Frank Joseph Coppersmith

Lifespan: 1885-03-08 — 1959-10-07

Summary

Born March 8, 1885 in Dyckesville, Brown County, Wisconsin to Isidore and Celestine. Grew up in the Red River, Kewaunee County household — at age 15 (1900 census) was working as a day laborer while his younger siblings Joseph (13) and Laura (9) were still in school. The 1900 census enumerator wrote his given name as something unclear (“Janky” or “Vanky” — likely a phonetic mishearing of Frank, common in handwritten Walloon-French households).

Married Odile Clemens Barrette on June 6, 1905 in Red River, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin (his parents’ community, at age 20). Father of at least six children. Was 22 when son Claude — Foggy’s great-grandfather — was born on April 16, 1907 in Dyckesville.

Lived in Nasewaupee, Door County (Sturgeon Bay area) for about 10 years. Died October 7, 1959 in Green Bay at age 74. Buried at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum in Green Bay (Section F South), beside his wife Odile and a few rows from his parents.

Relationships

• Parents: Isidore Joseph Coppesmette & Celestine Lancelle (the Mélin/Beauvechain Belgian line)
• Spouse: Odile Clemens Barette
• Children (5, per Odile’s 1972 obituary):
  • Wilfred I “William” Coppersmith (b. 1906) — Walloon-French given name; obit anglicized to William
  • Claude J Coppersmith (b. 1907) — Foggy’s great-grandfather
  • Harold Joseph Coppersmith (b. 1910)
  • Geraldine Madeli Coppersmith (b. 1913) — m. Albert La Roche, Sturgeon Bay
  • Agnes Antoinette Coppersmith (b. 1922) — m. Bernard Putman, Green Bay
• Employer: Northern Paper Mills, Green Bay

Family oral history

Foggy’s Uncle Jim (Dorothy’s eldest son, Foggy’s father Keith’s older brother) said “great-grandpa was an executive at a paper company.” Jim’s great-grandfather is Frank (Jim → Dorothy → Claude → Frank), placing this story on Frank’s record. The “executive” framing is likely family elevation of a Northern Paper Mills production job — Frank’s documented occupations were day laborer (1900) and mill worker; no executive role is attested in any source. But the paper company half of the story is verified for Frank. (Note: this oral history was previously misattributed to Claude in his file; corrected 2026-05-11.)

Sources

• FindAGrave Memorial #88935563 — Allouez Catholic Cemetery, Green Bay, Section F South. Headstone photographed beside Odile’s.
• 1900 US Census — present in Isidore Coppesmette’s household at age 15, born Feb 1885 (vs FindAGrave/headstone Mar 1885 — minor enumerator drift), occupation “Day labor”. Given-name field hard to read; likely Frank rendered phonetically.
• FamilySearch record for Claude J Coppersmith (names parents, gives ages at birth).
• MyHeritage record (birth 1885, death 1959, marriage 1905, 9 siblings named).

Research Notes

• Dyckesville is a Belgian/Catholic settlement area east of Green Bay — Coppersmith family rooted there.
• Trace Brown County parish registers for baptism/marriage records.
• 1900/1910 census should show Frank and Odile’s household in Dyckesville area.
• FindAGrave + headstone photo confirm burial at Allouez (Green Bay), beside Odile — earlier note that he was buried at Wrightstown was incorrect.
• Married in Red River — his parents’ community, not Green Bay.
• 9 siblings — current FindAGrave list shows 7 (Eli, Vital, Leona, Odile, Frank, Joseph, Laura) but Isidore + Celestine had 12 born / 9 living per 1900 census, so 2 are still unaccounted for.
• Odile’s maiden name also spelled Barrette (double ‘r’) on MyHeritage.
• Albert La Roche correction: The “Albert Coppersmith” previously listed as a son was actually Albert La Roche, Geraldine’s husband. Confirmed via Odile’s 1972 obituary which lists only 5 children. The albert-coppersmith.md record reflects this correction.