Babin, Joseph U., Capt.

Submitted by Mike Miller

WORTHY citizen of Ward 4, Iberville parish, Louisiana, Capt. Joseph U. Babin, planter, Plaquemine, was born in Ascension parish of that state, October 8, 1837, and is the son of Ursin
Babin, a native of St. James parish, also that state. This family was originally from France. The father followed planting all his life, and died in 1873, at the age of sixty-six years. Capt. Babin was educated principally in his native parish, and remained at home assisting his father on the plantation until the breaking out of war between the states.

Early in 1861 he joined Company A, Third Louisiana infantry, in which he served until the siege of Vicksburg when he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi department. He entered the service as a private and surrendered at Vicksburg as first lieutenant, acting as captain, his superior officer having been killed. He was in the battles of Oakhill, Elkhorn, Iuka and Farmington. After being transferred to the Trans-Mississippi department he belonged to Ogden's Fifth Louisiana cavalry and was captain of Company H, commanding his company in battles at different places. He was taken prisoner at Elkhorn and was retained at Keytesville, Mo., for about a month. He was again taken prisoner at Iuka, Miss., and was taken to Camp Douglas, but was exchanged a day later. He was in the siege of Vicksburg and for the third time was captured. He surrendered at Gainesville, Ala., in May, 1865, and rode home on horseback. He began planting in Iberville parish on a small place on the island and has followed this occupation since. He is now the owner of Bagatelle plantation in partnership with his sons, George, Samuel and Paul. He is now working St. Gabrielle plantation, and has had charge of the same for four years. During the war he married Miss Elise Lesiseier ofthis parish. To them were born five sons. Mr. Babin and family are members of the Catholic church.

From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp. 257.