During the reign of the King of the Netherlands, the head of
state of Luxembourg, Jean Pierre Merenz was born in Feulen, Diekirch,
Luxembourg on 3 February 1874 to Julien and Anne Schleich Merenz, their fourth
child and second son.
Eglise Parish
Niederfeulen, Luxembourg
Since the Merenz’ were members of the Catholic faith, Jean
Pierre likely would have been baptized into the Catholic Church in the Eglise
parish in Niederfeulen. Most of their fellow Luxembourgers were also members of
the Catholic church, basically the state church since it was receiving support
from the government.
Jean Pierre was a short man, just 5’ 1” with dark brown eyes, brown hair and sported a mustache. He and his brothers hunted in their area for wild boar and enjoyed a good family relationship.
In the mid and latter part of the 1800s immigration from
Luxembourg was raging. Most historians attribute the migration to a general
decline of the quality of life in Luxembourg. Young men also left Luxembourg to
avoid being forced into military service.
Whatever the reason, Jean Pierre left Luxembourg for Le
Marne, France in early 1893—his 19th year. He found employment as a
domestic servant by 11 March 1893. Jean Pierre continued for several years in
Le Marne and as a domestic servant. He met and married Berthe Noemi Flamand on
6 April 1898 in Courtemont, Le Marne, France. It is more than likely Jean and Berthe met as they worked as domestic servants for Marcel Caquot and his wife Anna in Courtemont. Marcel was a farmer there.
The couple had four of their six children while living in
Courtemont:
1. 1. Raymond
Georges Raymond Merenz born 16 September 1898, died 3 October 1898.
2. 2. Joseph
Paul Merenz born 9 October 1899, died 22 October 1899.
3. 3. Helene
Marie Marguerite Merenz born 2 March 1903.
4. 4. Lucien
Julien Gabriel Merenz born 12 October 1904, died 15 May 1905.
Personal records of Jean Pierre show us that he followed the
performing arts and was particularly fond of the opera Helene about the
mythical Helene of Troy. He took the time to write down all of the verses so
that he could refer to them. The opera Helene was popular in France in
the early 1900s. Perhaps he named his first daughter after this Helene.
Two more children were born to the couple while they were living in Aire:
1. 5. Julien
Gabriel Merenz born 20 May 1908.
2. 6. Simmone
Ida Merenz born 13 April 1910.
Unfortunately, Berthe died on 23 June 1911 of consumption or
tuberculosis just a year after Ida was born leaving Jean Pierre alone with
their three children. One would suppose that he would go home or live somewhere
close to other family members for help in rearing his children, but family
letters state they were surprised to learn of the death of his wife and his
subsequent move to the United States of America.
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| Ship La Provence |
On 2 March 1912, Jean Pierre and his three children boarded
the ship La Provence at the port in Havre, France and arrived in New York City
on 19 March 1912. Passage fair for the family was paid by Jean Pierre’s sister
living in Great Falls, Montana.
His daughter Ida wrote of their coming
to America,
After
Father, Helene, Gabe and I arrived in Montana in 1912, Dad asked his half
sister Elisabeth Poncelot Frank and her husband if his three children could come and live with them on their large Montana ranch. At the time he was homesteading adjoining land and felt he could not care for us.
He
stayed there three years by himself. After so long, the government let you have
the land. Dad turned the land over to the Franks in payment for our keep.
After turning his homestead over to the Franks, Jean Pierre rented a
farm. They all worked hard to make a living. During the winter of 1919 and 1920, Jean Pierre put the children in a
Catholic orphan’s home, because the winters were too severe, and he could not
make a living for all of them. For a while he worked at the orphan's home as a janitor.
Later in the year 1920 he worked in a Great Falls hospital as an orderly.
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| Helen and Ida Merenz |
During their stay at the orphanage, Ida and Helene contracted the
dreaded flu which had taken many lives all over the world. Ida was given last
rights but got better and was able to go back to their ranch in Eden, Montana.
Helene did not do as well. She had diphtheria, an appendicitis and pneumonia.
She was in a hospital for a whole year. After she got well she stayed in Great
Falls and went to high school, became a dietician and worked in the hospital.
She never came back to the ranch to live.
Being a single man living in Eden, Montana, Jean Pierre was looked after by several ladies.They kept a check on him and his children, Gabe and Ida.
Jean Pierre taught his children to work hard. They were required to
milk from eight to sixteen cows before they went to school in the morning and
then again in the evening.
Because of the long, harsh winters, Jean Pierre purchased a sleigh
which he drove with two horses. He put bells on the sleigh and on occasion took
his children and picked up their friends for a ride. Reportedly, all who knew
him loved him. In fact, the neighbor children called him Jumper because they
could not pronounce Jean Pierre.
J To support his family, Jean Pierre had to hire out during the winter seasons. One year he
found a job 18 miles away from his ranch. Gabe and Ida looked after themselves
during the week days until he came home on the weekends. He was eventually able
to purchase a Model “T” Ford. The lights on the car were burnt out so Ida would
lay on the running board with a flash light when they drove at night.
 |
| Marilyn Davidson, Jean Pierre Merenz, Beverly Davidson |
His daughter Ida wrote,
In
1939 [February 8] Dad disappeared. He walked to town [Great Falls] one day to come
up for dinner. He was working on the west side of town. He was walking which he
loved to do. He just vanished. We had his name and description broadcast on the
radio. We went clear out in the country and had the river drug. To this day, he
has never been located nor do they know what happened to him.
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