The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-07-05
General Alexandra DeClouet.
(Picayuncl

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descendant Of one of the oldest and bes
families OF Louisiana. His great grand
. father. Alexandra Francois Joseph De
ClOuet de Pettrc, was horn at the cha.
teau de Cambresis, near Bordeaux, France
about the middle OF the eighteenth cen.
tury, and emigrated to Louisiana. where
:. ne married Louise DO Favrot, In 177t.
He was then lieutenant in the kings
navy, and subsequently acted for several
years rs commandant of the post Of the
Attakapas. His s0n. Joseph Alexandra
l'eClouet. took a prominent Part il the
AFFAIRS OF the colony, and served under
General jackson at the battle OF New Or.
leans, as colonel Of regiment of tho
Loui7iaha militia. Ee left an only SON.
Etiennc Chevalier DeCiouet. the father
OF the subject Of this sketch. who mar
fled Aspasie FIselier, the daughter o!
Agricole Fuselier, also at Cne time com.
mandant Of the post Of the Attakapas.
General DeClOuet was born June ? 1872,
several months after the death OF his
father, IN the parish Of st. Martin, ard
his mother died when he was 9 months
Old. The orphan boy was adopted by his
aunt. Mrs. Benoit de st. Clair, whose
daughter he subsequently married. He
was raised In the parish Of st. Martin
and educated at Georgetown College, dis.
trict OF Columbia, and also at Bardstown.
Ky. At the latter place he had for class.
mates Speed, afterwards attorney general
OF the United States during Johnson's
administration. and Judge Nelson Prime
OF Missouri, and graduated with honors
in 1929, receiving his diploma from the
hands Of Henry Clay. who presided over
the exercises Of commencement day.
After leaving school General DeClouet
vent to Europe on an extended tour, Wis.
iting relatives and completing his edu-
cation. and on his return studied law in
the office OF Judge 4. Simon. AgricuI-
tural pursuits. however, were more agree.
able to his taste. He abandoned the stu;
dy OF Law and became planter. He was
quite successful and accumulated large
fortune.
A whig by choice, he became one Of the
bOldest and most effective champions Of
that party in the state. His first appear.
ance In public life was In 1887, when he
was elected to the legislature and served
in the house and senate several terms.
During the exciting period Of IS49,
when the Democratic and whig partie.
were contending for supremacy In the
state. he had the honor of being the
standard-bearer of the whig party in the
gubernatorial campaign of that year.
General DeClouet was than in his primo
and one Of the most popular speakers in -.
that campaign, which eliminated In q
triumph for the Democratic party and
The election Of General Joseph Walker Of
Rapides as governor Of the state.
A new party, the know-nothing sprang
into existence from the ruins of the
Whig party, but General DeClouet did
not hesitate to join the Democratic party,
In 1882 he was elected one Of the SEN
,t0rial delegate to the convention which
framed the constitution of that year. Id
1881 he was chosen member to the SO.
,essiOn convention and took prominent
part In Its debates. He was selected to
epresent the state at large in the confe.
lerate congress and was one Of the sign.
RS of the constitution Of the confederate
tates. Afterwards he went into the
'rmy and was finally made colonel of
he Twenty sixth Louisiana Regiment.
After having served year in that capa.
'ity at the fall OF the city Of New Or
cans and during the first siege Of vick-
burg lie resigned his commission, as the
atigues of an active camp life were toe
evere tax on his falling health.
At the close OF the war, General De-
'lOuet returned to his plantation, near
IT, Martinviiie, aud devoted all bis ti,ee
lud energy TO build up lis former wealth.
foremost among those to whom TIC Te-
IemptiOn VI the state is due was General
)eClOuet. After the installation Of Gen.
raj Nichols as governor Of the state in
S77, Withdrew from the excitomeu. Of
public life and sought the quiet Of his
lome, living in retirement On his farm
n st. Martins parish.
General DeClouet was I.ic,,-;orcd
big-hearted, VIE, and exceed
ngly popular VIII. TIC .ccp'e. Cohrta-
US anl aff.blp. 2 ach0ier oHl ~traon',
~ was one III TIE most .ccor.I '',r.y I'D
crcib.e speaker oi ". Hay