Name: Louis Francois Hennequin
Born: 21 Jan 186270
Place: Chalonvillars, France
Died: 5 Feb 194070
Place: Retsil, Kitsap County, Washington
Place: Washington State Veterans Home Cemetery, Retsil, Kitsap County, Washington85
Married: 18 April 1891
Place: Oregon
Other U.S.
Hennequins
Timeline
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- Immigrated to the U.S., 1881
- Served in the U.S. Army, 1880s
- Married in Oregon, 1891
- Birth of daughter Adeline Mary, Watsonville, California, 7 Aug 1896
- Birth of daughter Marguerite Theresa, Watsonville, 17 Apr 1899
- Sold home in Watsonville, 9 Mar 1900 [26]
- Appears in Torrington, CT, 1900 census
- Birth of daughter Marie Henrietta, 16 Jul 1900, Torrington, CT
- Birth of daughter Louise Frances, 11 Oct 1903, Cottage Grove, OR
- Bought two lots of land, Lakeport, Lake County, California, 7 Oct 1907 [138]
- Travels to France, 1925
- Living in Old Soldiers Home, Retsil, Washington by 1937.
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I received a several-generation copy of a newspaper
article, dated 4 Nov 1937, from my father. Some words are unreadable. The
name of the paper and where published were not noted. [86].
Retsil Resident Buys First Ticket Over N.P. Railway
By Mike Duncan
The purchaser of the first railroad ticket issued for passage between New
York City and the Pacific Northwest lives peacefully today in the Retsil
Veteran's home.
Louis Hennequin, 75, French-born veteran of the U. S. Army, recently
recalled memorable incidents of his history-making, transcontinental passage
from the effete East to then then wild and timbery Puget sound area.
Narrating the trip made 64 years ago this month, Hennequin said:
"I bought the ticket in Nov. 1883--the month that the Northern Pacific
Railway was opened to Portland, Ore. The New York Ticket agent, who had been
agent for a steamship line, wrote out my ticket in pen and ink." The greying
veteran related that he promptly protested this unorthodox manner of issuing
transportation tokens, but was finally convinced that this hand-written day
coach was good for the 3,000-mile trip to Portland.
Continuing, Hennequin said: "There was no dining car on the train so I
bought a large [----]. I soon regretted it--the [----] was uncooked."
Arriving at St. Paul, Minn., beginning of Northern Pacific trackage,
Hennequin succeeded in trading the obnoxious hand-written railroad ticket
for a more formal printed passenger fare certificate. Then, after "changing
cars," the youthful French immigrant continued his transcontinental trek by
rail. This latter was to be even more eventful than the first.
Soon after the train passed the sole oak tree seen on the buffalo
bone-strewn steel trail across Dakota territory, the wood-burning iron horse
was "reined" in to allow passengers to hunt antelope. Hennequin relates that
this hunt was unsuccessful. Later, a similar stop was made in Montana.
Hennequin says that prairie dogs were the only victims of this second
antelope hunt.
Continuing the journey, near the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the train was
again halted--a still-steaming locomotive had been derailed so close to the
main line that passage of Hennequin's train was impossible. The ingenious
pioneers removed this obstacle by shifting the main line with crowbars a few
feet, enabling the westbound train to curve around the wreck.
Hennequin added: "While we were climbing the Rockies, our coach broke away
from the train. It was three hours before the crew came back for our stranded
car."
Hennequin arrived in Portland, Ore., then the end of the Northern Pacific
trackage, on Nov. 2, 1883 - the transcontinental jaunt having taken 243
hours.
From Portland, the adventurous French youth traveled to Tacoma over the
historic Columbia River and Puget Sound Railroad; then by steamer to
Seattle.
After working in a [----] iron foundry a year, the 22-year-old French
immigrant -- who had been a spectator of the Franco-Prussian War at the age of
eight -- enlisted in the 14th U. S. Infantry, hoping to see action against
marauding Apache tribes in Arizona. Ironically, Hennequin recalled he was
stationed at Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, for the duration of the
Apache war. "My army service wasn't as exciting as my first train trip," he
ruefully related. To make life interesting once more, he began practicing
the watchmaker trade in which he had served a French apprenticeship when 14
years of age. Hennequin has followed this trade since being discharged from
the U. S. Army.
After having been a childhood spectator of the war between his native France
and Prussia, he journeyed over much of the world, labored in olden iron
foundries, and army service; Hennequin today believes that the
history-making cross-country train trip he took just 54 years ago, is the
highlight of his eventful life.
"Louie" Hennequin is one of many interesting characters now residing at the
Washington State Veterans Home in Retsil. A childhood spectator of the war
between his native France and Prussia; he craved army experience on his
arrival in America and served with honor, but he is naturally versatile and
worked at the jewelry trade as well as some of the first steel mills and
foundries to be located on Puget Sound, then Washington Territory. He
declares, however, that none of his experience in the early west compares
with his first big adventure of that history-making train trip just 54 years
ago.
During Louis Hennequin's pioneer career in the territory of Washington, he
was affiliated with organized labor. He participated in the fisherman's
strike at Astoria in 1885 and was a member of the Knights of Labor at that
time.
Additional Information
Louis' granddaughter, Lexie Johnson, wrote the following, undated, to my
father. [87] It's worth noting
that the story of his army service is different than that which Louis
himself spoke. There's a warning there to all family historians.
Louis Francois Hennequin
Parents lived thru Franco-Prussian war on horsemeat - he was 8 then.
Father was a baker. At 14 came to America - alone, enclisted [sic] in US
Infantry to fight Apachee [sic] in Arizona Indian Wars, Calvary. Injured in
battle, caused limp for life. After discharge because of injury, went back
to watchmaking trade - to which he had been an apprentice in France.
Followed this trade for life.
Purchased first railroad ticket issued between New York City and the
Northwest - 1883. (November). On trip, train stopped twice to hunt antelope,
plus many stops to let buffalo pass. Trip took 243 hours. Worked in foundry
in Seattle for awhile. Trip to France in June 1925.
The following was written by Louis' grandson, Russell Nees, date unknown.
[88]
Louis Frances [sic] Hennequin
Came to USA when 19 from Belfort (Normandy) France. He and his father
were watchmakers. His brothers became priests. Entered the East Coast and
moved to Oregon. Joined the Indian War and became a citizen.
Belfort, of course, is not in Normandy.
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