BROUSSARD, J. OTTO , Vermilion Parish, LA
                         Submitted by Mike Miller    



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Broussard, J. Otto, successful and well-known attorney and president of the
board of school directors of Vermilion parish, La.; residence, Abbeville,
Vermilion parish, La., was born at Abbeville, La., Oct. 7, 1881; son of
Hon. Lastie and Perpetue (Mayard) Broussard, both of whom were born in
Vermilion parish, La., the former in the year 1838 and the latter in 1857.
The mother died in the locality in which she was born in 1907 and the
father in 1911.  The paternal grandfather, A. A. Broussard, was born in
Vermilion parish, where he also died at the age of 76 years.  He married
Marie Coralie Broussard.  The name originally was Broussard or Brassard, it
is said.  There were two brothers who came with the Acadian colony from
Nova Scotia in 1765.  One of  these, Joseph Broussard, called "Beau
soliel"--truthful son --was the first of this branch of the Broussard
family in Louisiana.  He located in the Attakapas country in Lafayette
parish.  Hon. Lastie Broussard, father of the subject of this sketch, was
an extensive planter.  When yet a young man he was elected assessor of the
parish, and following this he was elected clerk of court and so served
during 24 years.  Afterward he represented the senatorial district composed
of Vermilion and St. Mary parishes in the Louisiana state senate, and
successively filled various other political offices.  After retiring from
the office of clerk of court he passed an examination before the supreme
court of Louisiana and was admitted to the bar and licensed to practice in
the courts of  Louisiana.  He retired from active practice a few years
previous to his death.  J. Otto Broussard was twelfth of 15 children born
to his parents, 10 of whom are living at this time.  J. Otto was a student
in both private and public schools at Abbeville, following which, in 1898,
he entered Jefferson college, at Convent, La., from which he graduated in
1902 with the degree of A.B.  He then became assistant principal of the
Abbeville high school and so remained during 2 years.  He then returned to
Jefferson college and took the degree of A. M., having taken the course
while teaching.  In 1904 he entered the law department of the University of
the South, Sewanee, Tenn., and remained a student at that institution
during one year, then entering the law department of Tulane university,
from which he graduated with the degree of LL. B. in the class of 1905.  He
was admitted to the bar May 16 of that year, and immediately began practice
at Abbeville, where he has since resided and given his attention to legal
practice.  At this time Mr. Broussard is president of the board of school
directors of Vermilion parish.  In 1905 Mr. Broussard was married to Miss
Minnie W. Putnam of Abbeville, and 3 children have been born to their
union, these being Agnes Putnam, Dorothy Octavia and J. Otto, Jr.  Mr.
Broussard is a member of the Roman Catholic church and is affiliated with
the Democratic party.  He also is a third degree Knight of Columbus, New
Iberia council; Woodmen of the World, Abbeville Camp; Woodmen 's Circle,
Magnolia Grove.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp.
68-69.  Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century
Historical Association.