The People of Frenchtown

 The People of Frenchtown

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This page features some of the people who resided in this area during the influx of French-Canadian immigrants. We are always seeking to expand our knowledge and the biographies of women from this time, which are found on the Women’s History Project page. Below are brief biographies, but you can learn more about each person and their families by clicking each name.

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JOSEPH LAROCQUE

Was the first French-Canadian and first person of European descent to settle in the Walla Walla Valley. Joseph Larocque established a cabin here in about 1823-1824 adjacent to the present Frenchtown Historic Site with his wife LISSETTE. 

LOUIS TELLIER

Was the second French-Canadian and second person of European descent to settle here. Louis Tellier came to the Walla Walla Valley in 1834, and married CAH-KATS-TSEE TECUMSH ANGELIQUE JOSEPHTE, also known as ANGELIQUE PENDOREILLE, around 1844. 

ISADORE BEAUCHAMP

Came to the Walla Walla Valley from Montreal, Canada, via Chicago and St. Louis where he joined a wagon train heading to the California gold fields in 1849. Taking ill on the way, he never made it and instead arrived in the Northwest. He married MARY TELLIER, the daughter of Louis Tellier in 1858. 

A.P. WOODWARD

First came to the Walla Walla Valley in 1852. After serving for some time with the U.S. Army and the Oregon Mounted Volunteers, he settled in the Frenchtown area in 1858 where he married CATHERINE DAUPHIN in 1860. Find an account of his participation in the Battle of Walla Walla in his full biography.

MARCEL GAGNON

With brothers Meddard and Lucien came to the area from Quebec, Canada. After obtaining United States citizenship in New York State, the brothers boarded a ship sailing around Cape Horn for San Francisco. They tried the gold fields for a short time before arriving in the Frenchtown area in 1853. Marcel married Rosalie Dauphin. 

ESTHER BELEQUE HERBERT TESSIER & GAGNON

Esther Beleque, the daughter of Pierre Beleque and Genevieve St Martin, was an early settler of Frenchtown. Her sister, Mary Sophie married Narcisse Cornoyer. They also settled here.

MATHIEU DAUPHIN & SUZANNE CAYUSE DAUPHIN

Mathieu came West from St. Louis, Missouri in 1838. He was an early settler in the Frenchtown area. 

 


The history of more Frenchtown families will be added as they are available.