1925 Biography - Christian Capdevielle

Christian Capdevielle, assistant auditor of the State of Louisiana, is a popular citizen of the capital city of Baton Rouge and is a scion of one of the old and distinguished French families whose names are closely linked with the history of Louisiana.

Mr. Capdevielle was born ill the City of New Orleans, on the 11th of May, 18S5, and is a son of the late Paul Capdevielle, who was born in that city in the year 1842 and who died at his summer home at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, August 13, 1922. Paul Capdevielle was reared and educated in New Orleans, and was one of the first graduates of the. Jesuit College in that city, besides which he w$ graduated from the old Louisiana University, in Its law department, the institution having been the predecessor of the present and great Tulane University. He received from Louisiana University the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and later he took a post-graduate course in St. Louis University, in the metropolis of Missouri. Paul Capdevielle became one of the distinguished members of the New Orleans bar and was one of the most honored and influential citizens of his native city, of which he served five years as mayor, besides having given a number of years of service as a member of its Board of Education and as a member of the New Orleans' Levee Board. While acting as mayor he started the Sewerage and Water Board and the Public Railroad of the City of New Orleans. He was president of the New Orleans City Park Commission, and had much of leadership in the councils of the democratic party. In 1904 he was appointed by Governor Newton C. Blanchard to the office of state auditor of Louisiana, and of this office he continued the incumbent until the time of his death. He was an active and appreciative member of the Louisiana State Historical Society, and was affiliated with New Orleans Lodge No. 714, Knights of Columbus, New Orleans Lodge No. 30, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a member of several carnival organizations and for many years was president of the Pickwick Club. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, and ever continued a devout communicant thereof.

Lasting distinction shall touch the name and memory of the late Paul Capdevielle by reason of the gallant service which he gave as a young soldier of the Confederacy during virtually the entire period of the war between the states of the North and the South. He was a member of Boone's company of artillery, with which he served in the engagement at Plain Store, and after that in the entrenchments during the siege of Port Hudson, until he was severely wounded on June 27, 1863. He was, taken prisoner when Port Hudson capitulated, and soon alter was exchanged and ordered to Mobile, thence to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was attached to Tegarden's battery, which was then assigned to duty on James and Sullivan Islands. When Charleston was evacuated on February 12, 1865, the battery was placed in the rear guard of the retreat and was daily engaged with the advance of Sherman's army. It participated in the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville, the last battles fought by Johnson's army. Mr. Capdevielle surrendered with General Johnston at Greensboro, North Carolina, on April 26, 1863. He was for a number of years a member of the Louisiana Division, Army of Tennessee.

Mr. Capdevielle was one of the organizers of the Orleans Railway Company and was made its president. He was president also or the Mutual Insurance Company of New Orleans, and had other large and important business and capitalistic interests.

In New Orleans was solemnized the marriage of the late Paul Capdevielle and Miss Emma Marie Larue, who likewise was born and reared in that city, of French lineage, and whose death there occurred on the 9th of February, 1918. Of the children the first born was Elena, who died at the age of five years. Paul, Jr., was born in New Orleans, June 12, 1880, and after there attending a private school he there entered the College of the Immaculate Conception, in which institution he was graduated in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Thereafter he was for some time identified with the newspaper business in connection with the New Orleans Bee, and in 1905 he was appointed warrant clerk in the office of the state auditor of Louisiana, at Baton Rouge, where he has since continued the incumbent of this position. He is a staunch democrat, is a communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Baton Rouge, and is affiliated with New Orleans Council No. 714, Knights of Columbus. His name is still enrolled on the roster of eligible bachelors. Auguste, the next younger son, resides in New Orleans, where he is manager of the Bienville warehouse of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Miss Yvonne, the next in order of birth, resides in New Orleans. Christian, immediate subject of this review, is the fifth child. Miss Edith resides with her sister Yvonne in New Orleans. James was chief clerk in the office of the state auditor at Baton Rouge at the time of his death March 4, 1920.

The personal distinction of the late Paul Capdevielle brought to him many marks of special distinction, He was decorated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy was made a member of the Legion of Honor by the French government, and was the only Citizen of the United States ever to receive from the governments of Norway and Sweden the decoration designating his membership in the Order of St. Olaf. This latter recognition came to him as a result of services rendered to the two governments while he was mayor of New Orleans. He was a son of Augustin Capdevielle, who was born in France and who was a young man when he came to the New World and established his residence in New Orleans, where he became a representative merchant and where he passed the remainder of his life, he having served as a soldier in the French army prior to his immigration to America. His wife, whose family name was Bertrane, passed her entire life in New Orleans.

After duly profiting by the advantages of excellent private schools in New Orleans Christian Capdevielle there entered the Jesuit College, in which he continued his studies until he attained to the age of nineteen years. Thereafter he learned chemistry as applied to the tobacco industry, and in his native city he continued his service as a tobacco chemist until 1904, when his impaired health led him to remove to Baton Rouge and to assume the position of bookkeeper in the office of the state auditor. In August, 1909, he became bookkeeper and accountant for the New Orleans Railway & Light Company (now the Public Service Corporation). In April of 1920 he returned to Baton Rouge and took the post of chief clerk in the office of the state auditor. In 1921 he was promoted to the position of assistant state auditor, of which he became the first incumbent, the office having been created by provisions made in the new State Constitution, that of 1921. In this office Mr. Capdevielle has since continued his loyal and efficient service.

The democratic party receives the unqualified allegiance of Mr. Capdevielle, and in the capital city he and his wife are zealous communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He is affiliated with Baton Rouge Council No. 9h9, Knights of Columbus, and New Orleans Lodge No. 30, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was also a member of several carnival organizations and of the Southern Yacht Club. Mr. Capdevielle is the owner of valuable real estate in Baton Rouge, including his attractive home property at 520 University Walk, and he has real estate interests also in New Orleans.

At Baton Rouge, on the 27th of December, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Capdevieile and Miss Alma C. Maine, daughter of the late Leon Maine and Laura Costello. Mr. Maine was a prominent merchant in Baton Rouge. Mrs. Capdevielle attended St. Joseph's Convent at Baton Rouge, and in 1904 graduated from the Baton Rouge High School. Mrs. Capdevielle was one of the first girls to enter the Louisiana State University when coeducation was adopted. Mr. and Mrs. Capdevielle have three children: Paul III, Christian, Jr., and Alma.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 56-57.