Albert Esmault, Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
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Albert Esmault, a leading and enterprising citizen of Ascension parish, La., where he was born
on the 16th of September, 1852, is the son of Alfred Eamault, also a native of the Creole
state, born in 1881.  The father was married in 1850, and to this union were born six living
children, of whom our subject is the eldest.  During the Civil war the father served as a
private in the militia, and was in three battles on the La Fourche.  Although he never attended
school more than two years altogether, Albert Esmault improved that time so thoroughly that he
is perhaps as well educated as many men who have had much better advantages.  He began for
himself by hiring out to his father and S. Breand, who were in the saw-milling business, and
after two years he became sawyer, continuing at that for sixteen years.  He selected as his
companion in life Miss Harmine Vaga, a native of Louisiana, born in Assumption parish, and
their nuptials were celebrated in 1874.  Her father was a successful planter of that parish.
To this marriage were born seven children, five of whom are still living--three sons and two
daughters.  In 1878 our subject erected the Picayune mill, and in 1882 the La Fourche mill,
which he conducts in partnership with his father and brother, the capacity of the latter mill
being 16,000 feet per day.  The other mill is stronger, and they are putting in new machinery.
Mr. Esmault is a member of the Catholic church, as are all his relatives, and is one of the
upright, progressive citizens of the parish.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), p. 403.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.