St. Charles Parish in 1883

St. Charles Herald--21 Jul 1883

Continuing with Bayou Des Allemands Items

     "Both saw mills are hard at work, thus giving our laboring classes employment. A few more such enterprises would be a great benefit to our community.
     The weather at present is very pleasant. Our moss pickers take advantage of same for picking and drying moss. I think a good steam moss ginnery at this point would pay. Moss is very plentiful in these parts.
     Charles A. Baquire and Joseph W. Careu, attorneys at law of this parish honored us with a visit last Thursday.
     At. present we are quiet and peaceable citizens. No fights, no drunks, everybody is happy and the goose hangs high.
     Mr. Hopkins, in connection with his store, has a fine billiard table. The 'boys' are practicing. Lookout for the championship of St. Charles. Send your best players up. 'For information--call me, Mr. Martin, the clerk at the store.' You will find him a little bashful at first, but this wears off further on. If you want to make him blush, ask him when he's going to get married.

     Mr. George Delhommer sends us a large blue ribbon specimen of rice raised by himself.

     The large bay horse belonging to Celestin Hunley, the butcher, died on his way back from Boutte Station last Thursday morning.

     Our district court will commence a civil term on next Monday. There are but a few cases on the docket, the weather is hot, lawyers are lazy and the term continues but a few days. 

Our Neighbors in St. John in 1860, continued by J. W. Dorr

     There are a large number of fine estates in St. John---as the "Belle Point" place of A . Deslonde, "Mount Airy", owned by Joseph Lebourgeois, "Esperance" place, by Dr. Loughborough, and others not inferior, if not dignified with names. Among the heavy planters of the parish are the following, and most of them are heavy; Thomas May, Jr., Octave Hymel, Francis Webber & Co., V. B. Marmillion, L. Becknel, Col. Whitehead, Dr. A. G. Wiendahle, A. LaBranche, A. Deslonde, Samuel Hollingsworth & Co., J. Picou & Co., L. Montegut, Louque Delhommer, Similien LaBranche, E. Daunnois, F. Vicknair & Bros., E. B. Marmillion, David Adams, Dr. Loughborough, Welham & Godberry, Joseph Lebourgeois and M. Perilloux. The planters, constituting the staple population of the parish, are, almost to a man, of the old Creole gentleman type---hospitable, chivalrous and high-spirited. The Anglo-Americans are few.

Incorporate the Lyceum of the Parish of St. Charles

The winter 1987 issue of "Terrebonne Life Lines" has an article by Cathy Shannon and Barbara Heck.

Act #37. Incorporate the Lyceum of Parish of St. Charles. Charles Perret, Drausin Perret, Charles Perret, the son, A. Labranche, Zenon Ranson, Norbert Ranson, Edmond Fortier, Renne, the son, Charles Doussan, H. Labranche, N. Chauvin Delery, Octave Delhomme, Darensbourg De Neufbourg, Jr., Bte. Labranche, J. B. Humphery, F. B. Trepagnier, Dr. Labranche, Chev. Delhommer, Dreudonne Fortineau, Francois Oliver, Focelle, J. E. Arnold, P. B. St. Martin, Zenon Darensbourg, Ambroise Brou, Baltazar Dusuan, and F. Gaudet, inhabitants of St. Charles incorporate a body politic known as " Regents of the Lyceum of the Parish of St. Charles." 6 Mar 1828 Second Session, Eighth Legislature, 1828, page 58.

St. Charles Parish Officials---January 1883

St. Charles Herald Newspaper---Jan. 5, 1883

Sheriff, B. S. Labranche; Deputy Sheriff, Joseph L. Martin; Clerk of Court, John B. Martin; Assessor, Theodule T. Baudouin; Treasurer, Arthur Robbins.                  

Police Jury, J. L. Boutte, Arthur Brou, Leon Sarpy, E. Rost, J. S. Brady, and Lewis Ory, Secretary;

School Board, Emile Rost, Leon Sarpy, J. S. Brady, H. L. Youngs, Owen McLaren, J. L. Boutte, and T. T. Baudouin, Superintendent and Arthur Robbins, Treasurer.

Syndics were  Ward 1, L. DeBroussard; Ward 2, John Mongrue; Ward 3, George Delhommer; Ward 4, James Taylor; and Ward 5, Emile Soniat.

Justice of the Peace, Ward 1, Coy Clinton; Ward 2, C. C. A. Stephens; Ward 3, George Scott; Ward 4, Joseph B. Friedman; Ward 5, Reuben B. Smith.

Constables, Ward 1, Robert Pierre; Ward 2, Louis Thomas; Ward 3, Peter Brown; Wards 4 and 5, no one in this position.

Police Jury Meeting 2 July 1883

St. Charles Herald 14 July 1883

Proceedings of the police jury meeting, Monday, July 2,1883. Present, Brou, Brady, Sarpy, Boutte and Rost.

      The committee appointed to settle with the sureties of the late B.S. Labranche, sheriff and tax collector made their report . A motion by Brady that the parish treasurer is instructed to make a settlement of the sureties of the late B.S. Labranche in accordance with the recommendations of the committee and that the bills presented by said sureties amounting to $411.35 be accepted as part of the settlement.
      On motion of Mr. Rost, the communication of J.F. Mojonnier,coroner and acting sheriff be received  and the president be authorized to draw on treasurer in favor of Dr. Mojonnier, the sum of $137.80, being the balance on hand for sheriff appropriations as per contract with the late sheriff for quarter ending June 30, 1883, after deducting the cost of provisions and envelopes furnished to his office.
      On motion it was resolved that a syndic for Ward 1 and 3 be elected.
      Motion by Mr. Rost that Messrs. Arthur Brou of Ward 1 and Leon Sarpy of Ward 3 be elected syndics and overseers of the roads and levees of their wards in place of L.D. Broussard, removed and G. Delhommer, resigned.
      On motion by Mr. Sarpy, it was resolved that 50 percent on approved bill of the late George Essex, as sheriff, for services rendered in criminal cases and keeping prisoners during the month of Nov. 1876 being for $285.33 and registered No. 5552 Dec. 1, 1876 be paid to widow of George Essex out of the contingent fund of 1883.
      On motion of Mr. Rost, it was moved that the jury now resolve itself into a Board of Reviewers according to law.
      On motion of Mr. Rost, it was moved that the assessment of Brou Bros. placed on real estate be reduced to $2,300.
      On motion of Mr. Rost, it was resolved that Monday, July 16,1883 be fixed for the examination  and hearing of the case of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Co. and that the superintendent and assessment agent of said company be notified.
      On motion of Mr. Rost, it was resolved that the assessment of the Mississippi Valley Railroad be left out for this year.
      On motion, the Board of Reviewers adjourned to July 16, 1883 to examine the balance of assessments list.