Acadia Parish, LAGenWeb
Biographical Sketches - Page 2
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Rev. J. T. Barrett
October 27, 1894
Rev. J. T. Barrett, president of Acadia College, is a native of Madison county, Miss., and is the eldest of a family of six boys. His father was a small farmer and the boys were compelled to labor hard to make a living for the family. In this, as a boy, young Mr. Barrett led at all times, and in this way he became inured to hardships and thoroughly familiar with those realities which in after life had little effect in blocking his successful career. His advantages in school until twenty years of age were of the poorest quality, and here he had the further discouragement of extreme poverty. But possessed with an undaunted zeal he determined to obtain an education. To this end his energies were exercised and for nine long years he toiled and struggled with poverty, working during vacation at burning brush, ditching and other laborious work until his efforts were exultingly crowned with diplomas – one from the Mississippi College at Clinton, the other from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky.
He has been honored frequently by his denomination with some of its most important trusts, and he has always filled them with marked credit and distinction.
In the fall of 1893, by dint of good fortune, the board of trustees of Acadia College induced him to take the presidency of that institution. He brought into his work the zeal, gentlemanly bearing and culture which has characterized his public life, and as a result he enjoys that success won by few men, and has around him that confidence and constituency of which any man might feel proud and indeed envy.
James Edward Barry
October 27, 1894
The subject of our sketch was born on the 19th of June, 1844, near Bellview, Bossier parish, but lived there only a short while during infancy, his parents removing to Caldwell parish when he was one years old. Here he was raised and resided until moving to Acadia in December of 1886.
Judge Barry was quite active in the affairs of office in Caldwell parish for a number of years. He was first appointed parish assessor by Gov. Wells in 1865 – at the close of the war. In 1872 Gov. Warmouth appointed him Clerk of Court to fill a vacancy and in the same year he was elected to that office by a vote of the people. He was chosen parish judge in 1876 and reelected to the same office in 1878, holding it until abolished by the constitution of 1879. Two years thereafter he was admitted to the bar.
Judge Barry has been a life-long Democrat as was his father before him. Since locating in Acadia he has enjoyed a lucrative legal practice, and is now the consulting attorney for the parish and town of Crowley. He has taken a very prominent part in educational matters, now filling with efficiency the office of parish superintendent of education.
Adolph Bauman
April 4, 1903
The first settler in what is now the flourishing town of iota was Adolph Bauman, who had come from one of the largest cities in the world to settle in one of the prairies of Southwest Louisiana, to make for himself a new home in the land of his adoption.
Adolph Bauman was born in Stuttgart, Germany, May 1, 1854. Like all German boys of the higher class he received a thorough and complete education. After having graduated at the Gymnasium, a school which corresponds to our High Schools and Latin Schools, young Bauman decided to go into business. His father had intended him for a profession, and proposed sending him to one of the great Universities, but his preference was in the direction of business. He therefore went to London and became connected with a great importing and exporting house engaged in Colonial trade. Here he remained for seventeen years. He then formed a connection with a Paris business house where he remained for one year in the employment of a shipping firm, and later spent two years in the importing and exporting trade at Marseilles. Thence he returned to England remaining there about two years. He finally decided to cast his lot in the New World and came to America. He soon decided that there was a future for live people in the great Southwest. In 1894 he located at Iota, and when the railroad passed through Iota he was made station agent. On the establishment of the postoffice in Iota he became its postmaster and retained this position until the first of April, 1903, when his resignation, which had been submitted to the Postoffice Department some weeks before, took effect and his successor Jesse H. Nordyke assumed the duties of the office.
Mr. Bauman was married February 9, 1895, to Miss Frances Frey, the daughter of a prominent citizen of Acadia parish.
Mr. Bauman resigned the postmastership of Iota in order to devote more attention to his private business, which has increased steadily with the growth of one of the most rapidly growing towns in Southwest Louisiana. He is regarded by the citizens of Acadia parish as one of their most reliable men. Although he had lived in the great capitals of Europe until well in his thirties, he has become a thorough American. Our flag is his flag, our country his country, our interests his interests.
Frank J. Bernard
October 27, 1894
Frank J. Bernard, the enterprising and energetic proprietor of a large cotton ginning establishment at Rayne, is the son of the venerable J. D. Bernard, ex-Mayor of Rayne, long and prominently identified with the history and development of this section of Louisiana. He was born at Poupeville, August 12, 1871; was educated at St. Charles College, Grand Coteau, and graduated in a commercial course from Soule’s Commercial College, New Orleans. His earlier practical business training was gained in his father’s mercantile establishment, and this, added to his natural business tact and energy, has been the secret to his success in his present large and prosperous business. In 1889 he erected the gin, and each year he has received an increased patronage, until now the output is about 1,200 bales pre season. In addition to his ginning business he has planted, in partnership with A. L. Chappuis, two large rice crops with flattering success.
Ben E. Black
October 27, 1894
Under the management of B. E. Black the Hapgood Plow Co., built up one of the most extensive trades enjoyed by any agricultural implement house in Southwest Louisiana. Desiring, however, to engage in business on his own account, in company with his brother, J. P. and Mr. Roberts, of Jennings, a few days ago purchased the entire interests of this company both at Crowley and Jennings, the firm now being Black Bros. & Roberts.
Mr. Black was born at Apple River, Ill., March 21, 1865, and after a few years in the common schools of that place his parents removed to Alton, Ill., where he attended the Shirtliff College. In 1879 he entered the machine shop of the Hapgood Plow Co. at Alton and served three years apprenticeship. He then removed to Wellington, Kan., and for two years was engaged in the implement business. In 1885 he removed to Kansas City and entered the employ of the Eagle Manufacturing Co., where he remained until coming to Crowley in June of 1892 as manager of the branch which the Hapgood Plow Co. desired to establish here.
Mr. Black is a married man and quite prominent in social circles. He was one of the organizers of the Crowley Social Club and is now its vice-president.
Joseph Blum
October 27, 1894
The subject of this sketch is the third member of the firm of Roos, Kaplan & Co., proprietors of the “Pioneer Store,” probably the largest general merchandizing establishment in Southwest Louisiana.
Mr. Blum is a native of Rhine-Bavaria (Southern Germany) and was given a good commercial education. After completing his studies he held the very responsible position of corresponding clerk for his father who at that time was proprietor of a large flouring mill and a very extensive exporter and importer of flour. Mr. Blum came to the United States in 1870 and at once located in Louisiana. He held positions as salesman in several large stores, but deciding to engage in business on his own account he opened up a general merchandise establishment at Luling, La. He did a very successful business here but bad health compelled him to change climate and at the same time anxious to visit his aged mother once more he sold out and returned to Germany, spending eleven months in the beautiful Rhine country.
Upon returning to the United States he came direct to his native State, Louisiana, and in February of 1892 he became a member of the firm of Roos, Kaplan & Co. he has inaugurated a number of improvements here, one of the first being an attractive cashier’s office in the center of the store room, which has proven a great convenience; also, the erection of a hardware store and a large warehouse. Mr. Blum is a firm believer in the future of Crowley and owns a lovely home on Avenue H.
George W. Booze
May 2, 1903
The subject of this sketch is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born in Springwood, Va., June 18, 1874. He was married Sept. 18, 1874, to Miss Josephine Keister, and has two children: Thomas, and Herbert Alwood.
Mr. Booze received his early education in the common schools of his native state, and later graduated from the State Agricultural and Mechanical College of Virginia.
After leaving college Mr. Booze spent two years on his father’s farm. Becoming dissatisfied with farm life he went West and was employed as a telegraph operator for three years, having learned telegraphy at college.
In 1895, attracted by the glowing reports of the fertility of Southwest Louisiana, Mr. Booze moved to Roanoke, La, where he engaged in rice farming and raised one crop. In 1896 he was offered the position of assistant state entomologist at the State Agricultural College. He occupied this position two years. In July 1902 he returned to Roanoke and opened a general repair shop with Mr. V. Wainwright, under the firm name of Wainwright & Booze, succeeding Slocum and Hartman.
Jan. 5, 1903, the firm opened in Gueydan a large general machine and repair shop and deep well outfitting establishment, under the name of the Gueydan Machine Shop. Mr. Booze, who is a first-class machinist, is the manager of the business.
Welman Bradford
October 27, 1894
Welman Bradford, the subject of this sketch, is parish surveyor of Acadia parish and a native of Louisiana, being born in Donaldsonville, Ascension parish, in 1860. At the age of sixteen he moved to Washington City, D. C., where he took up the study of law and civil engineering under the supervision of his father, Robert H. Bradford, of the firm of Drummond & Bradford. Since the summer of 1878he has been actively engaged in surveying and railroad engineering, having done a large amount of this work in the States of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia and Louisiana. He located in Rayne seven years ago and has held the position of parish surveyor under the last two Democratic administrations. He also does considerable real estate business and has been largely interested in the cultivation of rice for the past five or six years.
Mr. Bradford is a gentleman who thoroughly understands his profession, is accurate and painstaking in his work and has the confidence of all.
William Frank Brooks
October 27, 1894
Assessor W. F. Brooks is a Mississippian by birth, being born at Sparta on the 14th day of October, 1852. His parents removed to Louisiana in 1860 and located at Plaquemine Brulee, this parish, where the subject of our sketch was given the benefit of such an education as it was possible to obtain in the country schools of those days. After reaching his majority Mr. Brooks engaged in the stock business for a number of years, and was for a time a clerk in the store of T. C. Chachere, a prominent merchant of this parish. Not finding this occupation congenial he abandoned it and engaged in farming, at which he has been quite successful.
Mr. Brooks was first appointed to public office in 1888, being a member of the parish school board from that time until 1892. In the latter year he was appointed parish assessor and shortly thereafter removed with his family to Crowley.
Elias E. Broussard
April 25, 1903
One of the young hustlers who is making himself felt in the progress of his town is Elias E. Broussard, manager of the lumber department of the Gueydan Lumber Company. Mr. Broussard is a native of the Lone Star State, having been born in Beaumont July 16, 1879. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and in the high school of Abbeville. After leaving the Abbeville high school young Broussard went to work as a clerk in the employ of Gus Godchaux, in his Abbeville store. He stuck strictly to business for three years, and was then rewarded by Mr. Godchaux with the management of his Abbeville lumber yards. This position he occupied about a year and a half. In 1891 he became manager of the lumber department of the Gueydan Lumber Company. He is a one-fourth owner in the E. M. Stebbins Lumber Company of Kaplan.
Mr. Broussard was married January 21, 1902, to Miss Medeline Francey, and has one child, Mafalda.
Rives J. C. Bull
October 27, 1894
R. J. C. Bull, real estate dealer and notary public, is a native of Washington, D. C., but has been identified with the development and settling up of this section since 1871, having located in Plaquemine Brulee in that year after a residence of four years in New Orleans, where he was inspector of customs two years and two years in the postoffice. He has been engaged in the real estate business during the entire period since settling here. When the town of Rayne was started he moved here, and has been conspicuous in its growth and history, having been elected Mayor in 1887 and served two terms, and has always been active in every move for the public good and advancement of the town. In addition to other occupations he owns a large and well-equipped livery stable.
Mr. Bull was appointed notary public by Gov. Wiltz in 1878 and has held the position under all succeeding administrations.