Joseph Montferrand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Montferrand
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Drawing of Montferrand by W. M. Macdonnel
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| Born |
Joseph Favre
October 25, 1802 |
| Died | October 4, 1864 (aged 61) Montreal, Quebec
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| Resting place | Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec |
| Occupation | lumberjack, professional boxing |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | Joseph-Louis Montferrand |
| Relatives | one sister (Hélène) and two brothers |
Joseph "Jos" Montferrand (pronounced: zho-ZEF mon-fair-RON), born Joseph Favre (pronounced: FAV-ruh), was a famous French-Canadian logger and strongman. He lived from October 25, 1802, to October 4, 1864. He became a folk hero for working people and inspired the legendary character known as Big Joe Mufferaw from the Ottawa Valley.
Contents
Who Was Joseph Montferrand?
Early Life and Amazing Strength
Joseph Favre, also known as Montferrand, was born in Montreal in 1802. His family was known for being very strong and well-built. Joe himself was about 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 meters) tall. He had blue eyes and fair hair. Even though he seemed calm, he was incredibly powerful.
When he was young, he became famous for his boxing skills. At just 16 years old, he stepped into a boxing ring in Montreal. Two English-speaking boxers had just finished a championship fight. The organizers asked if anyone in the crowd wanted to challenge the champion. Montferrand surprised everyone by knocking out the champion with a single punch! News of this amazing event spread quickly.
Working as a Logger
At age 21, Joseph Montferrand joined the Hudson's Bay Company. He worked as a voyageur, traveling by canoe. In 1827, he started working as a logger in Lower Canada. He then moved to the upper Ottawa River. Loggers would cut down trees in the winter. Then, they would float the logs down the river to Quebec City.
Montferrand also spent some time working in the United States. He worked for a company in Manchester, New Hampshire. Most of his working life was spent in the lumber trade in the Outaouais area.
Protecting His Fellow Workers
During Montferrand's time, there were often disagreements between different groups of loggers. These groups included English, Irish, and French-Canadian workers. Montferrand was known for his incredible strength and fighting skills. He used these abilities to defend French-Canadian workers. He stood up for them against rival groups of workers.
After 1840, he mostly worked as a foreman, leading the log drives. He retired in 1857. In his later years, he had some back and joint pain. Joseph Montferrand passed away in Montreal in 1864, at the age of 61. He was buried in the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery.
Joseph Montferrand's Legacy
The Legend of Big Joe Mufferaw
Joseph Montferrand's famous nickname, Big Joe Mufferaw, came from English speakers mispronouncing "Montferrand." He was already a hero during his lifetime. But his reputation grew even bigger after he died. People started telling exaggerated stories about him. These stories were like "tall tales," similar to those told about the American folk hero Paul Bunyan.
In these tales, Big Joe Mufferaw often defended French-Canadian loggers. These loggers sometimes faced unfair treatment from their bosses or rival workers. For example, one story tells of Big Joe in a Montreal bar. A British army major was insulting French-Canadians. Big Joe stood up to the major and bravely asked, "Any more insults for the Canadians?" Some of these Mufferaw stories even take place in the Northeastern United States.
Books and Songs About Joe
Many writers have shared Montferrand's story. The French-Canadian writer Benjamin Sulte wrote about him in an 1884 book. Joan Finnigan also included his adventures in her books Giants of the Ottawa Valley (1981) and Look! The Land Is Growing Giants (1983). Bernie Bedore also wrote several books about Joe's exciting adventures.
The famous Canadian musician Stompin' Tom Connors even made Montferrand the hero of his 1970 song, "Big Joe Mufferaw".
Statues and Mascots
In 2005, a statue of Joe Mufferaw was put up outside the Mattawa Museum in Mattawa, Ontario. A local artist named Peter Cianafrani carved it. There is a plaque at the base of the statue that tells about him. Montferrand also inspired the Big Joe mascot for the Ottawa Redblacks football team.
