Pascal Brisbois and Catherine Provost/Prevot. Gabriel and Therese homesteaded land in CLARK COUNTY after the Civil War.

Little is known about this family, but we do know they had at least 5 or 6 children and their possible names were: Bernard, Zeno, Fernando, Madalyn, and Gabriel A. It is known that their son, Gabriel, lived in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and it was possible some of their other children May also have located in Illinois. Gabriel Sr. died Augl 8, 1887, location unknown, and was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in CURTISS, Wisconsin. His service in the Spanish-American War and the Civil War were inscribed on his tombstone. Therese survived Gabriel by 42 years and she was living with their son, Gabriel, in Glen Ellyn, when she died Dec 12,1929. She was buried in DuPage County, Illinois.

LETITIA MARGARET LUPIENT was born Sep 21, 1848 in Prairie du Chien, and died Sep 21, 1934 in Spokane, Washington. She married John Louis LaVigne on Nov 29, 1866 in Salk County, Wisconsin. John was born Dec 25, 1843 in Grand Rapids and died on March 21, 1923 in Spokane, Washington. John’s descendants believe this "Grand Rapids" was possibly referring to the town now known as Wisconsin Rapids. John would never talk about his early family, so the names of his parents are unknown as is whether "Grand Rapids" was Wisconsin Rapids or possibly Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is thought by his descendants that he was possibly a twin.

• Photo of Letitia & John LaVigne

Letitia and John had 10 children: 8 sons and 2 daughters. Two of the children died young, 4 married, and only 2 had offspring. Their names were: Ida, Theodore, Wallace, Peter, Herbert, Jesse, Louis, Letitia, Frank, and Charles. The family lived in Colby, Wisconsin from 1866 until 1873 where John possibly worked as a carpenter. Their Colby house was on First Street at the corner of Broadway. Records show that John Louis applied for land in CLARK COUNTY per the Homestead Act of 1862. It is not known how long they might have lived on this land.

The family also lived in Chippewa Falls Wisconsin for about 10 years where John apparently worked as a Hunting and Fishing Guide. The family moved to Brown County, South Dakota where they lived for many years.

While living in South Dakota, John LaVigne began having health problems and his doctor advised him to move to an area of the country that would be better for his health. The doctor had recently vacationed in the Spokane, Washington area and thought it would be a great place to live. John took the advise of his doctor and moved to Spokane. Many of John and Letitia’s descendants now live in Washington and California.

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