Clarence Emile Berdon, Natchez, Mississippi, then Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Clarence Emile Berdon for a number of years had the distinction of being the 
youngest furniture merchant in the state.  He is one of the founders and 
president of the Berdon-Campbell Furniture Company of Lake Charles, the 
largest business of its kind in Southwest Louisiana.

Mr. Berdon represents a family of merchants and splendid citizens, born at 
Natchez, Mississippi, June 12, 1881, son of Augustus W. and Mary Berdon.  
His mother is still living.  Clarence Emile Berdon was liberally educated 
in the Cathedral School for Boys at Natchez, and the Soulé Business College 
at New Orleans.  He was nineteen years of age when in 1900 he went to 
Crowley, Louisiana, where he first entered the furniture business, and was 
soon promoted to be manager of the Crowley Furniture company, his natural 
abilities getting him responsibilities far in advance of his years.

The Berdon-Campbell Furniture Company was established at Lake Charles in 
1907, Clarence Emile becoming president of the company; his brother, A. W. 
Berdon, vice president, and C. J. Campbell, secretary and treasurer.  It 
was a business of very modest proportions when first established, but has 
grown steadily every year and is now a wholesale and retail concern, and 
maintains its own mattress factory.  It distributes goods throughout Southwest 
Louisiana and Eastern Texas.  The company also maintains a branch store, 
handling both furniture and house furnishings at De Quincy.  Mr. Berdon is 
the buyer for the firm, and makes frequent trips to the furniture markets, 
which keeps him in touch with conditions in his business elsewhere.

While his business has absorbed most of his the, he has readily cooperated 
with movements for civic improvements and the general welfare of his town 
and parish.  He is a director of the Lake Charles Association of Commerce, 
a member of the Rotary Club, the Lake Charles Country Club, was one of the 
organizers of the Coastal Hunting Club and is its present vice president.  
He is a member of the Catholic Church and belongs to the Lake Charles 
Council, Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Berdon married at Lake Charles, January 18, 1910, Miss Edith Poe.  Her 
father is John H. Poe, a Louisianian, whose career is sketched elsewhere.  
Mr. and Mrs. Berdon have three daughters:  Louise,  Edith Claire and  
Catherine Jane.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 284-285, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.