Preface

When we first undertook this project of preparing our family history - Alain and Lessard - for print, we had little idea what would be involved or where our search would take us. Marlyne was asked to research the Alain roots while Marcella was given the Lessard family.

Marlyne's research took her first to the Saskatoon Public Library and then to the Quebec and National Archives. She further enlisted the help of genealogists, Sylvie Trembley and Rev. Gérard Lebel. Finally, her research took her and her husband, Adolf, to St. Ubald where she met Cecile Gingras who is a first cousin to Henri Alain, our grandfather. Cecile bears a most striking resemblance to Henri's daughter, Edithe. At once Marlyne felt a strong kinship with her and discovered that she had come to the end of her search, when Cecile shared her ancestry.

The research of the Lessard family, undertaken by Marcella, was discouraging at first. She, also, visited the Saskatoon Library (feeling envious as library facilities in her home city of Sydney, Nova Scotia, were somewhat limited). In Saskatoon she found the Lessard family was listed, as was the Alain family, in the Tanguay Dictionary. These volumes, gathered by L'Abbé C. Tanguay, contain the names of early Canadian families. Later Marcella enlisted the help of a genealogist, Father Gérard Lebel of St. Anne de Beaupré and found that the Lessard listed was the branch of our Lessard ancestry. She had written to him on a hunch after hearing a passing remark made by her mother. Her efforts were rewarded when she and her husband, Richard, and their family travelled to Quebec. They learned that the original Lessard house and barn are still standing; in fact, they are in use today some 300 years later.

Bernadette and Rachelle were asked to research the history of the names, Alain and Lessard. When their efforts proved unsuccessful, a cousin, Jeannine Alain, was approached. At that time Jeannine was studying in France. Her efforts were fruitful and are included in this book.

We have found both inconsistencies and variations in the spelling of the family names. In a document as recent as 1907, Henri Alain's name was written ALLAIN. Yet, in the census records, it was recorded as ALAIN. The Lessard family name was written de LESSART in the original French story but was written de LESSARD in the English story. By the time we pick up the Lessard story in Lambert County, Minnesota, U.S.A., the name was spelled LESSARD as it is today. We are not able to offer our readers a reason for the change in either family name.

While preparing this book we have found our work to be both challenging and exciting. In the telling of the stories we have noted with interest that life styles, the conditions of the times, and the land itself have been portrayed. Each of the stories has been told from the owner's perspective - no two people remember the same incident in the identical way. Thus, each story has a flavor of its own.

While this book contains some information on our ancestors, it is by no means complete. We feel we have just begun. Perhaps this will open the door for some of you to carry on the search.

We began this task in the fall of 1982. There were times we questioned the undertaking of such a large project, and other times we were overwhelmed. As the months passed, the pieces fell into place, family members came forward with their stories, and even skillful help was found close to home when it was needed. We apologize for any errors and/or omissions we may have made. They were not intentional.

While our book was prepared to be presented to our parents, Louis and Clara Alain, on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1987, it was written as a tribute to our forefathers, Simon Allain and Etienne de Lessart. To them and their descendants (including our grandparents, Henri and Alma Alain, Joseph and Rachel Lessard) we are grateful. Our book is also a legacy we leave to our children. It is meant to strengthen family ties, foster love of our land and instill a sense of gratitude to God for the gift of faith which has remained strong and alive through the centuries.

M.T.P. & M.M.R.
Macrorie & Saskatoon, 1986