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Association of descendants
of Paul Vachon
(Vachon and Pomerleau families)

Seventh generation: Eugène and Eugénie
In 1863, Eugène Vachon, a young man of 23 at the time, obtained the concession of a lot later identified as no. 1241 in the official cadastre of the parish of Saint-Joseph. Like most of his ancestors, he became a farmer, but first had to clear standing timber. That year, he and his brothers regularly walked from their home on Rang de l'Assomption to his land on Rang Cinquième, where they cleared the land and cut the trees. They also built a log house there, about 12 feet long by 12 feet wide. Presumably, they also took the opportunity to build a shelter for their animals. It was during the summer of 1864 that Eugène, on a fine Sunday after the hay harvest, borrowed his father Augustin's mare and cart or tombereau to show his future wife, Marie-Eugénie Grondin, his land on Le Cinq. According to uncle Émile Vachon, Augustin didn't have any other cars, buggies or borlo. He adds that Marie-Eugénie was not demoralized. Being Indian, she was used to primitive life.

The wedding took place on September 27, 1864. Recalling that time, Eugène often told his grandchildren Raymond, Rosa, Alida and Lucia that he and his wife had spent their first winter at Le Cinq with one cow and a hundred pounds of flour. It was with this flour that Eugénie prepared her tireliches (buckwheat flour pancakes cooked directly on the stove). Their main diet consisted of wild meat.

Uncle Émile recounts how, when his grandfather Eugène wanted to make a few pennies, he would ride his horse and cart to Lévis and sleep at the Leblond home. The next day, he'd take the ferry to the market in Quebec City. He spent the whole day there, selling farm produce and fox skins in a wooden box. He would return to the Leblond family home in Lévis for the night, and then go home to Les Saints-Anges. The Leblonds had a large stable. To save money, Eugène would bring the hay to feed his horse. For just a few pennies, he had room and board at Leblond's place. Come to think of it, he'd been away from home for three days for very little money.