Mathias Cormier 1886-1964

1920's in front of farm, So. Conway, NH

In early 1900's Mat was a motor man on an electric trolley in Lynn, Ma.

Mathias Cormier was born January 12, 1886 in Cape Bald, New Brunswick, Canada.  He was one of 5 children born to  Laurent and Rosalie (Leger) Cormier. He married Philiciene Bonnevie  June 17, 1913 in Lynn, Ma. A brother, Andrew, married Marquerite Bonnevie, a sister of Philiciene.

Matt although a quiet man,  loved fun and always had a joke to tell.  He was not an outwouldly affectionate man, but showed love through his tenderness and concern of children and care of animals.  He also loved music, not only sitting evenings at the wireless but also listening to his daughters playing and singing at the piano.  Along with necessary farm animals there was always a dog and cats.  One favoirite was a collie named Pal that really was a "pal", and kittens chasing after Phyllis's yarn would always make him laugh.   During deer season Matt would join the others, but only because they needed meat.  Phyllis used to say he really didn't have the heart for shooting anything.    In later years, when the farm was no longer a working farm, Matt would sit with binoculars watching a family of woodchucks at the edge of the woods, and had a favorite little chipmunk that would come to the shed to be fed.  He knew it was the same chipmunk because one leg was deformed.

Photo to left: This is Betsy, Matts favorite cow. Taken abt. 1937

Photo to right: Matt holding the dog. Christine sitting next to Matt. Standing are Simon Bonnevie, Geneva Cormier, and her friend, Evelyn . Photo taken on the porch steps at the farm.

Can you hear Pup saying "By Gurry", or saying "Unger"  under his breath when something went wrong? Or reaching to pinch one of the kids yelling you "scally-wag".

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Mathias Cormier with his work horses in front of the barn, Brownfield Road, South Conway, NH. Photo taken in the 1920's.

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