Continuation of tree (8th child of Francois Pitre/2nd wife Pauline Adelaide Dequindre); all known surname descendants:
7 Toussaint Pitre b: 5 November 1863 New Baltimore, Macomb, MI; d: 28 September 1952 Merrill, Saginaw, MI
+Gilfera 'Mary' Bethui (aka Betwe) b: 12 March 1867 Ira, St. Clair, MI; m: 13 October 1885 Bay City, Bay, MI [Alexander/Adaline Gosselin]; d: 13 February 1937 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
8 Walter Stephons Petre b: 10 August 1886 Reese, Tuscola, MI; d: 30 June 1958 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
+Grace Alma Lee b: 17 June 1892 Hunter, Greene, NY: m: 6 April 1910 Stamford, Delaware, NY [David/Ida Dibble]; d: 1 May 1939 Stamford, Delaware, NY
8 Floyd Louis Petre b: 28 February 1888 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 5 June 1970 Billings, Yellowstone, MT
+Rosa Jock b: February 1889 Michigan; m: 25 November 1908 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [Richard/Josephine Peltier] (divorced 6 April 1915); d: 25 October 1950 Highland Park, Wayne, MI
8 Mary Belle Petre b: 6 December 1889 Reese, Tuscola, MI; d: 6 July 1970 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
+Howard Lyle Barber b: 27 March 1889 St. Louis, Gratiot, MI; m: 9 July 1917 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [David L./Ida Visbee]; d: 19 February 1951 Merrill, Saginaw, MI
8 Leo Julius Petre b: 21 February 1891 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 26 October 1948 Ontario, San Bernardino, CA
+Bessie Marilla Snyder b: 16 February 1890 Midland Co., MI; m: 4 August 1913 Billings, Yellowstone, MT [William F./Mary O'Donnell]; d: 20 January 1989 Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
8 Clarence Obary Petre b: 13 May 1894 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 5 February 1955 Merrill, Saginaw, MI
+Martha J. Leedke b: 4 November 1895 Richland, Saginaw, MI; m: 27 November 1923 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [Herman/Anne Riley]; d: 4 October 1977 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
8 Herbert A. Petre b: 17 November 1895 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 23 November 1933 Pomona, Los Angeles, CA
+Jessie Mildred Cadwell b: 6 October 1899 St. Charles, Saginaw, MI; m: 27 August 1921 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI [Charles Edwin/Mina King]; d: 4 May 1995 Placerville, El Dorado, CA
8 female Petre b: 13 September 1897 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 14 September 1897 Gilford, Tuscola, MI
8 Lottie Petre b: 12 July 1898 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 11 December 1980 Cedar Springs, Kent, MI
+Frank J. Shannon b: 29 December 1883 Merrill, Saginaw, MI; m: 29 October 1928 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [John R./Mary Keenan]; d: 5 November 1964 Saginaw, MI
8 Delos Joseph Petre b: 4 July 1900 Gilford, Tuscola, MI; d: 15 November 1958 Houghton Lake, Roscommon, MI
+Bernice M. Leddy b: 1 April 1906 Thomas, Saginaw, MI; m: 3 November 1926 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI [Michael/Margaret Davis]; d: 27 October 1992 Midland, Midland, MI
8 Della B. Petre b: 15 May 1903 Reese, Tuscola, MI; d: 24 March 1968 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI
+Sigmund A. Kwiatkowski b: 12 May 1903 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI; m: 1 September 1932 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [W.G./Mary Donitski]; d: 13 August 1975 Au Gres, Arenac, MI
8 Charles Leonard Petre b: 11 August 1905 Gilford, Tuscola, MII; d: 2 August 1939 Ontario, San Bernardino, CA
+Eileen Catherine Skillman b: 7 September 1907 Ontario, San Bernardino, CA; m: 15 June 1935 [Arthur D./Julia D. Early]; d: 31 August 1960 Clearwater, BC
8 Grace Petre b: 27 September 1907 Richland, Saginaw, MI; d: 10 August 1987 West Branch, Ogemaw, MI
+Gerald Trahan b: 11 September 1907 Saginaw, Saginaw, MI; m: 12 June 1929 Merrill, Saginaw, MI [Clarence/Blanche Bander]; d: 25 July 1948 Merrill, Saginaw, MI
*2nd Husband of Grace Petre:
+Frank Walker m: Bet. February 1955 - March 1968
Notes for Toussaint Pitre:
Census
- 1900 Gilford, Tuscola, Michigan: Tousaint Petre 36
(farmer), wife of 14 years Mary 33 (7 of 8 children still living), Walter 12,
Floyd 12, Bell 10, Leo 9, Clarance 6, Herbert 3, Lottie 1.
- 1910 Jonesfield, Saginaw, MI: Tusan Petre 45, wife of 26 years Mary 43 (11 of 12 children still living), Leo J. 19, Clarence 15, Herbert 14, Lottie 11, Dalor 10, Ducea 6, Leonard 4, Grace 2, widowed brother-in-law Alexander Batour
46.
- 1920 Jonesfield, Merrill, Saginaw, MI: Tusan Petre 56 (RR laborer), wife
Mary 52, Lottie 21, Della 16, Leonard 14, Grace 12, brother-in-law Alexander
Beture 57 (farm laborer).
- 1930 Merrill, Saginaw, MI: Tusan Petrie 66, wife of 44 years Marie 63,
Dellad 26, Deloss Petrie 29, his wife of 3 years Bernies 24, Robert D. 6 months.
In Tekonsha, Calhoun, MI: Leonard Petrie 24 printer/newspaper.
- 1940 Merrill, Saginaw, MI: Delos Pitre 39 section laborer/P.M. Railroad, wife Bernise 34, Robert 10, Mary 7, widowed father Tusan 76 retired farmer. [Jonesfield, 126 Railroad] In Ontario, San Bernardino, CA: Leonard's widow Eileen C. Petre 32 teacher/public school, Ann C. Petre 1, living with her parents & brother.
- 1950 Merrill, Saginaw, MI: Delos Petre 49 trackman/railroad co., wife Bernice 44, Mary 17 saleslady/drug store, widowed father Tousan 86.
Obituary: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Monday, 29 September 1952: Petre, Tousan, Merrill, Michigan. Passed away Sunday evening after a lingering illness. Age 88 years. He was born Nov. 5, 1863 in New Baltimore, Macomb County, Mich. He lived in New Baltimore until 1885. On Oct. 13, 1885 he married Mary Betwe in Bay City. They settled on a farm in Tuscola County and lived there until 1907 when they moved to a farm near Merrill, which has since been their home. Mrs. Petre passed away in 1937. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Merrill. Surviving are four sons and four daughters, Walter Petre, Mrs. Sigmund Kwiatkowski, both of Saginaw; Floyd Petre, Billings, Montana, Mrs. Belle Barber, Mrs. Frank Shannon, Mrs. Grace Trahan, Clarence and Deloss Petre, all of Merrill; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren. Funeral service will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Case Chapel in Merrill, 9:30 o'clock at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Merrill. Rev. Fr. Frederick Ryan will officiate with burial in Lakefield Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call after 7 p.m. Monday at the Case Chapel, Merrill, where they will meet Tuesday evening to recite the Rosary.
Tombstone Inscription, Sacred Heart Cemetery, Saginaw, MI: PETRE / Mary G. / 1867 - 1937 / Tousan / 1863 - 1952
Misc.:
- Saginaw News, Saturday, 7 September 1918: Merrill - Mr. and Mrs. Tusan Petre of Merrill, have a splendid military record in their family.. They have seven sons, three of whom are in service in France, one in Camp Syracuse, Syracuse, N.Y., and two in the draft age. The other is in school.
- Saginaw News, Friday, 8 November 1918: Merrill - In a letter to his mother, Mrs. Mary Petre, Deloss Petre states that he took part in the great allied counter-attack on the Marne salient July 18 that started the Huns backwards towards Germany and began the disintegration of the German western front. In that battle the marines covered themselves with glory, but at a terrible cost of killed and wounded.
- Saginaw News, Saturday, 10 May 1919: Merrill - Herbert Petre, who has been in overseas service, arrived in Merrill Wednesday night and is at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tusan Petre.
- Saginaw News, Friday, 25 July 1919: Clarence Petre is spending a 30-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tusan Petre. He has been in military service since October, 1909 and still has some time to serve. He spent four years in the Philippines and two years in France. He came to Merrill from Newport News, Va., and at the close of his furlough will go to Douglas, Arizona.
- Saginaw News, Thursday, 23 February 1922: Merrill - Mr. and Mrs. Tusan Petre spent a week with friends at Clio.
- Midland Daily News (Midland, MI), Tuesday, 7 November 1950: Mt. Haley - Tousan Petre, grand old man of Merrill, was the honor guest at an open house given for him by his daughter, Mrs. Grace Trahan, at the Trahan home Sunday afternoon. Mr. Petre celebrated his 87th birthday. He suffered a fractured hip in the spring but has recovered enough to get around with the help of a crutch and cane.
Notes for Gilfera 'Mary' Bethui:
Obituary: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Monday, 15 February 1937: Mrs. Tousan Petre. Funeral services for Mrs. Tousan Petre, 69, who died Saturday at St. Mary's hospital, will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at her home in Merrill and at 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart church there. Rev. Fr. Daniel J. Wynne will officiate and burial will be Sacred Heart cemetery, Lakefield township. Mary Betwe was born March 12, 1867, in New Baltimore and in 1879 moved with her parents to Reese. She married Mr. Petre in Bay City Oct. 13, 1885, and they lived near Reese until 1907, moving then to Merrill. Mrs. Petre was a member of Sacred Heart church, its Altar society and the Third Order of St. Francis. She leaves, besides her husband, six sons, Walter, at home, Clarence and Delos Petre of Merrill, Floyd of Billings, Mont., and Leo and Leonard Petre of Ontario, Calif.; four daughters, Mrs. Gerald Trahan, Mrs. Frank Shannon and Mrs. H. F. Barber, of Merrill and Mrs. S. Kwiatkowski of Saginaw; one brother, Alex Betwe of Saginaw; one sister, Mrs. Carl Sodolski of Bay City; 22 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.
WWI registration records (sons):
Walter Stephons Petre: Walter S. Petre; res. Oneonta, N.Y.; born 10 Aug 1886 (Gilford, MI); RR trainman; wife & 2 children; medium height, medium build; gray eyes & black hair; 5 June 1917.
Floyd Louis Petre: Floyd Louis Petre, res,
Billings, MT; b. 28 Feb 1888 Gilford, MI; farmer; single; short height, stout
build, blue eyes/brown hair; 5 June 1917
Obituaries for the children:
Walter Stephons Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Tuesday, 1 July 1958: Petre, Walter S., 3251 Russell Street. Passed away at 6:10 a.m. Monday at the Veterans' Administration Hospital after a four week illness. Age 71 years. He was born Aug. 10, 1886 in Reese, and resided in Saginaw the past 25 years. He was a veteran of World War I, serving with 71st Engineers in the U.S. Army. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Fred Hitchcock, Highfalls, N.Y.; three grandchildren; also four sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Lottie Shannon, Mrs. Belle Barber, Delois Petre, all of Merrill; Mrs. Grace Trahan, San Antonio, Texas; Mrs. Della Kwiatkowski, Saginaw; Floyd Petre, Billings, Mont. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Gugel Funeral Home and will be under the auspices of Saginaw County Honor Guard. Rev. Joseph H. Ablett will officiate, with burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.
Tombstone Inscription, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw, MI: Walter S. / Petre / Michigan / CPL / 71 Engineers / World War I / August 10, 1886 / June 30, 1958
Floyd Louis Petre: The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT), Saturday, 6 June 1970: Floyd Lewis Petrie, 82, of 812 Custer Ave., died Friday morning at New Western Manor. He had been in the nursing home since Nov. 14, 1969. Mr. Petrie was born Feb. 28, 1888, in Gilford, Mich., a son of Mr. and Mrs. Tousan Petrie. He married Rose Jock in Merrill, Mich., in 1909. They moved to Billings in 1914 and started in the dairy business. In 1947 he began farming east of town until he moved into town in 1950. He was a member of the St. Pius Catholic Church. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Dallas Clark, Clawson, Mich., and Mrs. Thelma Clark, Santa Anna, Calif.; three sisters, Mrs. Lottie Shannon and Mrs. Bell Barber, both of Merrill, Mich., and Mrs. Grace Walker of Texas; four grandchildren. Rosary will be in Smith's Funeral Chapel, Monday, 7:30 p.m., and requiem mass will be in St. Pius Catholic Church, 10:00 a.m., Tuesday. Burial will be in Mountview Cemetery.
Mary Belle Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Tuesday, 7 July 1970: Barber, Mrs. Mary Belle, Merrill, Michigan. Widow of Howard L. Barber passed away at St. Mary's Hospital Monday evening, July 6, 1970. Age 80 years. Mary Belle Petrie was born Dec. 6, 1890, in Reese, and moved to Merrill with her parents in childhood. She was married there to Mr. Barber in 1917. He passed away Feb. 19, 1951. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Merrill and its Altar Society. Surviving are one daughter and two sons, Harold Barber, Cedar Springs, Mich.; Mrs. Earl T. Enright, Port Huron; Kenneth C. Barber, Merrill; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandson; two sisters, Mrs. Frank Shannon, Merrill; Mrs. Frank (Grace) Walker, San Antonio, Tex. Funeral service will take place 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Case Chapel, 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Merrill. Rev. Fr. Terrance Yule will officiate with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hemlock. Friends may call at the chapel in Merrill after 7 p.m. Tuesday, where they will meet with relatives 8 p.m. Wednesday, to say the Rosary.
Tombstone Inscription, St. Mary's Cemetery, Hemlock, MI: Howard L. Barber / Michigan / Asst Band Ldr 328 FA 85 Div / World War I / March 27, 1889 - Feb. 19, 1951 // Mary B. Barber / 1889 - 1970
Leo Julius Petre: The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA), Wednesday, 27 October 1948: Ontario, Oct. 26 - Leo J. Petre, 226 North Plum avenue, succumbed to a heart attack at 6:50 a.m. today on the Chaffey college campus, where he last Wednesday accepted the post of chief engineer. Mr. Petre, who was 57 years of age, was employed at the Ontario plant of the General Electric Co. from 1925 to 1945, having been a well-known member of the G.E. baseball team and popularly known as "Shorty" Petre. He resigned his G. E. post in 1945 to accept a civilian position with the United States Navy at Pearl Harbor, where he served for some months. Surviving Mr. Petre, who had been a sufferer from a heart affection for some months, are his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Tom Kirkland and Mrs. Robert Orsburn, Ontario; a son, Robert, now a student at Santa Barbara State college; his father, Tousan Petre, four brothers and four sisters, residing in Michigan, and four grandchildren. There are also a number of nieces and nephews, including Ann Petre, of Long Beach. Funeral arrangements are in charge of the J. B. Draper Co. mortuary.
Tombstone Inscription, Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario, CA: Leo J. Petre / 1891 - 1948 / Bessie M. Petre / 1890 - 1989
Clarence Obary Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Saturday, 5 February 1955: Petre, O. Clarence, Merrill, Michigan. Passed away suddenly at his home early Saturday morning. Age 60 years. He was born May 13, 1894, in Gilford, and had lived in Saginaw County all of his life, moving to Merrill with his parents in childhood. He married Miss Martha Leedke in Merrill, Nov. 27, 1923. She survives him. He was a veteran of World War I. Mr. Petre was a barber by trade, and operated his shop in Merrill for several years. For the past six years he had been employed at the Laufer Barber Shop on South Hamilton Street in Saginaw. Besides his wife, he leaves one daughter and one son, Pfc. Donald F. Petre, stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Carson, Colo.; Miss Janet L. Petre, at home; also three brothers and four sisters, Walter Petre, Mrs. Sigmund Kwiatkowski, and Mrs. Gerald Trahan, all of Saginaw; Mrs. H. L. Barber, Mrs. Frank Shannon, and Delos Petre, all of Merrill; Floyd Petre, Billings, Mont. Funeral announcement will be made later. Friends may call at the Case Chapel in Merrill after Sunday noon.
Tombstone Inscription, Hemlock Cemetery, Hemlock, Saginaw, MI: Clarence O. Petre / Michigan / PVT Co F 19th Infantry / May 13, 1894 - Feb. 5, 1955 // Martha Petre / 1895 - 1977
Herbert A. Petre: Tombstone Inscription: Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA: Herbert A. / Petere / Michigan / chauffeur / 1103 AERO SQ. / November 23, 1933
Lottie Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Thursday, 11 December 1980: Shannon, Mrs. Lottie, Merrill, Michigan. Widow of Frank J. Shannon passed away early Thursday morning, Dec. 11, 1980, at Cedar Springs, MI. Age 82 years. Mrs. Shannon was born in Reese, MI and moved to Merrill when a child. She was married to Mr. Shannon Oct. 28, 1928. He passed away Nov. 5, 1964. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, its Altar Society and the League of Catholic Women. Surviving are one sister and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service will take place 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Case Chapel in Merrill, 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Merrill. Rev. Charles L. Ganley will officiate with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel in Merrill after 2:00 p.m. Friday where they will meet with relatives at 7:30 p.m. Friday to pray the Rosary.
Tombstone Inscription, Sacred Heart Cemetery, Lakefield, MI: Father / Frank J. Shannon / 1883 - 1964 // Mother / Lottie Shannon / 1898 - 1980
Delos Petre: Lansing State Journal (Lansing, MI), Sunday, 16 November 1958: Delos Petre, 58, of Merrill, suffered the fatal heart attack while hunting in Roscommon county.
Tombstone Inscription, St. Marys Cemetery, Hemlock, MI: Delos J. Petre / Michigan / CPL BTRY F 18 Field Arty / World War I / July 4, 1900 - Nov 15, 1958
Della B. Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Monday, 25 March 1968: Kwaitkowski, Mrs. Della B., 3910 Midland Road. Wife of Sigmund A. Kwiatkowski passed away 7:50 a.m. Sunday, March 24, 1968, at the Heritage Nursing Home. Age 64 years. Della B. Petre was born May 15, 1903, in Reese, Mich. She was married to Mr. Kriatkowski Sept. 1, 1932 in Merrill. He survives her. She was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and its Altar Society and the League of Catholic Women. Surviving besides her husband are two daughters, Mrs. Reinaldo (Nancy) Sanchez and Mrs. Duane (Suzanne) Millar, both of Saginaw; six grandchildren; one brother and three sisters; Floyd Petre, Billings, Mont.; Mrs. Belle Barber and Mrs. Lottie Shannon, both of Merrill; Mrs. Grace Walker, San Antonio, Tex. Funeral service will take place 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Gugel Funeral Home, 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas, Rev. Fr. Valentine Myzlicki, O.F.M. will officiate with burial in St. Andrew's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Monday where they will meet with relatives 8 p.m. Tuesday, to say the Rosary.
Tombstone Inscription, St. Andrew Cemetery, Saginaw, MI: Kwiatkowski / Mother / Della B. / 1903 - 1968 / Father / Sigmund A. / 1903 - 1975
Charles Leonard Petre: The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA), Friday, 4 August 1939: Life Ended by Long Illness - Ontario, Aug. 3 - Charles Leonard Petre, 34, West California boulevard, died late yesterday at San Antonio hospital, following a long illness with undulent fever, complicated a week ago by leukaemia. Many blood transfusions administered in an effort to save his life proved unavailing. Mr. Petre, who was employed at the Ontario plant of the General Electric Co., is survived by his wife, Eileen Skillman Petre; a daughter, Ann Cathryn Petre, age one year; his father, Tousan Petre, Merrill, Mich.; four sisters, Mrs. H. L. Barber, Mrs. Frank Shannon and Mrs. Grace Trayham, Merrill, Mich., and Mrs. P. Kowquaski, Saginaw, Mich.; and five brothers, Leo of Ontario, Walter, Clarence and DeLos of Merrill, Mich., and Floyd of Great Falls, Mont. A rosary service was conducted at 8 o'clock this evening at the Richardson mortuary, 123 West G street, and the funeral will be held tomorrow, 9 a.m., at St. George's Catholic church, of which Mr. Petre was a member. The Rev. James Houlihan will officiate and interment will be in Bellevue cemetery.
Grace Petre: The Saginaw News (Saginaw, MI), Tuesday, 11 August 1987: Trahan, Mrs. Grace (Walker), Rose City, Michigan. Former resident of Auburn passed away Monday, August 10, 1987, at Tolfree Memorial Hospital in West Branch. Age 79 years. Grace Petre was born Sept. 27, 1907 in Merrill, Mich. She was graduated from Sacred Heart High School. She was then graduated from St. Mary's Nursing School. She had been employed as a private duty nurse for Dr. Roy Catizone in Merrill for many years. During the polio epidemic she volunteered and worked for the Red Cross in Houston, Texas. She then worked for the U.S. Government in Hilo, Hawaii. She later moved to San Antonio, Texas and owned and operated the Southside Nursing Home for many years. She returned to the Saginaw area several years ago. She was married to Gerald Trahan. He predeceased her in 1948. Surviving are two sons and their wives, Thomas and Connie Trahan, Saginaw; David and Peggy Trahan, Battle Creek; a son, Gerald predeceased her. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and a daughter-in-law, Eleanor Trahan, Saginaw. Funeral service will take place 9:00 a.m. Thursday at the Case Funeral Chapel. Rev. James Gavit will officiate with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Merrill. Friends may call at the chapel from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the Michigan Heart Fund.
Tombstone Inscription, Sacred Heart Cemetery, Saginaw, MI: Grace Trahan / 1907 - 1987 // Gerald Trahan / 1907 - 1948
Back one generation to parents of Toussaint Pitre
Items in RED have been verified against parish register entries.
- Births/Marriages/Deaths in RED without a church have come from the Michigan Return of Births/Marriages/Deaths (Family Search online - actual pages viewable). While births & marriages name parents, deaths list only age & marital status.
- Michigan deaths between 1897-1920 in RED taken from death certificates (online), which may also include birthdate.
- Some items in RED from obituaries.
Last updated: 11 March 2026.