Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Louisiana

Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Sherry Sanford (SSanf51819@aol.com)

"Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Louisiana", Vol. II The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1892

The parish of St. Charles is one of the best in the state. The alluvial lands along either side of the Mississippi furnish the almost entire cultivable lands of the parish. These lands are of the very richest and yield immense crops of cane and rice, in which they are chiefly cultivated. There are in the parish a number of the finest sugar plantations of the state. A great majority of the agriculturists of the parish own small tracts of land, which they cultivate largely in rice. Of late, however, sugar-cane culture on a small scale has become quite popular. The assessor's crop report for 1890-91 affords the following information as to the parish products for that year, which was probably an average one: Acres cultivated in cane, 6,881; rice, 3,984; corn, 1,963; potatoes, 37; hogsheads sugar, 3,060; barrels of sugar, 45,275; barrels molasses, 13,485. This report further shows that there are in the parish 80,199 acres of open land not cultivated, giving a total of 93,075 acres of land cleared for cultivation. The swamps are heavily wooded with cypress and other valuable timbers, which supply numerous lumber, shingle, stave and picket manufactories. The southern portion of the parish consists almost entirely of sea marsh or marsh prairie. Four railroads, two on either side of the river, connect the parish with New Orleans and the North and West.

Hahnville was laid out, 1872, by ex-Governor Hahn, the site then being a portion of a sugar plantation which he owned. It has a population of about 340, the colored populace largely predominating. The town has two stores, a newspaper and other necessary appurtenances. Freetown is a village of about 490 souls. The town and surrounding country support three business houses. Elkinsville on the east bank of the river, three miles above Kenner is also a village with a population of about 230. Two business houses are there, the territory comprising the parishes of St. Charles and St. John was among the first settled in Louisiana. In the year of 1722, 250 Germans from Alace-Lorraine, under the command of Chevalier d'Arensbourg, a distinguished Swedish officer, immigrated to Louisiana under the direct auspices of the famous "Mississippi company" or "The Company of the Indies." They located on the Mississippi coast and took possession of the territory embraced in the two parishes under the colony name of the "German Coast." D'Arensbourg was made commanding captain of the "post."

The population of the German Coast was augmented in 1766 by the immigration of 216 Acadians, who settled on both sides of the river as far up as Baton Rouge. Nearly the whole of the white population of these parishes consists of the descendants of these early German and Acadian settlers. The seat of parish government was established where it still remains, on account of its central location, being situated near the exact center of the parish, on or near the west bank of the Mississippi river. It has always been known as St. Charles courthouse, notwithstanding the fact that the town of Hahnville is in close proximity and is considered the parish town. St. Charles parish was formed in 1807. There are in the parish seventeen public schools. There are also three or four private primary schools in the parish, receiving a good patronage. Among the whites the Catholic religion has a decided prestige. In fact it is largely hereditary. The first church built in the parish was Catholic, and is said to be about the third oldest in the state, having been established during the early days of the "German Coast," under the old French regime. The church still exists, new structures having been erected on the old site. The name of old red church is still retained. The "St. Charles Herald," published at Hahnville, the parish organ since its origin, was established by ex-Governor Hahn, February 15, 1873, and by him conducted until his death, 1885. Since his death the paper has been published by J.C. Triche & Co., and edited by O.B Baquie, formerly of New Orleans. The paper from its foundation has been independent in politics, and devoted to local interests. The "St. Charles Mirror," a local sheet, democratic in politics, was brought into existence by Horace Vallas about 1879. It did not prove a financial success, and suspended publication after an existence of less than two years.