Arthur John Moreau  1897-1933

Arthur John Moreau was the 6th of 11  children born to Jean (John B.) Baptiste Moreau and Dorilla Goulette. He was born on 4 November 1897 in the town of Readsboro in southern Vermont. I believe that the Goulettes had moved there from Island Pond in northern Vermont for work. I think that Dorilla went to her parents for help on her pregnancy. Arthur lead a varied but a short life. His draft papers state that he was a tiremaker at Fisk Tire Company. He joined the army in 1917 in Holyoke, Mass.; his hometown. His brother Henry joined on the same day. His flat feet prevented him from being involved in combat. He ended up in the Quartermasters' Corps feeding the troops. This appears to be the reason for his change in careers. He became a butcher when he returned from the army. The attached photo is of Arthur Moreau. I do not know if it was at training camp or overseas. I think it is Stateside. He married  a girl from Holyoke named Bernadette Masse and had three children:

1 - Jeannette
2 - Roland
3 - Norman

These three children are all deceased now. Their children and grandchildren now live in Holyoke and surrounding area as well as Canada, California, New Jersey and Connecticut. As they are alive I will stop the story here.
Here is a photo of the Moreaus at a summer picnic with Moreau cousins. I would estimate the photo was taken in 1927 or 1928 judging from the children. Do you know who these people are? Contact me if you can identify them. The family must have gone back and forth between Holyoke and Readsboro. The 1900 US census for Readsboro (Line 71 )shows Edouard Goulette , wife Delphine with a son Eusube and daughter Irene living with them. In addition, Antonio and Delia Moreau , two of their grandchildren from Holyoke were with them on June 13th. The 1900 US Census for Holyoke, MA (Line 24) was taken on June 19th and Antonia is now George and Delia has remained Delia. They are with their parents and siblings shown in the census here. At age 31 Dorilla Goulette had been married for 12 years and had 8 children under the age of 11. Column 11 asks how many children she has had. She says 8. Column 12- How many are alive? 8. This was rare. Often women lost a few children before the age of 5. The census shows that John Baptiste was a spinner, likely working in a textile mill. However, at the time of his death he had been a fireman for many years. By the time of the 1910 US Census, Delphine Goulette has moved to Chicopee. She is living next door to Eusube Goulette, her son, her daughter in law Corinne, 2 granddaughters and Corinne's sister Mary Plamondon. Delphine is listed as the head of household. She is living with Romulus Piche, her daughter Irene, and granddaughters Rachael and Beatrice.