The Opelousas courier., 1897-11-13
81. H. Deshotels.

This estimabe gentlemen departed
this life on the night of Saturday, Nov
9th, A. D. 1897 The event was quit,
unexpected to very many, even Of thos,
who knew he was sick. About twelv,
days before his death, he was in hi
office attending to the business of it
and although complaining of feeling
little unwell, gave no reason to believe
| he was seriously i'll.
He went home and took to his bed
We heard from him at short intervals
and at the last. heard he was very sick
His son and his faithful deputies visit
ed him every day, aud on Friday last
| reported that he had rested we'll the
night before, and was more com
Portable. Said that when tiGY left him
in the evening the fever had Nisen on
him again, but was not alarming. Dur
ing the night rumors reached htre that
he was very i'll and in Il perloAjs coDdi-
ton. Hope suggested that they 7were ex
agerated and that he was not $50 low as
he was reported To be. -
Night sleneed all further rumors,
but on Sunday morning, the sad news
came that our good Sheriff had passed
away during the night. bhe hearts of
many admiring friends We're shocked
and panied by the encouragement. He
had scores OF warm friends, and by his
nffable n,aEne's they were increasing
He had commenced business life when
youth. Having but il limited school
ing. he hravely seized his plow handles
aud industii"Hsly followed his team "a
field through several years fell in
no habits of vice and prudently laid his
hard earnings by ; married him good
and congenial wife, Miss Zeima Spey-
in la .,f
reared Ii family of nine fine children.
He ;t,passed enough of property to be
able to live without constant manual
labor; put up store with Il capital
suited to the business within. reach, and
10y personal attention and good man
agemenf, made 1t source of some
profit to him. His entire life had been
such as to win The admiration and
friendship of his nelghbOrs, and when
the war of the factions began Just prior
to the last general election, his person
al worth and popularity had become so
generally recognized, that he was chos-
en- as il most suitable candidate for the
office of Sheriff. He accepted the ten
der of the nomination, not from any am
bltion to embark in politics, but more
to crafty his numerous friends. AS a
candidate he stopped to no trickery, but
made an open, fair contest. He was
elected, and after some delays, en-
tered upon the duties of his office
himself by efficient depu-
ties, and made the office abOut all that
it is capable of. There was no air of
triumph. no clustering demonstration
OF official Importance exhibited by him,
but his entire course was such that, had
he lived, he would have done very much
to silence the cIamOrs of factions in ST
aud to unity the voters in har
moDIons corporation. There was not
a semblance of malice or bitterness in
him.
He was the "friend OF man--the friend of
truth.
The friend of age and the guide of youth"
In his death the parish has sustained
l serious loss. We need such citizens, |
and it is very unfortunate for us that |
We have comparatively so few like |
llm. His family may well be proud of |
his life and character. The people |
with them in their bereavc- |
nent.
He was member in good standing of |
he Roman Catholic Church, and in his
ast hours was attended by his religious
:OnfessOr, who administered. to him all |
he consultations and the last rites
Ieemed sacred.
His remains were borne to the Ro-
nan Catholic Cemetary at Vile Plate,
N Monday morning last, attended by a
arge cOhcourse OF sorrowing friends
nd acqualntances, and were there in
erred, to await the call of His Creator
o higher and better state of exist
nee.