Hon. Edward Peter La Salle, Iberia Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



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Hon. Edward P. Lasalle.  In selecting the individual to occupy the highest
office within the gift of the municipality, the citizens of any live Community
generally can be trusted to name one who has proved his worth and ability
in his own affairs his fitness for handling large interests and his loyalty to
the welfare of his section.  The complex and perplexing duties of the office
of mayor of a thriving city such as New Iberia call for a high order of
courage, absolute integrity in civic affairs, and enterprise tempered with
conservatism, for a community is often judged by the character and actions
of its chief executive and the stand he takes in matters of important issue. 
The present incumbent of the mayoralty chair of New Iberia, Edward Peter
LaSalle, has shown himself not only a man of excellent judgment and
executive powers in the discharge of his official duties, but has fostered the
community's interests in numerous ways.

Edward P. LaSalle was born at New Iberia, October 13, i894, and is a son
of William and Odile (DuPerier) LaSalle, and a grandson on the paternal
side of Peter LaSalle, who was an extensive planter and died at New Iberia. 
His maternal grandfather was Dr. Frederick DuPerier, who was born at
New Iberia and spent his entire life in this community.  In addition to being
a distinguished physician and surgeon, he was an extensive planter.  He
served throughout the war between the states as a Confederate soldier. 
Doctor DuPerier married Mathalde Berard, who still survives him as a
resident of New Iberia.

William LaSalle was born in 1872 at New Iberia where he has passed his
entire life.  As a young man he attended the Soulé Business College, New
Orleans, and then settled down to the life of a farmer and live stock dealer,
and while he has now retired from the former, still carries on extensive
operations as a dealer in stock.  He is a democrat in politics and served two
terms as city commissioner of New Iberia.  His religious connection is with
the Roman Catholic Church, as is that of Mrs. LaSalle, who was born at
New Iberia in 1867.

The only child of his parents, Edward Peter LaSalle received his early
education in private schools at New Iberia, following which he spent two
years at St. Charles College, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, and four years at
Jefferson College Convent, St. James Parish, graduating as a member of
the class of 1915 with the degree of Bachelor of Science.  In 1916 he
began his business career as a contractor in heavy hauling and reservoir
building, but when the United States entered the World war he gave up his
private interests, and September 5, 1917, was mustered into the United
States service and sent to Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he spent one and
one-half months training in the infantry branch.  He was then transferred to
Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, Louisiana, where he became a member of
the One Hundred and Fourteenth Field Signal Battalion, and remained
there until the latter part of July, 19l8, when he went overseas with his
outfit, landing at Brest in August.  Attached to the First Army Corps,
November 8th, he was sent to the Soulé sector, where he remained until
the latter part of March, 1919, then sailing from Marseilles, France, and
landing at New York City, whence he went to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, to
be honorably discharged in May, 1919.

Returning to New Iberia, Mr. LaSalle engaged in the automobile business
in partnership with his father, owning and operating the LaSalle Garage
until 1921, on June 27 of which year he was elected mayor of New Iberia
for a term 0f four years, his offices being situated in the City Hall.  His
administration has been a decidedly progressive and successful one, as
during his incumbency the streets of the city have been paved to an extent
that New Iberia now has more paved streets than any other city of its size
in the state; the fire department has been made more efficient and equipped
with modern appliances, and the city is now $37,000 less in debt than it
was at the time that he took office.  He has been indefatigable in his efforts
to better civic conditions and has won hosts of friends and the absolute
confidence of the public.  He has been an ardent democrat since the
attainment of his majority and is known as one of the strong men of his
party in Iberia Parish.  His religious association is with St. Peter's Roman
Catholic Church of New Iberia.  He belongs also to New Iberia Council
No. 1208, Knights of Columbus; New Iberia Lodge No. 554, Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks; the Spanish Lake Club, the New Iberia
Country Club and the Yew Iberia Chamber of Commerce, in all of which
he is popular.

On April 15, 1921, at Charenton, Louisiana, Mayor LaSalle was united in
marriage with Miss Florie Fortier, daughter of Florent and Ida (Brown)
Fortier, residents of Charenton, where Mr. Fortier is engaged in
agricultural operations.  Mrs. LaSalle attended Charenton Convent and is a
woman of numerous accomplishments.  They have one daughter, Catherine
Marie, born January 3, 1922.  The pleasant LaSalle home, a residence set in
the midst of attractive surroundings, is situated on Perry Avenue, New
Iberia.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 290-291, by Henry E. Chambers. 
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New
York, 1925.