Hon. Aristides Barbin, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller




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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 instruction being entirely 
in the French language until he was sixteen years of age, when he began learning 
English.  His father, Louis James Barbin, moved hither in l826, and was parish 
judge from l825 until 1831, dying in the latter year.  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 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, serving 
four years.  At the expiration of this time he resumed the practice
of his profession and continued until April, 1888, when he was elected a 
member of the legislature, a position he still holds.  He was married in 1843 
to Miss Azelie Raland, 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). 
The mother of these children passed from life on September 10, 1S83, since
which time Mr. Barbin has wedded Alphina Laurent.  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 Broulin.  The former was born in New Orleans, and the 
latter in Mobile, Ala.  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, aged sixty-seven.  Nicholas Barbin, the grandfather 
of our subject, was the private secretary of Louis XIV. of France, and by that 
ruler was commissioned to take charge of the government stores in Louisiana, 
and was married after coming to America at the Balize, there being then (1734) 
little of the city of Orleans, in the presence of the elite of the government 
of Louisiana, or Orleans territory, Bienville himself lending honor to the 
occasion by his presence.
 
Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 469.
Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.