Clerc, Reno Ferdinand

Submitted by Mike Miller Clerc, Reno Ferdinand, of New Orleans, was born in New Iberia Nov. 14, 1875, the son of Charles Caesar and Josaphine (Simon) Clerc. His father was born in Switzerland and his mother in France. The father came to this country when a young man, and the mother came with her parents when she was but a girl. They were married in Louisiana. For a while after their marriage they resided in New Orleans, and when the war of secession came on New Iberia was their home. At the latter place they continued to reside until 1889, in which year they and their son, Ren Ferdinand, who is the youngest of 6 children, went to Europe, where they spent 18 months, and then returned to the United States and located in New Orleans, where the father died in 1892 at the age of 64 years, and where the mother, now aged 73, still resides. The father was a wholesale cattle dealer while residing at New Iberia, and was successful in business. The son was 14 years of age when his parents located in New Orleans. His education was obtained in the schools of New Iberia and New Orleans and finished at Holy Cross college. At the age of 16 he began the battle of life in the schools of New Iberia and New Orleans and finished at for himself as a clerk in a wholesale grocery establishment at New Orleans. Finally he became a traveling salesman for groceries and was on the road for several years and, until in company with others, he established the wholesale grocery concern of Clerc Co., Ltd., of New Orleans. Upon withdrawing from that firm, which still later liquidated, Mr. Clerc became connected with the wholesale grocery company of Schmidt & Zeigler, Ltd., of which firm he was vice-president, and, disposing of his interest in the firm, Mr. Clerc became a manufacturer's agent, his present form of business. In August of 1912 he was appointed by President Taft United States appraiser of customs, port of New Orleans, a position he now holds. He is a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and the United Commercial Travelers of America. In 1899 Mr. Clerc wedded Miss Florence, the daughter of E. J. and Emily (Ketty) Carstens, of New Iberia, La. In the main, Mr. Clerc's business career has been that of a wholesale grocer. He has achieved gratifying success, and in public affairs he has always taken a commendable interest. He is third vice-president of the New Orleans board of trade, in which organization he has been an active member for several years.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 103-104. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.