Biography of 	NEELIS, John Gaiénne, Orleans, then Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller June 1998

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Neelis, John Gaiénnie, vice-president Bank of Gueydan; residence, 
Gueydan, Vermilion parish, La.; was born at New Orleans, La., March 20, 
1866; son of John E. and Susan (Gaiénnie) Neelis, the former of whom was 
born in New York state and the latter in the city of New Orleans.  
John E. Neelis, the father, came to Louisiana in the early '50s.  His 
first employment was as a teacher in the St. Alphonse Catholic school, at 
New Orleans.  When the term of his service in this school had ended, he 
became an employe [sic] of the Federal government, in connection with the 
government warehouse at New Orleans, where he remained during 17 years, 
after which he conducted a private school at New Orleans until the year 
1885 when he removed to Hammond, La., where his death occurred the 
following year.  His wife was the eldest daughter of Louie Rene Gaiénnie, 
a sugar planter and member of one of New Orleans' old French families.  
John Gaiénnie Neelis attended the public schools of New Orleans until 
attaining his 13th year, when he entered the service of a New Orleans 
cotton factor.  After a short stay in this connection he was employed by 
Octave Hopkins, with whom he remained until the time of Mr. Hopkins' 
death.  He then went with his parents to Hammond, La., where he later 
formed a partnership with his brother-in-law in the conduct of a general 
merchandise store under the firm name of Lawson & Neelis, this 
brother-in-law being W. E. Lawson.  In 1890, 2 brothers, P. E. Neelis and 
G. C. Neelis, became connected with this business, and the firm name was 
then changed to P. E. Neelis & Co., John Gaiénnie Neelis remaining a 
member of the firm and also filling the position of cashier of the Bank 
of Hammond, which Frank E. Neelis had organized.  This was the first bank 
in Tangipahoa parish.  John G. Neelis remained in these connections until 
1900, when he removed to Gueydan, and there organized and opened the Bank 
of Gueydan, becoming the first cashier of this bank, of which he has 
since been an active officer, being now vice-president of the Bank of 
Gueydan.  This bank was organized and began business with a capital of 
$15,000.  In 1903 the capital stock was increased to $25,000.  Since its 
organization it has paid back to the original stockholders their 
investment and maintains its $25,000 capital, with a surplus profit of 
$25,000, and in addition an undivided profit of $5,000.  In addition to 
his interest in the bank, and his duties in connection therewith, he 
operates a fire insurance business, and also owns and operates the 
Gueydan News, the only newspaper published in Vermilion parish outside of 
Abbeville.  He is secretary and treasurer of the Gueydan drainage 
district, and has placed bonds, on first issue, of $60,000, and on 2 
other subdistricts, for reclamation purposes, bonds of $172,000 and 
$60,500, respectively, for draining and reclaiming the low, wet lands 
lying to the south of Gueydan.  Mr. Neelis is affiliated with the 
democratic party, but while he has at all times taken an active interest 
in public and political affairs, he has never sought public office, 
though endeaving [sic] in every way to discharge the obligations of 
citizenship in aiding the elevation of the best-qualified men to 
administer the laws under which he and his neighbors live and conduct 
their business.  He is at this time, and since 1904 has been, a member of 
the Vermilion parish school board, and during all of the long term of his service on this board has used his influence toward the realization of 
every practicable improvement and benefit for the schools of the parish.  
Among these improvements made during his incumbency may be mentioned a 
$25,000 modern school building erected at Gueydan.  He has been incumbent 
of the office of city treasurer of Gueydan since 1904, his constituency 
evidently being well pleased with his administration of the affairs of 
that office.  In 1894 John Gaiénnie Neelis was married to Miss Cora May 
Reed, of Geneva, Ill.  Mr. Neelis is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and served as the first Worshipful Master of the Gueydan lodge.

Source: Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), 
pp. 554-555.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.