Iberia County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Fontelieu, Mayor Alphe - May 22, 1915
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Mary K. Creamer marykcreamer@yahoo.com January 20, 2018, 11:58 pm


source: The Weekly Messenger. (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.)
1886-1948, May 29, 1915, Image 4

Mayor Alphe Fontelieu of New Iberia died last Saturday and was buried Sunday 
evening. Mr. Fontelieu was 51 years old at the time of his death. He was a 
well known man over the country and was New Iberia's first Mayor under the 
commission government.




source: New Iberia Enterprise and Independent Observer. (New Iberia, La.)
1902-1944, May 29, 1915, Image 5

MAYOR ALPHE FONTELIEU.

In the death of Mayor Alphe Fontelieu which occurred at his home last Saturday
evening at 8:45 o'clock, New Iberia lost one of its foremost citizens which was
a shock to the residents of the whole community, many of whom entertained hopes
that he would in time fully recover from the illness that overcame his weakened
constitution. Mr. Fontelieu some three months ago was stricken with a severe
attack of Grippe, accompanied by a temperature which he could not overcome, 
despite the aid of the best physicians. Hoping to better his condition he departed
for Kerrivlle, Texas, accompanied by his wife, but it was not long before he had
grown so weak that it was thought best for him to return to his home. From day to
day he continued to grow weaker until last Saturday night he was silent in death.

Deceased was elected Mayor some twenty-two months ago under the Commission Form
of Government and did his best to give the people of New Iberia a good administration.
Alphe, as he was generally known, appeared at first blush to be a man of cold
disposition, but when once he was better known, it did not take long to realize that
he was not only charitable but big hearted even to a fault. The funeral services
were held under the auspices of the Independent Order of Red Men and Woodmen of the
World Lodges of which he was a popular member, after which his remains were interred
in Rose Hill Cemetery on Sunday afternoon at 5:30 o'clock. In the funeral procession
were also besides the Lodge members. Iberia Fire Co. No. 1 who turned out in their
uniforms to pay their respects to the deceased public official. 

Mr. Fontelieu was married some twenty-five years ago to Miss Florence Ledger of this
City who survives him together with his sister, Mrs. Pauline Bergerie and nephew and
neice, Mr. Alex Cestia and Mrs. J. B. Lawton of Orlando, Florida and Messr. Armand and
Nemour Bergerie.

The active pall bearers were Messrs. J. P. Suberbielle, L. F. Villermin, Judge L. O.
Hacker, and Clet Girard, representing the I. O. R. M. and Rosemond LeBlanc of the
Woodmen of the World, Honorary pall bearers of the Attakapas Club, Messrs. Jules
Dreyfus, A. J. Suberbielle, F. G. Blumenthal, M. W. Fisher, Louis Pfister, L. C.
DeBlanc, H. S. Sealy, E. S. Broussard, P. A. Landry and A. Rosenzweig; Chamber of
Commerce, Alphonse Davis, J. R. Perry, J. E. Schwing, Ed. L. Estorge, A. Daigre,
A. C. Bernard and D. A. Dimitry. 

The grief-stricken wife has the sincere sympathy and condolences of the entire community.



source: The Weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, May 29, 1915, Image 3

MAYOR FONTELIEU.

Mayor Alphe Fontelieu died on last Saturday evening at 8:45 o'clock. While 
those who served at his bedside saw no symptoms at any time calculated to 
stimulate a hopeful frame of mind for his recovery, at the same time none 
seemed quite prepared to anticipate the end when it came. He dropped off 
into unconsciousness, as though falling asleep, much like a tired child, to 
awake in eternity. Notwithstanding the hour, the news soon spread to all 
parts of the city.

The next day, Sunday, at the appointed hour of the funeral, 5:30 P. M., 
there was a great outpouring of the people to pay the last tribute of 
respect to the memory of the city's Mayor, Teche Tribe No. 118, I. O. R. M., 
and Cypress Camp No. 34, Woodmen of the World took charge of the conduct of 
the obsequies, both at the residence and at the grave.

Mr. Alphe Fontelieu was a native of this town. He was born on July 1st, 
1863, and practically spent his entire life making his home here. He was a 
brother of the late Theodore Fontelieu, who was for many years the judge of 
the District Court. When quite a young man he entered the field of politics 
in the interest of his brother and became a zealous and indefatigable worker 
in the interest of those whose cause he espoused. In 1884, when the fortunes 
of political campaigns went against his brother, he turned his energies to 
the race track and staked his all, time and again, upon his judgment and 
knowledge of the merits of individual horses. He became a book-maker and as 
such he made and lost fortunes. The fickleness of Fortune seemed to distress 
him but little, but the excitement and strenuous life of the book-maker 
threatened to overthrow his nervous equilibrium and prompted his physician 
to place the ban upon his calling. He retired from the track in the full 
light of the smiles of his goddess and returned to this city to rehabilitate 
his home.

Being of a nervous temperament it seemed impossible for him to remain long 
out of the channel of public thought and activities. He again turned to the 
field of politics and was ever quite ready to back his views with liberal 
dollars. In 1913 he entered the field as a candidate for Mayor of this city, 
and it became his lot to be the first Commission Government Mayor and to be 
elected by the first nee of the system of Preferential voting. As Mayor he 
was an energetic worker for all enterprises promising for the good of the 
community. He took a leading part in locating the National Experimental Farm 
in this parish and worked zealously for the Teche-Grand Lake canal, till he 
found that State legislation would first be necessary.

As Mayor and preparing his way for a broader field of operations, he 
indicated his intentions to become a candidate for the office of Sheriff of 
this parish at the coming State election. His health, however, gave away in 
the early months of this year with a severe attack of la grippe, from the 
effects of which he never rallied. He was taken to Kerbyville, Tex., in the 
hope that the climate there would prove beneficial to him; but in the course 
of a few weeks he was brought back to his home here.

Mr. Fontelieu is survived by his widow, Mrs. Florence Ledger Fontelieu, and 
by his sister, Mrs. A. Bergerie.


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NOTE: www.findagrave.com memorial # 73899424


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