Individual Details
Joseph Felix CHAMPOUX
(31 Jul 1804 - 14 Dec 1880)
Usually called simply Felix.
In Reunion: A Beno-Champeau Genealogy, by Dorothy Beno Lutomski and Mary Ann Defnet, the authors include this story (p. 36), which is attributed to "a grand-daughter of Ephraim St-Louis" (presumably Marie St-Louis of Milwaukee, or someone in her family), which I transcribe here:
My grandparents came from Sorel, Province of Quebec (believed to be the departure, as the family lived in Yamachiche). When they came from Canada, there were seven families. They had three sailboats: two for the families, and the third was machinery for a mill. When they came, my father was six years old. It took them three months to come from Sorel, Canada, to Little Chute, Wisconsin, because when the wind blew against them, sometimes they had to anchor for days.
It is then stated that "descendants of the St-Louis families are quite certain that some of the other families in this group were Manseaus, Champeaus, and Landrys. They were all residents of Yamachiche, Canada, and are all known to have resided in Little Chute, Wisconsin."
My research since then shows that these families were actually residing in Baie-du-Febvre and St-François-du-Lac just before their emigration. I don't know if this would have an impact on their point of embarkation. In any case, it makes sense that these families came together. They lived in close proximity in both Québec and Wisconsin, and the families intermarried in both places as well. Also, St. John`s Church in Little Chute was one of the three earliest Catholic parishes in Brown County. There is some evidence that Joseph Felix Champeau emigrated earlier than the rest of his family. Also, Honoré Landry probably did not make the trip before 1850, as he and his first wife had five children born at St-François-du-Lac throughout the 1850s, and she died there in late September of 1849. Still, whatever family members were part of the above story, it is a wonderful account. We don't tend to think of immigration from Canada coming by sailing ship!
Joseph Felix was believed to be the first member of this family to come to the United States. His application for citizenship states that he entered through the port of Buffalo in May of 1831. Presumably, he encouraged his family members to follow. In Green Bay, he worked for Daniel Whitney in plotting and building Main Street. This was the area then called Navarino. (Mary Ann Defnet and Dorothy Lutomski, Reunion: A Beno-Champeau Genealogy, p. 35)
Events
| Birth | 31 Jul 1804 | Yamachiche, Saint-Maurice, Québec, Canada |  | ||
| Christen | 31 Jul 1804 | Yamachiche, Saint-Maurice, Québec, Canada |  | | |
| Immigration | May 1831 | Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States | | ||
| Marriage | 1835 | Charlotte LAROQUE | |||
| Census (family) | 1838 | Bay Settlement, Brown, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Census (family) | 1840 | Two Rivers Twp., Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Census (family) | 1842 | Two Rivers Twp., Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Residence | 1842 | Two Rivers Twp., Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States | | ||
| Declaration of Intent (Citizenship) | 20 Apr 1843 | Green Bay, Brown, Wisconsin, United States | | ||
| Census (family) | 1846 | Howard, Brown, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Census (family) | 24 Aug 1850 | Howard, Brown, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Residence | 1855 | Howard, Brown, Wisconsin, United States | | ||
| Census (family) | 15 Sep 1860 | Post Office: Wequiock, Scott, Brown, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Census (family) | 1 Jun 1870 | Bay Settlement, Scott, Brown, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Census (family) | 1 Jun 1880 | Scott, Brown, Wisconsin, United States - Charlotte LAROQUE | | | |
| Death | 14 Dec 1880 | ||||
| Alt name | Joseph Felix CHAMPEAU | ||||
| Alt name | Joseph Felix SHAMPO |
Families
| Spouse | Charlotte LAROQUE (1820 - 1909) |
| Child | Theodore SHAMPO (1835 - 1909) |
| Child | Joseph CHAMPEAU (1837 - 1850) |
| Child | Louis CHAMPEAU (1838 - ) |
| Child | Madeline CHAMPEAU ( - ) |
| Child | Ursula CHAMPEAU (1842 - ) |
| Child | Joseph CHAMPEAU (1844 - ) |
| Child | Oliver SHAMPO (1847 - ) |
| Child | Emily Matilda CHAMPEAU (1849 - 1887) |
| Child | Peter SHAMPO (1851 - 1920) |
| Child | Mary Rose Delima CHAMPEAU (1853 - ) |
| Child | Veronica CHAMPEAU (1854 - ) |
| Child | Christine CHAMPEAU (1856 - 1939) |
| Child | Alfred Henri "Fred" SHAMPO (1861 - ) |
| Child | Albert Frederick CHAMPEAU (1862 - 1939) |
| Child | Olive Ida CHAMPEAU (1863 - ) |
| Father | Louis CHAMPOUX (1774 - 1828) |
| Mother | Théotiste RIVARD dit LAGLANDERIE (1780 - 1857) |
| Sibling | Théotiste CHAMPOUX (1798 - 1843) |
| Sibling | Marie Ursule CHAMPOUX (1800 - 1826) |
| Sibling | Marie Magdeleine CHAMPOUX (1802 - ) |
| Sibling | Olivier CHAMPOUX (1806 - 1806) |
| Sibling | Marie CHAMPOUX (1807 - ) |
| Sibling | Oliver CHAMPEAU (1809 - 1896) |
| Sibling | Isidore CHAMPOUX (1811 - ) |
| Sibling | Elmire "Amelia" CHAMPOUX (1813 - 1897) |
| Sibling | Appoline "Polly" CHAMPEAU (1815 - 1897) |
| Sibling | Félicité (Felicity) CHAMPOUX (1816 - 1904) |
| Sibling | Margaret Mary CHAMPOUX (1818 - 1891) |
| Sibling | Emanuel "Manuel" CHAMPEAU (1819 - 1892) |
| Sibling | Louis CHAMPOUX (1821 - 1822) |
Notes
Christen
Godparents were Joseph Provencher (cousin of the child) and Catherine Lami.https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-28003-2050-53?cc=1321742&wc=MMY5-C9N:2020118545
Census (family)
Felix Champoux headed a family consisting of himself and one female, for a total of 2 persons.Census (family)
Joseph Champau was the head of the household, which consisted of:-- one male under age 5
-- one male between 10 and (under) 15
-- one male between 30 and (under) 40
-- one female between 40 and (under) 50
-- one free colored male between 24 and (under) 35
These numbers make me question whether Charlotte and the littlest ones were living with Joseph at the time. It was a rough area, and there was much work clearing the land.
Census (family)
J. Champeau was the head of this household, which consisted of 9 males and4 females, for a total of 13 persons. Obviously more than his nuclear family.Census (family)
There was no Philip Champeau in the area that I am at all aware of -- I`m convinced that this is a mistaken reference to Joseph Felix Champeau, who was living in just this area. The household consisted of three males and three females, for a total of six persons.Census (family)
Felix Shampo and his family lived next door to the family of John and Margaret (Champeau) Rabideau.Enumerated with this family are Felix Shampo, a farmer, age 49; his wife, Charlotte, age 30; and children: Theodore, age 14; Madalaine, age 13; Ursilla, age 10; Joseph, age 8; Oliver, age 6; and Matilda, age 2.
http://interactive.ancestry.com/8054/4191531_00114?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d8054%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=4191531_00122
Census (family)
Census includes Joseph Champeau (a farmer), his wife, Charlotte, and the following children: Theodore, age 23; Madeleine, 21; Ursula 18; Joseph, 16; Oliver, 13; Amelia, 11; Piere, 9; Mary, 7; Veronica, 6; and Christina, 3.http://interactive.ancestry.com/7667/4298895_00197?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d1091%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing
Census (family)
Enumerated with this family are Joseph Champou, age 69, a farmer, born in Canada; his wife, Charlotte, age 48; and children: Oliver, age 24; Peter, age 20; Delena, age 18; Veronica, age 15; Christiana, age 13; Frederick, age 11; Alfred, age 9; and Oloive, age 7.http://interactive.ancestry.com/7163/4268441_00791?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d1091%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11075-95668-93?cc=1438024&wc=92VG-RM2:518654501,518719601,518788301
Census (family)
Enumerated with this family are Joseph Shampo, age 80, a farmer; Charlotte, age 60; Albert, age 19; Olive age 15.http://interactive.ancestry.com/6742/4244703-00689?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d1091%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing
Endnotes
1. Parish Registers: Sainte-Anne-d'Yamachiche (Yamachiche, Saint-Maurice, Québec), 1771-1812, folio 89, image 490, baptism of Joseph Champoux; digital images online, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1321742 : accessed ).
2. Parish Registers: Sainte-Anne-d'Yamachiche (Yamachiche, Saint-Maurice, Québec), 1771-1812, folio 89, image 490, baptism of Joseph Champoux; digital images online, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1321742 : accessed ).
3. "Parish Registers: Sainte-Anne-d'Yamachiche, Saint-Maurice, Québec," digital images, Ancestry.com ( : accessed 11 November 2014), Joseph Champoux; Québec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection); 1804, image 20, baptism 50.
4. "Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 September 2013), Brown County: Declarations of intention, 1843, box 1, folder 3, A-Z, image 19: Joseph Champeau.
5. 1838 Wisconsin Territorial Census, , population, Brown County, Bay Settlement, p. 8, Felix Champoux; FHL microfilm FHL film 1293919, item 2.
6. Joseph Champau, 1840 Federal Census, Wisconsin, Manitowoc County, Town of Two Rivers, page 2; micropublication FHL film 0034498, .
7. 1842 Wisconsin Territorial Census, , population, Manitowoc County, Town of Two Rivers, p. 3, J. Champeau; FHL microfilm FHL film 1293919, item 3.
8. "Wisconsin, Compiled Census and Census Substitute Index, 1820-1890," database online, Ancestry.com ( : accessed ), J. Champeau; Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 1999; WI 1842 State Census Index, page 003.
9. "Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992," digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 September 2013), Brown County: Declarations of intention, 1843, box 1, folder 3, A-Z, image 19: Joseph Champeau.
10. 1846 Wisconsin Territorial Census, Brown County, population, Howard, p. 13, Philip Champeau; FHL microfilm 1293920.
11. 1850 U.S. Federal Census, , population, Wisconsin, Brown, Howard, image 9, dwelling 486, family 526, lines 22-29, Felix Shampo and family; digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 7 January 2015).
12. "Wisconsin, Compiled Census and Census Substitute Index, 1820-1890," database online, Ancestry.com ( : accessed ), Felix Shampo; Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 1999; WI 1855 State Census Index.
13. 1860 U.S. Federal Census, , population, Wisconsin, Brown, Scott, page 279, image 19, dwelling 2111, family 2111, lines 17-28, Joseph Champeau and family; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 December 2013); National Archives and Records Administration.
14. 1870 U.S. Federal Census, , population, Wisconsin, Brown, Scott, page 33, image 33, dwelling 215, family 225, lines 5-14, Joseph Champeaux and family; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1438024 : accessed 7 January 2015); National Archives and Records Administration.
15. 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Wisconsin, Brown, Scott, ed 23, p. 23, dwelling 165, family 168, lines 44-47: family of Joseph Shampo.