DURIO, Eraste, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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ERASTE DURIO, OPELOUSAS.--Mr. Durio, a planter residing four miles west of
Opelousas, was born March 1, 1851.  He is the youngest of a family of twelve
children born to Simon and Malene Durio, both natives of Louisiana.

When Eraste Durio was eight years of age his mother died, and he was reared
until he had attained the age of thirteen by his brother-in-law, Pierre
Mauellire.  At this age he began work for himself as a farm hand, which he
followed for about two years.  He attended the common schools and received a
good business education.  At the age of about eighteen he became an employe in
his brother's store, where he remained for three years, when he was married to
Miss Emma Pitre, daughter of Francois and Eliza (Joubert) Pitre.  Since his
marriage Mr. Durio has given his attention exclusively to planting.  He has a
good plantation, upon which he raises grain and stock.  When it is recollected
that Mr. Durio began life at the age of thirteen, without even a good suit of
clothes, his success in life will be more appreciated.  He is certainly a
self-made man.  Mrs. Durio died in March, 1876; and in 1885 our subject
married Delia Lauerne.  Two children,  Octave and  Lyda, were the result of
his first marriage. To the last union have been born three children:  May,
Fey and  Minnie.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, p. 32.
Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf Publishing
Company.