Chappuis, Philip Jules

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 96-97.
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Chappuis, Philip Jules, well-known attorney, and for 8 years mayor of the city of Crowley, La., was born near Thibodaux, Lafourche parish, La., Sept. 26, 1865; son of Jules and Josephine (Toups) Chappuis, both of whom were born in Lafourche parish, from which place they removed to Rayne, Acadia parish, where they have lived about 25 years. Jules Chappuis died June 29, 1914. The paternal grandparents, Etienne and Marie Louise (Sourd) Chappuis, both were born in France and came to America with their respective parents, who located in the state of Ohio. They were later married in that state, and, coming

South, located in Lafourche parish, La., in the early part of the nineteenth century. The maternal grandparents, Thelesphor and Julienne (Bourgeois) Toups, both were born in Lafourche parish, La. The Toups and Bourgeois families are among the very oldest and most numerous in the state. Philip Jules Chappuis was the first of 3 children born to his parents, the other children being August L. and Celeste, now the widow of Romain Duhon, both of Rayne, La.

The early was education of Philip Jules Chappuis was acquired in public and private schools of Lafourche parish. In 1879 he entered Thibodaux cellege, and graduated from that institution in the year 1883, being now a member of the Thibodaux College Alumni association and vice-president of the organization. Following his graduation, he taught in the public schools of Lafourche parish during some months, and in the autumn of 1883 accepted a position with his uncle, A. S. Chappuis, at Rayne. His duties here were those of clerk and bookkeeper, and he continued in the discharge of these until 1885, in the meantime pursuing the study of law privately.

In the latter year he returned to Thibodaux and continued the study of law in the office of Judge L. P. Caillouet, finally being admitted to practice by examination before the Louisiana supreme court in July, 1887. Following his admission to the bar he opened an office at Rayne, where he had previously formed many acquaintances, and began the practice of law. The city of Crowley at this time was in the embryonic state. In 1889 he removed to Crowley, which had very recently been built up into a thriving hamlet as the parish seat of the new parish of Acadia. At Crowley, Attorney Chappuis formed a partnership with the late E. L. Wells, which association continued 6 months, after which Mr. Chappuis practiced alone until Oct. 1, 1903, when he formed his present partnership with A. Percy Holt, under the firm name of Chappuis & Holt. This firm has remained unchanged from its organization to this time. With one exception only, Mr. Chappuis has been longer engaged in the practice of law than any other attorney now engaged in practice in Acadia parish, and is properly numbered among the most able and uniformly successful in that part of the state of Louisiana.

May 19, 1891, Mr. Chappuis was married to Miss Eula M. Bourgeois, a daughter of L. N. and Josephine (Lefort) Bourgeois, of Lafourche parish, and 3 children have been born to their union, these being: Claude, born in 1892, a graduate of Spring Hill college, Mobile, Ala., and of Georgetown university school of law, Washington, D. C.; Guy, born in 1895, a student of Spring Hill college, but now a student of the agricultural department of the Louisiana State university, Baton Rouge; Aline, born in 1903.

Mr. Chappuis is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, is a member of the Louisiana State Bar association, and of the American Bar association. Mr. Chappuis has acted with the democratic party from the time he began to exercise the privilege of the elective franchise, and has served 4 terms as mayor of the city of Crowley, the last of these terms having ended in 1906. His incumbency of the mayor's office covered a period of 8 years. In 1912 Mr. Chappuis was a candidate for Congress from the 7th congressional district, to succeed Hon. A. P. Pujo, and, while he was unsuccessful, did receive a very large and flattering vote. Mr. Chappuis stands very high among the people of the community in which he lives, and is popular with a large part of the substantial citizenship of the 7th district.