Ascension County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Landry, Captain Jean Reynaud Jacques Prosper April 16, 1907
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Mary K. Creamer marykcreamer.00@gmail.com September 26, 2021, 9:16 pm

source: The Donaldsonville Chief. (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, April 20, 1907, page 3

DEATH OF A VETERAN.

Capt. R. Prosper Landry, One of Ascension's Oldest Citizens, Passes Away..

Brief Sketch of His Career.

"On Fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards, with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead."

Capt. R. Prosper Landry, one of the oldest, best known and most highly 
esteemed citizens of this community, passed away at his home in St. Patrick 
street at 10:55 o'clock in the forenoon of Tuesday, the 16th inst., aged 
eighty-one years, one month and fourteen days. The end was peaceful and 
painless, 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 deserved it - calmly and softly, as the slumber after a day's work 
honestly done, as the seeing of a sun that had been untarnished by the 
slightest touch of cloud. Just and upright, warmhearted and sympathetic, a 
man of highest integrity and exceptionally engaging personality, he earned 
the regard and affection of his intimates 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 Landry was born on his father's plantation in 
upper Ascension March 2, 1826. He was a son of Valery Landry and Desiree 
Reynaud, both of whose families were among the pioneer settlers on Louisiana 
soil, and in their time wealthy and influential citizens of this parish. 
Valery Landry was a son of Joseph Landry and Ann Bujol, and Desiree Teynaud 
was the daughter of Jean Reynaud and Eleonore Songy. Joseph Landry came to 
Louisiana in 1750 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 plantations 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 descendants may be found in Georgia, New York, Maryland, 
Illinois and Kentucky, as well as in France. Valery Landry, his son, was a 
large land owner and distinguished citizen of Ascension parish in ante 
bellum days, and took an active part in public affairs during his long and 
honorable career.

Capt. Prosper Landry was educated at Georgetown College, in the District of 
Columbia, from which institution he graduated in 1846, afterwards spending 
two years in traveling through Europe. Returning to Louisiana, he read law 
in the office of Charles Andrew Johnson, at New Orleans, for a period of 
several years, and subsequently matriculated as a student in the law 
department of the University of Louisiana, (now Tulane University), 
graduating 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 the north and south, he bade 
farewell to his young wife and two small children and enlisted as a private 
in the "Canoniers de Donaldson," which command served continuously 
throughout the bitter struggle and won immortal fame and glory under the 
title of "Donaldsonville Artillery."

Before the battery took its departure for the seat of war in Virginia, Capt. 
Landry was elected second lieutenant, afterwards being successively promoted 
until in February, 1864, he was elevated to the rank of captain. He 
participated in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Gaines' Mill, 
Frazier's Farm, the second engagement at Manassas, Harper's Ferry, 
Fredericksburg, Sharpsburg (Antietam), Chantilly, Gettysburg, Williamsport 
and Petersburg, and was among the tattered and weakened, but always gallant 
and fearless host that said farewell at Appomatox to its great and glorious 
leader, Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Upon returning to Ascension, Capt. Landry resumed the life of a planter on 
Souvenir plantation, inherited by his father from his grandfather's estate, 
but the place soon passed into other hands, and after living a while on the 
Pedesclaux place, below Donaldsonville, 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 appointed by Gov. Warmoth to fill an 
unexpired term, and during the administration of Gov. Nicholls he was tax 
collector od Ascension parish. In 1879 he was elected parish treasurer and 
ex-officio clerk of the police jury, a position he continued to hold with 
conspicuous ability and credit up to the time of his death. He always 
evinced an active interest in public affairs and was prominent in the 
councils of the Democratic party. He was for a time chairman of the 
Democratic parish executive committee and presided over and addressed many 
political meetings, speaking in French or English with equal fluency. He was 
a member of Ascension Council No. 1087, Knights of Columbus, and of the 
governing board of the Donaldsonville Social Club. The rooms of the latter 
organization and the main entrance of the courthouse were draped in mourning 
in honor of his memory.

The funeral took place at 9:30 o'clock Wednesday forenoon and was one of the 
largest ever seen in this community. Impressive services were held at the 
Church of the Sacred Heart, with Rev. J. M. T. Massardier officiating, 
assisted by Revs. L. G. Baudin and L. C. Mailluchet, the latter pastor of 
the St. Francis of Assissium Catholic church at Smoke Bend. Rev. Massardier 
delivered an eloquent eulogy over the remains of the deceased patriarch, 
paying fitting tribute to his manifold virtues and numerous lovable traits 
of character. Music appropriate to the solemn occasion was rendered by the 
choir of Assumption Council, Knights of Columbus. At the conclusion of the 
services, the cortege wended its way to the Catholic cemetery, where the 
lamented old doldier was laid to rest in the magnificent mausoleum erected 
by his distinguished grandfather, Joseph Landry, in the year 1845. The 
obsequies were attended by the Knights of Columbus, the faculties and pupils 
of the Donaldsonville High School, St. Vincent's Institute and St. joseph's 
Commercial Institute; delegations from Major Victor Maurin Camp, U. C. V., 
Captain Victor St. Martin Camp, U. S. C. V, and Hubert Treille Chapter, U. 
D. C.; the members of the policy jury and other parochial and municipal 
officers, and a large number of friends and acquaintances of the Landry and 
allied families. The pall-bearers were John F. Landry, Robert Landry, Louis 
A. Landry, Jr., Gilbert Landry, James Fortier and Valery Duffel, all related 
to the deceased.

Capt. Landry is survived by his devoted wife, one son, Waldemar Landry, a 
prominent banker of Crowley, and three daughters, Misses Adele and Jeanne 
Landry, of Donaldsonville, and Miss Laurence Landry, who is teaching school 
in Philadelphia, Pa. To these bereaved ones the heartfelt sympathy of a 
legion of friends is extended.

At the time of his death Capt. Landry was serving as a aide de camp, with 
the rank of major, on the staff of Gen. J. A. Prudhomme, commander of the 
Louisiana division of the United Confederate Veterans.

It may be said that no citizen of Ascension parish stood higher in the 
esteem of his friends and the public generally than did R. Prosper Landry, 
and his demise has caused a void that only time can fill and a wound that 
naught but a divine Providence can heal.

In Memoriam.
[Communicated.]

At the age of 82 years, in Donaldsonville, at 11 o'clock a. m. Tuesday, 
April 16, 1907, Captain R. Prosper Landry, so well known in this community, 
passed away from our midst. His death, calm and peaceful, was the just 
crowning of a long, useful and good Christian life.

At peace with God and man, with unclouded mind and unshaken heart, he gently 
breathed his last, and without a struggle or pain, fell asleep in the bosom 
of the Lord and Savoir.

He died as he had lived - a Knight of Faith, and like the famed Bayard of 
old, "sans peur et sans reproche;" a sentinel on guard, a soldier at the 
post of duty! Never more will he answer to the bugle's sound, but he has 
already answered to the reveille in Heaven upon the roll of the elect. We 
cannot help seeing that it was simply God calling and claiming his own, and 
the journey to the grave was but the forward march to a heavenly home.

He has left behind him a noble character, one we would recommend all to 
emulate. As to the record of his daily pursuit, his well-balanced accounts 
will bear ample testimony of his equity. Whatever he attempted, he did well 
and conscientiously.

In church, ever at the front, he knelt in simple adoration and humble 
submission.

Ever a gentleman in the true sense of the word, he was also in practice a 
true patriot and a good citizen, loyal in friendship, devoted to his wife 
and kind to his children; so that we feel compelled to exclaim, "oh Death, 
where is thy sting? Oh, Grave, where is thy victory?"

To his beloved wife and partner of sorrows and joys, and to his bereaved 
children and relatives, we tender heartfelt sympathy, and mingle our tears 
theirs. We mourn him, because we loved him.

Be this our comfort in the great and common loss; "He has fought the good 
fight of faith, for old age is the crown of dignity when found in the ways 
of justice." - A. L.



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