CANTONNET, Dr. Jean Valentin. Cottonport, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Randy DeCuir




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J. V. Cantonnet,13 M. D., of Cottonport, La., was born in the department of
the Lower Pyrenees, France, February 14, 1838, and in his youth and early
manhood received a thorough literary course in some of the best schools of his
native land. After passing the requisite literary examination he was admitted
to the medical schools of Paris, where he pursued his studies for five
consecutive years and was on the point of taking his final degree when the
Franco-Prussian War broke out., and his ability being well known he was
appointed resident physician of the Great Hotel Ambulance, under the famous
High Physician Nelaton. He served in this capacity with distinction, as
evinced by his papers, which are signed by High Physician Nelaton, and
also by the American consul general, John Meredith Reid. This government
appointment of Dr. J. V. Cantonnet opened to him a field of experience, in
which he spared no zeal to perfect by practiced all the theories of which he
was master, and it also placed him in direct association with men of scholarly
attainments, among whom he wielded a widespread influence. In 1872 he came to
America, and practice with success during the yellow fever scourge of New
Orleans, being the leading physician of four benevolent institutions. He
located permanently in Cottonport, Avoyelles Parish, and here soon built up a
remunerative practice, his patronage now exceeding 300 families. His first
wife was estimable of women of Spanish extraction, Miss Felipa Dominguez, by
whom he became the father of three children, whom he has taken care to give
every possible advantage of high association and good education. Their names
are Adele (wife of S. Ducote)14, Clotilde (wife of J. D. Gremillion), and
Henry. The Doctor comes of a fine old family of France, his father being an
eminent physician widely known in that country, and his grandfather, too, was
a physician of distinction. Dr. Donat Cantonnet, the only brother of our
subject, is one of the most distinguished professional men of all the splendid
city of Pau, capital of Lower Pyrenees, France. He has been recently
decorated by the queen of Spain. He is in fact, a real philanthropist, a
friend of the poor, and as brave as honest, and he, himself, is a thoroughly
familiar with the Spanish language as he is with his native tongue, and speaks
English fluently. He contributes valuable articles in both Spanish and French
to magazines and periodicals, and is well known, not only among men of his
profession in America and France, but has warm friends, who have become
eminent in letters and politics in both countries. Paul d'Abzac, the French
General Consul to the United States, is his sepecial friend, and has visited
him at his home in Cottonport. Dr. Cantonnet, upon the death of his first
wife, married Miss Zoe Crouseilles, an amiable and intelligent lady of
French birth. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.