Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2022
Julianna Boppre was born in Bambert, Ontario, Canada on June 27, 1847. She was one of eight children born to Franz Adam Boppre (1813-1886) and Mary Margaretha VonHein (1811-1852).
Julianna spent her early life in Canada, in Waterloo County.
Julianna and her family attended the first Catholic Church in the area. The log church built in St. Clements around 1840. In 1853, the log church was deemed too small and in 1858, a large brick church was completed. A brass band from Buffalo, New York gave a concert before the church dedication. At the time of its opening, it was said to be the largest and finest church west of Toronto, according to The Catholic Church in Waterloo County, Book I by Rev. Theobald Spetz.
Records from 1846 about the entire township indicate that much of the land had been “Queen’s Rush, crown land, where fifty acre lots were given away to actual settlers,” according to William H. Smith, 1847 and published by H. & W. Rowsell, page 213.
The area now called the village of Wellesley on the Nith River was first settled in 1847, by John Smith and was originally called Schmidtsville. The post office opened in 1851 and the village was renamed Wellesley after Richard Wellesley, First Marquess Wellesley, the eldest brother of Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington.
The community quickly grew to be the largest economic center in rural Waterloo County, with a wood mill, feed mill, a grain mill (which still stands after being constructed in 1856), leather tanner, cheese factory, restaurants, and housing, and many other businesses that also brought much trade to the town from the nearby farms and farming villages. By 1864, the village also had two stores, a flour mill, three wagon makers, boot and shoe shops, a hotel, two churches, and a school with 78 students, according to the County of Waterloo Gazetteer and General Business Directory, For 1864.
On February 22, 1867, Julianna Boppre married Paul Joseph Fischer (1842-1938). Paul’s parents were Mathias Burkard Fischer (1801-1861) and Margaretha Schmidt (1800-1860). Three years later, Paul and Julianna came to Minnesota, settling on a farm in Eagle Creek near Shakopee.
Fifteen children were born to Julianna and Paul. One child, Nicholas, at age six, was run over by the local freight train, according to an article on August 14, 1891. Nicholas was hanging on the side of the passing cars. He lost his right foot. The amputation was made by doctors Dunn and Smith.
The following ten years were spent in farming, and then the family then moved to Shakopee where they remained.
The death of Julianna Boppre Fischer occurred at her home in Shakopee on Monday morning, May 9, 1910, after an illness covering a period of about two years with diabetes.
During the last two weeks she had failed rapidly and the Friday prior became very ill, gradually sinking in a comatose state in which she remained for thirty-six hours preceding death.
She left five brothers and three sisters residing in Canada.
The funeral took place Wednesday morning at nine o’clock from St. Mary’s Catholic Church of which she had been a devout member. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends. Rev. Father Lee conducted the funeral services and the remains were laid to rest at the Catholic Cemetery in Shakopee.
Bibliography
County of Waterloo Gazetteer and General Business Directory, For 1864. Mitchell & Co., 1864. p. 201.
Spetz, Theobald. The Catholic Church in Waterloo County. Book I. Catholic Register and Extension, 1916.