BOURGEOIS, Louis P., St. John the Baptist then St. James  Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Bourgeois, Louis Pierre, of Gramercy, was born in St. John the Baptist parish,
La., Aug. 30, 1870, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Picou) Bourgeois, the
former of whom was born in St. James parish, and the latter in the same
locality as was the son.  The paternal grandfather, Thomas D. Bourgeois,
married a lady by the name of Matherne.  Both he and his wife were natives of
the parish of St. James.  The maternal grandparents died when their daughter
Mary was in infancy.  For further data concerning the parents and their 9
children, see sketch of George M. Bourgeois, a brother to Louis Pierre,
elsewhere in this work.  The latter was educated at Chenet institute, New
Orleans, and at the age of 20 years entered commercial life as a clerk in his
brother George's general store at Mount Airy.  He continued in this capacity
about 4 years, when, in 1894, he became a partner in the same business under
the firm name of L. P. and George Bourgeois.  This latter arrangement remained
in force until 1906, when the partnership was dissolved and Louis Pierre
established a general store on his own account at Gramercy, La., which has
been a commercial success from its beginning and has grown and expanded into
the large business now conducted there under the name of L. P. Bourgeois. 
This was the first store established at Gramercy, and Mr. Bourgeois was
virtually the founder of that town.  In 1901, under the administration of
Pres. McKinley, he was appointed postmaster at Gramercy, and has remained
incumbent of that office to the present time.  He was elected a member of the
school board of St. James parish in 1903, and during 7 years following,
faithfully and tirelessly labored for the development and upbuilding of the
public school system of the parish until the schools were brought to their
present standard of modern efficiency.  It was during this time, and largely
through the efforts of Mr. Bourgeois, that the appropriation for the schools
of St. James was increased from $4,000 to 4,000 per year.  Gramercy has now a
commodious modern school building.  After 7 years of service Mr. Bourgeois
found it necessary to resign from the school board on account of the
requirements of his private business, but he has remained a school director to
this time, because of his deep interest in educational matters and his
determination to see that the children of St. James are afforded every
possible educational advantage.  The people of the parish are largely indebted
to him for his unselfish efforts in behalf of their schools.  Mr. Bourgeois is
now taking the lead in organizing the truck growers of that part of Louisiana
so as to give them the benefit of cooperative effort.  He is personally
interested in sugar planting and truck growing, and has been prominent in the
organization of the Colonial Canning Co., of which he is a director.  This
company is to cooperate with the Colonial Sugars Co., of Gramercy, in caring
for the produce of a large region.  Mr. Bourgeois has been affiliated with the
democratic party since the time of casting his first ballot.  He is a member
of the Catholic church, Woodmen of the World, Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, and the Red Men.  Feb. 5, 1894, Louis Pierre Bourgeois was married to
Miss Clemence, daughter of Leo and Adrien (Tonguis) Lasseigne, of St. John
parish.  Mrs. Bourgeois is a granddaughter of Adam Lasseigne, and a
representative of one of the oldest families in Louisiana.  Four children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bourgeois, as follow:  Louis P., Jr., educated at
the high school of his native parish;  Carmen P., educated at St. Agnes
academy, New Orleans;  Etta P. and  Ellis P., the last two now attending the
public schools at home.  Mr. Bourgeois recently completed a commodious modern
home at Gramercy.  He is a wide-awake, progressive, public-spirited man,
highly esteemed by he people among whom he lives and labors with an unselfish
devotion to the public welfare.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 706-707. 
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.