Charles-François Gagnon was born on 1 June 1859 in Notre-Dame-de-Liesse, Rivière-Ouelle, Quebec to Jean Gagnon, a day labourer, and Marguerite Boucher. He grew up in Saint-Pâcome. His name is likely a deformation of "Le petit de Jean Gagnon" (Jean Gagnon's little one).[1]
Ti-Jean Gagnon wandered between Rimouski and Lévis and busked with a musical saw, "mouth music" and a violin. He was also given food, clothing, and a place to sleep by charity.[1] He spent his winters either in prison or in the homes of those who gave him a place to sleep.[1][2]
Gagnon would apparently travel on trains for free, and was sometimes invited to the locomotive, where he was given the train conductor's hat and drove the train.[1] He would also sneak into freight wagons.[2] He particularly liked Saint-Anne-de-la Pocatière, and went there almost monthly. He visited the schoolchildren there.[1]
Gagnon attended sports events almost without exception.[1]
He attempted to join the 189th Battalion, but was refused for "idiocy". He was however given an old gun, which he carried everywhere and talked to.[2]
Gagnon was frail and five foot tall.[1] He had a cane made from an iron bar.[3] He was likely mentally deficient. Ti-Jean Gagnon was easy-going, but would sometimes bicker with children and dogs.[1] He was afraid of ropes and would flee when shown one.[2]
He never married and had no children.[1]
Ti-Jean Gagnon spent final years of his life at the sanatorium Mastaï of the Beauport Asylum. He died there on 16 July 1947, suffering from dementia.[1]
