Mary Virginia was born on July 4, 1849 in Belgium. Her trek to America is still a mystery, but by 1866, she was living in Wisconsin, soon to be married to my great-great-grandfather, Louis Blanchette, himself a runaway French-Canadian.
In 1876, on America's 100th birthday, Louis and Mary Virginia were living in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, with seven of their eventual 14 children. Mary died in 1888, a young but vital part of my international melting pot of a family tree.
Happy Birthday, Mary Virginia!
***
© 2012 Sally Knudsen
