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Joseph Baillargeon, farmer, section 8, Sheridan Township, was born in Canada Oct. 14, 1843. His parents, Peter and Angeline (Moxin) Baillargeon, were also natives of Canada. They moved to Muskegon, this State, and afterward returned to Canada, where the mother died, in the fall of 1881. Joseph left Canada at the age of 20 years, and went to Massachusetts, where he followed the trade of machinist, which he had formerly learned. He remained in that State about 10 months. Dec. 18, 1863, he enlisted in the 2d Reg't. Heavy Artillery of Mass. Vol., Battery A., Capt. Kimball; this company was afterward transferred to the Light Artillery. Early in September, 1865, he was mustered out of the service at Smithville, N. C. He was in the battle of Plymouth, N. C., where two companies of his regiment were taken prisoners.
After his discharge, Mr. Baillargeon went to Canada and soon after came to Muskegon, Mich., where he resided until 1875, engaged in millwrighting, engineering and lumber surveying. In the spring of 1875 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and took charge of the Star Rolling Mill, of that city, and in the fall of the same year he came to Newaygo County and bought 80 acres of wild land in Sheridan Township, section 5. He improved 40 acres, and in the summer of 1883 sold out and removed to section 8, same township, built a house and barn. In the fall of 1882 he built a steam hoop mill, for the manufacture of paten coil hoops. He removed this mill to section 8, and carried on the business, manufacturing from 7,000 to 10,000 hoops per day, and employing about nine men.
Aug. 11, 1886, he was married to Artimise Secord, a native of Canada, and they had nine children: Sarah A., Lea, Joseph E., Edith, Angeline and Harriet A.; Sarah Josephine and Rosamond died in infancy. Mr. Baillargeon has held the office of Highway Commissioner one year, Overseer of Highway two years, and in politics was a Republican.
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