J. ERNEST BREDA, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Submitted by: Gaytha Carver Thompson Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Printing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** J. ERNEST BREDA Attorney Mr. Breda, a man of marked character, and more than ordinary prominence in the affairs of Natchitoches Parish, is the third of a very large family of children born to Dr. John P. and Marie Helmina (Dranguet) Breda. The father was born in France on April 6, 1808, and died May 1, 1882, in Natchitoches. He studied medicine in the Baltimore Medical college, and afterward practiced his profession in that city in partnership with Dr. Skinner. He came to Shreveport, La., in 1835, and in 1838 came to Natchitoches, where he practiced his profession until his death. The mother was born in Natchitoches on April 10, 1818, and now resides in the parish where she has made her home for forty five years. J. Ernest Breda was born in Natchitoches, on September 25, 1841, received a common school education, and for four years pervious to the war studied medicine. On August 9, 1862, he joined the Beazeale Battalion of Natchitoches Rangers, Confederate States army, and remained in the service until June, 1865, when he took the oath of amnesty. On April 1, 1864, he was taken prisoner by Capt. Inwood, of the New York Zouaves. After the war Mr. Breda continued the study of medicine until January 31, 1866, and on February 1 of that year he began the study of law, being admitted to the bar in August of the same year. In January, 1870, he began the practice of law in Natchitoches, and in January, 1872, he formed a partnership with N. A. Robison, who died the same year. In January, 1873, Mr. Breda was appointed district attorney for the then Ninth Judicial District, which was then composed of five parishes, viz; Natchitoches, Sabine, Grant, Union and Rapides. He served in that position until November, 1874, when he was elected parish judge of the parish of Natchitoches. November 1876, he was elected district judge ow what was then the Seventeenth District. Mr. Breda is one of the best lawyers in this district, and has shown good judgement and heart enough not to make his office an engine of inhumanity and injustice. He was married on December 29, 1873, to Miss Elcey Hertzog, who was born in this parish on December 28, 1852, and who is the daughter of Henry and Laure (Lecomte) Hertzog. Five children are the fruits of this union: Elmira, Edmee, Emma, John P. and Joseph E. Mr. Breda was formerly a Whig in his political view, but is now a stanch Republican. He joined Phoenix Lodge No. 38, A. F. & A. M., in 1864, and Natchitoches Lodge No. 89, of which he is president. He is one of the representative men of this city. The first vineyard ever set out or attempted here was in 1856 by Dr. J. P. Breda, who put out about one half acre, or 1,300 vine cuttings, and in the following year about 5,000 vines. In 1858 he set out 7,000 vines besides replacing missing ones, and in 1859 he set out over 25,000 vines more. In 1860 he set out over 25,000 besides replacing and thus had about 25 acres in vines. He, at the same time, had planted an extensive peach orchard, containing over 3,000 trees, for making peach brandy. The first crop of wine was pressed in the summer of 1861, and form a field of about three acres sixty barrels were obtained, of forty gallons each, or 2,400 gallons of wine. In 1862 late frosts reduced the crop to only thirty barrels, and owing to wet weather and mildew, the crop was only forty barrels in 1863. In April, 1964, the orchard and vineyard were entirely destroyed by Bank's army, who burned all fences and camped on the ground. These vines were of European variety. The seconded attempt was made to raise grapes by Dr. J. P. and J. Ernest Breda, in the fall of 1874, when they set out 2,450 cuttings on one acre. In 1875 they set out the same number and in 1876 set out three acres, or about 8,000 vine cuttings, all American varieties. The first crop in 1878 from an acre and a half, yielded forty barrels of forty gallons each, or 1,000 gallons of very fine wine, all of which was lost during the political troubles. J. Ernest Breda now has about 200 vines of select varieties suitable for this latitude and climate and will continue setting out vines yearly until he re establishes the old vineyard know as Cote Breda. Mr. Breda has made 200 gallons of peach brandy to an ace of four year old trees.