Dansereau, Hercules, M. D.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 115-116. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Dansereau, Hercules, M. D., of Thibodaux, Lafourche parish, is a retired practitioner, still retaining to a remarkable extent the exercise of his mental and physical faculties, at the patriarchal age of 82 years. The blood of the pioneer French colonists of Canada which flows through his veins has endowed him with that sturdiness of constitution for which the early settlers were noted. Peter Dansereau was the first of the name to come to America, from France, about the year 1700, locating near Montreal, Canada, where many of the family still reside.

Hercules Dansereau was born in province of Quebec, May 2, 1832, the son of Joseph Dansereau, merchant, born at Vercheres, Canada, in 1797, died 1888; his wife, Rosalie (Chagnon) Dansereau, also a native of Vercheres (1800), died at Vercheres in 1875. After receiving his primary and grammar school education at home, the subject of this sketch entered Montreal college, where he remained 7 years. Next he studied for 3 years in the College of Physicians & Surgeons, of Montreal, now Laval university, and then, for one year, studied in the College of Medicine, Albany, N. Y., graduating in 1853. During the latter year, Dr. Dansereau came to New Orleans, followed the clinics and lectures at the Charity hospital for a few months, and went to the town of Pointe-a-la-Hache, in the parish of Plaquemines, where he practiced medicine until 1858, when he moved to Thibodaux. The town was then in its infancy, in the midst of a sparsely-settled region, and surrounded by woods. On account of the limited population of Thibodaux, the doctor extended his practice to all parts of the surrounding country, sometimes traveling many miles in fair and in bad weather to hasten to the relief of his fellow-citizens.

When the Civil war broke out, in 1861, Dr. Dansereau enlisted in the Southern army and was made lieutenant of the Lafourche Guards, 4th La. infantry, which was stationed, successively, at Pascagoula, Miss., Ship Island, Jackson, Tenn., and Corinth. The Lafourche Guards took part in the battle of Shiloh. In April, 1862, Dr. Dansereau resigned from the army, returned to Thibodaux, where he resumed the practice of medicine until 1906, retiring in that year and leaving his clientele to his son, Dr. Philip Dansereau.

 Although well past his 80th year, Dr. Hercules Dansereau keeps up his interest in matters pertaining to his profession and to the social life. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and in politics is a democrat, having served 2 terms as alderman of the town of Thibodaux.

In 1868 he married Miss Alida Aycock, daughter of Onezime Aycock, of Terrebonne parish. His wife died in 1910. Eight of their 11 children are living: Dr. Philip J. Dansereau, of Thibodaux; Mathilde (Mrs. Richard MeMahon), Anna, Pauline (Mrs. John McNamara), May (Mrs. Albert Enguand), Marie (Mrs. Lawrence Menuet), Henrietta (Mrs. Charles Gouaux), and Dr. Henry Dansereau.