Garcia, Manuel J.

Submitted by Daniel Oppliger, August 06, 2007
Death of Manuel J. Garcia

Today, the Picayune records the passing away of one of the most ancient and venerable of the once distinguished men of New Orleans, Manuel J. Garcia.

Perhaps it is peculiarly the province of the Picayune, which has been for nearly half a century the historian of the people and events in this city, to turn from busy transactions of today into the dim forgotten past, to recover and preserve the names and deeds of men who have been active workers and leader in the business and social affairs of New Orleans in the olden times.

It is with a mournful interest that the Picayune, so long a link between the present and the past, pays this tribute to this venerable man who came in before the century, and after taking an active part in its events where they came within the sphere of his duty, yesterday passed away at the age of 88 years and 4 months.

Le Vieux Pere, as he was called by his children, was born of an old Spanish family in Louisiana in 1795. Inheriting valuable planting interests, he became a planter in the parish of Jefferson. In the war of 1812-15 Mr. Garcia enlisted for the defense of the country in a regiment raised in St. Charles parish and commanded military operations of the campaign in which the celebrated defeat of the British veterans by the Americans under Andrew Jackson took place. Mr. Garcia on one occasion was employed to carry dispatches to Gen. Jackson.

After the war he went back to his plantation, but always took a deep interest in all the public affairs of the State, and in 1834 became Sheriff of Jefferson parish, a position he held for ten successive years. He subsequently served as State Senator, and during the term of President Fillmore for 1849 to 1852 Mr. Garcia was Naval Officer at this port.

He continued to be a prominent citizen of New Orleans for a number of years, and when the city was captured by the Federal army under Gen. Butler, the venerable man, refusing to take the oath of allegiance to what he considered was a hostile power, was forced to leave the city, and with his family removed to Florida, whence he subsequently returned.

Since the war Mr. Garcia had gradually withdrawn from active business, but nearly up to the time of his death he preserved his memory and mental faculties generally but little impaired. He was the father of twenty-five children, but he survived all save five, of whom Mr. Eugene F. Garcia, paying teller of the Louisiana National Bank, is one, and he outlived nearly all his contemporaries.

His Funeral will take place today from his late residence, 166 Barracks street, between St. Claude and Treme, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Source: The Times Picayune, 3/18/1884, New Orleans, Louisiana