MOUTON, Fernand, St. Martin, then Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 312-315. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Mouton, Hon. Fernand, member Louisiana state senate from 13th senatorial district, director and vice-president People's Bank and Trust Co., Lafayette; Pres. and Gen. Mgr. Consumers' Cold Storage and Canning Co., Lafayette, director Home Building and Loan association, Lafayette; member of the military staff of the governor of Louisiana, with rank of major; largely interested in the planting industry in Lafayette parish; distinguished in connection with the insurance business, and prominently mentioned as a candidate for congress; residence, Lafayette, Lafayette parish, La.--was born at Breaux Bridge, St. Martin parish, La., Oct. 18, 1878; son of Thomas and Anais (Babin) Mouton, the father a native of Lafayette parish and the mother of St. Martin parish. The father served as a Confederate soldier throughout the period of the Civil war, and after the surrender returned to his farm home in Lafayette parish, La., where his death occurred Aug. 15, 1910, at the age of 68 years. The mother died in 1884. The paternal grandfather, Louis Mouton, was a native of Lafayette parish, a planter and a large land and slave owner previous to the Civil war. In 1765 the ancestors of the Mouton family in Louisiana came with the Acadians from Nova Scotia and located in Lafayette parish, La. The family has been identified with agricultural pursuits and interests throughout its history in Louisiana. On account of straightened circumstances resulting from the depredations of the Civil war, Fernand Mouton was deprived of early educational advantages, and when he attained his 20th year he was unable to speak English and was employed as a farm laborer. At that time the young man awoke to a realization of his situation, and determined to make use of his native abilities in improving his station in life. He went to the town of Lafayette and there found employment as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at a very modest salary, but he gladly accepted the place, and after some time in this position, during which his slender income was handled with the utmost frugality, he was enabled to enter Draughn's business college, at Nashville, Tenn., from which he later graduated in the complete commercial course. He then accepted a position as a fruit tree salesman, and to this business devoted his best endeavors during the succeeding two years, following which he located in Lafayette and there engaged in the life insurance business. From the time of his embarkation in this business his progress was phenomenal, and within a brief time his sales of life insurance were exceeding those of any other agent in the South, and his unusual success had centered upon him the attention of the heads of the insurance business. In 1903 he was selected by the New York Life Insurance Co. as superintendent of agents at Paris, France. He immediately assumed the duties of this responsible position, and after 1 year at Paris returned home and was married to Miss Sadie Mouton. In 1904 he went back to Paris, France, as agency director at a very handsome salary, but 1 year later he was obliged to give up this position, which held such brilliant future possibilities and return to Lafayette, La., on account of his wife's health. In the latter part of that year he resumed residence at Lafayette and there reentered the general insurance agency business, in which he has since continued to the present time, his business growing and expanding constantly at a most surprising rate. In 1910 he, with others, organized the People's Bank and Trust Co., at Lafayette, Fernand Mouton becoming a member of the board of directors of the bank. In 1912 he was elected vice-president of the bank, and has remained incumbent of that position to this time. In the meantime Mr. Mouton alone organized the Consumers' Cold Storage and Canning Co., at Lafayette and was elected president of that corporation, the purpose of which is to manufacture and sell ice, to can fruit and vegetables, to maintain and operate a cold storage plant, and to engage in general mercantile business; capital stock $50,000. Senator Mouton is the largest stockholder in this company and has filled the position of president since its organization. Also, he took a leading part in the organization of the Home Building & Loan association at Lafayette, and is a member of the board of directors. In addition to these various important connections, Senator Mouton is largely interested in planting. Politically he has been affiliated with the democratic party since the time of casting his first ballot, and already has served the people of his locality and of the state of Louisiana in various capacities, the first of these having been as a member of the city council of Lafayette. In 1912 he was elected a member of the Louisiana state senate, and during the ensuing session of the senate; served on the following committees: Finance; agriculture, commerce, and levees; health, quarantine, drainage, and charitable institutions; public roads and highways; state banks and banking; auditing and supervising expenses of the senate Old Basin and Carondelet canal. He has the distinction of having served on a larger number of committees than did any other member of the senate. During the session Senator Mouton introduced and succeeded in having enacted into law the following measures: Bill No. 161, proposing an amendment to the Constitution relative to taxes and maintenance of public roads; Bill No. 79, to regulate the manufacture, storage and sale of matches, and to provide penalties for violations. Bill No. 179, to prevent fire insurance companies, and associations and partnerships doing business in this state as agencies of said companies, associations, or partnerships, from entering into combinations to control or make rates for fire insurance on property situated in this state, and providing punishment for the violation of this act, provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed as repealing Act 189 of 1904. Senate Bill No. 57, to repeal Act 219 of the general assembly of the state of Louisiana for the year 1910, entitled, an Act to provide conditions, additional to those now imposed by law, upon which insurance companies issuing policies of fire, tornado, or windstorm insurance on property located in this state shall transact business in this state; to create a state insurance rating board, provide for their appointment, and to fix their qualifications, powers and compensation; to make the fire marshal a member of and secretary of said board, etc., etc. Senator Mouton succeeded in having each and all of these bills enacted into law. In 1913 he was appointed a member of Gov. Hall's military staff, with the rank of major, and is at this time the only member of either the house or senate holding such a position. In this capacity he accompanied Gov. Hall to Washington, D. C., and participated in the ceremonies attandant upon the inauguration of President Wilson. Three children have been born to Senator and Mrs. Mouton, namely: Walton Paul, born in 1905; Maurice Thomas, 1906; and Heloise, 1909. Senator Mouton is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Coluinbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Woodmen of the World. Senator Mouton is being urged by the newspapers of his district, as well as by others all over the state of Louisiana, and by citizens of all classes, including those in highest stations and commanding largest influence, as the logical candidate to succeed Hon. R. F. Broussard, senator elect, as a member of the national house of representatives. As an evidence of this general appreciation of the availability of Senator Mouton, the following extracts are made from articles appearing in New Orleans newspapers: From the New Orleans Item: ''Senator Fernand Mouton,of Lafayette, was a strong administration man in the recent legislature, the Louisiana statesman having voted on all the reform measures promised by Gov. Hall. Sen. Mouton is a colleague of Sen. Walter Burke, one of the strongest men, politically speaking, in Louisiana. When Sen. Mouton went before the people of his district he told them that if elected to office he would uphold his platform pledges. So great was the faith the voters of his district had in him that he was elected over all the candidates in the field for his office by an overwhelming majority. He kept his promises. He proved to be a strong foe to the state rating board. Mr. Mouton is one of the substantial business men of his district. The Mouton family has taken a leading part in the affairs of Louisiana, and the senator gives promise of keeping up the family traditions.'' From the New Orleans Times-Democrat: ''Sen. Mouton's fight to abolish the fire rating board and reform the fire prevention bureau was one of the biggest things of the session, although obscured by events of greater political importance. The effort was entirely successful; the rating board is no more; the bureau is restricted to promulgating a cost rate, and the statute books are given an act forbidding rate agreements or combinations of any sort. Sen. Mouton is one of the administration leaders, and his fight has the sympathy and assistance of the governor." Although a representative of many of the largest insurance companies, Sen. Mouton, as a representative of the people, supported measures which were for the best interests of his constituents regardless of how these measures might affect his own private business interests. He was strictly conscientious in all his actions, and it is probably due more largely to that fact than to any other reason that he is being so prominently mentioned for congress to take the place of Hon. Robert F. Broussard, senator elect. It seems entirely conclusive that there is no man in the district, or in the state, for that matter, better qualified for this distinguished honor and service than is Sen. Mouton, and he has the solid and unqualified backing of the portion of the state in which he resides. As a candidate for state senator he received 2120 votes out of 2300 votes east in his home parish, and every vote cast in his home precinct.