Peter Pierre
1822-1897
My Great Great Grandfather
*A lot of the information for this blog was taken from a booklet made for a Pierre family reunion in the late 1980's "The Family Story of Peter and Anna Pierre (1822-1897)" revised: 8-18-88 KJP
Peter was born in Hondelange, Luxembourg, Belgium to Jean Pierre and Elizabeth Courtois. Peter was the 4th child. He was baptized 5 December 1822 in the Church of the Holy Cross in Wolkrange.
This church was built in 1844 on the site of older church. 
Peter's mother Elizabeth died at the time of his birth. His Father Jean died at the age of 56 in 1851. Peter was actually know as Pierre Pierret. In 1851 about the time of his father's death he decided to change the spelling to Pierre.
The Pierret homestead still exists on Holy Cross Street in Buvange, Belgium. The fact that Peter was from Belgium rather than from Luxembourg is a story: "the Pierre family did speak German in their home during the first generations in the United States. However, a neighbor of Peter's in Oakdale, Mr. Raleigh, recalled that they could not communicate with Peter because he did not speak English or German, but rather spoke only French."
Peter was a weaver by trade as was his father and grandfather. In the mid 1800's the weaving trade was a victim of the in industrial revolution and those who were weavers were put out of work. This maybe the cause of Peter's emigration to the United States. He would have arrived in the United States in May or June 1857. Probably came thru New Orleans and took steamboat up the Mississippi. In 1857 there was 292 steamboat arrivals in St. Paul.
By 1859 Peter lived in St. Paul. A record in the archives of the Minnesota Historical Society has a index that he declared his intention to become a United States citizen. This would have occurred in September or October of 1859. Unfortunately, the last pages of this record book are missing.
1860 Federal Census-Minnesota
Peter is listed living with L.C. Collins, dairyman who lived on College St. in the area north and east of the present day intersection of 7th St. and Lafeyette.
In 1859 Peter bought land in Oakdale Twp, Washington, Minnesota from Nicolas Breyer on 16 November 1859. Warranty Deed: ". . . land lying and being in Washington Co., Minnesota described as follows to wit: The East half of the northwest quarter of Section 34 in Township 29 north of range 21 West containing 80 acres . . . ". Today this property is located near the intersection of Country Road 19 and North 10th St.
The entry in the parish record reads:
"On the 14th day of March, 1863, Peter Pierre, son of John Pierre and Elizabeth n Courtois of the diocese of Namur (Belgium) and Anna Gasner, daughter of Christian Gasner and Ledozia n Davatz from Switzerland, by mutual consent through words expressly presented in the witnessing presence of Peter Hinicker and Nicolas Bures have contracted matrimony according to the right of a mixed marriage before me for both spouses without any impediment certainly being present. Rev. George Scherer, OSB"
Anna signed a letter promising to raise their children as Catholics and not to interfere in the Peter's practice of his faith.
Peter and Anna had 10 children.
Peter Pierre 1863-1921 -baptized at the Church of the Assumption in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mary(Marie) Pierre 1866-1886 -baptized at St. Mary's in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Katherine Pierre 1868-1938 -baptized at Church of the Assumption in St. Paul, Minnesota
Magdalene Pierre 1869-1901-baptized at Guardian Angels in Oakdale, Minnesota.
Mathias Pierre 1871-1953 -baptized at Guardian Angels.
John Pierre 1873-1935 (my great grandfather) -baptized at Guardian Angels.
Barbara Pierre 1876-1876 -baptized at Guardian Angels.
Elizabeth Anne Pierre 1877-1901 -baptized at Guardian Angels
Francis Pierre 1879-1954 -baptized at Guardian Angels
Joseph Pierre 1883-1963 -baptized at Guardian Angels
In 1866 the Pierre's bought a second 80 acres of land from Peter Hiniker. ". . . County of Washington and State of Minnesota. . . .The west half of the northwest quarter of Section 34 in Township 29, North of Range 21west". The sale price for this land was $2,000.
In 1867 made another purchase of land from Peter Hiniker. This land was to the east of the 160 acres which the Pierre's already owned. This purchase carried the farm down the slope of land to a small lake, known as Goose Lake.
This photo is the home on the farm. It is not dated. It looks from the early 1900's.
enumerated on 28 June 1870, Oakdale, Washington County, Minnesota. Post office Marine Mills.
Pierro Peter age 40, occupation Farming, value of real estate $5000
Mena, age 35, occupation Keeping house
John age 6
Betsey age 4
Johanna age 2
Mena
Pierre Peter age 50
Anna age 32
Peter age 12
Mary age 8
Katie age 7
Magdalene age 6
Mathias age 3
Peter age 1
The assessment records for 1879-Peter's name is spelled "Perry". The family owned one horse, eight cattle, two mules, four hogs and two wagons.
Pieri Peter age 57, occupation farmer.
Marie age 38
Peter age 16
Marie age 13
Kate age 12
Magdalene age 10
Mathias age 8
John age 6
Anna age 2
Frank age 0
Anna Marie Gasner Pierre died 8 January 1884 at the age of 43.
Peter Pierre died on 21 April 1897 at the age of 74.
23 April 1897, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
23 April 1897 Washington County Journal, page 5.
'
Peter's last will was probated in Washington County on 28 March 1898 with Matt and John Pierre as executors. It appraised Peter's personal property as worth $1,854.75. It said the estate of Peter Pierre consisted on 240 acres of land on the farm and one sixth interest in a piece of property on Stillwater Road. This may have been his share in the Gasner property of Anna's family.
Mary Pierre married John G. Schiltgen on 15 April 1885 probably at Guardian Angels. They had a son Peter born 12 February 1886. Mary died on 16 February 1886 from complications of the birth. And Peter died 18 July 1886. Both are buried at Guardian Angels.
Lena Pierre who was 28 at the time of his death, was in need of special care. Peter's will that the remaining 80 acres of his land should be the property of Matt and John but that they should provide for the "suitable maintence, ie. board, lodging, and clothing for my daughter Lena, for her lifetime, and in case of failure to comply with this provision, they shall in equal proportions pay to her or in her behalf, annually the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the period of her natural life." Lena died on 19 November 1898 was buried in Oakdale.
Elizabeth Ann Pierre stayed home with her father until his death and then entered the convent of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 9 September 1898. After being in the novitiate for two years "Annie" pronounced her vows on 25 March 1901 and took the name of Sr. Mary Natalia. On 2 August 1901, she made her final vows on her deathbed. She died on 13 September 1901.
