Chavez, Francis O. (Prof.);  Avoyelles Parish;  now St. Martin Parish,
Louisiana  Submitted by Mike Miller




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Chavez, Prof. Francis O., parish superintindent of public instruction, St.
Martinville, St. Martin parish, La., was born in Avoyelles parish, La.,
March 4, 1888.  His father, Estevan Chavez, born at Havana, Cuba, of Spanish
ancestry, came to Louisiana as a young man, and for many years was engaged 
in mercantile business at Marksville.  His death occurred in the city of New
Orleans.  The mother, Angela (Chaze) Chavez, was born at Marksville, La., 
and survives at this time.  The maternal grandfather, Emile Chaze, was a 
native of Paris, France.  He came to Louisiana when a young man and located
at Marksville, Avoyelles parish, where he was actively engaged in mercantile
business until the time of his death, in 1813, at the advanced age of 90
years.  Francis O. Chavez, the subject of this sketch, in the course of his
education, attended the public schools of Marksville, New Orleans, and 
Tampa, Fla.  In 1904 he entered the Louisiana State normal school at 
Natchitoches, graduating in 1906, and in the same year began teaching a 
district school in Terrebonne parish, where he remained 2 years, following 
which he became principal of Ponchatoula school.  Beginning in the autumn 
of 1908, he was principal of a graded school at Hugo, Colo., after which he
taught 2 years in St. John the Baptist parish. In the autumn of 1911 he 
became principal of the high school at Roseland, La., but in Feb., 1912, 
was tendered the principalship of St. Martinville high school, and 
preferring the latter place, he immediately accepted it and at once entered 
upon the duties of the position, which he continued occupying until July, 
1913, when, having in the previous month been elected superintendent of 
St. Marfin parish schools for a term of 4 years, he assumed the duties of
that office.  In March of the year 1911 Prof. Chavez was married to Miss 
Katherine Chauvin, of Terrebonne parish, La., and 2 children have been born 
to their union, these being Francis O., Jr., and Marjorie.  Prof. Chavez 
votes the Democratic ticket and is a member of the Roman Catholic church 
and of the Louisiana State Teachers' association. His position as 
superintendent of schools of St. Martin parish is one of large
responsibilities, and the successful administration of its duties 
necessarily requires the services of a man of superior abilities and 
extensive educational equipment, and the fact of being selected to fill 
such an office, and among people who are thoroughly acquainted with his 
character and attainments, is manifestly a flattering compliment to the 
man so selected.  Prof. Chavez has the practical supervision of 28 schools, 
2 of these being large high schools. 

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp.
100-101.  Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century
Historical Association.