Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the assistance of of Richfield, Minnesota who was instrumental in providing us with much of the information below. We also acknowledge the work of John T. Rivard of Somerset, Winsconsin who authored the "Triple Centennial Jubilee Souvenir Book" an anthology of the history and people of Somerset, Winconsin whose information we have willfully but not wantonly utilized.

, Wisconsin is a tiny village of approximately 800 persons situated about 50 miles west of Eau Claire, on the Willow River. Its English name, SOMERSET, belies its history since the early white settlers were mostly "French-Canadians". Originally the territory was occupied by Chippewa Indians who battled with the Sioux to the West for regional supremacy. Fortunately the Indians had settled down by the time the first white settlers came and did not bother the settlers to any great degree except to ask for food.

Jean Nicolet was the French 'Coureur des Bois' who first set foot in Wisconsin coming from Quebec City in the year 1634. This was the year Zacharie Cloutier I arrived in New France from his home in Mortagne au Perche. Marquette and Joliet were the next explorers to visit the area in 1672. Daniel Greysalon, Sier du Lhut after whom the city of Duluth was named, was the next great explorer to travel in the area in 1680.

For the next hundred years the area remained inhabited only by the Indians, but with the development of the fur trade in the early 1800's, came a renewed interest in the St. Croix river region and its tributaries. Fur trade was not the only source of revenue in the territory, rich stands of timber in the St. Croix river valley resulted in sawmills being built in 1838 until in 1850 there were about 15 mills with thousands of men working.

(reference: Rivard, John T. "Triple Centennial Jubilee Souvenir Book" Containing the history of Village of Somerset, Somerset Township and St. Anne's Church - Page 8.)

Meanwhile in Quebec in the 1850's many young people were restless. Optimum river valley land was already taken up using the long lot farm systems along the St. Lawrence River, the Richelieu, and their tributaries. Little or no good agricultural land remained for the offspring of the large Quebec families. Many young people were forced to move onto marginal agricultural land, go into the lumber industry or leave the province.

In the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and after the American revolution, United Empire Loyalists wishing to remain under British rule, fled the 13 Colonies and moved into lower Quebec purchasing the best agricultural land and forcing many farmers into a reverse migration to the American colonies or head West. Many had heard of "the opportunities of working in the woods or the sawmills and the chance of acquiring land owned by the Federal Government". Joseph and Louis Parent were the first two settlers in the Apple River area and they were followed in the next few years by neighbors from their home in Canada (Quebec) among whom were the Cloutiers.

(reference: Rivard Ibid Page 8)

The first of the Cloutiers was Damase Cloutier whose name appears in the records as a pioneer settler by 1856. From 1856 to 1861, the names Isidore and Hubert Cloutier appear and from 1861 to 1871, Oliver Cloutier, the latter name appearing in the tax records of Somerset, a village founded in 1856 and named by General Samuel Harrison.

Clearly illustrating the origin of the settlers were such names as Baillargeon, Parent, Martell, Rivard, LaLiberte, Laventure, Bergeron, Belisle, Proulx, St. Amant, Morissete, Giroux, Monpetit, Cote, Crepeau, Menard, and a host of others.

Meanwhile General Samuel Harrison and his brother Hudson were instrumental in building the town whose first hotel was Somerset House (now known as "the Rendezvous" owned and operated by Aurel Cloutier) The entrepreneurial skills of the Harrison brothers, resulted in a rapid development of Somerset whose hinterland was richly endowed with timber and furs, water power and excellent agricultural land.

Cloutier:

As earlier mentioned Damase Cloutier was one of the first pioneers to come to the Somerset area. His family history can be traced to the patriarch of the Cloutier family Zacharie Cloutier I and Xainte Dupont who came to New France (Quebec) in 1634 as follows;

Zacharie Cloutier m Xainte Dupont 18/07/1616 Mortagne au Perche

Damase and Marie Eulalie came to Somerset in 1855 as newlyweds. Damase worked as a lumberman and later as a farmer. They produced 14 children who spread out and made their mark on Somerset.

Over the years the Cloutiers of Somerset became entrenched in the cities' history. From the early pioneer days of Damase, to saloon keeper Severe Cloutier, through fire department member Larry Cloutier and Nels (Narcisse) Cloutier's 24 years presidency of the village, the Cloutiers have served their community well. Even today, a young Cloutier lady, Lily, serves the town as its librarian.

Yet the most interesting of all is

Ovide and Melina Cloutier and their six children lived in a large home on a farm a half mile south of the village of Somerset. Octave was the son of Damase and Eudie (Eualalie?) Cloutier and the brother of Severe and Narcisse Cloutier and 13 other siblings. In the fall of 1905 Melina suffered a painful abscess on her cheek.

Jonas Lemire, a visitor at the Cloutier household, suggested they try a 'charlatan doctor' from a nearby village who had evidently produced numerous cures using a secret formula to develope a salve. Ovide promptly went for the 'doctor' who accompanied Ovide back to their farm where he treated Melina with extraordinary success.

The doctor was John Till. He was born in 1870 in Einsiedel, Austria in 1870 and entered the States through Canada in 1898. Called 'the bare foot doctor' because he seldom wore shoes, Till's treatment consisted of using a salve and plaster which when combined had a great drawing power and would pull out all infection thus permitting a wound to heal in a normal way. While the concoction was powerful, it was also painful.

His fame soon grew and he became a 'non paying' guest of the Ovide Cloutier's household where he set up his office and plied his trade. Apparently thousands came for treatment from John Till, as many as 200 a day. The whole community benefited.

As people came from miles away, the local transportation system, horse and buggy rigs, local homes accommodating overnighters and saloons did well.

The work for the Cloutiers was not so well rewarded. Ovide did not receive any personal remuneration, despite his assistance to Till. His reward was to see the suffering patients relieved of their pain. Ovide's wife Melina benefited somewhat by providing meals for the patients awaiting treatment.

It was not long before the State Medical Board pursued Till for practicing without a license. In 1908 the Cloutiers went to Austria with Till but upon returning to the USA, Till was detained by Immigration and his long term association with the Cloutiers came to an end.

Till went on to work in other areas, frequently beset by authorities who eventually forced him to leave the country. The Cloutiers tried to continue his work without having his success. Nevertheless in the town of Somerset, the Ovide Cloutier family and the 'Plaster Doctor' will long be remembered.

         Who has a strong Somerset Cloutier background is looking for Cloutier relatives  living in Somerset.   A detailed family history compiled through the aid of J. Roger Cloutier gives a thorough view of the antecedants of Lucille Cloutier wife of Everett Harrington tracing back to Zacharie Cloutier and Sainte Dupont.

  This summary available from Greg on a PDF file is a 'must ' read for Somerset Cloutier families.

  Greg can be reached through his e-mail address gmharrington@gmail.com.  His Website can be accessed by clicking the following link. Greg Harrington .  Several superb photos of Cloutier weddings are on this site.