Boutcher, George W.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Boutcher, George W., sugar dealer, New Orleans, was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 4, 1854; son of Robert and Lydia (Wilkinson) Boutcher,
both of whom were natives of the city in which the son was born, the father being of French ancestry and the mother English. The father died at the age
of 73 years, and is survived by the mother at this time. Only 2 children were born to the parents--a daughter, now deceased, and George W. He came with his parents to New Orleans in 1859 and passed his boyhood and youth in the city, attending the public schools and following this with a special commercial course at Soulé's college. After finishing at commercial school he entered the service of the firm of Deldugo & Co. as a clerk, and through the passing years won promotion for meritorious service until the station of vice-president of the corporation had been attained. Some time later he was elected to the important position of president and remains the incumbent of this executive post at this time. George W. Boutcher entered the sugar
business in New Orleans Oct. 25, 1868, when only 14 years old, and has remained in the same business since that time, being, without doubt, one of
the oldest men, in point of trade experience, in that line in the city of New Orleans. His business experience extends back to a time embracing all the
horrors of the reconstruction period in Louisiana and covering several of the most devastating yellow fever epidemics in the history of the South's
metropolis. He has been privileged to observe revolutionary changes in many lines, and to witness the great progress that has been made in every branch of the sugar industry, from the cane field to the office of the sugar broker. Marvelous transformation scenes have been enacted within his vision in the industrial, commercial and residential districts of the city, and yet George W. Boutcher is one the active, aggressive and influential business men of the city whose greatness he has aided in creating. In 1875 Mr. Boutcher was married to Miss Sarah H. Prothro, a daughter of Nathan Protho of South
Carolina. To them 4 daughters and 3 sons were born, all of the latter being now deceased. The daughters are: Gertrude, now the wife of T. J. Woodward,
Jr.; May, Roberta and Louise. Mr. Boutcher is a member of the Pickwick club, the Chess, Checkers and Whist club and New Orleans lodge No. 30, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 56. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.