School Board Records 6 July 1895 and 5 Oct 1895

     6 July 1895--Board voted to repair the school at Hahnville  at a cost not to exceed $200 and authorized a fence to be built around the school at Elkinsville at a cost not to exceed $30.
     The police jury donated $500 to the school board and the school board voted to set this amount aside to be used exclusively in the purpose of building a schoolhouse in Ward 2 or 3 , if the people donate a lot for that purpose. 

     5 Oct 1895--School board members meeting were T. T. Baudouin, Charles Elfer, A. Gassen, A. E. Picard, P. M. Picard, P. M. Kenner, W. L. Youngs, and A. Kinler. J. Triche and Abe Strauss recently appointed members, presented their commissions and were recognized as members of the school board.
     Total receipts of $1413.05 for the quarter, balance is $1111.09. Total repairs at Hahnville were $180 so the board voted to have the building whitewashed.
     Report of Lewis Ory, Sheriff and tax collector that he had received a list of 2429 names of persons owing a poll tax and that he had collected $682 leaving a balance of $1747 which he was unable to collect because  the persons had no property subject to seizure .
     A communication was received from Mr. J. W. Frellsen regarding the school lands and offering to rent same for $100 per year for four years. Read into minutes.
     The board passed a resolution to examine the books of the sheriff and treasurer. Charles Elfer, assessor of the parish has failed to render to the school board a list of persons liable to pay a poll tax by the first Saturday in October as required by law under penalty of removal from office and a fine.  Mr. Elfer requests more time and was granted until Saturday, 12 of October 1895.
     Board authorizes to lease to J. W. Frellsen Sec. 16 in T.13, SR 19E and Sec. 16 in T14, SR 21E for 4 years at $100 year payable at  the beginning of each year.
     Board approves expenses of Superintendent for attending a convention at Opelousas for $24 and the Secretary for $3.70  for postage and stationery. 

Inquest Records Book #1--March 1877 to December 1886

Page 74.  Inquest was held on 23 Mar 1883 on the body of Alick Morris at Flaggville, lying here dead in the jail. The jurors' verdict is that he died of inflammation of the lungs. The jurors were Jos. Stein, George Stafford, Spencer Smith, (H)?llent  White, Max Hornbacker and Coy Clinton, JP

Page 75.  Inquest was held on the body of an unknown colored girl, lying dead. on 8 June 1883 in front of  A. Gassen, on the batture, before 2nd Ward Justice of the Peace. The jurors' verdict is that she came to her death by accidently drowning, her body found floating in the river, The jurors were Charles Gassen, Achille Gassen, Joe Alexander, John Mongrue, and C. C. A. Stephens, JP  2nd Ward.

Page 76.  Inquest was held on the body of Octavie Dennis on 23 July 1883, found floating in the river in front of Davis Plantation. The jurors' verdict was that she came to her death by being drowned. Jurors' were C.C. A. Stephens,JP, 2nd Ward, Faustin Nicholas, Louis Washington, (?)vst Labranche, Martin Antoine and Lambert Tho(?).

Page 77.  Inquest was held on the body of an unknown colored man on 22 Nov 1883. here lying dead at Ormond Plantation, before Reuben B. Smith, Justice of the Peace, 5th Ward. The jurors' verdict was that he came to his death by violent murder, by unknown parties, his left eye knocked out. Found in his pocket, one deck passage ticket of the Steamer of the Whisper, one razor, the sum of two dollars and 35 cents. The jurors were Jim Washington, Harrison Roe, Benson Styrs, Wilson Styrs, Aaron Talbot, and Ruebin B. Smith, JP.

Police Jury Minutes--Book A--July 5, 1897

5 July 1897--H. L. Youngs, President

     President called Mr. J. C. Triche to act as Sec. Pro Tem. Minutes read and approved. President declared nomination of Secretery in order.
     Mr. Picard nominated Mr. Emanuel Bestoso as Secretery; Mr. Kenner nominated Mr. T. B. Sellers as Secretery.
     Voting for Bestoso were Picard, Madere and Kuhlman and for Sellers, Kenner and Youngs. President declared Mr. Bestoso duly elected Secretary.
     Report from Parish Treasurer. Balance on hand May 6, $4989.10; vouchers paid $579.76; present balance $4409.34, Layous Gassen, Parish Treasurer.
     A petition from the taxpayers of this parish was read and received.. On motion of Mr. Picard, seconded by Mr. Kenner, the following resolution was adopted: Resolved that a road leading from the public road in the 1st Ward of this parish and back to the Freetown Station on the Texas and Pacific Railroad be opened.Resolved that said  road shall be laid out by a jury of freeholders consisting of 6 inhabitants of the Parish viz--J. R. Hymel, O. E. Picard, Ed. Roche', O. B. Danjean, Louis Labat, and F. Vial, who are hereby appointed for that purpose.
     On motion of Mr. Khlmam, the President is authorized to advertise for bids to repair the Boutte road.

School News 1897

The St. Charles School Board met on April 3,1897. Members present were A. E .Picard, T. J. Sellers, J. Baudouin, and H. L. Younger. Absent were L. A. Keller, P. M. Kenner, and A. Gassen.

Mr. Baudoin reported on the fence at Fashion and a communication was received from Hon. J. McNeese, superintendent from Calcasieu Parish.

It was reported that a building belonging to the school board is situated on the Trinity Plantation and that the plantation was advertised to be sold on April 17, 1897 at the suit of George Binder vs. Louis LeSassier et als, heirs of  H. A. LeSassier without said building being removed. The president of the school board was authorized to enter suit in the distrist court to enjoin the seizing creditor and sheriff from selling said building.

Fifty dollars was authorized to pay extra expenses for the school building at Fashion. These are a cistern for $20, galvanized guttering , $10; brick foundation for cistern, $3; whitewashing, $5; black board; painting the ceiling and the cistern, $7.

The superintendent was authorized to correspond with Mrs. J. Dejan to get prices and condition of school benches.

Inquest Records, Book 1, March 1877-December 1886

Page 67.   Inquest was held on 13 May 1883 on the Texas Pacific Railroad, in the rear of the property of late Mrs. Joseph Touzann, on an unknown black man lying dead, before Coy Clinton, Justice of the Peace, 1st Ward. Verdict of the jurors is that he came to his death by smallpox and exposure to the inclemency of the weather. Jurors were John Bush, Bill L(?), Adam Joseph, Isham Reed, Mc(?) Williams and Coy Clinton,JP.

Page 68.   Inquest was held on 22 April 1883 at the Good Hope Plantation on an unknown white woman, lying here dead, before George Scott, Jr., Justice of the Peace of the 3rd Ward. The verdict of the jurors is that this unknown white woman came to her death by drowning, but cannot say whether any guilt attaches to any person. Jurors were Peter Brown, Aron Washington, Charles Jenkins, Shrederick Jennifer, A. P. Alexander and George Scott Jr., J. P.

Page 69.   Inquest was held on 24 April 1883 at the front of the Boutte Road on the Batture, of an unknown white man, here lying dead, before the Justice of the Peace of the 2nd Ward, C. C. A. Stephens. Jurors verdict is that this unknown white man came to his death by accidental drowning and his body was found floating in the river. Jurors were Peter Myer, Joseph Alexandre, Ursin Rousseaux, Charles Gassen, Antoine Gassen, and C. C. A. Stephens, J. P.

Inquest Records Book 1, March 1877- December 1886

Page 64.  Inquest was held 7 Nov 1882 at Star Plantation, on the body of A. Williams by Coy Clinton, Justice of the Peace, 1st Ward. The jurors verdict is that he came to his death by Diarha(sic), caused by inseperance(sic). Jurors were Gus Stewart, Randall Hunt, Ginn Williams, Alex Gillerm, Rev. H. C. Johnson and Coy Clinton.

Page 65. Inquest was held on the 11 March 1883 on the body of Joseph Clendon at Ashton Plantation, before the 2nd Ward Justice of the Peace. Jurors verdict is that he was killed by two gunshot wounds inflicted in the head and in the right eye, wounds being about an inch and a half apart, one penetrating through the skull and emerging the top of the head, either one of which could be fatal. Wounds were inflicted by a 44 calabre(sic) British Bull Dog pistol in the hands of Morgan Flowers, who is now in custody of the Sheriff. Jurors were M. R. B(ene)?, Charles Gassen, Louis Thomas, John H. Bacehux, F. J. Casey,(Cele)?, A. Stephens, 2nd J.P.

Page 66.  Inquest was held on 26 Dec 1882 on the body of Paul Ben who was found dead in his bed on the Mary Plantation in the first ward. The verdict of the jurors was he died of penonumomia(sic) of the lungs. Jurors were Timothy Aikens, Eugene Mitchell, Joseph Lagnson, Felix Brown, Jos. Stein, Joseph B. Friedman, Dy. Coroner.

School News 1897

The St. Charles School Board met on 13 Feb 1897. Present were L. A. Keller, A. Gassen, Jas. Baudouin, T. J. Sellers, H. L. Youngs. Absent were A. E. Picard, T. T. Baudouin and P. M. Keller.

Mr. H. L. Youngs was elected president pro-tem. A communication from T. T. Baudouin was held over until next meeting. Reports were received from the committee on the examination of the tax collectors and the parish treasurer's books and the committee on teachers.

The president was authorized to appoint a committee for the purpose of building a schoolhouse in the 2nd Ward for white students on the land donated by Mrs. J. B. Martin. The school will be 35 feet long by 25 feet wide and 11 feet clear from the floor to ceiling. It shall be built of a good substantial lumber and shall be built on brick pillars and the total cost shall not exceed $500. Mr. J. Baudouin, Gassen and Keller were appointed to make all necessary arrangements.

Mr. A. E. Picard was appointed to look into the possibility of obtaining a deed to the Trinity School property.

Bills approved for payment were for postage and stationery, $1.50; express for school registers, 35 cents; freight on heater, 25 cents; Hansell Brothers for school registers, $17; repairs for Boutte School, $1.25; and a heater for Madisonville School, $5.10.

School Board Records--April 1896

Mrs. J. Champagne donated a tract of land to the school board to build the school at Madisonville, 2nd Ward. Thomas J. Sellers had the lowest bid to construct the school for $475 and agreed to build a fence around the lot and supply some benches.

Mr. Adam Keller donated a portion of ground on the upper line of his property in the 3rd Ward, which is as near the center of the school population as was possible to come by. The bid of P. J. Laurent of $425 was accepted to build the school, including a fence across the back and on one side where the property was not fenced. Bid of Ozeme Keller for $16.50 to whitewash the building and paint inside except the ceiling was accepted.

Ten desks were purchased from Thomas Kane and Co. of Racine, Wisconsin, at $3.30 each, delivered and a polished oak teachers desk for $12. Ten large blackboards were made for #1.50 each. Two privies cost $4 each and leveling the ground was $2.50.

The school board members for 1896-1900 were A. E. Picard, Joseph Baudouin, W. L. Youngs, L. A. Keller, Antoine Gassen, T. J. Sellers, T. B. Sellers (school superintendent), J. C. Triche, Able Strauss, P. M. Kenner and Charles Elfer.

Inquest Records Book #1, March 1877-Dec 1886

Page 45.  Inquest was held on the body of James Williams at Freetown, on 30 Dec 1880, before Coy Clinton, 1st Ward Justice of the Peace. Jurors' verdict is that on Tuesday night, 28 December 1880, the deceased came to his death being frozen to death under the influence of liquor. Jurors were Wash. Taylor, Handy Washington, C. A. Bourgeois, Robert Pierre, Alcide Diendonnie, and Coy Clinton, Acting Coroner.

Page 46.  Inquest was held on th 4th day of May 1880 to inquire by what means the corps(sic) of Richard Sloen, here lying dead in the 2nd Ward, found floating in the River by John Bentley on the evening of the 3rd, died. After hearing testimony of witnesses and being identified as Richard Sloen, aged 45 years, a blacksmith by trade, born in Nashville Tennessee, resident of this parish last past 16 years, the jurors declare the deceased suicied(sic) by drowning himself in front of J. B. Gassen's Store when suffering of a attack of Delerium Tremen(sic) and said Sloen leaving no property and not being claimed by family or friend was buried by the Coroner at the conclusion of the inquest on this 5th day of May 1880. Jurors were Bonrin Poydras, Henry Frey, William Finney, August Armand, John Bentley and J. F. Mojonnier, Coroner. Filed 7th January 1881.

School News for 1886 from School Board Minutes

       In January 1886 the board received a report that 606 children had been enrolled in 1885; there were 135 white children and 471 black children. The board agreed to open 11 schools in February for a term of six months. There were five schools for white children and six for black children. The teachers were to be paid not more than $40 a month.
      A petition signed by A. Guilaume, C.A. Bourgeois, M.L. Cox and Coy Clinton from the Baumgarten school area was presented. They said the school was in dilapidated condition and they asked the board to allow them to use the building for a Sunday school and private school at the end of the public school term in return for making all repairs needed.
      The teachers for 1886 were named at the April board meeting. They were Miss Zulema Bourgeois, Mrs. K.M. Haggerty, Miss P.A. Clanton, Miss Georgia Phillips, Mrs. M.C. Aitkens, Mrs. L.A. Evans, Miss Louiza White, Miss M.A. Thoroughgood and Mrs. M. Lawton.
      Schools mentioned at this meeting were on Longue's Plantation and on Mrs. Lawton's Property.  Visiting trustees were appointed for each ward. They were Ward 1, Joseph Stein and Charles A. Bourgeois; Ward 2, Arthur Robbins and Charles Gassen; Ward 3, P.M. Kenner and Schiller Marstires; Ward 4, R.E. Coche and William Taylor; Ward 5, James Williams and Harrison Roe.