Simon Belonger was born in 1814 at St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, a village along the Richelieu River about 30 miles from Montreal. His father, Antoine Bélanger, was married three times and had 13 children. Simon was his ninth child, the oldest of four by his second wife, Isabelle Codere. Antoine's ancestry can be traced back four generations to François Bélanger, one of the earliest settlers of New France. Nothing is known about Simon's childhood, but sometime in the early 1830s he left Quebec, crossing the border into northern Vermont, where he occasionally used the name Peter.
Simon married Judith Kennedy, an immigrant from Ireland, around 1835. Their first two children were born in the village of Georgia, Vermont. Eight more were born after the family moved to nearby Swanton. In 1853 the family migrated to Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Three children born there died in infancy.
The family lived on the southeast edge of Shullsburg. Simon worked as a stone mason but also worked his small farm and did farm labor for others. He was also reputed to be the best fiddler in the territory.
Five of Simon's sons went west to make their living in mining. All five used the surname Blonger, a shortened version of the family name. Two of the sons, Sam and Lou, were well known throughout the West as lawmen, gamblers, and saloon owners. Lou Blonger was also a proficient confidence man. After moving to Denver in 1888 he headed a ring of con men until his arrest in 1922.
NOTE: The birth date and place in the posted obituary are incorrect.
Simon married Judith Kennedy, an immigrant from Ireland, around 1835. Their first two children were born in the village of Georgia, Vermont. Eight more were born after the family moved to nearby Swanton. In 1853 the family migrated to Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Three children born there died in infancy.
The family lived on the southeast edge of Shullsburg. Simon worked as a stone mason but also worked his small farm and did farm labor for others. He was also reputed to be the best fiddler in the territory.
Five of Simon's sons went west to make their living in mining. All five used the surname Blonger, a shortened version of the family name. Two of the sons, Sam and Lou, were well known throughout the West as lawmen, gamblers, and saloon owners. Lou Blonger was also a proficient confidence man. After moving to Denver in 1888 he headed a ring of con men until his arrest in 1922.
NOTE: The birth date and place in the posted obituary are incorrect.
Simon Belonger was born in 1814 at St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, a village along the Richelieu River about 30 miles from Montreal. His father, Antoine Bélanger, was married three times and had 13 children. Simon was his ninth child, the oldest of four by his second wife, Isabelle Codere. Antoine's ancestry can be traced back four generations to François Bélanger, one of the earliest settlers of New France. Nothing is known about Simon's childhood, but sometime in the early 1830s he left Quebec, crossing the border into northern Vermont, where he occasionally used the name Peter.
Simon married Judith Kennedy, an immigrant from Ireland, around 1835. Their first two children were born in the village of Georgia, Vermont. Eight more were born after the family moved to nearby Swanton. In 1853 the family migrated to Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Three children born there died in infancy.
The family lived on the southeast edge of Shullsburg. Simon worked as a stone mason but also worked his small farm and did farm labor for others. He was also reputed to be the best fiddler in the territory.
Five of Simon's sons went west to make their living in mining. All five used the surname Blonger, a shortened version of the family name. Two of the sons, Sam and Lou, were well known throughout the West as lawmen, gamblers, and saloon owners. Lou Blonger was also a proficient confidence man. After moving to Denver in 1888 he headed a ring of con men until his arrest in 1922.
NOTE: The birth date and place in the posted obituary are incorrect.
Simon married Judith Kennedy, an immigrant from Ireland, around 1835. Their first two children were born in the village of Georgia, Vermont. Eight more were born after the family moved to nearby Swanton. In 1853 the family migrated to Shullsburg, Wisconsin. Three children born there died in infancy.
The family lived on the southeast edge of Shullsburg. Simon worked as a stone mason but also worked his small farm and did farm labor for others. He was also reputed to be the best fiddler in the territory.
Five of Simon's sons went west to make their living in mining. All five used the surname Blonger, a shortened version of the family name. Two of the sons, Sam and Lou, were well known throughout the West as lawmen, gamblers, and saloon owners. Lou Blonger was also a proficient confidence man. After moving to Denver in 1888 he headed a ring of con men until his arrest in 1922.
NOTE: The birth date and place in the posted obituary are incorrect.
Gravesite Details
There is no grave marker.
Family Members
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