BURCH, Emile, St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Mike Miller, Oct 1999 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Burch, Emile; residence, Lucy, La., was born Aug. 16, 1857, in St. John the Baptist parish, La. son of Antoine and Elizabeth (Mayer) Burch, both of whom were natives of France, in which country they were also married, and later came to America about the year 1852. They immediately located in St. John parish, La., where the father became engaged in the butcher business, which occupied his attention during the remainder of his life. He was killed in a duel in the month of May, 1857, but was survived by his wife until Aug. 18, 1911, when she died at the advanced age of 88 years. Seven children--3 girls and 4 boys--were born to their union, as follow: Antoine and George, both deceased; Joseph, now a hotel manager in New York City; Elise, deceased, wife of Jules Lessarge, of Paris, France; Marie, wife of Sylvin Sallex, who died soon after marriage, and later she became the wife of Joseph Facheur. The second husband is now deceased, and the widow residing in St. John parish, La. All of the above children mentioned were born in France. Florine, born in St. John parish, is now the wife of J. H. Hempel, who is in the insurance business. Emile Burch, the seventh child born to his parents, and subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of St. John parish. At the age of 17 years he started in the butcher business on his own account, and so continued until attaining his 25th year, when he rented some land and began growing rice and sugar cane on a small scale. This was continued until he reached the age of 30 years, when he bought a small tract of land, upon which he continued growing the same products. To this original tract Mr. Burch has added, from time to time, until now his plantation embraces more than 3,000 acres, 1,800 of which is in cultivation, growing sugar cane. Feb. 5, 1880, Mr. Burch was married to Miss Odile, daughter of Adam and Francois Elodie (Hebert) Champagne, the former of whom was born in St. John the Baptist, and the latter in St. Charles parish, La. The maternal grandparents were born in Louisiana, and the great-grandparents in Champagne, France. Nine children were born to Emile Burch and wife, as follow: Edmee, wife of Stanislaus Waguespack, of St. James parish; Antoine J., bookkeeper and general assistant to the father; George, a graduate M. D., married Lottie Monroe, and practicing in St. Charles parish; Stephen, overseer of father's plantation, married Eva Waguespack; Morris, died at the age of 22; Lawrence, at the parental home; Olga, now attending school at Sacred Heart convent, New Orleans; Minnie, also at the same school; Roger, now in public school, St. John parish. The members of Mr. Burch's family are affiliated with the Catholic church. In national affairs he votes the republican ticket; in local affairs, the democratic ticket. In addition to his extensive plantation business, Mr. Burch owns and conducts a large general merchandise store. The family country home is one of the most commodious, attractive and altogether inviting residences to be seen in St. John parish. The grounds are extensive, and beautifully shaded by noble pecan trees, which at harvest time yield the owner something like $200 per tree. Mr. Burch is, in the truest sense, a self-made man. He has accumulated all he has by industry, frugality and the exercise of those sterling qualities of character that have made his name known and respected. He has never sought political preferment; and has held himself apart from political alliances, devoting his abilities to the management of his private business. However, he takes the normal interest of a good citizen in all political and public affairs to the extent of aiding in the selection of the men best qualified to administer the laws under which he and his neighbors must live. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 704-705. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. # # #