Bourg, Oscar A.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Oscar A. Bourg was born and reared on a Louisiana sugar plantation, gained in his youth a full round of practical experience in connection with the sugar industry, and of the same he is now one of the prominent and successful representatives in West Baton Rouge Parish, where he owns one-third interest in the fine old "Catherine" plantation, which comprises 725 acres at Lobdell and seven miles west of Port Allen, the judicial center of the parish. This plantation extends along the shore of the Mississippi River and is maintained in a ,high state of productiveness. Mr. Bourg is associated also in the ownership and operation of "Barrowza" Plantation, two miles further to the west on the Mississippi River and comprising 1,300 acres. The plantations have the best of modern improvements, and Mr. Bourg and his associates operate also a large and well equipped sugar refinery for the handling of the products of the two plantations. Good buildings and the most approved of implements and other accessories are here to be found, and the extensive enterprise as carried forward. according to well organized system and with progressive business policies.

Mr. Bourg was born in Lafourche Parish, this state, August 16, 1864. His father, the late Sylvere Bourg, was born in the same parish, in 1830, a representative of one of the old and well known families of that section of Louisiana, and he passed his entire life in his native parish. In 1876 he became the owner of "Ravenswood" Plantation, comprising 600 acres of valuable land, and this he made the stage of successful sugar-planting enterprise, in connection with which he provided and operated a well equipped open-kettle sugar-house. He was originally aligned in the ranks of the democratic party, but in later years transferred his allegiance to the republican party. He and his wife were earnest communicants of the Catholic Church, and both passed the closing years of their lives on their "Ravenswood" homestead, where Mr. Bourg died November 14, 1901, and his widow in December, 1912. The maiden name of Mrs. Bourg was Emily Mire, and she was born in Assumption Parish, in 1848. Of the children, Oscar A., of this sketch, is the eldest; Alice, who died at Lockport, this state, at the age of forty-two years, was the wife of Eugene Constantin, who now resides at Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is a successful oil operator in that state; Joseph is a progressive agriculturist in Terrebonne Parish; Melodia is the wife of Eugene Constantin, whose first wife was her sister Alice, as noted above; Ida is the wife of Elson A. Delaune, cashier of a bank at Lockport, LaFourche Parish, and also owner of a sugar plantation in that parish.

After profiting by the advantages of the schools of his native parish Oscar A. Bourg there continued his studies two years in Thibodaux College, at Thibodaux, the judicial center of the parish. After having been for one year a student in Oxford University, at Oxford, Mississippi, he returned in 18~ to the home plantation, "Ravenswood," in the operation of which he continued to be actively associated until he sold his interest in the same in 1912. In 1911 he had become associated with C. s. Matthews and E. F. Dickenson in the purchase of the Catherine" plantation, and after the death of Mr. Matthews, on the 14th of November, 1923, his heirs not only retained his interest in the property and business, but also purchased that of Mr. Dickeson. Mr. Bourg having a one-third interest, and being associated also with the Matthews heirs in the ownership of "Barrowza" Plantation, as indicated in the opening paragraph of this review. He has secure vantage-place as one of the progressive representatives of plantation industry in West Baton Rouge Parish, and is honored as a liberal and public spirited citizen. He gives his political support to the republican party. At Lobdell he and his are zealous communicants of Sts. Peter and La Catholic Church, of which he is a trustee, and at P1aquemine, Iberville Parish, he is affiliated with Plaquemine Council No. 970, Knights of Columbus, while in the capital city of his native state he is a member of Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On the 4th of February, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bourg and Miss Ella Foret, who likewise was born and reared in LaFourche Parish, where her father was an extensive sugar planter and influential citizen. Mrs. Bourg is a daughter of Justilien and Eliska (Braud) Foret, and in the old home parish her widowed mother still maintains her home at Thibodaux. The youthful educational advantages of Mrs. Bourg included those of the fine old Dominican Convent in the City of New Orleans, and she is a woman of culture and gracious personality--the popular chatelaine of one of the beautiful plantation homes of her native commonwealth. Mr. and Mrs. Bourg have five children: Oscar A., Jr., who, in 1924, was a student in St. Mary College, at St. Mary, Kansas; is now a student at the Louisiana State University; Edward F. is attending St. Vincent's Academy in the City of Baton Rouge; Ella Marie is there attending St. Joseph's Convent; Rene is attending St. Vincent's Academy; and Earl, not yet of school age, exercises a goodly measure of juvenile domination in the parental home.

It is gratifying to offer in this history of Louisiana this merited recognition of one of the successful exponents of plantation industry, and in his character and achievement Mr. Bourg has honored not only the family name but also the line old state which has ever been his home.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 130-131, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.