TWO MAGNOLIA PLANTATIONS Plaquemines Parish
Submitted by Gladys Stovall-Armstrong



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James Philippe VILLERE was the first owner of the Magnolia Plantation which 
was located about 12 miles South Of New Orleans on the boundry line of 
Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes. Although VILLEREwas the first owner of 
the plantation, he was not the first owner of the property. The property 
dates back to a Spanish land grant deeded to Jean COUPRIEN who sold it to
a French nolbleman, Francois EMMANUEL, Sieur de la Croix, who sold it to 
Sieur de SALLAS in 1804. He sold it back to the former owner, Bathazar 
DMAZILLIER de la CROIX, in 1807. Magnolia was once again owned by Sieur de 
SALLAS and at his death , the plantation became the property of his sister, 
Madam BARRON.
Benjamin MORGAN, at sometime, acquired the property because in a notariel 
act passed on the 18th day of April, 1830, it is stated that in 1827, 
Jacques Philipe VILLERE, the former Govenor Of Louisiana bought the estate 
from the creditors of Benjamin MORGAN for $22,500.

In 1836, jules Gabriel VILLERE became the sole owner and paid $75,000 for 
the property. In just nine years, the value of the property had increased 
dramtically due to the building of the plantation.

Charles J. VILLERE, son of the above VILLERE, a distinguished member of 
the Confederate Cabinate during the Civil War, later became the owner of 
Magnolia. His sister, Marie Laura Antoinette VILLERE, granddaughter of 
Governor VILLERE, married General Pierre Gustave Toutant BEAUREGARD and 
their children were born at the upper Magnolia Plantation.

The " Times Picayune " Newspaper, from which I have extracted the above, 
stated that this couple was the last owners of Magnolia, as it burned on 
the 4th day of April, 1891. However, "The Plaquemines Protector" stated 
that Charles A. LARENDON was the owner when it burn.

"the Protector" also stated that this Magnolia plantation was one of 
the most picturesque places on the lower coast. It was thickly covered 
with oak, magnolia, pecan and orange trees.

The Magnolia Plantaton of Lower Plaquemines Parish, just below West 
Pointe a-la-Hache, was built by two sea captains, George BRADISH and 
William M. JOHNSON.

Most sources sight the owner of the property before BRADDISH and JOHNSON 
purchased it as being RONQUILLO. However, i do not believe this to be so. 
I have found a Spanish land grant issued to BRADDISH and JOHNSON as follows 
and feel this is the property that Magnolia was built on:


#228 George BRADDISH and William H. JOHNSON claim a tract of land situate 
(sis) in the county of Orleans, at a place called Quartier de la 
Pointe a- la- Hache, about fourteen leagues below the city of New Orleans
on the right bank of the Mississippi, containing twenty-eight arpents in 
front by forty in death.


It appears that said land is a part of a larger tract which was granted 
by the French Goverment to philip FLOTE on the 29th day of January 1767 
from whom the claimants derived their title to the land aforesaid. 
Confimed,
The Plantation house was built in 1795 by slave labor and all materials
with the exception of the hardware were produced on the place. It had ten 
large rooms, 28 by 22 feet in size. It was here that one of the first sugar 
mills in the state was built and employed the "Open Kettle" process in the 
manufacturing of sugar and molasses.

During its days of splendor, very famous guests were often seen on the 
plantation, including Mark TWAIN who wrote of his visit in his book, 
"Life on the Mississippi" and probably the most interesting, the pirate, 
Jean LAFITTE. It is said that LAFITTE supplied the slave labor for the 
plantation.

The most remembered owner of Magnolia was the controversial Republican 
Governor Henry Clay WARMOUTH , who owned Magnolia for 45 years and bought
it to its height in productivity. Governor WARMOUTH in his old age 
described his days at Magnolia as the happiest of his life. Magnolia 
contained some 2,600 acres!

Other owners of Magnolia were: 
OSGOOD and ISAAC from 1850 - 1852
OSGOOD and Effingham LAWRENCE 1853 - 1855
Effingham LAWRENCE and Company - 1856 -1859