Brandao, Edwin P.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Brandao, Edwin P., commercial job printer, New Orleans, is the present efficient register of conveyances for the parish of Orleans. He was born at New Orleans, La., Oct. 7, 1874, and is a son of Edward A. and Esther (DeMeza) Brandao. His father, who is at this time a bookkeeper in the United States sub-treasury at New Orleans, was formerly, and for many years, a commercial job printer. He was born on the Island of Curacao of French and Spanish lineage, and came to New Orleans just prior to the beginning of the Civil war, in which he served as a private in the Confederate army, being a member of Fenner's battery throughout the war. After the war he returned to New Orleans and became identified with the operations of the "White League" movement in the course of which he participated in the memorable struggle of Sept. 14, 1874, at the New Orleans river front, and which resulted in the overthrow of the "carpet bag" government in Louisiana. In 1873 Edward A. Brandao was married to Miss Esther DeMeza, who was born in New Orleans of French parentage. Edwin P. Brandao is the eldest of 4 children born to his parents. He passed his boyhood in the city of New Orleans, where, after graduating from the boys' high school he learned the printers' trade under direction of his father and subsequently was employed about five years in the circulation department of the Times-Democrat, New Orleans. In 1895 he embarked in the printing business on his own account and has achieved gratifying success. He is at this time president of the Brandao Printing Co., which is easily numbered among the leading, most progressive and efficient commercial printing establishments of the city. At the beginning of the Spanish-American war Mr. Brandao enlisted as second lieutenant, 2nd Louisiana regiment, volunteer infantry, serving 1 year in the operations of the army at that time. In 1904 he was elected a member of the city council from the thirteenth ward. In 1908 he was elected register of conveyances of Orleans Parish, without opposition, and in 1912 was re-elected to succeed himself, receiving the largest vote cast for any parochial candidate at that election. Under his direction the conveyance office has been conducted with great satisfaction to the public, owing to matenal improvements in the system of conducting the business which he has incorporated into the management of the office. Mr. Brandao is affiliated with the Democratic party and is active and earnest in the support of those time-honored-principles for which his party stands. He is thoroughly aligned with the progressive element of the business community and at all times ready to co-operate and lend his personal aid in behalf of any worthy or commendable enterprise or movement that promises advancement or betterment of conditions to the people among whom he lives. He is regarded as a public-spirited citizen, having the keenest appreciation of the obligations of American citizenship and the strictest interpretation of integrity, both personal and official. He is a member of the Napoleon Avenue Presbyterian church and of the Chess, Checkers and Whist club. In 1905 Edwin P. Brandao was married to Miss Grace Batson a daughter of the late Robert Batson of New Orleans. Mr. and Mrs. Brandao have 2 daughters, namely, Esther and Ruth.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 61-62. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.