Biographie Menard Odilon

Famille d'Odilon

Les parents d'Odilon sont Cyrille Ménard (fils de Pierre et Marie-Madeleine Gosselin) et Marie-Clothilde Cloutier (fille de Joseph et Catherine Mathieu). Ils se sont mariés à Wotton, Qc, le 23 septembre 1856.  https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/3963830?docref=DYhGAdrOWAuEeWsP-Qm2yQ 

Cyrille et Marie-Clothilde ont eu plusieurs enfants dont Trefflé et Odilon, nés à St-Camille.

Lors du recensement de 1871, la famille habitait à St-Camille et comprenait 4 enfants dont Odilon et son frère Trefflé. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=Census&idNumber=38864350&ecopy=4395451_00582

La famille a immigré aux É.-U. pas plus tard qu'en 1878 (Damase serait né à Salem, Mass. à cette date_.

Marie-Clothilde est décédée le 22 juin 1904 à Lowell, Mass. Dans le certificat de décès, on l'identifie comme Marie Cloutier, née au Canada, épouse de Cyril Menard, fille de Joseph Cloutier et Marcelline (sic !) Mathieu. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DY7Q-DF1?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ANW2V-L7D&action=view&cc=1463156&lang=fr

Cyrille est décédé le 22 mai 1905 à Lowell, Mass. Dans le certificat de décès, on le dit fils de Pierre Ménard et Marguerite Goselin, né au Canada. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L4S-GRD?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ANWNR-K8N&action=view&cc=1463156&lang=fr

Odilon est décédé dans des circonstances tragiques, comme on peut le lire dans un article de journal paru le 8 septembre 1887 dans le Salem Register (voir image 2, 2e colonne). Lien vers l'article numérisé : https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/book_viewer/commonwealth:9c683545p#?cv=1&h=accident&xywh=202%2C3250%2C4848%2C1881

FATAL CASUALITY - An accident involving the lives of a father and child, and nearly obliterating an entire family, occurred at Bell's crossing on Balch Street, North Beverly, on Monday afternoon. Odilon Menard, with his wife and infant daughter, was returning from a merry drive to Wenham, in company with his brother, Trefle Menard, who was in another vehicle. With Trefle Menard were Archile Caron and his brother, Calixte Caron. The entire party reside in the French settlement at the "Point" in South Salem, on Congress Street. They were in high spirits. Trefle Menard's carriage was leading and that of Odilin was close behind. Balch street is a cross road leading round by John W. Raymond farm, from the main thoroughfare above Kittredge's Crossing, until it reenters the main road at a point about a mile below. It is down grade on the line of railroad for a considerable distance above the crossing, and trains pass at a high rate of speed. The crossing is in plain sight of Kittredge's Crossing on the main but a few feet away. There is a flagman at Kittredge's but it is stated that none has been maintained at Balch Street, thought the flagman on the main road could be seen from Balch Street by any person in the exercise of ordinary care in approaching a railroad. The French people were approaching at a rapid rate. Eye witnesses say that the two drivers were racing, apparently without a thought of danger. The Newburyport train, no 78, Conductor Shackley, due at Salem at 4.20 P.M. was approaching also. Trefle's team was just passing when he became aware of the approach of the train. With a cut of his whip his horse spread clear. He says he heard but two strokes of the engine bells. There followed a terrible crash and an appalling cry. The second carriage and horse were uplifted bodily from the ground. The horse was carried forward 100 feet and dropped a shapeless mass. The carriage was knocked into kindling wood. Its occupants were hurled through the air with a terrible force. Odilon, the father, was instantly killed. The little baby, a child of eight month, struck heavily upon the ground, but was not seriously scarred. Its mouth was filled with gravel. The little one was breathing when picked up by the trainmen, for the train immediately stopped, but the baby died on its way to Salem. The bodies of the dead and the injured were placed in the baggage car and brought to Salem. The mother was taken to Salem hospital. Upon examination it was found that the mother's skull was fractured and one leg broken but it was believed that she would recover. Odilon Menard, the dead man, was 28 years old. His widow is 24. Young Menard was a plate maker in the employ of A. K. Carleton on Front Street. He had just set up in housekeeping on Congress Street. He was an industrious young fellow, and is described a man of good habits. The mother had partialy regained her consciousness when removed from the cars in Salem depot. She shrieked and moaned for her lost ones, for she seemed to realize that all she held dear was dead. The family had resided in Salem for about sixteen years.

Pour information, Kittredge's Crossing correspond à l'intersection de la voie ferrée avec la rue Cabot, donc un peu au nord de la rue Balch.