1892 Biography - Hypolite Filhiol

Hypolite Filhiol. No family in the north part of Louisiana is more worthy of a place in the annals of the history of the country in which they have so conspicuously figured than that to which this sketch is devoted. The fame of the old Spanish commandant looms up conspicuously in the old long ago of the Ouachita valley, and the good name, proverbial honesty, instructive courtesy and unbounded hospitality of his descendants preserve his most prominent and admired characteristics fresh to the present. Don Juan Filhiol was born at Eymet, in Perigord, department of Dardongue, arrondisment Bergerac, France, September 21, 1740. Leaving France in 1763, he removed to the island of San Domingo, thence to Philadelphia in 1779, with the intention of joining Count D'Estaing upon his return with the squadron to France; but certain events prevented his carrying out this intention, and, changing his destination, he arrived in New Orleans in May, 1779. The loss of his vessel by a hurricane in the month of August, 1779, and the declaration of war between Spain and England, compelled him to remain in Louisiana. Joining the volunteers he helped Spain to take Florida and Pensacola. In 1783 he was appointed by the king of Spain as captain in the army, and commandant of the militia, and assigned to the duty at the post of Ouachita, under instructions from Don Estevan Mire, then governor general of the province of Louisiana, whose favor he had gained by his superior qualities as a gentleman and soldier. Upon receiving his commission, Commandant Filhiol embarked, accompanied by his newly-made wife, a few soldiers and attendants, on a small keelboat, and proceeded on their long and tedious voyage up the Ouachita, then, a. may be imagined, in its "most delightfully primeval state." A description of this now beautiful and fertile valley, written by himself as it then existed, is still in the possession of his descendants. Commandant Filhiol first established his post at Ecore-a-Fabry, now Camden, Ark. In 1785 he left that place and established Fort Miro, named in honor of the governor of the territory, where Monroe now stands. The Spanish government having granted him the entire land upon which Monroe is now situated, below De Siard street, he laid it out into lots, donating a large square near the river front for a courthouse. While acting as commandant of the then important post of Ouachita, Don Juan received many grants of land as a reward for his civil and military services from the Governor Miro, who was, by Spanish colonial laws, vested with full power to make grants of land, and convey by such grants the absolute, fee simple to the lands thus granted. He was, however, a most modest and unselfish man, and it is said refused the entire territory between Monroe and Columbia, now the garden spot of the Ouachita valley. Among the lands granted him were those upon which the celebrated Hot Springs of Arkansas are located, to which, in consequence, his descendants lay a just claim. The records show that he sold the Hot Springs grant to his son-in-law, Don Narcisso Bourjeat, of Pointe Coupee, for $2,000, subsequently repurchased it, and obtained a deed passed before Don J. Poydras, judge of the court in the parish of Pointe Coupee, July 17, 1806, which was duly recorded, the property having never since changed hands. Commandant Filbiol retained the office of commandant until 1800, when he resigned it into the hands of Don Guillaume de la Baume, captain of the dragoons in the militia, who was in his turn succeeded by Don Vincente Fernandez Texeiro. A number of Don Juan's letters extant, augmented by the testimony which has been handed down, give ample proof of his zeal and strict honesty in a position surrounded by severe trials at times. His descendants, as well as the many worthy citizens, who point with pride to him who founded their lovely town, and watched over the destinies of the then infant settlement, delight to dwell upon his virtues, and perpetuate, in unbounded praise, his sacred memory. He died in the parish of Ouachita on September 28, 1821, at the age of eighty-one years. He was married at the port of Opelousas on March 15, 1782, to Francoise Poiret, and by her he became the father of three children: Jean Joseph, born at Camden, Ark., then Ecore-a-Fabry, in 1784; Marie Barne, born in 1786 at Fort Miro, now Monroe, and Edmond Landry Grammont, born at the same place in 1789. Jean Joseph Filhiol died in the parish of Ouachita in 1829, without issue. Marie Barbs Filhiol was four times married. She died in the parish of Ouachita in 1859, leaving nine children. Edmond Landry Grammont Filhiol died at the old homestead near Logtown, Ouachita parish, July 3, 1871, being the oldest manor born citizen of the Ouachita valley. He resembled his illustrious father very much in person and manners, even his handwriting, bold and plain, is almost an exact reproduction of that of the old commandant from whom he had evidently had his first lessons. His first business venture was hotel keeping in Monroe. On account of his easy and good-natured disposition he was imposed upon to such an extent that the venture proved a failure, and he removed to a wild tract of land on the Ouachita, twelve miles below Monroe, which he called "Perseverance," the present Filhiol plantation. In 1851 he donated the ground upon which the Catholic church in Monroe stands; and was, with Dr. C. H. Dabbs, a member of the building committee. The war between the North and South affected him deeply. He never lost an occasion to deplore it. He was seen at times to be moved to tears while expressing his apprehension of the future prospects of his country. One of his grandsons, his namesake, died on the field of Chancellorsville. In the treatment of his slaves he was indulgent to a fault; indeed they were almost free long before emancipation. His honesty was proverbial among all with whom he had business dealings. In his manners he was considerate and exquisitely polite, partaking of the style of the gentlemen of the old school. He married early in life Donna Aurora Rolando, of New Orleans, which union resulted in the birth of four children: Jean Baptiste, who died in 1886; Hypolite; Mrs. Harriet L. Watkins, widow; Mrs. Frances Ann Bres, deceased. Hypolite Filhiol, the only surviving son, is a wealthy planter, residing in Monroe, where he was born in 1825. He received his primary education in the local schools, and for two years, 1839-40, attended St. Mary's college near Perryville, Mo. His elder brother, Edward L. Filhiol, was a student at the same time, and died while there. On returning from school Mr. Filhiol was for four years engaged as steamboat clerk. He was clerk of the "Buckeye" when she collided with the "De Soto" in 1844, resulting so disastrously. Succeeding this Mr. Filhiol was employed for several years in the grocery and dry goods business in Monroe, and later for a short time conducted a drug store, neither of which proved successful, and since that time he has given his attention to the operation of his plantations. Beside two valuable plantations, Mr. Filhiol owns considerable real estate in Monroe, a part of which has descended, without having left the family, from his illustrious grandfather. Mr. Filhiol possesses in a large degree those characteristics which, from the time of the old Commandant, have been prominent in the family, and have rendered the name a deservedly popular one. Though advanced in age he is remarkably robust and well-preserved, and had lost none of the genial power of entertainment for which he is noted. Mr. Filhiol was first married, in 1848, to Miss Louise Betin, who died in 1854, having become the mother of one child, who died young. In 1855 he married Mrs. Deborah (Tufts) Herring, a native of Cambridgeport, Mass. To this union five children have been born: Grammont, the only son, died at the age of fifteen at Mount St. Mary's college, Emmetsburg, Md., while a student at that institution. Two daughters died young, and two, Mrs. Anna E. Ferrand, of Caldwell parish, and Mrs. Heloise Breard, of Monroe, are both accomplished ladies, and graduates of St. Joseph's academy, Emmetsburg, Md. The mother died in 1879, and in 1881 Mr. Filhiol married Mrs. Emily (Delery) Mason, a descendant of one of Louisiana's prominent families. The family are all Catholics.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, published in 1892, volume 1, pages 412-413.