Biography of 	ORLEANS, Charles A., Montreal, Canada, then Orleans, Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller November 1998

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Charles A. Orleans is one of the well-known business men of New 
Orleans, and one who by reason of his ability has won a distinction 
among her citizens.  He is a native of Montreal, Canada, where he was 
born December 12, 1842.  Mr. Orleans is a designer and contractor in 
monumental, statuary and building works and has made a specialty of 
cemetery vaults and mausoleums, and three-fourths of the magnificent 
tombs in Metairie cemetery, which in its beauty more resembles a park, 
with its spacious avenues and beautiful shrubbery, than a burial place, 
are samples of his skill and originality.  Mr. Orleans was the first to 
inaugurate the feature of stately mausoleums in Metairie, and may be 
called the Nestor of the idea here.  He has devoted years of careful 
study to his profession, both in the new and old worlds.  During his 
boyhood he attended the Christian Brothers school in his native city, 
and when eighteen years of age we find him superintending the erection 
of a church in St. Johns.  Later he went to New York and from there to 
Chicago, having been sent there by his employers to superintend 
extensive decorative work.  He next visited Paris, where he spent three 
years carefully inspecting and studying the decorative art in the 
French capital.  Returning to America he remained for a short time in
New York and in 1868 went to Chicago.  The great fire of 1871, soon
followed and in the rebuilding of the city he found ample demands for 
his talents and soon became prominent among the leading builders of 
that city.

He entered into a partnership with Mr. William C. Deakman, one of the
oldest builders there and together they took contracts for the stone 
work on several of the important structures there, among which are the 
Sherman house, the American Express building, the Cook county jail, on 
the north side, and many of the palatial private residences which grace 
that city, besides much work in other cities.  In 1878 Mr. Orleans came 
to New Orleans and was so favorably impressed with the "Crescent City" 
that he decided to locate here.  It was at that time that he began his 
labors in Metairie, and, as before stated, he is the pioneer of that 
work here.  He has also been identified with the erection of many of 
the public movements and statues to be seen in different parts of the 
city, while many public and private monuments in the North are 
specimens of his handiwork.  His labors are not limited to New Orleans 
alone, but he is being constantly called to different sections of the 
country and has filled many extensive contracts in Pittsburg, where he 
has made an enviable reputation.  He was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary E. Kennedy, a native of Fredericksburg, Va., and he and his 
estimable wife are well known in social circles.  Mr. Orleans takes
an active interest in the welfare and advancement of his adopted city.  
He is a member of the Commercial, the Chess, Checker and Whist clubs 
and of the Young Men's Gymnastic club.  He is pleasant and affable in 
his manner and a thorough master of his profession.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2),
pp. 292-293.
Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.