Individual Details

Pension File:
Mary Catherine Bruette was claiming half of the pension issued to Phillip Bruette of Marinette. Next-door neighbors, Josephine, Rose and Mary Dassey (sisters) all swore that when they both lived next door, Philip would give all of his money to Mary Catherine, and that Mary Catherine was still living in the house and seemed to be quite comfortable financially. Paul Paradis (age 25), a son from a previous marriage, was now living with her. There was another son, John Paradis, who also lived with his mother until he married. The sisters further stated that before Bruette allegedly deserted Mary Catherine, she would frequently berate him and wish he would never come back. The Dasseys described Mary Catherine as a having a violent temper and using abusive language, while she described Philip as a sober, frugal and industrious man who spent more and more time working in the woods (affidavit 28 Feb 1907).
Ester Villeneuve (age 55) testified that Mary C. was a woman of good moral character who was in necessitous circumstances. She also claimed to have know Mary C., Phillip, and Phillip's first wife, Matilda, for 20 years. States that Matilda died in August 1887 and was buried in Peshtigo (affidavit 10 Dec 1906). Another affidavit by Eva Sanderson (a neighbor) and Maud Sauve (Mary Katherine's daughter) also affirmed that the claimant was a woman of good character and without other means of support (8 Dec 1910). Later, Maude testified again, along with her sister, Vina Wallwitz, in favor of their mother. They stated that Philip "sinfully left home and staid away," leaving their mother with no support.
On 20 May 1910, Mary Catherine Bruette herself testified that Philip deserted her in October of 1908 and left her without any means of support except the half of the pension.
Both Phillip and Mary Catherine gave depositions in Green Bay before a special examiner on 27 July 1907 (a Saturday) and that on the following Monday the couple ended up living together again. The examiner held out little hope of this lasting because they both had such hot tempers. Between the two, he gave more credibility to the claimant (Mary Catherine). He was quite critical of the Dassey girls, referring to them as "street walkers."
Phillip Bruette deposed the following on 2 Feb 1907. He claimed that he always gave almost all of his pension money to Mary Catherine, and that in January of 1906 Mary Catherine took $180 from him -- all of his earnings for the previous six months. He also stated that Mary Catherine and her 30-year-old son, John Parisea ordered him to leave his own home on numerous occasions. On 9 April 1906, as Philip described it, Mary C. and John ordered him to get out and that John actually assaulted him. Being no match for John, Philip left. When he vacated, he left Mary Catherine all of his money, the homestead itself (valued at $700, and all the furnishings. He took nothing with himself but the clothes on his back. he said that he would be happy to live with her again if she could comport herself properly, but that she had never done so in the eleven years since their marriage.
More affidavits from other neighbors, such as Mary Tesdel and Eva Sanderson support Mary Catherine. John Parisza (sic) told the story of the fight which preceded Phillip finally leaving, and reaffirmed that his mother was left penniless. Clara Priaza confirmed this story. (got as far as image 6895)

Birth	9 Jan 1843	Montréal, Île-de-Montréal, Québec, Canada
Christen	10 Jan 1843	Montréal, Île-de-Montréal, Québec, Canada
Military	1864 - 1865	Co F, 12th Wis inf, Civil War
Marriage	6 Nov 1865	Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States -
Marriage	30 Dec 1896	Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin, United States -
Desertion	9 Apr 1906	Philip deserted Mary Catherine. - Marinette, Marinette, Wisconsin, United States -
Death	1 Apr 1925	King, Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States
Alt name		Philippe BRUETTE

Father	Antoine Charles BRUETTE (1813 - )
Mother	Harriet WHITE (1814 - 1871)
Sibling	Antoine "Tom" BRUETTE (1837 - 1919)
Sibling	Louis "Charlie" BRUETTE (1838 - 1905)
Sibling	George BRUETTE (1840 - 1864)
Sibling	Adolph Vincent BRUETTE (1845 - 1862)
Sibling	Napoleon BRUETTE (1849 - )
Sibling	John Baptiste "Batisse" BRUETTE (1852 - 1930)
Sibling	Charles "Charley" BRUETTE (1854 - 1903)

Webtags

Notes