ESTILETTE, (Judge) E. D., St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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

JUDGE E. D. ESTILETTE, OPELOUSAS.--Judge Estilette was born in St. Landry
parish, December 19, 1833.  At an early age he entered St. Charles College, at
Grand Coteau, where he remained six years.  He then at the age of thirteen
years, after going through the preparatory department, Yale college, taking a
thorough classical course, and, in 1857,  graduated, with the title of A. B.

He married in New Haven, Connecticut, Miss Fannie T. Bacon, of that place.  He
then returned with his wife to his native parish, and engaged in school
teaching, at the same time studying law.  In 1860 Judge Estilette was admitted
to the bar.   For a while after returning from college he edited a paper known
as the " Opelousas Patriot," an independent organ, but favoring what was known
as the Coöperative Party.  This paper was destroyed by the first invasion of
the Federals in the spring of 1863.  He then turned his entire attention to
the practice of his profession, until his appointment in 1865, as District
Attorney of the Eighth Judicial District, composed of the parishes of St.
Landry, Calcasieu, Lafayette and Vermilion.  He succeeded himself in office,
holding the same position until 1868.  In 1872 he was elected a member of the
Legislature from St. Landry, and reë1ected in 1874.  At this time Judge
Estilette took a prominent part in what was known as the Wheeler Compromise,
and, on its adoption, was elected Speaker of the House, which responsible
position he held until the expiration of his term of office.  He then resumed
the practice of law and, in 1887, was appointed Judge of the Thirteenth
Judicial District, composed of the parishes of St. Landry and Acadia.  In 1888
he resumed his practice, which he has closely followed since that time.
During the period of his lengthy practice, Judge Estilette has been associated
with the following legal lights:  Late Judge John E. King, late Judge A.
Bailey, and since the year 1880 with his son-in-law, Gilbert L. Dupré, a
promising lawyer and at present member of the Legislature from St. Landry
parish.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, pp.
35-36.  Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf
Publishing Company.