USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 15
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superintended harbor improvements at Mobile, and died at Galves- ton, Tex., Sept. 27, 1876.
Braithwaite, a post-hamlet and station in the northern part of Plaquemines parish, is situated on the Mississippi river and the Louisiana Southern R. R., about 10 miles southeast of New Orleans.
Branch, a post-hamlet in the central part of Acadia parish, is a station on the Opelousas, Gulf & Northeastern R. R., about 7 miles north of Rayne. It is the distributing center of a large rice district and has a population of about 45.
Brandon, a post-hamlet and station of West Feliciana parish, is situated on the Mississippi river and the line of the Louisiana Rail- way & Navigation company, about 12 miles northwest of St. Fran- cisville, the parish seat.
Braud, Denis, a French printer, obtained through the influence of D'Abbadie in 1764, the exclusive privilege of printing and of selling books in the colony of Louisiana. Gayarre says that this was the last monopoly conceded by the French government before the beginning of the Spanish domination. Braud became known as the "King's printer," and in this semi-official capacity he printed the long memorial touching the events of Oct. 29, 1768, when the su- perior council issued the decree expelling Gov. Ulloa from the province. On Aug. 21, 1769, he was arrested by order of Gov. O'Reilly, for his participation in the revolution of the preceding year, especially the printing of the memorial above mentioned. Braud's defense was that, being the king's printer, he was obliged to print whatever the authorities directed, and on this plea he was discharged from custody.
Breaux Bridge, one of the chief towns of St. Martin parish, is situated on the Bayou Teche, at the junction of two branches of the Southern Pacific R. R., about 12 miles north of St. Martinville, the parish seat. It was incorporated in 1859; has a money order post- office, express. telegraph and telephone facilities, cotton gins, and is the distributing point for a very rich farming district. In 1900 the population was 654.
Breaux, Joseph A., jurist, is a native of Louisiana, born in Iber- ville parish, Feb. 18. 1838. a descendant of the French Acadians. In 1853 he entered Georgetown college, Kentucky, but poor health compelled him to return home after two years and he did not grad- uate. After some time he attended Louisiana college for one ses- sion, and when it was incorporated into the University of Louisiana. he attended for a second session. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, but had not practiced long before the Civil war broke out, when he, like so many young southerners, enlisted in the Con- federate army, where he served under Gen. Kirby Smith, until his surrender. At the close of the war Mr. Breaux again practiced law ; was president of the school board of his parish for some time, and instrumental in increasing the efficiency and usefulness of the com- mon schools. In 1888 he was elected superintendent of public in- struction of Lonisiana, and while in office had a bill introduced into the legislature remodeling the school laws, which was passed by a
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large majority. He compiled the school laws, and decisions relating to them, which compilation was published in 1889. On April 24, 1890, he was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of Louisiana, and some years later became chief justice. Judge Breaux has great judicial faculty, and his rulings are noted for justice and equity.
Breazeale, Phanor, lawyer and member of Congress, was born at Natchitoches, La., Dec. 29, 1858. He was educated by a private tutor and in 1879 began the study of law with Col. W. H. Jack of Natchitoches. In May, 1881, he graduated in the law department of what is now Tulane university and began the practice in his home city. In 1888 he was elected president of the parish school board, which office he held for three years ; was elected prosecuting attor- ney for the 11th judicial district in 1892, and was reelected in 1896, without opposition : was a member of the constitutional convention of 1898, and the same year was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent the 4th Louisiana district in the 56th Congress. He was reelected to the 57th and 58thi Congresses, serving three terms in all, and upon retiring from the office resumed the practice of law. In 1908 he was appointed by Gov. Sanders as one of the commis- sioners to revise and codify the criminal laws of the state. Mr. Breazeale is a member of the Louisiana Historical society and the State Bar association.
Breland, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Tangipahoa parish, is about 4 miles northeast of Bolivar, which is the nearest railroad station. It has a population of about 30.
Brent, William L., lawyer and politician, was born in Charles county, Md. He received a liberal education, studied law and re- moved to Louisiana, where he practiced. He was elected a repre- sentative from Louisiana to the 18th, 19th, and 20th Congresses as a Whig. After serving in Congress, he practiced law in Washing- ton, D. C., and in Louisiana. He died on July 7, 1848, at St. Mar- tinsville, La.
Brimstone, a post-hamlet and station in the southern part of Cal- casieu parish, is on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 6 miles west of Lake Charles, the parish seat. It has an express office, telephone and telegraph facilities, and does some shipping.
Brockdale, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Washington parish, near the Mississippi boundary, is a station on the Kentwood & Eastern R. R., about 10 miles northwest of Franklinton, the parish seat. It has an express office and telephone and telegraph facilities.
Brodnax, a post-hamlet in the central part of Morehouse parish, is situated about a mile south of Bartholomew bayou and 2 miles west of Gallion, the nearest railroad station.
Brooke, John R., soldier, was born in Pennsylvania, July 21. 1838. In April, 1861, he entered the army as a captain in the 4th Pa. volunteer infantry, and rose by successive promotions until May 12, 1864, when he was made a brigadier-general. He was with Gen. Grant in the Wilderness campaign, and after the war was assigned to duty in the Department of the Gulf. He was appointed by Gen.
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W. H. Emory to take possession of the arms and other state prop- erty surrendered by Gov. John McEnery, on Sept. 17, 1874, and to take command of the city of New Orleans until the state and city governments could be reorganized. When the Federal troops were withdrawn from Louisiana, Gen. Brooke was ordered west, where he continued on duty until the breaking out of the Spanish-Ameri- can war. In 1888 he was made a brigadier-general in the regular army and placed in command of the Department of the Platte, with headquarters at Omaha. Neb. In April. 1898, he was sent to com- mand the troops at Chickamauga Park. Ga., and in July was ordered to Porto Rico. He was at the head of the military commision ; gov- ernor-general of Porto Rico, and later governor-general of Cuba. President Grant did not approve Gen. Emory's action in appointing Gen. Brooke to the command of the city of New Orleans, insisting that the Kellogg government should have been recognized under any and all circumstances. To the president's criticism Gen. Emory replied that anarchy would have been certain to result had not Brooke been placed in command. (See Kellogg's Administration and White League.)
Brooklyn, a postoffice in the eastern part of Jackson parish, is located about 4 miles southeast of Chathamville, which is the most convenient railroad station.
Brooks (R. R. name Seibert Station), a post-village in the central part of Pointe Coupée parish, is on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 4 miles northwest of New Roads, the parish seat.
Broussard, an incorporated town in the eastern part of Lafayette parish, is on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 7 miles southeast of Lafayette, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, an ex- press office, telephone and telegraph facilities, and is a shipping point of some importance. Its population in 1900 was 290.
Broussard, Robert F., member of Congress, was born on the Marie Louise plantation near New Iberia, La .. Aug. 17, 1864. He was educated at several public and private schools in Louisiana and entered Georgetown university. Washington, D. C., in 1879. He was a student there until 1882: received an appointment as in- spector of customs at New Orleans in 1885; was afterward made assistant weigher, and later became export statistician of the port. While in the government service at New Orleans, he studied law at Tulane university. where he graduated in 1889, and soon afterward located at New Iberia, where he began to practice law in partner- ship with Donelson Foster. He took an active part in the political life of the city and parish : was elected a member of the Democratic parish executive committee : the Democratic Congressional execu- tive committee of the 3rd district and the Democratic State central executive committee. When the lottery question came up in 1890, he took an active part on the anti-lottery side and canvassed the state in the campaign against it. He became nominee for the office of district attorney of the 19th district of Louisiana, on the anti- lottery ticket and was elected to that position at the state elections of 1892 and 1894. In 1896 he was elected to represent his district
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in the lower house of Congress, and has been reelected at each suc- ceeding election to 1908 ..
Brown, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Bienville parish, is located about 2 miles north of the southern boundary of the parish, and about halfway between Ashland and Saline, which are the nearest railroad stations. It has a money order postoffice and is a trading center for the neighborhood.
Brown, James, U. S. senator from Louisiana, was born near Staunton, Va., Sept. 11. 1866. Ile was educated at William and Mary college, after which he studied law and practiced at Frankfort, Ky. In 1789 he commanded a company of sharpshooters in an ex- pedition against the Indians : was secretary to Gov. Shelby in 1792; soon after the cession of the Louisiana territory removed to New Orleans; aided Edward Livingston to compile the code of laws; was appointed secretary of the territory and later U. S. district at- torney. In 1813 he was elected U. S. senator from Louisiana to fill the unexpired term of J. N. Destrehan ; served from Feb. 5, 1813. - to March, 1817 ; was defeated for reelection by W. C. C. Claiborne, who died before taking his seat ; was again elected U. S. senator, and served from Dec. 6, 1819, until Dec. 9. 1823, when he resigned : was appointed minister to France on Dec. 23, 1823, and served until July 1, 1829. He died at Philadelphia. April 7, 1835.
Bruce, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Rapides parish. about 5 miles west of Forest Hill, the nearest railroad station. It has a population of about 40.
Brunett, a village in the northeastern part of East Carroll parish, is situated on the Mississippi river about 12 miles above Lake Provi- dence. the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice and had a population of about 75 in 1900.
Bruns, J. Dickson, M. D., was a native of South Carolina. After graduating with first honors at the Carolina college at Columbia, he entered the Jefferson medical college at Philadelphia, Pa., where he also distinguished himself. Soon after he established himself in practice at Charleston the Civil war broke out and he enlisted as a private soldier in the Confederate army, but after the fall of Fort Sumter he was appointed surgeon, in which capacity he continued until the close of the war. He then visited Europe, and upon his return to America was called to a professorship in the New Orleans school of medicine. In New Orleans he built up a successful prac- tice, and also took a keen interest in political affairs. In 1874 he was one of the organizers of the White League, and he established the Democrat for the purpose of opposing the reconstruction policy -especially Kellogg's administration. He died in 1883.
Brusly is a post-hamlet of West Baton Rouge parish.
Bryan, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Bienville parish, is about 5 miles west of Crowson, the nearest railroad station.
Bryceland (R. R. name Bryce), a post-hamlet in the northern part of Bienville parish, is on the Louisiana & Northwest R. R., about 12 miles southwest of Arcadia. the parish seat.
Buchanan, Robert C., soldier, was born in the State of Maryland
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about 1810; graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1830; served as lieutenant in the Black Hawk and Seminole wars: was then on the Western frontier until 1845, when he joined Gen. Taylor's army of occupation in Texas; was brevetted major in May, 1846, for gal- lantry at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma; was made lieutenant- colonel of Maryland volunteers in Nov., 1846; and served in Mexico until the close of the war. He was in the defenses of Washington from Nov., 1861 to March, 1862; took part in Gen. McClelland's - Peninsular campaign: became brigadier-general of volunteers in Nov., 1862, and was for a short time a member of the military com- mission near the elose of the war. On Jan. 2, 1868, he was ap- pointed to the command of the District of Louisiana, and on March 25 issued his Special Orders No. 63, relative to the election under the reconstruction act of 1867. This was followed by other orders supporting the reconstruction policy of Congress. He remained in command of the district under Gens. Sheridan and Rousseau until Jan., 1869, and the following year was retired. He died at Wash- ington, D. C., Nov. 29, 1878. Gen. Neill, who served as his adju- tant-general in Louisiana, says: "Buchanan's course was strongly characterized by wisdom, firmness and moderation under the most trying and difficult circumstances in which a department com- mander has ever been placed since the war. On the meeting of the legislature, anticipating trouble and bloodshed, by his strong and manly and prompt action I believe he saved the city of New Or- leans from a massacre." Such is the testimony of one who belonged to the same party as Gen. Buchanan. After a lapse of forty years the impartial historian can have no hesitancy in saying that his "wisdom, firmness and moderation" were exerted to sustain an administration that was distasteful to a majority of the people of Louisiana.
Buck, Charles F., member of Congress, was born at Durrheim, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Nov. 5, 1841. His family came . to America when he was young and settled in New Orleans. He was educated in the public schools of New Orleans, and at the Louisiana State university, and was elected a representative from Louisiana to the 54th Congress as a Democrat.
Buckeye, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Rapides parish, is situated on a branch of the Little river, about 6 miles northeast of Kees, the nearest railroad station.
Buckhouse, a little post-village in the northern part of Bossier parish, is located on a short line of railroad called the Arkansas & Eastern, which connects with the St. Louis Southwestern at Arkana.
Buckner, a post-village in the southwestern part of Richland parish, is situated on the Boeuf river, about 8 miles west of Mang- ham, the nearest railroad station.
Bullard, Henry Adams, jurist and educator, was born at Groton, Mass., Sept. 9, 1781. He was educated at Harvard college, where he graduated in 1807: studied law and practiced for some time : accompanied Gen. Toledo as military secretary on a revolutionary expedition into New Mexico, which was repulsed by Spanish troops
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at San Antonio ; and after suffering many hardships reached Natchi- toches, where he engaged in the practice of law. In 1822 he was elected district judge, representative from Louisiana to the 22nd Congress as a Whig, and reelected to the 23d Congress, serving from Dec. 5, 1831, umtil 1834, when he resigned to become judge of the supreme court of Louisiana. He remained on the supreme bench until 1846, with the exception of a few months in 1839, when he acted as secretary of state. In 1847 he was appointed professor of civil law in the Louisiana law school and delivered two courses of lectures; in 1850 was elected to the lower house of the state leg- islature, and to the 31st Congress as a Whig to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Charles M. Conrad. He served from Dec. 5,. 1850, until his death April 17, 1851. at New Orleans, La. He was the first president of the Louisiana Historical society.
Bullitt Bayou, a post-village in the northeastern part of Con- cordia parish, is on the Mississippi river, about 8 miles northwest of Vidalia, the parish seat. and 5 miles northeast of Sycamore, the. nearest railroad station. In 1900 it had a population of 75.
Bundick, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Calcasieu parish, is situated on a creek of the same name, about 5 miles north of Redbuck. the nearest railroad station.
Bunkerhill, a post-hamlet in the central part of Union parish, is on the Arkansas Southeastern R. R., about S miles east of Farmer- ville, the parish seat.
Bunkie, formerly known as Irion, is an incorporated banking town in the southwestern part of Avoyelles parish, on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 12 miles southwest of Marksville, the parish seat. The first house was built in 1882, when the town was named by Capt. Haas after his little daughter. The first record of the- council is dated April 14. 1885. The first postoffice was established in 1883, and since that time the town has grown with great rapidity. It is a large cotton shipping point, and supplies a rich agricultural district. It has an international money order postoffice, an express office as well as telegraph and telephone facilities, and in 1900 had a population of nearly 900.
Buras, a village in the southern part of Plaquemines parish, is situated on the Mississippi river and is the southern terminus of the New Orleans, Fort Jackson & Grand Isle R. R. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, and in 1900 had a population' of 250.
Burch, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Washington parish,. near the Mississippi border, is about a mile southwest of Brockdale, the nearest railroad station.
Burgess, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Bossier parish,. is near the Arkansas line and a short distance from Ansel, the. nearest railroad station.
Burissa (R. R. name Houston), a post-hamlet and station in the. eastern part of Calcasieu parish, is on the St. Louis, Watkins & Gulf R. R., about 30 miles northeast of Lake Charles, the parish seat.
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Burke, Edward A., who was prominent in Louisiana politics dur- ing the reconstruction days, was of Irish extraction, as his name would indicate. His grandfather fled from that island to America to escape punishment for complicity in a rebellion against the Brit- ish government, and became a naturalized American citizen. In 1861, at the age of 19 years, Edward enlisted in the army, and at the close of the war located in New Orleans, where he became agent for the Jackson railroad (now the Illinois Central). He was bit- terly opposed to the Kellogg administration and when the White League was formed in 1874 he became an active and influential member of the organization. In the conflict of Sept. 14, 1874, he served on the staff of Adjt .- Gen. Ellis, and received the thanks of Gen. Ogden in his official report. In 1878 he was elected treasurer of state and held the office for 10 years, retiring in April, 1888. Shortly after his election to this office he was one of a company that bought the New Orleans Democrat, of which he became sole owner the following year. In Dec., 1881, he purchased the New Orleans Times and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Times-Democrat, which it still bears. He was one of the prime movers in the Cotton Centennial exposition at New Orleans in 1884-5 and was director-general of the enterprise. In Sept., 1889. irregularities in the conduct of the treasurer's office during his administration came to light, and in October he was indicted for the illegal use of bonds and for negotiating bonds that ought to have been destroyed. At that time he was in London, England, and instead of returning to Louisiana to face the charges, he went to Spanish Honduras. He never returned to New Orleans, nor could be brought back for trial, thongh in July, 1890, the governor offered a reward of $10,000 for his apprehension. Through the exercise of the principle of law that the state is not responsible for the un- authorized acts of officials, the loss to Louisiana was comparatively small, as most of the fraudulent bonds were recovered.
Burkplace, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Bienville parish. is about 3 miles southwest of Lucky, the nearest railroad station.
Burnside, a village in the southern part of Ascension parish, is on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., and about 6 miles north- east of Donaldsonville, the parish seat. It has a money order post- office. an express office. telephone and telegraph facilities, and a population of about 150.
Burr, Aaron, lawyer and politician, was born at Newark, N. J .. Feb. 6. 1756. His father was a Presbyterian minister and the founder of Princeton college, where Aaron graduated in 1772. He then began the study of law. but when the Revolutionary war began he entered the army, served with Benedict Arnold in the expedition to Canada, then became a member of Washington's staff and later served as aide to Gen. Putnam. After the war he settled in New York: was elected to the U. S. senate from that state in 1791; and in 1800 was elected vice-president. Intense rivalry between him and Alexander Hamilton led to a duel on July 11, 1804, in which Hamilton was killed. Burr fled to South Carolina until the excite-
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ment over the affair quieted down, then returned to Washington, where he formulated the project, the exact nature of which has never been made public. It is on account of this scheme that his career is of interest in connection with Louisiana's history. (See Burr Conspiracy.) He was arrested and tried for treason, but was acquitted, after which he went to Europe, where he remained for several years. . Under a fictitious name and in disguise he returned to America and resumed the practice of law in New York. He died on Staten Island, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1836.
Burr Conspiracy .- The precise object of Aaron Burr and his col- leagues is to a great extent a matter of conjecture. The actors in the drama have all passed away, and the records left by them are both scant and contradictory. The prevailing opinion is that Burr's designs contemplated : Ist the separation of the west from the east along the line of Alleghany mountains, or 2nd. in case he failed to accomplish this, to seize New Orleans and use that city as a base of operations for the conquest or "liberation" of Spanish America. Burr's term as vice-president of the United States ex- pired on March 4, 1805, and soon afterward he commenced his opera- tions. On his way to the southwest he visited Harmon Blenner- hassett, an Englishman living on Blennerhassett island in the Ohio river, near Parkersburg. W. Va., and enlisted his sympathy and co- operation. From Blennerhassett's he went to Kentucky and Ten- nessee, where he was warmly received. He next spent several days at Fort Massac with Gen. James Wilkinson. On June 26 he arrived at New Orleans with letters from Wilkinson to several prominent men, among whom were Gov. Claiborne. Gen. John Adair and Daniel Clark. In the letter to Adair, Wilkinson said: "He (Burr) understands your merits and reckons on you. Prepare to visit me and I will tell you all. We must have a peep at the unknown world beyond me." In the letter to Clark. Wilkinson stated that Burr would "communicate many things not proper to write," and pledges his life that confidence in Burr would not be misplaced. Gov. Clai- borne, who knew nothing of the scheme, gave a banquet with Burr as the guest of honor, thus enabling him to meet with and form the acquaintance of the leading men of the city. Previous to this time there had been rumors of a conspiracy between Wilkinson and Gov. Miro to found an empire extending from the Alleghany mountains to the Pacific ocean, and that the former was in the pay of Spain to secure the secession of Kentucky and Tennessee from the United States. If this dream constituted any part of Burr's plot. he was careful to keep the fact concealed, discussing it only when forced by circumstances to do so, and then in a vague and incoherent way. The whole French territory of Louisiana had recently passed into the hands of the United States, the whole Mississippi valley was full of adventurers, many of whom were dissatisfied with the change, and it was from this reckless and per- haps disloyal element that Burr expected to recruit many of his followers. But it was necessary to have a few men of character and
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