Biography:

Dr. David Béchard was born in Pain Court (Dover Township), Ontario on the 26th of November, 1858.  Dr. Béchard was the 8th of 12 children born to Calixte Béchard and the former Marie Genevieve Houle.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Joseph (who died in infancy), Joseph Marcel, Marie, Jean B., Julienne, Sophie (who died in infancy), Theodore, Calixte, Jacob (who died at the age of 29), Henri Narcisse and Emélie.

Dr. Béchard is listed as a seasonal clerk on the 1881 census in Dover Twp.

Dr. Béchard graduated M.D.,C.M. from Queen’s University in 1888.  He joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 8th of May, 1888.  After completing medical school he practiced medicine in Chatham-Kent.

Dr. Béchard married Eugenie “Delina” Desjardins on the 24th of January, 1888 in Stoney Point.  At the time of his marriage, he listed Pain Court as his residence.  Mrs. Béchard was born in Tilbury West Twp (Essex County) on the 3rd of February 1871, the daughter of Henry Desjardins and the former Caroline Saucier.  Mrs. Béchard’s father was a dry goods merchant and the Post Master in Stoney Point (Essex County).  Mrs. Béchard had a younger brother named Edouard Desjardins.

Dr. Béchard moved his medical practice to Belle River, (Essex County) Ontario after his marriage.  Dr. and Mrs. Béchard had 2 children, David Henry “Real” Béchard (born January 29th, 1889) and Marie Elise Béchard (born February 10th, 1892).  The 1900 edition of The Ontario Farmers Directory, listed Dr. Béchard as practicing medicine in McGregor, Essex County.

In 1901 Dr. Béchard, opened a new medical practice on King Street West in Chatham.  According to the census of that year, Dr. and Mrs. Béchard and their two children were living at The Aberdeen Hotel in Chatham which was owned and operated by his brother Calixte Béchard.  Dr. Béchard advertised his medical practice in the 1902-1904 Vernon City of Chatham Business Directory.

Dr. Béchard died on the 22nd of July, 1909 in Windsor, Ontario.  His son David Béchard was married in Chatham just a few months after his father’s death on the 27 November, 1909.

Mrs. Béchard moved to Detroit, Michigan after her husbands death.  She was listed in the 1911 Detroit City Directory as living at 162 Adams Ave., E.  In the 1913 Detroit Michigan Directory she was living at 2364 Jeff Ave.  In 1916 Mrs. Béchard immigrated back to Canada and according to the 1921 census, she was living at 211 McDougall Street in Windsor with her daughter Elise (McKinley).

Mrs. Béchard died in Windsor on the 31st of August, 1941.  At the time of her death she was still living with her daughter at 373 London Street East in Windsor.  Dr. and Mrs. Béchard were buried at St Alphonsus Roman Catholic Cemetery in Windsor.

*The webmaster is grateful for the research assistance of Goldie Howes.

**Despite an extensive search the tombstone of Dr. and Mrs. Béchard was not located.  (Row 5, Site 160 St Denis Special Row).