Romain, Armand [George]

Romain, Maj. Armand Submitted by Mike Miller Romain, Maj. Armand, lawyer, was born in the city of New Orleans, Feb. 22, 1871. His father was Armand Victor Romain, the well known educator, also a native of the Crescent City, his birth occurring in 1835 and his death in 1872. The latter was a son of Andrew G. and Elizabeth (Plagnol) Romain, the former of whom was born in Normandy, educated in England, came to America when a young man, and first sojourned at Boston. Thence he came to New Orleans where he married Elizabeth Plagnol who bore him 3 sons, Andrew G., Armand Victor, and Frederick C., all now deceased. The senior Andrew G. Romain was an eminent accountant and auditor and was appointed by Pres. Jackson to assist in liquidating the New Orleans branch of the United States bank, and he held other positions of responsibility in early banks of New Orleans. His death occurred here at the age of 65 years. His son Armand Victor Romain, was educated in private and public schools, and at the age of nineteen became principal of the New Orleans boy's high school, of which he was a graduate. At 21 his ability as an educator brought him to superintendency of the New Orleans public schools. At the opening of the Civil war he was vice-president of the Jefferson college. Although he had opposed secession he cast his lot with the Confederacy, and served a short while as a soldier.

Returning from this service, Mr. Romain established the Romain classical and commercial institute at New Orleans, which he successfully conducted up to his death. It became one of the notable private schools in this section of the South, many of his students becoming capable and prominent business and professional men. Prof. Romain was a noted mathematician, and was offered professorships in Harvard and other colleges, but he declined all such offers, preferring to remain in New Orleans and at the head of his own institution of which he was justly proud. He rose to a high rank as an educator, and had death not come at the early age of 37, his life as a teacher would have illumined the pages of educational history in Louisiana.

His wife, who survives him in her 75th year now resides with her only son. Her maiden name was Egerie Poché, and she came of the same family as did the distinguished associate-justice of the supreme court, Felix P. Poché. She became the mother of 3 children, namely, Aline, the wife of Prof. H. S. Chenet of New Orleans; Louise, unmarried, and Armand Romain, the immediate subject of this sketch. Armand Romain was reared in New Orleans where he received his education in private and public schools. At Tulane university in 1890 he received the degree of B. S. He began the study of law under Judge Felix P. Poché and later received the degree of LL. B. from Tulane in 1892. Maj. Romain has risen to a high rank in his profession, and has acquired a large and valuable clientele. He has taken a keen interest in public affairs and in 1896 was elected to the state senate as an independent candidate. This position he resigned in 1898 to accept an appointment by Pres. McKinley as major of United States volunteers for service in the Spanish-American war. He served in the Santiago campaign from August, 1898, until in the summer of 1899. In 1896 Maj. Romain made an unsuccessful contest as the republican candidate for congress. In 1912 he was a delegate at large from Louisiana to the republican national convention at Chicago where he supported Pres. Taft for renomination, and in the following election managed Pres. Taft's campaign in Louisiana. Maj. Romain is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. In 1898 he married Miss Jessica Coleman, the daughter of Mr. H. Dudley Coleman of New Orleans. Her father was elected as a republican to congress from the 2nd congressional district, and served 1 term, 1890-92.

Mrs. Romain died in 1908 leaving 2 sons, Coleman and Victor.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 382-383. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.