FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Joseph Adolphe “Adolphe” Loiseau
Son of Adolph(e) Loiseau & unkn
Born: Feb 2, 1822, Paris, France
Died: Dec 16, 1902 (age 80), San Francisco, California
Buried: Dec 19, 1902, Laurel Hill/Cypress Lawn
Occupation: Compositer (Editor) of Courrier de San Francisco (a French newspaper)
Married: Prudence Georgette Dunand
One known child: Marie A. Loiseau (presumed)
Prudence Georgette Dunand
3rd of 4 known children of Maurice Antoine “Antone” Dunand & Louise Heloise “Eloise” Lucas
Born: Jul 11, 1837, Paris, Paris, France
Died: Feb 14, 1884, (age 46), San Francisco, California; hepatitis
Buried: Feb 17, 1884, Odd Fellows Cemetery in San Francisco, California
(in the 1930s her remains were removed to Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo Co., California)
Occupation: French laundress, housekeeping
Married: Joseph Adolphe “Adolphe” Loiseau
One known child: Marie A. Loiseau (presumed)
1. Marie A. Loiseau
Daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand
Born: Oct 24, 1871, California
Died: Jan 22, 1926 (age 54), San Francisco, California
Buried: Jan 25, 1926, Olivet Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Occupation: Dyer and presser in dying factory
Married: 1891, Ernest Joseph Sevenau, San Francisco, California
Two children: Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau, Estelle Marie Sevenau
Ernest Joseph Sevenau
Parents unknown, both born in France
Born: Jan 7, 1864, Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France
Died: Feb 11, 1904 (age 40), San Francisco, California
Buried: Feb 14, 1904, Olivet Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Emigrated: 1886
Military: U.S. Navy, 1888
Naturalized: Aug 6, 1894, San Francisco, California
Occupation: Clothing dyer in a dying factory
Married: 1891, Marie A. Loiseau, San Francisco, California
Two children: Ernest Edward Jules Sevenau, Estelle Marie Sevenau
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Timeline and Records
Spellings and information in census and other records are retained
as reflected in the original documents
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Feb 2, 1822: Birth ofJoseph Adolphe “Adolphe” Loiseau, son of Adolph(e) Loiseau & unkn, and the presumed father of Marie A. Loiseau, in Paris, France
Paris, France, Births, Marriages, and Deaths:
Name: Loiseau, Joseph Adolphe
Record Type Naissance: (Birth)
Birth Date: 2 févr. 1822 (2 Feb 1822)
Birth Place: Paris, France
Jul 11, 1837: Birth of Prudence Georgette Dunand, 3rd of 4 known children of Maurice Antoine “Antone” Dunand & Louise Heloise “Eloise” Lucas, and the presumed mother of Marie A. Loiseau; in Paris, Paris, France
Jun 11, 1837: Paris, France, Births, Marriages, and Deaths:
Name: Dunand, Prudence Georgette
Record Type: Naissance (Birth)
Birth Date: 11 juil. 1837 (11 Jul 1837)
Birth Place: Paris, Paris, France
1837: Paris, France & Vicinity, Births:
Name: Dunand, Prudence Georgette
Birth Place: Paris
Father: Dunand
1860: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California (1154, District 2):
Dunand, P L (Prudence Georgette Dunand, daughter, and future wife of Joseph Adolphe “Adolphe” Loiseau)
Age: 21
Birth Year: 1839
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Place: France
Home in 1860: San Francisco District 2, San Francisco, California
Dwelling Number 1154
Inferred Father: Antone M Dunand
Inferred Mother: Eloise Dunand
Household members, Name Age:
Dunand, Antone M: age 59 (head)
Dunand, Eloise: age 48 (wife)
Dunand, P L: age 21 (Prudence Georgette Dunand, daughter)
Dunand, Lewis: age 10 (son)
1861: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 217):
Loiseau, Adolph, printer, L’Echo du Pacifique, dwl 812 Washington, rear
1862: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 246):
Loiseau, Adolphus, compositer, L’Echo du Pacifique, dwl 812 Washington
1863: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 229):
Loiseau, Adolphus, compositer, L’Echo du Pacifique, dwl 626 California
1864: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 252):
Loiseau, Adolphus, compositer, L’Echo du Pacifique, dwl 626 California
1868: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 350):
Loiseau, Adolph, compositer Courrier de San Francisco, dwl 671 Sansom
1869: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 58): (listed 3 times in 1869)
Loiseau P. Mme, French laundry, 804 Mission
1869: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 712):
Laundries.
Loiseau P. Mme, 804 ss
1869: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 387):
Loiseau, Adolph, compositer Courrier de San Francisco, dwl 6o4 Mission
1869: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 387):
Loiseau Madame, French Laundry, dwl 6o4 Misssion
Jun 17, 1870: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California:
Laiseau, Jos (Joseph Loiseau)
Age in 1870: 48
Birth Date: abt 1822
Birthplace: France
Dwelling Number: 211
Home in 1870: San Francisco Ward 10, California
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: San Francisco
Occupation: Compositer
Father of Foreign Birth: Yes
Mother of Foreign Birth: Yes
Household Members (Name) Age:
Laiseau, Jos: age 48, Compositer (Joseph Loiseau)
Laiseau, Prudence: age 32, Laundress (Loiseau)
1871: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 407):
Loiseau P. Mme, French laundry, dwl 804 Mission
1871: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 407):
Loiseau, Adolphus, compositer Courrier de San Francisco, dwl 804 Mission
Oct 24, 1871, Birth of Marie A. Loiseau, presumed daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand, in California
1872: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 406):
Loiseau, Adolphus, compositer Courrier de San Francisco, dwl NW cor Pacific and Stockton
1873: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 382):
Loiseau, Adolph, compositer Courrier de San Francisco, dwl NW cor Pacific and Stockton
1874: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 411): (listed twice as he moved)
Name: Adolph Loiseau
Residence Year: 1874
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Occupation: compositer Courrier de San Francisco, dwl NW cor Pacific and Stockton
Publication Title: The New City Annual Directory of San Francisco 1874
Name: Joseph A Loiseau
Residence Year: 1874
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Typesetter Courrier de San Francisco, dwl Virginia Block
Publication Title: The New City Annual Directory of San Francisco 1874
1875: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pgs 461 & 625):
Loiseau, Joseph Adolphe
Occupation: Compositer Courrier de San Francisco
Residence: Virginia Block
Residence Year: 1875
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Publication Title: San Francisco Directory, 1875
1877: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 539):
LOISEAU, ADOLPHE
Occupation: Editor Courrier de San Francisco
Residence: 915 Montgomery
Residence Year: 1875
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Publication Title: San Francisco Directory, 1875
1878: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 544):
Loiseau, Adolph
Occupation: Editor Courrier de San Francisco
Residence: 536 Clay, r. 915 Montgomery
Residence Year: 1878
Residence Place: San Francisco, California
Publication Title: San Francisco Directory, 1878
May 19, 1879: Death of Louise Heloise “Eloise” (Lucas), in Oakland, Alameda Co., California (mother of Prudence Georgette (Dunand) Loiseau)
May 20, 1879, Oakland Tribune, Oakland, Alameda Co., California (pg 3):
May 1879: Burial of Louise Heloise “Eloise” (Lucas) Dunand at Odd Fellows Cemetery in San Francisco, California
Note: in the 1930s her remains were removed to Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Jun 2, 1880: U.S. Federal Census, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Note: possibly Marie Loiseau, presumed daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand in Downey, Los Angeles Co., California states she is blind, living in an Orphan Asylum. She is not in the 1880 census below with her parents, who are living in San Francisco.)
Name: L’oiseau, Maydena
Age: [9]
Birth Date: abt 1871
Birthplace: California
Home in 1880: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Street: Los Angeles Orphan Asylum (Girls)
Dwelling Number: 397
Race: White
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Single
Father’s Birthplace: France
Mother’s Birthplace: Germany
Blind: Yes
Attended School: Yes
Jun 3, 1880: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California (915 Montgomery St):
Loiseau, Adolphe (Joseph Adolphe Loiseau and Prudence; parents of Marie Loiseau)
Age: 58
Birth Date: Abt 1822
Birthplace: France
Home in 1880: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Street: Montgomery
House Number: 915
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Prudence Loiseau
Father’s Birthplace: France
Mother’s Birthplace: France
Occupation: Editor
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Loiseau, Adolphe: age 58, Self (Head)
Loiseau, Prudence: age 42, Wife
1880: San Francisco Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 559):
Adolph Loiseau, editor Courrier de San Francisco, r. 915 Montgomery
1882: San Francisco Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 609):
Adolphe Loiseau, editor Courrier de San Francisco, 536 Clay, r. 915 Montgomery
1883: San Francisco Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 673):
Adolphe Loiseau, editor Courrier de San Francisco, 536 Clay, r. 729 Green
Feb 14, 1884: Death of Prudence Georgette (Dunand) Loiseau (age 46), San Francisco, California; of hepatitis, the wife of Joseph Adolphe “Adolphe” Loiseau and presumed mother of Marie A. (Loiseau) Sevenau
Feb 17, 1884: Burial of Prudence Georgette (Dunand) Loiseau in Odd Fellows Cemetery in San Francisco, California
Note: in the 1930s her remains were removed to Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Feb 17, 1884: The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California (pg 8):
Mar 18, 1886: The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California (pg 2):
1887: San Francisco City Directory, San Francisco Co., California (pg 751):
Loiseau, Adolph, journalist, r. 1919 Taylor
Loiseau, Joseph L., bookkeeper for George E. Belmor, r. 1919 Taylor
Publication Title: San Francisco Directory, 1887
1890: San Francisco Directory, San Francisco Co., California:
Loiseau, Adolph, r. 23 Trenton, San Francisco, California
1891: Marriage of Marie A. Loiseau & Ernest Joseph Sevenau, San Francisco, California
(presumed daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand)
Mar 8, 1895: The San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California (pg 8):
Note: The article is titled “French In The Public Schools”
Schools discussed were L’Alliance Francaise, the Whittier, the Washington and LeConte primary schools. Also discussed is “French Alliance” a national French institutions whose purpose is to work for the French language.
Note: Long article (over half the page) but in the last paragraph is this:
May 5, 1900: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California (34 Sheridan St):
Name: Sevenau, Marie (daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand)
Age: 28
Birth Date: Oct 1871
Birthplace: California
Home in 1900: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Ward of City: District Of City 31st Assembly
Street: Sheridan Street
House Number: 34
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Sevenau, Ernest J
Marriage Year: 1891
Years Married: 9
Father’s Birthplace: France
Mother’s Birthplace: France
Mother: number of living children: 2
Mother: How many children: 2
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship:
Sevenau, Ernest J : age 36, Head, born France
Sevenau, Marie: age 28, Wife, , born California (daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand)
Sevenau, Ernest E: age 8, Son, born California
Sevenau, Estelle: age 6, Daughter, born California
Jun 2, 1900: U.S. Federal Census, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California (living on Sheridan St):
Sevenau, Ernest J: Head, born Jan 1864, age 36, married 9 years, born France, father born France, mother born France, Immigrated 1886, 14 years in U.S., Dyer (Clothing)
Sevenau, Marie: Wife, born Oct 1871, age 28, married 9 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, born California, father born France, mother born France (daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand)
Sevenau, Ernest E.: Son, born Mar 1892, age 8, born California, father born France, mother born California, at school
Sevenau, Estelle: Daughter, born Nov 1893, age 6, born California, father born France, mother born California, at school
Dec 16, 1902: Death of Joseph Adolphe “Adolphe” Loiseau (age 80), San Francisco, California; husband of Prudence Georgette Dunand and presumed father of Marie A. (Loiseau) Sevenau
Dec 16, 1902: California Death Record:
Name: Adolphe Loiseau
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 80
Event Type: Death
Birth Date: abt 1822
Birth Place: Paris France
Death Date: 16 Dec 1902
Death Place: French Hospital
Dec 16, 1902: San Francisco Funeral Home Record:
Name: Adolphe Loiseau
Gender: Male
Age at Death: 80
Birth Date: 1822
Birth Place: France
Death Date: 16 Dec 1902
Death Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Funeral Home: J.S. Godeau Funeral Records
Funeral Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Obituary Included: NO
Record Type: Record Book
Source Reference: Vol. 04, p. 1-398, 1902-1903
Note from Werner Howald: I found Adolphe J. Loiseau on this list, but he went to Laurel Hill; it’s possible that Laurel Hill transferred his remains to GreenLawn later on. As you know, those in Laurel Hill all went to Cypress Lawn, I checked there records and they don’t reveal any one with this name , but I do know Cypress Lawn hasn’t gone into all of there records for Laurel Hill at this time. So he may or may not be in Cypress Lawn or GreenLawn. I would say Cypress Lawn, if they wanted him in Odd Fellows in 1902, they would had him cremated at Odd Fellows, so I would pick Cypress Lawn.
Feb 11, 1904: Death of Ernest Joseph Sevenau (age 40), husband of Marie A. (Loiseau), in San Francisco, California
Feb 13, 1904: The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California (pg 6):
Feb 14, 1904: Burial of Ernest Joseph Sevenau at Olivet Memorial Park (formerly Mt. Olivet Cemetery) in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
Jan 22, 1926: Death of Marie A. (Loiseau) Sevenau (age 54), presumed daughter of Joseph Adolphe Loiseau & Prudence Georgette Dunand and wife of Ernest Joseph Sevenau
Jan 24, 1926: The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California (pg 14):
Jan 25, 1926: Burial of Marie A. (Loiseau) Sevenau at Olivet Memorial Park (formerly Mt. Olivet Cemetery) in Colma, San Mateo Co., California
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History of Odd Fellows Cemetery:
Dates of existence: 1854 to 1923 (though bodies were moved after that)
Location: App. 27 acres between Geary and Turk St, Parker Ave and Arguello Blvd in San Francisco
Number interred: 26,000 (no individual headstones or markers remaining)
1929: Cemetery moved to Greenlawn Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California
In the early 1850s, land was purchased in the Lone Mountain-Laurel Heights area where four large cemeteries were later created, known as the “Big Four”, these cemeteries consisted of: Laurel Hill in 1854, Calvary, the Catholic cemetery in 1860, the Masonic Cemetery in 1864, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in 1865.
From the 1920s to the 1940s, these cemeteries were moved to Colma, the cemetery city south of San Francisco. Due to health concerns the cemeteries were created far from the city. Influenced by the grand Victorian cemeteries created in England and back East, the cemeteries were created in park-like settings.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows built their own cemetery in 1865 on 30 acres bounded by Geary, Turk, Parker and Arguello streets. The Columbarium at the entrance was completed in 1898 as a memorial repository for cremated remains.
The cry, “Remove the cemeteries!” began in the 1880s, raised chiefly by property owners in the area and by those who thought the cemeteries discouraged development nearby. The grounds of the cemeteries deteriorated and became a haven for pranksters, juvenile delinquents, and ghouls. By 1900, most of the graveyards had been filled. In 1902, the Board of Supervisors enacted an ordinance prohibiting further burials within the city and outlawing the sale of cemetery lots in the “Big Four.” Henceforth, only cremation and burial of cremated remains were permitted. As further deterioration occurred and only perpetual-care lots could be maintained, the “Big Four” purchased new cemetery property in Colma.
Later in 1923, the Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring the removal of bodies from the Masonic and Odd Fellow Cemeteries. Litigation followed, but the removal began in 1929. It took six years to remove 26,000 Odd Fellows remains to Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, and more than 40,000 bodies were removed from Masonic Cemetery to Woodlawn.
Most death records were destroyed in the earthquake and fires of April 1906. Some books of records still exist with the State Registrar of Vital Statistics in Sacramento, California.
Source: Encyclopedia of San Francisco History: www.sfhistoryencyclopedia.com/articles/c/cemeteries.html
Oddfellows Columbarium, San Francisco:
The Columbarium was once part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery, which encompassed approximately 167 acres. It was built to complement an existing crematorium designed by Cahill in 1895.
In 1902 the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to prohibit the sale of cemetery lots or permit any further burials within the city. By late 1910, cremation was also prohibited. The Odd Fellows, forced to abandon their cemetery, established Green Lawn Cemetery in Colma. Transfer of bodies began in 1929 and many families also chose to remove their urns from the Columbarium. The crematorium and various mausoleums were demolished, and many of the headstones were used to build a seawall at Aquatic Park. Only the Columbarium remained.
After a time, The Columbarium was sold to the Bay Cities Cemetery Association and later to Cypress Abbey. As it passed from one organization to another it fell into disrepair. In 1980, the Neptune Society of Northern California bought it and began restoration. In 1996, the building was added to the register of San Francisco Landmarks.
Source: Wikipedia
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2023. Researched and compiled by Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau, with the contributions of cousins, kin, and fellow researchers. Thank you to Cheryl (Chatfield) Thompson for the research and contribution of the newspaper articles and to Werner Howald for the history of Oddfellows Cemetery.
Note: The cemetery headstone photos from Find A Grave contained herein are the property of those who photographed them.