BROUSSARD, ZACHARIE B. (HONORABLE), Vermilion Parish, LA Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Broussard, Hon. Zacharie B., clerk of court and member of Louisiana state legislature, Abbeville, La., was born near Lake Pegnier, Vermilion parish, La., Jan. 26, 1873; son of Minos C. and Azena Eulalie (Duhon) Broussard, both of whom were born in Vermilion parish, La., where the father died in the year 1901 at the age of 62 years. He is survived by his wife at this time. The paternal grandfather, Edouard Broussard, was born in Vermilion parish and died in the locality in which he was born at the age of 61 years. The paternal great-grandfather, August Broussard, also was born in Vermilion parish and there lived throughout life. Minos C. Broussard, the father, was actively engaged in farming during the earlier part of his life, and was identified with that industry throughout life. He served throughout the whole period of the Civil war, in support of the cause of the South. After the surrender he returned home and during the reconstruction days served as assistant tax co]lector. Later he was a member of the school board. He held either an elective or an appointive office from the year 1895 continuously to the time of his death, and was never a candidate for any office to which he was not triumphantly elected. Notwithstanding this, however, the family has for generations past been identified with farming and agricultural interests in Southwest Louisiana. Zacharie B. Broussard was fifth of 13 children born to his parents--6 sons and 7 daughters. Of these 6 sons and 6 daughters are now living. Zacharie B. attended a public school that was located on his father's plantation. Later he attended a private high school conducted by Prof. R. A. Smith at Arcadia, La., during 3 terms. When his education had been thus completed he, in 1865, returned to Abbeville and entered the sheriff's office as deputy tax collector, so remaining during 6 years. During the succeeding 6 years be occupied a clerical position in the office of the clerk of court. In 1904 he became a candidate for the Louisiana state legislature, and at the succeeding election was elected by an almost unanimous vote. During the term of his incumbency as representative he participated in 3 sessions of the legislature, there having been an extraordinary session called by Governor Blanchard. During these sessions Representative Broussard served as a member of each of the following committees: Contingent expense, ways and means and corporations. During the session of 1904 a bill was introduced known as the "Mermentau tax levy district bill," and he supported this measure, but afterward learned that his action in this particular instance was contrary to the wishes of his constituents. He therefore took the stump, acknowledging his mistake and promising to use his influence toward having this bill repealed, which he did successfully at the next session of the legislature, 1906. He was elected to the legislature on the Jastremski platform, which advocated election to all offices by direct vote of the people, and this measure was enacted during his term as a member of the general assembly. In 1908 he was elected to the office of parish assessor for a term of 4 years, but did not assume the duties of the office until Jan. 1, 1909, as he had been appointed chief clerk of the enrollment room to the legislature. His work in this connection was so satisfactory that at the end of the session the other clerks of the office presented him with a valuable gold pen as a token of appreciation, and the speaker of the house from the rostrum complimented him highly on the efficiency of his work, saying that if there were more like him it would be far better for the house. In addition to these publicly expressed sentiments of appreciation, he was also presented with a sum of money by the speaker of the house as a further and more substantial acknowledgment of the value of his services. Upon assuming the duties of the office of assessor, to which he had been elected, he put in much of his time equalizing the assessment equitably between the large and small property owners. At the end of the first year the police jury refused to pay his salary, on the ground that he had reduced the assessment to too low a point. Accordingly he sued the parish, and in the District court and Court of Appeals received a judgment. The case attracted state-wide attention. In Jan., 1912, Representative Broussard became a candidate for the office of clerk of court, against the incumbent at that time who had occupied the office 12 years, and previous to that time had been assessor during 4 years. In his candidacy he met with strong opposition from all of the parish officials, with but one exception. However, he took the stump in his own behalf, making speeches in both French and English, and was triumphantly elected. He has been incumbent of that office since May, 1912. In Dec., 1897, Representative Broussard was married to Miss Regina Bessan, who died in 1898, leaving 1 daughter, Mary Lillian Ruby. In Nov., 1899, Mr. Broussard was married to Miss Mary Eve Thibodeaux, and 3 children have been born to this union, namely: Zacharie Warren, John Baptist Harris and Regina, all of whom were born 2 years apart and in the same month. Mr. Broussard is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Woodmen's Circle. He has been affiliated with the Democratic party since beginning the exercise of the elective franchise. Representative Broussard has a strong hold upon the confidence of the people of Abbeville and Vermlion parish, who have known him well from his earliest childhood and have good reason to believe that he will at all times carefully guard their interests to the best of his ability. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 69 71. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.