Wagon Trek - Michigan Migration (1st Wave)

The 1^st Wave led by Joseph Plamondon, arrived from Provemont, Michigan to Morinville by train on May 13, 1908 after a week of travelling.  The older ones, when they were children, had moved from Québec with their family to Michigan.  (Almost 900,000 Québécois, in the mid-to-late 1800s had done the same for mainly economic reasons, with the majority moving to the New England states.)  Thus, they repatriated to Canada, but headed west for homesteads.

When the group arrived to Morinville they were welcomed by relatives and friends that had arrived the year before.  Preparations were made to undertake the trek north.  The group purchased 12 wagons to be pulled by 8 teams of horses and 4 teams of oxen along with the required necessities.  It was decided that some members of the group would stay with their kinfolk in Morinville, until some of the menfolk would return to bring them to the new settlement.

The Wagon Trek left Morinville on July 16, 1908 via Victoria Crossing/Goodfish/Whitefish/Lac La Biche Mission Trails and arrived to what is known as Plamondon today, on July 28, 1908.

There were 40 individuals (20 men, 6 women, 14 children – 10 years old and younger).

1. Joseph Plamondon
2. Ernest Plamondon
3. Isidore Plamondon
4. Mary Plamondon (née Hahnenberg)
5. Sylvia Plamondon (b. 1908)
6. Frederick Plamondon (b. September 18, 1899)
7. Jean-Evangeliste Plamondon
8. Michel Plamondon
9. Jean-Baptiste Plamondon (b. January 25, 1893)
10. Philippe Plamondon Sr.
11. Rose Plamondon (née Tefelski)
12. Bertha Plamondon (child b. unknown)
13. Mabel Plamondon (b. May 11, 1908)
14. Olivier St. Jean
15. Anthony St. Jean
16. Evangeliste St. Jean
17. Mathilda St. Jean (née Couturier)
18. Abraham St. Jean (b. March 3, 1905)
19. Cecilia St. Jean (b. December 31, 1906)
20. Oliva St. Jean
21. Francis Duperron Jr.
22. Arsene Duperron
23. Stanislaus Duperron
24. Elizabeth Duperron (b. July 19, 1894)
25. Jean-Baptiste Lamie
26. Marie Lamie (née St. Jean)
27. Dewey Lamie (child b. unknown)
28. Joseph Lamie (child b. unknown)
29. Adeline Lamie (child b. unknown)
30. Joseph Harpe
31. Adele Harpe (née Duperron)
32. Herman Harpe (b. 1898)
33. Vitaline Harpe (b. June 5, 1903)
34. Edward Harpe (b. 1903)
35. Cecile Harpe (b. 1905)
36. Six-Month-Old Boy Harpe (Deceased in July 1908)
37. Pierre Plamondon
38. Ferdinand Plamondon
39. Esdras Belanger
40. Denis Cagle