Joseph Alfred Robichaux, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ Joseph Alfred Robichaux. Not every man who occupies an official position with a banking institution is a banker. This calling is one that should be pursued only by a man who has a liking and natural aptitude for its various phases, a thorough understanding of the basic principles of credit, and the importance of a bank to the development of a community and its commercial and industrial life. However, in Joseph Alfred Robichaux, active vice president and manager of the Peoples Bank & Trust Company of Houma, the stockholders, depositors and public have an official who is a real banker, and it is to his astuteness, broad outlook and sound policies that this institution occupies its present enviable position along similar concerns of Terrebonne Parish. Joseph Alfred Robichaux was born on Bayou Terrebonne, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, July 3, 1867. He is a son of Etienne Paul and Camilla (Hebert) Robichaux, grandson of Joseph Narcisse Robichaux, and great-grandson of Marin Robichaux. The latter was born at sea while his parents were journeying from Nova Scotia to New Orleans. When they arrived at that port they settled in what is now a part of the city, but at that the a section in which there were but three Indian palmetto huts. Joseph Narcisse Robichaux was born on Bayou Lafourche, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, in 1814, and died on the Red Star Plantation in 1898, having settled there in 1542. Two years later he planted his property with sugar cane, and lived to see it one of the important sugar plantations of Terrebonne Parish, he married Ursula Robichaux, who although she bore the same name was not related to him. Her birth occurred on Bayou LaFourche, and her death on the Red Star Plantation. As the name indicates the Robichaux family originated in France, from which country emigration was made to Nova Scotia, and from there, as before stated, the great great-grandparents of J. A. Robichaux journeyed to Louisiana. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Robichaux of this review, Louis Hebert, was a farmer of Terrebonne Parish, and died on Bayou Terrebonne. During the War with the Seminole Indians he supp lied the officers with game, as he was a famous hunter, and he is recorded as one of the veterans of that campaign. Etienne Paul Robichaux was born on the Red Star Plantation, in 1840, and died on this plantation in March, 1895, having spent his entire life on it, and devoted his efforts to raising sugar. He is remembered as one of the important factors in the sugar industry of Terrebonne Parish. His wife was born on Bayou Plantation, in 1846, and she died on the Red Star Plantation in 1920. Their children were as follows : Joseph Alfred, who was the first born; Alfred Louis, who resides at Rayne, Louisiana; Leo N., who resides at Montegut, Louisiana, and who has held a position as mechanic with the Terrebonne Sugar Company for thirty years, and owns and operates a ship yard, which, however, is only kept open three months of the year; Josephine N., who resides at New Orleans, Louisiana, the widow of Israel E. Duplands, a merchant of Bayou Terrebonne, where he died; and Ada Marie, who is unmarried and resides on the old homestead. Joseph Alfred Robichaux attended the public schools of Terrebonne Parish, Saint Charles College at Grand Coteau, Louisiana, where he completed the work of the junior year, and in 1885 he was graduated from the L. C. Smith Commercial College, Lexington, Kentucky. From 1 885 to 1895 Mr. Robichaux was a merchant of Bayou Terrebonne, and during that ten-year period came into contact with so many people, and learned so thoroughly the financial condition of them and the community generally, that he decided there was an excellent opening for a sound bank. Therefore, in 1896 he with others organized the Peoples Bank & Trust Company of Houma, of which he was first made assistant cashier. In 1922 he was elected vice president of the bank, and made actual bead of the institution. Other interests have the benefit of his good judgment and business foresight, and he is secretary and treasurer of the Peoples Sugar Company of Houma; owns a farm that is located two miles west of Houma, on which he is carrying on diversified farming; and he is an active member of the Houma Chamber of Commerce. During the late war Mr. Robichaux was chairman of all of the Liberty Loan drives of Terrebonne Parish, and during the war period his bank sold over $l,000,000 of government securities. His bank was opened for business in 1896, and since then has enjoyed an undisturbed prosperity. It has capital and surplus of $155,000. The present officials are: L. H. Jastremski, president; J. A. Robichaux, active vice president; Jean L. Caillouet, vice president; Charles J. Champagne, vice president; O. C. Sund bery, vice president; J. A. Daspit, cashier; and Henry J. Thibodeaux, assistant cashier. On December 18, 1888, Mr. Robichaux married Miss Ada Ashley Sanders, of Bayou Terrebonne. She was born on Bayou Terrebonne in 1863, and died at Houma in 1909, having had no children. On October 5, 1913, Mr. Robichaux married, at Birmingham, Alabama, Miss Frances N. Lewis, a daughter of Joshua and Fannie Lewis, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Lewis is a retired farmer of Birmingham, Alabama. Mrs. Robichaux was graduated from Peabody College. Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Robichaux have a daughter, Elizabeth Nell, who is a student of the Horton Preparatory School, Houma, Louisiana. While he gives his support to the democratic party in local and state matters, Mr. Robichaux is not a politician. He is, however, deeply interested in the development of Houma and Terrebonne Parish, and stands back of any worthy project which in his opinion will bring about a lasting benefit to the people here. The First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Houma, holds his membership, and he is active in church work, and chairman of the Board of Stewards. A Mason, he belongs to Unity Lodge No. 267, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master; Ascension Chapter No. 49, Royal Arch Masons, of Donaldsonville. He also belongs to Houma Lodge No. 55, Knights of Pythias of which he is a past chancellor commander. In fact, as the above clearly proves, it would be difficult to find a more representative citizen or aggressive business man and financier in Terrebonne Parish than he, or one who is more popular with everyone with whom he comes into contact. NOTE: The sketch is accompanied by a black and white photograph/drawing of the subject. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 281-282, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.