Caillouet, Louis Phillip

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 82-84. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Caillouet, Louis Philip, of Thibodaux, Lafourche parish, enjoys a deserved reputation for learning, ability and integrity as a member of the legal profession. Since the year 1875, when he left college, he has been actively engaged in educational and judicial occupations, from country school teacher to judge of the Court of Appeals. After having served his fellow-citizens in several positions of public usefulness, the Judge is now devoting himself to his profession of the law. The Caillouet family is of French-Canadian origin, having come to America with the early colonists. Joseph Caillouet, paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Canada. In early manhood he went to France where he married, and where his son, James, was born. About the year 1784 he returned to America with his family, and settled in the parish of St. James, La. Lucien Joseph Caillouet, son of James, and father of Judge Louis P. Caillouet, was born April 1, 1825, in St. James parish.

In 1835 James Caillouet moved to Lafourche parish and established a plantation. It was on that estate that Louis Philip Caillouet was born, Oct. 28, 1853. The place, known as the St. James plantation, remained wholly in the possession of the family until 1913, when a half interest in it was sold. In 1879, Lucien Joseph Caillouet retired from active work, and from 1892 until his death, Oct. 11, 1913, at the age of 88 years, resided with his son in Lafourche parish. Judge Caillouet's mother, Eveline (Benoit) Caillouet, of Lafourche parish, was the daughter of Sebastien and Eloise (Morvant) Benoit. She died in Oct., 1858. The name of the Benoit family is recorded among the first entries of land in Lafourche. Four children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Joseph Caillouet, 2 died, and those living are Judge L. P. Caillouet and Julia, now Mrs. Joachim Lagarde. The career of Judge Caillouet has been replete with studious pursuits. He received his education first in private local schools, then at St. Vincent's college, Cape Girardeau, Mo., graduating with the degree of A. B., in 1875. From 1876 to 1877 he was a school teacher in Lafourche parish.
While reading law, he was deputy recorder of the parish, and acting notary and justice of the peace. After passing a brilliant examination before the state supreme court, he was admitted to practice law in the courts of the state, and immediately, in 1885, began the exercise of his profession in Thibodaux. Three years later he was elected district attorney for the parishes of Lafourche and Assumption, served one term, and in 1892 was elected district judge of the district composed of Lafourche and Terrebonne. His popularity was proven by his being elected to the district judgeship for 3 consecutive terms. Judge Caillouet resigned in 1907 to accept office as a member of the First Circuit Court of Appeals for the State, serving 6 years. He was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1898. In 1912 Judge Caillouet was a candidate for a supreme court justiceship and was honored with a very large number of votes throughout the district, but not sufficient for a majority.

In 1890 he married Miss Marie Adèle Lagarde, of Lafourche parish, a member of one of the oldest families of Lafourche. They had 10 children, 9 of whom are living. Judge Caillouet is a member of the Roman Catholic church and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, of which order he is past state deputy, and the Catholic Knights of America.