Belonie Simon Dufour (1864-1933)

From the Maine legislative composite of 1909-10.

  A prominent citizen residing in St. Agatha, Maine, Belonie Simon Dufour held multiple political offices in that town, was a school superintendent, furniture store owner, bank cashier, and a leading club-man in his region. Dufour earns a spot here on the site with his service in the Maine House of Representatives, where he served two terms. Born of New Brunswick parentage in Madawaska, Aroostook County, Maine Belonie S. Dufour was the son of Eusebe (1812-1898) and Modeste (Soucy) Dufour (1822-1890).

   Dufour's early education was obtained at the Madawaska Training School under Joseph Vital Cyr in Fort Kent. Dufour married in St. Basile, New Brunswick in October 1893 to Annie Beaulieu (1878-1918), and the couple's twenty-five-year union produced four children, Alfred (died 1898) Wilfred (1894-1980), Annie (1895-1979), and Pierre Paul (1908-1971). Shortly after his marriage, Dufour settled in St. Agatha, where he took employment as a clerk in the general store of Israel Ouellette. 

  In 1899 St. Agatha was separated from the town of Frenchville and incorporated, and soon after Belonie Dufour was elected as the town's first selectman and town clerk. This position was followed by a stint as registrar of wills, justice of the peace, and notary public. He achieved further local distinction as town superintendent of schools and held the additional role of school board member. In 1908 he was elected as a representative from Aroostook County to the Maine house of representatives, and in the 1909-11 term sat on the State Lands and State Roads committee. He won a second term in late 1910 and during the 1911-12 session served on the committee on the State School For Boys and the Industrial School For Girls.

  A leading figure in the fraternal life of his region, Dufour was a longstanding member of the Modern Woodmen of America, serving as recorder for its local chapter for 25 years. He also held memberships in the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Knights of Columbus Council 1102 of St. Agatha, and the Royal Neighbor Council. 

  Throughout his life, Belonie Dufour was invested in several business concerns in the Aroostook County area, including being a founder of the Long Lake Starch Company. He was its manager for twelve years and later served two years as a cashier for a branch of the Van Buren Trust Co. in Frenchville. Sources also note his owning a furniture store and dealing in farm implements. Widowed in 1918, he later remarried Marie Legasse, who survived him. After many years of prominence in his region, Belonie Dufour died on April 15, 1933, aged 67. He was interred alongside his wife Annie at the St. Agatha Lower Cemetery.

  

Dufour as he looked during his time in the legislature.