Prof. William P. Blanchard, Assumption Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Prof. William P. Blanchard. Well known in educational circles of Assumption Parish is Prof. William P. Blanchard, principal of the Napoleonville High School. With the exception of the time which he spent in army camps during the World war, Mr. Blanchard has been engaged in his present calling from the time he left collegiate halls, and the honors that have come to him are the legitimate results of merit and industry. Mr. Blanchard was born at Napoleonville, Assumption Parish, Louisiana, April 19, 1892, and is a son of Camille and Clara (Boudreaux), Blanchard, and a member of a family which had its origin in France, but which for many years has been located in Louisiana. His grandfather, John Baptiste Blanchard, was born in Assumption Parish, where he passed his entire life, following the vocation of planter. He married Virginia Delaune, who likewise was a native of the same parish and passed her life there. Camille Blanchard was born in October 1853, on his father's plantation, and has passed his entire life in the same locality, being now a resident of Tallieu. He has had a very successful business career and is part owner of the Georgia and Melrose plantations, which are very valuable properties. In local political matters Mr. Blanchard is a democrat, but in national affairs votes the republican ticket, but he is not a politician and has not aspired public office. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Blanchard married Miss Clara Boudreaux, who was born in 1861 near Napoleonville, and died April 3, 1916, in Assumption parish. They became parents of the following children: Henry, who died in 1899, at Napoleonville, aged twenty-one years; Alphonse E., bookkeeper for the Blanchard Planting Company, Ltd., at Tallieu, Louisiana; Corinne B., the wife of Eugene Dolese, a merchant of Labadieville, Louisiana; Bonnie O., chemist for the Blanchard Planting Company, Ltd., at Tallieu; Lucy, who resides with her father; William P., of this review; Eddie A., who assists in managing the Blanchard Planting Company, Ltd., received war training at Camp Pike, Arkansas, as a member of the Fourth Officers' Training Camp, was transferred to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, and commissioned a second Lieutenant of Machine Gun Corps, being in the service from May 13, 1918, to December, 1919; and Paul C., a school teacher, residing at Tallieu. William P. Blanchard received his early education in private and public schools at Napoleonville and Labadieville, and then entered the Louisiana State University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1914, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then accepted the position of assistant principal of the Labadieville High School, a position which he held from 1914 until 1917, on September 4 of the latter year enlisting in the United States Army for service during the World war. He was sent to Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he was in training until May 15, 1918, when he was transferred to Camp Lee, and June 1 was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry. He remained at Camp Lee until June 17, 1918, when he was transferred to Camp Meade, Maryland, and November 8, 1918, was commissioned a first lieutenant. It seemed certain that his contingent would be sent overseas, but the signing of the armistice came before they were ordered to embark, and Mr. Blanchard received his honorable discharge November 30, 1918. Returning to his home locality, he resumed his position as assistant principal of the Labadieville High School February 22, 1919, and in June, 1919, was appointed principal of this school. 0n October 6, 1923, he was made principal of the high school at Napoleonville, and has continued in this capacity since, having under his supervision seventeen teachers and 490 scholars. He is a member of the Louisiana State Teachers' Association and ranks high among the public school educators of the state. Professor Blanchard is a democrat in his political views, and is fraternally affiliated with Assumption Council No. 1099. K. of C., of Napoleonville. His religious connection is with St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church. With his wife and child he resides in a very fine residence situated on Franklin Street. On August 7, 1919, at Napoleonville, Professor Blanchard was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Bergeron, daughter of William N. and Corinne (Boudreaux) Bergeron, residents of near Napoleonville. Mr. Bergeron is an extensive planter, and a review of his career is found elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Blanchard is a graduate of the Louisiana State Normal College, at Natchitoches, and for three years prior to her marriage taught school at Plattenville, Louisiana. She and her husband have one son: William P., Jr.. who was born at Labadieville, November 2, 1922. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 344-345, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.