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Joseph Napoleon LaMotte <br /> Born - December 9, 1893 <br /> Died - July 25, 1974 <br /> Joseph LaMotte was born to Joseph and Agnes LaMotte on December 9, <br /> 1893. He was raised in the world of a General Store. His father ran <br /> LaMotte's General Store in the City of Centerville. <br /> LaMotte General Store first did their business from a building, which is no <br /> longer standing, but was located on the current southeast corner of Goiffon <br /> Road and Sorel Street to the south of St. Genevieve Church. At that time <br /> Joseph lived here with his brothers and sisters Hector, Archie, Lillie, Dora, <br /> Agnes, Cecil and Marie. <br /> Joseph lived and attended school in Centerville, along with his brothers and <br /> sisters. When Joseph was ready to become a bigger part of the General store <br /> mechanics he knew he would need to have more training than he had received <br /> to date. Joseph attended a business college in the city of White Bear Lake. <br /> While he attended the business college his mode of transportation to and from <br /> school was by horseback. <br /> On October 20, 1914 Joseph married his wife, Ida May Tourville. It was told <br /> by Joseph and Ida that when they got married they had a motorcycle, piano <br /> and $50.00 to their name. Their family soon became what was to be a family <br /> of many talents, beside mercantile. <br /> The family store was then moved and located on the northeast corner of <br /> Centerville Road and Sorel Street the family lived in a building attached to <br /> the store to the south. This building still stands and is the current Trio Inn. <br /> In 1920 the LaMotte General Store, which is still standing on the northwest <br /> corner of Centerville Road and Main Street was built. The family then moved <br /> into the apartment area above the store. <br /> Joseph and Ida had seven children; Dorothy, Floyd, Phyllis, Eleanor, Dauna, <br /> Joan and LaVerne. Their children blessed to come from such a loving, <br /> talented and caring family. <br /> Joseph was a very musically gifted person. He played not only the piano but <br /> also the saxophone, clarinet and sang in the church choir. Music was always <br />