Bio: Edwin La Fayette De Graffenreid, Bienville Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ EDWIN LA FAYETTE DE GRAFFENREID Pharmacist Arcadia, La Mr. De Graffenreid is one of the rising young men of Arcadia, and has passed seven years of his life as student and pharmacist in that town. He owes his nativity to this State, his birth occurring December 28, 1868, and was the eighth of fourteen children--nine sons and five daughters--born to Doctor and Emily (Ferrand) De Graffenreid, natives of Virginia and Louisiana, respectively. The children are as follows, and are named in the order of their birth: Ella (resides in Ouachita Parish, and is the wife of N. Wood, who is an agriculturist by occupation; Mrs. Wood is a lady of fine accomplishments, and is a seminary graduate), William H. (is single and resides in Ouachita Parish. He is also well educated, being a graduate of the Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, and is at present agent for his mother), Mande (resides in the last-named parish, and is the wife of Adolph Watkins, who is a mechanic and machinist. He is a rising man in his community, and is well fixed in temporal affairs), Harriet (resides in the same parish and will soon graduate), Alfred E. (resides in that parish also, and is a graduate of Soule Business College at New Orleans. He is a professional book-keeper, and is employed with Robert Nelson, general merchant Monroe, La.), Edwin La Fayette, John A. (who resides in Lincoln Parish and is a gentleman of education; he is book-keeper for L. F. L. F. Marburg, the largest drug establishment in North Louisiana), Christopher S. (a student at the Arcadian Male College, and will graduate in the class of 1892), Claude C. (is a student in the same and school, and is bright and well posted for a boy years), Allen F. (at home with his mother), and Elmer T. (who is also at home). Two children are deceased. The father of these children was of French descent, and was born in Virginia, April 30,1830. He graduated as an M. D., and was a pronounced and skillful physician and surgeon. He was noted throughout his entire country, and was looked upon as one of the leading elements in his locality. He was a man of great wealth, and was generous and hospitable to all classes. He died November 30, l885, in Ouachita Parish, La., and his remains are interred in the same parish. The highest eulogy that could be paid to his memory was, that he was a good man. The mother was born in 1834, is of French descent, and a graduate of a female college. She is a lady of rare accomplishments and executive ability. She is now living at her homestead in Ouachita Parish, where she has a large landed estate of 3,000 acres, and where she has comfortable dwellings on her plantations. She will erect a typical Southern home for herself and family soon. Edwin La Fayette De Graffenreid is a young gentleman like his distinguished predecessors, who well-educated people, and who believed in the great boon of education. He is well educated and expects to complete his schooling in the scientific and business course. His primary education was received in the home schools, and later he entered the Arcadia Male College under the able and efficient Prof. B. A. Smith, president, where he remained two years. He is at present engaged in practical pharmacy in Arcadia, La. In polities Mr. De Graffenreid has always been a Democrat in principle and precept, and cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.