Civil War Pensioners in 1924 and 1933 in St. Charles Parish

1924
Placide Baudouin #9374, B, 1 LA Inf Hahnville
Marie U. Rodrigue #9829, Widow of Pierre H., G,30 LA Inf Edgard
Anna L. Stevens #12662, Widow of Newton C., B,GA Cadets Ama

1933
Placide Baudouin #9374; B, 18th LA Inf Hahnville
Mrs. Leopold Gaillot, #12892 Widow of Leopold; E, 18th LA Inf Killona
Cecile Requin Nicholas#13210 Widow of Jean B; G, 30th LA Inf Hahnville
Azoline Rodrigues #8530 Widow of Ursin; A, 18th LA Inf Hahnville
Mrs. Edward Rome #12456 Widow of Edward; B, Winchester LA Destrehan
Anna L. Stevens #12662 Widow of Newton C; B, GA Cadets Ama
Eugenie O. Zeringue #13981 Widow of Berthier; F, 30th LA Inf Ama
Mrs. H. Diogenne Troxler #13011 Widow of H. Diogenne; Pelican Battery Ama

This information comes from "List of Pensioners of the State of Louisiana,1924 and 1933" Introduction by Winston DeVille; origionals at LA State Archives

There are two lists by dates and parishes are in alphabetical order. Many St. Charles residents had families who lived in Lafourche, St. John and St. James and may want to check these parishes as well as others in the state.

Civil War in St. Charles Parish

There was a letter from a Civil War soldier on the blog Blind Pig and the Acorn today and this made me wonder how many of us stop to think of the small skirmishes that happened in Des Allemands, Boutte and Hahnville.


ST. CHARLES INQUEST RECORDS: BOOK #1 MARCH 1877-DEC 1886

PAGE 1: Inquest on the body of Charley Maze, held on 25 Feb 1877. The verdict was that he came to his death by accidentally drowning on the 25 Feb 1877, near Boutte Station, in a ditch on the Morgan Louisiana and Texas Railroad. Jurors were Joseph B. Friedman, J. B. Barter, Edmond Roberts, Steward Johnson, and J. E. Jho?anson. Coroner Clement Colly.

Page 2: Inquest on the body of Joseph Johnson, alias Joe Vick, held on 30 Mar 1877. Inquisition made at Boutte Station. The verdict was that he was killed this morning between 8 and 9 o'clock by means of a discharge of shot and slugs from a double-barrell shot gun in the hands of John Williams, of this parish, at the store of J. P. Friedman. He was shot in the back of the head from which he instantly died. Jurors were Michael Johnson, Edmond Roberts, James Taylor, Charles Pejurkam, Joseph ? Ellis, and Coroner Clement Colly.

Page 3: Inquest on the body of an unknown white man, held on 14 Apr 1877. The verdict was that he came to his death while lying upon the tracks of the Morgan Louisiana and Texas Railroad, on the morning of 6 Apr 1877, when he was run over by a freight train. Jurors were Joseph B. Friedman, Edmond Roberts, Edward Broward, James Taylor, Washington A. Johnson and Coroner Clement Colly.

School in 1883

School board minutes: in May 1883, the names of the teachers were given as Miss Zulema Bourgeois, Mrs. K. M. Haggerty, Miss Rosa Fleming, Miss Lizzie Terchert, Miss Mary C. Manny, Miss Amanda M. Perkins, Miss Mary E. Pendergast, Miss Elizabeth Townsend, Miss Mary A. Thoroughgood and Mrs. Arabella Dessauers.
The Rev. W. C. Johnson was given permission to use the schoolhouse in the First Precinct of the First Ward for church meetings of the Rising Sun Baptist Church.

St. Charles Herald,7 Jul 1883
The closing exercises of our public schools took place last Friday and Saturday; two of which we were well repaid in attending. We visited Mrs. Kate M.Haggerty's school for whites, somewhat late on Friday evening, but from what we witnessed, it was evident that the scholars had received careful training, as well as diligent attention from their devoted teacher, as was evidenced by the remarkable improvements. Great praise is due to Mrs. Haggerty for the careful supervison of the children, about thirty-five in number, under her charge.

Miss Rosa Fleming, of the colored school of Flaggville, had quite a creditable exhibition on Saturday last, consisting of recitation, orations, songs, hymns, etc. She has over one hundred scholars on the roll, which is certainly too many for one person- but, notwithstanding the large number, they are under very good control and discipline and she is entitled to no small amount of praise.

American Indians in St. Charles Parish, LA

Before the first European settlers there were several groups of natives living in St. Charles. Early explorers came in contact with natives and left records of their encounters. When LaSalle came to this area in 1682 he found a Quinipissa village near present day Hahnville. These Quinipissa merged with the Bayougoula. In May 1700,the Bayougoula killed most of the remaining Quinipissa. They may have allowed the women and children to live and become members of the stronger tribe.
Near Des Allemands were the Washa and Houmas. The Washa village was setteled on Bayou Lafourche about 1699 and moved to Des Allemands in the early 1700s. A Choctaw village was located between Boutte and Paradis.

For more information see "A History of St. Charles Parish", by Henry E."Gene" Yoes "III.

Death of "Bob" Martin

A terrible misfortune has befallen our friends, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Martin, in the death of their beloved little infant son "Bob". The news of the demise of this child, whom everyone loved and cherished, for his gentleness and bright intellect, filled Hahnville and its surroundings with deep sorrow and sincere sympathy for the bereaved family. May the Almighty extend a helping hand to our friends, and lend them the courage to stand the fatal blow with fortitude and resignation.

St. Charles Herald, 25 August 1883

What Does Your Name Mean ?

I've been reading the book "New Dictionary of American Family Names" by Elsdon C. Smith. I found most of the German and Acadian family names as well as those from other parts of the country. I was surprised to find the country of origin wasn't always what I expected. Remember that our ancestors crossed oceans and moved from country to country hundreds of years ago.
I've also been reading a book about the history of names of Scotland and many of these names were originally English, French, Norwegian and Irish.
If you don't find your name as you spell it now, look for variations. Change the vowels at the beginning and within the word.
Local names of Rome was Rommel,Savoie was Savoy. Some names were changed completely, such as Toups. This name was originally Dubs. These people came here from Switzerland, but the names Dub,Dubb,Dube,Duba could have been English, French, or Czecho-Slovakian originally.
Finding out where a name originated may help you in tracing your family in earlier years. The meaning of a name also adds another bit of interesting information to your family history.
Your library may have other titles of this same type of book. Look in the 929 section and you may find many interesting books to read.

Exercise in T. L. Labranche Court, Continued

Page 2

George Chevalier vs John Chin 30 May 1832

The petition of G. Chevalier (A mort C) praying for the payment of a sum of eighty dollars due him by John Chin of this parish, as his fee for two months work as a carpenter.

May 30th, 1832 and the fifty-sixth of American Independence as the Parish Court of St. Charles order, "Let a summon issue as required and notification be given to the defendant. Parish of St. Charles, May 30th 1832.
T. L. Labranche, ex-officio clerk.

Citation sent on the fourth day of June 1832, the defendant to appear in ten days from the service thereof.

Page 3---George Chevalier, f.m.of c. vs John Chin. Petition returned to court June 11th 1832. Petition of John Chin, in answer to Petition of George Chevalier, praying that said Chevalier be cited before the court and his account reduced, amount ?. Filed June 11, 1832. T. L. Labranche, Judge and ex-officio clerk.

George Chev. F. C. M. vs John Chin

Citation and copy of the petition of John Chin given to the sheriff this day, 11 day of July 1832 and citation of John Chin to appear at this court on 21st instant day of trial.

School Board News

In April 1880 the school board had a balance of $160.35 in its treasury. A bill was received from Mr. Delphine Rouselle for seven school desks and seats, one teacher's desk and one door lock for school No. 6 for $12. The 10 teachers for 1880 were Miss Amanda Perkins, Miss Nellie Seymour, Mrs. Kate M. Haggerty, Miss Ada Seymour, Miss Mary M. Caulfield, Miss E. Jennie Pursell, Mrs. Mary E. Pendergast, Miss Ida Tharp, Miss Henderson, and Miss Leila P. Bruce.
In Feb. 1881 the school board members were Emile Post, Owen McLesson, W. T. Henry, J. S. Brady, W. J. Youngs, and Leon Sarpy. The board again authorized 10 schools to be opened for a term not to exceed four months beginning in March. The teachers were to be paid not more than $40 per month and the superintendent was to be paid $200 a month.
At the April 1881 meeting the teachers were named. They were Miss Amanda Perkins, Miss Nellie Seymour, Mrs. K. M. Haggerty, Miss Ada Seymour, Mrs. S. N. Marshall, Mrs. E. J. Pursell, Miss Laura Culpepper, Miss Mary Tharp, Miss Rose Fleming and Miss Leila P. Bruce. The school house in Bayou Des Allemands had been rented since the last meeting.
In June 1881 the school term was extended an additional month. The Board voted to sell the Davis Place school with the proceeds to be used to erect a school on board property at Boutte Station. Mr J. L. Boutte, Sr. was appointed to replace Mr. W. T. Henry who had moved.
In Oct. 1881, the superintendent notified the board that the lot and schoolhouse at Davis Place had been sold for $200.
A committee from the Congregation of Mount Zion Baptist Church of the 4th Ward appeared before the board relative to the contemplated erection of a schoolhouse for black children at Boutte Station. The board entered into an agreement with the congrgation that they may use the school building for church purposes in return for repairs and upkeep of the building.

Early German Villages--Mariental

Mariental was located south-west of Ausburg and west of the current Hwy 3127.
The first settlers of this village were Rausch, Klomp, Schmidt, Munich, Strumpfl, Frederick, Hoffman, Rodler, Merkel, Senck, Distel, Zweis, Pictot, and Riel.

Death of Francois Bazile Trepagnier

In the death of Francois Bazile Trepagnier, which occurred at the Myrtle Land plantation, on Monday, the 20th inst.,our community has lost one of its most honored and distinguished citizens. Mr. Trepagnier was born in this parish in 1804, a few months after Louisiana was ceded to the United States by France, and when it was still a territory--the Territory of Orleans. He spent seventy-three years is this mundane sphere, and spent them well--to the benefit and advancement of his fellow-men. In anti-bellum times, Mr. Trepagnier was a leader and power in the Democratic party of this State. He held various offices of distinctions and trust, and served several terms in the Legislature as member from this parish. During and after the war he held aloof from politics and devoted his remaining years to the large planting interests in which he was engaged. His remains were quietly interred in the cemetery of Red Church, a large concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives following to the last resting place.

St. Charles Herald, 25 Aug 1877, page 1,column 1

Catholic Church Records

Those of us who are tracing south Louisiana ancestors often don't appreciate how lucky we are to have Catholic church records which contain the names of parents, and sometimes grandparents. With baptism, marriage, and burial records we have all the dates we need.
The book "Archdiocese of New Orleans, Sacramental Records, Vol. I, 1718-1750" contains the records of the first two churches in this area, St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and St. Charles Borromeo (Little Red Church) in St.Charles Parish.
Some entries also include occupations, which gives a better idea of what your family's life was about.
Rev. Woods tells us that all available records are included in this book. He gives the dates of records that have been destroyed so that you can see where some records are not available. Some of these records are available in the civil records of the parishes.
The early residents of St. Charles Parish also used St. Louis Cathedral for these important ceremonies so be sure to check all the entries for your ancestors.
Later volumes contain information about other church parishes. Some of my St. Charles ancestors returned to St. Mary's Church in Raceland, Lafourche Parish, especially for funerals and burial, since this is the church they attended before coming to St. Charles. Later generations used the burial plots paid for by earlier family members. I have also found some St. Charles residents also buried in Edgard, St. John Parish, probably for the same reason.
So just as we check surrounding parishes for civil records, be sure to also check for church records.

How Many Ancestors Do You Have ? Ten, One Hundred, One Thousand ?

Did you ever think about the number of ancestors you have? If you trace just one line you will have about 260 surnames when you finish nine generations. If you trace all your lines you would have about 65,500.
Many times we have lines that connect back to the same ancestor in different generations or we may have several children in one family who are all in our ancestral line. Even after allowing for some overlapping we still end up related to a lot of people in some way.
I have found that almost everyone in South Louisiana with the same surname will have a common ancestor.

Exercise in T. L. Labranche Court, Continued

Page 1

Pierre Bertrand vs Victoire Vickner, his wife 29 Sept 1831

By virtue of a commithion (sic) to me directed by the honorable, the District Court of the First District of the State of Louisiana, to take the testimony of witnesses in a suit pending before said court between Pierre Bertrand and Victoria Vickner, his wife, I have this day sent a notification to Victoria Vickner to proceed to my office, on Thursday, 27th day of October 1831, to hear the testimony of witnesses on said day and month, between Eleven and ten o'clock a.m.

Page 2

Pierre Bertrand vs Victoire Vickner, his wife 1 Oct 1831

On this day notification to appear at my office, in pursuance of a commethion (sic) sent to me by the honorable court of the First District of the State of Louisiana was sent to Thomas Edrington, witness on the part of Plaintiff, day of examination, Thursday, Oct 27th.

Pierre Bertrand vs Victoire Vickner, his wife 27 Oct 1831

On this day appeared Thomas Edrington, witness and the process-verbal of his declaration was sent enclosed and sealed to the clerk of the First District of the State of Louisiana, Parish of St. Charles, Oct 29,1831, T. L. Labranche, Judge.

School Board Records--Jan 1882-July 1882

A report from Superintendent T.T. Baudouin said the attendance at school in 1881 had been good for the first four months but had dropped off in the fifth month partly due to the heat and partly due to the indifference of the parents.
He also reported that the furniture in the schools not owned by the parish was poorly adapted to the needs of the students. This furniture was described as ill-shaped benches with a board attached to the back for a writing table. These schools also had very small blackboards or none at all.
Mr Baudouin also advised the purchase of reading charts for beginning students and geographical charts and globes for each school.
The board agreed to purchase the reading charts for each school. They authorized the opening of ten schools on the first Monday in Feb. for five months. The teachers were to be paid not more than $40 a month.
The teachers were Miss Amanda Perkins, Mrs. K. M. Haggerty, Miss Leila P. Bruce, Miss E. J. Pursell (until April when she was replaced by Miss Fisher), Miss M. C. Manny, Miss Rosa Fleming, Miss Mary Thorp, Mrs. G. E. Knight, Miss Mary A. Thoroughgood, and Miss Arabella Dessauers.
In July 1882 the board met and heard a report that there were a total of 506 children enrolled in school, 113 were white and 393 black. This was only one-third of the white children and one-quarter of the black children in the parish. There was an 85 percent attendance of those enrolled.
The board voted to open 10 schools for five months beginning the first Monday in Feb. The teachers were to be paid not more than $40 a month.

First German Villages--Ausburg

The second of the German Villages was called Ausburg. It was located further inland from the Mississippi River. It started about where the current railroad is and continues west past the current Hwy 3127. Half of these two rows was located below Karlstein. There were two rows of landowners, the first, on the north side were were Menthe, Bebloque, Marx, Rommel, Neiker, Sench, and Kobel, on the other side were Raser, Krestman, Vique, Grabert, Oberle and Thiel.
The graveyard was to the south of these landowners below Karlstein.

Use Detective Skills

My dog didn't eat my research homework, but he did chew a hole in one of my internet lines, so I'll post yesterday's blog also today.

You must use all your skills as a detective while searching. Many times you will find first and last names spelled in different ways. Some records also use first names while others use a middle name. Due to high mortality rates, both husband and wife may have been married more than once. When you have a father and son with the same name and 5 wives between them, it can be quite a mystery to solve.
Another thing to look out for is double letters like nn. Some records will have the 2 ns while others will have only 1. It's very easy to make a mistake when different generations use different spellings. A similar problem is different family members in the same household using a different spelling. I was very glad to find my grandfather's report card, where his mother used an "a" and his father used an "en" between 2 words that make-up their last names. This alerted me right away to look for the different spellings.

Necrology of Mrs. Achille L. Keller

On Monday afternoon, Mrs. Achille L. Keller died after an illness of some 24 hours, and death happening as a thunder clap, for deceased had been in very good health right along, and no later than Sunday had as usual led the choir of Our Lady of the Rosary Church which position she held for the past 25 years or more.
Deceased was the Eldest(sic) daughter of Hon. A. E. Picard and the late Louise Vial. Her demise orphans two daughters attending the Ursuline Convent and a son at Stanislans College.
The funeral was sung at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. Father Pariot officiating, despite the fact of his illness the Father delivered an affecting eulogy.
Internment followed at St. John Cemetery where Rev. T. Stenmans could not but voice his sentiment and condolences as Mrs. Keller had been at the head of the choir when Father Stenmans was our loyal priest and he had also married Mr. and Mrs. Keller.
To the heart broken husband and children and host of sorrowing relatives and friends we extend our sincerest wishes of sympathy.

St. Charles Herald
Saturday, Jan 17, 1920
Sec. 1, Column 5

Courthouse Records--1831

EXERCISE IN T.L. LABRANCHE COURT de PAROISSE
PLAINTIS(SIC),DEMANDS,JUDGEMENTS
REGISTER #4 PARISH COURT
COUR de PAROISSE

Page 1--Baron vs Girod 24 Aug 1831

Demand of Alexander Baron vs F.Girod praying for a declaration to prove that the girl Angelique, six years old, now in the hands of F.Girod, is the lawful property of A. Baron, and that said Girod be demanded to deliver over to the plaintiff, the girl Angelique, in July 1835, when she will be ten years old.
Citation sent on the 24th August to the sheriff, for the Defendant to appear in the ten days from the service thereof. Return of the same on the 25th instant. The court to be held, on Monday, 5th day of Sept.
The court on demand made in writing by the Defendant, for a delay of eight days to prepare his answer, has postponed the judgement(sic) of the present suit until Monday next,Sept 12,1831 T.L. Labranche

School Board Records

The earliest school board records in St.Charles Parish start in Oct.1879. This first meeting mentions minutes being read from the last meeting, so we know that there were previous meetings. The school superintendent at this time was T.T. Baudouin. The school board members were Emile Rost, P.M.Kenner, Leon Sarpy, W.C. McCutchin, W.L. Youngs, George Essex, and Pierre D'Arensbourg.
The school treasury had a balance of $333.17. The school board and parish treasurer was S. Robbins. The board agreed to rent out the school building at Davis Place for $5 a month and also authorized the superintendent to rent out the school building at Bayou Bayou Des Allemands. They authorized repairs to the school at Boutte Station.
There were 10 schools in the parish in 1879, but the records don't show where they were located. They each had one teacher. These were Miss Amanda Perkins, Miss E. Jennie Pursell, Miss K.M. Haggarty, Miss Ada Seymour, Mrs. Mary M. Caulfield, Mr. Samuel S. Gordon, Mrs. Mary E. Pendergast, Mr. A.P. Hebert, Mrs. Anabell Dessauer and Miss Leila P. Bruce. Miss Ada Seymour taught in Hahnville.
In Feb.1880, the school treasury had a balance of $88.91 and the board authorized opening 10 schools beginning the first Monday in March for a term not to exceed four months.

First German Villages

There were three original German Villages on the "German Coast" on the west bank of the Mississippi River.It was settled approximately 275 years ago, some 80 years before the Stars and Stripes were first raised at Place de Arms in New Orleans in 1803.
These first settlements began 25 miles above New Orleans and extended 40 miles up the river on the west bank. The first furthest upriver was Hoffen. There were two settlers over the current St. Charles Parish Line in St.John Parish. Lambert, then Frederick. Beginning at the Parish line and coming down-river were Troxler, Bock, Ziriac, Callander, Kistenmach, Wagner, Magdolff, Schants, Betz, Matern, Toups, Heidel, Ritter, Vogel, Funck, and Horn. This village ends approximately where the Waterford Nuceler Power Plant is today. This site was originally called Karlstein after the Commandant Charles Friedrich d'Arensburg who in June 1721 led a group of 250 Germans immigrating to Louisiana. The present Oxy Chem plant is where the first church was located. Then the Bourgeois and Waguesbach families before the present Union Carbide plant.
Each family claim was along the river which was used as the main source of travel. Most of the claims were were 10 arpents along the river by 40 arpents long.

Necrology

After an illness of some four hours duration, Joseph Clement Triche, aged fifty four, died at his home at Taft, La. Deceased leaves a widow, five daughters and two sons, the elder now being in France with the Colors, a host of relatives and friends to mourn his demise.
Deceased was born in St. John Parish, but at the age of fourteen came to live in this Parish with his brother-in-law the late J. B. Martin, he was then put to work as copyist in the Clerk of Court office and from that start, held the positions of Secretary of the Police Jury, Deputy Assessor, Deputy Clerk of Court and upon the demise of the late J. B. Martin, was appointed Clerk of Court by Governor Foster, subsequently being elected to said office up to 1912.
Deceased at one time was the political power of the Parish, and was accredited by some of the ablest attorneys of New Orleans, as one of the most competent Clerk of Courts of the State.
At his demise he was proprietor and Editor of the St. Charles Herald.
To the sorrowing family and relatives we extend our deepest wishest(sic) of sympathy and from a personal acquaintance of some 25 years can truthfully say that his many kind deeds, ever jovial disposition, open heartedness(sic) and charitableness greatly overbalance whatever his shortcomings may have been.

St. Charles Herald, Vol.46, front page, column two, Aug. 30,1918

Methods Used in Genealogy Research

I didn't know how hard it would be to select a first post. I will be adding new kinds of information each day, so I hope you'll check out this blog each day to see what you may find.
What is genealogy? Is it just a hobby or is it a field of historical and scientific research? The word genealogy comes from the Latin and Greek words meaning the study of generations. The colleges that offer genealogy courses offer them through their history departments, so we begin to see genealogy as a study of past generations. There is always a prescribed way of studying a subject and we use the same method as any scientific researcher. We define the problem, decide what steps to take to find the answer (experiment), try these steps to see if they lead to the answer and if so begin again with a new problem. If we don't find the answer in this way we look for additional steps to take. The fact we are doing historical research using scientific methods doesn't mean we can't enjoy what we are doing; it just makes us realize it is an important undertaking.

But what about the hobby part? While a few people are professional genealogists able to have a career in this field, most people view their research as a hobby. Like any other hobby, if you want to be successful, you must spend a lot of time and some money. Many people expect to have their family traced in a few months and are surprised to find it takes many years. Just as it takes years to practice to learn a sport or musical instrument, it may take years to research or trace your family. Just as you expect to buy sports equipment, musical instruments or items for your collections in other hobbies, it is necessary to purchase copies of records and documents, and spend time and money visiting courthouses, churches and other places records may be kept. Many sites on the internet are also available on the internet, some free and others require a fee.

I hope you will enjoy learning new things with me.