Lewis M. Texada, Rapides Parish, Louisiana Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 LEWIS M. TEXADA, planter, Boyce, La. The Texada family has resided in Rapides Parish, La., for many years and is one of the representative families of this community. The parents of our subject, Lewis E. and Pleasant (Hunter) Texada, were both born in Rapides Parish, La., the father in 1818 and the mother in 1831, and both reared there. The father completed his literary education and graduated in the law school of the University of Virginia, after which he returned to Louisiana and the same year was married to Miss Annie B. Lyon, of Charlottesville, Va. Mrs. Texada being an invalid, Mr. Texada could not devote his time to the practice of his profession and consequently he purchased a farm, where his son, Lewis M., now resides. Here he carried on agricultural pursuits and here Mrs. Texada died in 1849. In 1850 Mr. Texada married Miss Hunter, mother of subject. He represented Rapides Parish in both houses of the Legislature several terms, was one of the leading members, and has an enviable state reputation. He was always identified with any measure that was for the good of the section he represented. He lacked only three votes of receiving the nomination for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Gov. Wilkes, but was defeated by the famous New Orleans ring. He was a Master Mason, and he and Mrs. Texada were members of the Episcopal Church. His death occurred in August, 1884. Lewis M. Texada is also a native of Rapides Parish, La., and was born in the house where he now resides, in 1853. He completed his education at Lexington, Va., and since then has devoted his entire time and attention to tilling the soil. In 1880 he was married to Miss Blanche Preot, daughter of Prof. Arnand and Elizabeth (Hammatt) Preot, natives respectively of Lyle, France, and Petersburg, Va., and born, the first in 1820 and the last in 1830. Prof. Preot came to the United States when twenty-one years of age and in 1839 was married to Mrs. Texada's mother, after which, in 1840, he took charge of the Buckingham Female College as one of the principals. He was afterward a professor in Farmville Female Institute and was then made president. In 1870 he removed to Danville, Va., where he was associated with the Methodist and Roanoke Female Colleges until 1873, when his death occurred. Mrs. Preot is now residing in North Carolina with her daughter. Mrs. Texada is an accomplished and finely educated lady, having attended several different institutions of learning, completing her education at Petersburg Female College. In 1888 Mr. Texada was appointed by Gov. Nicholls as a member of the police jury from his ward, and in that capacity has been of much benefit to the people. He is the father of four children, all daughters. Mr. Texada is the second of eight children-four sons and four daughters.