1925 Biography - Richard H. Flower

Richard H. Flower, assistant secretary of state of Louisiana, has given a quarter of a century of his life to various departments of public service in New Orleans or in the state capital at Baton Rouge. He has been continuously identified with the secretary of state's office since 1907.

He was born at Clinton, in East Feliciana Parish. Louisiana, May 4, 1875. His grandfather, Richard Flower, was a native of the same parish, but for many years lived at New Orleans, where he was head of one of the oldest and largest cotton, sugar and rice commission houses. He married Minerva Scott, who was born in 1827 and died in 1922, daughter of a former judge of the District Court in East Feliciana Parish.

Richard T. Flower, father of Richard H. Flower, was born near Jackson, Louisiana, in October, 1847 graduated from Christian College at Mobile, and as a New Orleans business man became head of the import department of the wholesale grocery house of Schmidt & Zeigler. He was a youthful soldier of the Confederacy during the last two years of the war, and was affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans. He was a democrat and a member of the Episcopal Church. Richard T. Flower, who died at New Orleans in November, 1904, married Eustatia Pegram, who was born at Clinton, Louisiana, in 1848, and died in 1900. They had a family of eleven children: Dr. E. Pegram Flower, who is secretary of the Louisiana State Live Stock Board; Jesse S., a wholesale commission at New Orleans; Richard H.; Miss Julia Minerva, both living at Baton Rouge; Miss a stenographer for the Southern Pacific Company at New Orleans; Miss May and residents of Baton Rouge; Ethel, wife of P. Kerr, head chemist in the laboratory Louisiana State Experiment Station at the State University; Iva, wife of William a farmer and dairyman in East Baton Parish; and Sarah, wife of George C. President of the Everett School Supply at Baton Rouge.

Richard H. Flower attended public schools in New Orleans, graduating from the Boys' High School of that city. During 1895-97 he was employed in clerical positions, and from 1897 to 1900 was chief clerk under his uncle, Walter C. Flower, mayor of New Orleans. After leaving that position he was engaged in business as a produce broker, a partner in the firm of J. S. Waterman & Company at New Orleans until 1902. He then was with Lucas E Moore & Company, exporters of wool and hardwood lumber until 1904. Since that year Mr. Flower has been a resident of Baton Rouge, and was a clerk in the offices of the State Penitentiary until 1907, in which year he became record clerk in the secretary of state's office under John T. Michel, then secretary of state, and served under his successor, Edward Everett, until 1912, when he was appointed assistant secretary of state under Alvin E. Hebert. On the death of Mr. Hebert his successor, W. F. Millsaps, reappointed Mr. Flower to the same position, and he was reappointed by Hon. James J. Bailey in 1916, 1920 and 1924. Due to his long service he is regarded as the best informed man on all the details and administrative routine in the secretary of state's office.

Mr. Flower is a democrat, a member of St. James Episcopal Church at Baton Rouge, and is affiliated with St. James Lodge No. 47, A. F. and A. M.; Washington Chapter No. 57, Royal Arch Masons; Lambert Council No. 22, R. and S. M.; is a past commander of Plains Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, and a member of the Jerusalem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at New Orleans. He also belongs to the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and the Baton Rouge Golf and Country Club.

Mr. Flower married, August 3, 1912, at Baton Rouge, Miss Nena Mai Miller. She was born in Huntsville, Alabama, and was educated at Chaffin College at Huntsville, Alabama.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 85.