Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-10-11

rows OF tnese uouDiOOnS, Oy way ol
buttons. This coat he did not wear
but had it put into keg, surrounded
with some unsuspicious articles. His
object was, if the coat should be dis,
covered, to plead that his coat wa'
covered with buttons not money. Thu
trick succeeded, he saved his money
and went to France. He was in The
habit of telling many stories respecting
his enjoyments in the society of the
dark-eyed and ebon-haired ladies o.
Havana.
On the return of Mons. Gervais "a
France he soon joined in the expedition
10 the beautiful banks of La Belle Riv-
iere. His fortune was similar to that
of the others until he was at his longed
for El Dorado, and there his disap-
pointment was as much more acute, as
his sensibilities were more feminine.
For some reason, be soon went back to
Paris, but being hopeful that Congress
would do something by way Of remu-
neration, for the outrage perpetrated
against them BY the Scioto Company,
he with the Berthelot family came again
to America, landing at Philadelphia, in
November 1899. From this time till
the fall of 1896, he was variously en-
gagged, remaining most of the time in
Gallipolis. Sometimes he used his
tools, making fancy snuff-boxes, DC.
He was fond of hunting; especially, the
more harmless game, as ducks, turkeys,
squirrels, but he never ventured out
far in the wilderness. He was delicate,
and some who we're then young ladies
have told me how often they have
blushed at giving him their rough hand
when they found that his was as soft
and smooth as velvet. He was poet.
He was at the wedding of ESQ. New
som, who yet lives at Gallipolis, and
was struck with one. among many of
the songs sung that evening. which was
in form of an interrogatory. Next
morning NJ. Gervais presented the
town with poem answering the one of
the evening before. 1t was long sung
and admired by the French, and is yet
extant. The French sometimes got up
a real Partisan masquerade. In one of
these NJ. Gervais was attired in full fe-
male costume, and wore a mask hidi-
ously painted.
Mon. Gervais is well known to have
been very influential in procuring the
"French Grant," 25, 200 acres of land
in Scioto county, granted by Congress
to the French. He was employed in
this because he was the most conver-
SAINT with the working of our govern
ment, and because he had much of that
dignity and politeness, which would re-
commend his cause to Congress. For
his exertions he was rewarded by Con-
gress with 1000 acres, instead of sim
pie share of 917t acres with the rest
As this grant was with the condition
that settlement should be made within
a certain time, and continue certain
time, NJ. Gervais is said to have settled
on his lot only that he might become in
true possession of it. Certainly, living
alone in the woods had little pleasure
congenial to his nature. However, in
the fall of 1896, he with many of the
others came to the Grant, and erected
shanties for the reception of their effects
the next Spring. In March, 1897,
Gervais, with five others, and their ef-
fects, started from Gallipolis, and Ian
ded in the Grant on the. 21st; in the
same boat with him were Duduit, Ber-
trand, Lacroix and Duteil. Some time
after his settlement here Col. R. Stafford
with two others who had been on hun
ting and trapping excursion, and had
caught some beaver in Gervais' pond,
back of Haverhill, (now drained and
growing corn, called on NJ. Gervais,
and had much sport over circumstance
which happened to kettle of beans
while boiling.
NJ. Gervais was much respected by
all the French, but he was looked upon
as something more than mortal by the
young French. While in families, il
the little fellows were noisy or qurrel-
some, slight look and gentle motion Of
the hand restored all to propriety. He
loved to please children, and often made
kites for them. He was at Gallipolis
when news of the proclamation of peace
arrived. For that occasion he made
many and large "sky-rockets." He
was an excellent violinist, and grace
full dancer; in fact those who have seen
him dance say they never saw anything
his equal. A fiddle for which he paid
$50 in Paris, and used many years, is
yet at Esq. Newsom's in Gallipolis.--
He was an artist, and often drew land
scapes.
The cabin in which Mons. Gervais
kept Bachelors hall stood on the site oi
Haverhill. This village was laid out a:
town, about 1906, by M. Gervais, and
was called Burrsburgh; but the Yam
KEGS, into whose hands it fell, changed
it to Haverhill. 1t was surveyed by
M. LIE Clercq, of Gallipolis. This city
has not grown as might have been ex-
pected, but we have reason to hope, fol
it even already has Post Office, and
one sawmill.
By the time Gervais had acquired q
title to his lands he had become DISCUS
ted with his rough mode of life, and
only awaited an opportunity to sell it
1t must be remembered that Gervaii
was wealthy before he left France. anf