USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 70
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$261,969; total value of all products, $536,021. The population of the parish in 1900 was 9,048 whites, 1,279 colored, a total of 10,327, an increase of 4,424 over the year 1890. The estimated population for 1908 was 10,300.
Vick, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Avoyelles par- ish, is situated on the Red river 8 miles northwest of Marksville, the parish seat and nearest railroad town.
Victor, Claude Perrin, a celebrated French general, was born at La Marche, in the department of Vosges, Dec. 7. 1764. At the age of 17 years he entered the army as drummer in a regiment of artillery and after 8 years of service was honorably discharged. In 1792 he enlisted as a volunteer, and for his gallantry during the siege of Toulon the next year was made a brigadier-general by order of Napoleon. He led the vanguard at Marengo, being at the time in command of a division. In 1802 he was appointed captain- general of Louisiana by Napoleon and issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of that colony, in which he said: "I come in the name of your government, to offer the means that are to multiply your happiness. . I bring you laws that have caused the glory of the French nation, as they have also assured its tranquillity and its happiness. Surrounded by honest and enlightened magistrates. we shall rival with yours in establishing in your midst an incor- ruptible justice." But Gen. Victor was never permitted to exercise the duties of his office, nor never saw the people to whom his proclamation was addressed. Before he could come to Louisiana the province had been ceded to the United States. In 1806 he commanded a corps d'armee in the Prussian and Russian cam- paigns; was captured in 1807. but was exchanged for Blucher in time to win fresh laurels at the battle of Friedland. For his dis- tinguished services in this action Napoleon rewarded him with the title of Marshal of France and Duke of Belluno, and appointed him governor of Berlin. In 1808 he commanded a corps d'armee in Spain, where he gained several victories, but was recalled to par- ticipate in the Russian campaign of 1812. When Napoleon abdi- cated in 1814, Gen. Victor entered the service of Louis XVIII. Upon Napoleon's return from Elba Victor refused to acknowledge him as emperor, and was made president of a military commission to try such of his old comrades as had deserted to the Corsican during the "hundred days." He was afterwards minister of war; second in command in the Peninsula in 1823; was then appointed ambassador to Vienna. but the Austrian court refused to accept him unless he would agree to lay aside his ducal title. Victor retired to private life and died in Paris on March 1. 1841.
Victoria, a money order post-town in the western part of Natchi- toches parish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., 15 miles southwest of Natchitoches, the parish seat. It is in the huumbering district and since the Victoria. Fisher & Western R. R. was built from Victoria to Fisher, has become one of the important shipping towns in the western part of the parish. Its population in 1900 was 110.
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Vidal, Michael, member of Congress, was born in France, where he received a liberal education, and while still a comparatively young man immigrated to the republic of Texas. Later he removed to Louisiana and became a naturalized citizen of the United States. In 1866 he was elected to represent his district in the 40th Con- gress, and the next year was chosen a delegate to the Louisiana constitutional convention. At the close of the reconstruction period he dropped out of public life.
Vidalia, the seat of justice of Concordia parish, is situated in the northeastern part of the parish on the right bank of the Mississippi river, directly opposite the city of Natchez, Miss. It occupies the site of old Fort Panmure, the oldest post in Louisiana on the Mis- sissippi above New Orleans. About the time Louisiana was ceded to the United States the civil commandant at Fort Panmure was Don Jose Vidal, who changed the name of the post to Fort Con- cord. When the parish was created it took the name of the fort, and the village was given the name of Vidalia in honor of the com- mandant. The present charter of incorporation was received from the legislature in 1870. Vidalia has three lines of railroad, viz: the Natchez & Western, the New Orleans & Northwestern, and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern. These lines, with the advantages of river traffic, make the town a good shipping point, and as a result it is one of the busiest places of its size in the state. It has a bank, a large oil mill. several wholesale houses, a number of general stores to supply the retail trade, a newspaper, good hotels, public schools of a high standard, several churches, a money order postoffice, express and telegraph service, telephone connec- tion with the surrounding towns, and in 1900 had a population of 1,022.
Vienna, the first seat of justice of Lincoln parish, is situated on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., about 4 miles north of Ruston, the parish seat. It is one of the oldest towns in the north- western part of the state, having been settled at an early day by a family named Colvin. The town was first incorporated on March 16, 1848, and reincorporated in 1866, directly after the war. At this time Vienna was in Jackson parish, but after the parish of Lincoln was created it became the seat of justice of the new par- ish. When the Vicksburg. Shreveport & Pacific R. R. was built, the merchants of Vienna moved to the new town of Ruston, on the line of the railroad. in order to have better shipping facilities. The people followed the stores, and it was only a few years before the parish seat was also moved there. This was Vienna's death blow, and though the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific R. R. has since been built through the town it has never recovered its early importance, and today is a town of about 100 inhabitants, with a money order postoffice, telegraph station and express office, and some local retail trade.
Vignaud, Henry, author and diplomat. was born at New Orleans. La .. Nov. 27, 1830, of an old creole family, and was educated in his native city. From 1852 to 1856 he taught in the public schools
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and at the same time wrote for the Courier and other New Orleans papers. He was then editor of L'Union de Lafourche, Thibodaux, until 1860, when he assumed the editorial management of a weekly publication called La Renaissance Louisianaise, which he conducted until the breaking out of the Civil war. He entered the Confederate army as a captain in the 6th Louisiana regiment, with which he was captured when Gen. Butler occupied New Orleans in May, 1862. The following year he was appointed secretary of the Confederate diplomatic commission at Paris: was made secretary of the Ron- manian legation in Paris in 1869; was connected with the Alabama claims commission which met at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1872; was a delegate to the International diplomatic metric conference in 1873; was appointed second secretary of the American legation in Paris in 1875, and first secretary in 1882. Since then he has several times acted as charge d'affaires with distinguished ability and fidelity. His historical works are: "Critical and Bibliographical Notices of All Voyages which Preceded and Prepared the Discov- ery of the Route to the Indies by Diaz and of America by Colum- bus," the "Letter and Map of Toscanelli." and "Critical Studies in the Life of Columbus before his Discoveries," which have been favorably commented upon by Columbian scholars.
Ville Platte, a town in the western part of St. Landry parish, is located on the Louisiana East & West R. R., about 15 miles northwest of Opelousas, the parish seat. It is an old town, having been incorporated by an act of the legislature on March 16, 1858, and is one of the busiest towns of its size in the state. It has a bank, a money order postoffice, an express office, telephone con- nection with the adjacent towns, and being located in a rich agri- cultural district is a shipping and trading point of considerable importance. The population in 1900 was 163.
Villeré, Gabriel, was a son of Gen. Jacques Villeré, and at the time of the British invasion in 1814 he held the rank of major in the Louisiana militia. On the morning of Dec. 23, 1814, while in command of a detachment of militia at his father's plantation, he and his command were surprised and captured by the British ad- vance guard. With rare courage and presence of mind the major leaped through a window and started for a strip of woods near by. followed by a number of bullets, though he escaped unhurt. There is a tradition in the Villere family that he concealed himself for a time in the foliage of a live oak tree, and that he was compelled to kill a favorite dog that had followed him, lest it might have be- trayed the place of his concealment. Finding the pursuit aban- doned in a short time, he went to De La Ronde's plantation, where he procured a horse. and with De La Ronde and another planter made his way to New Orleans, where it is believed he was the first to give notice to Gen. Jackson of the enemy's approach. On March 15, 1815. Maj. Villere was tried by a court-martial for allow- ing his command to be surprised and captured, but he was unan- imonsly acquitted. though he declined to introduce any evidence in his defense. Gayarre speaks of him as a "high-minded and patriotic
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gentleman," and after his capture and escape he rendered important aid in the defense of the city-aid which wiped out any stain upon his good name that might have attached to it on account of his failure or neglect to guard against a surprise.
Villeré, Jacques Philippe, second governor of the State of Lou- isiana, was a native of the state, having been born in the parish of St. John the Baptist, April 28, 1761. The family name was Roy, or Rouer, de Villere. Joseph Roy Villere, the father of the gov- ernor, served as naval secretary of Louisiana under Louis XV, and married Louise Marguerite de la Chaise, whose grandfather was treasurer of the colony during the French domination. Jacques was but eight years old when his father died a prisoner in the hands of the Spanish in the Revolution of 1768. He was educated in France at the expense of Louis XVI, and in 1780 was commis- sioned a lieutenant of artillery and sent with his command to St. Domingo. After a short military carcer there he resigned his com- mission and returned to Louisiana, where he married Jeanne Hen- riette Fazende in 1784. She was a granddaughter of Gabriel Faz- ende, who was a member of the first colonial council. After his marriage Gov. Villeré turned his attention to sugar planting and in a few years was recognized as one of the leaders of that industry in the vicinity of New Orleans. He was highly estecmed by the people, and on several occasions was called to fill important posi- tions. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1812 and the same year was a candidate for governor, but was defeated. During the war of 1812 he was major-general of the Loiusiana militia and is mentioned in Gen. Jackson's report as having "merited the approbation of the general by his unwearied attention since he took the field." It was upon his plantation-in his residence in fact -that the British established their headquarters just before the battle of New Orleans. In 1816 he was elected governor by a majority of 169 over Joshua Lewis, and served until 1820, when he retired from political affairs and spent the remainder of his life on his plantation. He died on March 7, 1830.
Villeré's Administration .- The election of Gov. Villere was re- garded as a victory for the creole element, or the "ancient Louisi- anians," though he received quite a number of "modern" or Amer- ican votes. His administration was uneventful, but it has been described as "quiet, prosperous and healing." A correspondent of the Louisiana Courier, in an article published in that paper on July 19, 1822, said that it "drew together the American and French populations and by making them better acquainted, threw down the barriers which a difference of language and heated prejudices had raised between them. By this union those evil and ambitious spirits who fattened on our differences which their artful calumnies had alone excited, were banished from political influence."
In the years 1817-18 a number of important and salutary laws were passed by the legislature. The honest debtor could escape imprisonment by turning his property over to his creditors, but the dishonest bankrupt was rendered incapable of holding any position
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of honor or profit. It was declared a capital offense to kill a man in a duel, but the death penalty was never enforced in such cases. The black code was amended, and a penalty of fine or imprison- ment might be inflicted at the discretion of the court upon any one seeking to corrupt or bribe a judge. In his message of Jan. 6, 1818. after congratulating the people of Louisiana on the victories won by the American arms in the War of 1812, the governor announced that the entire debt of the state would soon be liquidated and the taxes considerably reduced in consequence. He recommended more stringent laws against dueling; suggested the establishment of a lazaretto or hospital for yellow fever patients, and paid a tribute to the virtues, talents and patriotism of Gov. Claiborne. Henry Johnson was elected U. S. senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of W. C. C. Claiborne. Perhaps the most important act of the session, from a political point of view at least. was the one apportioning the members of the legislature to the different parishes.
On March 5, 1818, the governor sent a second message to the general assembly, calling attention to the disorderly occurrences in New Orleans in February, due to inordinate increase in popula- tion, and recommended the adoption of some provision that would "protect the state against the immigration of unprincipled foreign- ers." This message led to the establishment of the criminal court of the city of New Orleans, and in his message to the first session of the fourth legislature. which assembled on Jan. 5, 1819, the gov- ernor reported that, owing to the creation of the court, "there has been perfect security in the city."
From the time of the cession of Louisiana to the United States ' in 1803 there had been some conflict over land claims granted by the French and Spanish authorities during the colonial epoch. The legislature of 1819 memorialized Congress to settle these claims as soon as possible, and requested the governor to procure copies of the ordinances relating to land grants under the Spanish dom- ination, especially those of ()'Reilly of Feb. 18, 1770; the proclama- tion of Gov. Galvez after the conquest of West Florida : the ordi- nances of Gov. Gayoso dated Jan. 1. 1798: and the regulations of the intendant Morales of July 17. 1799. (See Land Grants.) At this session an act was passed to relieve the widow and heirs of the late Gov. Claiborne. Another act provided for pensioning certain persons injured in the War of 1812.
The lazaretto established for yellow fever patients was kept in operation but one year, and in his message to the legislature on Jan. 5, 1820, the governor expressed his regret that it had not been made a permanent institution. as the prosperity of the state would have been greater had it not been for the repeated visitations of the dread malady. In his message at the opening of this session Villere announced that the state debt was almost extinguished and that there were $40.000 in the treasury for current expenses. He recommended the formation of a code of procedure and the revision of the criminal laws. "which are so antiquated that trial by battle
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is still allowed as in England, although rarely resorted to in that country."
During his entire administration Gov. Villere used his influence for better educational facilities, and in one of his messages sug- gested that the science of public law be taught to the young people of the state, that they might be the better qualified "to contribute to the common good, to make exertions for promoting the welfare of society, and to shun whatever may disconcert its harmony, in- terrupt good order. or disturb tranquillity." In his last message, Nov. 22, 1820, he said : "It is especially to be wished, that means might be discovered of educating our youth in such a manner as to give the children of all our citizens, of various origins, if not the same moral features, at least a distinctive national character."
The candidates for governor in 1820 were Thomas B. Robertson, Pierre Derbigny, A. L. Duncan and Jean Noel Destrehan. On Nov. 20 the returns of the election were read to the two houses of the legislature in joint session, and were as follows: Robertson, 1,903 votes; Derbigny, 1.187: Duncan, 1,031 ; Destrehan, 627. Accord- ing to the constitution Robertson and Derbigny were the only can- didates to be voted for by the general assembly, but before the ballot was taken Morean Lislet, on behalf of Mr. Derbigny, an- nounced that the latter desired to respect the will of the people, and asked his friends to vote for Mr. Robertson, who was thereupon elected. On motion of Edward Livingston a committee was ap- pointed to prepare an address to the retiring governor, expressing the approbation of the house of representatives, "particularly of the impartiality and moderation with which he has endeavored to extinguish the spirit of party and promote union among all the citizens of the state. Speaker Beauvais appointed Mr. Livingston, Philemon Thomas and Moreau Lislet, and on Nov. 24 they pre- sented an address which was at once adopted by the house and presented to Gov. Villere.
As an echo of Gov. Villere's administration it was pointed out in the campaign of 1824, when he was again a candidate for gov- ernor, that in the matter of appointments he had not been fair to the creoles. Out of 199 offices in the state 115 had been filled by Americans, whose combined salaries amounted to $207.300: 50 offices had been given to Frenchmen, their salaries aggregating $102,200, and only 34 creoles had been appointed, the salaries of this class being $75.050. But if the governor had appointed a majority of Americans, the creoles held the offices commanding the best returns, as their average salary was a little more than $2,200, that of the Frenchmen about $2,000, while the salary of the Amer- ican appointees averaged only 1,800. By this recognition of all classes of citizens the governor broke down the barriers between the "ancients" and "moderns" and won the approbation of the leg- islature as expressed in the address above referred to. He retired from the office with the general good will of the people, and the campaign charge in 1824 that he had not treated the creoles properly detracted nothing from his popularity.
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Villeré, Joseph, one of the leaders of the revolt of 1768, was a . native of Canada, a planter on the German Coast, a man of high patriotic impulses, and one who was universally respected. Soon after the arrival of Gov. O'Reilly he began making his preparations to go to the English settlements, when he received a letter from Aubry, saying that there was nothing to fear from O'Reilly, and inviting Villere to come to New Orleans. Bossu says: "M. de Villeré, confiding in this assurance, descended the river to go to New Orleans. What was his surprise when, on presenting himself at the barriers he found himself arrested. Sensitive to this outrage he could not moderate his indignation. In a first transport, he struck the Spanish officer who commanded the post. The latter's soldiers threw themselves upon him and pierced him with bayonets. He was carried on board a frigate that was in the port, where he died a few days afterward."
Another version of his death is that while he was confined on the frigate as a prisoner his wife went out to the vessel in a small boat and asked permission to visit him, which was refused. Villere, hearing his wife's voice, tried to go to her, and in the struggle that resulted he was killed, after which his bloody shirt was thrown to Madame Villere as an assurance that her husband was no more. It is probable. however, that the account of Bossu, who wrote at the time of the tragedy. is the true one. Villere's memory was declared infamous by O'Reilly. (See Revolution of 1768.)
Villiers, Pierre Joseph Neyon, Sieur De, for some years com- mandant at the Illinois, was born of a rich and noble family of Lorraine, entered the army in 1735, and served on the continent during King George's war (1744-48). He was ordered to Louisiana in 1749, where he married in 1754 the sister-in-law of Gov. Ker- lerec. The following year he was made major commandant at the Illinois, second in command to Maj. Macarty. and relieved the latter in the chief command in June, 1760. The years that followed were troublous ones, involving as they did the change from French to English allegiance, and the period of Pontiac's conspiracy. In 1764 Maj. de Villiers, tired of the long wait for the arrival of a British garrison, retired down the river to New Orleans, leaving St. Ange in command at Fort Chartres. He returned to Paris in 1765, where he lived until 1773. Being then appointed to the coloneley of a regiment, he went to the West Indies, rose to be brigadier-general and governor of a small colony, and finally died at sea in 1779 after capture by an English vessel.
Vincent, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Calcasieu parish, is situated a short distance west of the Calcasieu river, about 8 miles south of Sulphur. the nearest railroad town, and 11 miles southwest of Lake Charles, the parish seat. It has fishing indus- tries and in 1900 reported a population of 82.
Vining Mills, a little village in the northern part of Lincoln par- ish, is situated on Bayou D'Arbonne, about 5 miles west of Dubach, the nearest railroad town. It has a money order postoffice and is a trading center for the neighborhood.
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Vinton, a money order post-station in the southwestern part of Calcasieu parish, is on the Southern Pacific R. R., 10 miles east of the Sabine river and 24 miles west of Lake Charles, the parish seat. Oil and gas have been found near the town and it is the terminus of a short line of railroad that taps the lumber country to the north. It has telegraph and express offices and is the shipping and supply point for the pine district to the north and west. The popu- lation in 1900 was 62.
Violet, a post-village in the western part of St. Bernard parish, is a station on the Louisiana Southern R. R. and a landing on the Mississippi river, about 12 miles below the city of New Orleans. The ample transportation facilities provided by the railroad and several lines of steamers make the village a good shipping point for a rich fruit growing and truek farming district.
Violin, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of St. Tammany parish, is about 3 miles northeast of Wortham, the nearest railroad station. and about 15 miles east of Covington, the parish seat.
Viva, a money order post-town in the central part of Pointe Coupée parish, is about 3 miles northwest of Morganza, the nearest railroad station, and about 14 miles northwest of New Roads, the parish seat. It had a population of 66 in 1900.
Vivian, one of the largest towns in Caddo parish, is situated on the Kansas City Southern R. R., + miles east of the Texas boundary and about 30 miles northwest of Shreveport, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the center of trade for the western part of the parish above Caddo lake. Large quantities of lumber are shipped from the town each year and it has cotton gins and other industries. Its population in . 1900 was 252.
Vixen, a postoffice in the northwestern part of Caldwell parish, is about 9 miles northwest of Corey, the nearest railroad station, and 15 miles northwest of Columbia, the parish seat.
Vowells Mill, a post-hamlet near the southwestern boundary of . Natchitoches parish, is about 2 miles southeast of Ingram, the near- est railroad town, and 15 miles southwest of Natchitoches. the parish seat.
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Waddill, a post-hamlet in the central part of East Carroll parish. is situated on a confluent of Tensas bayon, 8 miles southwest of Lake Providence, the parish seat and nearest railroad town.
Wadesboro, a post-village of Tangipahoa parish, is situated on the Natalbany river, which forms the southwestern boundary of the parish, about 5 miles west of Ponchatoula, the most convenient railroad town.
Waggaman, a postoffice near the western boundary of Jefferson parish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 9 miles
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west of Gretna, the parish seat. It has an express office and tele- graph station and is the shipping point for the western part of the parish. Its population in 1900 was 100.
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