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Classification: Query
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Message Board Post:
I'm rather surprised at the numerous inquiries regarding the Champagne book. I
thought nearly anyone who could possibly have an interest in the book would already have
known of its existance.
The book was written by Franciscan nun Sister Margaret Mary Champagne. Margaret was born
to Max Champagne and Annie Marie Shank on October 28, 1905 in Poplar River Township, Red
Lake County, Minnesota. Margaret's father Max was a son of Sifroy and Eliza
Champagne.
In 1978 Margaret began mailing questionaires to her distant relatives for the purpose of
writing the book. The responses to those questionaires prompted additional questionaires.
After a few years and a few rounds of questionaires, she had fairly complete information
on all the descendants of Sifroy and Eliza. Many of the descendants who responded to her
questionaires sent money to help with the costs and were rewarded with a copy of the book
in approximately 1983.
The book is primarily about the DESCENDANTS of Sifroy and Eliza. It is not about their
ancestors. The book has Sifroy's direct line back to France (with some errors) but
has no information on Eliza's ancestors.
One must remember that this book was compiled by a lady in her mid to late 70's. She
was a Franciscan nun writing from an extremely religious point of view. She had no access
to online databases, word processing, scanning and other conveniences that we now enjoy.
The book was assembled by hand typing (complete with typos and obvious white-outs), taping
the photos to the pages and taking low-quality photocopies of the pages.
All that being said, it still is an excellent source of information on Sifroy and
Eliza's descendants. Not counting Table of Contents and Index it is 538 pages long.
Margaret died October 13, 1986 in Little Falls, Minnesota so, there are no more copies to
be purchased. The only two copies I'm aware of belong to my father and grandfather.
I'm sure many other descendants must have a copy because she sent one to everyone who
contributed funds.
My father will allow me to copy the book for any one that can be tied into his family
tree. (Which will be true if you're a descendant of Sifroy and Eliza). I'm not
very excited about using 10% of my toner cartridge and over a ream of paper (not to
mention pushing the print button approx. 580 times) to make a copy of the book. I'll
check out Kinko's and see what they'll charge for 580 copies (or 290 two-sided).
If those people who expressed an interest in obtaining a copy are still interested, e-mail
me with how you are related to Sifroy and Eliza.
I'm sure Margaret will be thrilled that people are still interested in her book nearly
20 years after her death. Hopefully, someone will take the time to clean it up and add
the Sifroy Champagne descendants that have been born since Margaret finished.
P.S. Other books I have from Red Lake County, MN French-Canadiens. (If your family tree
takes you to Red Lake County, the French-Canadien families are all intermarried.)
Thomas Perusse m. Rose Delima Boisvert
by Ruth Lindquist (Falardeau)
Cyrille Lussier m. Marcelline Guerard
by Barbara Van Ruden (Lussier)
Ovila Rock m. Josephine Perusse
by Monica Hanson (Rock)