1891 Biography - N. K. Todd

N. K. TODD, FOSTER. – N. K. Todd is a native of St. Mary parish, born in 1842. His father, James Todd, was born in Xenia, Ohio, the son of John Todd, a farmer and resident of Madison, Indiana, where he lived to the age of seventy- five years. James Todd received his education at night schools, laboring on a farm during the day. He became a man of considerable prominence in St. Mary parish, where he had located in 1841. He was a distinguished Mason, receiving every degree conferred in that order. He married, in 1842, Nancy Kemper, a native of St. Mary parish, daughter of Nathan Kemper, a native of Virginia, who removed to St. Mary parish early in life, where he became an extensive sugar planter. Mrs. Todd died of yellow fever in 1854. James Todd afterward married Mrs. E. H. Rice, and to them were born five children: Lee, James, Helen, Henry and Mary. James Todd died in 1887 at the age of seventy-one years.

The subject of this sketch is one of four children born to James and Nancy Todd, only two of whom lived to maturity: John R. and N. K. N. K. Todd received his early education in Franklin, and completed his studies at North Hampton, Massachusetts, where he was pursuing a course preparatory to entering Yale College, when the war breaking out prevented him from carrying out his intentions. He entered the Confederate service in 1862, and served until the dose of the war as a corporal in St. Marys Artillery, participating in the battles of Bisland, Franklin, Yellow Bayou, Mansfield, and a number of other minor engagements. In connection with this may be mentioned the fact that Admiral Porter, in his report of the fight of Cane River, makes the statement that there were eighteen pieces used by the enemy, and every shot fired struck a vessel. Instead of eighteen pieces there were but two twelve-pounders, smooth-bore, and two howitzers supported by only 200 riflemen, who after firing began withdrew, leaving the battery without support. Mr. Todd served as No. 4 on one of the twelve-pounders. The guns mentioned belonged to Nims' famous Boston battery, which were captured at Mansfield, and afterward used as we have seen above with such telling effect in the hands of the victors as to cause Admiral Porter to believe them more than four times their real number. After the war Mr. Todd was for some time engaged as clerk in a mercantile establishment, and later conducted a mercantile business for a period of about fifteen years in Centerville. In 1878 he engaged in planting, but still continued his mercantile business until 1882, since which time he has devoted his entire attention to planting. Garrett plantation, located five miles southwest of Centerville on Bayou Sal‚, consists of about one thousand acres, of which 350 are cultivated principally in cane and corn. Mr. Todd was married in 1869, to Miss Addie Berwick, daughter of David Berwick, of St. Mary parish. To them have been born seven children, of whom six are living: James, Louise, Lizzie, Kate, Nannie, Addie, and Mary, deceased. Mr. Todd was reared in the Episcopal church, of which he and his family are members. He is a Democrat, and under Gov. McEnery served two years as police juror from his ward.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, published in 1891, Biographical Section, pages 385-386.