Louis J. Bourgeois, St. James Parish
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Louis J. Bourgeois 
          St. James Parish, Louisiana 
    The town of St. Patrick's, La., can certainly be congratulated upon
the high standard of enterprise and ability displayed by her merchants,
prominent among whom is Louis J. Bourgeois, who established his business
there in 1890.  He was born in St. James parish, La., on March 13, 1853,
and was educated in Jefferson college, St. James parish, and St. Vincent
college, at [C]ape Girardeau, Mo., receiving a thorough education. He
then entered the medical department of Tulane university, New Orleans,
but a few months later gave up that profession and became a planter.  He
was married on September 16, 1875, to Miss Georgina Chauff, of St. John
Baptist parish, and one year later he took charge of St. Emma
plantation, which he owned until 1890.  As a planter he was a decided
success.  Mr. Bourgeois is prominently identified with the growth and
development of his native parish, and has given his hearty support to
all worthy enterprises.  He has held a number of local offices, and
discharged the duties of all in a manner reflecting credit upon himself
and the people.  In 1878 he was appointed road master of St. James
parish. returning officer in 1880, and in 1884 he held the position of
assessor, and is now a prominent candidate for the office of sheriff of
his native parish to the coming election to be held April 19, 1892.  In
1888, immediately after the inauguration of Gov. F. T. Nicholls, he was
appointed a member of the school board.  His commission expires with the
present governor.  In 1890 be moved from St. Emma plantation to Vachene
Station, or St. Patrick's, and opened a mercantile establishment, and on
April 9 of the same year was appointed postmaster.  He is well known in
the parish, and as a business man and citizen sustains a high
reputation.  To his marriage were born three sons and four daughters.
Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Perseverance ledge,
No. 49, and in politics he is democratic, having worked for the success
of that party from boyhood.  He is the son of Joseph Theovide Bourgeois,
the grandson of Valery Bourgeois, and the great-grandson of Paul
Bourgeois, who was the first of the Bourgeois family to locate in
Louisiana.  This family came originally from France to Quebec, and from
there to Louisiana.  This has been a family of planters  The father of
our subject was also born in St. James parish.
 
 From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp.
310-311. 
Submitted by Mike Miller