Re: Why move to the States?
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In reply to:
Re: Why move to the States?
Gaylene Bordeaux 5/26/09
The family story is that FX followed Father Chiniquy to St. Anne's as part of the 5000 or so immigrants that went to start a "new church in a new land" of sorts.Fr. Chiniquy was very charismatic, and promised a new start where land was reasonable, but led as a religious leader as well.He was breaking from the traditional Catholic church, and many young men and families followed him into the Illinois area.FX was soon disillusioned with Fr Chiniquy (He got married while still a Catholic preist, and was excommunicated in Canada, etc) and moved from St Anne to Momence.He began work on the Fender Family ranch.Within several years, Fred Fender was killed in a farm accident, and he married the Widow Eliza Jane Hoag Fender, adopting their son Fred, and and having two additional children - Elmer Leon (My great Grandfather) and Bertha.There are a number of wonderful resources on Fr Chiniquy, and his followers into the St. Anne and Illinois area.He returned to Canada several times brining large groups of immigrants down.FX came alone without his family in Oct 1856.Do you have any additional information about his brother in Nebraska?
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Re: Why move to the States?
Gaylene Bordeaux 5/30/09