Isidore Joseph Coppesmette

Lifespan: 1844-11-22 — 1911-03-07

Summary

Born in Mélin, Brabant, Belgium to Alexis Joseph Copesmette and Julienne Désirée Meuron. Emigrated to Wisconsin with the family, arriving in New York on March 29, 1856 at age 11 (exact date from his mother Désirée’s 1891 obituary; cross-checks his own “44 years in US” entry on the 1900 census). Married Celestine Lancelle (b. 1853, Beauvechain, Belgium) on July 9, 1871 in Robinsonville, Brown County, Wisconsin. Mélin and Beauvechain are neighboring villages in Walloon Brabant — the families likely knew each other in Belgium.

Twelve children born to Isidore and Celestine; nine still living at the 1900 census (FamilySearch records the surviving nine as 5 sons and 4 daughters). Seven are confirmed by name through FindAGrave: Eli, Vital, Leona, Odile, Frank, Joseph, and Laura. Two more were living in 1900 but remain unidentified; three died young. The June 1895 Wisconsin state census shows the household at 9 people (5 male, 4 female; 7 US-born, 2 foreign-born = Isidore + Celestine) — 7 children at home, the same seven named via FindAGrave. The 2 unidentified surviving children must therefore have been born before Eli (1877), married/left home before 1895; Elina Lena Coppersmith (m. Macco/Mocco) and Octavien Joseph Coppersmith/Coppersmette, mentioned in earlier research notes, are strong candidates.

Worked as a farmer. Lived in Red River, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin for about 25 years. Died March 7, 1911 in Green Bay at age 66. Buried at Allouez Catholic Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum, Green Bay — sharing a headstone with Celestine, with son Frank and Frank’s wife Odile in the same section (F South).

Name evolution: Alexis spelled it Copesmette (one ‘p’), Isidore used Coppesmette (two ‘p’s) — though his American headstone reads ISADORE COPPERSMITH, the spelling that stuck for the next generation.

Relationships

• Parents: Alexis Joseph Copesmette (~1811, Belgium) & Julienne Désirée Meuron (~1816, Belgium)
• Spouse: Celestine Lancelle (m. 1871-07-09, Robinsonville, WI)
• Children (7 confirmed via FindAGrave):
  • Eli Coppersmith (1877–1950)
  • Vital Coppersmith (1879–1942)
  • Leona Coppersmith Prevost (1879–1964) — same birth year as Vital, possibly twins
  • Odile Coppersmith Leanna (1881–1924)
  • Frank Joseph Coppersmith (1885–1959) — direct line
  • Joseph O. Coppersmith (1887–1972)
  • Laura Coppersmith Engels (1891–1963)

Sources

• FindAGrave Memorial #88935565 — Allouez Catholic Cemetery, Green Bay. Headstone shared with Celestine.
• 1900 US Census — household enumerated as: Isidore (head, Farmer, b. June 1844, immigrated 1856, 44 yrs in US), Celestine (wife, b. May 1850 per census [conflicts with headstone 1853]; mother of 12, 9 living), Léonie (dau, 19, b. Sep 1880), unclear-named son (b. Feb 1885, age 15, “Day labor” — almost certainly Frank), Joseph (son, 13, b. Jan 1887, “At School”), Laura (dau, 9, b. Jun 1891). All US-born children listed Wisconsin.
• 1895 Wisconsin state census, Town of Red River, Kewaunee County (June 20, 1895; clerk Joseph Wery) — Isidore Coppersmith household: 5 male, 4 female, 7 US-born, 2 foreign-born. Listed alongside the Belgian Catholic settlement neighbors (Joseph Barrette, Charles Brice, Alex Deprez, Joseph Lefevre, Charles Doneux, Louis Detuville, Lenard Vanhess).
• FamilySearch person record (gives “5 sons and 4 daughters” surviving — matches the 1900 census 9-living count; their 1842 birth year is incorrect, overridden by headstone + 1900 census).

Research Notes

• Mélin is in the commune of Jodoigne, Walloon Brabant, Belgium.
• 1900 census reviewed (above); 1880 + 1910 still to check for full household composition and surviving children’s names.
• Two FindAGrave-undocumented children lived to 1900 — find them in 1880/1910 census or parish records.
• Naturalization records may document the Coppesmette → Coppersmith name change. Census shows immigration 1856; naturalization timing unknown.
• Allouez Catholic Cemetery burial — same as grandson Claude (d. 1987) and Claude’s wife Marie (d. 1998).