Hubert Ferdinand Delveaux was born 27 July 1800 at Grez-Doiceau, Belgium

Maria Francoise Souquet was born 16 February 1798 at Grez-Doiceau, Belgium

They were married 21 June 1826 at Grez-Doiceau, Canton de Wavre, Brabant, Belgium

Ferdinand Delveaux and his family emigrated from Grez-Doiceau, Canton de Wavre, Province Brabant, Belgium.  They were Walloon Belgians.  The Walloons do not have a written language but because their language is related to French, it is transliterated in French when writing.  Their Walloon idioms were retained, though, so the grammar was quite different.  Ferdinand and his family led very hard lives in the deep virgin forests of early Wisconsin.  They were the first white men that most of the Indians had seen.  When they first arrived, they just built crude shelters out of branches and leaves to keep the rain off them as they slept.  As they cleared their land, they first used the wood to make a log cabin.  Later, they also made wood shingles to sell.  As they cut the trees, they planted around the stumps until they could manage to get them dug out.  When a few neighbors went in together for an ox, the work became a bit easier for them.  Maria Francoise (Souquet) Delveaux led an exceptionally hard life.  Pioneer life in the great Wisconsin forests was hard enough for any man or woman, but one day, when she went out into the woods to check on a cow that was due to give birth, she tripped over a log and broke her leg.  The story was told by two of her great-grandchildren.  Mr. George Delveaux added another interesting bit to the written version that is in the delveaux family history.  He said that when her leg became infected, her son, Constant, ran all the way to Green Bay to get the doctor.  Because the doctor had to wait for a boat to take him up the bay to their dock, Constant ran back on those rugged forest paths and arrived home ahead of the doctor.  It was probably a good forty mile round trip.  Then, because gangrene had already set in, they had to take her back to Green Bay by boat for amputation.  She lived, but she had a very hard time getting around after that. 

UPPER LEFT:  The Catholic Church at Grez-Doiceau, Belgium.  The date on this building is 1722.  This is the church where our Delveaux family ancestors worshipped.

UPPER RIGHT:  A Memorial statue in front of the Catholic Church at Grez-Doiceau.

The Catholic Church At Grez-Doiceau, Belgium

LEFT:  The interior of the Grez-Doiceau Catholic Church with its kneeling rails, pulpit and beautiful altar.  What a lovely old church!

These photographs were taken by Peg Wente of Rochester, MN in 1985.  Peg is a relative on the Delveaux side.  Thanks for sharing them with the rest of the family, Peg!

The Delveaux Homestead

The Delveaux home was made of logs that the family cleared from their property so they could farm the land.  As time went on, they were able to build a frame house on their land.  This photo of their home was taken about 1887.  It is of Constant and his family.  Constant was the oldest son of Ferdinand and Maria Francoise Delveaux, and he had inherited the farm by that time.  Standing in front of the home is Constant and his wife, Rosalie, with their children, Ferdinand, Annie, Celestin, Alex, Josie, Mary and Constantine.  They had also had a stillborn son names Joseph.  A note of interest: The great fire of 1871 never touched the Delveaux farm.  It parted and went around it on both sides, then merged again after it passed.  The photo was from Adeline (Delveaux) LaViolette.

RIGHT:  Constant Ferdinand Delveaux

Ferdinand and Maria Francoise Delveaux’s Descendants

LEFT:  Constant Delveaux’s Family.  On the left is Adelaide (Dalemont) Delveaux standing next to her husband, Alexis Delveaux.  Josephine (Delveaux) Cornet is standing next to a friend, Mary Spruetels.  Constant Delveaux, son of Ferdinand and Maria Francoise Delveaux, is the center man, standing next to his two sons, Ferdinand and Celestin.  His daughter, Annjosephe Delveaux is on the right.  The photo was taken in front of Constant’s lovely frame home and was given by Peg Wente.

RIGHT:  Octavie (Delveaux) Dandois, the daughter of Hubert Ferdinand and Maria Francoise Delveaux, is shown with her husband, Etienne Joseph Dandois and their daughter, Elise.  The Photograph was taken about 1866 in Wisconsin.  Peg Wente sent the photo.

St. Mary of the Snow Cemetery at Namur, Door Co., Wisconsin is shown.  This is where Ferdinand and Maria Francoise Delveaux are buried.  Peg Wente gave the photograph.  Thanks Peg!