Chappuis, Anselm S.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, pp. 258-259. Edited by William Henry Perrin. Published in 1891, by The Gulf Publishing Company.

A. S. CHAPPUIS, RAYNE.--Anselm Chappuis, one of the most successful business men of Acadia parish, was born in Thibodeaux, Lafourche parish, November 5, 1849. He is the son of Stephen and Mary Louisa (Sourd) Chappuis, natives of Lorraine. France. They both removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, when young, where they married and resided until 1840, at which time they removed to Thibodaux, Louisiana, where the father of our subject died, in 1862, at the age of fifty-three and the mother, in 1870, at the age of fifty years.

The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of ten children. He attended the schools of Lafourche parish. The breaking out of the Civil War prevented him from obtaining a collegiate education. He remained with his mother until nineteen years of age, when he went to Cincinnati, where he learned the tinner's trade with his uncle. Here he remained for three years, when he returned to Louisiana, and worked at his trade in Bayou Lafourche for about five years. In 1880 he removed to Napoleonville, where he established a business which he conducted for a year and a half. Looking around for a more desirable place, he located at Rayne, where he has since followed his trade, and conducts a general hardware business, in connection with which he carries in stock of building materials. His stock in the above goods, together with an assortment of improved agricultural implements and wagon and buggy materials, is the largest in Southwest Louisiana.

Mr. Chappuis has demonstrated his business ability in the success which has attended is undertakings. He is probably at present the wealthiest business man in Acadia parish. On starting out in life for himself he was compelled to borrow money to buy the necessary implements with which to carry on his business. Mr. Chappuis has served as a member of the board of aldermen since his location in Rayne. On the organization of Acadia parish he was made clerk of the police jury, but soon resigned his charge. Mr. Chappuis was instrumental in the erection of the rice mill at this place, and was elected president and manager
of the company on its organization. He is foremost in all matters that tend to the promotion of the public welfare. Through his influence and money, assisted by a few other public-spirited citizens, the present commodious two and one-half story brick academy was built and the school supported.

Mr. Chappuis, with a keen eye to business, has invested largely in real estate, feeling confident that within a short while it will be greatly enhanced in value. He has recently purchased a farm one and one-half miles from town, upon which he proposes erecting a fine residence and make it his future home.
He was married, in 1872, to Miss Emma Bergeron. She died the year following her marriage, having become the mother of a son, Eugene L., who is at present book-keeper in his father's business at this place. Mr. Chappuis married a second time, in 1882, Miss Josephine Christman, of Opelousas. They are the parents of four children, viz.: Ferdinand, Abner, Lawrence, Archibald.