John J. Marmande, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ John J. Marmande. One of the valuable and productive properties of Terrebonne Parish is the estate of B. Marmande, Ltd., which includes St. Eloie plantation, in the community of Theriot. This estate is under the management of John J. Marmande, and likewise include St. Michael plantation, a splendid tract of 6,000 acres, and a store which supplies the needs of the people of the surrounding country. Mr. Marmande, with the exception of a period of absence while completing his education, has passed his entire career here and is well and favorably known as a skilled and capable business man. John J, Marmande was born at Theriot, Terrebonne Parish, December 19, 1881, and is a son Bernard J. and Evela (Rousseau) Marmande. His father, born near Bordeaux, France, in 1836, came to the United States in young manhood an d settled at Houma, where he kept a restaurant for several years. He also engaged in stock dealing, and ~ 1879, with Emile Dailgle, purchased the St. Eloie plantation. This partnership lasted for one year, when Mr. Marmande bought his associate's interest and continued as the owner and operator of this tract of land during the remainder of his life, his death occurring on this place in November, 1892. At that time he had under cultivation 500 acres, in addition to which he was the owner of 4,000 additional acres of land. Politically he was a democrat, and his religious connection was with the Roman Catholic Church. His military record included service in the regular French army prior to his immigration to America. He was a man of integrity and honorable action, and occupied a place high in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens. Mr. Marmande married Miss Evela Rousseau, who was born in 1852, at Houma, Louisiana, and died on St. Eloie plantation in November, 1892. To this union there were born the following Children: Marie, the wife of Dr. Leon J. Menville, an X-Ray specialist of New Orleans; Emile B., who was manager of the home plantation until his death in 1923, at the age of forty-three years; John J., of this review; Dr. Marcelien V., assistant manager of St. Eloie plantation; Celeste, the wile of Dr. Hugh P. St. Martin, a physician and surgeon in Houma; Victoire, who is the wife of Dr. Clayton Brough, a veterinary surgeon of Houma; Bernard J.., office manager and bookkeeper of St. Eloie plantation; and Henry J., manager of Marmande Brothers mercantile business at Theriot. John J. Marmande attended public and private schools of Terrebonne Parish in his youth, following which he enrolled as a student in the Louisiana State University and continued his studies there through his junior year. Next he pursued a business course at the Soule' Commercial College, New Orleans, from which he was graduated in 1900, and at that time returned to the home plantation, of which he became manager at the time of the death of his brother, Emile B. Marmande, in 1923. The plantation is situated at Theriot, nine miles southwest of Houma, the parish seat of Terrebonne plantation, and includes St. Michael plantation, with a total of 6,000 acres. As manager Mr. Marmande operates his own sugar refinery and employs sixty hands, and the estate, which is incorporated under the name of Estate of B. Marmande, Ltd., also operates a general store at Theriot. The estate is prospering greatly under the present management, and improvements are constantly being made which add to its value. Mr. Marmande is also a st ockholder in the Houma Bank and Trust Company. In politics he follows the family traditions, being a stanch democrat, and his religious connection is with the St. Eloie Roman Catholic Church, while Fraternally he belongs to Houma Council No. 1317, K. of C. On February 10. 1910, at Houston, Texas, Mr. Marmande married Miss Bertha Dumiot, a daughter of Charles and Clara (Brousseau) Dumiot, the latter of whom is deceased, while the former, a retired planter, makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Marmande. Six children have been born to this union: Estelle, in the seventh grade of the Theriot graded school; John, in the first grade, and Donald, Charles, Robert and Bertha Clare. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 30-31, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.