Biographical Sketch
Jean Baptiste Le Claire
Jewett City, Connecticut
From
"The Modern History Of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III"
Lewis
Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1922
| JEAN
BAPTISTE LE CLAIRE - Among the residents of French-Canadian birth in
Jewett City, Connecticut, none is more deserving of mention in a work
of this character than the late Jean B. Le Claire, who gave to the
country of his adoption a loyalty not to be surpassed by any
native-born son, a man of enterprise and public spirit, esteemed by all
with whom he was brought in contact, whether in business, fraternal or
social life. Joseph Le Claire, father of Jean B. Le Claire, was born at La Présentation, Province of Quebec, Canada, a descendant of one of the first French settlers of that section. He was reared and educated in the town of his birth, spent his entire life there with the exception of four years spent with his son at Jewett City, gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, becoming the professor of large holdings of land, and his death occurred the in the year 1896. His wife, Zoe (De Grange) Le Claire, also a native of the Province of Quebec, bore him six children, as follows: Jean Baptiste, of whom further; Napoleon, Adelia, Francis, Hermides, and Jesse, who died in early life. Jean B. Le Claire was born at La Présentation, Province of Quebec, Canada, February 22, 1856. His boyhood and early youth were spent in attendance at government schools of his native place and in assisting his father with the labor of the home farm. At the age of sixteen, feeling that the time had come to depend upon hs own resources for a livelihood, and realizing that the United States offered more opportunities for advancement than his native land, he accordingly came here, locating at Putnam, Connecticut, where he secured work in a woolen mill. His next position was as driver of a bakery wagon, in which capacity he served until 1886, during which time he accumulated a small amount of capital, the result of prudence and thrift. He then took up his residence at Jewett City, where he engaged in the baking business and he succeed so well that at the end of two years he was in a position to erect a house for his own use and a bakery, and twelve years later, in 1900, he built the Le Claire block, where he conducted a branch store, and in 1910 he established a meat market in connection with his baking business, deriving a substantial income from both lines of trade, and these enterprises are conducted at the present time (1920) by member of his family. In addition to the property above mentioned, Mr. Le Claire had other parcels of land in different sections of Jewett City, which have increased in value during the passing years. He was interested in all that concerned the welfare of his adopted city, and was chosen by his fellow-citizens to serve in the office of the tax collector, the duties of which he performed in an efficient manner for six years, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. He was a member and trustee of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Jewett City, and held membership in the Knights of Columbus, of Taftville, Connecticut, the St. Louis Society, and the St. John Baptiste Society at Putnam. Mr. Le Claire married, April 20, 1883, Vittline Quiry, daughter of Michael and Adelide Quiry, of Putnam, the ceremony being performed by Father Bygen. Children: Arthur; Albina, who became the wife of Louis Guillotte of Jewett City; Alpherie, Eugene, Eudor, Wilfred, Hector, and Jean Baptiste, Jr. Three children died young. |
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