RAYNE, Henry M., France then St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Mike Miller, Nov 1998


************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************
 

Rayne, Henry M., of Reserve, St. John the Baptist parish, was born in the
Lower Alps region, France, Feb. 5, 1882, and is a son of Joseph and Mary
(Graugnard) Rayne, both of whom are natives of that vicinity, where the father
has followed the vocation of a farmer from early life, and where the parents
now reside.  The ancestors of both the father and mother were of French
origin.  Six children have been born to their union, all of whom are now
living, as follow: Camille, married to Louis Pons; Henry M., subject of this
sketch; Stephen, married to Josepha Webre and living at Reserve, where he is
engaged in mercantile business as the partner of his brother, Henry; Louise,
married to Antoine Pons; Marie Antoinette, married to Edward Tyran; Augustan,
living in France, as is also the 1st, 4th, and 5th of the children.  Henry M.
Rayne received his earlier education at the Petite seminary, Diegnes, France,
but after having come to America and located in Louisiana he attended
Jefferson college, St. James parish.  He was 18 years of age when he came to
this country with his brother Stephen, who was then 16, and after they had
passed 1 year at college both young men entered the service of E. J. Caire &
Co., at Edgard, as clerks in the general merchandise store of that firm, where
they remained about 12 years.  Following this lengthy period of service, the
brothers purchased property and established a general merchandise business at
Reserve, in 1912, which they have successfully conducted to the present time
under the firm name of Rayne Bros., carrying a complete stock of everything
for which there is active demand in that vicinity.  Feb. 11, 1908, Henry M.
Rayne was married to Lucille Songy, daughter of Edward and Emilanie
(Landaiche) Songy, of Wallace, St. John parish.  Mrs. Rayne's father is one of
the largest planters in southwest  Louisiana, and is elsewhere referred to in
this work.  Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rayne, as follow:
Marcel, Larence, Elmo, and Nemour, all of whom are with the parents.  Mr.
Rayne is a member of the Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Imperial
Order of Red Men and the Woodmen of the World.  The Rayne brothers have made
excellent use of their time since their arrival in Louisiana.  They are men of
pronounced industry and thrift, progressive and alert.  They have accumulated
what they have through their own efforts, and more will be heard of them as
the years go by.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 693-694.
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.

#  #  #