Mary Bernardin: From France to South Dakota
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Early Life and Immigration
Mary Josephine Virginia Bernardin was my 3x’s great-grandmother. She was born in France on 15 May 1835 to parents Pier[r]e “Peter” Bernardin, Sr., and Mary (Boffy) Bernardin.
In the spring of 1855, Pierre left France for America. In the fall of that year, his wife and children made the journey to join him:
They journeyed by rail to Havre de Grace, and on October 16 embarked on a sailing vessel at that port. Off the coast of England, the ship collided with a war vessel and had to lay by at Plymouth, England, twenty-four days, for repairs, Starting once again on its voyage, it crossed the ocean in safety, and arrived at New Orleans January 12, 1856. The family then went to their destination by way of the Mississippi River to Cairo, thence to a port on the Ohio River, whence they proceeded by rail to Portsmouth.1Portrait and Biographical Record of Lee County, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of All the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1892), 435, Google Books.
The family settled in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. They later moved to Lee County, Illinois.
Marriage and Family
On 22 July 1856, Mary married Victor Redoutey, son of Eugene Redoutey and Mary Matilda Ferry, in Scioto County, Ohio. They originally settled in Union Township, Scioto County, Ohio, later moving to Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, and later to Union County, South Dakota.
Mary and Victor had nine children:
- Louise M. Redoutey, born 12 September 1854/57, Scioto County, Ohio; married Andrew A. Faivre, 14 January 1878, Scioto County, Ohio; died 15 June 1942, Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa.
- Joseph Victor Redoutey was born on 28 September 1858. He died on 4 October 1876 at the age of 18 in Scioto County, Ohio.
- Augustine Olimpe Redoutey, born 15 December 1859; married Noah Robitaille.
- Louis Alfred “Fred” Redoutey was born on 31 January 1862 in Ohio. Fred died on 15 August 1946 at the age of 84.
- Mary Josephine Redoutey, born 1 May 1865, in Illinois; married Simeon Brown.
- Eugene Clovis “Jean” Redoutey, born 1 May 1868, Ohio; married Augustine Derosie, 6 February 1892, Woodbury County, Iowa; died 12 July 1931.
- Victoria Charlotte “Victori” Redoutey, born 25 June 1872, Union Township, Scioto, Ohio; married 1) Bernard Conlon, 2) Charles Karsdell; died 17 December 1922, Aberdeen, Grays Harbor, Washington.
- Clara Louise Redoutey was born in 1875. She died on 30 October 1880 at the age of 5 in Lombardsville, Scioto County, Ohio.
- Emma Corrine “Josephine” Redoutey, born 8 February 1880, Union Township, Scioto County, Ohio; married William Henry Wilson, 6 August 1896, Woodbury County, Iowa; died 9 December 1972, Marion, Oregon.
Death and Burial
Mary died on 20 May 1899 at the age of 64 in Union County, South Dakota. According to family sources, she is buried in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, but I have not yet found her place of burial.
Are You a Cousin?
I am happy to provide sources upon request (yes, I do have them). I deliberately leave them out of these posts so you will contact me if you’re a cousin.
Many thanks to “Cousin Philip” who found me via this blog a few years ago and sent a copy of a wonderful letter with information about this family!
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Footnotes
- 1Portrait and Biographical Record of Lee County, Illinois: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of All the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1892), 435, Google Books.
Interesting that your immigrant ancestors arrived through New Orleans yet settled further north in Ohio and later Illinois, with Mary ending up in South Dakota. I am still seeking ship records for my Italian ancestors, who I assumed arrived through port of New York because they ended up there, but I’ve heard that New Orleans may be more likely. Will have to take another look.
Good luck with your search, Molly. I haven’t had much luck with passenger lists, unfortunately. But I’ve found information in books (family or county histories) and newspaper articles. Granted, the information might not be accurate if it’s coming from an ancestor’s memory many years after the event, but it at least gives you an idea of where to start looking. New Orleans was a popular port… people could catch a boat and head up the river to other places.
Quite a journey! Then seven daughters and two sons…sorry to see the little ones who died too young.
She certainly experienced a variety of homes in her lifetime. I wonder if she ever missed her life – other family and friends – in Europe?
You have some great detail on their journey from France. it’s also nice to see they used a few French names for their children, keeping the family heritage so to speak!
Thank you, Caroline. I love the French names, too!
That must have been a disheartening and frightening start to their voyage. And so much courage needed to uproot and travel to start over in an unfamiliar country.
I’m sure it was! But I’m thankful they made the trip! <3