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Alphonse Derocher was born in St. Caliste, Quebec, the son of Joseph Brien & Marie {Gerquais} Derocher. His parents were farmers & they had 10 children: 3 boys & 7 girls. In 1950, all were deceased except Mrs. Cordillia Leveillein Schaffer, who was approaching her 92nd birthday.
He was educated in the parochial school of his native parish.
Alphonse came to Newhall, Michigan in April 1879 & worked as a lumberjack, cutting kilnwood for 75 cents a cord. After 5 to 6 years he bought 2 forties of timber 1½ miles southwest of Schaffer for $400. He cut the timber, built a log barn & developed this into an 80-acre farm.
In 1899, he married Odile Doutre & they built a frame house in 1900. Alphonse & Odile had 5 children but only 2 survived: Eugene & Emile. They adopted 3 children: Fred, at the age of 7; Albertine {Trombley} at the age of 8 & died at 11 & Eleanor Dumphy, at the age of 5, who is now Sister Rose Beatrix.
In 1910, he purchased 2 additional forties from his brother, Leon Reno.
For 15 years, he sold farm machinery & for many years was a highway overseer for the Schaffer district. He was also Delta County Highway Commissioner for 2 years.
Alphonse continued farming until he was 80, then remained with his son, Ehgene.
(Information taken from “Memories That Linger: Bark River Bicentennial 1871-1971”)
(Courtesy of klh

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Mrs. Odile Derocher, 72, died at 2:45 yesterday afternoon at home following a illness of the last 6 months, according to her brother, Edward Derocher, Iron Mountain. She had been a resident of Schaffer for the last 45 years. Beside her husband, 3 sons 7 a daughter survive: Emil, Eugene, Fred & Eleanor, who is a nun in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Also 5 brothers: Baptiste, Edward Felix, Gedeon & Peter Doutre ; 2 sisters: Mrs. Delphine King & Mrs. Corrine Scott (Canada).
(Thursday, July 22, 1937, Daily News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan.)
Find A Grave contributor klh
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