Picard, (Hon.) Achilles E.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Picard, Hon. Achilles Ernest, well-known citizen and legislator of Killona, St. Charles parish, La., was born May 25, 1866; son of T. P. and Julie (Joslossent) Picard, the former of whom was born in France in the year 1809, and came to America in 1832. He immediately located in the city of New Orleans, where he engaged in mercantile business. His business enterprises were reasonably prosperous, but in 1862, for economic reasons, he moved from the city and located in St. James parish. After 2 years passed in this latter locality, however, he moved to Killona, St. Charles parish, where he again established himself in mercantile business and was identified with that line of endeavor until the time of his death, in 1879. His wife, Julie Joslossent, was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and came to America about the year 1845, locating at New Orleans, where her marriage later was solemnized. She died in February, 1873, at New Orleans, to which city she had gone from her home at Killona for medical treatment. The paternal grandfather, T. P. Picard, was a native of France. Four children were horn to the parents of the subject of this sketch, as follow: Alfred E., who died at Galveston, Tex.; Corinne, now the wife of U. Muller, cotton factor, of Galveston, Tex.; Achilles Ernest, the subject of this sketch; Orfila E., now engaged in farming at Killona. Achilles Ernest Picard attended Spring Hill college, Mobile, Ala., where he passed 4 years as a student, this term including the full commercial course. Immediately following the completion of his education, he began business on his own account as a farmer, and since that time has continually owned and conducted a farm in the vicinity of Killona. Mr. Picard is affiliated with the democratic party, and in the course of his experience has served the people among whom he lives in various official capacities, including 8 years as a member of the police jury and the same length of time as a member of the school board. He has served, also, as parish treasurer. In 1898 he was elected a member of the lower house of the Louisiana legislature, and served 1 term at that time, with so much credit to himself and to his constituents that in 1902 he was again elected to the legislature, and has since been continually reelected to succeed himself as representative of St. Charles parish, being at this time incumbent of that office. Mr. Picard is serving as a member of 3 important committees of the house of representatives, these being the committee on claims, fish and fisheries, and elections. He is affiliated with the Roman Catholic church, and is a member of the Red Men of the Tribe of Ben Hur. May 27, 1878, Mr. Picard was married to Miss Louise, daughter of Emil and Celima (Darensbourg) Vial, of Killona, the former of whom was born in Mexico, and the latter in St. John the Baptist parish. Mrs. Picard's father was not engaged in the Confederate service during the Civil war, but he was, nevertheless, captured by the Federals and confined at New Orleans, where he died in prison in 1862. His wife survived him until 1889. To this, the first marriage of the subject of this sketch, 5 children were born, as follow: Julie, wife of A. L. Keller, of Hahnville, La.; Aurore, wife of J. Lanaue, of Galveston, Tex.; Clotilde, wife of Albert Moller, U. S. appraiser at Victor, Mont.; T. P. Picard, residing at Victor, Mont.; A. E. Picard, Jr., married to Miss Gertrude Keller, and living at Hahnville, La. The mother of these children died in 1896, and in 1902 Mr. Picard was married to Alice Martha, daughter of W. T. and Mice (Walden) Patterson, of New Orleans, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Patterson was long engaged in the timber business. No children have been born to Mr. Picard's second marriage.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 696-697. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.