The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-21
Former Citizen of
Canon Dies on
Western Slope

Nsf
Felix rogpaine .one OF the early set
tiers OF Canon CITY, died recently at
Grand Junction, where he made. his
home for many years previous TO his
death The deceased was an uncle OF
Mrs. Nelson Jarvis of this city. and
will be remembered by some of the
older citizens here as one OF the prom
inent men OF. the community in its
younger days. The following bio
graphical sketch s-e.. the Grand Jr.e-
tion Sentine. will be read with interest
by local people:
Felix Toupaine. one of the Oldest
and one OF the best known citizeis of
Mesa county. a pioneer OF the nter-
mountain west. an early day from iers-
man. the head of one of tse largest and
most substantial families of Grand
Junction died this morning IL his
home in this city after an iirless OF
two months. He suffered from Bright's
disease For days his coH.iiion had
been critical and his death was not
unexpected
Felix Toupaine was Sc years OF
age. He had resided in Colorado over
so years and he had resided in Grand
Junction for over sc years. being one
of the earliest settlers. of this city. He
died in the home on Ute avenue which
he built when he first came here.
having lived all these years in the
same house. He saw Grand juno
tion grow from a small. frontier set
tlement into the splendid city of to-
day.
Among the old-time citizens Of
Grand Junction no man was better
known or better liked than Felix Tou-
paine. His long life had been use
fui one. upright. clean and true He
was good citizen. good husband.
good father and a good neighbor
The deceased was born in Mont
real. Canada. on October 81. 1885 He
came to the United States on April 81.
1854 He settled first in Maine. Later
he went to Wisconsin and then TO
Kansas. where at the outbreak of the
war he enlisted in Company II. Eighth
Kansas He was in the service for
four years and four months. being
mustered out at San Antonio. Tex, Oc-
toher. 1866. Immediately after the
war he came TO Colorado. He first
resided ir Fairplay and then in Canon
City. He was member OF the COM
pany which built the famous Hayden
pass toll road across the mountains.
He was married to Miss Justine Be
Isle on June 81. 1879. at Fairplay. and
their r-zrTied life was a most happy
one. Mrs. Toupaine survives her hus-
band In October. 1859. more than
3s years ago. Mr. Toupaine and family
moved to Grand Junction and has re-
sided here constantly. Nine children
were born to Mr.. and Mrs. Toupaine.
six Of whom are Living They are Mrs.
Perry Rogers OF Atchee. Colo. Mrs. W.
p. Reeder of Durango. Colo. Mrs. W.
d. Vaughn of Grinin Creek. Canada.
George Toupaine. weil-known ranch
man: Mrs. Charles L. Lumley and
Miss Haze, Toupaine. all of Grand
Junction. He is also survived by two
brothers and one sister who are now
In Montreal. Cana.
Felix Toupaine was not only pio.
neer of Grand Junction. but pioneer
of Colorado He went through many
stirring scenes in the very early days
OF the state. and il was strong. splen-
did. courageous men of his type VINO
overcame the obstacles that confront
ed the settlement of Colorado so years
ago and laid the foundations for the
great state that has been built.
Felix Toupaine was n familiar ig-
ure on Grand functions streets. He
was a man OF quiet. unassuming na-
iure, he had few enemies and many
warm friends. He will be long re.
membered.
THE funeral arrangements have not
been completed. but IL is known the
old-timer will be laid to rest in the
cemetery across the river. near the
city which he helped to establish and
to build and which he loved so we'll
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