The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1919-11-08

Judge E. D. Estilette, for life
time prominent figure in legal, pol
itical and social affairs of st. Landry
parish died at the home of his grand
son-in-law and granddaughter, Mr..
and Mrs. Isaac Litton, in this city
yesterday friday at 1:15 p. M,
aged IS years, 10 months and 18 days
or within one month and twelve days
of his eighty-six birthday.
He was born at Lake Arthur, then
in this parish but now located in Jeff
erson Davis parish, on December 49,,
1888. He graduated at Yale College
in the class of 1857 and was, at the
time of his death, the oldest living
graduate of that noted institution.
The following summary of the life
and activities of the judge was fur
nished the Star-Progress at late
hour Friday afternoon and we gladly
publish same:
"There passed away in this city on
Friday afternoon at is p. M, Jadge
E. D. Estilette, a familiar figure and
one of the foremost citizens for the
past sixty years.
Born of poor parents,on the banks
of Lake Arthur, December 10, 1888,
the judge was within a month and
twelve days of his eighty-six year.
"He received his early education
at st. Charles College, Grand Coteau
and thereafter went to Yale College,
where he graduated in 1857. Return
ing home, he taught school during the
day and read law at night. He was
admitted to practice in 1860. He SER
we'd as district attorney, member of
the legislature and was speaker of
that body, and district judge. He re-
tired from active practice fifteen
years ago, since which time he look
ed after his plantation and his in
terests in this city. He always took
lively interest in politics. He placed
Governor Nichols in nomination in
1884. In 1912 he .canvassed the new
seventh congressional district for
John w. Lewis for congress. In
1916 he made number of speeches
for Jno. Parker for governor being
called to. New Orleans for that pur-
pose. He attended the Parker meeting
on September 10 of the present year,
and since that date he has kept in
touch with the situation. He read the
papers twice daily, up to the 1st
When he felt he was going to
lie, he requested among other things
hat Mr.. Parker be advised by tele-
graph of his death.
"Here was a poor boy who fought
MS way from humble surroundings
20 the higher walks of life. Fought
he fight when the poor man had to
face the aristocracy of wealth and
privilege. His yearning for an educa-
ion had been the inspiration of his
Early life. His parents being too poor
he solicited the assistance of his god |
father then one of the wealthiest
men of this parish, the late lamented
William Wikoff. He not only assisted
lin, but provided for his assistance
n his last will. With this amount he
vent through college and was at the
ime of his death the oldest living
graduate of his Alma Mater.
In 1857 he married Miss Rannie
Thompson Bacon of New Haven, CT.
Three children were born of this uni
N: E. D. Estilette, Jr., the class boy
# the Class of 1857; Julia, the wife
# G. L. Dupre of this city, and Mat
lie, who died in infancy.
Judge .Estilette never grew old.
lie was always ready to go with the
'oys and have a good time. He al
Ways attended the Dutch lunches of
he Elks, of which he was an honor
ID member, and was the life of the
'arty. On the Fourth of July alag
)ay) of the present year, the orator
# the day having failed to appear, he [