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 Paquette/Salgot
of St. Clair Co., MI (4 of 4)
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Edward Eli
"Edmund"
Paquette |
The youngest child and only son of Edward and Anna Paquette was Edward Eli "Edmund" born March 2, 1888. Edmund took his first job at the age of 13, probably on a ship with his uncle. When he received his first pay, his Uncle Joe Chartran told him to go down to John Bridges Jewelry Store in Marine City and buy something for himself as a keepsake. He bought a small gold ring with a green onyx cameo. The little ring has been passed down and is currently held by his great-grandson Aaron Davison. On December 28, 1908, Edward Paquette Jr. married Alice Salgot at the Holy Cross Church in Marine City and would have a grand total of 11 children: Beatrice, Marguerite, Florence, Anna, John William, Francis, Myra, Shirley, Thomas "Ted," Carl, and Mary Louise. Three of these daughters would have the calling from God and join the convent; Sr. Pierre (Beatrice), Sr. Petra (Florence), and Sr. Anecita (Anna). Edmund continued to sail for some time, but when his sister Emma drowned, he stopped. He would hold several other occupations in his life, One was driving logs with a team of horses for Mr. Baker's Mill of Marine City. On one particular trip across the ice from Canada, Edmund found that the ice was fine when he crossed in the morning but on the return trip he found it "rubbery." After he passed the head of Fawn Island, the team became frightened and began to gallop. Edmund climbed down from the top of the load and said the ice was rolling ahead so much that the crests nearly came up to the horses' heads. They were about 150 feet from the shore when the ice broke open under the sled and it started to sink. He cut the horses loose with the machete that was always stored on the sled. Edmund immediately grabbed one of the horse's tail and was dragged to shore. God was guiding him that day in his instant decision of which horse to grab. The other horse did not make it to shore and drowned. After that episode, Edmund went into carpentry and general building. His daughter Shirley asked of him once, out of all his occupations which work he liked best of all and he answered "sailing."
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