De Poorter, Hon. Lievin

Submitted by Mike Miller

Hon. Lievin De Poorter, attorney at law of New Orleans. The bar practicing before the various courts of Louisiana, contains among its numbers many of the brightest, most learned and most proficient lawyers in the country. Some of them are prominent in political life as well as in the professional arena, and many of them are identified with the public institutions and business corporations of the city. Mr. De Poorter has been a valuable factor in city, as well as parish government, and in all of his relations has exhibited true citizenship and a zealous adherence to correct and conservative principles, which have won for him an enviable past record and will secure him a successful future. He was born in St. James parish, La., in 1841 and was christened after his father who, a native of Ghent, Belgium, came to America when sixteen years of age and afterwards studied physic in the Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia. At a later period he was for some time head surgeon of the Charity hospital of New Orleans and was later head surgeon of the Charity hospital of Nashville, Tenn. He was physician of St. Mary's Jefferson college for many years and for the Convent of the Sacred Heart of St. James parish. After a useful life spent in the service of humanity he died in the month of December, 1888. His wife was Delphine Weber a native of St. John the Baptist parish but of German descent. She died of yellow fever when the subject of this sketch was an infant. The latter was reared in the parish of his birth and when but a lad graduated from St. Mary's college of Perry county, Mo. In 1860 he was sent to Europe to fit himself for the practice of the "healing art," but upon the breaking out of the Civil war he at once returned to America and joined Company B, Louisiana guards, serving until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House. He was in Lee's command throughout the entire service and was a participant in every battle of the Virginia campaign from Seven Pines to Appomattox Court House. At Rappahannock Bridge he was wounded in 1868 in consequence of which he was confined in the hospital for six months. After the war closed he worked on a plantation belonging to his father for one year, at the end of which time, at the early age of twenty-five years, he was elected to the state legislature on the democratic ticket of which he had long been a zealous and active member. Following this in 1867 he entered upon the study of law under F. P. Poche, of St. James parish, now of New Orleans, and in May, 1868, was admitted to the bar. For many years thereafter he devoted himself to the practice of his profession and his reputation and record are first-class for integrity and trustworthiness in all matters entrusted to him. The best interests of his clients are recorded by him as of paramount importance, and the matter of compensation is never considered by him as a proper reason to advise litigation. After practicing in St. John the Baptist parish until 1884 he removed to New Orleans, which city has since been his home. He was for many year, past president of the school board and president of the police jury in St. John the Baptist parish. Among the K. of H. he is very popular and rapidly advanced in the honor. of that meritorious order, being the present dictator of his lodge. He was married in June, 1868, and is the father of seven living children, four of whom are sons.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), pp. 376-377. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.