DUPRÉ, (Hon.) Gilbert L., St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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HON. GILBERT L. DUPRÉ, OPELOUSAS.--Gilbert L. Dupré, representative of St.
Landry parish in the State House of Representatives, and a successful attorney
of Opelousas, is a native of St. Landry, born September 20, 1858.  His great-
grandfather, Jacques Dupré, was a pioneer of St. Landry parish, and a man of
extensive influence and wealth.  He was Governor of the State about the year
1830; was a member of the State Senate in the forties, and was at one time
Presidential Elector from his district.  He was a cattle king and extensive
cotton planter.  His grandson, Lucius J. Dupré, the father of our subject, was
a graduate of belles lettres from the University of Virginia, and also a law
graduate from the University of Louisiana.  He became one of the most
prominent attorneys of the State, and was elected Judge of the then Fifteenth
Judicial District; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1861;
entered the Confederate States service as a private in the Eighteenth
Louisiana Regiment, but was transferred by the votes of the people to the
Confederate States Congress, where he served with distinction for a period of
four years.  He died in the maximum of his usefulness in 1869, at the age of
forty-seven years.

Gilbert L. Dupré was ten years of age at the time of his father's death, and,
having a highly educated and refined mother, he was not forced to pay strict
attention to schooling, and his only education was received at home; but he
always had a taste for literature in a high degree, and has acquired quite a
literary education.  At the age of seventeen years he became an employe in the
office of the parish clerk, where he remained until 1880.  During this time he
pursued a course of law study, and was admitted to the bar in New Orleans in
1881.  After being admitted to the bar he formed a partnership with Judge E.
D. Estilette, of the Opelousas bar, and there began his practice.  In June,
1871, he married the only daughter of Judge Estilette.  The result of his
happy union is four children:  Fannie Estilette,  Marie Lucile,  Ethel May,
and  Gilbert L., Jr.  In 1888 Mr. Dupré was made the regular nominee of the
Democratic party for the State Legislature from his parish, and his popularity
is evinced in that he received more than the party vote.  He has served with
distinction in the Legislature and was identified with the leading measures of
that body during its deliberations.  Mr. Dupré is characterized by his candor
and the earnestness with which he expresses his convictions.  Whatever
political differences may exist, even those opposed to him admit that Mr.
Dupré acts from purely unselfish motives on all public questions.  As an
attorney he has a high standing.  He is at present engaged as the attorney for
the Southwestern Louisiana Land Company and also for the New Orleans and
Pacific Railroad Company,

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, p. 28.
Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf Publishing
Company.