This is the person, who became known as “Moses Tatro”. The name, Francois, passed down through several generations before him, was dropped in his early childhood, probably from birth. Several generations before him, many used “Tetro” as their family name. In the early 1700s that spelling was used by priests in baptism documents of the first generation of the family, (children of the immigrant, Louis Tetreau, from France). Also during that period, it was very common to have a second name to identify one from others with the same name. Also, for some unknown reason, in the first generation born in Quebec, “Ducharme” was added as “dit (also called) Ducharme”.

As far as the spelling of the last name, Tetreau, Tetro, Ducharme, I have found, at least 40 variations; so, one must find other supporting documentation, to determine if that person is really part of our family branch.

I have chosen Moses Tatro as one of the ten top ancestors for two main reasons (not that Moses is not of importance nor of interest in his own right). First, my granddaughter, Tamara Lindstrom, said she would like to know how why the spelling of our name changed. Secondly, he is the reason I got into geneology and we know as much as we do about our family. About forty years ago I was asked a question by a cousin from the States “Who was this man, Moses Tatro, who was my great grandfather?” and I started on my years of researching my and other’s ancestry.

At that time, I was working on the history of Canada and remembered that my Dad talked about his Grandfather, Moses Tatro, in whose home, he had been born and spent the first six years of his life. I thought it would not be too hard to find the answer. How wrong I was! By nature, I am like a dog with a ham bone – once starting any task, I can’t give up. It took many years of not finding undisputable proof of Moses Tatro, before I could convince myself, and still longer to convince others more authoritative on our family history than I, that I had identified the man who was my great grandfather.

By that time a great many documents and information had been collected, many contacts had been made and much had been learned of the process of genealogy. At the same time others had learned of me and my work and were asking questions and help. Also, computers had come into use. It was time to organize and become more professional about handling family history. Besides, it was something that could be done as long as life would allow and it could be done to keep the mind at least, healthy as age made the muscles deteriorate.

But, to get back to Moses Tatro. I am going to use that spelling in this short account. I composed a much longer biography that anyone can have if they ask for a copy.

Moses Tatro was born at St. Charles-sur Richelieu, Quebec, Canada on March 10, 1814 to parents Francois Tatro and Marie Victoire Dubuc, according to his baptism document and he is 5th generation from his ancestor Louis Tetreau, the immigrant from France. Moses’s parents owned and operated a small farm. Moses was orphaned at age seven, but he had many relatives nearby and his Uncle Andre and family continued his up-raising. That area had a long history of being a warlike place. From past time of it being on a main route of waring native tribes and raids back and forth between French and English, to 1836 when the main battle of the Lower Canada Rebellion took place right at Moses’s home place. No records exist of what role Moses played in the rebellion, but like many, Moses fled to the United States to avoid the persecution of English rule.

In northern Vermont, Moses met a young lady named Marie Victoire Plante, who he may have already known, from when both were back in Quebec. Her family had also fled from their native land. From then they were known as “Moses Tatro” and “Mary Plant”. Their first two children were born in Vermont. Very infrequently, was there a priest available, so after a few years, they took their children across the border to where there was a Catholic Church and had Harriet and John baptized. Returning to Vermont they had three more children: Joseph, Thadeus (my grandfather) and Zoe.

After the birth of Zoe, with their

growing family, Moses and Mary decided to move west to where land and opportunities were available for a better family life. He acquired land in Green County, near Madison, Wisconsin and became a farmer. There they prospered and another daughter, Phoebe Ann, was born.

After about six years in Wisconsin, Moses decided to take advantage of a “homestead”   opportunity, on new land farther west. He settled on his “homestead” at Swan Lake, Minnesota. He made several land exchanges in that area, then tragedy struck. His wife, mother of his six children, died. Mary was buried in a country cemetery near Swan Lake. Her death may have been the result of the birth of William, who was born and came into the family at that time, but records are incomplete to have proof of it. Harriet, the oldest child, must have become the home keeper/care taker of the children, for some time.

Then the people of the United States found that some wanted to no longer be “United” and the American Civil War began. Moses’s two older boys, John and Joe, went off to fight for the Union. Thad became the only male helper on the farm. Moses found an eligible widow, whose maiden name was, Ann Eliza Knowlton, who had two grandsons, orphaned when her daughter died. Moses and Ann Eliza were married and Moses added a new wife and her twin grandsons, Edwin and Eldin Ridgway, to his family. That changed his life forever with his and her extended families.

Thad married and brought Adelia to the farm. Moses’s sons returned when the war ended; John married and moved away; Joe married and brought Matilda to the farm, but that did not work out well and Joe found land and moved to his own farm. Moses moved to a new “homestead” in Dakota Territory, near a town that grew up there and was later named Fordville. Moses, by this time, was 68 years old and had his wife and her one grandson, Eldin, Thad and Adelia at his new “homestead”.  Thad stayed with his father for 11 more years. During that time, a second house had been built for Thad and he and Adelia had a child who died and then tiny twins, one of which died. The other one was saved and Moses had a grandson that they named, Henry Lynn Tatro (my father). Lynn, as he was called, was age six, when Thad decided it was time to leave and start on his own.

It seems with Thad and family gone and the breaking up of the family, life for Moses become unhappy. Sometime after that, and as an old man Moses died. Although I have searched for 40 years for proof of when Moses died, I have failed to find a date. But I am convinced that Moses lies buried in an unmarked and unrecorded grave in the plot arranged by Thad for his family in the cemetery at Fordville, North Dakota.