The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-04-20
DEATH or A VETERAN.
Capt. R. Prosper Landry, One of Aseen-
sion's Oldest Citizens, Passes Away.
Brief sketch of His Career.
On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory pnards with enlarEI, rnIand

And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The biVouac of the dead
Capt. r. Prosper Landry, one of the
1 oldest, best known and most highly
esteemed citizens of this community,
passed away at his home in st. Patrick
street at 1856 O'Clock in the forenoon
of Tuesday, the 10Th inst, aged eighty
one years, one month and fourteen
days. The end was peaceful and pain
less, for the venerable captain suffered
| from no disease: his candle of life had
| burned TO the socket and death came
| to him in its gentlest form, as he de-
served it-calmly and softly, as the
slumber after a days work honestly
done, as the setting of sun that had
been untarnished by the slightest touch
of cloud. Just and upright, warm
| hearted and sympathetic, man of
| highest integrity and exceptionally en-
gaging personality, he earned the re-
| gard and affection of his intim ates and
the respect and esteem of all who knew
| him, both in the business and social
world, and those who knew him best
loved him most.
Jean Reynaud Jacques Prosper Lam
dry was born on his fathers planta-
ton in upper Ascension March 2, 1926.
He was son of Valery Landry and
Desiree Reyn aud, both of whose fami-
lies were among the pioneer settlers
on Louisiana soil, and in their time
wealthy and influential citizens OF this
parish. Valery Landry was son of
Joseph Landry and Ann Bujol, and
Desiree Reynaud was the daughter of
Jean Reynaud and E1eonore Songy
Joseph Landry came to Louisiana in
1850 and settled on the left bank of the
Mississippi river in this parish, about
four miles above the mouth of Bayou
Lafourche, where he soon developed
one of the largest and finest planta-
tions in the state. He was appointed
governor of the province, and served
for many years as commandant of the
port of New Orleans, a position OF
great honor and Importance. His de-
scendants may be found in Georgia,
New York, Maryland, Illinois and
Kentucky, as well as in France. VAL
cry Landry, his son, was a large land
owner and distinguished citizen of As
cension parish in ante bellum days,
and took an active part in public af-
fairs during his long and honorable
career.
Capt. Prosper Landry was educated
at Georgetown College, in the District
of Columbia, from which institution he
gradu ated in 1916, afterwards spending
two years in travelling through Europe.
Returning to Louisiana, he read law
in the Office of Charles Andrew John
son, at New Orleans, for a period of
several years, and subsequently ma
circulated as student in the law de-
partment of the University of Louisi.
ana, now Tulane University, grad
uating with the class of 1854.
In 1855 Capt. Landry was married to
Miss Adele Pedesolaux, of this parish,
and in 1861, when war was declared
between tie north and south, he bade
farewell to his young wife and two
small children and enlisted as a pri-
vate in the tCanoniers de Donaldson
which command served continuously
throughout the bitter struggle and won
immortal fame and glory under the IL
tie of "Donaldsonville Artillery. ("
Before the battery took its departure
for the seat of war in Virginia, Capt. |
Landry was elected second lieutenant, |
being successfully pro-
NOTED until in February, 1864, he was
elev ated to the rank of captain. He |
in the battles of York |
town, Williamsburg, Gaines Mill, |
Frazier Farm, the second engagement |
at Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Freder- |
icks burg, Sharpsburg (Antietaml, |
Gettysburg, Williamsport |
and Petersburg, and was among the |
battered and weakened, but always gal
liant and fearless host that said fare |
well at Appomatox to its great and |
glorious leader, Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Upon returning to Ascension, Capt. |
Landry resumed the life of planter /
on Souvenir plantation, inherited by |
his father from his grandfather's es-
tate, but the place soon passed into /
other hands, and after living while /
on the Pedeselaux place, below DON |
the captain located in this /
Town and entered practice as a lawyer |
and notary public in connection with /
his relative, the late Frederick Duffel. /
He served a short time as parish Judge |
IN the early seventies, having been ap-
pointed by Gov. w armoth to FIJI an /
unexpired term, and during the admin /
istr alton of Gov. Nichols he was tax /
collector of Ascension parish. In 1879 |
be was elected parish treasurer and |
sx-officio clerk of the police jury, a /
position he continued to hold with con-
spicuous ability and credit up TO the I
time of his death. He always evinced |
an active interest in public fairs and |
was prominent in the councils of the /
Democratic party. He was for a time |
chairman of the Democr attic parish ex-
ecutive committee and presided over /
and addressed many political meet
ings, speaking in French or English |
with equal fiuency. He was member /
of Ascension Council No. 1887, knights /
of Columbus, and of the governing I
board of the Donaldsonville Social |
Club. The rooms of the latter organ
lzation and the main entrance of the /
courthouse we're draped in mourning
IN honor of his memory.
The funeral took place at $50 o'clock /
Wednesday forenoon and was one of |
the largest ever seen in this commu- I
nifty. Impressive services were held |
at the Church of the Sacred Heart, /
with Rev. J. Nj. T. Massardier offici- /
ating, assisted by Revs. Z. G.. Baudin |
and L. G. Mailluchet, the latter pastor |
of the ST. Francis of Assissinm Cath |
olic church at Smoke Bend. Rev. Mas |
sardier delivered an eloquent eulogy |
over the remains of the deceased pa
briarch, paying fitting tribute TO his |
manifold virtues and numerous Iowa
BILE traits of character. Music appro-
pirate to the solemn occasion was rem
dered by the choir of Assumption |
Council, Knights OF Columbus. At the |
conclusion of the services, the cortege |
wendell its way to the Catholic ceme-