Joshua Alexander Trotti, Newton Co, TX., then Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Joshua Alexander K. Trotti, mayor of Lake Charles, vice president of the D. R. Swift Estate, Incorporated, and one of the most progressive men in the state, has accomplished more for his city than any other man, and is supported in his work for civic betterment by all classes, although when he first ran for office he was bitterly opposed by some who did not then understand him or appreciate his abilities. Without him and his constructive policies Lake Charles would never have been developed to its present state, nor would its influence in outside matters be as powerful as it is today. Mayor Trotti was born on a farm in Newton County, Texas, September 3, 1872, a son of John Lawrence Trotti, a native of South Carolina, who died in 1894, aged seventy-two years. He married Elizabeth Frazar, born in Mississippi, whose death occurred in 1894 when she was fifty- nine. During the war between the North and the South John Trotti served in the Confederate army, and after its close he went to Texas, and was a pioneer of the district known as The Survey. There he continued to reside until his retirement, becoming one of the most successful farmers of Newton County. In 1880 he moved to Jasper County, Texas, and there he lived in honorable retirement until his death. At the time he was growing to manhood, the schools of his neighborhood were poor, so Joshua Alexander Trotti received but a limited education, and he had but few opportunities for improvement. He was seventeen years old before he saw a railroad, his introduction to it being when he started on a long trip hauling cotton to market. In 1891 he borrowed the money to go to New Orleans, and it was in that city that the raw country youth sought to supplement his lack of education by attending school. In the meanwhile his half brother, D. R. Swift, had located at Lake Charles, and formed the firm of George & Swift, liveryrmen. In 1892 Mr. Trotti joined his brother, and began his long connection with the livery business in his employ. In 1895 Mr. Trotti, with others, organized Company G of the Louisiana State Militia, at Lake Charles, the first military organization in the state, commanded by Col. W. L. Stevens. Mr. Trotti was sergeant of his company, and one of the most energetic members. When war was declared with Spain, Mr. Trotti was commissioned second lieutenant of Company K, the Lake Charles contingent, Second United States Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to Covington, Louisiana, and later to Santiago, Cuba, where his company was under the command of Capt. Charles A McCoy of Lake Charles. During a portion of the time the company was in Cuba, Mr. Trotti was acting captain. After peace was declared, Mr. Trotti resigned his commission, and returning to Lake Charles, resumed his connection with George & Swift. Subsequently Mr. Trotti became a partner in the business, and since 1909 it has been operated under the name of Gill & Trotti and as a transfer and undertaking business. This firm had some of the finest horse-driven vehicles in the state, and was among the first to motorize its equipment. At one the this concern operated the largest livery and transfer business, outside of New Orleans, in the state. A man of untiring energy, and many enterprises, Mr. Trotti became known to all classes in this section of the state. Always an advocate of clean sport, and a lover of horses, when he became a candidate for mayor in 1916, he was bitterly opposed by the church people because of these attributes and their misunderstanding of his character. In spite of the strong fight made against him he was elected out of six candidates, and because of his intimate knowledge of the conditions in the city, his business having brought him into direct contact with all elements, he began a drastic campaign against undesirable people and projects. So successful was he in cleaning up Lake Charles, that when he once more came before the people for reelection in 1920, those who had most strenuously opposed him previously, were his strongest supporters, while the underworld brought its whole strength to defeat him. The better element prevailed and Mayor Trotti was reelected by a handsome majority. During the time he has been the city's chief executive he has given Lake Charles the best administration in its history, and it owes a heavy debt to him and his broad and constructive policies. When he took over the office Mayor Trotti found the city credit so poor that it was impossible to borrow any money, and in order to carry on the regular business be borrowed the necessary funds personally. Not only has he firmly established its credit, but he has paid its debts to the last cent. He has improved the streets. paving them and building sidewalks, and built new schoolhouses, and has paid special attention to the negro quarter of the city where conditions were formerly in a most deplorable state, inviting crime and harboring criminals. In everything promising to advance the cit and parish, Mayor Trotti takes an effective interest, and there are few movements he hacks that fail of being brought to a successful termination. During the late war the United States government established an aviation camp on Gursner Field, and Mayor Trotti cooperated with government officials in an official cleanup that was so effective that this camp had the best health record of any in the United States. Not only has he been one of the best public officials Lake Charles has ever known, he has also played a determining part in its business life, and was the organizer of the D. R. Swift Estate, Inc., of which he is now vice president. He is president of the Gill & Trotti Company, which he also organized, is interested in the Swift Coal & Timber Company, the Southern Land & Water Company and the Great Central Lakes Lumber Company. It is distinctive of the man that he has no political machine, and that he believes in upholding and enforcing the law. He belongs to no fraternities or clubs, as he feels that it is his duty to give his best efforts to the entire citizenry without fear or favor, and so does not care to bind himself in any manner. In addition to his work in conjunction with the Government officials, Mayor Trotti was very active in promoting all war activity in this section, and on his war record alone is an outstanding figure of his times. On July 6, 1905, Mayor Trotti was married at Mansfield, Louisiana, to Miss Wenona Fuqua, born at Evergreen, Louisiana, a daughter of the late Thomas Fuqua. Mayor and Mrs. Trotti have one son, Joshua Alexander, Jr. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 311-312, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.