Villermin, Lawrence F.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Lawrence F. Villermin, commissioner of public property of the City of New Iberia, is an engineer of wide and diversified experience and has handled the public utilities and public service departments of the City of New Iberia for fourteen years.

Mr. Villermin was born at New Orleans April 16, 1882. His grandparents, August and Marie (Cuny) Villermin, were natives of Alsace, France. August Villermin, who came to the United States at the age of twenty-one, lived in New Orleans, where he owned and operated a bakery. Paul A. Villermin father of Lawrence F., was born in New Orleans in 1857, was reared and married there and for some years was in business as a wholesale grocer and commission merchant. In 1899 he established his home at New Iberia, where he had his headquarters while employed as a commercial traveler and subsequently was the manager of the New Iberia Electric Light and Water plant until his death on June 5, 1909. He was a democrat and was affiliated with Mount Mona Lodge of Masons at New Orleans. His wife was Josephine Koehler, a native of New Orleans and a resident of New Iberia. They had a family of fifteen children, three of whom died in early infancy, while the others were: Paul A., who died at the age of four years; Viola, who died in 1922 at Chicago, where her husband, Vic. H., Ritter, resides; Lawrence F.; Paul Oliver, who died when two years old; Miss Eugenie and Miss Eleanor of New Iberia; Walter, an electrical contractor at New Iberia; Miss Agnes of New Iberia; William H., a Western Union telegraph operator at New Orleans; Isore, who died at the age of five years; Cyrus, who died when one year old; and Miss Elmira of New Iberia.

Lawrence F. Villermin grew up in Yew Orleans; attended public schools, graduating from the Boys High School with the class of 1897. In 1899 he received a diploma, marking the completion of a course in electrical engineering with the international Correspondence School of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Villermin was employed in electrical construction work with the firm of Schminke & Newman of New Orleans until 1900, in which year he took the post of superintendent of Electric Light and Water Works at New Iberia. In 1902 he returned to New Orleans and was with the Interstate Electric Company for six years. Since 1908 his home has been permanently located at New Iberia. After several years as an electrical contractor, he was chosen in 1911 as commissioner of public property, and at the end of each four years has been reelected. His technical ability and knowledge and his administrative qualifications make him admirably fitted for discharging the duties of his office. He was a champion of municipal ownership of public utilities and by his management of said utilities demonstrate that fact. During his administration the present modern electric light and water works was installed.

Mr. Villermin is a democrat, is affiliated with Hiram Lodge No. 70, Free and Accepted Masons, at New Orleans, Girard Hope Chapter No. 33, Royal Arch Masons at New Iberia, New Iberia Tent Knights of the Maccabees, and Elks Lodge and Iberia Spanish Lake Club. In his profession he is a member of the American Water Works Association and the South western Water Works Association. Mr. Villermin owns a good home on Duperier Avenue, and has other real estate in New Iberia.

He married at New Iberia, January 2, 1902, Miss Rita Dupenier, daughter of Dr, and Mrs. Frederick Dupenier, her mother a resident of New Iberia. Her father was a physician. Mrs. Villermin finished her education in Mount Carmel Convent, New Iberia. Six children were born to their marriage: Paul D., born in September, 1903, who was with the colors a year in the World war, being trained at Camp Pike, Arkansas, in the infantry, was a sergeant, and was connected with the New Orleans office of the Fairbanks and Morse Company, engine builders, until July, 1924, when he accepted a position at the Rip Van Winkle Jefferson Island Salt Mine; Allen, who was a teacher in the public schools of New Iberia, married S. J. Dupuy, of Crowley; Lester Ralph, attending a private school at New Iberia; Lawrence F., Jr., a pupil in the New Iberia public schools; Mike Oliver, also in Public schools; and Nita Marie, a student in Mount Carmel Convent.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 294-295, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.