WARTELLE, Ferdinand M., St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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FERDINAND M. WARTELLE, WASHINGTON.--Ferdinand Wartelle, one of the
successful planters of St.. Landry parish, was born in this place in the
year 1844.  He is a son of Pierre G. and Louisa (King) Wartelle.  Pierre
G. Wartelle is a native of France; was educated in that country in the
military schools, and was an officer in Napoleon's army.  He served ten
or twelve years and was in many of the active engagements.  When
Napoleon was banished he came to New Orleans where he was for a short
time engaged in a mercantile business.  Subsequently he was engaged in
the same business in Opelousas.  In 1829 he purchased the plantation on
which Ferdinand M. Wartelle now resides and devoted himself to sugar
culture.  Louisa (King) Wartelle was a daughter of Judge George king, a
native of Virginia, and one of the first American settlers of St. Landry
parish.

The subject of our sketch was principally reared in St. Landry parish. 
He was educated in North Carolina and Virginia.  At the beginning of the
war he returned home and took charge of his father's plantation.  For
many years he was thus engaged, and, subsequently, bought the
plantation, and has since that time devoted his whole time to its
operation.  He raises on his plantation, which is a finely located one
of about two thousand acres, chiefly cotton.  Mr. Wartelle married, in
1873, Miss Valerie Lastrapes, daughter of Louis and Irma (Garrigues)
Lastrapes, both of whom are natives of Louisiana.  Mr. Wartelle's
grandfather, General Garrigues, was a native of France and an officer of
Napoleon's army.  He served in the war of 1812 and participated in the
battle of New Orleans with the rank of Brigadier General.

Mr. Wartelle is the father of ten living children, six sons and four
daughters.  He and his family are all members of the Catholic church. 
There are few men in St. Landry parish who take more active interest in
everything that is for the promotion of the public good than Mr.
Wartelle.  He is an intelligent and refined gentleman, and his life has
been a reflection of usefulness.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section,
p. 90.  Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf
Publishing Company.