1925 Biography - Eugene R. Cazzedessus

Eugene R. Cazedessus has found in his native city of Baton Rouge ample scope and opportunity for worthy achievement, and he is here a prominent figure in banking circles, as the first vice president of the Bank of Baton Rouge.

In the capital city of Louisiana Eugene Cazedessus was born April 21, 1872, a son of Romain Cazedessus, whose death occurred at Baton Rouge on the 12th of May, 1896. Romain Cazedessus was born at Gantes, France, on the 25th of February, 1835, was reared and educated in his native land, and was an ambitious youth of eighteen years when he came to the United States and established his residence in Baton Rouge. Prior to coming to America, he had served and received excellent military training in the French army. He was a member of the Catholic Church, as is also his widow, Mrs. Annie Mary (Ritsch) Cazedessus, who still maintains her home in Baton Rouge, and his unqualified political support was given to the democratic party. Mrs. Cazedessus was born in the City of Cincinnati, Ohio. July 17, 1852. Of the children the eldest is Anthony F., who is engaged in the real estate business in Baton Rouge; Eugene, of this sketch, is the next younger; Miss Eugenie remains with her widowed mother and is now with the State Highway Commission of Louisiana; Annie is the wife of Vs alter G. Smith, a traveling commercial salesman, and they maintain their home in Baton Rouge; and Duchien I. is trust officer of the Bank of Baton Rouge.

Eugene R. Cazedessus was afforded the advantages of the admirable Baton Rouge educational institution known as Magruder's Collegiate Institute besides which he attended other private schools. At the age of fifteen years lit initiated his association with the practical affairs of life, and he was variously employed until 1892, when he became an employe in the Bank of Baton Rouge. His advancement came as the result of fidelity, close application, study and efficiency, and he served in turn as individual bookkeeper, general bookkeeper, teller, assistant cashier and cashier, while the final advancement gained by him came in 1918, when he was elected to his present office, that of first vice president, a position in which he continues his active executive service with this substantial and representative financial institution of the capital city. Here he is president of the Bridge City Realty Company and the Zadok Realty Company, and the broad scope of his interests is further signified in his holding the office of president of the Louisiana Central Land Company, the Cleon Land Department Company, the Triumph Realty Corporation, the Caz-Perk Realty Company and The Richland Company, as well as by his being secretary of the Provident Building and Loan Association and the Triad Company. He is liberal and progressive as a citizen, and takes (led) interest in all that makes for the advancement of his native city and state. Mr. Cazedessus has extensive real estate' holdings in Baton Rouge and vicinity, including his pleasant home place at 513 Church Street.

Mr. Cazedessus is a stalwart in the ranks of the democratic party, and while he has manifested no office-seeking proclivities. He was one of the influential delegates of the Louisiana State Constitutional Convention of 1921. He and his wife are communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He is a past grand knight of Baton Rouge Council No. 969, Knights of Columbus, and past exalted ruler of Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, besides which he served three terms as Louisiana district deputy of the Elks. He has served as secretary, vice president and president of the Louisiana Bankers' Association and is a member of the legislative committee of the American Bankers' Association. He is a loyal supporter of the progressive policies of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a valued member, and he is an active member also of the Baton Rouge Golf and Country Club.

Mr. Cazedessus was a loyal and liberal worker in connection with local patriotic activities in the World war period, as is evident when it is noted that he was chairman of the local committees in charge of the first and the see nd Red Cross drives, chairman of the United War Work campaign, chairman of the Jewish war drive, chairman of the local war fund campaign of the Knights of Columbus, and chairman of two of the East Baton Rouge Parish Liberty Bond drives in support of the government War loans.

On the 9th of September, 1908, at Baton Rouge. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cazedessus and Miss Elvira Craft, daughter of George B. and Fidelia (Merritt) Craft, the father having been a Prominent merchant and having died in the City of New Orleans, and the widowed mother being now a resident of Baton Rouge. Mrs. Cazedessus received excellent educational advantages, including those of Mayo College at Baton Rouge, and she is a popular figure in the representative social life of the capital city. Mr. and Mrs. Cazedessus have two children, Camile Erwin, born June 22, 1909, and Eugene Romain, born April 7, 1916.

Mr. Cazedessus is a member of the municipal board of dock commissioners of Baton Rouge, and is chairman of the advisory board of Our Lady of Baton Rouge Sanitarium. He is president of East a Baton Rouge Parish board of election supervisors, a position to which he was appointed by Governor R. G. Pleasant and in which he has continued under administration of Governor John M. Parker.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 108-109.