The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-26
Death of Col. Felix Labauve.

nanQO, MISS, Cueu olule IL, 1919, Ill
the 10th year of his age. Colonel
Labauve passed from boyhood tc
manhood as resident of Camden.
and is remembered by all of our old
citizens. We are indebted to Colo,
mel John Rosser, friend of the de
ceased from boyhood, for copies Of
Memphis papers containing the an,
nomcement of his death. We print
below a sketch of his life, taken
from the Memphis Appeal, which we
have reason to believe is from the
gifted pen of Col. Rosser. 1t may
not be inappropriate to state here
that Colonel Labauve was a regular
subscriber to the CAMDEN JOURNAL
from his departure from Camden to
the time of his death:
Felix Lhbauve. son of Captain Felix La.
bauvc and Antoinnette. his wife, was born
at Veuziers, France, in the department OIL
Ardennes, on November 16, 1906. The
father was gallant officer in the army Of
the great Napoleon, and the most cherish
ed heir-looms inherited by the son was g
certificate date l779, signed IN Bona
pnrte, Consul" reciting that the Grand
Cross of the Legion of Honor had been
conferred upon Captain Felix Labauve fol-
The heroic gallantry displayed by him in
holding for many days, with single com
pany Of infantry, narrow pass in the
Alps against an entire division of the enc.
my under the renowned Suwarow, and @
commission TO civil Office many years
later, signed ''Napoleon, Empereur." The
young Felix, left an orphan at the early
age OF seven years, was brought to Amer.
ica, and placed in charge Of two maternal
uncles, who had preceded him. and had
already become successful merchants in
Camden, South Carolina Here he grew
to manhood, and continued to reside unit
about 1884, when he was induced by the
distinguished South CIroiina lawyer
Chapman Levy, to remove with him anG
settle in Noxubee county. Miss. He re
naineI in Noxubec hut Il short time. an(
in 1896 emf grated to Desc . county. whcr,
he ever afterwards continuously y resided
until his death. In the loug period Of for
ty.thr ee years which intcr'cncd, the histo
~ Of Felix Lnbauve wa. the history o
DeSOto county. When he Saiticd here tht
Indians held almost und slurhcd pOss -
sion. and less than a dozen white men
scattered Mt wide intcrYa's among them
gave but little token Of III" advancing tide
OF civilization, which was 20 soon 10 SWEEP
the red men away. COlon'l Labauve par
ticipated in the orgauizaticn Of the county
and the writer Of this sketch has offer
heard him narrate the scene when the com
missioners, appointed Tor the purpose by
the Legislature, me; in an I'D Indian field
W! ere now stands the town Of fernando
and. seated on fallen tree, proceedct
to bring the new county into being From
the hour of its birth 10 the day Of Is dcatl
DrSoto county never had truer or more
devoted son. Without family or kindred
he gave to her the love which other mer
give to wife and children, and his passion
ate devotion tc all that touched her honor
anil prosperity was like the love Of the an
cent for the imperial city. sPublic affairs
or rather county affairs, in addition to th'
charm which they had for other men o.
ambition Ind public spirit, possessed fol
him an interest rs strong rs that which thu
miser enter.ains for his gold or father fol
his son. His quick temper, his turbulen
disposition, his vehement and passionate
manners in early life, gained for him many
enemies and detracted greatly from hi:
usefulness. but underneath them all tht
body of his fellow-citizens recognized hi:
sterling integrity, his scrupulous honesty
his unfaltering fidelity 10 every trust, anc
they repeatedly honored him with pubic
office. He was often n member of tht
State Legislature in both its branches, ant
was q most active and intelligent represen
tative. More than fifty years after he wa'
brought TO America. he revisited for tht
irst time his native land. only to find him
selt forgotten Stranger None who bore
his name or blood could lie found and i
was with some difficulty that he discovered
the graves Of his parents, over which hi
caused handsome monument to be erect
ed. lie made several subsequent visits t
France. and served rs commissioner t
he Paris Exposition in 1878. But though
he was proud of his nativity and his French
lineage. the land of his adoption was th'
land of his love, and here his hearts bes
affections centered. One one of his visit
TO France he found distant relation of tn
half-blood, and to his daugier, now younI
girl of seventeen. he bequeathed by hi
will the sum of twenty five thousand francs
The remainder of his property. with tn,
exception Of small legacics 10 some oil
friends, is left in trust t, his life-lon
friend, Col. Thomas W. White, for The pur
pose of educating at the State University
Mt Oxford such orphan boys of DeSol
county as Col. White during his life, an
after mis- death. the Chancellor of the Uni
versity, may select.