Cormier, Charles E.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Cormier, Charles E., of New Orleans, president of the Charles E. Cormier Rice Co., Ltd., was born in Pittsfield, Mass., Sept. 7, 1865, son of Louis Cormier, a native of Louisiana, whose father, Louis Cormier, ran away from France at the age of 10 years, and came to Louisiana, where he was a seafaring man for many years, and was the owner of 5 ships at the time of his death, at the age of 42. His son, Louis, was reared and educated in New Orleans, and was connected in early manhood with the Illinois Central R. R. Later on, he engaged in the cotton press business. When the Civil war broke out, he enlisted in the Confederate army and served to the end of hostilities. Charles E. Cormier's father married Miss Helen F. Backus, a native of Newark, N. J. She died at the age of 42 years. The subject of this sketch is 1 of 3 children. The other 2 are, Louis Cormier, of New Orleans, and Mrs. Indianola Cormier Wilson, widow of Henry F. Wilson, and now residing in Boston, Mass. After having received a preliminary education in the public schools of New Orleans, Mr. Charles E. Cormier studied at the University of Louisiana, now Tulane, and in 1896 went into business for himself, and is now head of one of the largest rice dealing firms in New Orleans. He married, in 1890, Miss Helen Castaing, daughter of Alex, and Gabrielle (Pascal) Castaing. Mr. and Mrs. Cormier had 6 children: Lillian, wife of Dr. H. W. E. Walther, of New Orleans; Percy L., of New Orleans; Indianola; Helen; Harry W., and Charles E. Cormier; the latter died at the age of 5 years. Mr. Cormier is a meniber of the Chess, Checkers and Whist club, the St. John Rowing club, the Southern Yacht club, also a member of the Masonic order, the Knights Templar and the Shriners.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 27-28. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.