article Mitchell LaFond (d. 1914)
OLD TIMERS
The Old Timers column will be continued as long as we find the persons who have a vivid recollection of the early days and who are entitled to recognition as Old Timers by having lived in this vicinity previous to 1856.
The LaFonds comprise a larger proportion of the population of the Eastside than any other family. There was a time 15 or 20 years ago when the LaFonds, the Gagnons and the LeClaire families made up the majority of the French population of Two Rivers. But the LaFonds were always the most numerous. The family came here in June, 1853, consisting of the father and mother and six boys and one girl. Mitchel is the oldest one living. The LaFonds came from Canada like all our french citizens. The father had been working on a farm near Montreal and came to the states to improve conditions for the family.
They came by steamer most of the way. Upon their arrival they made their home for a time with the family of Mr. Boupre' who was a fisherman here but moved to Green Bay a few years later. The LaFonds built a small house of their own near the river on the west side, a few months after their arrival here. Mitchel was 15 years of age when he arrived at Two Rivers. His father started in fishing almost immediately and Mitchel helped him. They caught almost all whitefish, trout were at that time as scarce as whitefish are now and there were no chub which now constitute a large share of the fish caught here. The whitefish have all been caught. The trout and chub have been planted and multiplied. Although whitefish have been planted, they have not multiplied and they are very rarely caught in the nets today. They are almost extinct.
Just before the war, Mitchel went to Green Bay to fish and while there he volunteered and joined the army. This was in 1865. When his regiment reached Fort Leavenworth, the war was practically over and they were transferred to Fort Rice up on the Missouri River. The company of which he was a member dwindled down from 60 to 22. This was due to desertion. The lonesome life on the plains had no charm for most of the boys who had enlisted in the hope of seeing active service in the war.
Mr. LaFond served nine months in the army. He went back to Green Bay after the war and shortly thereafter returned to Two Rivers. Here he engaged in fishing up to a few weeks ago when he sold his outfit to his son. The biggest haul he ever made while fishing was twenty-six years ago when he brought in 5,000 pounds of trout. He always fished with gill nets and used a mackinaw boat. On one occasion he was out in a severe storm. His boat was late in coming into port and there was talk of sending a tug out to search. It was decided however, that this would be useless as if LaFond was out in that storm he must surely be drowned by that time. He lost 2,000 pounds of fish one time when his boat was capsized. He and his son were trying to make port at Sturgeon Bay when they ran on the sunken pier or rib against the harbor pier. As there was a heavy sea their boat capsized and all the fish were lost. Mr. LaFond and his brother saved themselves by jumping quickly onto the pier.
Mitchel LaFond was for several years a member of the Life Saving Crew when that branch of the service was a volunteer organization here. The government provided them with a surf boat. Oliver Pilon, deceased, was also a member of this Volunteer Life Saving Crew. The boys were sometimes called on to aid vessels in distress. Every time they responded they each received $10 from the government.
Mitchel LaFond has just recovered from a severe illness. He does not feel as strong as he used to for in a few months his weight has dropped from 190 pounds to 140. Mr. and Mrs.LaFond are both living at their residence on 1012 20th St. on the Eastside. In 1907 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
The Reporter, July 26, 1913.
OLD TIMERS
The Old Timers column will be continued as long as we find the persons who have a vivid recollection of the early days and who are entitled to recognition as Old Timers by having lived in this vicinity previous to 1856.
The LaFonds comprise a larger proportion of the population of the Eastside than any other family. There was a time 15 or 20 years ago when the LaFonds, the Gagnons and the LeClaire families made up the majority of the French population of Two Rivers. But the LaFonds were always the most numerous. The family came here in June, 1853, consisting of the father and mother and six boys and one girl. Mitchel is the oldest one living. The LaFonds came from Canada like all our french citizens. The father had been working on a farm near Montreal and came to the states to improve conditions for the family.
They came by steamer most of the way. Upon their arrival they made their home for a time with the family of Mr. Boupre' who was a fisherman here but moved to Green Bay a few years later. The LaFonds built a small house of their own near the river on the west side, a few months after their arrival here. Mitchel was 15 years of age when he arrived at Two Rivers. His father started in fishing almost immediately and Mitchel helped him. They caught almost all whitefish, trout were at that time as scarce as whitefish are now and there were no chub which now constitute a large share of the fish caught here. The whitefish have all been caught. The trout and chub have been planted and multiplied. Although whitefish have been planted, they have not multiplied and they are very rarely caught in the nets today. They are almost extinct.
Just before the war, Mitchel went to Green Bay to fish and while there he volunteered and joined the army. This was in 1865. When his regiment reached Fort Leavenworth, the war was practically over and they were transferred to Fort Rice up on the Missouri River. The company of which he was a member dwindled down from 60 to 22. This was due to desertion. The lonesome life on the plains had no charm for most of the boys who had enlisted in the hope of seeing active service in the war.
Mr. LaFond served nine months in the army. He went back to Green Bay after the war and shortly thereafter returned to Two Rivers. Here he engaged in fishing up to a few weeks ago when he sold his outfit to his son. The biggest haul he ever made while fishing was twenty-six years ago when he brought in 5,000 pounds of trout. He always fished with gill nets and used a mackinaw boat. On one occasion he was out in a severe storm. His boat was late in coming into port and there was talk of sending a tug out to search. It was decided however, that this would be useless as if LaFond was out in that storm he must surely be drowned by that time. He lost 2,000 pounds of fish one time when his boat was capsized. He and his son were trying to make port at Sturgeon Bay when they ran on the sunken pier or rib against the harbor pier. As there was a heavy sea their boat capsized and all the fish were lost. Mr. LaFond and his brother saved themselves by jumping quickly onto the pier.
Mitchel LaFond was for several years a member of the Life Saving Crew when that branch of the service was a volunteer organization here. The government provided them with a surf boat. Oliver Pilon, deceased, was also a member of this Volunteer Life Saving Crew. The boys were sometimes called on to aid vessels in distress. Every time they responded they each received $10 from the government.
Mitchel LaFond has just recovered from a severe illness. He does not feel as strong as he used to for in a few months his weight has dropped from 190 pounds to 140. Mr. and Mrs.LaFond are both living at their residence on 1012 20th St. on the Eastside. In 1907 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
The Reporter, July 26, 1913.
article Mitchell LaFond (d. 1914)
OLD TIMERS
The Old Timers column will be continued as long as we find the persons who have a vivid recollection of the early days and who are entitled to recognition as Old Timers by having lived in this vicinity previous to 1856.
The LaFonds comprise a larger proportion of the population of the Eastside than any other family. There was a time 15 or 20 years ago when the LaFonds, the Gagnons and the LeClaire families made up the majority of the French population of Two Rivers. But the LaFonds were always the most numerous. The family came here in June, 1853, consisting of the father and mother and six boys and one girl. Mitchel is the oldest one living. The LaFonds came from Canada like all our french citizens. The father had been working on a farm near Montreal and came to the states to improve conditions for the family.
They came by steamer most of the way. Upon their arrival they made their home for a time with the family of Mr. Boupre' who was a fisherman here but moved to Green Bay a few years later. The LaFonds built a small house of their own near the river on the west side, a few months after their arrival here. Mitchel was 15 years of age when he arrived at Two Rivers. His father started in fishing almost immediately and Mitchel helped him. They caught almost all whitefish, trout were at that time as scarce as whitefish are now and there were no chub which now constitute a large share of the fish caught here. The whitefish have all been caught. The trout and chub have been planted and multiplied. Although whitefish have been planted, they have not multiplied and they are very rarely caught in the nets today. They are almost extinct.
Just before the war, Mitchel went to Green Bay to fish and while there he volunteered and joined the army. This was in 1865. When his regiment reached Fort Leavenworth, the war was practically over and they were transferred to Fort Rice up on the Missouri River. The company of which he was a member dwindled down from 60 to 22. This was due to desertion. The lonesome life on the plains had no charm for most of the boys who had enlisted in the hope of seeing active service in the war.
Mr. LaFond served nine months in the army. He went back to Green Bay after the war and shortly thereafter returned to Two Rivers. Here he engaged in fishing up to a few weeks ago when he sold his outfit to his son. The biggest haul he ever made while fishing was twenty-six years ago when he brought in 5,000 pounds of trout. He always fished with gill nets and used a mackinaw boat. On one occasion he was out in a severe storm. His boat was late in coming into port and there was talk of sending a tug out to search. It was decided however, that this would be useless as if LaFond was out in that storm he must surely be drowned by that time. He lost 2,000 pounds of fish one time when his boat was capsized. He and his son were trying to make port at Sturgeon Bay when they ran on the sunken pier or rib against the harbor pier. As there was a heavy sea their boat capsized and all the fish were lost. Mr. LaFond and his brother saved themselves by jumping quickly onto the pier.
Mitchel LaFond was for several years a member of the Life Saving Crew when that branch of the service was a volunteer organization here. The government provided them with a surf boat. Oliver Pilon, deceased, was also a member of this Volunteer Life Saving Crew. The boys were sometimes called on to aid vessels in distress. Every time they responded they each received $10 from the government.
Mitchel LaFond has just recovered from a severe illness. He does not feel as strong as he used to for in a few months his weight has dropped from 190 pounds to 140. Mr. and Mrs.LaFond are both living at their residence on 1012 20th St. on the Eastside. In 1907 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
The Reporter, July 26, 1913.
OLD TIMERS
The Old Timers column will be continued as long as we find the persons who have a vivid recollection of the early days and who are entitled to recognition as Old Timers by having lived in this vicinity previous to 1856.
The LaFonds comprise a larger proportion of the population of the Eastside than any other family. There was a time 15 or 20 years ago when the LaFonds, the Gagnons and the LeClaire families made up the majority of the French population of Two Rivers. But the LaFonds were always the most numerous. The family came here in June, 1853, consisting of the father and mother and six boys and one girl. Mitchel is the oldest one living. The LaFonds came from Canada like all our french citizens. The father had been working on a farm near Montreal and came to the states to improve conditions for the family.
They came by steamer most of the way. Upon their arrival they made their home for a time with the family of Mr. Boupre' who was a fisherman here but moved to Green Bay a few years later. The LaFonds built a small house of their own near the river on the west side, a few months after their arrival here. Mitchel was 15 years of age when he arrived at Two Rivers. His father started in fishing almost immediately and Mitchel helped him. They caught almost all whitefish, trout were at that time as scarce as whitefish are now and there were no chub which now constitute a large share of the fish caught here. The whitefish have all been caught. The trout and chub have been planted and multiplied. Although whitefish have been planted, they have not multiplied and they are very rarely caught in the nets today. They are almost extinct.
Just before the war, Mitchel went to Green Bay to fish and while there he volunteered and joined the army. This was in 1865. When his regiment reached Fort Leavenworth, the war was practically over and they were transferred to Fort Rice up on the Missouri River. The company of which he was a member dwindled down from 60 to 22. This was due to desertion. The lonesome life on the plains had no charm for most of the boys who had enlisted in the hope of seeing active service in the war.
Mr. LaFond served nine months in the army. He went back to Green Bay after the war and shortly thereafter returned to Two Rivers. Here he engaged in fishing up to a few weeks ago when he sold his outfit to his son. The biggest haul he ever made while fishing was twenty-six years ago when he brought in 5,000 pounds of trout. He always fished with gill nets and used a mackinaw boat. On one occasion he was out in a severe storm. His boat was late in coming into port and there was talk of sending a tug out to search. It was decided however, that this would be useless as if LaFond was out in that storm he must surely be drowned by that time. He lost 2,000 pounds of fish one time when his boat was capsized. He and his son were trying to make port at Sturgeon Bay when they ran on the sunken pier or rib against the harbor pier. As there was a heavy sea their boat capsized and all the fish were lost. Mr. LaFond and his brother saved themselves by jumping quickly onto the pier.
Mitchel LaFond was for several years a member of the Life Saving Crew when that branch of the service was a volunteer organization here. The government provided them with a surf boat. Oliver Pilon, deceased, was also a member of this Volunteer Life Saving Crew. The boys were sometimes called on to aid vessels in distress. Every time they responded they each received $10 from the government.
Mitchel LaFond has just recovered from a severe illness. He does not feel as strong as he used to for in a few months his weight has dropped from 190 pounds to 140. Mr. and Mrs.LaFond are both living at their residence on 1012 20th St. on the Eastside. In 1907 they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
The Reporter, July 26, 1913.
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