Terrebonne County Louisiana Archives News.....Fifty Years Ago No. 24 (again) March 31, 1894
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Savanna King savanna18king@gmail.com August 11, 2023, 1:18 am

The Thibodaux Sentinel March 31, 1894
In March, 1843, the municipal officers were James A. Scudday, Mayor, John C. 
Beatty, Joseph R. Niles, Thomas M. Williams and Charles F. Hawley, Trustees.

Louis Bush, Clerk and Assessor.

J.A. LeBlanc, Treasurer.

August Roger, Constable.

Jona C. White, Collector and Wharfinger.

This council set apart a lot of ground for the burial of dead animals at the 
corner of Crazy and President streets.

The town taxes for 1843 were 3.13 mills on lots and 2.12 mills on improvements.

The council found that its powers were “insufficient to place the front street 
and levee of the town in such conditions as is required by its growing 
commerce.” A meeting of all the voters of the town was called “to deliberate on 
the propriety of raising an extraordinary tax of $1000.00 for permanently 
extending and arranging said Levee street,” provided that one half of the 
improvements be paid by the proprietors or lots fronting said Levee street, and 
in case of proprietors refusing to pay, legal processes would be resorted to, 
and owners be required to remove all buildings from the levee the distance 
required by law. 

The meeting was held. Judge McAllister presided, and Louis Bush was secretary.

McAllister, Beatty, and Scudday addressed the people. The vote was taken viva 
voce.

J.A. Scudday, J.C. Beatty, L.D. Bourgeois, C.F. Hawley, J.R. Niles, James 
McAllister, E.T. Burnham, W.T. Benedict, Absalom Rees, and M.H. Daunis voted for 
the tax, whilst John McClellan, L. Lamoureux, M. Philippeau, John P. Tenny, L.V. 
Maggioli, L. Bush, H. Aucoin, A.P. Skinner, W.C. Horton, M. Stanly, Theo. 
Fisher, J.A. LeBlanc, T.M. Williams and P. Rouanet voted against the 
proposition; 10 in favor, 14 against. The town agreed to place curbing where 
proprietors would have the pavements laid. The Thibodaux Lyceum was allowed the 
use of the council hall for debates and meetings. 

In February 1844, “Levee street became an intolerable nuisance as well to the 
inhabitants of the town as to neighboring planters.” The council decided to test 
the question, whether the buildings fronting on the levee belonging to Alfred 
Millard, Mrs. Mary E. Roddy, Mrs. Henry S. Thibodaux, Lange P. Maggioli, 
Marcellas H. Daunis, Louis Lamoureux, and L.P. Verret, could be removed by law, 
and legal steps were instituted. The mayor was empowered to contract with any of 
the parties to remove their buildings 60 feet from the levees. M.H. Daunis 
agreed to remove his building, Millard, Roddy, Lamoureux and Maggioli agreed to 
build a good street 40 feet wide in front of their property. Council offered to 
purchase from Verret his property for $500.00 with privilege of removing his 
buildings. With these agreements that subject was dropped for the time being, 
but was a source of much annoyance and provocative of unpleasant feelings before 
it was finally settled through the courts. 

Of all the parties taking part in this administration, August Roger is the only 
one now surviving, at present residing near Jeanerette.

Thomas M. Williams, a trustee, was an able physician residing on Jackson street, 
on the property now owned by Timothe, the baker.

He was an associate with another physician whose name I do not recall in running 
a sugar plantation now known as the Mary plantation, below Raceland. The partner 
resided in the West, and came to Thibodaux on a visit in 1850 or ‘51, the latter 
year I think. After passing some time here he started on his return home, Dr. 
Williams accompanying him by steamboat as far as New Orleans. Their business 
concluded passage was secured on the steamboat Louisiana for the home. Dr. 
Williams accompanied his partner and friend on board, and whilst standing on the 
boiler deck engaged in a final conversation, ere the steamer left, the boilers 
exploded, spreading death and destruction all around. A large number of people 
were killed and many others badly injured. The two Doctors were found 100 yards 
or more from the boat, lying side by side, having been instantly killed by the 
terrific explosion. Dr. Williams’ body was brought to Thibodaux and buried in 
St. John’s Cemetery.



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