Generally, Joseph Edward

Submitted by Mike Miller

Generelly, Joseph Edward, a criminal lawyer of an enviable reputation, is a native son of Louisiana, born in the city of New Orleans on the 29th day of Dec., 1874, the son of Laurent E. and Denise (Villere) Generelly. His father was born in New Orleans, in which city he died Oct. 23, 1909, at the age of 58 years. He was a son of Fleury and Elizabeth (Monsier) Generelly, his father also being a native of New Orleans, and his father, Fleury Generelly, was born in France and was a soldier of the French army, serving in the defense of Saint Domingo against the British, taken as a prisoner of war to Charleston, S. C., where he was subsequently released. He located in New Orleans and became the progenitor of his family in America. The father of Joseph Edward Generelly was, for the greater part of his life, a federal government employee, the last 15 years being in the auditor's office in the custom house at New Orleans. His wife was a daughter of Denis Villere, a member of the distinguished Villere family of Louisiana, which furnished the second governor of the state. Laurent E. Generelly and wife had 2 sons and 6 daughters, all of whom were born and reared in New Orleans. Joseph Edward Generelly graduated from Jesuits College in 1890, and then while holding a clerical position attended lectures in law at evenings in the law school of Tulane university, from which he graduated in 1895, since when he has successfully practiced law in New Orleans, making a specialty of the criminal law and winning the reputation of an able criminal lawyer. Mr. Generelly lias found time from the practice of his profession for political and public service. From 1898 to 1900 he served as assistant district attorney; from 1900 to 1902, and again from 1908 to 1912, as attorney for the New Orleans city board of health; was elected to the house of representatives in 1908 and reelected in 1912, and has served with distinction in the legislature where he became the floor leader of the regular Democrats. Mr. Generelly is a member of the Roman Catholic church, also of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1897 he married Miss Elise Sarpy, the daughter of Dr. Emile Sarpy of New Orleans. Mr. Generelly has forged his way to the front in his profession, holds a high rank as a criminal lawyer and member of the Louisiana state bar, and by his public service attained to rank among the leading men of his state.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 177. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.