ALEXANDRE, Ernest, St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana

Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Mike Miller, Oct. 1999


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Alexandre, Ernest, of Laplace, St. John the Baptist parish, was born in
that vicinity Feb. 3, 1843, and is a son of Philip and Emerente (Vicknair)
Alexandre, both of whom were born in the same parish as was the son.  The
paternal grandfather, Thomas Alexandre, was born at Bayou Lafourche.  The
maternal grandfather, Jacques Vicknair, was a native of the parish in which
the grandson was born.  The Alexandre family in Louisiana is of French
ancestry, and the Vicknair family of German ancestry.  Philip Alexandre
followed the vocation of a planter.  He owned, also, a prosperous butcher
business at Reserve.  His death occurred in 1881, at the age of 76 years,
but his wife survived to the age of 78.  Of ten children born to them, 4
are now living, viz.:  Julia became the wife of Cyril Conrad, who is now
deceased, leaving 2 children;  Amelia married C. Deland, of Bayou
Lafourche, who died leaving 3 children;  Matile is now the wife of Thomas
Williams and living in Iberville parish.  Ernest Alexandre received his
education at private schools in the vicinity of the home of his childhood.
At the age of 17 years he left school to join the Confederate army.  He
enlisted in Capt. Andrew Deslandes' company, which became attached to the
27th Louisiana volunteer infantry.  This company was disbanded after the
fall of New Orleans and Ernest returned home and entered commercial life as
clerk in a general merchandise store, where he remained about 10 years.  He
then purchased some land and began farming, growing cane, rice, corn and
truck.  At the same time he established a general store at Laplace, upon
the site now occupied by his modern general merchandise establishment.  His
business prospered in all lines, and he has added to his property from time
to time.  Mr. Alexandre affiliates with the democratic party, and has
served eight years as a justice of the peace.  He is a member of the
Catholic church.  March 17, 1870, Ernest Alexandre was married to Harriette
Vicknair, daughter of Henry and Mary Madeline (Magere) Vicknair, both of
whom are now deceased.  They were natives of St. John the Baptist parish,
and made their home near Reserve.  Six children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Alexandre, as follow:  Mary Ernestine, died at the age of 7 years;
Charles married Seraphine Kailing, is following the vocation of a farmer
and store keeper at Laplace, and is the father of 5 children;  Camille
married Assize Jacob, who also is a farmer and storekeeper;  Ernest, Jr.,
died at the age of 31 years;  Edmond married Lena Gengron, and devotes his
energies to the business of a store keeper;  Florence married C. D. Cambre,
who is connected with the lumber industry.  They have 1 child, a boy.  All
of Mr. Alexandre's children are living in St. John the Baptist parish, are
doing well, and enjoy the esteem of the people of the community.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp.
715-716.  Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by Century
Historical Association.

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