Pardue, Charles A.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Pardue, Charles A., general agent Southern Express Co., New Orleans--was born in Perry county, state of Mississippi, and is a son of Morris A. and Emily (Stevens) Pardue, both of whom were born and reared at the birthplace of the son, the father having been one of the early pioneers in that part of Mississippi. He was a large planter, and previous to the time of the emancipation owned many slaves. At the beginning of the Civil war he volunteered at once and enlisted in the Confederate army, following his colors with gallantry throughout the dark days of that great conflict. At the close of the war he returned to the supervision of his plantation, but the hardships of the life of a Confederate soldier had undermined his constitution, and his life ended peacefully in 1866. His father was a native of France, while his mother was born in the state of Georgia, and came of an old-settled family of that state. Charles A. Pardue's maternal grandfather was a native of Ohio, and his maternal grandmother, Miss Farrell was Irish; the paternal grandfather of English parentage. Morris A., the father, was one of 6 sons and 3 daughters born to his parents. His mother was one of 4 daughters and 6 sons born to her parents. Her family-Stevens--has long been prominent in the state of Mississippi, and a representative of the family is at this time judge of the District court at Hattiesburg, that state. Another son of the family married a daughter of U. S. Sen. McLaurin, while still another was long a well-known jurist. Only 2 children were born to the parents of Charles A., the other being Claria, a sister. His childhood and youth were passed at the family home in Perry county, Miss. At the close of the Civil war he entered Spring Hill college at Mobile, Ala., and there remained until his classical education had been completed. In 1869 he entered the service of the Southern Express Co., at Mobile, Ala., as a helper in the freight handling department, and has continued in the employ of this corporation from the latter date to the present time, having, within the span of this unusual term of service, occupied practically every position within the range of the operations of this extensive business organization. In 1884 he became general agent of the Southern Express Co., at New Orleans, and has remained in that position to the present time. Mr. Pardue is also serving as a member of the New Orleans police commission, and has so served for 7 years past, having been appointed to that post in 1905 and since reappointed. He was elected under the new commission charter of the city in 1912 for a term of 4 years. He is a director in the U. S. Safe Deposit & Trust Co., and one of the founders and a director from the beginning of the Bank of Orleans. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Master Mason; Noble of the Mystic Shrine, Knight Templar, and affiliates with the carnival organizations. He is also a member of the Royal Host, and secretary- treasurer of the "Club-on-Wheels," a social organization owning a private car that is run on frequent trips over the L. & N. R. R. along the Gulf Coast as far as Ocean Springs, Miss. Mr. Pardue owns a delightful summer home at Pass Christian, Miss., where the family spends the summer season. Mrs. Pardue died at Pass Christian in 1902. She was a Miss Sherman, and a member of the Sherman family of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Pardue reared 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters, viz.: Charles A., Jr., now associated with his father in the express business; Sherman P., cashier for the United Fruit Co., on the Isthmus of Panama; Mabel, wife of Oscar Geren, secretary-treasurer of the Putnam-Norman Co., of New Orleans; Frances and Emily. The two last named daughters are graduates of Nazereth academy, near Louisville, Ky., and reside at the family home with their father. Politically, Mr. Pardue has always been identified with the regular democratic party.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 343-344. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.