Bio: Alexis Benoit; Vicksburg, MS., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller Date: 1999-2000 Source: A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 204, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Alexis Benoit. While still active in business as a contractor and builder at Shreveport, the name of Alexis Benoit belongs among the old group of Louisiana citizens, and is well remembered over the state for his former prominence in local and state politics, particularly during the '90s. Mr. Benoit was born at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1837, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ballinger) Benoit, his father a native of Montreal, Canada, and of French parentage, who came south in the late '40s. In Mississippi he became identified with the great timber industry of that state, and also of Louisiana. When the war came on he fought with the Confederate army, and in the meantime his family refuged from Vicksburg to Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. After the war he rejoined them there, and subsequently became a very active figure in public and political affairs during the '7Os and early '80s. His association with Governor McEnery was such that he was known as one of the governor's "right hand men." Elizabeth Ballinger Benoit was born in Kentucky, to which state her ancestors had come with Daniel Boone. Alexis Benoit from early childhood lived at Monroe, attended school there, and as a young man took up the business of contracting and building, which he has followed ever since. Since 1896 his home has been in Shreveport, and his work has been a contributing factor in the building program of this city and vicinity ever since. Since coming to Shreveport Mr. Benoit has had little part in public affairs as a candidate for office, though no citizen of Louisiana is better informed on political issues and political personalities. His personal leadership in political affairs covered a period of about eight years in the late '80s and the early '90s. He was representative of the Ouachita Parish in the Legislature for four years, and became known for his fearless and outspoken views on the serious issues that came up in the early '90s. His modern and progressive views led to his endorsement by the populist party of Louisiana, which was quite powerful for several years beginning about 1892. Mr. Benoit was candidate for Congress of this party three times. In at least one election he received a clear majority of the votes but was not allowed to take his seat on account of the age old traditional strength of the dominant democratic party. Mr. Benoit married Miss Willie Newman, of Monroe. Their three children are Mrs. H. C. Bellows, Roy L. and Joseph W.