W. Prentiss Obier, Iberia Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** W. Prentiss Obier is one of the resourceful, successful and representative lawyers of the younger generation at Plaquemine, judicial center of Iberville Parish, where he is junior member of the law firm of Schwing & Obier, with offices on Eden Street, in the Schwing Building. Mr. Obier was born on the estate known as Jersey Farm, in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, and the date of his nativity was March 20, 1894. His father, William S. Obier, now a resident of Plaquemine was born at Homer, Claiborne Parish, this state, in April, 1854, and was a youth at the time of the family removal to Dallas, Texas. He was still a young man when he returned to Louisiana, and he became one of the extensive and successful representatives of plantation industry in St. Landry Parish, where he continued his residence until January 1919, since which the he has lived virtually retired at Plaquemine. He has never deviated from the line of strict allegiance to the democratic party, and he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Obier, whose maiden name was Alice Hough, was born at Natchitoches, Louisiana, February 22, 1868. Wade Hampton, eldest of the children, resides at Plaquemine where he is manager of the automobile business of the firm of Dartdenne & Obier. He was in the nation's military service during six months of the World war period, was assigned to the infantry arm of the service, and was stationed first at Camp Martin, New Orleans, and thereafter at Camp Beauregard, this state. W. Prentiss, of this sketch, was the next in order of birth. Miss Etta L. is a popular teacher in the public schools of New Orleans. In the public schools of his native parish the final studies of W Prentiss Obier were prosecuted in the high school at Opelousas, and after his graduation therein, as a member of the class of 1913, he there turned his attention to the study of law in the office and under the effective preceptorship of the firm of Garland & Harry that he made rapid progress in the absorption and assimilation of the science of, jurisprudence is indicated by his having been admitted to the bar in December, 1915. From that the until January, 1917, he continued in the practice of his profession at Opelousas. and he then removed to Plaquemine, where his ability and close application have gained to him professional prestige and success. In 1920-21 he served as official attorney to the tax collector of Iberville Parish, and be is now (1924) registrar of voters for this parish, his political alignment being with the democratic party. He is attorney for the Schwin Lumber & Shingle Company, Ltd., of Plaquemine, and also for the Citizen's Bank & Trust Company, the Louisiana Cooperage & Manufacturing Company and the Berrett-Kahn Company, all representative corporations of Plaquemine. Mr. Obier is a member of the Bar Association of the Twenty-first Judicial District of Louisiana, is affiliated with Plaquemine Lodge No. 1398, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and has membership also in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. He owns and occupies one of the fine old mansions at Plaquemine, on Eden Street, and is the owner of other real estate in this parish, as well as valuable holdings in St. Martin Parish. In connection with the nation's participation in the World war Mr. Obier in June, 1918, volunteered for special service. At Camp Martin, New Orleans, he was assigned to the radio service, and after there remaining seven weeks he was sent to the training camp at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, where he receive eight weeks of intensive training in radio electricity. He was stationed at Camp McArthur, Waco, Texas, when the armistice brought the war to a close, and there shortly afterward received his honorable discharge. June 6, 1923, recorded the marriage of Mr. Obier and Miss Daisy L. Mays, daughter of John R. and Leila (Barrow) Mays, who reside at Rosedale, Iberville Parish, Mr. Mays being a successful cotton broker. Mrs. Obier is a graduate of the University of Louisiana and is the popular chatelaine of one of the beautiful and hospitable homes at Plaquemine. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 316-317, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.