Acadia Parish, LAGenWeb
Biographical Sketches - Page 7
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David Levy
October 27, 1894
Any historical write up of Rayne which we might prepare would be wholly incomplete did we fail to mention David Levy, one of the most prominent merchants of this section and a gentleman who has been closely identified with the interests of Rayne for the past seven years.
The subject of this sketch was born in New Orleans in 1860, where he resided until he was seventeen. He then went to St. James parish and accepted a position as clerk in a store. After remaining there three years he secured a similar position with Gus Godchaux, one of the leading merchants of Abbeville. In 1885 he went to Grand Lake, Arkansas, and followed the same occupation for a year and a half. He came to Rayne in March of 1887 and established himself in business, soon building up a trade second to none in this section of country.
Mr. levy is in every respect a public spirited and successful citizen and takes great pride in the growth and prosperity of Rayne.
H. Eugene Lewis
May 3, 1902
In the election of H. Eugene Lewis, the man from South Crowley, the citizens of that section of the city could not possibly have made a wiser selection in the person to look after their interests. Since coming to Crowley four years ago, Mr. Lewis has played a prominent part in business circles and is recognized by the entire city as one of the most public-spirited and enterprising citizens within its borders. Never has a movement been inaugurated for the betterment of the town but that Mr. Lewis has been found at its back pushing it to success and he is never too busy to give his time to anything that will prove of public benefit.
Mr. Lewis is a young man, being only 28 years of age. He is a native of Wisconsin, but has resided in Louisiana for the past eight years. He embarked in the lumber business in Welsh soon after his arrival in Louisiana, but with the ambition for reaching higher, came to Crowley four years ago and, in partnership with W. C. Stewart, of Orange, Texas, opened a large yard in South Crowley. Mr. Lewis is not only interested in the lumber business here, but is a member of the firm of Stewart, Lewis & Taylor, which owns and operates large yards in Rayne and Lafayette.
In the year 1899 Mr. Lewis was wedded to Miss Lillian Archer, one of the most accomplished and popular young ladies in the whole of Calcasieu parish. Mr. Lewis recently erected a beautiful residence in South Crowley and has the utmost confidence in the growth and future development of that section. In closing this short sketch it might be well to state that Mr. Lewis is a whole-souled, jovial, good-hearted fellow, and if everybody possessed as many friends as he, no one would be lacking their full share.
Alexander C. Lormand
October 27, 1894
Justice A. C. Lormand is a native of this section, being raised only about two miles from where Crowley now stands. He was born on the 13th day of April, 1862, and until the starting of Crowley his life was spent on the farm. The educational facilities were much inferior in his boyhood days to those we now have, there being only an occasional country school, and it was in one of these that Mr. Lormand obtained his education.
The subject of our sketch was first elected justice of the peace of the seventh ward, the most important in the parish as well as the most lucrative, in 1888, and he has held the office ever since, being reelected thereto in the year of 1892. He has filled the office with credit to himself and his decisions have universally been considered just and equitable. He is also a notary public and the duties of the two offices keep him constantly employed. It may be due to this fact that he is still an unmarried man.
David E. Lyons
October 27, 1894
David E. Lyons, the genial and ever obliging liveryman, is perhaps as widely and favorably known throughout this and adjoining parishes as any man in private life in the same territory. Born in 1870 in the quiet and hospitable settlement of Plaquemine Brulee, where the sole industry was the tilling of the soil, he was reared as a farmer boy, and spent the first eighteen years of his life in this vocation, but, being of an ambitious turn, he forsook his native heath to engage in more active pursuits. When the town of Crowley was first started he came here to try his fortune. His daring spirit and knowledge of the country secured him a position as deputy sheriff, a position he held with credit. In 1892 he engaged in the livery business, and has met with splendid success; keeps good stock and is always courteous and obliging.
Elridge W. Lyons
October 27, 1894
E. W. Lyons, the able and efficient sheriff of Acadia parish, may with justice be distinctly styled a self-made man, He is a native of this parish and was born in Prairie Hayes on the 11th day of October, 1856. His early days were spent on the farm at hard labor, and little opportunity offered for him to attend even the country schools, which in those days were not very good. At the age of seventeen he secured a position with Sheriff Hayes, of St. Landry, and served two years as guard of the jail. He then engaged in the stock business on his own account, which he successfully followed until elected Sheriff of the new parish of Acadia in March of 1887. He was elected by handsome majorities in 1888 and 1892, and has throughout his tenure of office made an excellent official.
Sheriff Lyons removed with his family to Crowley in the fall of 1888, but is still an extensive rice grower.
James Madison Lyons
May 3, 1902
Hail to the Chief! And that he is chief and master of any question that arises within his jurisdiction has not been determined once, but one hundred times. Chief of Police Lyons was re-elected to his office without opposition, which is the greatest compliment that can be paid to any public office holder. He was re-elected to the office he has most fittingly held for a number of years, because the people of Crowley have the utmost confidence in his ability to faithfully discharge the duties imposed upon him and because he is fair and just with all persons with whom he is called upon to deal. In the many years that he has held the office of chief of police Mr. Lyons is today without an enemy, and this can be attributed to the fact that in the many little unpleasant duties that he has had to perform, he has shown partiality toward none, regardless of their standing or influence. Generous to a fault, kind and considerate to all in trouble, ever ready to give a helping hand to the deserving. Chief Lyons has won the admiration and respect of Crowley in general, who feel that with such a man at the head of the peace guardians, they have nothing to fear.
Mr. Lyons also serves as city tax collector and his work along this line has always given perfect satisfaction.
Chief Lyons is a detective of no mean ability and by his shrewd work has captured many noted criminals, which has given him a wide reputation all over the South.
Jefferson Davis Marks
October 27, 1894
J. D. Marks is one of the leading merchants of Crowley, and has enjoyed a very marked increase in business since his location here. He was born in Osyka, Miss., January 16th, 1866; where he was raised; was educated at Osyka at the German School, and was married in 1891 to Miss Corlon Sternberger, of Amite City, La. He has followed the mercantile business since eighteen years of age, was manager of the largest store in Osyka for six years, and has had charge of other large establishments. He came to Crowley in 1891 and engaged in business with I. H. Sternberger under the style of Sternberger & Marks, succeeding to the entire business in ’93. By courteous treatment and honest dealing he has built up a splendid trade, having opened up with a stock of $2,000 and now carries a stock of $10,000. He believes in the future of Crowley, and as evidence of faith has invested largely in real estate and has one of the prettiest and most attractive homes in Crowley.
Charles F. Matthews
October 27, 1894
An excellent example of what can be done in this country by a young man whose only capital was brains and correct habits, is C. F. Matthews. A Mississippian by birth he first came to Louisiana in 1884 and for a year was in the employ of W. W. Duson. He then went to Texas and later returned to Mississippi, but came to Louisiana again in 1892. For a time he engaged in the real estate business with F. T. Foote but is now the junior member of the firm of Curry & Matthews, which does an extensive business in agricultural implements and the shipping of rice. They also handle live stock and real estate.
Mr. Matthews was born on a farm in Winston county, Miss., September 12, 1892 [sic] but went with his parents to Poplar Creek, Miss., when nine years old. His education was obtained principally in the district schools, but for a time he attended the Poplar Springs (Miss.) Normal College.
John A. McAyeal
October 27, 1894
The subject of our sketch is a native of Pennsylvania, being born at Mokeesport on the 10th day of August, 1857. At the early age of two years his parents removed to Illinois and a few years later to Indiana, and it was in the graded town schools that young McAyeal spent his school days until seventeen years of age. He then went to Colorado and followed mining for six years, meeting with varied success. In 1880 he accepted a position as traveling salesman for a Denver wholesale house. Four years later he returned to Illinois and engaged in farming until coming to Acadia in 1891.
Mr. McAyeal has been successful both in his investments and as a planter since coming here, and is now the head of the firm of McAyeal, Langton & Kennedy, who are among the largest rice planters in the parish. Mr. McAyeal is highly esteemed here and is an active member of the Masonic order and an officer of the local lodge.
Jules Menou
October 3, 1903
Under the sturdy oaks of old Brittany, in ancient Cote du Nord, Jules Menou was born, just after the close of the Franco-Prussian war that devastated La Belle France.
Menou came of an old Breton family. All Bretons come from old families, and all Bretons are proud of their fatherland. Few emigrate from France. Some wander to Paris to engage in trade, generally in livestock. A few emigrate to Canada. Enough remain at home to till the ancestral acres. The sea claims the rest, for the Bretons are great sailor folk.
Jules Menou was born at Cote du Nord, Brittany, Dec. 14, 1872, and was educated in his native town, receiving the rudiments of a good French education. In 1883 his family emigrated to America, settling at Seguin, Texas. Three years later they removed to Pointe aux Loups, in Acadia parish. Here young Menou farmed until 1901, when he went into business for himself, embarking in the warehouse business. He is now owner of a warehouse 50 X 180, and is doing an excellent business.
He was married in 1896 to Miss Julia Bourgaux. Four children have been born to the Menous: Blanche, Rose, Violet and Maurice.
Mr. Menou was at one time in the employ of the Abbotts and is regarded as one of the most reliable young business men of this section.
Dr. James Franklin Morris
October 27, 1894
The State possess few more successful physicians and surgeons than Dr. J. F. Morris, and few there are outside the larger cities who enjoy a more extensive practice. He is public spirited, full of push and enterprise and in every way a representative citizen.
Dr. Morris is a native of Tennessee and graduated from the American Medical College of St. Louis, coming to Southwest Louisiana in 1877, where he began the practice of medicine before he had reached his majority. A few years after establishing here, in 1884, he attended the Memphis Hospital Medical College, where he took degrees. He has availed himself of every opportunity to obtain a wider range of knowledge of his profession and to better qualify himself for his medical and surgical practice by frequently attending the principal hospitals of New York and San Francisco. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, British Columbia, Canada and Mexico, and his travels have enabled him to understand and adapt himself to all classes of people.
Besides attending to his practice Dr. Morris has been a successful investor in real estate, owning several valuable rice farms and a large amount of town property. He is also proprietor of an extensive drug store – a model of neatness and arrangement. He is a prominent member of the Masonic, K. of P. and K. of H. orders. Being now only thirty-seven years of age he is in the prime of physical and intellectual manhood.