PRAIRIE




The earliest known member of the family of which Dr. Charles Felix Prairie was a representative was his great-great-grandfather, who came from France about 1760 and settled at La Prairie on the St. Lawrence, opposite Mondtreal, Canada. He was the father of four children: Bartelmy Laford, see forward; Eusten, Pierre and Joseph.

(II) Bartelmy Lafore, eldest of the above-mentioned children, was born at La Prairie, opposite Montreal, Canada, 1770, died in 1855. He was in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company for twenty-five years, and made many excursions to the Canadian Northwest, where he trapped, bought and exchanged furs with the Indians for the Hudson Bay Company.
He married (first) Margaret Lange and (second) Louise Chavellez. He was the father of eight children among whom was Amable, see forward.

(III) Amable, eldest child of Bartelmy Lafore Prairie, was born in 1798, at La Prairie, opposite Montreal, Canada. He was a farmer and lived and died in his native town. He was a Roman Catholic in religion, and a member of the "Blue" Party. He served in the Papinean rebellion in 1839.
He married, in 1823, Adelaide Lafore, who bore him twelve children, as follows:
Peter, Adelaide, Vetal, Louis, William, David, Camille, Philomena, Oliver, Mary, Alzada and Olive.

(IV) Camille, son of Amable Prairie, was born at La Prairie, opposite Montreal, Canada, May 6, 1836. He came to the United States in 1849, and settled in the southeastern part of Chateaugay, New York, where he clared land for farming. In addition to the occupation of farmer he was a carpenter and builder, and was held in respect by his fellow townsmen. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, a Democrat in politics, holding town office, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Chateaugay. In 1861, at the beginning of the civil war, he enlisted in Company A, Ninety-sixth New York Regiment of Volunteers; he was mustered out with an honorable discharge in 1864, after which he re-enlisted and served until 1866, when he was again honorably discharged. He served in the Army of the Potomac, participating in First Peninsula campaign under General McClellan, then served in army of the James. He took part in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Long Bridge, Jones Ford, Malvern Hill, Kingston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, Petersburg, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Ft. Harrison, Fair Oake (1864) and in campaign resulting in the fall of Richmond. He was wounded at Ft. Harrison and Fair Oaks.
He married, at Chateaugay, N.Y., June 24, 1867, Ellen Edith Lancto, born at Chateaugay, July 7, 1839, daughter of Edward and Desoigne (Benoit) Lancto.
Children:
Joseph, born March 23, 1868.
Agnes Anna, born July 17, 1869.
Eugene Edward, born Sept. 9, 1871.
Charles Felix, see forward.
Etienne Lancto, grandfather of Ellen E. (Lancto) Prairie, was born in France, from whence he emigrated to Canada, settling at the village of St. Pierre on a farm, which he cultivated and improved. He was the father of three children: Peter, La Blanc and Edward, the latter being the father of Ellen E. (Lancto) Prairie. He was born at St. Pierre, near Montreal, Canada, 1799, died in 1862, at Chateaugay, N.Y. He was a farmer, a large land owner, and resided near St. Pierre until the outbreak of the Papinean war in 1838. He was a captain in this rebellion, and when it was crushed he was forced to leave Canada, his land being confiscated by the British government. He then located in the town of Chateaugay, N.Y., where he followed the occupation of farming. He married (first) Marguerite Uligon, who bore him three children: Joseph, Diana and Edward. Married (second) Desoigne Benoit, who bore him six children: Ebenezer, Matilda, Moses, Edna, Gideon and Ellen Edith, above mentioned as the wife of Camille Prairie. He married (third) Rose Anne Beach, who bore him eight children: Stephen, David, Solomon, Henry, Emma, Mary, William and Nelson.

(V) Dr. Charles Felix, son of Camille Prairie, was born in Chateaugay, Franklin county, N.Y., Nov. 20, 1884. He graduated from the Chateaugay high school in 1901, and from Syracuse University Medical College in 1906. He located at Brasher Falls, New York, in the fall of 1906, and remained there until Jan. 1910, in general medical practice, gaining the respect of his fellow practitioners and the confidence and esteem of his patients. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, and a Democrat in politics, but has never sought or held public office.
He married, June 29, 1909, at Hogansburg, N.Y., Julia M. Burke, born Sept. 10, 1885, at Helena, New York, daughter of John Henry and Mary T. Burke, who were the parents of two other children: John Elmer and Henry James Burke. John Henry Burke is a farmer, prominent in his community, and has held various town offices.

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