Biography of Manuel J. Garcia                                 Jefferson Parish, Louisiana                  
Submitted by Daniel Oppliger, August 06, 2007         

Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
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Death of Manuel J. Garcia 

Today, the Picayune records the passing away of one of the most ancient and 
venerable of the once distinguished men of New Orleans, Manuel J. Garcia. 

Perhaps it is peculiarly the province of the Picayune, which has been for nearly 
half a century the historian of the people and events in this city, to turn from 
busy transactions of today into the dim forgotten past, to recover and preserve 
the names and deeds of men who have been active workers and leader in the 
business and social affairs of New Orleans in the olden times. 

It is with a mournful interest that the Picayune, so long a link between the present 
and the past, pays this tribute to this venerable man who came in before the 
century, and after taking an active part in its events where they came within 
the sphere of his duty, yesterday passed away at the age of 88 years and 4 months. 

Le Vieux Pere, as he was called by his children, was born of an old Spanish family 
in Louisiana in 1795. Inheriting valuable planting interests, he became a planter in 
the parish of Jefferson. In the war of 1812-15 Mr. Garcia enlisted for the defense 
of the country in a regiment raised in St. Charles parish and commanded military 
operations of the campaign in which the celebrated defeat of the British veterans 
by the Americans under Andrew Jackson took place. Mr. Garcia on one occasion 
was employed to carry dispatches to Gen. Jackson. 

After the war he went back to his plantation, but always took a deep interest in all 
the public affairs of the State, and in 1834 became Sheriff of Jefferson parish, a 
position he held for ten successive years. He subsequently served as State Senator, 
and during the term of President Fillmore for 1849 to 1852 Mr. Garcia was Naval Officer 
at this port. 

He continued to be a prominent citizen of New Orleans for a number of years, and 
when the city was captured by the Federal army under Gen. Butler, the venerable 
man, refusing to take the oath of allegiance to what he considered was a hostile 
power, was forced to leave the city, and with his family removed to Florida, whence 
he subsequently returned. 

Since the war Mr. Garcia had gradually withdrawn from active business, but nearly 
up to the time of his death he preserved his memory and mental faculties generally 
but little impaired. He was the father of twenty-five children, but he survived all save 
five, of whom Mr. Eugene F. Garcia, paying teller of the Louisiana National Bank, is one, 
and he outlived nearly all his contemporaries. 

His Funeral will take place today from his late residence, 166 Barracks street, between 
St. Claude and Treme, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. 


Source:  The Times Picayune, 3/18/1884, New Orleans, Louisiana