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https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wilincol/Settler.htm
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This information was given to me by Brian Morren -- [email protected]. This is the result of a project he did for the French Committee for Tomahawk's Yesterfest.
The first white settler in the vicinity of Tomahawk was an ambitious French-Canadian named Germaine Bouchard.
Born October 25, 1832, in the province of Quebec, Canada, he established himself here in the 1850's when the area was known as 'The Forks'.
By 1858, he had established a trading post and ferry service called 'Bouchard's Station'. Located near the junction of the Somo, Tomahawk and Wisconsin rivers (slightly north and west of present day SARA Park), travelers, trappers and traders, Indian and white alike, could find shelter, supplies and a meal as well as the latest news.
Thirty years later, in 1888, Bouchard's Station disappeared beneath the rising waters behind the new Pride dam. Wm. Bradley and the loggers had arrived transforming 'The Forks' into a boom-town which, a few years later, would come to call itself 'Tomahawk'.
As for Monsieur Bouchard, he accepted a monetary settlement from Bradley and relocated 10 miles west of Tomahawk at Spirit Falls. Here he erected that settlement's first building, a log structure which still stands today at the corner of 'T' and HWY 86. Germaine passed away on February 2, 1905, and is buried in the old Catholic cemetary north of Tomahawk.
It seems fitting that this early pioneer was named 'Germaine' for his name translates to 'first' in the French language!
Many more settlers of French descent have since followed him to Tomahawk. From those early days on the frontier, they and their descendants have made many contributions to the continuing success that the city of Tomahawk enjoys today. Some of those family names are listed here. Is yours?
Allard (Allord)
Allain
Baillet
Bebeau
Belliveau
Comeau
Cormier
Cournoyer
Crapeau
da Chaine
(DuChaine)
Daigle (D'Aigle)
Doucette
DuBois
Dupee
DuPlayee
DuPont
Durand
Faucher
FauFau (Fafard)
Gano
Genin
Geoffroy
Gignac
Gillette
Giraud
L'Abbe
LaFond
LaLiberte (Liberty)
Lambert
Langlois
LaNou
LeClerc
LeTendre
Leveille
Leverance
LeVesque (Bishop)
Linteruer
Longtin
Martell
Major
Marcott
Marcouiller
Montabon
Morin
Morren (Morin)
Myre
Perrodin
Quirion
Roberge
Tremblay
Turgeon
Venne
Violette