Blondin Family History & Genealogy

Ellsworth was born Sunday, June 9, 1878 at his parent's home in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles Avon Blondin and Priscilla Blondin (nee Richard). Charles was 33 and Priscilla was 30 when he was born. He was baptized Joseph Alcesz Blondin on July 5, 1878 by Rev. A. Gerhardin at Annunciation Church. Annunciation Church had a largely French-speaking congregation. His godparents were Albert Desson and Mathilda Blondin. It is not known where the name Ellsworth came from or when it was first used. In later years his birthday was celebrated on June 6. The family moved frequently, especially in the early years but usually only a short distance staying in the same neighborhood. Sometimes they lived in the same place for 7 or 11 or 9 years. Since the Ursuline Nuns established a grade school at St. Patrick's parish in 1853 that continued until 1970's, most likely Ellsworth attended grade school there. Ellsworth appeared in the City Directory in 1895 as a musician. He was 17 years old. Ellsworth continued to be listed at his parent's address as a musician or music teacher for the next ten years. In June and July of 1900, Ellsworth was traveling throughout Germany while performing. Apparently in 1905 at the age of 27, he left Cleveland for Kenosha, Wisconsin to pursue his musical career. Shortly thereafter he married Lill in Wisconsin. His nieces and nephews and their families always called him "Uncle Alsie".

Ellsworth's obituary provided the following information. "In the early 1900's, Mr. Blondin traveled through Europe with High Henry's Minstrel, and his group was known as the Greater New York Comedy Four. He was a member of Simmons Band in Kenosha, directed by George Green, and conducted his own Hawaiian band, known as Blondin's Hawaiians. He also taught music at Congdon's Conservatory of Music in Racine and Kenosha."

In 1913 a postcard indicated that Ellsworth was living in Kenosha, Wisconsin with his wife Lill. His first wife died in 1920. On Friday, December 7, 1923 in Waukegan, Illinois he married Susie V. Schoop of Mexico (Missouri). The couple lived in Kenosha, Wisconsin for several years before moving to Perry, Missouri. After living in Perry for about 5 years they moved to Mexico (Missouri). He died on December 21, 1956 in Perry, Missouri. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery.

Abbigail C. Blondin was born Friday, October 2, 1868 at her parent's home in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles Avon Blondin and Priscilla Blondin (nee Richard), the eldest of five children. She was the oldest of five children and was called Abbie. Charles was almost 24 and Priscilla was 21 when Abbie was born. Rev. James O'Reilly baptized her Marie Blondin on October 4, 1868 at St. John's Cathedral. Her baptismal name apparently was never used. Her godparents were Joseph Rivers and Delia Richard. In later years her birthday was celebrated on October 14. Like her father and mother, she was very short in stature.

The family moved frequently, especially in the early years but usually only a short distance staying in the same neighborhood. Sometimes they lived in the same place for 7 or 11 or 9 years. Since the Ursuline Nuns established a grade school at St. Patrick's parish in 1853 that continued until 1970's, most likely Abbie attended grade school there. Abbie married Henry E. Lane on Monday, December 27, 1886 in Cleveland. She became the new Mrs. Abbigail Lane at the age of 18. Henry was born in New York state. The young couple had a daughter, Cecile, born January 17, 1888 but unfortunately the marriage didn't last and their divorce became final on April 23, 1891. They had been married less than five years. Abbie was awarded twenty dollars a month in alimony. Abbie and her daughter, Cecile, moved back with her parents and lived with them until after Cecile was grown and married (1913). According to the 1900 census, Abbie was a dressmaker. The 1910 census listed both Abbie and Cecile as dressmakers. After her daughter, Cecile got married, Abbie lived with Cecile, and her husband Louis (pronounced Louie) together with her family for the rest of her life.

Abbie died April 23, 1953 at the age of 84. After a Requiem Mass at 10 a. m. in St. Agatha's Catholic Church, which was located at E. 123rd and Lakeview Road in East Cleveland, she was buried in a three grave plot at Calvary Cemetery, section 74 lot 618.

Lillian Mary Blondin was born Friday, April 15, 1881 at her parent's home in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles Avon Blondin and Priscilla Blondin (nee Richard). She was their youngest child. Charles was 36 and Priscilla was 33 when she was born. She was baptized Maria Leosa Blondin on April 17, 1881 by Rev. A. Gerhardin at Annunciation Church. Annunciation Church had a largely French-speaking congregation. Her godparents were Mathias and Rosalia Talardy. It is not known how the name Lillian came about. The family moved frequently, especially in the early years but usually only a short distance staying in the same neighborhood. Sometimes they lived in the same place for 7 or 11 or 9 years. Since the Ursuline Nuns established a grade school at St. Patrick's parish in 1853 that continued until 1970's, most likely Lill attended grade school there. Lillian never married. She appeared in the City Directory in 1909 living at her parents address working as a milliner. She only was listed in the residential section for that one year, presumably being listed in the business section after that. According to the 1910 census, Lillian was a dressmaker and so were Abbie and Cecile.

In July 1917, Lill went to Ogdensburg, New York to visit her mother's relatives. On January 19, 1931, Lillian bought a two grave plot in Calvary Cemetery that would eventually be a final resting place for her mother, herself and John and Louise Shaughnessy. Shortly after her mother died in 1932, her father and she moved to 4222 Lorain Avenue on Cleveland's near west side. Lillian Mary Blondin died October 3, 1938 and three days later after a Requiem Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Bridge Avenue was buried with her mother at Calvary Cemetary in section 39 lot 144. Her father, Charles, realized that by Lillian being buried next to her mother that he would later have to be buried in a separate section. She was 57 years old. The cause of death was listed as "cardio-renal disease due to chronic nephritis".

Charles Avon Blondin was born to Antoine Blondin and Josephine Blondin (nee Montpetit) on Thursday, November 7, 1844 according to family records or May 25, 1843 as stated in his obituary. He was born in Coteau du Lac in the Montreal district of Quebec, Canada. He moved to Ogdensburg, New York from Coteau du Lac, a distance of slightly more than 100 miles, about the year 1863. In his later years, a newspaper reporter wrote of Charles' experiences with ox-carts, Conestoga wagons and horse-drawn buggies while he was a young man in Ogdensburg. He married Priscilla Richard at Notre dame Catholic Church in Ogdensburg on August 18, 1865. He was 21 and Priscilla was about 18. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was 21 in 1866 and first appeared in the 1866/67 City Directory. He was a blacksmith. For most of his life he lived on the near west side which today is called the West 25th Street area. He was also a musician, playing the violin both for personal enjoyment and professionally.

Charles and Priscilla had 5 children over a twelve-year period. Abbigail or Abbie as she was called was born October 2, 1868. Charles was born September 16, 1871. Louisa which became Louise sometime after she was married was born July 22, 1874. Ellsworth was born June 9, 1878 and Lillian was born April 15, 1881. Lil's father was 37 and Priscilla was 34 when she was born. When Lil was born her sibling's ages were Abbie 12, Charles 9, Louise 6 and Ellsworth almost 3. According to the 1900 and 1910 census, they had another baby who died while still a child. The 1900 census showed that Charles was a naturalized citizen who came to the US in 1863.

The family moved frequently, especially in the early years but usually only a short distance staying in the same neighborhood. Although there were times when they lived in the same place for 7 or 11 or 9 years, the annual city directory usually showed them with a new address, more than 23 times.

Their oldest daughter, Abbie, married Henry E. Lane on December 27, 1886 when she was 18. The young couple had a daughter, Cecile, born January 17, 1888 but unfortunately the marriage didn't last and their divorce became final on April 23, 1891. Abbie and her daughter, Cecile, moved back to her parent's home and lived with them until after Cecile was grown and married. Charles married Lizzie Mitchell on January 31, 1895 in St. Patrick's Church on Bridge Avenue. However, on February 4, 1903 Charles married Alice Andrews (nee Hudson). Since he was married both times in the Catholic Church, his first wife presumably died. Another of Charles and Priscilla's daughters, Louise, married John Thomas Shaughnessy on May 27, 1896 in St. Patrick's Church on Bridge Avenue in Cleveland when she was 21 years old. Louise and John had five children between 1897 and 1906 but two died as infants. Ellsworth was a talented musician. First giving music lessons, then joining an orchestra in Kenosha, Wisconsin and eventually traveling to Europe to perform. He married once in Wisconsin and once in Illinois. Charles and Priscilla's youngest daughter Lillian never married.

Charles was short in stature but had a big heart. When great grandchildren came along, he was called "little grampa" to differentiate him from their grandfather. From that time on both children and adults in the family referred to him by that name.

His wife Priscilla died December 4, 1932 at their home at 3340 W. 120th St. in Cleveland. She was 85 years old. Not long after, Charles and his daughter Lillian moved to 4222 Lorain Avenue. At the age of 94, as he was crossing the street on his way to St. Patrick's Church he was hit by a car and hospitalized for a fractured knee. In a newspaper article about the accident they wrote, "Smooth of cheek and unwrinkled, with a heavy moustache and unruly shock of hair, Mr. Blondin amazed doctors at the hospital with his vitality. They had estimated his age at between 60 and 65. He is retired from his occupation as a blacksmith chiefly because he can find no more work". His daughter Lillian died about a year later on October 3, 1938 at the age of 57. Shortly after her death, he moved in with one of his granddaughters, Adele Smith, and her family at their home in Lakewood on 13519 Fairwood Drive. He lived with them until his death on Sunday, January 16, 1944. He was 99 years old. After a requiem mass at St. Vincent de Paul's Catholic Church at 9:30 AM, he was buried on the following Wednesday in section 12 lot 509 at Calvary Cemetery. Section 12 contained only single graves and was near the section where Priscilla had been buried almost eleven years earlier.

Helen Louise Blondin was born Wednesday, July 22, 1874 at her parent's home in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles Avon Blondin and Priscilla Blondin (nee Richard). Charles was 29 and Priscilla was 26 when Louisa was born. On July 26, 1874 when four days old she was baptized by Rev. A. Geradin at Annunciation Church. Annunciation Church had a largely French-speaking congregation. Her godparents were Ellen or Helen Richard and Joseph Blondin. She went by Louisa until after she was married and then was known as Louise. In later years her birthday was celebrated on July 3. The family moved frequently, especially in the early years but usually only a short distance staying in the same neighborhood. Sometimes they lived in the same place for 7 or 11 or 9 years. Since the Ursuline Nuns established a grade school at St. Patrick's parish in 1853 that continued until 1970's, most likely Louisa attended grade school there.

Louisa Helen Blondin married John Thomas Shaughnessy on Wednesday, May 27, 1896 in St. Patrick's Church on Bridge Ave. Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. James P. McCloskey officiated. The new Mrs. Louisa Shaughnessy was 21 and John was 27. They settled into their own home for almost a year before they moved in and began living with John's mother. Their first child, Adele Helen Shaughnessy, was born April 17, 1897. Nina, their second child was born in March 1900. Unfortunately, Nina died when she was only 17 months old from cholera infantum. Her father arranged for her burial. Louise gave birth to a boy on February 3, 1902 but he only lived three hours. Louise had her infant son buried. Both children were buried with their grandfather, James, in St. John's Cemetery. John and Louise had two more children. Lawrence was born May 23, 1903 and Marion arrived February 24, 1906. When Marion was born Louise was 31 and John was 37 years old. Adele was 9 and Lawrence almost 3 years old. For some unknown reason, her birthday was always celebrated on July 3rd back as far as her children can remember.

Louise's oldest daughter, Adele, was married in November 1918. Louise traveled to Columbia, South Carolina for the wedding and remained there for at least 4 days before returning to Cleveland. Adele and Raymond had three children. David was born February 9, 1921. Adele Marie arrived December 19, 1924 and Lawrence was born April 2, 1926. Lawrence was named for his uncle, Lawrence Shaughnessy. Raymond and Adele got divorced in June 1930 after twelve years of marriage. She was 33.

In 1928 John and Louise bought a house and moved to 13516 6th Avenue in East Cleveland, which was in St. Philomena's parish. Things were going good for the family as evidenced that they bought a very nice five-piece bedroom set including vanity with a large mirror in 1930. The bedroom set was nice enough that it was given to her grandson, Richard and his wife, Joyce, as their master bedroom suite for more than twenty years. Louise's youngest daughter was married on November 8, 1932. On December 4, 1932, Louise's mother Priscilla passed away. Priscilla was buried in a three grave plot at Calvary Cemetary (section 39 lot 144). Louise's son got married on October 19, 1934. Louise was in poor health and this together with economic conditions brought on by the Great Depression made it a natural for Marion and her husband Ed together with their first child, Robert, to move in with Marion's parents. Louise had phlebitis in both of her legs, which were large open sores, also called "Milk Leg", that had to be wrapped in bandages and changed several times every day. She had this condition for the rest of her life. Around this time, Louise's husband, John must have retired as foreman of the paint shop at the Cleveland Transit System.

Louise's daughter, Marion's second child, Mary Louise was born October 4, 1937. Louise's younger sister, Lillian, died October 3, 1938 and was buried next to her mother. On the afternoon of October 8, 1941, Kathleen Frances arrived. Then on September 20, 1943 Richard Joseph was born. Louise's husband, John, developed colon cancer. After several years living with Louise and John, Marion and her family moved to Mayfield Heights in February 1944. The older children would go back to their grandparent's home on 6th Avenue in East Cleveland to help out with yard work and the like. Louise's father, Charles Blondin died January 16, 1944 at the age of 99. Surgery was unsuccessfully in eliminating John's cancer and he died July 11, 1945 in his home. After a Requiem Mass at St. Philomena's Church, John was buried at Calvary Cemetary in section 39 lot 144 with Louise's mother and sister. He was 76 years old and had been married to Louise for 49 years.

In January 1946, Ed and Marion and their family moved 5961 Mayfield Road, a large Old Dutch colonial and on November 11, 1947 their last child, John Thomas was born at 7:38 a.m. in Huron Road Hospital. Now Louise had 8 grandchildren. In 1949, four years after her husband's death Louise sold her house and moved in with her daughter, Marion, and her family. Louise could not walk up the double flight of stairs to her bedroom, so at least twice a day she went up or down the stairs on her hands and knees. She would live with them for the rest of her life until she needed care in a nursing home the last few years of her life. In February 1953 the family bought and moved in to a new house still in Mayfield Heights at 5747 Mayfield Road. Louise now had a bedroom on the main floor and she could avoid the stairs. Every day she would comb her long, now white, hair out then roll it up in a bun. She wore stockings and tie mid heel shoes every day and putting a pin on her dress and a ring on her finger would complete the way a proper lady dressed. She enjoyed her many pieces of jewelry and eventually passed then on to her granddaughters, Mary and Kathy.

Louise was an excellent seamstress and continued to make all her own clothes which she did most of her life. She also made clothes for her children when they were growing up even so far as to make their coats. She also made fabric covers for her Singer sewing machine, her granddaughter's parakeet cage and other items. She would always let her small grandchildren watch in amazement as she sewed. She played card games like sixty-six and casino and board games with her young grandchildren before they were old enough for school and after they came home from school. Louise's son, Lawrence, died from colon cancer on July 22, 1960. It was the same illness that claimed his father's life fifteen years earlier. By 1963, Louise needed more care than she could get at home and went to live at a nursing home in Parma. However, the care was not satisfactory and Marion moved her mother back home until an opening at another nursing home could be found. The second nursing home, Singleton's, was located near E. 88th and Crawford, not very far from the Cleveland Clinic. This facility provided far superior care. Louise passed away May 8, 1968 at the age of 93. After a Requiem Mass at St. Clare's Catholic Church, she was buried next to her husband and mother and younger sister at Calvary Cemetary in section 39 lot 144. John had preceded her in death by 22 years.