Louis Edwin French, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Louis Edwin French. Prominent among the younger business men of Alexandria, Louisiana, is Maj. Louis Edwin French, president of the firm of L. E. French & Company, dealers in municipal bonds, with offices in the Guaranty Bank Building, Alexandria, and a director of the Securities Sales Company, New Orleans. He is an overseas veteran of the World war. Louis Edwin French was born at Natchitoches, Louisiana, August 25, 1889, son of William and Desiree (de Janin) French, the latter of whom, born at Natchitoches, now resides at Alexandria. The father of Mr. French was a native of Alexandria and spent the greater part of his life in Rapides Parish, being interested in the sugar business and other lines. He long was an important factor in democratic politics in this district and was a member of the judicial committee of the district. He was a faithful member of the Catholic Church and belonged to the Knights of Columbus. Of his family of nine children five survive him, Louis Edwin being the sixth in order of birth. After a period of thorough educational training in a Catholic institution at Alexandria, he entered the Louisiana State University, member of the class of 1908, and later studied law at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C. Shortly afterward he became private secretary to the late Senator Robert F. Broussard and practically managed the political campaigns of his employer and his brother, the latter of whom is now a member of the Senate. At the time the United States entered the World war Mr. French was in the gravel business as secretary for the Louisiana Good Roads Association, but like many another patriotic young man, he had the stability of character that led him to set aside his personal affairs when his country needed him. On May 11, 1917, he entered military service, attended the officers' training camp at Little Rock, Arkansas, was commissioned a first lieutenant, August 15, 1917, and was sent to France attached to the Fifth British Army, a member of the Twenty-eighth United States Infantry, First Division, from which he was sent to General Pershing's command as an intelligence officer on the General Staff. He served directly under the late Gen. J. W. McAndrew, chief of the General Staff, A. E. F., his efficient work bringing him promotion first to a captaincy and later to the rank of major. Major French was honorably discharged June 29, 1919, his military record being in every way highly creditable. Upon his return to Louisiana Mr. French, like many others, looked the business field over, finding much cause for hope in conditions in his native land in comparison to those in other countries, and in a short the decided to enter into business at Alexandria, where he and his people had been so long known and highly esteemed. In 1920 the organized the firm of L. E. French & Company, his brother George, also an army officer during the late war, and W. D. Hill, prominent banker, being associated with him as partners in the municipal bond business, an enterprise that has been developed into a large and prosperous concern. This company is credited with the purchase of more municipal bonds than any other in the state and all their bond transactions are above reproach. Mr. French, like his mother and other members of the family, belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. He is unmarried. In addition to some business and political organizations, he belongs to the order of Elks and to the Boston Club of New Orleans, the Rapides and the Country Club of Alexandria, and the Allied Officers' Club of Paris, France. NOTE: The sketch is accompanied by a black and white photograph/drawing of the subject. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 337-338, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.