Table Of ContentThe of 6e1Ba.1
Histo~9 the
in Door) Kewaunee
& Brown Counties
\
.t.
\~ 1
E
~PARIS
The History
of the
Belgian Settlements
in Door, Kewaunee
and Brown Counties
Reprinted from series of aticles which appeared in
the Algoma Record-Herald.
. .. A LEGACY
IN lOPARTS
By Math S. Tlachac
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Published by:
Peninsula Belgian-American Club
Namur, Wisconsin, USA
FIRST PRINTING (500) -1974
SECOND PRINTING (300) -1976
THIRD PRINTING (300) -1982
FOURTH PRINTING (300) -2000
Printed by:
ALGOMA (WIS.) PRINTING, INC.
422 Fifth Street
PO. Box 44
Algoma, Wisconsin 54201 USA
FIFTH PRINTING (500) -2007
Printed by:
BROWN COUNTY GRAPHICS
1136 Contract Drive
PO. Box 12497
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54304 USA
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Only 10 minutes before he died, my father reviewed with
me a folder containing 10 articles which he had researched
and written on "The history of the Belgian Settlements in
Door, Kewaunee and Brown Counties."
My brothers, Norman and Norbert Tlachac, and myself
greatly appreciate the fact that the Algoma Record-Herald has
agreed to publish these articles posthumously. I think the
greatest tribute we could give to our father, Math Tlachac, is
to say that we needed no commandment advising us to "Honor
thy father." For our love and respect for Dad began about the
time we realized who our father was.
He was a hardy man, made of the same self-reliant
essence of these Belgian emigrants of whom he writes. It is
true, death ravaged his body, but Dad's immortal spirit, that
immaterial part of him with his ideas about patriotism and
truth, which no one could see or touch, lives on. He took an
almost fierce pride in the humble peasant ancestry of both our
Bohemian and Belgian fore bearers and left his family
the priceless heritage of a genealogy second to none. In his
research back into the centuries, Dad sought and revealed
the truths which motivated his ancestors to seek more
God-fearing and self-fulfilling lives.
In his funeral liturgy, the family requested as a closing
song, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." We feel Dad's
"truth is marching on" through the publication of these
articles. For:
"His burning soul
Had but an hour of breath
To build a ship of Truth
In which his soul might sail ...
For death took toll
Of strength, courage, youth,
Of all ... but Truth."
- Sister Mary Audri Tlachac, O.S.F
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MATH S. TLACHAC
THE AUTHOR
(ALGOMA RECORD-HERALD PHOTO)
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PART I
FOUR GENERATIONS OF BELGIAN PEOPLE HAVE
LIVED AND TOILED IN AREA; ONCE THERE WERE A
FEW WHO REMEMBERED EARLY DAYS.
Between Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay is the first emigrants came. It was a crowded
a region along the bay which is populated and thickly populated area.
almost exclusively by people of Belgian ori In the early part of 1853, a small farmer
gin. It is the largest rural settlement of by the name of Constant J. Petiniot from
people of this nationality in the United the commune of "Grez-Doiceau" made a
States and covers an area 20 miles wide trip to the City of Antwerp to transact busi
and 50 miles long. ness.
Four generations of Belgian people have Upon reaching his destination Petiniot
lived and toiled there since this land was was thirsty and sought an inn. Stopping in,
reclaimed from the wilderness and up to he ordered a glass of beer to quench his
three decades ago there were a few old men thirst. While sitting at a table sipping his
and women who remembered how this re beer, he spied a pamphlet on another table
gion appeared when they and their parents nearby. He picked up the pamphlet and
penetrated into the vast primeval forest to saw that it was printed in the Dutch lan
start a new life. guage.
The following is a history of the Belgian Belgian is not a printed language but Pe
settlement as obtained by research and tiniot was able to read some Dutch. While
what elder Belgians have said about the reading the pamphlet, he became ex
development of the area which they occu tremely interested in what it said. It told
pied. Some history is also included specifi of the fertile land in America which
cally about the Township of Brussels, which stretched for hundreds of miles with no one
is the region of my birth. living on it; all of this land was awaiting
The first Belgian known to penetrate the settlement of the white man.
this region was Father Louis Hennepin, a And when Petiniot read that this land
missionary who was born in Ath in the could be purchased from the American
province of Hainaut, Belgium. government for $1.25 an acre, his interest
He came to America in 1675 and took a was aroused to a high pitch. To own land, to
prominent part in exploring this region. cultivate it, plant it and reap the harvest
As he traveled by canoe on the waters of for himself was the most coveted hope
Green Bay, he stopped at a site where the of most every European peasant for
Village of Dyckesville now stands .. Follow centuries. To get a share of this rich
ing a long tiresome day of paddling, he and land in America became the dominant
his party decided to camp over night, little hope of most rural Europeans who heard
dreaming that his campsite was later to be about it.
come the largest settlement of his country Then he folded the pamphlet and tucked
men in America. Upon recall to his native it into his pocket.
country, not a Belgian set foot in this region Desire Is Implanted
for almost 175 years. Upon completing his business affairs
Began in 1853 in Antwerp, Petiniot headed for home
In order to better understand what mo filled with a burning desire to eventually
tivated the Belgians to leave their mother own some of the cheap land in America.
country for the New World, we must turn His small farm in Belgium consisted of
back the pages of time to the year, 1853. four or five hectare. (One hectare equals
We are in the province of Brabant, which is 2.4 71 acres). In the New World he could
located in the center of Belgium from which obtain a hundred times as much land for
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the price of his few hectare in Belgium. phlets, posters, booklets and any other
The more Petiniot thought about it, the printed material that would draw the at
more convinced he became that he should tention of prospective immigrants.
emigrate to America where opportunities One of the posters read, "Come! In Wis
seemed better. He felt that here, indeed, consin all men are free and equal before the
was something to think and talk about law. Religion is free and equal between
when he reached home. Several times on church and state. Opportunities are unlim
his homeward journey he drew the pam ited for those who want to work. Good land
phlet from his pocket and read it over to can be purchased from the generous Amer
make sure he understood it correctly. ican government for $1.25 an acre. The soil
When he reached home, Petiniot said is adapted to raising corn, wheat, rye, oats,
nothing for a day or two but the thought of barley and vegetables - all products with
cheap land in America haunted him, mak which the Belgian husbandman is famil-
ing him somewhat nervous and restless, iar."
noticeable to his wife. Thousands of such posters were distrib
Said she, "What is it, Constant, that uted among rural people who up to this
seems to make you so nervous and rest time were undecided about emigrating.
less? What can it be, please tell me, I have Similar advertising material was sent to
never seen you like that before." those countries where political distur
He replied, "My dear Madam, you will bances, economic conditions or religious
not believe what I read and heard when I differences compelled people to leave the
was in Antwerp." Then he showed her the land of their forefathers. It was the cheap
pamphlet and told her what it contained. land in American that drew them like a
He told her about the opportunities there magnet to the New World.
were in America, about the cheap land Popular Subject
which could be obtained for $1.25 an acre. All one could hear in the commune of
Said he, "There we can have a big farm and "Grez-Doiceau" was talk of America, the
become rich." Would you consider emigrat cheap land, the opportunity of the New
ing to the New World?" World and freedom which it offered to new
Madam Petiniot shrugged her shoulders, comers.
indicating she was in doubt. Within a few weeks, neighbors gathered
Soon Petiniot spread the word amongst at Petiniot's house to learn more about the
his neighbors in the commune of "Grez advisability of emigrating. Said he, "Here
Doiceau" and it became the subject of dis in Belgium we are crowded, our farms con
cussion. Within a few days some were sist of only a few hectare which hardly pro
talking about the advisability of emigrat duce enough for our sustenance, especially
ing to America. in a time of crop failure. Most best lands
Farmers Sought are owned by land lords who have little
At this time in history, our own State of concern about the well being of those who
Wisconsin was advertising the opportuni work their lands. Besides, land is expensive
ties settlers would enjoy by locating here. here making it impossible for ordinary peo
Emigrants from Belgium were welcome in ple to own any of it.
Wisconsin since they were people of the soil "Opportunity for our children is limited
and would make good citizens. They were in a crowded country like ours, while in
the kind of people America needed to de America we can enjoy the wide open
velop agriculture, then the chief industry. spaces. They say that after a few years one
In the 1850's the state maintained a can become a citizen in America and VOTE.
salaried person in New York called an "Im Just think of it - we can "Vote" in America
migration Official" whose duty it was to ad - while here we do not have anything
vertise extensively in the foreign language to say about our government. Our sons
press of Europe and help new arrivals to are often called to fight a war which we did
their destination. He sent quantities of not start."
such printed material consisting of pam- In spite of Petiniot's arguments, some
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shook their head and asked, "Is the infor yarmont); Joseph MARTIN, wife and 6 chil
mation in the pamphlet reliable or is it a dren (Doiceau); Jean Baptiste MASSY,
snare set forth to catch the foolish and wife, and 3 children (Doiceau); Joseph
credulous?" MOREAU, wife and 2 daughters (Doiceau);
However to many of his neighbors, Pe Martin PAQUES, wife, and 4 children
tiniot's arguments were convincing enough (Doiceau); Gaspart RENGLET, wife, and 2
to cause them to decide to emigrate to children Jean Baptist SWILLE, wife, and 5
America, leaving their home land where children (Grez); Jean Baptiste DETIENNE
human roots went down deep into the land (Biez); Louis GASTUCHE (Doiceau);
of their forefathers. Joseph HAULOTTE (Bonlez); Joseph J.
These Belgians sold their homes and HUISDENS; Joseph D. HUISDENS,
land and with the proceeds took a chance brother of J.J.; Marie HUISDENS, sister of
on fortune's gifts in America. Besides Con J.J. and J.D.; Jean Joseph JOSSART
stant J. PETINIOT, widower (Grez) they (Royenne); Adrien MASSY (Doiceau);
were: Lambert BODART, wife, daughter, Benoni NELIS (Biez); Francois Constant
and his widowed mother, Jeanne LAM PETINIOT- son of Constant J. (Grez);
BEAU (Grez); Etienne DETIENNE, wife, Pierre VANDENBOSCH (St. Joris-Weert).
and 2 children (Biez); Jean J. DOYEN, wife There were a total of 81 Belgians on the
and 5 children (Heze); Jean Francois HAN Quinneberg with 13 families and 13 single
NON, wife, and 4 children (Bonlez); people.
Philippe HANNON, wife, and 3 children By leaving their homeland they became
(Royenne); Guillaume HORKMAN, wife, the predecessors of more than 15,000 Bel
and daughter (St. Joris-Weert); Jean Bap gians who came the following 10 years.
tiste MARICQ, wife, and 4 children (Ba-
Holy Name Church, Bay Settlement
(Named by Father Daems)
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PART II
THE ANTWERP DEPARTURE: SEARCH FOR LAND IN A
STRANGE, NEW LAND, FIRST REACH MILWAUKEE,
TRY SHEBOYGAN, THEN HEAD FOR GREEN BAY.
In last week's article we told how Con was required to sign the passport in the
stant Petiniot influenced many of his presence of the deputy.
neighbors to join him to emigrate to the Say Farewells
New World. With the proceeds from the As the time approached to leave home,
sale of their little farms and personal prop friends and relatives were visited perhaps
erty, they went to the nearest town to find for the last time. Provisions, clothing and
out what they must do and what prepara other necessary items needed for such a sea
tions were necessary for them to leave their voyage were carefully packed in a large
country. trunk to be taken on board the vessel. No
They learned that a sailing vessel, the doubt there must have been a feeling of
"Quinnebaug," was scheduled to sail from sadness and misgiving as they bid farewell
the port of Antwerp about the middle of and headed into a future that was un
May and that the fare to America was $35 known. It took a strong determination and
for each person above 12 years of age. They a stout heart to make the break.
also learned that it was necessary to obtain At the time there were four ports of em
a birth certificate, an emigration permit barkation from Europe. They were Bremen
and a passport. Besides these, it was nec and Hamburg in Germany, LeHavre in
essary to bring their own bedding and France and Antwerp in Belgium. Since the
provisions to last for at least six weeks. "Quinnebaug" was anchored in the harbor
Then followed a busy time of baking, at Antwerp, Petiniot and his party headed
sewing and packing for the long journey. for Antwerp.
Each person had to go to his parish to ob The largest exodus of European emi
tain a birth certificate which showed the grants to the United States occurred be
date of his birth, his sponsors at baptism, tween the years 1853 and the breaking out
his parentage and other pertinent infor of the Civil War in 1860. Ship companies
mation. In the case of a married woman, took advantage of this and for them it was
her maiden name was also required to ap a lucrative business. These ship companies
pear on the certificate. Birth certificates in made it a business of transporting emi
those days were very complete and much grants to lands beyond the sea. They made
in detail. it easy and simple to travel. All the emi
Next it was necessary to obtain an grant had to do was to tell them where he
Emigration Permit. For this the emigrant was bound for and they saw to it that he
had to go to the local court where a reached his destination.
government deputy was authorized to One of the largest of such ship companies
issue such forms. The emigration permit at that time was the S.H.P. Schroder line
stated the point of destination with a re with a fleet of sailing vessels that made
quest that all authorities were to grant the scheduled trips to and from Europe and
bearer free passage and even help him if America. It maintained ship company of
necessary. fices in Europe as well as in America.
Next was the government passport As Petiniot and his fellow countrymen
which was also obtained in the local court reached Antwerp, these inland Belgians
from a government deputy. On the passport saw for the first time the waters of the Eng
appeared the location of the birth of the lish channel. They hardly realized that so
emigrant, the date, religion, stature, facial much water existed in the world. They saw
features, color of hair and eyes. Finally, he their ship, the Quinnebaug, with its three
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