PHILIP BEAUPRE, also one of the pioneers of Minnesota, is a native of Lower Canada, born on the 6th of July, 1823. He came to the United States in 1840, and was employed on a canal in Chicago, one year, after which he went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and spent one year and a half. Then, after a trip to St. Louis and New Orleans, he went into the Yellowstone country, and was one year in the employ of the American Fur Company. In the summer of 1844, he came to Minnesota and located at Crow Wing, in the employ of the Indian traders, Morrison and McDonald, with whom he remained four years, and was then in the employ of Henry M. Rice, one year. In 1849, he established a trading post in Morrison county, but after conducting it a year, came to Sauk Rapids, where, some time after, he pre-empted some land, and was engaged in farming and trading until 1852, when he went to Pembina, D. T., and was employed in the United States Custom office at that point for three years. He then carried on a trading post at Sauk City, Steams county, for a short time, but in 1856, took a contract from the Government for the transportation of goods from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie. He retained his residence in Sauk City; and in the fall of 1859, was elected Sheriff of Stearns county, and served two years. He then made a trip to Montana, and after his return, located at St. Cloud, and was engaged in freighting for several years, after which, he was employed two years, by Nathan Myrick, in the construction of Fort Pembina. He held the office of County Commissioner of Benton county, in 1849, and was Justice of the Peace at Sauk Rapids, in 1851. After this busy life of earnest toil in the development of the frontier, Mr. Beaupre retired to his old homestead in Benton county, where he still lives, in the enjoyment of his quiet country home. He was married in 1852, to Theresa Desnoyer, of St. Louis. Of their sixteen children, thirteen are yet living; William P., Louis G., Emma E., Henrie., Mary L., Eulalie, Jeanette, Theresa, Frank, John B., Elizabeth, Alphonse L., and Andrew, the last two being twins.

History of the Upper Mississippi Valley (1881) p. 345 [Sauk Rapids]