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Etienne Olivier "Oliver" Crête, (Cratte) Sr.

Etienne Olivier "Oliver" Crête, (Cratte) Sr.

Male 1801 - 1884  (82 years)

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  • Name Etienne Olivier "Oliver" Crête 
    • He was born "Etienne Olivier Crête"

      Most of his life was known as Oliver Cratte and his children used the name Cratte.
    Suffix (Cratte) Sr. 
    Born 04 Oct 1801  Pointe-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Gender Male 
    Baptism 20 Nov 1801  Pointe-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3] 
    Occupation 1824  Prairie du Chien, Crawford, Wisconsin, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [4, 5] 
    Occupation 1829  Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Occupation 10 Jul 1839  [7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] 
    Census 27 Jul 1870  Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnisota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Reference Number 63 
    Reference Number GRA-CRAT 
    Died 22 Apr 1884  Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14, 15, 16] 
    Buried 24 Apr 1884  St Felix Cemetery, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [17] 
    Person ID I63  fullereriksen
    Last Modified 9 Aug 2019 

    Father Etienne Crête,   b. Abt 1775, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Brigitte Labbe,   b. Est 1784, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Nov 1805, Pointe-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 21 years) 
    Married 09 Feb 1801  Notre Dame De La Visitation, Pointe-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Family ID F52  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Sarah Marie Graham,   b. 1811, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1841, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 30 years) 
    Married 04 Oct 1831  Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18, 19, 20] 
    • This union resulted in the birth of three girls and one boy
    Children 
    +1. Maria Louise Cratte,   b. 16 Jul 1832, Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1884  (Age < 51 years)
    +2. Scholastique Josephine Cratte,   b. 13 Jan 1834, Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Mar 1875, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 41 years)
    +3. David Cratte,   b. 15 Mar 1836, Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Mar 1919, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
    +4. Isabelle Elizabeth Cratte,   b. 05 Feb 1838, Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jul 1885, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 47 years)
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2021 
    Family ID F30  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Teresa Rocque,   b. Abt 1820,   d. Abt 1844, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 24 years) 
    Married Abt 1843  Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [21] 
    • but she died within one year.
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2021 
    Family ID F51  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Harriet Jane "Jennie" Campbell,   b. Dec 1823, Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 05 Apr 1901, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 77 years) 
    Married 17 Apr 1846  Lake Pepin, Goodhue, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [22, 23] 
    • with whom he had 14 children.
    Children 
     1. William Cratte,   b. 24 Aug 1846, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1859, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 12 years)
     2. Olivier Cratte, Jr.,   b. 21 Aug 1847, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 03 Apr 1927, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
     3. Francois "Frank" Cratte,   b. 16 May 1848, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 05 Nov 1873, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 25 years)
     4. Lucy Cratte,   b. 15 Jun 1849, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Feb 1928, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     5. Josephine Cratte,   b. 1851, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    +6. Daniel E. Cratte,   b. May 1852, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jun 1930, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 78 years)
    +7. Lavina Cratte,   b. May 1852, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Mar 1921, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 68 years)
     8. Mary Cratte,   b. 1857, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1873, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 16 years)
     9. Charles "William" Cratte,   b. 12 Aug 1859, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 May 1881, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 21 years)
     10. Maria "Mary" Virginia Cratte,   b. 04 Jul 1861, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jan 1942, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)
     11. Octavio "Tab" Cratte,   b. 26 Jan 1863, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1928, St Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 66 years)
     12. George Edward Cratte,   b. 13 Mar 1865, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1870  (Age < 4 years)
     13. Esther Cratte,   b. 06 Oct 1865, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Oct 1935, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     14. Martha Cratte,   b. 02 Nov 1866, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified 8 Aug 2021 
    Family ID F50  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 04 Oct 1801 - Pointe-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBaptism - 20 Nov 1801 - Pointe-du-Lac, Quebec, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - 1824 - Prairie du Chien, Crawford, Wisconsin, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - 1829 - Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 04 Oct 1831 - Mendota, Dakota, Minnesota, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Abt 1843 - Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 17 Apr 1846 - Lake Pepin, Goodhue, Minnesota, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 22 Apr 1884 - Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 24 Apr 1884 - St Felix Cemetery, Wabasha, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Crattes Landing, Wabasha, MN     		Crattes Landing, Wabasha, MN
    Ferry to cross the Mississippi River at Wabasha, MN near a place known as Crattes Landing, named after Oliver Cratte, who had a blacksmith shop/home on the banks of the Mississippi where Wabasha is today.
    St Felix Cemetery    		St Felix Cemetery
    General Cemetery Photo
    St Felix Cemetery    		St Felix Cemetery
    General Cemetery Photo
    St Felix Cemetery    		St Felix Cemetery
    Official Interment Board displaying all burials at the cemetery along with the plot and date information
    St Felix Church, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA    		St Felix Church, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA
    Cratte Family Church for many generations
    St Felix Church, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA    		St Felix Church, Wabasha, Minnesota, USA
    Family Baptism, Marriage and Burial Records found at this church

    Headstones
    Cratte, Oliver, Family Plot    		Cratte, Oliver, Family Plot
    OFFICIAL INTERMENTS per the St. Felix Church Books
    1. Olivier Crête (Cratte); d. 22 April, bur. 24 April,1884; b. Canada; aged 84.5yrs; of old age; Priest: James Trobec, Bur: St. Felix - was prepared.
    2. Mrs. Oliver Cratte (Harriet 'Jenny' Campbell) - 3rd wife; d. 6 April, bur. 8 April, 1901; b. Mendota, MN; aged 78 yrs; Priest: Max Wurst - received Sacraments.
    3. Mary Crête(Cratte)d.13 May, bur. 14 May, 1873, b. Wabasha, aged 14yrs, d. Typhoid fever, Priest: James Trobec.
    4. Frank Crête(Cratte)d. 5 Dec, bur. 7 Dec, 1873, b. Wabasha, aged 25 yrs, of Spinal Disease, Preist: James Trobec.
    5. [Charles] William Crête(Cratte)d.11 May, bur.,13 May, 1881, b. Wabasha, aged 21 yrs, of Consumption, Preist: James Trobec - was Prepared.

    OFFICIAL INTERMENTS per St. Felix Cemetery Records (those we can identify)
    1. Cratte Sarah [Graham-first wife]; Cemetery Code* 1841; Section F, Plot 9
    2. Cratte, George - [no dates listed]; Section F, Plot 9
    3. Cratte, Oliver b. 1847 d. 3 April 1927; Section F, Plot 9
    4. Cratte, Theresa [2nd wife]; Cemetery Code* 1841; Section F, Plot 9
    5. Cratte, Jenny or Jane [3rd wife]; Cemetery Code* 1841, Section F, Plot 9
    6. Cratte, [Charles] William b. 1860 d. 11 May 1881, Section F, Plot 9
    7. Fuller, Scolastic (Cratte) died 30 March 1875, bur. 1 April 1875, per St Felix Church and Cemetery Records, no Section/Plot given.
    Her husband T Fuller is buried in Riverview.
    * Perhaps 'Wife'

    OFFICIAL INTERMENTS per St. Felix Cemetery Records (those we can Not identify)
    1. Cratte, Daughter b. Jan 1892, d. 18 Feb 1893; Section F, Plot 9
    2. Cratte, Illegible [no dates]; Section F, Plot 9
    4. Cratte, Taylor [no dates]; Section F, Plot 9


    Plot: Section F, Lot 9

    Histories
    Cratte, Oliver, an Historical Profile    		Cratte, Oliver, an Historical Profile
    The Life and Times of Etienne Olivier Crête (Oliver Cratte)

  • Notes 
    • His mother died in 1805 when he was 4 years old and he and his sister Brigitte were raised by one of his mother's brothers; whose last name was Labbé. He was trained in Montreal as a blacksmith.
    • was a signatory to a petition sent to the president of the USA for restitution for lands they had settled between the falls of St Anthony and the mouth of the Minnesota River, which were to be taken for military reserve.
    • was elected to the first Board of Commissioners for the County of Wabasha.
    • served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Wabasha County.
    • along with Joseph Buisson laid out the streets and lots and created the original town plat for the town of Wabasha, MN.
    • he lived in Wabasha where he worked and raised his family and during that time owned a great deal of land in the area. However he placed all his land in a Land Association and was far too honest to enjoy the profits of this association and ended with nothing. In his later years his eyes failed and died poor and nearly blind. He was always very active in the Catholic Church and Father Trobec on introducing Oliver, said 'this is one of the best Catholics in my perish'.

  • Sources 
    1. [S53] Interview, Cratte Oliver Sr., by Meinier, Oliver Cratte, (June 1871), GRA-CRAT2, p 2-4 to 2-11., Gra-Crat2, p 2-7.

    2. [S53] Interview, Cratte Oliver Sr., by Meinier, Oliver Cratte, (June 1871), GRA-CRAT2, p 2-4 to 2-11., Yvon Crête says this date is from the parish records.; Gra-Crat2, p 2-4.

    3. [S168] Vital Records, Quebec, Canada, Compiler: Quebec Provincial Government, (BAnQ also YourFamily.com, 475 Boulevard de Maisonneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Published: ongoing, also Compiled from Church Records), GRA-DECH.

    4. [S53] Interview, Cratte Oliver Sr., by Meinier, Oliver Cratte, (June 1871), GRA-CRAT2, p 2-4 to 2-11., Gra-Crat2, p 2-4.

    5. [S54] Book, Wabasha County Past & Present 1870, W.H. Mitchell; U. Curtis, (Federal Union Book and Job Printing House, Rochester, MN, USA, 1870), Page 64 says: "Sometime about 1810 the American Fur Company established fur trading posts along the Mississippi, their headquarters being Prairie du Chien."; Gra- Bk3, sec 1, page 64.

    6. [S32] MHS, "New Light on Old St Peter's and Early St Paul", MN History, Volume VIII, 1927, Minnesota Historical Society, (Published by Minnesota Historical Society, St Paul MN, 1927, page 27), GRA-BK1, Section 1., Gra-BK1, section 1, p 42, 43.

    7. [S32] MHS, "New Light on Old St Peter's and Early St Paul", MN History, Volume VIII, 1927, Minnesota Historical Society, (Published by Minnesota Historical Society, St Paul MN, 1927, page 27), GRA-BK1, Section 1., NOTE: His Obituary and the 1884 History of Wabasha County as well as several other historical documents state that he settled and build a shop and house at Wabasha in 1838. We know that his job took him out among the Indian tribes and we assume that the 10 July 1839 was just the official transfer date making official something that had happened in 1838. wlf 2008; Gra-BK1, section 1, p 43.

    8. [S42] Obituary, Wabasha Herald, (23 April 1884), Ful-CW4, page 5., He was "acting under contract with the USA Government to do blacksmith work for the Wacootas and Wapashas bands of Sioux Indians, he came to Wabasha and built a house and shop."; Gra-Crat, p 1-38a.

    9. [S51] Obituary, Minneapolis Journal, (30 March 1919), GRA-CRAT, p 1-68., It says: "Mr Cratte came to Wabasha, then known as Cratte's landing, in 1839 with his parents and made his home here almost continuously."; Gra-Crat page 1-68.

    10. [S3] Book, History of Wabasha County, 1884, Francis Talbot et al, (H.H.Hill and Company, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Published 1884 (also see the 1920 book by Cooper)), A biography states: "Cratte, Oliver,(biography gathered from pages 593 & 937), was one of the original proprietors of the town of Wabasha. He was the first white man to build on the present site of Wabasha He came here from Fort Snelling in 1838. Mr. Cratte was sent to this place by the government and located as blacksmith for the Wapashaw band. He was born in Liverpool, England [we know this s/b Canada] in 1801. He was early left an orphan, and he and his sister came to Canada when he was a mere boy. He learned the blacksmith's trade at Montreal, and after completing it he came west as far as Mackinaw, where he remained about a year. He then went to Prairie du Chien in company with some traders, and was there employed by the United States government. In 1828 he was sent to Fort Snelling, where he remained until he came to Wabasha in 1838. Mr. Cratte has been married three times. His first wife was a daughter of Alexander [s/b Duncan] Graham, by whom he had five children, and his present wife is a daughter of Scott Campbell, who acted as interpreter for the chiefs and braves who visited Washington in 1837 for the purpose of ceding their lands east of the Mississippi to the United States. Mr. Cratte is still living and is the oldest living white man of his time. He is entirely blind, yet his memory is good, and it is like reading history to hear him recount the scenes of this long and varied experience. The old man is poor, which renders his blindness still more pitiable. He has, in his day, been far beyond want; but loaning gold and, in his own honesty of purpose and heart, trusting the word of those who came to him in need, taking no proper security, he has thus, in his old age, become reduced to poverty and sorrow. Coming here in the fall of 1838, he built a shop of logs on the levee, chinking it with mud and sand, and occupying it that winter for shop and dwelling. In the spring following he added a "lean- to" and sent for his family, they having remained at Fort Snelling during the winter. This dwelling was the first ever built by white man at this place. [edits by wlf]; Gra- Crat2, page 2-4.

    11. [S54] Book, Wabasha County Past & Present 1870, W.H. Mitchell; U. Curtis, (Federal Union Book and Job Printing House, Rochester, MN, USA, 1870), Page 64 says: "In 1838 Oliver Cratt came down from Fort Snelling and built a Blacksmith shop on the Levee."; Gra- Bk3, sec 1, page 64.

    12. [S37] Research Notes, Charles E. Cratte, Charles Edward Cratte, (Received March 7, 1984), GRA-CRAT, page 1-50., Reference to Cratt's Landing in this newspaper article; Gra-Crat, p 1-70.

    13. [S232] Census data, Compiler: Census Data, (Federal, Federal Data Base), Ful- Various., 1870 Census -- In the household
      Cratte, Oliver; 69; M; W[white]; Farmer; 20,000[land value]; 1500[personal value; Canada[born]; parents foreign born-Y
      Cratte, Jane; 40; F; W; keeping house; Minn.[born]
      Cratte, Oliver; 23; M; W; assists at home; Minn.
      Cratte, Lucy; 22; F; W; Minn.
      Cratte, Frank; 21; M; W; Minn.
      Cratte, Daniel; 18; M; W; Minn.
      Cratte, Lizzie; 18; F; W; Minn.
      Cratte, Esther; 14; F; W; Minn.
      Cratte, William; 12; M; W; Minn.
      Cratte, Octavio; 5; M; W; Minn.
      Cratte, Ann; 3; F; W; Minn.
      Fuller, Henry; 24; M; W; Farm laborer; Mass.
      Cratte, Madeline; 16; F; W; [worked in the] home
      Graham, John; 46; M; W; Stage Driver; Pennsylvania; Folder1870_MN_Wa_Cratte_Oliver.

    14. [S6] Death and Burial Records, St Felix Church, Gra-Crat & Bui, in book., Gra-Crat, page 1-17, 44.

    15. [S42] Obituary, Wabasha Herald, (23 April 1884), Ful-CW4, page 5., Gra-Crat, p 1-38a.

    16. [S70] Death Registration Oliver Cratte, (Date filed: 25 Nov 1884), GRA-Dech, page 2-14,., The record shows that he died of old age (age 83) and that his birth place was England.; Gra-Crat, page 1-42, 71.

    17. [S6] Death and Burial Records, St Felix Church, Gra-Crat & Bui, in book., Cratte, Oliver, Family Plot Section F, Plot 9
      OFFICIAL Interments 'bur.' per the St. Felix Church Books
      1. Olivier Crête (Cratte); d. 22 April, bur. 24 April,1884; b. Canada; aged 84.5yrs; of old age; Priest: James Trobec, Bur: St. Felix.
      2. Harriet 'Jenny' Campbell (Mrs. Oliver Cratte) - 2nd wife; d. 6 April, bur. 8 April, 1901; b. Mendota, MN; aged 78 yrs; Priest: Max Wurst.
      3. Mary Crête(Cratte)d.13 May, bur. 14 May, 1873, b. Wabasha, aged 14yrs, d. Typhoid fever, Priest: James Trobec.
      4. Frank Crête(Cratte)d. 5 Dec, bur. 7 Dec, 1873, b. Wabasha, aged 25 yrs, of Spinal Disease, Preist: James Trobec.
      5. William Crête(Cratte)d.11 May, bur.,13 May, 1881, b. Wabasha, aged 21 yrs, of Consumption, Preist: James Trobec.

      OTHER INTERMENTS per St. Felix Cemetery Records (we can identify)
      1. Sarah Graham Cratte-first wife (841)
      2. George Cratte - [no dates listed] (814)
      3. Oliver Cratte, b. 1847 d. 3 April 1927 (804)
      4. Theresa Cratte-third wife (957)

      OTHER INTERMENTS per St. Felix Cemetery Records (we can Not identify)
      1. Daughter, Cratte, b. Jan 1892, d. 18 Feb 1893
      2. Illegible, Cratte [no dates]
      3. Jenny or Jane Cratte d. 1841
      4. Taylor Cratte [no dates]
      5. William Cratte, b. 1860 d. 11 March 1881; Gra-Crat, page 1-17.

    18. [S32] MHS, "New Light on Old St Peter's and Early St Paul", MN History, Volume VIII, 1927, Minnesota Historical Society, (Published by Minnesota Historical Society, St Paul MN, 1927, page 27), GRA-BK1, Section 1., Page 43 states:
      "Since there was no minister in the country, Major Taliaferro frequently officiated as justice of the peace, and united many. Among those he married were Oliver Cratte and James Wells to daughters of Duncan Graham."; Gra-BK1, section 1, p 43.

    19. [S38] Marriage, Cratte Oliver, Graham Sarah, (Jan, 24, 1876), GRA-CRAT, p 1-59., The marriage was at St. Peter which is now Mendota and would have been in the Territory of Iowa at that time.; Gra-Crat, p 1-60.

    20. [S197] Newspaper Article, Wabasha Herald, (January 24, 1876), Gra-Crat,p59;Gra-Gra,p16., GRA-CRAT, page 1-59.

    21. [S42] Obituary, Wabasha Herald, (23 April 1884), Ful-CW4, page 5., The Obit says that his first wife died in 1841 and: "A year or two later he married 2nd wife Teresa daughter of Augustine Rocque who died in childbirth within a year."; Gra-Crat, p 1-38a.

    22. [S43] Obituary, Wabasha Herald, (11 April 1901), GRA- FAR1-picture section., Her obituary shows marriage date of 1844; Gra-Crat, p 1-38c.

    23. [S50] Research Notes, MN Genealogical Society, Minnesota Genealogical Society, GRA-GRA, page 1-28+books., Gra-Crat page 1-67a.


Existing Site