A New Life in the US.

Bay View, Wisconsin.

The Petelle's settled in Bay View just south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin where uncle Paul Mondou lived. The small community was built around the iron mill. Narcisse was back at work as a shoemaker. For Joseph, learning a new language would present just a small challenge, though he likely retained a French accent. His father never did learn to speak English.

His formal education was limited as there is no evidence he attended school in Canada. He may have gone to the village school in Bay View for a time, but until 1877 Wisconsin allowed children under the age of 12 to work and many immigrants were in need of the income their children could provide. Boys Joseph's age collected scraps of iron to sell to the mill, earning extra money for their families.

The Petelle's home bordered a creek, giving Joseph and his brothers the opportunity to fish or gig frogs along its shores. In the winter, residents gathered to skate on the ice. Apple trees grew atop the bluffs rimming Lake Michigan, called "stingy hill" because the owners were thought to be loathe to share. And to the fanciful the mill was in "smoky hollow." On sunny days he may have played town ball with his brothers, for when he was older baseball was a passion. Games of checkers and shooting marbles were popular pastimes as well.

1880 U.S. Census.

Joseph was 16 when his father Narcisse died in 1880. The young man was employed at the North Chicago Rolling Mill as indicated in the 1880 census. He lived on Van Dyke (later renamed Russell avenue) with his family. Six days a week he left his home carrying a lunch consisting of a pastie, coffee, bread, a wedge of cheese and perhaps a hardboiled egg packed in a metal bucket and took a left on St. Clair Street. After a block he passed Puddlers Hall and Fire Station No. 8 on the left, then the Palmer House near the train station before entering the job site.

His older brother Narcisse Rocque was a printer, sister Matilda worked at a hat factory, and younger brothers, Charles, Edwin and Paul were in school. Another sister, Hermine, was married to Noé Gervais.