Antoine Ouvre (1838-1899)

Chart | Baptism | Marriage | Civil_War | Death| Census

Son of Louis Ouvre and Therese Lorrain √
Husband of Cecile Thibault √

Facts (with source information): Narrative Report

What's so great about these records?
His baptism record is in French. By the time he is married, records are being kept in English but his name is still French. In all the church records except for the burial record, his name is Ouvre or Auvre. In the military record and in all the census records it is Overy. As the French community encounters the English-speaking people, some French names are anglicized.

Chart:

Primary Records:

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1838 Baptism Index

St. Ferdinand, Florissant, Missouri
lower left, 15 July
The record is in French, the name is Ouvre.
(film 008119510, image 31)

1838 Baptism

St. Ferdinand, Florissant, Missouri
right side, middle
The record is in French, the name is Auvre.
(film 008119510, image 247)

1859 Marriage (February 5th)

St. Ferdinand, Florissant, Missouri
The record is in English, the name is Ouvre.
Old marriage records in this community were followed by signatures of the witnesses. Although it is difficult to read these names, some are familiar. The bride’s and groom’s names are last. Baptiste Ouvre, uncle of the groom, is present. Lorain and Montreuil, family names, are shown. It looks as if the priest wrote all the names and people added their marks, probably indicating they could not write.

This is an unusual marriage record for a French Catholic parish. It does not mention the parents of the bride and groom. The priest might not have been a Frenchman.

upper right corner
(film 008119510, image 846)

1859 Marriage (Civil Record, May 21st)

St. Louis, Missouri
Marriage records were required in St. Louis beginning in the 19th century. The priest presented the record to the civil authority shortly after the church wedding. The clerk recorded the information. Fortunately, this clerk had nice clear handwriting, and he spells the French name correctly. The only puzzling thing is that he says the wedding took place at “St. Francis.” The church record is from St. Ferdinand.
left side, third entry
The name is Ouvre.

Civil War

He served briefly in a militia. This is typical of Missouri men. The governor of Missouri refused to call for troops for the Union army. But when communities were threatened with attack or terrorist activity, militias were formed.

The name is Overy.
Civil War Service

Civil War Index – Missouri State Archives

1899 Burial

St. Ferdinand, Florissant, Missouri
left side, 4 July
The name is Overy.

Census Records

The 1890 census was lost in a fire.
1850 is the earliest census in which Antoine Overy is shown. Before 1850 only the head of a household was named.

1850 Census

lines 28-32

1860 Census

His wife’s name was Cecilia. She is called See. His mother and two of his siblings are present.
lines 1-5

1870 Census

Three children are shown. (The youngest child is Francis Xavier Overy, according to his baptism record.) Antoine’s personal property is small when compared with the neighbors, and it appears he did not own land. Pierre Aubuchon, aged 71, is shown in this household. He was the husband of Antoine Overy’s aunt, Catherine Ouvre.
lines 35-39, bottom of the page

1880 Census

There are six children living at home.
lines 3-10