By Kirk Walstedt
Hypolite Malloux was born on April 29, 1830, near Pointe aux Roche (Stoney Point) in what was then known as Tilbury West Township. His parents, Pierre and Tharaize (Janisse) Mailloux, were among the early pioneers in Essex County. Pierre was born in 1790, and Tharaize in 1794. Tharaize’s family has a very interesting history, with several of her brothers fighting in the War of 1812. Hypolite’s grandfather, also named Pierre, came from France at an early age and fought in the American Revolution.
Hypolite’s parents originally settled on the River Thames in Kent County and then moved to Tilbury West Township, where they lived until 1835, when they settled on the old homestead of his father, Pierre Sr. History tells us that Pierre was a very prosperous man who purchased land when prices were low and sold it on a rising market. It is said that at one point he owned 220 acres of some of the finest farmland in all of Essex County.
Hypolite had a limited education because there were no schools in the vicinity. However, because of his strong will to succeed in life, he taught himself to read and write, which benefited him greatly in the years to come.
In 1855, Hypolite married Miss Archange St. Louis of Sandwich East Township. “Mr. Mailloux took his bride to the handsome brick home he had erected on his property in 1853.” In May 1897, their home and barns were destroyed by a cyclone, now known as a tornado. Three years later, in 1900, shortly after the homestead had been rebuilt, the barns were again destroyed, this time by fire. Again, Hypolite rebuilt every structure. Over the next decade, the Mailloux farm holdings grew to 900 acres.
Hypolite and Archange were blessed with eleven children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. Three of their daughters married into the Gouin, Cecile, and Dougal families, and, like the Mailloux family, all were early Essex County pioneers.
Hypolite believed it was important to give back to the community and country that had given him and Archange the freedom to raise a family and work to achieve a good standard of living, wanting for nothing else. He served on the Sandwich East Township Council and the County and District Councils for twenty-one years. He served seven years as a Township Councillor, six years as Deputy Reeve, six years as Reeve (Mayor), and two years as a District Councillor. He also served as a Trustee for the local schools for many years. Hypolite passed away at the age of 79 on May 15, 1909. Archange was 73 when she passed away two years later on June 7, 1911.
The author of Hypolite Mailloux’s Biography writes, “The name of Mailloux is one which is held in high esteem throughout Essex County, while the worthy man who is head of the family is one who has the entire confidence of his neighbours and friends, and deserves all of the success which he has attained.”
The Commemorative Biographical Record of Essex County, published in 1905, and the Walstedt Historical Archives served as valuable resources in the writing of this story.
About Kirk Walstedt
Kirk is a 4th generation Lakeshore resident, born and raised on the family farm in the former Maidstone Township. He is an archeologist, historian and author.
