This photograph of Melvina Carroll and August Bresbois is from one of 11 copies. My brother found this picture under a copy of my grandfather’s US Army WWII photograph. This picture is currently in the possession of Cheryl Zelek.

Melvina is the daughter of William Andrew Carroll and Sarah Jane Quillen of Lewis Co, TN. Melvina was born 1875 in Lewis Co, TN, and died June 1945 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN. She is buried in Piney Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN.

August, the son of Peter Bresbois and Valentina Detuyon, was born 25 December 1882 in Alsace Lorraine, France. August arrived in the United States on 26 March 1890 on the ship, La Champagne, which departed from LeHavre, FRANCE. He traveled with his parents and his siblings.  His siblings were Henry [Henri] Brisbois, Alice Elizabeth [Elise] Brisbois, and Albert Alfonse Bresbois.   He also had a half-sister, Mary [Marie] Esslinger who was listed as Marie Bresbois on the ship’s manifest.  All of his siblings lived in either the Lewis Co, TN area at some point in their lives or the Davidson Co, TN area.  August died 22 December 1968 in Linden, Perry Co, TN and was buried 24 December 1968 in Piney Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, next to Melvina.

August’s mother, Valentina Detuyon Bresbois, died in 24 Nov 1933 in Nashville, TN of thyroid cancer.  She had been institutionalized at Central State Hospital for psychosis for over 18 years according to her death certificate and, according to her death certificate, she was buried in Downey Cemetery on 25 Nov 1933.   There is no marker on the grave.  Some researchers have listed her last name as Anglish but I have found no data to support this.  Valentina’s last name was listed on Mary/Marie’s death certificate as Dethyon and her father as John Esslinger. Valentina also signed consent for Marie’s marriage to John Hager on 11 Aug 1892 in Allegheny, PA.  She signed this document at “Valentine Brisbois.”  Based on the births of all of Valentina and Pierre’s children in France, John would have passed away in Germany well before the family came to America.

August’s father, Pierre/Peter Brisbois, died at St. Mary’s Infirmary in St Louis, MO on 11 Jan 1913 of lumbar pneumonia.  He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in St Louis, Independent City, MO.  It is unknown why he left his wife and moved to St Louis, MO.

Melvina and August were married on 21 January 1900 in Lewis Co, TN and were the parents of ten children:

[1] Turner BRESBOIS b: 1 April 1901 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN USA d: 23 October 1978 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: 26 October 1978 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA +Maibelle MILLER b: 1 October 1901 in Hickman Co, TN, USA d: 29 January 1960 in Nashville, Davidson Co, TN, USA Burial: 31 January 1960 in Swiss Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA Father: Joe MILLER Mother: Callie Frances WILLIAMS.   Turner married 2nd- Hettie Mae CROWELL b: 30 Nov 1911 Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA  d: 20 June 2004 Columbia, Maury Co, TN, USA  Burial: Swiss Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA  Father: William Fred CROWELL   Mother: Louisa ODOM.  There were no children from this union.

[2] Alice BRESBOIS b: 16 February 1903 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: September 1969 in Monticello, Jefferson Co, FL, USA  Burial: Waukeenah Methodist Cemetery, Waukeenah, Jefferson Co, FL, USA +Enoch Elester “Red” SLAUGHTER b: 15 Feb 1910 in Lawrence Co, TN, USA d: 9 Nov 1982 in Lyles, Hickman Co, TN, USA Burial: Wrigley Methodist Church Cemetery, Hickman Co, TN, USA  Father: John Ohey SLAUGHTER  Mother: Cora Alice JOHNS.  There were two children from this union.

[3} Rosa BRESBOIS b: 30 January 1906 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 3 November 1988 in Centerville, Hickman Co, TN, USA Burial: 5 November 1988 in Swiss Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA +Sam CHURCHWELL b: 19 June 1908 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA m: 19 January 1947 in Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 19 September 1984 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: September 1984 in Swiss Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA Father: James A CHURCHWELL Mother: Mary Caroline HENSLEY.  There were no children from this union.

[4] Jessie May BRESBOIS b: 20 October 1907 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 13 June 1992 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: 15 June 1992 in Springer Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA +Omer C SPEARS b: 28 August 1906 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA m: 28 March 1931 in Centerville, Hickman Co, TN, USA d: 19 April 1994 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: in Springer Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA Father: Willie James SPEARS Mother: Eliza J “Lizza” CAMPBELL.  There were three children from this union.

[5] Esther Marie BRESBOIS b: 1 January 1909 in Hickman Co, TN, USA d: 5 February 1994 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: February 1994 in Loveless Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA +Carl BAKER b: 6 August 1908 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 29 January 1994 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: in Loveless Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA Father: William Daniel BAKER Mother: Eliza MCCLAIN.  There were no children from this union.

[6] Bertha BRESBOIS b: 10 July 1910 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 8 July 1953 in Highland Park, Wayne Co, MI, USA Burial: July 1953 in Grinder’s Creek Church of Christ Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA +James Thurston FITE b: 3 August 1908 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA m: 28 March 1931 in Perry Co, TN, USA d: 21 July 1988 in Wyandotte, Wayne Co, MI, USA Burial: 26 July 1988 in Grinder’s Creek Church of Christ Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Father: Francis Jefferson FITE Mother: Margaret Anne MILLIKEN.  There were six children from this union, four living to adulthood.

[7] Grace BRESBOIS b: 9 February 1911 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 23 June 1950 in Atlanta, Fulton Co, GA, USA  Burial: Piney Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA +Chesley William WARREN b: 8 September 1911 d: September 1987 in Hermitage, Davidson Co, TN, USA Burial: Rock Springs Church Cemetery, Buffalo Valley, Putnam Co, TN, USA  Father: Richardson WARREN  Mother: Hettie Ella HICKERSON.  There was one child from this union.

[8] Gertie BRESBOIS b: 29 May 1912 Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d:19 Jun 1979 Linden, Marengo Co, AL, USA Burial: New Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Dallas Co, AL, USA  +Frank JOHNSON b 10 May 1895 d: Feb 1979 Faunsdale, Marengo Co, AL, USA.  There were no known children from this union.

[9] Pauline BRESBOIS b: 16 August 1914 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 28 May 1997 in Centerville, Hickman Co, TN, USA Burial: 29 May 1997 in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Centerville, Hickman Co, TN, USA +Horace Hubert STAGGS b: 14 Sep 1912 Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 19 May 1952 Detroit, Wayne Co, MI, USA Father: Calvin Lester STAGGS Mother: Mattie Caroline HENDRIX.  Pauline and Horace divorced sometime before 1945.  There was one child from this union.

[10] Gusta BRESBOIS b: 22 February 1916 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 18 August 1998 in Hendersonville, Sumner Co, TN, USA Burial: 21 August 1998 in Loveless Cemetery, Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA +Frank W BAKER b: 5 October 1912 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA d: 15 October 1981 in Hohenwald, Lewis Co, TN, USA Burial: October 1981 in Loveless Cemetery, Lewis Co, TN, USA   Father: William Daniel BAKER Mother: Eliza MCCLAIN.   There was one child from this union.

If you have additional information on this family, please contact Cheryl Zelek.