Toups, Hon. Prosper

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 424-425.
Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.

Hon. Prosper Toups, Thibodeaux, La., assessor of La Fourche parish and a prominent sugar planter, is a native-born resident of this parish, his birth  occurring near where he now lives, 8 miles below the town of Thibodeaux, on  the 1st of March, 1845.  His father, Thelesfor Toups, was also a native of  this parish and died in 1867 of yellow fever, when forty-eight years of age.  HHe was an extensive sugar planter.  The Toups family were among the first  settlers of the parish and were probably of German descent.  Prosper Toups was the eldest of seven children, five sons and two daughters, one of the  daughters dying on the same day and of the same fell disease as the father. Prosper was educated in the schools of his parish and in 1861 joined the Twenty-sixth Louisiana infantry company, in which he served until captured at the siege of  Vicksburg.  He then came home on parole and remained there until cessation of hostilities.  He was in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou and the entire siege of Vicksburg. 

He was married in 1864 to Miss J. Folse, of LaFourche parish, and to this union have been born four sons and a daughter, all at home.  Returning home after the war he commenced overseeing with Oskar Lepine of this parish and in 1869 he bought land.  He then commenced planting for himself and in 1885 he purchased Ariel plantation, which he has since been improving in every possible manner.  He has 800 acres and raises sugar cane, corn, potatoes and. general produce, selling a great deal to the town.  By energy, excellent business ability, and good management he has been very successful and is respected and esteemed throughout the parish. 

He is interested in progress and development and takes an active part in all worthy enterprises.  He was appointed assessor of this parish by Governor Nicholls and fills that position in a very satisfactory manner.  lie is a democrat in  politics, and the family are members of the Catholic church.  He takes an active part in trying to put to an end the Louisiana state lottery.  He can be classed a hot anti-lottery member of La Fourche.