Broussard, Edwin S. (Capt.); Iberia Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Broussard, Capt. Edwin S., successful attorney of New Iberia, La., and brother to Hon. Robert F. Broussard, United States senator-elect, was born on the old Broussard plantation--Marie Louise--in Iberia parish, La., Dec. 4, 1874. The plantation formerly was in St. Martin parish, but when Iberia parish was formed from St. Martin the old place fell within the newly formed parish. The father, J. Dorville Broussard, was born on Marie Louise plantation, in St. Martin parish, in the year 1832, and died in 1906. During the Civil war the father filled the position of recorder for St. Martin parish, but he nevertheless organized and was elected captain of a company of home guards. He afterward served as assessor of St. Martin parish and during a period of 20 years served as a member of the police jury of Iberia parish. His wife, Anastasia (Gonsoulin) Broussard, was born in Iberia parish and died in the same locality in the year 1898, at the age of 61 years. The paternal grandfather, Don Louis Broussard was born in St. Martin parish and died at New Iberia, La. He occupied the office of mayor of St. Martinville during several terms. The paternal great-great-grandfather Broussard was an Acadian, and came from Nova Scotia with a band of Acadian immigrants in the year 1765, locating in St. Martin parish. The maternal grandfather, Francois Gonsoulin, came to Louisiana from France for the purpose of surveying and allotting lands for the French government, and after having completed this work he took up permanent residence in St. Martin parish, where he remained during the remainder of his life. All members of this branch of the Broussard family were born at the old plantation family home in St. Martin parish. The subject of this sketch was born at the same place, but after the plantation had become a part of Iberia parish. Edwin S. Broussard, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools of the locality in which he was born. In 1890 he entered the academic department of Tulane university, but at this time only remained 1 year. In 1891 he entered the preparatory school of Louisiana State university and graduated in the agricultural course with the class of 1896. During the term 1896-97 he filled the position of principal of the high school at Jeanerette, La. In 1897-98 he served as principal of the high school at St. Martinville. In the spring of the latter year he resigned to organize a company of immunes for service in the Spanish-American war, and was elected captain of his company, which became Company I, 2nd United States Volunteer Immunes. The regiment rendezvoused at Covington, La., embarked on transport at New Orleans and went to Santiago, Cuba being the first regiment to enter Cuba after the peace protocol had been signed, and remained in Cuba from August, 1898, until May, 1899. Being ranking captain of his battalion, Capt. Broussard acted in the capacity of major much of the time. His regiment was mustered out of service at Camp Meade, Pa., in the autumn of 1899, and immediately thereafter he entered the College of Law, Tulane university. After a short time, however, he was appointed a government clerk to the Taft commission, of which William Howard Taft was head, to the Philippine Islands. He remained in the Philippines until nearly time for the beginning of the fall term, and then, in September, 1900, returned and again entered the law school of Tulane university, where he was elected president of his class, being, it is said, the first country boy to be honored with a law class presidency at Tulane university. He graduated with the class of 1901, and immediately thereafter began the practice of law at New Iberia, where he has since been continuously so engaged. In 1903 he was appointed district attorney to fill out an unexpired term, and in 1905 was elected to succeed himself in that office during a term of four years. Since 1909 he has been engaged in private practice, in partnership with A. J. Cammack, under the firm name of Cammack & Broussard. June 22, 1905, Capt. Broussard was married to Miss Marie Patout, a daughter of F. Patout. Four children have been born to Capt. and Mrs. Broussard, as follows: Felix Patout, Edwin S., Jr., Marie Louise and J. Dorville. Capt. Broussard has been affiliated with the Democratic party since the time of casting his first ballot, but recently has declared his affiliation with the Progressive party. He takes an active part in politics and public affairs generally, and is deeply appreciative of the obligations and duties of American citizenship. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. Few if any families of Louisiana have been longer, more intimately or more prominently identified with the history, growth and development of the state of Louisiana than has the family of Broussard. From the time of the arrival of the first representatives of the family, as Acadian Iimmigrants, to the present day, they have been filling positions of responsibility, trust and honor, and have not been found wanting. John Broussard of Pinhook, La., has in his possession the original commission issued to one of his and Capt. Edwin S. Broussard's ancestors as commandante of Acadians. United States Senator-elect Robert P. Broussard is a ;brother to Capt. Edwin S. Broussard, the subject of this sketch Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 66-68. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.