LEBLANC, (Hon.) Samuel A., Assumption Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** LeBlanc, Hon. Samuel A., successful attorney and member of Louisiana state legislature, was born at Paincourtville, Assumption parish, La., Aug. 29, 1886, son of Col. Joseph E. and Camille (Dugas) LeBlanc, both of whom were born in Assumption parish, La., the former in the year 1842. At the beginning of the Civil war Joseph E. LeBlanc, the father, enlisted in the Confederate army as a member of Co. H, 28th La. regiment, and participated in a number of the most stubbornly-contested engagements of the war, among these experiences being the siege of Vicksburg. He enlisted as a private in this company, but during the term of his service, extending until the end of the war, he was promoted for gallant conduct in battle. Returning home, he was made deputy sheriff, and served as a member of the school board during Gov. Nicholls' administration. In 1880 he was elected clerk of the district court for a term of 4 years. In 1884 he engaged in mercantile business, handling general merchandise and agricultural implements. In 1888 Col. LeBlanc was elected to the Louisiana state legislature, to represent Assumption parish, and during the succeeding sessions of the legislature served as chairman of the committee on enrollment. In 1892 he was renominated, but withdrew from the contest. In 1894 he was elected to the Louisiana state senate, succeeding the late Sen. J. S. Perkins. In 1900 he was re-elected to the state legislature, and served until the time of his death, Nov. 21, 1902. In early life Col. LeBlanc followed the vocation of sugar planter. His wife, Camille Dugas, who now survives her husband, is a daughter of E. F. X. Dugas, who also took an active part in upholding the cause of the Confederacy during the Civil war. After the war he lived a very active life, in both business and politics. He was president, respectively, of the Bank of Napoleonville and of the Pioneer Printing Co., and was senior member of the firm of Dugas & LeBlanc, dealers in general merchandise and agricultural implements. He also served as a member of the Louisiana house of representatives and later as a member of the state senate. His life was filled with useful endeavor, and he accomplished gratifying results in the advancement and upbuilding of that portion of Louisiana in which his life work was cast. Mrs. LeBlanc's father died in the year 1902. The paternal grandfather, Germain LeBlanc, also was born in Assumption parish, La., where he followed the lifetime occupation of a planter. Samuel A. LeBlanc was the tenth of 11 children born to his parents, this interesting family being, in order of the births of children, as follows: Marie, now Mrs. Joseph U. Folse, of Paincourtville; Robert E., field engineer for the firm of Dugas & LeBlanc; Lucille, now Mrs. J. J. Rodrigue of Paincourtville; Dr. Henry A., a practicing physician of Paincourtville; Philip J., paying teller in the U. S. custom house at New Orleans; Joseph, died while in attendance at Spring Hill college, Mobile, Ala.; Rosa, now Mrs. Alfred Landry, of Klotzville, La.; Theresa, widow of Jos. H. Verret, who occupied the office of deputy sheriff of Assumption parish at the time of his death; Leonce L., cashier of the Bank of Paincourtville; Samuel A., the subject of this sketch; Dr. Jules, now a practicing physician of Paincourtville. Samuel A. LeBlanc attended a private school in the locality in which he was born until attaining his eleventh year, when he entered Jefferson college, at Convent, La., and in due time graduated from that institution with the class of 1904. During the first year following his graduation he taught in Jefferson college, and during the next term at the Napoleonville school. During this time, as opportunity afforded, he also was reading law in the office of Marks & Wortham, at Napoleonville. Later he entered the law school of Tulane university, from which he graduated with his legal degree in the class of 1908. Shortly following his graduation he formed a professional partnership at Napoleonville and there began the practice of law under the firm name of Marks & LeBlanc. He was appointed by Gov. Sanders as a member of the state board of public instruction, to fill an unexpired term, and so served. In 1912 he was elected a member of the Louisiana house of representatives, and served his constituency with marked ability during the succeeding session of the legislature. Representative LeBlanc is a member of the Catholic church and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, being at this time deputy grand knight of Assumption Council No. 1099. He also is a member of Plattenville Camp, Woodmen of the World. Aug. 7, 1912, Samuel A. LeBlanc was married to Miss Elmire Lafaye, a daughter of J. Henry and Cecilia (Russeau) Lafaye, of New Orleans. Mrs. LeBlanc's father was long prominently identified with commission merchant interests of the Southern metropolis. He died in the month of Dec., 1911. Representative and Mrs. LeBlanc have one son, Samuel A., Jr. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 777-779. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.