Charles Placide Martin; Lafayette, then Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Charles Placide Martin.  In the oil industry of Southwestern Louisiana 
there are few names better known than that of Charles Placide Martin, 
who has been a resident of Lake Charles for twenty years and largely 
identified with its business and civic interests.  During his connection 
with the oil business, which has extended over a period of a quarter of a 
century, Mr. Martin has been prominently identified with concerns 
which have brought forth the first gushers in a number of districts, and 
today he is accounted one of the best informed men in this line of 
business.

Mr. Martin was born October 17, 1868, in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. 
and is a son of A. V. and Louise (Cochrane) Martin.  His father, who 
died at the age of sixty-five years, in 1888, was one of the prominent 
men of his community, being a large planter of sugar, recorder of deeds 
of the parish and one of the organizers of the Masonic Lodge at 
Lafayette.  Charles Placide Martin obtained his educational training in 
private school of his native parish, and in Jo, at the age of seventeen 
years, entered the employ of a mercantile concern at Rayne, Louisiana.  
After acquiring some experience and a modest capital, he embarked in 
the same kind of business on his own account at Welch, and, his 
operations proving successful, was in 1902 one of the organizers of the 
Welch Oil and Land Development Company, of which he was a 
director, and which brought the first gusher into that district.  In 1905 
Mr. Martin located at Lake Charles and he and his brother founded the 
department store of Martin Brothers.  He disposed of his interests in 
this concern in 1912, but still conducts the store at Welch.  In June, 
1914 be was one of the organizers of the American Mutual Life 
Insurance Company of Lake Charles, of which he is still active vice 
president, and is likewise vice president and a director of the Lake 
Charles Trust and Savings Bank.  Since 1913 he has been secretary and 
treasurer of The Bright Company, pioneer oil producers in the Edgerly 
field, and was also one of the organizers and a director of the Orange 
Petroleum Company, which brought in the first gusher in the same 
field.  One of Mr. Martin's latest achievements was the organization, in 
1924, of the Caladia Production Company, oil operators in the Jennings 
field, of which concern he is secretary-treasurer.  He is accounted one 
of the shrewd and capable business men of his community and one who 
has won success through strictly legitimate channels of business 
endeavor.

For some years Mr. Martin has been interested in politics as a 
democrat, and at present is a member of the Calcasieu Parish 
Democratic Executive Committee.  During the World war period he 
served as a member of the parish draft board, and in 1924 he was 
elected a member of the parish police jury as member from Ward 3.  He 
takes a lively interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the parish and 
city, and is an enthusiastic member of the Association of Commerce.  
Mr. Martin belongs to Welch Lodge No. 232, Free and Accepted 
Masons; Welch Chapter No. 50, Royal Arch Masons; Welch 
Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, and El Karubah Temple; 
Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Shreveport, 
having been one of the organizers of the chapter and commandery.

On September 3, 1893, at Welch, Mr. Martin married Miss Azhine 
Arceneaux, who was born and reared at Welch, a daughter of P. 
Arceneaux, a planter and Confederate veteran, now deceased.  Mrs. 
Martin is active in church, club and social life at Lake Charles, where 
she is surrounded by a wide circle of friends.  She and her husband are 
the parents of four children: Ella May, the wife of C. A. Helbing, teller 
of the First National Bank of Lake Charles; Frances L., the wife of L. 
V. Harris, of the Lake Charles Credit Exchange;  Grace C.; and  
Charles Placide, Jr., born Friday, June 13, 1913.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 264, by Henry E. Chambers.  
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New 
York, 1925.