Daspit, Henry

Submitted by Mike Miller

Daspit, Henry, well known public accountant and business man of New Orleans, was born July 16, 1855, in Terrebonne parish, La. His father, Robert Daspit born in Louisiana in 1811, died in 1870; was a sugar planter and merchant in Terrebonne parish. Robert Daspit's grandfather was Daspit de St. Amant. Henry Daspit's mother was Myrth Chauvin of the same parish, and was a granddaughter of Chauvin de la Frenierre. One of these Chauvins was attorney general of France. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Daspit had 10 children namely: Adele, Elvira, Charles M., Oscar B., Victoria, Arthur, Aubin, Henry, Ella, and Joseph R. Henry Daspit spent his youth in his native parish, attended private school until he was 15 years old. He then moved to New Orleans and entered Dolbear 's Commercial college. In 1874 he began the sugar business in the employ of Bush & Levert, with which firm he remained until 1893. Following this for 3 years he was in the commission business as a member of the firm of Daspit & Levert and then for a like period he engaged in the brokerage business. For 2 years he was chief deputy internal revenue collector and for 5 years was secretary and credit man for D. H. Holmes & Co. From 1904 to 1908, he was in a manufacturing enterprise in Memphis, Tenn., and since the latter year he has acted as public accountant in addition to which he has maintained an interest in the sugar business also. Since 1911, Mr. Daspit has been with 4 sugar companies; is secretary of 2 of them and general auditor of all 4. For 2 years, 1911 to 1913, he has been president of the Society of Louisiana public accountants and trustee and vice-president of the American Association of Public Accountants. He is a member of the Episcopal church. In 1881, Mr. Daspit married Miss Lizzie C., daughter of Henry Winslow, who was formerly a Georgia planter, but later a merchant in New Orleans. During the Civil war Mr. Winslow was major on the staff of Gen. Leonidas Polk. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daspit, namely: Bush, Henry, Walter, and Myrtle.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 117-118. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.