Bernard Walter BRISBOIS

   Other names for Bernard were B.W. BRISBOIS and Bernard W. BRISBOIS.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: Prairie du Chien, 1836, Wisconsin Territory.

Barnard W. Brisbroise, 4 (inc. 1 "forinor not naturalised")
George Brisbroise, 4
Joseph Brisbroise, 8 (inc. 1 "forinor not naturalised")
Michael Brisbroise, 6 (inc. 1 "who is blind")

[ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wi/crawford/census/1836census.txt]

• Census: Prairie Du Chien, 1840, Crawford County, WI. males females
Jos Brisbois 3-3-0-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 [p01]
B.W. Brisbois 2-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0-1-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 [p11 =Bernard]
G.P. Brisbois 0-1-1-0-0-1-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 [p09]

[page 11 of 12]

• Census: Prairie Du Chien, 1855, Crawford County, WI. Ann C. Brisbois
B. W. Brisbois
Bernard W. Brisbois
Gabriel Brisbois
George P. Brisbois
Mary A. Brisbois
Mad Joseph Brisois


Database: WI 1855 State Census Index

• Cemetery: Brisbois Cemetery, 1885, Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, WI. Brisbois
Michael died Apr 1,1837,age 77 years,6 months
B. W. Oct 4,1808---June 15,1885
Therese Apr 27,1815---July 23,1849, wife of B. W.

[http://ftp.rootsweb.ancestry.com/pub/usgenweb/wi/crawford/cemeteries/brisbois.txt]

• Reference: Courier Press, 2003, Prairie du Chien, Crawford County, WI. June 25, 2003
A view to die for?
Almost anyone who has lived in Prairie du Chien for many years has heard some version of the legend about how the fur trader named Brisbois was buried on the bluff to forever look down upon his competitor Hercules Dousman (or Joseph Rolette depending upon which legend was being told). A search of historical documents does not reveal this legend in writing - at least not in any of the common resources for local history. It is a fact that in about 1866 B.W. Brisbois donated 18 acres of bluff land above Prairie du Chien to be used as a cemetery. It is also a fact that Michel Brisbois was buried there in 1837, B.W. was interred in 1886, Theresa Brisbois in 1849, Henry Brisbois in 1903 and J. Tilmont in 1879. The site also features two sarcophagi (ornamental stone coffins), which are considered rare, especially in the Midwest. It is also a fact that two local retired gentlemen have taken to the bluff again after restoring the "PDC" on hillside for all to see. Last week they cleared up the Brisbois gravesite. "I guess we like to work in high places with our feet on the ground," says Jim LaBonne of the latest work done by himself and Floyd Konichek. They cleared numerous trees from the site, so the city can now be viewed from the gravesites. They also put up a large arrow so people in the city can see exactly where the site is. In recognition of the recent French Days celebrated by the Ft. Crawford Museum they erected an American and French flag to temporarily fly over the city. Michael Douglass, site director of the Villa Louis State Historical Site (which was owned by the Dousman family) doesn't think spite was behind the lofty eternal resting site. "I think Brisbois fell in love with the area," says Douglass. "I think the site choice had more to do with love and inspiration than hate." The Brisbois, Rolette and Dousman families had a tangled web of relations and occurrences, but Douglass says he doesn't know of any happenings strong enough to back up the local legend. Whether it was for love or hate, those who lie in the peaceful cemetery with the incredible view now have a line of vision to the Villa Louis, the spectacular Mississippi River and our fine city, thanks to the ambition of LaBonne and Konichek. The French and American flags flew temporarily over the city.

[http://www.prairieduchienarea.com/courier/ARCHIVES/June%2023-25,%202003.htm]

• Reference: Wiki - Bernard Walter Brisbois.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Walter_Brisbois

• Reference: Traditions and Recollections of Prairie Du Chien. Traditions and Recollections of Prairie Du Chien
related by Hon. B. W. Brisbois

[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/whc&CISOPTR=3357&REC=17&CISOSHOW=3132]

Bernard married Therese LA CHAPPELLE in 1830. (Therese LA CHAPPELLE was born on 27 Apr 1815 in WI and died on 23 Jul 1849 in Crawford County, WI.) The cause of her death was Consumption.