| Notes |
- Joseph E Duaime was born May 16, 1841, in St. Francis, Canada, and is of French descent. Our subject received the greater part of his education from his mother, who was a French scholar, and had been a school teacher. His father, Bruno Duaime, was a ship carpenter, and among other boats built the "Fanny Fisk." On July 15, 1850, the family came to Green Bay, Wis., and, the parents being in only moderate circumstances, Joseph commenced to work at an early age, for when fifteen years old we find him in the lumber camps of northern Michigan, where he earned from $12-$15 per month.
At the breaking out of the Civil war he was working on a farm near Fond du Lac, Wis., and he enlisted at once in the Union army, but his father succeeded in obtaining his release. Later, however, he went to Brown county, and in the spring of 1864 again enlisted, this time in Company C, Twelfth Wis. V. I., with which he went south to Cairo, Ill., soon afterward joining Sherman at Big Shanty, Ga. Their first regular engagement was at Kenesaw Mountain, thence following the campaign to the coast. On July 28, 1864, near Israel's Chapel, to the right of Atlanta, Mr. Duaime was wounded, receiving a ball in the neck, and was sent to Marietta Hospital, where he remained thirty days. He then came home on furlough, and, Green Bay surgeons failing to extract the ball, he went to Harvey's Hospital, at Madison, Wis., where it was removed by Dr. Culverson. In March, 1865, he went by rail to New York, and thence by boat to Morehead City, N. C, where he joined his command about two weeks before Lee's surrender. He was present at the Grand Review in Washington, D. C.; was mustered out July 15, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., received an honorable discharge at Madison, Wis., and immediately returned to Brown county.
On September 11, 1865, Mr. Duaime was married to Miss Mary Boyea, who was born April 5, 1844, in New York, daughter of August Boyea, who came to De Pere in 1855. At this time our subject had saved some $250 and with this money he purchased a lot in Green Bay, on which he built a house, and lived there two years. He obtained employment in the lumber mills of Marshall, Speer & Co., at Sturgeon Bay, and his former experience in this line, coupled with natural ability as a mechanic, which he possessed to a marked degree, made him so competent a workman that for eight years he was foreman and filer for this firm. Being thrifty and economical, as well as a steady worker, he saved a considerable sum, and in a few years was able to purchase a farm in Lawrence township, for which he paid $2000 cash. Here he made his home for 10-12 years, following farming, and in the spring of 1882 purchased the tract of 90 acres, where he now lives, and removed thereon. Since then he has improved the tract in many ways, erecting new buildings, repairing old ones, and systematically cultivating the land, to which he has also added 47 1/2 acres, now owning a fertile, productive farm of 137 acres. Though not a lifelong farmer, Mr. Duaime has proven himself the equal of any in his township. He and his wife have had five children born to them, namely:
1. Joseph E. (who is a teacher, and a correspondent for the 'De Pere Democrat',
2. Josephine (a dressmaker),
3. William (a carpenter),
4. Emma (a teacher), and
5. Sophie (also engaged in teaching).
In his political preferences Mr. Duaime was formerly a Republican, but since 1884 he has supported the principles of the Democratic party, though in voting he usually considers the fitness of candidates, especially in township and county elections. He has been elected to various offices of trust; served with credit as chairman, and, for 10-12 years, as supervisor of the township board. He was repeatedly elected to the office of clerk of the school board, by which the school profited by his untiring efforts to make it a pleasant and progressive place. After the northwestern fire of 1871, he was chosen commander of a small army of twenty men who got together to bury the dead in Williamsonville, Door county. The horror of the time is indescribable. As a sailor he has filled the place of captain on a sailing vessel. In religious connections he is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
Source: "Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Brown, Kewaunee and Door, Wisconsin", 1895, pages 336-339.
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1841 - 1915 (74 years)
