VANDER CRUYSSEN, H. A., BELGIUM, then St. Martin Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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H. A. VANDER CRUYSSEN, BREAUX BRIDGE --The subject of this sketch is a native
of Ghent, Belgium. He is the son of Licvin and Seraphin (Van de Putte) Vander
Cruyssen; the former a native of Bruges, the latter, of Eecloo.  Our subject
was one of a family of twelve children, of whom four are now living:  Lucy, 
Alphonse,  Ida and himself.  Mr. Vander Cruyssen's father was a prominent
manufacturer of Ghent.  He gave employment to a large number of men, and was
prominent in political and social affairs.  He was three times President of
the Third Board of Elections of Ghent, and refused the position of Mayor of
Heyst.  At the time of his death, in 1875, he was very wealthy.  His widow
still survives, and resides in Ghent.

The subject of this sketch is the only member of the family in America.  He
received his early education in Alost in the college of Freres des Ecoles
Chréiennes.  Subsequently he attended the Jesuit college of St. Barbe at
Ghent, where he remained for some time, when he matriculated in the Academy of
St. Luke at Ghent, a school of art and design, completing his studies with an
architect (Van Assche) at Ghent.  After his study of architecture, he was
engaged as supervising architect and builder.  He also made a special study of
chemistry and drugs in the Ecole Industrielle, afterward serving with a
druggist.  Mr. Vander Cruyssen has been twice married.  His first wife, Alice
de Wulf, died two years after their marriage.  In August, 1884, Mr. Vander
Cruyssen came to New Orleans, and engaged in the drug business.  Two years
later, at the solicitation of Dr. Martin, he removed to Breaux Bridge, and
entering into partnership with the Doctor, has conducted the drug business of
this place since that time.  The Breaux Bridge Union being about to
discontinue publication, Mr. Vander Cruyssen was solicited by the patrons of
the paper to take charge, which he did in 1889.  Under his management the
paper, which is Democratic in sentiment, has increased twenty-five per cent.
in circulation.

In October, 1888, Mr. Vander Cruyssen married a second time, Miss Constance,
the eldest daughter of Oliver Broussard, of St. Martin parish, born October
26, 1870.  One child, Alice, is the result of this union.  Her death occurred
in the year of her birth.

Mr. Vander Cruyssen has never held public office, but has served his party in
various ways and takes an active interest in all political affairs.  He is one
of the founders, and the first manager and director, of the literary and
gymnastic association of Breaux Bridge, and is secretary of the Breaux Bridge
brass band.  He is also local agent of the Columbus, Georgia, Building & Loan
Association.  He and his wife are communicants of the St. Bernard Catholic
church, of which Mr. Vander Cruyssen is organist.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, pp.
351-352.  Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf
Publishing Company.