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Belgians in the Civil War

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BELGIANS IN PERRY COUNTY, INDIANA :    Biographies of Belgian families 

Perry County: Albert, Allard, Bel(l), Belva, Bigonville, Bodart, Boly, Claise/clesse, Collignon, Collin, Damin, Dauby, Delaisse, Deom, Devillez, Ducat, Duparque, Dupont, Etienne, Evrard, Fanard, Fays, Flamion, Foury, Francois, Genet, Genlain, Georges, Gillardin, Goffinet, Grave, Gringoire, Guillaume, Hanouille, Harbaville, Houlmont, Hubert, Jacob, Jacques, Kergen, Lagrange, Lambert, Lamquin(lampkin), Lanotte, Laurent, Leclere, Lemaire, Marchal, Masson, Marciliat, Massut, Meunier, Morse, Naviaux, Nicolay, Pierrard, Pierre, Ponsard, Remy, Richard, Rogier, Spirlet, Tassin, Thi(e)ry, Tibessart

HUBERT

 
Jean Francois Hubert born Florenville, February 18, 1814; married Josephine Mernier on December 4, 1839 at Orgéo; death July 2, 1854, Perry Co
Josephine Mernier born Rossart (Orgéo) on November 13, 1814; married Joseph Albert February 11, 1858 (see that family); death July 23, 1878, Perry Co
Jean François Hubert children:

Joseph born Florenville September 13, 1840; married Mary Josephine Etienne August 14, 1866, Perry Co ; death December 23, 1917, Perry Co
Alexis born July 11, 1842 at Florenville; death on voyage to USA
Jean Baptiste born Florenville, August 27, 1844; married Mary Florentine (Flamion) Naviaux on April 6, 1869; death July 26, 1914, Perry Co
Jean Baptiste Jules born November 3, 1846, Florenville
Marie Josephine born Florenville, September 5, 1849 (birthdate on tombstone is Aug 28, 1848); married Constant Leclere on September 15, 1870; death January 13, 1911 Leopold, Perry Co.
 
There is a letter sent by Josephine Mernier, annoucing the death of her husband, still existing. It was found by Annette Biazot from Florenville and was published in French in "Emigration de Belgique méridionale" in 1997.  Here the English translation:
 
Leopold, July 8, 1854
Dear Parents,
It is with great sadness that I have to give you our news. As for the whole, the family is doing well. For me it is very sad, my hand trembles to write these words. In the time we were to live in peace, God strokes the fatal blow of death to François.
But it is a recklessness he committed, being hot and sweaty, it went up to his neck in a stream and his sweat stopped. It happened around noon. The next day he went to cut the grain to Vilvil, he breakfasted as if nothing had happened, at it's usual between 10 and 10:30 o'clock. He said he was unwell and went to bed. Vilvil and his workers went to see him. Vilvil jumped on horseback to fetch the priest, beating the horse. The priest arrived and shortly after he died. So I leave you to think what state of sadness was put on the vicinity. As for Vilvil he near made it a disease.
I am in great sadness that we can not recover. As you know I left with so many regrets and seeing me now, what do you want me to do? Had he lived, we would have been happy. We had already cleared more than for our living. He was very much happy here, like me and my children. Please, my dear parents, ask for funeral service and commend for his soul. I know that in America the widows are not abandoned. I'll give you an example, I had a debt of 7 to 8 francs to an American, he released it and made himself available as well as many others to do my plowing for nothing.
I am not yet housed, but all men will be boarding me during the winter months for chores. The greatest evil is that I am in debt and no one to earn monney. We have a credit for a cow that costs us 100 francs and I do not know how to pay. Please send them to me. My sister may remove them from the General Account.
Please also tell me if you had given news by François Etienne. He told us nothing. The son has been very sad ... cousin Pierre Pierrard came to see us, he told us that you were very sad ( for the death ) of little Alexis, sad to the death. He told us that he had a small letter for us but he found it no more . What makes him much trouble, he has not had time to do great research.
As for this trip, it cost us 1,500 francs. So you can see that little remained after I bought my 40 acres of land to live on it. It depends on when you embark. I recommend myself to brother Jean-Baptiste for a pair of shoes and I will pay them per month.
Dear father and mother, I beg you to let know my situation to the whole family and all relatives and friends. All my children heartily embrace you and send you their compliments and always think of you. You will make compliments to the priest and his servant and tell him that I forgot in our account three half days of work in the garden and you will have a mass said.
I am in a sad situation, I always had backache. Joseph and Jean Baptiste work as men in the fields. Besides this means I can no longer earn much. If he had still been with me, we would have been happy. He said he had never been so strong ... and was never tired ... the unfortunate carelessness! As for the cow, she must be paid for All Saints' Day. So, send me a prompt reply on if you are to send  the monney, I could borrow it in the meantime.
 
I finish the letter embracing you with all my heart .
 
J Mernier
 
note: later, Josephine Mernier married Constant Leclere from Gribomont who emigrated to leopold in 1870. They had a child Emma Jane born in 1885 and died 1980.