My Genealogy Hound

OLIVER DRAGON, partner in the firm of La Famboise & Dragon, blacksmiths of Northampton, is a native of Canada, and was born in the town of St. Denis, on the Richelieu River, March 26, 1842.

His grandfather, Hypolite Dragon, was a native of France. When a young man, he emigrated to Canada, where the rest of his life was spent. He was the father of sixteen children, of whom twelve grew to maturity. Of these a number lived to an advanced age. One son, Andrea Dragon, died when within but three years of being a centenarian. Lewis Dragon, the father of Oliver, was born in St. Denis in 1793. His life was spent in his native town, where he was a prosperous farmer. His death occurred when he was seventy-four years of age. He married Miss Mary Louise Lefebvre, who bore him thirteen children, and of the eight that reached maturity four sons and one daughter are now living, namely: Lewis, in Kansas City, Mo.; Nelson, in Northampton; Theodule, in Holyoke; Joseph, in St. Louis, Mo.; Philomena Goulet, who lives with her parents in St. Denis; and Oliver, the subject of this sketch.

Oliver lived at home until he was sixteen years of age, by which time he was familiar with farming. That, however, was not his choice of an occupation. He preferred to be a blacksmith, and he then left home to learn that trade by serving an apprenticeship of three years. His wages during that period were: first year, one dollar per month; second year, one dollar and a quarter per month; third year, one dollar and a half per month, including board. In 1867 he went to Chicago, Ill., where for three years he worked at both his own trade and that of a carpenter. He went to Kansas City in 1870, and was employed in blacksmithing alone for about two years. After this he came East, and settled in Northampton.

He first worked as a journeyman for four years. Then on July 1, 1875, in partnership with Mr. La Famboise, he established his present thriving business. They undertake all kinds of blacksmith work, but they make a specialty of horseshoeing.

In Canada, on May 20, 1868, Mr. Dragon was joined in marriage with Miss Angele Levitre. Fourteen children were the fruit of their union, and ten are now living. They are as follows: George J., a drug salesman and pharmacist in Springfield, Mass., married, and the father of one daughter; Ida, a dressmaker in Springfield; Eva and Emma, who live at home, and are engaged in dressmaking; Oswald, a young man of eighteen years, employed in his father’s shop; Raoul, Lorenzo (aged fourteen years), Anna (aged eleven), Bernadette (aged nine), and Roderick (aged seven), attending school.

In political matters Mr. Dragon is not a party man. He has served twice as a member of the Common Council, being elected on an Independent ticket. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of the St. John the Baptist Society, of which he has been Treasurer for fifteen years. The family are members of the French Catholic church, and he is one of its Trustees.