Here's some peripheral information that may be of interest: Les Arseneau of
the ILSTANNE list (Illinois, town of St. Anne) recently wrote regarding a
local name change - with a quote from Beckwith's "Iroquois County Illinois
History", 1880, as follows:
<<<< Weygandt Township renamed Papineau Township.
These French people did not like the name of Weygandt. It was too decidedly
Dutchy. The pronunciation of words ending in "ndt" was impossible to French
lips. PAPINEAU was a leader of the rebellion in Canada against the English
government in 1837, and as such is looked upon by the French citizens as a
hero not unlike John Brown. That he was not successful does not deprive him
of the veneration of those he attempted to lead. It is remembered of him
that he rode through some of the principal towns of Canada, carrying a flag
and calling on those who would be free from the English yoke to follow his
flag. For this treason he barely escaped the gallows. PAPINEAU was born
October, 1786, and died September 23, 1871. The people who reside here
[Illinois], some of whom were admirers of the leader, decided to name this
town after him. This rebellion in 1837 and 1838, through being aided by
certain
citizens of the United States, became the source of belligerent talk between
the governments of Great Britain and this country. The destruction of the
Caroline, by the murder of her passengers and firing and sending over
Niagara Falls, followed by the arrest of McLeod for the crime, his defense
by the attorney-general of the United States, and his acquittal, make one of
the most exciting chapters in our country's history. (See Benton's
"Thirty-Years View.")
>>>
More anon . . . .
Ginny Crawford
California