DECUIR, Zenon, Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Source: Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical
Section



**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

ZENON DECUIR, NEW IBERIA.--Mr. Decuir conducts one of the largest
mercantile businesses in New Iberia.  He is a native of what is now
Iberia parish, and was born August 27, 1834.  He is the son of Zenon
Decuir and Elizabeth Hebert, both of whom were natives of Louisiana and
of French descent.  His father was an extensive planter in this parish.

The subject of this sketch having been left an orphan when but a boy, he
was reared and educated by his uncle, Alexander H‚bert.  He attended the
private schools of this parish until he was fourteen years of age, and
then entered the Mt. St. Mary's College at Emmetsburg, Maryland, where
he remained for two years.  After returning home from college he engaged
with his uncle on his plantation and stock farm until he had attained
his majority.  After this he took charge of his brother-in-law's
lumberyard, in which capacity he served until the beginning of the war,
when he enlisted in Company C, Eighth Louisiana Infantry, which was the
first company organized from this section.  His regiment was in the
service of the Army of Virginia.  Mr. Decuir participated in many of the
active battles in which his division was engaged.  The year before the
close of the war he was taken prisoner, but was paroled and returned
home, where he was at the time of the surrender.

In 1868, in partnership with a gentlemen by the name of Soulier, he
opened a mercantile business under the firm style of Soulier & Decuir,
in which they continued until the death of Mr. Soulier.  Since that time
Mr. Decuir has conducted the business in his own name.  Few men in New
Iberia have been more successful in their business undertakings than Mr.
Decuir, and it is no exaggeration to state that his business is one of
the first of the place.  Mr. Decuir was married, in 1869, to Miss Rosa
Mestayer, of Iberia parish.  They are the parents of six children, four
daughters and two sons.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section,
p. 104.  Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf
Publishing Company.