Bio: Capt. Joseph Boisseau, Caddo Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker





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Capt. Joseph Boisseau, a cotton planter and factor, and owner and dealer 
in real estate in Shreveport, La., has in his veins the blood of the old 
French Huguenots who came to this country on account of their religious 
belief, taking up their abode in the State of Virginia.  Capt. Boisseau 
was born in Dinwiddie County, Va., January 23, 1829, to Joseph and Julia 
(Rives) Boisseau, who were also Virginians, the father being an honest 
and fairly successful tiller of the soil.  In the winter of 1848 he 
moved to Harrison County, Tex., and continued to make his home in the 
Lone Star State until his death, which occurred about 1868.  After this 
event his widow removed to Louisiana and here she passed from life in 
1874, having borne a family of eight children, five of whom are living:  
Mrs. Ann E. Jones, Capt. Joseph, Mrs. Mary Tucker, William and James.  

Capt. Joseph Boisseau was reared principally in the State of Tennessee, 
his early days being spent on his father's plantation, and in that State 
his early education was acquired.  In September, 1849, he came to 
Shreveport, La., and secured employment as a clerk in a warehouse, being 
engaged in billing and shipping, hie employer being E. C. Hart (now 
deceased).  He remained with him until 18583, then began steam boating on 
the Upper Red River and down to New Orleans, and in time became 
commander of the steamers "Marion," "Newsboy" and "Trent".  he continued 
to follow this calling with fair success until 1861, then enlisted in 
the First Louisiana Regiment of Caddo Rifles, and served the cause he 
espoused faithfully until November of that year, when he put in a 
substitute and went to New Orleans and purchased the steamer "Trent", 
expecting the blockade to be raised, and fitted her up for that purpose.  
The blockade failing, he ran his boat in the service of the Confederate 
government until some time in 1863, when he sold the "Trent", and was 
afterward appointed by Jefferson Davis as pilot of the gunboat 
"Missouri", which had been built at Shreveport.  This boat he took to 
Alexandria, to defend the forts at that place, and was there kept until 
the final surrender, the Captain receiving his parole on this boat.  He 
then became pilot of the steamer "Cotton", that took the generals in 
command of the trans-Mississippi Department to the mouth of Red River, 
where the final terms of surrender were made, their names being Buckner, 
Price, Maj. Means and Lieut. Carter.  After surrendering, the boat 
"Cotton" was given up to the Federal officers at Shreveport.  

Capt. Boisseau then returned to Shreveport, La., and embarked in the 
wholesale grocery and cotton business, the firm of Walsh & Boisseau became
sole proprietor, and as such has since continued.  He has seen Shreveport 
grow from a village to its present admirable proportions, and he has 
always identified himself with its interests in every way.  he owns 
about 6,000 acres of fine farming land, controls as much more, and is 
the owner of some valuable business buildings in the city, which are 
located on Front and Milan Streets, and several choice residence lots, 
which he offers for sale on the most reasonable terms.  He is one of the 
heaviest tax-payers in the city, is doing well in every enterprise in 
which he is engaged, and is one of the substantial and honored citizens 
of this section, for he is public spirited, upright in every worthy 
particular, and is kind, generous and manly at all times.  He has never 
been an aspirant for office, buy has paid strict attention to the 
details of his business, and as a result, is one of the wealthy men of 
this section.  He is a member and director of the Cotton Exchange, and 
is also one of the directors of the Commercial National Bank.  

He was married in 1866 to Miss Josephine E. Boisseau, of Virginia, by whom he 
has a family of four sons and three daughters:  Joseph, Jr., Nettie P., 
Elizabeth S., Richie W., James H., Richard W. and Robert C.  Mrs. 
Boisseau is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the K. of P.