Misc. Notes
“FRANK BOUTIN, firm of N. & F. Boutin, fish dealers, Bayfield, was born in Canada East, September 1833, and followed the fortunes of the family till coming to Bayfield, where he entered the fish trade and general merchandise business with his brother Nelson. In 1853 Frank married Miss Mary Landie of Canada. They have six children: James, Frank, Emily, Lucy, Mary and Anita. Of his brothers four were in the 27th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War - Joseph C., Duffy, Solomon and Felis.”
®5728 “ In 1871 the fish business began to assume large proportions, when N. & F. Boutin engaged in it. They have continued ever since. The catching and packing of fish is one of the great industries of Bayfield. It is estimated the business for 1881 will amount to $250,000, and is the largest shipping point on the lake. White fish and trout are caught. Fishing is done with gill nets, trap nets, and seines, by white men and mixed bloods; in Winter by gill nets, and hooks through the ice. The "catch" in the Winter amounts to 150 tons. The fishing grounds are around the islands. Shipment goes mostly to st. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago, Buffalo and Eastern trade. N. & F. Boutin employ about 150 men; ship about 12,000 barrels a season. Fred Fischer employs about thirty men; puts up about 4,000 barrels. Other parties have been engaged in this business but are now out of it.
In 1871, the fish business becoming so large, and the demand for fish barrels increasing, Louis Bachand started a factory for the manufacture of fish barrels, since which time others have gone into it. The timber for the barrels comes from the surrounding country. Louis Bachand employs about thirty men, and his manufacture for a season amounts to 12,000 barrels. Fred Fischer employs about twenty men, and manufactures about 10,000 barrels a season.”
®5728On 1 June 1860 Frank Boutin, a 31 year old fisherman with a personal estate worth $600 lived in Kewaunee, Wisconsin with his wife Mary, 26, both of whom had been born in Canada. Their children, all born in Wisconsin were Joseph, 6, Nelson, 4, Mary ?, and Francis?, 3 months.
®7372 On 1 June 1870 Frank was a 37 year old fisherman with real estate valued at $100 and a personal estate valued at $2000. He had moved to Two Rivers, Wisconsin and lived with his wife Mary, 38, and Joseph, 16, Nelson, 15, Mary 11, Frank, 10, Emily, 5 and Lucy, 2.
®7373 No Boutins lived in Bayfield on the 1870 census. On 1 June 1880 Frank has moved to Bayfield, Wisconsin where he is a 47 year old dry goods merchant who lived with Mary, 47, Frank, 19, Emily, 15, Lucy, 11 and Eva, 5.
®7374 “ Frank Sr. and Frank Jr. started the old Boutin store, now torn down, down near the old Boutin and Booth fish docks.”
®7375 1883 “The general merchandise business of Boutin & Mahan carries a stock of about $30,000 with an annual business of about $125,000. They are at the docks at the foot of Washington Avenue. The magnitude and importance of this firm is convincing proof that Bayfield is not dead but liveth, and that a prosperous business can be done by truly live and energetic merchants, mechanics and others.”
®73761883 “Mr. F. Boutin has a salesroom with a warehouse 20 X 50 feet adjacent. However, he does an extensive FISHERY business of 10,000 packages a year. One schooner is engaged in freighting fish to Bayfield for inspection, while Mr. Boutin keeps about 12 Mackinaw boats on the fishing fields during the season. One and one-half lb. gill nets are used, 80 to a boat. He uses also about 16 pound nets for shallow water fishing. The nets are purchased in New York and Chicago. The fishing ground begins about 40 miles from Duluth to beyond Ontonagon. White fish and Trout form the principal kinds which are shipped. Fifty to 100 men are employed. The exclusive hardware store 24 x 56 feet in area, two stories, with basement, costing about $4,000 at Broad Street and Rittenhouse Avenue, is fitted up in good style and affords excellent advantages...He handles the Garland stove, which has gained such a reputations.” “Boutin & Mahan’s dock, 400 feet long, 40 feet wide, cost $10,000 in 1881-2”.
®7376On 1 June 1900 Frank Sr., 66 and his wife Mary, 65 have been married for 47 years and live alone on Second Street in Bayfield, Wisconsin. He was a dealer in general merchandise.
®7377 On 1 June 1905 Frank is a widower living alone in Bayfield.
®7378 On 15 April 1910 Frank Boutin, Sr. is a 78 year old retired widower who lived alone in a house he owned in Bayfield, Wisconsin, next door to his brother Joseph Boutin, Sr.
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