Napoleon B. Dwinnell was born on March 11, 1848 in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York according to family records and Canada according to the 1885 Minnesota census. His parents were Isaac Davis Dwinnell and Rachel Lapoint. He was a baker. At some time he started using his brother, Charles' name. Charles drowned when he was eight years old.
Charles married Gertrude D. Richie on June 11, 1869 in Point Fortune, Canada. Gertrude was born on July 15, 1854. It was Presbyterian service performed by the Reverend W. S. McCullough. Pointe Fortune is a small village between Ottawa and Montreal in Vaudreuil-Soulanges.
Gertrude's parents were Francis Richie (Richey) and Mary Dupis. Her sister, Mary Denver Ritchie, married David Jones who was Charles' mother, Rachel Lapoint's, second husband. In 1861 the Ritchey family was in East Hawkesbury, Prescott, Canada. The household consisted of Francois age 55, Mary age 50, Mary age 22, Francois age 25 and Gertrude age 6. The Stephen Richey household was on the same census page.
The name Lapointe is a dit name. It could have been a nickname for a soldier (the point of a lance) or for a family who lived on a point of land.
1855
The first European settlements in Ontario were after the American Revolution when 5,000 loyalists left the new United States.
Charles and Gertrude's first two children were born in Pointe Fortune.
Gertrude Cordelia Dwinnell was born on May 18, 1870. Gertrude did not come to Minnesota with the family and may have died in childhood.
Jereline C. (Linnie, Lena) Dwinnell Cole was born on January 2, 1873. She married Alfred Cole on March 5, 1896.
The next three children were born in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1875 "Charles," a baker, was on Cathcart Street.
Alice May Dwinnell Kerrott Oliver was born on October 30, 1875. She married John Kerrott in 1898. She married Joseph Charles Oliver in 1911 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Charles Edward Dwinnell, was born on September 30, 1877 and died of "water on the brain since birth" on March 4, 1878 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was buried in the "poor ground" at Beechwood Cemetery.
Joseph Saul Angus Dwinnell was born on December. 22, 1878. He was baptized on at Notra Dame in Ottawa. His Godparents were Charles and Delphine Ferdinand. I'm not sure he was Charles' twin or the name was written incorrectly.
Charles Francis (Uncle Chaw) Dwinnell was born on December 28, 1880 in Hull, Québec. He married Althea Schafman. in 1908. He died on September 16, 1946.
About 1881 they immigrated to the United States and all of the remaining children were born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Daisy Mildred Dwinnell Shafer was born in 1882 and married Herbert Francis Shafer.
Ernest Herbert (Uncle Cern) Dwinnell was born on December 6, 1884 and died in 1964.
In 1885 the family was living in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The household consisted of Charles age 34, Gertrude age 30, Jereline age 12, Alice age 10, Angus age 8, Charles age 4, Daisy age 2, and Ernest who was six months old.
Victoria Zellina (Hazel) Dwinnell Henneman was born on December 19, 1886. She married Harry Henneman.
Alma Dennize (May) Dwinnell Carlstrom was born on December 8, 1888. Alma married her mother's second husband's son, Joel Carlstrom on December 22, 1908.
Marguerite (Margaret) Dwinnell Ersfeld Nelson was born on April 24, 1891. She married N. H. Nelson on January 25, 1910. She married William Ersfeld who was born on February 14, 1884. Marguerite died on March 18, 1975.
Gale Dwinnell Stumvoll was born on April 29, 1893. She married Vance Stumvoll.
William Thomas Dwinnell was born on June 6, 1894.
At the time of the 1895 census they were in Minneapolis, Ward 12. The household consisted of Charles age 46, Gertrude age 40, Spinnis age 21, Alice age 18, Angus age 16, Charles age 14, Daisy age 12, Ernest age 10, Victoria age 8, Margerite age 4, and Gale age 2.
Thomas Lloyd Dwinnell was born on January 27, 1896 and died May 10, 1958. He married Charlotte Frances Kraml on April 27, 1916. He was a boiler maker.
In 1900 the household was in Minneapolis Ward 12. The household consisted of Charles age 52, Gertrude age 46, Alice age 24, Charles age 19, Ernest age 15, Victoria age 12, Alma age 11, Margaret age 9, Jennie age 6, and Thomas L. age 4. Charles was a baker, Alice was an ice cream maker and Charles was a laborer.
Charles died on May 17, 1901 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at age 53 of alcoholism. Soon after his death, Gertrude married Daniel Carlstrom on September 20, 1901.
At the time of the 1905 census the blended Carlstrom/Dwinnell household was in Minneapolis Ward 12. The household consisted of Daniel age
46, Gertrude age 50, Lydia Carlstrom age 22, Joel Carlstrom age 18, Esther Carlstrom age 16, Alma Dwinnell age 16, Ruth Carlstrom age 13, and Margaret Dwinnell age 13. Daniel was a carpenter, Lydia was a nurse and Joel repaired cars.
Gertrude married Joseph Arsine Charland on June 6, 1911.
Joseph was born in 1855 in Canada.
Joseph died on January 21, 1934 in Minneapolis.
Gertrude died on December 5, 1935 and was buried at Crystal Lake cemetery.
Mrs. Gertrude Dwinnell Charland, 81 resident of Minneapolis for 54 years died Thursday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Margaret Nelson. 2521 Thirtieth Avenue south. Mrs. Charland's residence was at 2704 East Twenty-sixth street. She was born at Point Fortune, Canada.
30 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be Saturday, 1 p.m. at the Enger funeral home, Grant Street and Park Avenue. Interment will be at Crystal Lake cemetery.
Gertrude Ritchie Dwinnell
The Province of Upper Canada was established in 1791 to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States. It included all of Southern Ontario and part of Northern Ontario.
