2. Leander Alfred SHARROW-C-1-2,
Leander m. Alberta Marie Gauthier, 27 Sep 1909 in Ingram, Rusk Co., WI.
He first knew Alberta when her family settled near his home and right after she left the Convent in Minn. at age 14, where she had spent her childhood. His courtship was delayed by her age, but he always told her "I'll wait for you to grow up, Jakie". The "Jakie" was because she wore boy's overalls when they went berry-picking. He always teased her. He courted her with music, picnics, dances and just companionship with the families. This included transporting both of them to dances in a nearby town by railroad handcar.
Leander,("Alex" to his family) and his father Peter (Pierre) both worked for the railroad at that time. He later worked in the woods as a cook and lumberjack. while he waited patiently for Alberta, his promised wife to reach age 17, when they were finally married. Meanwhile the families shared many quilting bees, overnite dances and card parties, putting the little ones to bed on pallets on the floor while the adults enjoyed the fun of getting together, by sled or wagon, whatever the weather required.
Alberta and Alex were married in Ingram, WI at the home of his sister, Virginia Mary and husband, Charles Samphier. Virginia Mary, an accomplished seamstress, made Alberta's wedding gown of dove-grey silk taffeta, with lots of tiny pintucks and lace insertions. Alberta was only 4 ft. 10 in. and weighed 96 lbs. They had to scour the dry-goods stores to find a pair of lady's slippers to fit her tiny foot. Alex was 6 ft. and Alberta could walk under his out stretched arm. Leander said he had to shake the bedclothes in the morning to find her and he always called her, affectionately, "Peanut". His constant love for her lasted until the day he died.
3. Alberta Marie GAUTHIER-Ch.1-3
At age 17, Alberta Marie m. Leander A. Sharrow, 27 Sep 1909 in Ingram, Risk Co, WI.They had 10 children, 7 lived to adulthood. (See Leander's Family sheet.)
Alberta Marie related that she was born in St. Albert Parish, Alberta,CAN. BH journeyed to St. Albert, Alberta and could find no record of her birth. However, she did find records of Albeta's father, John Joseph Gauthier's death and burial, and the birth of a child, Albert Eduard, 25 Sep 1893, to him and his wife, Melanie at St. Albert Mission Church in St. Albert, Alberta, Can.
In 1995, BH received, (via Pauline Veaugois, Pres. Societe Genealogique du Nord-Ouest, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) a record from Paroisse St-Jean-Baptiste de Morinville, NWT (Alberta) Canada, that Alberta," was baptised on 11 April 1892, Marie-Aura Alberta, daughter of Jean-Joseph Gauthier, farmer and Marie Melanie Bernier, of that parish. Godparents were Joseph Alphonse, Theodore Dubue, faarmer and Marie Jeanne Aure Blache, his spoise of that parish. (signed) A. Harnois, priest."
Alberta Marie, told an interesting tale of her birth. It seems that a wealthy man in Little Canada (White Bear Lake in Minn.) sponsored a group of families to open up farming territory in Alberta (then N/W Terr.). The families journeyed to the location (?) and then first built a church. They lived in the loft of the church until individual cabins could be built for each of the families. Alberta stated that she was the first white child born there and that the Indians journeyed for miles to see the "little White Papoose" and to bring gifts for her. They even brought a cow so that she could have fresh milk. They would come into the cabin, present the gifts and then sit down. Alberta's mother, Melanie, would feed them, they would grunt their thanks and leave.