1925 Biography - Joseph C. Decuir

Joseph Clarence Decuir. One of the well-known figures among the younger men in banking circles of East Feliciana Parish is Joseph Clarence Decuir, cashier of the Bank of Clinton. He has been identified with several of the leading institutions of this thriving community, and in his present capacity has won patronage for his house and friendships for himself.

Mr. Decuir was born at Hermitage, Louisiana, November 15. 1890, and is a son of Joseph V. and Ovilia (Lieux) Decuir. The Decuir family originated in Bordeaux, France, and settled in Louisiana long before the Revolutionary war. The great-great-grandfather of Joseph C. Decuir resided at Hermitage, and his great-grandfather, Frank Decuir, was born at that place and spent his entire life there, being occupied as a planter. Frank A. Decuir, the grandfather of Joseph C., was born at Hermitage, in 1841, and as a youth enlisted in the Confederate Service for the war between the North and the South, through which he fought valiantly. Like his father he became an extensive planter, and continued to be so engaged until his death in 1904. He was a member of the school board of Pointe Coupee Parish and of the police jury of that parish, and was prominent in all civic and public affairs. Mr. Decuir married Julia Gandeau who was born at Hermitage, in 1841, and who still resides there, advanced in years.

Joseph V. Decuir was born January 2, 1868, at Hermitage, Pointe Coupee Parish, at the old family place, and resided in that community throughout his life, although his death occurred at New Roads, in the same parish, in August, 1921. Like his father he was an extensive and successful planter and like him also, served as a member of the police jury. He was a democrat in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Decuir married Miss Ovilia Lieux, who was born in May, 1869, at Hermitage, and still survives as a resident of New Roads. To them there were born the following children: Ida, who married Sample Morgan, a merchant of New Roads; Joseph Clarence; Jeanne, who married Louis P. Mix, a planter of the New Roads community; Julia, who died at Batchelor, Louisiana, in 1920, as the wife of John B. Noland, an extensive cattle buyer and shipper of Baton Rouge; Ovide, who is a telegraph operator at Dallas, Texas; Albert, who has the sales agency for the Nash Motor Company at Dallas, Texas; and Valery, who died in 1921 at New Roads, aged sixteen years.

Joseph Clarence Decuir attended Rugby College, New Orleans, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908, following which he took a course at the Soulé Business College, New Orleans, and graduated in 1909. His first employment was with his father on the home plantation, where he kept the books and accounts until 1917, in that year entering the Bank of Baton Rouge, where he was bookkeeper until 1918. At that the his career was temporarily interrupted by the World war, for in May, 1918, he volunteered for service in the United States Army, and, being accepted, was sent to Camp Martin, New Orleans, where he spent three months in the radio department. He likewise spent three months in the same department at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, and was then transferred to Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, Louisiana, where he received his honorable discharge January 8, 1919. 0n his return to civil life he accepted a position with Holmes & Barnes, wholesale grocers of Baton Rouge, remaining until

March 10, 1920. 0n the following day he became cashier of the Bank of Clinton, a position which he has since retained. This institution, which bears an excellent reputation in banking circles, was thrown open for business August 13, 1897, and now has a capital stock of $30,000, surplus and profits of $20,O0O, and deposits of $250,000. The president is A. P. Irwin and the vice president, C. H. Trotter. Mr. Decuir is a democrat in politics, and from 1912 to 19l6, was a member of the Pointe Coupee Parish school board. He is the owner of one of the fine homes of Clinton, situated on Jackson Street.

0n April 18, 1918, Mr. Decuir married Miss Lou Wilda Lafleur, who attended Sacred Heart College, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, and is a daughter of Edward T. and Hermance (Sittig)Lafleur, the latter a resident of Opelousas, this state, where Mr. Lafleur died. He was a prosperous planter and a director of the Opelousas National Bank, and widely and favorably known in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Decuir have no children.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 327.