WURZLOW, Calvin, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 477-478.  Edited by Alc?e
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Wurzlow, Calvin, mayor, Houma, Terrebonne parish, La., was born at Houma, Jan.
9, 1870, son of August Wurzlow, born at Berlin, Prussia, German Empire, where
he learned the trade of a tailor.  In 1856 August Wurzlow came to America,
locating first at Galveston, Tex., but because of the prevalence of a yellow
fever epidemic remained there only a short time, coming to Louisiana the same
year and locating at Houma, where he was engaged in the tailoring business
until the year 1880, when he became proprietor of Wurzlow's Commercial hotel,
which he conducted until the time of his death in 1898.  He erected the 3-
sto
ry brick building that is known by his name at the present time and in
which the leading hotel business of the city is conducted.  He was married to
Miss Emeline Belanger, who was born in Terrebonne parish, a daughter of Hubert
Belanger, a native of Terrebonne parish and a large sugar planter.  It was he
who first advanced the idea of a canal waterway from Houma to New Orleans, and
with his own hands and the aid of employes [sic] dug what was for many years
known as the Belanger canal.  This was later turned over to the Barataria
Canal Co.  Hubert Belanger's father, whose name also was Hubert, was of
Norman-French parentage and came from Canada about the beginning of the 19th
century, locating on land which later became the site of the city of Houma. 
He was one of the earliest pioneers of the parish and had much to do with the
early development of that region, being one of the founders of the town of
Houma.  He donated the 10-acre plot of land upon which the parish buildings
are located.  Mr. Belanger was a descendant of the famous French navigator,
Cartier.  Calvin Wurzlow was the third of 9 children born to his parents, all
of whom are living at this time.  He was educated in the public schools of
Houma and by private study.  While assisting his father in conducting the
hotel business he took up stenography and became a profic
ient stenographic
writer without the aid of an instructor.  When 18 years old he secured a
position as weigher on a plantation, and from his salary here saved enough
money to purchase a typewriter.  He then went to New Orleans and secured
employment as a stenographer and typewriter in the office of Frank P. Gravely,
architect, where he remained 2 years, having in the meantime been admitted to
partnership with Mr. Gravely at the end of his first year's service.  At the
end of the second year he returned to Houma to assist in the re?stablishment
of his father's hotel, which had been burned.  He became manager of the hotel
and so continued until 1896, when he entered the law office of Lucius F.
Suthon as a stenographer, and in connection with this work immediately began
the study of law, under Mr. Suthon.  In 1894 he passed the required
examination and was admitted to the bar, at once becoming a partner with Mr.
Suthon under the firm name of Suthon & Wurzlow.  Six months later Mr. Suthon
died, and was succeeded in the partnership by his brother, Hugh Suthon, the
firm name remaining the same as previously and which has continued to the
present time.  In 1905 Mr. Wurzlow was appointed city attorney, and filled
that position 2 years, at the expiration of which period he was elected mayor
of the city of Houma, to which office he has be
en 4 times successively
re?lected and continues to so serve at this date.  Politically Mr. Wurzlow is
a democrat, and is a member of the Roman Catholic church.  He is also a member
of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, the Maccabees, Woodmen of the World, and Redmen.  He is
president, respectively of the Houma Progressive League and of the Charity
Board.  June 23, 1895, Hon. Calvin Wurzlow was married to Miss Marie Louise
Silvestre, a daughter of Dr. F. A. Silvestre, deceased, a former practitioner
for many years in Houma.  To them 5 children have been born, 4 of whom are
living, viz.:  Helen, a student at Sophie Newcomb college;  Marguerite,  Marie
Louise, and  Sydney.  A son died when 10 years old.