Breaux, J. Napoleon; Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



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Breaux, Hon. J. Napoleon, planter and member Louisiana state legislature,
Broussard, Lafayette parish, La., was born at Broussard, Oct. 14, 1867; son of
Paul and Mary (Landry) Breaux, both of whom were born in Lafayette parish,
near the town of Broussard, the father in the year 1842 and the mother in
1841.  Both parents are living at this time.  Paul Breaux, the father, served
4 years in the Confederate army as a member of the 26th Louisiana volunteer
infantry.  He has followed the avocation of a planter throughout life, and is
still an active worker, taking the lead in the operations of the plantation. 
He lives at the old homestead where he was born, and where his father also was
born.  The father, Jean Breaux, paternal grandfather of J. Napoleon Breaux,
likewise followed the avocation of a Louisiana planter throughout life.  The
paternal great-grandfather, Breaux, was born in Nova Scotia and came to
Louisiana with the Acadian exiles.  The maternal grandfather, Clet. Landry,
was born in Lafayette parish, La.  His father also was a planter, and came
from Nova Scotia with the Acadians.  J. Napoleon Breaux was the first of 9
children, 8 of whom are living, born to his parents.  He attended private
schools at Broussard.  At the early age of 8 years he began work on the home
plantation, which has now been in the family through several generations, and
in which he became part owner in the year 1905.  He, like his father, and
grandfather, has made a lifetime occupation of planting.  In 1910 he visited
Europe, traveling through Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, England, France,
Switzerland, and while in Rome had the pleasure of seeing the pope.  In 1886
Mr. Breaux was married to Miss Esthas Taylor of Lafayette parish, a daughter
of Heilaine Taylor, a native of the latter parish.  The Taylor family came
from North Carolina to Louisiana.  Their son, Paul N., is the only child born
to them.  Mr. Breaux is affiliated with the Roman Catholic church and is a
member of the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name society.  From 1909 to
1912, embracing a term of 3 years, Mr. Breaux served the people of the parish
as a member of the Lafayette parish school board.  In the latter year he was
elected to represent his parish for a term of 4 years in the Louisiana state
legislature, and is now incumbent of that office, and is serving as a member
of 3 of the important committees of the lower house of the legislature, these
being committees on education, capital and labor and parochial affairs.  Mr.
Breaux is and has always been thoroughly identified with the best interests of
the planting and farming industry in Louisiana, in which connection he has
been a pronounced success, and as a member of the lower house of the
legislature he is particularly alive to protecting and advancing the
agricultural interests of the state in every legitimate way that such ends may
be furthered.  He is demonstrating that a successful farmer can be very useful
as a member of the state legislature.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 65-66. 
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.