Hello
It has taken me a long time to get this information to someone who might be able to use it. My sister and I visited Langford in 1991 and purchased the Centenniel Book. I was quite surprised to learn that Ferdinand Gamache was one of the founding fathers. I was raised knowing the surname but had no idea they were related until I started doing genealogy. Then, I was surprised by the lack of information about him. Probably the result of no descendants left living in Langford.
You may remember my grandfather's shoe store. His name was George Osier. He died in December, 1949. The building was still standing when we were there in '91. Ferdinand and Julia Gamache were his uncle and aunt. Julia was the sister of George's mother, Marie.
George and Marie moved to Langford some time between 1894 when their eldest son, my father Henry, was born in MN, and 1900 when they appear in the SD census. Henry attended school in Langford and was married to Martha Oxley there. A few years later, he moved his family to Cogswell, North Dakota, where his wife's family settled.
George's sister, Eliza, married Charles Stearns and they lived in Langford until their deaths. "Charlie" died 26 Mar 1948, Eliza died 4 Sep 1953. They'd moved to Langford in 1913.
Ferdinand was born 3 May 1830, the son of Victor and Marguerite Ursule Richard. He married Marguerite Gaudreau on 23 October 1852 place, unknown. They had eight children. After her death on 5 Apr 1864 in Dayton, MN, he married on 26 December 1867, Julie Champagne dite Lambert who was born 10 October 1850 in Waterville, Kennebec County, ME. They had 16 children.
Children of Ferdinand Gamache and Marguerite Gaudreau
Marguerite Emma--28Aug1853-26Feb1894 Dayton, MN m. Louis Begin b: 26 Feb 1894
*Joseph Ferdinand--14Oct1854. He never married
Philomene Vitaline--28Jan1856-1932
Josephine Emeline--9Jun1857-4Oct1918
Louis--17Mar1859-9Jul1871 drowned at age 12.
Alcides--10May1860--3Nov1945 in Ironwood, MI m: Caroline Garon
Marie Clementine--30Mar1862-9Oct1862 d:in infancy
Narcisse Henry--8Mar1864
Children of Ferdinand and Julie
Julia--15Sep1868-27Feb1945 in Langford m:29Nov1899 to Seldon Colcord
John--23Oct1869-22Jul1940 never married
unnamed child-- 8Dec1870-12Dec1870 Dayton MN died in infancy at 4 days
Francois--7Jan1872-24Jun1883, Dayton MN at ae 12 of rheumatic fever
Edward--18Dec 1872-14Sept 1873, Dayton, MN at 9 mos.
Louise Victoire--20Dec1873-19Jun1951, Minneapolis, MN m1:20Nov1895 to Louis Begin
m2:10Feb1931 to Joseph Caouette
George Thomas--10Feb1875-26Aug1950, Minneapolis, MN -- never married
Marie--26Oct1876-died in infancy
Rosalie--7Dec1877-30Aug1882 Dayton, MN in childhood of diptheria
Pierre Marc--9Feb1879-1Nov1972, Hamel, MN m:25Sep1925 to Edwina Pouliot of Hamel, MN
Georgiana Elsie--20Mar1880--unknown m:15Feb1898 to Carl Langager
Ida--21Aug1881--9Dec1970 Hamel, MN m:9Feb1904 to Francois Pouliot in Hamel, MN
David Alfred-- 19Feb1883-1Apr1962 in Minneapolis, MN m:29Oct1907 to Lilly Merchant
Cecelia Mary--2Sep1884-31May1955 m: George Baker
unnamed boy--16Jan1887-18Jan1887 Langford, SD died in infancy
Phillip Omer--28Jan1888-17Feb 1973 Minneapolis, MN m: 8Jun1911 to Laura Anderson
In the 1900 Census for Hickman Township, Marshall County, SD in family 129 there appears Ferdinand Gamache-70, Julia-51 husband and wife and their children, John-30, Peter-21, **Addie-18, Alfred-17, Cecile-15, and Phillip-12. ** Must be nickname for Ida, or heard wrong.
In family #134 is Joseph-45. This must be the son of Ferdinand and Marguerite and he is listed as an early land owners.
I have been told that Laura Anderson Gamache had a restaurant in Langford for many years.
Langager was another name of people I thought were family friends. I had no idea they were shirt tail related.
I hope some of this information is useful to you. I should think it would be since Ferdinand was one of the early settlers, if not the earliest....
Sincerely Barbara Hammond
