The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-09-11
JAMES P. KocK.
Lamented Planter Conspicuous in De-
veIopment of Sugar Industry.

velopment of Sugar Industry.
The following merited tribute to
the late James 2. kock is quoted from
the last issue of the Louisiana Plant
er:
ut comes as a shock to the sugar
planters of Louisiana to learn as they
have of the death of James P. Kock,
the we'll and widely known owner of
the Belle Alliance plantation on Ba-
you Lafourche in Assumption parish,
few miles below Donaldsonville.
Mr.. Kock died on Wednesday, Sept.
/, 1915, at the age of 81 years.
With him there passes the last of that
trio of Ascension sugar planters who
came on the scene as young meLoSa-
rectly after the civil war and u ID
we're conspicuous in the development
of the new sugar industry of Louisi-
ana, aiding in every possible way in
bringing it up to its present high
standard. Those men we would name
as Mr.. James P. Kock, Hon. Henry
Mccall and Col. Richard Mccall
While Mr.. Rocks property lay with
in the parish OF Assumption, just
across the line from the parish OF As
| cension, he was largely identified with
Ascension men in the work they were
doing and with which work they plac-
ed the parish of Ascension in the lead
as then the most progressive sugar
parish in the state.
ssWe have had the pleasure Of
knowing Mr.. Kock throughout his en-
tire career as a sugar planter of more
! than forty years. As a very young
man he joined with his brother Ed
louard in. the developrn Of the Belle
lance nlarta sd and with great
ability, with sturdy persistence and
indonaitable energy he pushed his
work along In such way that his
methods of cane culture and Of sugar
manufacture were carefully studied
and initiated by the other planters of
/ the state, of whom the writer was one.
Some Of Mr.. Rocks experiments
lin the development of the sugar in
! dustry were not realized as final sue
i cesses for causes that lay beyond his
control. The notable Drost and
/ Shuttle method of manufacturing
i white sugar was introduced into Lou
isiana by Mr.. Kock on his Belle AL
lance plantation and by Hon. Henry
i Mccall on his Evan Hall plantation.
It was found, however, that in Louis
lana work at that time, now some
thirty years ago, the process as prac-
ticed here did not result IN an in
i dustrial, economic success.
"Mr. Kock was not aggressive, in
his relations to other people, buti;ssias
one Of the most genial men ia.ssyIn-
! able with those with whom he was
intimate. His residence on Belle AL
/ lance was model plantation home,
and "reminiscences show us now Mr..
Kock presiding at his own table, sur
rounded by his charming family of
4 wife, sons and daughters. He was a
gentleman Of high culture and COM
i manded the respect Of all who knew
| him, and had large influence in his
community generally and throughout
the state in sugar circles especially.
He joined in every movement that
was organized for the improvement of
the sugar planters of his native state.
He Joined in theeorganization of the
!: Louisiana Sugar Planters Associa-
ton, IN the organization of the Lou
/ isiana Scientific Agricultural Associa-
ton, which created the Louisiana su-
; gar experiment station, now located
at Audubon Park; he Joined in the
creation of this journal and was a
: most earnest advocate all the time
: and everywhere of the interests OF
! the sugar planters Of Louisiana.
Mr.. Rocks death will be sincere,
" deplored by all Of those who knew
him. We can i'll spare such men
: They are the born leaders of any com
munity in which they live and theil
lives become the guides of others ant
without such men our industry in Lou
: isiana would never have reached tn,
2 advanced position it now occupies il
: the sugar world. We join with tn
!. thousands Of friends of Mr.. Kock il
offering our sincere sympathy to hi
bereaved family"