Wednesday, April 27, 2011
George Pooler Branch of Onalaska, Wisconsin
In August 2000, I found out that my great-great grandfather John Pooler had a brother that I had not heard about. This brother, George Pooler, was born in Beauceville, like John, relocated like John to Maine, but relocated again to Onalaska, Wisconsin. Research about this branch follows.
A woman submitted a message to Genforum:
"I believe there is another brother:
Georges Poulin (George Pooler). He married Henriette Rodrigue Sept. 1842 in Waterville, Maine, later moved to Onalaska Wisconsin. Georges parents were Francois Poulin and Marie Archange Rancourt, and follows same line as you posted.'
A couple of days later, she added the following details:
"The information I have regarding Georges and Henriette Poulin comes from my great-aunt Mable B. Pooler. Georges and Henriette were Mable Pooler's grandparents.
Mable Pooler's written records states that: Georges Poulin b.1/17/1821 in Ste. Marie De Beauce, Canada d. 7/26/1897 in Onalaska, Wisconsin. He married Henriette Rodrigue 9/1842 in Waterville, Maine. Henriette Rodrigue b. 10/24/1821 d. 4/8/1896 in Onalaska, Wisconsin.
According to Mable Pooler, the Rodrigues moved to Waterville, Maine in about 1840. There, Henriette meet Georges who arrived in Waterville about the same time. They were married in Waterville, then moved to Madison, Maine. They moved to Onalaska, Wisconsin in 1876. Two of their sons, Francois and Georges, preceeded them to Wisconsin. They were lumbermen.
Georges and Henriette Poulin's son Edward Rodrigue Pooler in my great grandfather. I have a picture of Georges and Henriette if you are interested.
I have not been very successful in finding documentation regarding Georges and Henriette, but Mable Pooler's records have been very consistant with the shared ancestors and lines."
source: Genforum
George Pooler and Henriette Rodrigue
I began to research this branch of the family. I found George POULIN had been born at St. Joseph, Beauceville on 24 January 1824 and was baptized the following day. At the age of twelve, on 20 October 1832, his father Jean Francois Xavier Poulin passed away. In the late 1830's or early 1840's, he joined his brothers Francois-Xavier "Ephraim Pooler" and Henri-Jean "John Pooler in the Skowhegan/Waterville area. "George POOLER" married a woman named Henriette RODRIGUE at the age of 18 in Waterville in September 1842. Her birthdate is 24 October 1821 at Ste-Marie, Beauce, Quebec. (I have not done any further research on her parents.) The family were still living in Maine during the Maine Census of 1870. He is recorded as a farmer living in Madison, Somerset, Maine with his family.
By the census of 1880, they were found in Onalaska, Wisconsin.
Historical Records https://www.familysearch.org/
1880 Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin census
Household Gender Age
George Pooler M 60
spouse Hariette Pooler F 60
child Cora Pooler F 21
child Edward Pooler M 18
child Flora Pooler F 15
child Clara Pooler F 12
child Levan Pooler M 12
Lumbering in Wisconsin
"Bringing their Eastern skills, dams were built on rivers to power newly constructed sawmills and pine logs were harvested to float downstream in Spring for milling. There were no roads in this wilderness. Sailing ships brought the milled limber to market ports along the Great Lakes. That set the stage for settlement in what became Wisconsin (1848) and Oconto County (1851) as well as explains why census information on early residents claim origin of birth as "New Brunswick" and not "Canada"."
"ONALASKA.(Wisconsin) A prosperous village on Black River, and the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in La Crosse County, 5 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat and nearest banking point. Settled in 1854, it contains steam saw and lumber mills, 2 churches and a district school. Population, 1,100. Tel., W. U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily. R. Bailey, postmaster. "
In its early days, lumbering and its related industries were the basis of its economy.
Nichols C. H. & Co (Charles H. Nichols, Frank Pooler, Frank E. Nichols), Manufacturers and and dealers in lumber
http://lplcat.lacrosse.lib.wi.us/genealogy/laxhistory/Gazetteer.asp
According to the 1880 census, there were 8022 residents of Wisconsin listing a birthplace of Maine. Although George was not born in Maine, several of his children were. These include George Pooler who married Josephine ----- from Norway, Cora Pooler, Edward Pooler, Flora Pooler and Clara Pooler who is listed in the census records as being 12. As of the 1880 census, they had one child born in Wisconsin, Levan who was twelve, also in the 1880 census, he is recorded as an ADOPTED SON.
Frank Pooler
Capitalist, lumberman and politician
& Fanny Nichols
George Pooler son Francois "Frank" POOLER was born in Waterville, Maine, on 23 October 1847. He travelled to Onalaska Wisconsin in 1865. So it appears that George resettled to Alaska after his son, since George and his family is in the 1870 Maine census. Frank POOLER married Cornelia "Fanny" Frances NICHOLS in Onalaska, Wisconsin and went into business with his inlaws. He was known as a Captitalist, lumberman, and politician. George Jr. was married to Josephine Grunn "Green" (father: Colonel Charles Mason Nichols).
" Frank Pooler was born in 1847 in Maine. He
came west to the pine woods of Wisconsin in 1865.
At first he worked as a day laborer in the logging
area of the Black River earning as much as $1,000 a
year. He established a very good reputation and
apparently became acquainted with the Nichols
family during this time. In January of 1870 Frank
married Miss Francis Nichols, daughter of Col. C.
M. Nichols. In 1871 he became a member of C. H.
Nichols Lumber Co. and became the President of
the company in 1891 when Charles Haskel Nichols
died.
Frank Pooler served his community by being a
ten-year member of the County Board of Supervi-
sors, serving as Chairman for two years, and being
Treasurer of the Town of Onalaska for four years.
In 1881 he was elected by the Republican Party to
serve in the State Legislature. He declined a unani-
mous nomination for a second term due to his in-
terest and frequent trips to the forests of the West.
Pooler was Mayor of Onalaska in 1888 and 1889.
He also served as President of the Street Railroad
Company, whose line ran from Onalaska to La
Crosse, was a director in the Black River Improve-
ment Company, and the East Fork Improvement
and Driving Company.
He was a member of the Wisconsin Consistory of
Milwaukee, Tripoli Temple of the Nobles of the
Mystic Shrine; La Crosse Commandery, No. 9,
Knights Templar, Smith Chapter, R.A.M. and
Onalaska Lodge, No. 24, A.F.&A.M.
Frank and Francis Pooler had one of the most
beautiful homes in Onalaska and did much enter-
taining.
Their children were: Blanche N., Ernest and
Irene, who died as infants, Clarence E., Don
Cameron and Vance Beatrice."
Frank Pooler was a co-owner of the C.H. Nichols and Co. Saw-Mill. Located on the Black River, it is situated about two miles north of the city limits. Lumber was a burgeoning industry in Wisconsin and it drew lumberman from Maine, New Brunswick, and Scandinavia, etc.
C. H. Nichols & Co.
"By 1868 the price of lumber was $22.00 per thousand. In 1873, the mill was purchased by C. H. Nichols & Co. The "Co.' comprises two names, and the firm in full is Messrs. C.H. Nichols, F.E. Nichols and Frank Pooler, After these gentlemen purchased it, they materially changed it and incteased its capacity, enabling them to turn out 45,000 feet of lumber, 30,000 shingles and 10,000 laths per day. These were rafterd South as quickly as manufactured and sold in the down-river markets. But very little attention was bestowed upon local or retail trade." Frank Pooler is also recorded as treasurer of the Onalaska Lodge instituted in 1881. by Consul Willshire Butterfield, History of La Cross County, Wisconsin, available for free download at books.google.com
Obituary
Source(The Arcadia Leader) dated 3-23-1900
La crosse,WI March 20
Name--Frank Pooler
Born-- In Maine
Date Born--1847
Died--March 18,1900 Savanna,IL
Work--Capitalist, Lumberman and Politician of Onalaska
Traveled to Onalaska,WI in 1865
Died - Frank was stricken with paralysis Saturday and died Sunday at Savanna,IL
Remains arrived here this morning March 20,1900 for Internet
Marker:
Frank Pooler Oct 23, 1847 Mar 18, 1900
George K. Pooler & Josephine Grunn "Green"
George's son George K. Pooler Jr. was born in Waterville or Skowhegan Maine on 14 January 1853. He died 27 March 1903 in Onalaska, Lacrosse, Wisconsin.
"George POOLER, Jr. was born in 1853 and was also
a lumberman during the 1890's with the Nichols
Company.
In 1873 he was married to Josephine GREEN who
was the daughter of John Green and was of Nor-
wegian descent. They lived on North Second Street,
on the top of the hill overlooking the Black River.
Their children were Harriet (Hattie) who married
William Krueger; Frank Eugene, who married Flor-
ence Mairich; Adah, who married Edwin Knudtson;
and Irene who married Ralph Matthison.
George was fond of fishing and hunting and
spent many days at Lytles and other favorite spots
on the Black River.
Hattie and William Krueger's children are
Gretchen, Esther, Margaret (Mrs. Roy V. Ahlstrom)
and Louise.
Frank Eugene's children are Frank Mairich
(Mick), born in 1926, and Lawrence George (Larry)
born in 1929."
Josephine Green's parents were (Johannes Hanson Grunn and Louise Helene Margarete Zinkhoff)
George Pooler Pedigree Male Family
Event(s):
Birth: 14 JAN 1853 Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Death: 27 MAR 1903
Parents:
Father: George Poulin Family
Mother: Henrietta Roderigues
Marriages:
Spouse: Josephine Grunn Family
Marriage: 20 APR 1873 Onalaska, La Crosse, Wisconsin
Household Record 1880 United States Census Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Josephine Pooler Wife M Female W 24 NOR Keeping House NOR NOR b: 1856 Norway Hattie Pooler Dau S Female W 5 WI ME NOR b: Wisconsin John GREEN Other M Male W 33 NOR Retired Grocer NOR NOR Kate GREEN Other M Female W 27 WI VT NY
Edward GREEN Other S Male W 6 WI NOR WI Albert GREEN Other S Male W 3 WI NOR WI John GREEN Other Male W 1M WI NOR WI Source Information:
Family History Library Film 1255432
NA Film Number T9-1432
Page Number 424A
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IGI Individual Record FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0 North America
Event(s):
Death: 27 MAR 1903
Parents:
Marriages:
Spouse: Josephine Grunn Family
