FRANCIS AUBUCHON |
Francis AuBuchon. One of the oldest pioneers of
Southeastern Missouri is the subject of this sketch. Born in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo.,
January 16, 1812, unto the family of Antoine and Ellen L. AuBuchon, natives of the same
county, he grew to be ten years of age, when his parents concluded to locate in French
Village. Here, at about the age of seventeen years, he apprenticed himself to a blacksmith
for three years, and after many years' residence there he moved to Washington County. It
was about seventeen years after his arrival there that he returned to St. Francois County,
which has been his home for many years. His occupation has been chiefly that of a
blacksmith, but he has also dealt in merchandise, besides farming, and devoting
considerable time to general trading. His wife, formerly Miss Teressa Coleman, was born in
Washington County in 1816, and has borne him fourteen children, of whom six sons and two
daughters are now living. They have a large number of descendants living, there being,
besides eight grandchildren deceased, thirty-one grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. AuBuchon are Catholics. His ancestors were among the
earliest French settlers of Ste. Genevieve. Mr. AuBuchon recalls the days when he watched
the first steamboat that ever ascended the Mississippi River to Ste. Genevieve. GOODSPEEDS HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, Page 620. |