Oscar Daspit, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
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Oscar Daspit, planter and sheriff, Houma, is a well-known citizen of Terre Bonne parish, La.,
whose intelligence, enterprise and energy, with many other estimable qualities, have secured
for him a popularity not derived from any factitious circumstances, but a spontaneous and
permanent tribute to his merit.  He was born in Terre Bonne parish, La., in August, 1848, and
the people have had every opportunity to judge of his character and qualifications, having
known him from boyhood up.  His great-grandfather emigrated from France to America in 1789 and
located in La Fourche parish, La., where he became one of the leading planters.  He gained the
confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens and was for many years judge of La Fourche parish.
The parish judge was then about the only parish official.  He lived to a good old age.  Our
subject's pat
ernal grandfather was born in La Fourche parish, La., and with his son, the father
of our subject, became a pioneer of La Fourche parish, locating there about 1832.  He died
there at the age of eighty years.  The father of subject followed the occupation of a planter,
but died at the age of sixty-three years.  The maternal grandfather was born in 1802 and died
in 1890.  He was a hardy man and up until within five years of his death engaged in sport and
chase with all the vigor and enthusiasm of a man in the prime of life.  Oscar Daspit was reared
in Terre Bonne parish and there he received his education, although this was interrupted by the
breaking out of war.  He made good use of his time, however, and during the struggle engaged in
merchandising as a clerk in Houma.  He subsequently or in 1869 followed the same business on
his own account in that town and by judicious husbanding of his means soon accumulated a
competence.  In 1879 he began planting and has been running a sugar plantation in connection
with his mercantile business ever since.  His plantation, adjoining Houma, is a valuable one,
and he has about 500 acres in cane this year.  He made close to 1,000,000 pounds of sugar last
year.  Sheriff Daspit has ever taken an active part in the affairs of his parish.  He was
elected a member of the police jury in 1880 and served 
for eight years.  He also served as tax
collector from 1882 until 1888 and at that time was elected sheriff of the parish, which
position he has held up to the present time.  He is also 'ex officio' tax collector of Terre
Bonne parish.  Mr. Daspit married Miss Alice Watkins, of Terre Bonne parish, and he and family
are members of the Roman Catholic church.  Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), p. 370.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.