Biography of 	JANVIER, Charles, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller April 1998

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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, 
and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 221-222.  Edited 
by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical 
Association.

Janvier, Charles, New Orleans, descended from an old American family which 
settled in the United States, locating at Philadelphia in 1686, the first 
representative of which came from France, the subject of this short sketch, 
Charles Janvier, was born at New Orleans, Sept. 8, 1857.  His father, 
Charles Albert Janvier, was in the insurance business, his mother, Marie 
Zelime Coiron Janvier.  On maternal side the family were from Holland and 
France, and came to the United States as refugees from San Domingo after 
the insurrection.  They owned considerable property there, for which they 
were indemnified by the French government.  Charles Janvier obtained his 
education at the College of Immaculate Conception of New Orleans.  His 
first occupation was as clerk for George H. Behn, an exchange broker.  
From that he entered the business of cotton buyer, and next became 
associated with his father in the fire insurance line, from which he 
resigned to become part owner and manager of a fire insurance magazine.  
Mr. Janvier then organized the Natural Premium Life Society and was its 
secretary.  In 1890 he became secretary of the Sun Insurance Co., and was 
advanced to president in 1894; at that time he also became Southern 
manager for the Palatine Fire Insurance Co., of England.  In 1904 he was 
made president of the Canal Bank & Trust Co., and on the consolidation of 
that bank with the Louisiana National bank, he became first vice-president, 
and in 1913 was elected to the office of president, which he held until the 
bank was merged with the German-American National bank in 1914.  Mr. 
Janvier was state senator from the 6th senatorial district, and served 1 
session only, when he resigned.  He was chairman of the Democratic state 
central committee in 1906.  At present he holds, in addition to the offices 
mentioned:  Second vice-president of board of administrators of Tulane 
educational fund, and director in the following: The Sun Insurance Co., the 
Louisiana National Life Assurance society, the Title & Mortgage Guarantee 
Co., and the American Cities Co.  He is a member of the Boston, the 
Pickwick and of the Country clubs, and of the Carnival Royal Host.  He was 
a member of the White League in 1874, president of the Citizens' League in 
1896, chairman of the Yellow Fever fund committee in 1905 (and rendered 
service for which he received the "Picayune" loving cup for 1905).  He was 
First Grand Knight of the first council of Knights of Columbus, organized 
in Louisiana.  He has always taken a prominent part in the arrangements for 
the annual Mardi Gras celebrations, and was King of the Carnival, 1896.  
Mr. Janvier was married, Oct. 3, 1883, to Josephine Celeste Bush (who 
departed this life Jan. 8, 1889), leaving 8 children:  John,  Celeste,  
George,  Lois,  Carmelite,  Josephine,  Katharine and  Regina.  Miss Lois 
Janvier had the distinction of being Queen of the Mardi Gras Carnival, 
1912.