The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-09-16
The Old Generation Of Ascension.


The Old Generation Of Ascension.
We have now reached the second district, and
the first place in it is Home" and well has it
been SO named, for it was during long time
the nest. as it were, from which whole genera
hons Of the Landry family took their flight.
Among the Acadians who found rest in this
country from the cruelties of the English peo-
pie was Joseph Landry, dit le Bel, who founded
Home. Under Spanish government he held the
position Of El Comandunte del Iistrite. and
was man of worth. He, his wife, his sons,
Trasimon are dead. He was succeo ded on Home
by his son Achille, and this one by his brother,
Governor, Colonel Trasimon Landry, as he was
indifferently named, who lived to a good old age
and who, while in his seventies, marched with
the armies of the Confederacy to the end of the
war. A more hospitable gentleman never lived;
and more courteous one to every body, and
moro gallant to the fair seq, it were difficult to
have found. After his death, Home was pur-
chased successfully by DR.. Wilkinson, Col. Bar
row, Capt Borland and Gen. Allen Thomas, who
AlO" AIf4Its Ot11cA otoAte.
The plantation finally fell to the ownership of
the millionaire John Burnside, who bequathed
it to its present master.
Home is sacred and holy spot to many per-
sons Of this and other parishes In its substan-
hal mansion house many were brought into this
world; many were there given in marriage, and
many were carried from it to their last resting
place. Besides those already named others
have followed their steps to the distant bourne,
Landry-there to join others again, Mrs. Pedes-
claux, Mrs. Poursine, Mrs. Dernon Leblanc.
Mrs. Judge Ed. Duffel, Mrs. Tourn;llon, Mrs
Martin, Mrs. Beaman. Trasimon was owner of
seven or eight tracts of land, all under cultiva-
ton, and vast sections Of forest lands, and now
his descendants, like King John of England.
are sans terre.
Sic transit etc. But after all what boots it
that one should own lands2 His manhood and
integrity are his own which no power can strip
him Of and when these remain. all is not gone.
The father of Joseph Landry snatched from
rivers and tides those alluvial marshes of exu-
berant fertility in Nova Scotia, which excited
the cupidity of the Lords of Trade " and when
Grand Pie, and Beun-Sejoin and Bai-Verd were
wrested from the possession of the Acadians,
Joseph Landry and neighbors sought the then
western wilds, subdued the great Mississippi
river, leveled the tangled forests of oaks and
expresses, and caused to bloom beneath the sun
richest lands Of the globe. Let the new genera
ton then, by dint of industry. perseverance and
frugality, recover their lost inheritances, or
carve unto themselves new estates which will
surpass in splendor the old possessions.
Below Home was the plantation of that good
old planter Joseph Blanchard. After his death
the property was held during many years by the
heirs and it proved to them q treasure trove,
yielding great revenues under the administra-
ton of Faustin Blanchard, son of the deceased,
and Jules Landry ard Edmond Bujol, his SON
in-law. They and their wives are dead, and the
property passed to the possession of Richard
Mccall pere.
The next place was that of J. C. Barthelmy-
Jack Cousier, as every one called him. Hospi-
table, jovial old Jack! How well he is still re-
membered. He is dead and his children are
scattered over the State. The property was ac-
quired by the same Richard Mccall and with
owned by his son Richard. Who does not re-
member Richard Mccall Senior-Dlck Mccall,
as every one loved to cali him? Many are the
stories told of his generosity and disinterested-
ness; of his bountiful munifcence, amounting
almost to extravaganza; his unbounded hospi-
tally and geniality. and the tenacity and truth
fulness with which he stood to his friends. The
world could be searched over and his like not
found again. Young Dick now holds the prop
erty and his crops show that he has inherited
the old mans science of planting. Success to
you, my young friend.
We now come to Evan Hall, which to me is
par excellence the model plantation of the State.
Henry Mccall, gentleman of the old school.
owned the Hall as far back as can be remem-
bered, for scarcely one has ever heard of Evan
Jones. his father-in-law. The sugar house. some
thirty years ago. stood in line with the present
dwelling and the hagasse was hauled back of
the ievee to the disgust of lower dwellers. After
McCalfs death the property passed to his sons
Jones and Harry. The first named Is dead, to
the sincere regret of his friends and neighboFs.
The vacuum occasioned by the departure from
among us of kind. generous man and a patri-
otic and jealous citizen is not easily or soon
filed.
The commoeiious brick warehouse, large saw
mill, lordly mansion, with its terrace and well
kept front yard. splendid two+tory store mag
mfeent sugar-house and its unsurpassed ma
Oh