MOUTON, Felix H., Lafayette Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions,
and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 311-312.  Edited
by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.



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Mouton, Felix H., secretary of the Lafayette Building association, city of
Lafayette, Louisiana, was born in that city, April 6, 1873, son of Edward
Eugene, and Athenais (Vavasseur) Mouton, the former a native of the parish
of Lafayette, and the latter born in Convent, parish of St. James,
Louisiana.  The Moutons were Acadians, from Nova Scotia, who emigrated to
Louisiana in 1765, fleeing from British persecution, and settled in
Lafayette parish.  Edmond Mouton, paternal grandfather of Felix H. Mouton,
was born in Lafayette parish, and was a resident during his whole life ;
and Eulalie Voorhies, paternal grandmother of the subject of this sketch,
was also a native, and life-long inhabitant of the same parish.  The
Vavasseur family have been dwellers in St. James parish for many
generations.  Edward Eugene Mouton was educated at Kentucky College.  He
enlisted in the Confederate army during the Civil war in the 18th Louisiana
volunteer infantry; was wounded and made prisoner at the battle of
Gettysburg, released after 12 days of captivity and sent home.  The invalid
soldier studied law, and was admitted to the bar.  In 1879 he was appointed
to the district judgeship comprising the parishes of Lafayette and
Vermilion, and was occupying the bench at the time of his death in 1881,
aged 44 years.  His widow is living at the present time in Lafayette parish
with her son, Felix H. Mouton, whose biography is here presented, and who
was the fourth in a family of 8 children, of whom 5 are living:  Francis
V.,  Edward E.,  Adolph A.,  Rose Irma, now Mrs. W. J. Bienvenu, of St.
Martinsville, La., and  Felix H. Mouton.  The latter was educated at Mount
Carmel convent, in Lafayette parish, and in Sept., 1890 was employed by the
Texas Pacific railroad Co. as car checker in various cities, New Orleans,
Plaquemine, Lafayette and Alexandria, remaining with the railroad company 6
years.  When he left the service he had worked his way up to the
responsible position of joint ticket agent at Alexandria for 3 railroads.
Mr. Mouton had begun work in New Orleans with the disadvantage of
insufficient knowledge of the English language, either in speaking or
writing, but he persevered in studying until he was able to acquire and
hold good positions.  Returning to Lafayette in 1896, he busied himself in
looking about for some occupation, and in Aug., 1897, formed a
copartnership with S. R. Parkerson, in the general insurance business under
the name of Parkerson & Mouton, doing a large amount of underwriting and
being considered one of the most reliable and prosperous in their line at
the present time.  When, on Feb. 12, 1900 the Lafayette Building
association was organized, Mr. Mouton, one of its promoters, subscribed
largely to the stock and aided in the expansion of its business, and in
Sept., 1912, was elected secretary, a place he is still filling with much
ability.  In politics he has always supported the democratic party, and
from July, 1905 to July 1910 served as secretary of the police jury; from
1910 to 1912, was member of the city council.  The Knights of Columbus, the
Elks, the Woodmen of the World, claim him as one of their prominent
members.  With the Knights of Columbus, Mr. Mouton is affiliated as a
member of the Fourth Assembly degree, New Orleans council.  In Nov., 1900,
took place the marriage of Mr. Mouton and Miss Adele Young, the daughter of
M. P. Young, a former druggist of Lafayette.