James Monette, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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James Monette
        Morehouse Parish, Louisiana
 James Monette, of Bastrop, La., was born in 1808, on the 2d of
January, in the state of Ohio.  His father, Samuel Monette, was a native
of North Carolina, who after receiving a good collegiate education
became a leading physician at Chillicothe, Ohio, and who was also a
Methodist minister, devoting all of his time to his two professions.  He
removed from Ohio to Mississippi.  He was for many years a member of the
Masonic fraternity.  His birth occurred in 1777.  He took for his wife
Miss Mary Wayland, who was a native of Virginia.  They were the parents
of nine children, only two of whom are now living--our subject and a
sister who lives in Kentucky.  Our subject came with his parents to
Mississippi in 1821 and his father died two years later in Georgia, his
mother surviving until 1851.  The paternal grandfather of James Monette
was a native of North Carolina, and lived to be more than a hundred
years of age.  His maternal grandfather was also a native of North
Carolina.  A brother of our subject, John Wesley, was the author of a
two-volume work called the "History of the Mississippi Valley."  James
Monette received his early education in Virginia, and later attended
Washington college.  He has been a farmer all his life.  In 1829 he was
married to Miss Lucinda Clark, by Rev. Thermon, a Methodist divine.  His
wife was born January 3, 1806.  They became the parents of two children,
both of whom died in infancy.  Mr. Monette first began farming in
Madison parish and came to his present plantation in 1852.  He is the
owner of  900 acres of good farming land and his principal crops are
cotton and corn.  He is now too old to do a great deal of work,
consequently rents his farm.  He has also followed milling to some
extent.  He owns a large sawmill, a gristmill, a cotton-gin and a
molasses mill, making the latter by steam.  His fine old plantation is
only about four miles southeast of the county seat of the parish,
Bastrop, and is well located and their home is one of the pleasantest to
be found in the parish.  Mr. and Mrs. Monette are well and favorably
regarded in the community in which they live, and one is sure of a
hospitable welcome when visiting there.  The old gentleman is well
posted in all matters relating to the parish and is considered one of
the best and most reliable citizens here.  He joined the Masonic
fraternity when he was forty years old and is now a member of the
council.  He and his wife are members of the Good Hope Methodist church
in good standing and are loved by all.  Mr. Monette is a very
industrious old man and often does a good day's work when necessary.  He
is full of the energy which he possessed in his youth.  At the time of
the war he was ready to go in defense of his loved country, but was kept
at home on account of being a miller, but did good service to his
country while at home.  He has always been an economical man, and has
not owed a dollar since the war.  He is very temperate in all his habits
and strongly opposes the liquor traffic.  He is now in his eighty-third
year and undoubtedly attributes much of his good health and strong
constitution to his temperate manner of living, and is a worthy example
to the rising generations.
 
 From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, p.
261. 
Submitted by Mike Miller