Ferdinand Joseph Coppersmith

Lifespan: 1852 — ?

Summary

Eighth known child of Alexis Joseph Copesmette and Désirée Juliana Meuron — and the second of two named Ferdinand. Born 1852 in Mélin (probable). Came to Wisconsin with the family in March 1856 at age ~4.

Two-Ferdinand naming pattern: he was given the same first name as his eldest brother Ferdinand Désiré (b. 1835, still alive at this child’s birth). Walloon Catholic naming custom occasionally allowed two siblings to share a first name when distinguished by middle/calling name (the elder went by “Désiré,” the younger by “Joseph”). Worth confirming via Mélin baptism register.

Likely predeceased his mother: Désirée’s 1891 obituary lists 2 surviving sons (Désiré and Isidore); this second Ferdinand isn’t one of them, so he likely died between 1852 and 1891. No death year recorded in Geneanet.

Relationships

• Parents: Alexis Joseph Copesmette (1811–1889) & Désirée Juliana Meuron (1815–1891)
• Siblings: Ferdinand Désiré (1835–1923, the elder Ferdinand), Marcel Désiré (1838–1891), Victorine (1840–), Isidore (1844–1911, direct line), Appolonia (1845–1915), Elvira (1847–1886), Stephanie (1850–1922), Flora Pélagie (1854–1919)

Sources

• Geneanet (gw.geneanet.org).