Old Missoula

Laura Violette – Last Child Born At Hell Gate?

A unique photograph of a young couple appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 24, 1960. The headline of the caption for the photo read “Last Child Born in Hell Gate?” and was followed by a short paragraph which read the following:

Last Child Born in Hell Gate?

Mrs. Eugene Morin 340 S. 2^nd St., poses with her husband in their wedding picture in Missoula Dec. 8, 1903. Mrs. Morin, Laura Violette before her marriage, is believed to be the last child born in the original townsite of Hell Gate on Nov. 11, 1876. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Violette, arrived in the frontier town in September of that year. Mrs. Morin is now 83, her husband 89. The Missoulian-Sentinel Centennial Edition to be published July 27 will be sent anywhere in the United States or Canada for 50 cents. Official sale of reserved copies will start June 1. (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Evelyn Dulaney).

 

The Daily Missoulian was preparing its readership for its huge, 194-page Centennial Edition that was published on July 27, 1960. It was celebrating the founding of Hell Gate, the original town from which Missoula was born. To this day it was the largest and most complete effort, by a newspaper, to examine Missoula’s history. But, nowhere did that Centennial Edition answer the question it posed about Mrs. Eugene Morin. Who was she?

Her father, Frank (Francis) Rocheleau Violette, was born in Canada in 1845 and died in Missoula in 1912. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Her mother, Flavia (Cyr) Violette, was born in Canada in 1850 and died in California at her daughter’s residence in 1931. She also is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Like several other early Missoula pioneer families, the Violette family came to Montana from New Brunswick, Canada. The story of their journey followed closely that of another New Brunswick family, the Eloi Cyr’s, who also settled not far from Missoula in Grass Valley. An obituary for another Violette daughter, Evelyn Dulaney, noted Laura was one of 10 children and that the family came west by covered wagon. Their mother, Flavia (Cyr), had described their journey as they first went to South Dakota and then by steamboat up the Missouri River to Cow Island. When their arrival coincided with the battle at the Little Big Horn, they quickly traveled overland to Western Montana by wagon.[1] Another source stated that Laura was the 6^th of nine children.[2]

The 1880 Missoula census states that the Violettes’ were parents of 5 children – 3 sons and 2 daughters. The youngest were Laura, 3 years old, and Ida, 1 year old, and both were born in Montana. Nearby neighbors were Flynns, Latimers, Lavassours, Englands, and Minesingers. The census Township heading states “Inhabitants in Hell Gate and Grass Valleys, in the County of Missoula, Ter. Of Montana.”

A 1953 article in the Missoulian about the Hell Gate Grade School noted some Violette children were attending school there before 1883.[3]

Fred Violette was a brother of Mrs. Morin’s who, according to his obituary in the Missoulian (1/26/1949), was born in New Brunswick, Canada in 1872. He remembered traveling to Montana via Sioux City, Iowa when only 4 years old and could apparently remember something of General Custer from his early day travels. He also remembered some encounters with hostile Indians.

Another brother, Albani J. Violette, was a prominent Missoula attorney who graduated from Michigan University Law School and throughout his career held several government posts. He once served as an undersheriff of Missoula County, a railroad commissioner, high school trustee, and was chairman of the State Board of Equalization. His obituary in the local Missoulian newspaper (9/1/1933) stated that he spent time in Butte, Mt., where “he was connected with the Heinze interests for about four years,” and then returned to Missoula. He later became politically associated with Governor Dixon and was the local chairman of the Democratic Central Committee in Missoula.

The family was ranching not far from Missoula soon after their arrival on a place described as 4 ½ miles from Missoula, near Grant Creek. Mrs. Morin’s brothers, A. J. and Fred, later became the proprietors of a family ranch that attracted a great deal of government attention in the days of prohibition. Large quantities of illegal brew, described as part of a great “whiskey ring,” were seized at the ranch in 1920. “More than 800 gallons of corn mash, together with 19 50-pound sacks of yellow corn meal and a barrel of malted syrup were found.”[4] Also seized were cases and sacks of bonded Canadian Club whiskey valued at an estimated $6,700. A 100 gallon still was also found, while a sleeping Pete Morette was arrested nearby. Morette claimed he was making vinegar when was awakened. The case was especially notable because Fred Violette was a candidate for the office of Missoula County Treasurer at the time. Convicted after an appeal in 1922, for violating federal prohibition and internal revenue laws, Fred Violette and Pete Moret (sp) were sentenced to 13 months in Leavenworth by Judge Bourquin.

Mrs. Eugene Morin, born Laura Violette, married Louis Rocheleau of Frenchtown in 1898. The proprietor of a market in Superior, Louis was locally known for herding large bands of sheep through Missoula on their way to the Bitter Root. He was killed in an accident at Superior, Montana, in 1901, while attempting to round up a dangerous bull. He was 26 years old and was born and raised in Frenchtown. He was a very popular man in the Frenchtown area and his death “caused deep grief among the entire population of the Frenchtown valley.” They were the parents of Louis A. Rocheleau Jr., who was a highly regarded local athlete in his youth. He was also musically inclined and organized a popular Orchestra that played in many local places during the 30’s and 40’s. He died suddenly in Missoula at the age of 46. With his wife Lucille (Bourdeau), he was the father of three sons, Louis A. Rocheleau III, Robert Lee Rocheleau, and Laurence E. Rocheleau, all of whom attended local schools in Missoula.

Louis Rocheleau III was a decorated radio-gunner in the Marine Corp air wing during WW 2, serving overseas mainly in the Philippines, while flying 30 combat missions. He returned to Missoula and attended U of M where he starred for the Grizzly basketball team; playing on a team with the legendary Bob Cope. He then had a long career as a teacher and phenomenal coach, first at Dillon, then at MCHS, leading teams to numerous state titles in both basketball and track. He left MCHS to coach basketball at U of M for two seasons and then retired from coaching.

The widow Laura Violette Rocheleau married Eugene Morin in Missoula in 1903. The Missoulian newspaper noted Eugene was a 32-year-old widower, and Laura was a widow and 27 years old. Another article in the Daily Missoulian, celebrating their marriage, stated that Eugene was an architect and a carpenter, and had lived in Missoula for four years. His father, Celestin Morin, lived in Missoula at the time of their marriage, while his mother had died in Missoula three years prior.

Eugene Morin had five sisters who all dedicated their lives to the Catholic church, both in Canada, France and the United States. Two of Eugene’s sisters resided in Missoula. Sister Germaine of Sisters of Charity and Providence, was a Superior at Sacred Heart Academy and worked at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. A second sister, Sister Hilarion of the Sisters of Charity of Providence, lived in Missoula for 44 years and died there in 1964. She taught French at Sacred Heart Academy until retiring in 1964. Two of Eugene’s brothers joined the priesthood. Father Hilarion Morin S.V.D., attended school at St. Joseph’s in Missoula and served as a missionary in New Guinea beginning in WW2. Father Gerard Morin S.J., served in Tacoma, Washington.

An article in the Missoulian in 1901 noted that E. Morin was assisting Brother Joseph Carignano in decorating the interior of St. Francis Xavior Church. “For some months the work has progressed under the direction of Brother Carignano of the Jesuit order, with E. Morin, of Montreal, as chief assistant.”[5] Carignano would finally finish over 60 paintings at the Missoula church. He had worked in many places, including Rome, prior to coming to Montana and his work was widely admired. From Missoula, Brother Carignano spent two years decorating the interior of the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission, which included 58 paintings.

A Missoulian article in 1902 described Eugene Morin as “an organist of talent and rare ability” who was performing at the Catholic church.[6]

Another of Eugene’s projects may have been a 3-story building at Sacred Heart Academy listed in the construction “Improvement Bulletin” of March 29, 1902: “Missoula, Mont. – Chevigney & Morin secured the general contract to erect a 3-story academy building for Sacred Heart academy. Cost $30,000.” Jeff L. Chevigney, of Butte, was later the contractor for the Lucy building in 1908.

Eugene Morin is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for Lennox Flats (Lacasse Building) on West Broadway in Missoula, which was built in 1905.

Unfortunately, he was not cited for what was one of his largest projects, the five story Lacasse/Savoy/Palace Hotel at the corner of Cedar and Stevens (Broadway and Ryman), built in 1908. The National Register of Historic Places listed “Olson and Johnson of Missoula” as the designers of the building (P 24), when, in fact, Eugene Morin was the designer of that building. Olson and Johnson were the contractors.[7] The Lacasse family, with deep roots in the area, sponsored the project.

Eugene was featured in an article in The Missoulian in 1908 for his beautiful home built in Missoula.[8] In 1909 he was also listed as the architect of the Morin building on N. Higgins Ave. The building was described as being on the other side of Higgins St., across from the Greenhood building which occupied “the Old Woody place with the Schlossberg building. . .” The Greenhood building was at the 400 block of N. Higgins. The Missoulian of September 17, 1908, stated that “Ground was broken yesterday for the new Morin building, which is to be erected opposite the Shapard hotel.” An October 1909 Missoulian stated that “Architect Eugene Morin has about finished excavating for his new three-story brick building on Higgins avenue, opposite the Shapard hotel. . . The new building will have a pressed brick front. . . the first floor will be used as a store room, while the other two stories can be let for lodgings.”

Eugene also reopened a picture theater on North Higgins in 1914, The Victoria, fitting it with the latest equipment. It also featured musical programs in which Eugene and Frank Martz sang duets. He was also listed as a soloist in several local events, including at services held at St. Francis Xavier’s church. Eugene was earlier listed as a solo singer at the Harnois Theater for a celebration of Washington’s birthday in 1911.

In 1916 The Missoulian noted that the Morin family was relocating to Spokane, Wa. By 1922 Eugene was back in Missoula and was directing a choir at St. Anthony’s church. Sometime in the late 1920’s Eugene and Laura moved to California with two of their daughters. They moved back to Missoula, however, and were living there 2 years prior to her death in 1965. Eugene died Desert Hot Springs, California in 1964. His obituary stated he and his wife had only recently moved to Desert Hot Springs. He was 94 years old. It gave their residence as 340 ½ S. 2^nd Street in Missoula.

Laura Violette Morin died in Desert Hot Springs, California in December of 1965. She lived there with one of her daughters. She was a member of Missoula’s St. Anthony Parish, the Jesuit Club, and St. Anne Society. She was buried in Desert Memorial Park at Desert Hot Springs, Riverside County, California. She was 89 years old.

Children of Eugene and Laura Morin were Gerald H. (Jerry) Morin, who lived at 636 Toole Ave. and operated Morin’s Superette grocery at 714 Van Buren St. He died in Missoula at age 50 in 1956. With his wife Edith (Bickel), he was the father of 2 daughters.

Adrienne G. Rippeto was born in 1910 and married Clarence Rippeto in 1936. They lived in California for 50 years. She moved back to Missoula in 1995 and died in Missoula in 2001. They were parents of 2 daughters. Her obituary stated she would be buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Missoula.

Beatrice C. Morin was born in Missoula in 1906 and died in Los Angeles in 1969. She is buried at Cathedral City, Riverside County, California.

Bernice Marie Morin Kritzmire was born in Missoula in 1911 and died in Desert Hot Springs, California in 1972. She is buried at Cathedral City, Riverside County, California. She was survived by her stepson, Robert Kritzmire.

Mrs. Gabe Morin Amos, of Boise, Idaho, was a daughter of Eugene Morin by his first marriage. She died in Idaho in 1983.