Acadia Parish, LAGenWeb
Biographical Sketches - Page 1
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Miron Abbott
October 27, 1894
The subject of this sketch is a native of Wayne county, Michigan, where he was born September 2, 1850. When ten years of age his parents removed to Muskegon county, Mich. where his boyhood days were spent on the farm and attending district school. Mr. Abbott followed farming after reaching his maturity and in 1874, in company with his brother, also engaged in the saw mill business which he continued successfully until coming to Crowley in January of 1888.
Since his location here Mr. Abbott has been extensively engaged in rice raising, the Abbott Bros. plantation being one of the largest and most valuable in the parish. In addition to his farming interests Mr. Abbott is closely identified with Crowley, he being a stockholder and one of the directors of the Crowley State Bank, and also a member of the Pickett Rice Milling Company. The Abbott Bros’. rice warehouse at this point, of which he and his brothers are proprietors and managers, is the largest of the kind in the country.
Mr. Abbott has at all times taken an active interest in every movement that promised benefit to either town or parish, and in aid of every public enterprise has given liberally of both time and money.
Miron Abbott
May 3, 1902
Miron Abbott, the gentleman from North Crowley, is a man who has been largely instrumental in making Crowley what it is today. Mr. Abbott is one of the largest rice planters, not only around Crowley, but in the entire rice belt. He is a man of means and is ever ready to give both time and money to an enterprise which will in any way help the advancement of Crowley or promote the city’s interests. He is a conscientious business man who, by his ability, enterprise and thrift, has aided to no small extent in proving to the world that Southwest Louisiana is the most ideal spot in America for farmers of small means to invest their small possessions and reap large results. He is public spirited and ever ready to join forces to promote any enterprise which will prove of general good to Crowley and Southwest Louisiana. He is conservative and practical in his ideas and in selecting him as the representative of North Crowley, the citizens of that section of the city made a wise move which, it is safe to say, they will never have cause to regret.
Joseph Amy
March 28, 1903
Joseph Amy, whose likeness is herewith printed, is a native of Acadia parish. He was born near Opelousas on December 24, 1876. His education he received in the parish schools of Acadia and St. Landry parishes. In the month of December, 1898, Mr. Amy wedded Miss Agnes Knight, and is the father of two children, Edward and Henry. He spent most of his life on a farm to the year 1902 when he went into the general merchandise business with his brother at Iota. He has been very prosperous, as he has always been straight forward in all his business transactions. He is a self-made man, and has made many friends over the parish.
Henry W. Anding
October 27, 1894
H. W. Anding, of Rayne, is probably as well posted a man as could be found in the parish, having lived in this section for thirty years and been engaged in farming and merchandising. He was also for five years parish treasurer of Acadia parish and a member of the town council of Rayne for three terms. He was originally from Mississippi and has traveled extensively.
Charles D. Andrus
May 3, 1902
Charles D. Andrus, who represents West Crowley in the new council, was born in St. Landry parish. His childhood days were spent in Calcasieu and until he was twenty-two years of age he worked on a farm. An irresistible longing, however, for a better schooling than could be obtained in the country districts took possession of him at that age and he forsook the ploughshare for a position with an implement firm at Jennings. In three years he had accumulated money enough to satisfy his yearnings in that direction and the fall of 1893 saw him in college at Bowling Green, Ky. In the fall of 1895 he came to Crowley and was engaged as bookkeeper for Black Bros & Roberts, the same firm now known as Black Bros. From there he went to the Roos & Kaplan store which long ago went out of existence. Afterwards Mr. Andrus took charge of the books of J. Frankel and held them until 1897 when he accepted the responsible position of assistant cashier in the First National Bank.
He rose to his present place of prominence in commercial circles by his own efforts and merits and his success is no less deserved than it is pronounced. This is his first appearance in politics and his future course will be watched with great interest by his friends here and elsewhere.
Martin J. Andrus
October 27, 1894
Among those who came to Crowley in its early days and have witnessed its growth from a village of a few houses to its present proportions is Martin J. Andrus, who came here from Calcasieu parish in April of 1887. He immediately thereafter entered the sheriff’s office as tax collector where he remained seven years. During the greater portion of this time he was also tax collector for the town, a position he still retains. Mr. Andrus was elected a member of the town council in December of 1892, serving one term. He has also been quite a successful rice planter.
Mr. Andrus is yet a young man. He was born at Wykoff Point, this parish, August 27, 1867 – where his mother went from her home in Calcasieu to escape the marauders who infested the country after the close of the war. His early days were spent in the country schools of Calcasieu, but later he took a course at the St. Isidore College in New Orleans.
Dr. Louis Barthelemy Arceneaux
April 4, 1903
One of the ablest practitioners in Southwest Louisiana is Dr. Louis B. Arceneaux of Church Point, who was born in Lafayette Parish, August 24th, 1869. Dr. Arceneaux received an excellent education by private tutor and in the public schools of Lafayette parish. His father being a man of means and a gentleman of culture, young Arceneaux was given every advantage in his early training.
He entered Tulane University and was graduated with honor in 1891. Soon after his graduation he located at Pointe-aux-Loups where he remained only a few months. In the summer of 1891 he began the practice of his profession at Church Point where he has since built up a large practice.
Dr. Arceneaux was married May 2, 1895, to Miss Mary A. Vautrot, of St. Landry parish. He has one son, Alphonse.
Dr. Arceneaux was mayor of Church Point in 1895. He has been a member of the Parish Board of Health since its organization, is vice president of the Church Point Ginning Co., a stockholder in the local bank, is head of the firm of Arceneaux & martin, druggists, is deputy coroner, and owns considerable Church Point city property and several farms in Acadia and St. Landry parishes. Dr. Arceneaux is also largely interested in oil propositions.
As a physician, Dr. Arceneaux is a believer in modern methods, and has been especially successful in the use of the anti-toxin treatment for diphtheria, having lost only two cases in the past six years with this treatment. He keeps up to date in his medical studies, and will attend the Polyclinic this spring at New Orleans. He is a member of the State Medical Association and the State medical Society.
Dr. Arceneaux is a firm believer in progress. He is an enthusiastic advocate of a railroad for Church Point, and he is always to be found on the side of any movement that looks to the betterment of his town and its people.
Rev. John J. Baird
October 27, 1894
Rev. John J. Baird, pastor of first Baptist church at Crowley, La., was born in Wilson County, Tenn., October 2, 1863. He was the eldest son of R. A. and N. M. Baird. With his parents he removed to McKinney, Collin Co., Texas, in the fall of the year 1869, there losing both parents. His mother died September 29, 1871, and father July 28, 1874. He then returned to his native home where he remained upon the farm until he was nineteen years old, when he entered the Santa Fe Institute, from which he graduated with the degree of B. S. May 27, 1886. In January 1887, he was elected to the office of County Superintendent of education. Having realized a call to the ministry, he entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky., where he remained two years. His first work was in 1891, in eastern Louisiana, where he was pastor of Amite City church. During his one year’s pastorate there, the church was more than doubled in membership. In 1892 he took charge of the Baptist church at Crowley with only thirteen members and no house of worship. Now its membership numbers seventy-seven with a comfortable house. He was married to Miss Nettie E. Childers, one of Texas’ fairest daughters on September 27, 1894.
David Balshaw
October 3, 1903
One of the most substantial and reliable citizens of Estherwood is David Balshaw, who may be called a native of Crowley for, although he was born in New Orleans, he lived from his fifteenth year on a farm one mile south of the Rice City.
Mr. Balshaw was born in New Orleans Aug. 25, 1861. In 1876 his mother entered a homestead one mile south of where Crowley now stands. That was ten years before Crowley was thought of. Here young Balshaw lived until his marriage, Feb. 6, 1881, to Miss Mary O’Rourke. Six children have blessed this union: James, Kate, Elizabeth, Agnes, Richard and Erwin.
After his marriage Balshaw went to Texas and worked on a railroad for nearly nine years. In 1890 he returned to Louisiana and took charge of the section work of the S.P. road at Estherwood. He remained as section foreman ten years, and early in 1891, went into business in general merchandise. In business he has been successful on account of his excellent reputation for upright dealing and his square business methods.
When the town of Estherwood was incorporated Balshaw was made its first treasurer. This position he resigned in 1902.
When it was thought necessary to appoint a new mayor at Estherwood last winter Gov. Heard selected David Balshaw as the most available man. The history of the Estherwood mayoralty is now too well known to require repetition here. Mr. Balshaw’s connection with it was entirely creditable to him and reflected only honor on him.
Edgar Barousse
April 11, 1903
More than sixty years ago Jean Barousse left the vine-clad hills of sunny France and settled among the Creoles of old St. Landry parish, in that portion that now forms a part of the parish of Acadia, where the town of Church Point, then known as Plaquemine Brulee, now stands. One of Jean Barousse’s sons, Edgar, who forms the subject of this sketch, was born in the village now known as Church Point January 15, 1854.
Until about fifteen years ago Edgar Barousse clerked in the store of his father and brother, Hon. Homer Barousse, at Church Point. In 1888 he went into business for himself in Branch, where he has since operated a general merchandise store successfully. He has been postmaster of Branch for fourteen years. Mr. Barousse was once a member of the Returning Board of Acadia parish and has always been influential in political affairs in his parish. He is very well known throughout Southwest Louisiana, and is universally respected. Few men in this section are as popular as Edgar Barousse, and none are more deserving of popularity.
Mr. Barousse was married Aug. 4, 1873 to Miss Florence Hayes, who has borne him nine children: Mrs. Eve Daigle, wife of Edward Daigle of Church Point; Joseph A., Gebert and Colbert, twins, Samuel, Homer, Philip, Edgar, Jr., and Belle.
J. A. Barousse
March 28, 1903
The young man whose portrait adorns the Church Point columns this week is one of the youngest bank cashiers in the country. He was born at Church Point March 15, 1881, and was cashier of the Church Point bank soon after he had passed his majority. He is a son of Edgar Barousse of Branch, and grandson of the founder of the American branch of the Barousse family. He was married may 7, 1901 to Miss Maud Lyons of Branch, a daughter of Mr. Offutt Lyons. The couple have no children.
Mr. Barousse was educated in the excellent public schools of Church Point and was at the Cherry Brothers’ school at Bowling Green, Ky., where he graduated 1898. After his graduation he clerked for his father in Branch for one year, and then went into the general merchandise business at Iota, where he remained about a year. On the organization of the local bank, Mr. Barousse was chosen cashier.
He is a young man of excellent business attainments and unimpeachable character. He is bound to make his mark on the future of his town and of Acadia Parish.