Backward Glance - Claire Elise Marguerat

One of the people I have loved the best, and who loved me back, was Claire Elise (Marguerat) Hoyle. She was my grandma. Her life began in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on May 14, 1903. She was born into affluence, and spent at least the first seven years of her life living with her paternal grandparents, Eugene and Grace (Coryell) Marguerat. Her grandfather was always an important, kind and influential person in her life. She had a great love for him and loved to share stories about his life. He died in 1907. Claire and Helen may have lived in Chicago as late as 1915, when their grandmother passed away.

Claire's parents were Henri Debonneville and Mabel Elizabeth (Ament) Marguerat. They were married in Chicago in 1902, but divorced in 1908. Claire had a younger sister, Helen Amelia, who was born on August 15, 1905, also in Chicago. In 1910, both Claire and Helen were enumerated with their grandparents and their father. Mabel had moved on, probably to Montana, where she filed a homestead claim in 1913.

Abbie (Martin) Ament, Claire's grandmother, had a bakery in Froid, Montana, for a couple of years. Mabel and her daughters visited there; Claire also worked in the bakery. Mabel had a sister in Beach, North Dakota, Bessie, who was a photographer. Her husband, Charlie Welch, was also a photographer.

 

In 1918, Claire's mother married Frank Markey. They were married just two years, but the girls attended school in Glendive with Frank's surname. After proving up the homestead in 1920, Mabel sold it in October 1921. She had married Alfred Rowe in January 1921.

In 1922, two corporations were formed in which Claire and her future husband, John Richard Hoyle, were both principals. One company was called 'American Ranch and Trading Company;' the other was called 'The Canadian Rocky Land and Ranch Company Limited.' They were ranching businesses. I've never found any other reference to these corporations, but it shows me that Claire and Jack were acquainted for at least three years before their marriage on June 20, 1925, in Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana.

Claire Marguerat, Jack Hoyle, Helen Marguerat

After their marriage, Claire and Jack moved to Seattle, King County, Washington. They lived in various locations there throughout their marriage. They had five children, all of whom were born in Seattle and all of whom are still living. Their children are Helen Priscilla, Jack Richard, Frank Orris, Robert Carlisle and Ethel Clarise.

Claire loved little children. She was very interested in education of all kinds, mentioning specifically Montessori schooling for children. She was a good cook, providing nutritious and varied meals for her family. She also made great bread. Music was also important to her, and her children learned to play the violin and the piano. They also sang. For many years, Claire supplemented her income by making telephone surveys.

In her later years, Grandma lost her eyesight. She continued to be interested in her family and the world about her. She died on February 1, 1999, in Seattle.

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