BARBIN, Aristides, Marksville, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Randy DeCuir




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Hon. Aristides Barbin is a member of the General Assembly of the State from
Avoyelles Parish, La., but was born in the city of New Orleans, moving with
his father to Avoyelles Parish in his third year, and here he received such
education as the schools at that day afforded, his education being entirely
confined to the French language until he was sixteen years of age, when he
began learning English. His father, Louis James Barbin, moved hither in 1826,
and was parish judge from 1825 until 1831, dying in the latter year, his
appointment as judge being received from the governor. Aristides Barbin
started in life for himself as a clerk in a general mercantile store, and a
little later was deputy clerk of the court under his brother for four years.
He was then deputy sheriff until 1859, when he was elected parish recorder, a
position he held two terms (eight years), after which he was elected secretary
of the State Senate for four years Although opposed to secession, he told the
people if elected he would vote for that measure, and eventually did so. He
lost twelve slaves by the Emancipation Proclamation, and during the war served
in the Engineer's Department in Louisiana, being in the battles of Mansfield
and Pleasant Hill, and at the time of Lee's surrender was at Alexandria.
Having been admitted to the bar in 1857, he began practicing after the close
of the war, and in 1879 was elected judge of the Twelfth Judicial District of
the State, serving four years, but at the expiration of this time he began
practicing law, and continued until April, 1888, a position he still holds He
was married in 1843 to Miss Azelie Roland, who was born in Avoyelles Parish,
La., November 16, 1829, and has borne her husband the following children:
Amelia, Eliskah, Helena, Horace, Sarah, Octavia and James D. (who died at the
age of twenty-four years).1 The mother of these children passed from life on
September 10, 1883, since which time Mr. Barbin has wedded Alphina Laurent.2
He is one of the honored citizens of the parish, and has been successful in
his financial ventures, being the owner of about 1,000 acres of land. His
father, Louis James Barbin, was married to Irene Broutin, the former was born
in New Orleans, and the latter in Mobile, Ala.3 They were reared in the city
of New Orleans, and in the State of Louisiana passed from life, the father in
1831, at the age of fifty-one years, and the mother in 1862, when sixty-seven
years of age. Nicholas Barbin, the grandfather, was born in France, and was
the private secretary of Louis XIV of France, and was commissioned by the
latter to take charge of the government stores in Louisiana, the papers being
signed by Louis XIV personally. Mr. Barbin was married after coming to
America, his union being celebrated at the Balize, there being then (1734) no
city of Orleans, their being present all the elite of the government of
Louisiana, or Orleans Territory, Bienville, himself, honoring them with his
presence.