MONTAGNE, R. J. Vermilion Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 307-308. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Montagne, Hon. R. J., member Louisiana state legislature, member tax commission, 1913, member of the contracting firm of Montagne Bros., Abbeville, Vermilion parish, La.--was born in Vermilion parish, La., July 22, 1881; son of Ernest and Sarah (Creswell) Montagne, the former of whom was born in Iberia parish, La., and the latter in Woodville, Miss. The paternal grandfather, Eli Montagne, was a native of France, and came to America as a young man. He located in Iberia parish and there engaged in mercantile business, later marrying Miss LeBlanc, a descendant of Acadian ancestors who came from Nova Scotia in 1765. The paternal grandfather was a resident of Iberia parish throughout the active portion of his life, and died in that locality. Two of the father's brothers, Hypolite and Eli, Jr., were engaged in the service of the Confederacy during the Civil war. The former was killed and the latter wounded. Ernest Montagne, the father, enjoyed exceptional educational advantages for the time of his youth, and when his education had been completed he engaged in farming in Vermilion parish. Later he took up the profession of civil engineering, and is at this time surveyor for Vermilion parish. R. J. Montagne attended the public schools of Vermilion parish. In 1901 he began business as a general contractor, and has so continued to the present time. He took a prominent part in the organization of the People's Bank and Trust Co., Jan. 1, 1912, and became a member of the board of directors of the bank, so remaining to this time. In Dec., 1912, Mr. Montagne took one of his brothers into partnership in his contracting business and since that time the firm name has been Montagne Bros., general contractors. Hon. R. J. Montagne also is extensively interested in farming. Oct. 28, 1901, Mr. Montagne was married to Miss Elodo Broussard, a daughter of Alexander Broussard, and 4 children have been born to their union, namely: Evelyn, Marion, Emily, and Ernest. Mr. Montagne is a member of the Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias. He is affiliated with the democratic party, and has served the people of his part of the state in various official capacities. During 1908-09 he filled the position of a member of the Abbeville city council. In Nov., 1912, he was elected a member of the Louisiana state legislature, and at the succeeding session of the legislature was appointed on the following committees: Appropriations, health and quarantine, and railroads. He also is serving as a member of the state tax commission. At this session of the general assembly Mr. Montagne introduced a measure to prohibit parish officials dealing in parish claims, and this became a law. Representative Montagne is a member of the Good Government league and is a strong supporter of the present state administration. Mr. Montagne believes in good government for Louisiana because he believes that Louisiana is one of the very best places on earth in which to live--that the resources and natural and acquired advantages of Louisiana are such as to afford greater opportunities for the proper exercise of the talents and endowments of honest and industrious men and women than any other section of country on the globe, and this being so, it is a sacred duty of those having the power to provide such governmental machinery as to enable the people to exercise their talents in industry in a free and untrammeled manner. Representative Montagne himself has given and is giving a most profitable exhibition of the doctrines he advocates. He has, entirely through his own efforts always, of course, allowing full credit to the mother for her important part in shaping the life of her son, risen from a position of practical obscurity to one of prominence and large influence among the people who have known him from childhood. He may be properly denominated among those valuable characters commonly classed as self-made men--verily and truly, the salt of the earth. These men believe in intelligently applied industry and utilization of the advantages the creator has placed within their reach, and the fruits of their labors are the substantially good and desirable things of this life.