PELLERIN, Louis A., Orleans then St. James Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Louis A. Pellerin, clerk of the court of St. James parish, La., was born in the city of New Orleans, May 6, 1853, and is the son of Amand and Melvina (Kerr) Pellerin, the father a native of New Orleans also. When a young man the latter was a sugar broker and afterward was in the custom house for twenty-five years. He served during the entire war and during the latter part of that eventful period was in the quartermaster department. He was in quite a number of prominent engagements and surrendered at Mobile, Ala. After the war he engaged in the real estate business with J. Sauvage, of New Orleans, continued with that gentleman until his death, and then embarked in business for himself, being very successful until the panic of 1872, when real estate depreciated in value. He was under ex-Congressman Lewis A. Martin in the city hall for a number of years. The Pellerin family is of French extraction and came to Louisiana during Spanish regime. This family held Spanish claims and are now in suits with the United States government to recover property worth $2,500,000. The Kerr family is of English descent and the grandfather, Josiah Kerr, was chief surgeon of the English army during the War of 1812, and was in the battle of New Orleans. Afterward he located in the city and practiced medicine there until 1856, being one of the most prominent and eminent physicians. He is buried in St. Louis cemetery, Mo. Louis A. Pellerin was one of a large family of children, three now living: Prosper Godcheaux, residing at 156-1/2 Phillips street, New Orleans, and Pauline, in New Orleans also. Our subject is the oldest living. He was educated in the high schools of New Orleans, and in 1870 went to St. Louis, Mo., where he received a very liberal education in the private night school, taking a commercial course. When a boy he became collector for Kearney, Bloise & Co., and remained in their employ for three years as shipping clerk and collector. After this he was with T. Lavie in the gents' furnishing business for two years, then with Z. Epstein & Co. as collector for two years, and for one season had charge of the Variety club room and bar. Subsequently he was connected for eighteen months with D. H. Holmes & Co., the largest dry goods house in New Orleans, and after this was with M. L. Byrnes & Co. until that concern closed. Until 1878 he was at Thibodeaux engaged in merchandising, but his store was abandoned during the yellow-fever epidemic and he lost all he had accumulated. He then came to Convent as agent for the Singer Sewing Machine company and soon afterward, in 1880, he again embarked in general merchandising, which he continued until 1886, at which time he took charge of the store of J. Teissier as general manager, and continued this until 1888, when he was elected clerk and recorder. In October, 1879, he married Mrs. Mary Elvina (Le Blanc) Weston, of Iberville parish, and after her death, on the 16th of March, 1889, he wedded Miss Parnella Oubre, of this parish. They have two children a son and daughter. The family are Catholics, and in politics Mr. Pellerin is a democrat. In 1874 he was first lieutenant of Orleans artillery, and was wounded in a skirmish or riot when Captain Bashman commanded. Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 303. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.