Bio: Pinsonneau, John B. (1923)

 
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Pinsonneau, Larmie, Menier, Laughenwell, Martin, Landry, Akey, Mabey, Nacker, Fogarty, Comeau, Hadley

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 314-315

John B. Pinsonneau, now living practically retired in Wis. Rapids, in former years was an active worker in the lumber industry, and later in other occupations. He was born in Centralia (now included in Wis. Rapids), this county, on Sept. 9, 1853, son of Joseph and Sophia (Larmie) Pinsonneau. The father was a native of Canada and the mother of Missouri. They were married in St. Louis, and came to Wood County in 1842, locating at Frenchtown (now Port Edwards), the site of which was bought and owned for some time by Joseph Pinsonneau. He later sold the land to Clinton & Rablin. For a number of years he was engaged extensively in the lumber business and as a manufacturer of shingles, and continued to be thus occupied until his death in 1864 at Stevens Point. His family were then in St. Louis, and he left them there and came up to Wausau for a fleet of lumber and died on the way back. In 1866 his wife came to Centralia and married Charles Menier, after which she continued to make her home here until her death Feb. 28, 1875. Her children by her first husband, Joseph Pinsonneau, were: Nelson, now deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Myron Laughenwell of Tomahawk, Wis.; Joseph and Louis, who are deceased, and John B., subject of this sketch. Her children by Charles Menier were: Charles, now of St. Paul, Minn.; Sophia, deceased; Mary, now Mrs. Henry Martin, living in California; Lillie, wife of Bernie Landry of Milwaukee; and Midy, who lives in California. Joseph B.

Pinsonneau in his boyhood attended school in Centralia. He then found employment helping to clear the land now occupied by the main streets of Wis. Rapids. Soon he became a worker in the lumber industry, a part of the time in the woods and in the spring and summer on drives. He made 12 rafting trips as far as St. Louis, and also for a number of years operated a flat-boat ferry on the Wis. River before any bridge had been built in this locality. At times he worked for the city in one capacity or another, for several years as a policeman, and for nine years was a member of the volunteer fire department. For 11 years he worked in the lumber yard of Norman Gerard, in Grand Rapids, where the city hall now stands. He also helped to build the roadbed of every railroad in Wood County. In 1897 Mr. Pinsonneau bought 50 acres of land in Sigel Township, and for seven years subsequently resided on it engaged in farming. In 1904 he sold the farm and has since worked more or less for the city, where he has made his home. He has erected a number of dwelling-houses here and has frequently taken an active and helpful part in civic affairs. In religion he is a Catholic. Mr. Pinsonneau first assumed the responsibilities of domestic life on Dec. 25, 1875, when he was united in marriage at Centralia, this county, to Mary Akey. Their home life lasted 16 years, or until Nov. 15, 1891, when she passed away. They had six children, Josephine, now Mrs. Josephine Mabey of Wausau; John B., of St. Paul, Minn.; Joseph, deceased; Mary, wife of William Nacker of Chicago; Orabell, wife of William Fogarty of Rudolph, this county; and Charles, a farmer in Rudolph Township. On June 18, 1893, Mr. Pinsonneau married Mary R. Comeau, who died 12 years later on Jan. 22, 1906. The children of this marriage were: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Archie Hadley of Chicago; Sophia, residing with Elizabeth in Chicago; Lucy Eva, and Richard, deceased; Genevieve, at home; and Leonard, who is serving his seventh year in the United States army. Mr. Pinsonneau has seen this community grow from a little hamlet composed of a few "shingle shanties" to a fine flourishing city of mills, factories, large and well-stocked stores and modern homes.