1892 Biography - Thomas Kleinpeter

The popular civilian and soldier, Hon. Thomas Kleinpeter, of Lake Charles, was born in East Baton Rouge in 1833. He is the son of George Kleinpeter and Harriet E. Laws, of Louisville, Ky. George Kleinpeter was a physician and planter of East Baton Rouge parish. His father and mother natives of Germany, and came to Louisiana many years since. Thomas Kleinpeter spent his school days at Drennon Springs, Ky., graduating in the class of 1852. After leaving college he read law in the office of Zeno Labauve, who was afterward associate justice of the supreme court of Louisiana. Being especially proficient as a civil engineer, and partial to this calling, he has given most of his attention to this business. He was one of the chief assistant engineers of what is now the Morgan railroad. He was afterward engaged in the construction of the Mobile railroad, on which he was employed after the conclusion of the war. Being commissioned as lieutenant of the engineering corps in Texas, he was present and participated in the battles of Galveston, and built the Sabine Pass fort, at which place, it will be remembered, thirty-seven men within the fortifications successfully repelled the attack of 15,000. Subsequently he was captain and later brevet major of the corp of engineers who had charge of the fortification of the Texas coast, principally those of Galveston harbor. His command disbanded in May, 1865, when he returned to his home in New Orleans, and resumed civil engineering. In 1872 Mr. Kleinpeter assumed charge of the Sulphur Mining company's interest in Calcasieu parish, La., and since that time has been a resident of Lake Charles. To Mr. Kleinpeter and his facile pen is due in a great degree the credit of making this magnificent country known to the outside world. In this capacity he has probably done more than any other one man. Mr. Kleinpeter is the pioneer railroad civil engineer of this section of Louisiana. He served for a period of twelve years, while a resident of Iberville parish, as assistant state engineer, and for the past twelve years has, been surveyor of Calcasieu parish. He has also for a similar length of time served as justice of the peace. He was married October 80, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Lucy Bundy, one of New Orleans creole families. They are the parents of three interesting children, Thomas G., Noelie and Napoleon B.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 2, pages 484-485.