GRANIER, Alovon, St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be Reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any Other organization or persons. Persons or organizations Desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent Of the contributor, or the legal representative of the Submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with Proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Granier, Alovon, of Wallace, was born in St. John the Baptist parish, July 14, 1847, and is a son of George F. and Selina (Bossier) Granier, who were natives of the same parish, as also were both the paternal grandmother and the maternal grandparents. The paternal grandfather was a native of France. George F. Granier followed the vocation of a contractor and builder throughout life, making his home in St. John parish. He died in 1908, at the advanced age of 85 years. Alovon was the 4th of 6 children born to his parents, as follow: Joseph, who followed the business of a contractor and builder in early life, but later became a planter, died in St. John at the age of 77 years; Numa was killed in the battle of Shiloh, at the age of 17 years, while serving in the Confederate army as a member of the 18th Louisiana volunteer infantry, in the company commanded by Capt. Romain; Erazie married B. Lorio, who is now retired from business and living in Iberville parish; Alovon, the subject of this sketch; Emile and Camille, who died at the respective ages of 6 and 5 years. Alovon Granier received his early education at the public schools and later attended a private school. He began business is a rice grower under the tenant system, but after about 4 years, in 1869, he opened a general store at Edgard, which proved a prosperous enterprise. Under the administration of Pres. Cleveland he was appointed as the first postmaster at Wallace and continued as occupant of that office 18 years. In that time he purchased Aurelia plantation, upon which he now grows sugar cane, rice and corn, as principal crops. He also conducts a general store at Wallace. May 5, 1869, Mr. Granier was married to Aurelia, daughter of Delvair Rodriguez of St. John parish, and 9 children have been born to them, namely: Angelia, wife of Ulyse Tragra, and mother of 6 living children; Henry, married to Celina Rodriguez, and father of 3 boys; Lotta, wife of Fernand Tregue, and mother of 3 boys; Leonie, wife of Sidney Tassen, and mother of 7 living children; Emile, married to Blanche Tregre, died at the age of 27 years, survived by his widow and 2 children; Louise and Camile, now at the parental home, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Granier affiliates with the democratic party, and has served the people in various official capacities other than that of postmaster. He filled a place on the parish school board 4 years, and was a member of the police jury 14 years, during 7 years of which he served as president. Mr. Granier takes the active interest of a progressive citizen in all matters affecting the well-being of the people among whom he lives, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, p. 699. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. ******************************************** GRAUGNARD, Leon, Basses Alpes, FR., then St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be Reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any Other organization or persons. Persons or organizations Desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent Of the contributor, or the legal representative of the Submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with Proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Graugnard, Leon, who resides near the village of Lions, in St. John parish, was born at Basses Alpes, France, Feb. 1, 1855, and is a son of Joseph and Angelique (Caire) Graugnard, both of whom were born and passed their lives in the vicinity of the son's birthplace, where the father devoted his energies to the occupation of a farmer throughout life. Both parents are now deceased. Seven children were born to their union, namely: Augustin, Adolph, Damien, deceased; Joachim, Casimir, Leon, and Marie. All of those living, except Leon, are in France. Casimir died in Louisiana. Leon Graugnard was educated at public schools in the land of his nativity. At the age of 16 years he came to America with his brother, Casimir, and located in St. James parish, where he became a traveling salesman for John Teche, in general merchandise business. After 5 years in this connection, he formed a partnership with a Mr. Maurin, under the firm name of Maurin & Graugnard, and established a general merchandise business in St. John parish, which was continued uninterruptedly until 1880, when the business was moved to a new location in the same parish and much enlarged and improved. In 1892 Mr. Graugnard disposed of his interest in this store, to his partner, and established the noted "Four-Seasons Store," also in St. John parish, where he did a largely prosperous business. In 1895 he bought Glencoe plantation, upon which he grew sugar cane until 1902, when he disposed of the plantation to the Lyons Cypress Lumber Company and moved to the city of New Orleans, becoming interested in the Clerc Wholesale Grocer Co., limited, as a large stockholder and secretary of the company. Two years later he sold his holdings in this enterprise and returned to St. John parish, where, in association with F. Reynaud, under the firm name of Graugnard & Reynaud, he purchased Terre Haute plantation, consisting of 2,000 acres, which has since been cultivated in sugar cane. The firm also conducts a large general merchandise business and owns a sugar mill of 500 tons capacity on Terre Haute plantation. In 1910 Lillie plantation, of 600 acres, in St. James parish, was added to the firm's properties, and in addition to cane they are now producing large quantities of corn. Politically, Mr. Graugnard styles himself an independent republican, but he has avoided political entanglements and only takes such part in politics as the obligations of good citizenship require--that is, aiding in the selection of the best available men to fill the offices and administer the laws under which the people live. He is a member of the Catholic church. In 1881 Leon Graugnard was married to Miss Eva Baccas, of St. John parish, both of whose parents are now deceased. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Graugnard, as follow: Albert, the 1st born, died at the age of 7 months; Berthe, died at the age of 2 years; Emile, who was educated at Jefferson college and later attended Soul college, New Orleans, taking the complete commercial course, is now bookkeeper and general assistant to his father in the management of the business; Fernand, who was a graduate of Jefferson college, died at the age of 19 years while filling the position of storekeeper for his father; Eva was educated at St. Joseph's academy, New Orleans, and is now at the parental home. Mr. Graugnard is one of the most successful sugar planters of southwest Louisiana. He has accumulated his fortune entirely through his own efforts, and is now enjoying the fruits of well-directed and intelligent industry, and the confidence and esteem of the people among whom he has labored since early manhood. Recently he enjoyed a well-earned vacation in making an extended tour of Europe. Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 722-723. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.