Continuation of tree (4th child of Augustin Pitre/Marie Louise Reed); all known surname descendants:
9 Orter Pitre b: 28 March 1882 Ville Platte, St. Landry, LA; d: Aft. 1930
+ Emerante Manuel b: 10 March 1883 Ville Platte, St. Landry, LA; m: 9 December 1902 Ville Platte, St. Landry, LA [Adolphe/Louisa Young]; d: 3 March 1937 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
10 Lena Pitre b: 8 September 1904 St. Landry, LA; d: 25 October 1971 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
+Audley Joseph Fontenot b: 30 June 1906 Ville Platte, St. Landry, LA; m: 30 October 1923 Evangeline, LA [Francois Dreaux/Azelia Chapman]; d: 5 July 1950 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
10 Nuse Pitre b: Abt. 1906 St. Landry, LA; d: Aft. 1910
10 Agnes Pitre b: 28 January 1912 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA; d: 11 May 1979 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
+Joel Ardoin b: 7 March 1913 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA; m: Abt. 1929 [John/---]; d: 12 January 1979 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
10 Etta Pitre b: 21 October 1915 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA; d: 31 December 1995 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
+Lake Young b: 1 March 1912 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA; m: Abt. 1936 [Ulysse/Nita Chapman]; d: 7 January 1994 Ville Platte, Evangeline, LA
Notes for Orter Pitre:
Census
- 1910 Big Cane, St. Landry, Louisiana: Ortere Pitre 29 farmer, wife of 8 years Marante 26, Lena 6, Nuse (Niese) 4.
- 1920
- 1930 E. Feliciana, LA: Ortere Pitre 48 inmate. [State Hospital]
- 1930 Evangeline, LA: Widow Merant Manuel 42 farmer/general farm, Etta 14 [L'Ance Aux Paille Road]
WWI registration records: Ortere Pitre; St. Landry, LA; born 28 Mar 1881; Mrs. Marante Pitre; medium height, medium build; gray eyes & black hair.
Misc.:
St. Landry Clarion (Opelousas), Saturday, 27 June 1908: Included in the Grand Jury, True Bills: Ortere Pitre, shooting with intent to muder.
St. Landry Clarion (Opelousas), Saturday, 24 April 1915: One of the most unique cases, as well as one of the most interesting, ever tried in the criminal district court of St. Landry, which consumed the attention of the court for three long days, was that of Achille Manuel and Lewis Lafleur, two Evangeline parish youg men, charged with conspiring with Armand Green to murder Alexandre Ardoin, their father-in-law. A large number of the residents of Chataignier section of Evangeline parish, as well as scores of interested parties from this parish, attended the trial during Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and a part of Thursday morning. The state, represented by District Attorney Garland and Hon. Edward B. Dubuisson, attempted to prove that Achille Manuel and Lewis Lafleur, on the night of Tuesday, March 16th, planned and concocted a scheme, by which Alexandre Ardoin, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Chataignier, was to be murdered on the following night by a negro Armand Green, who resides on Syniac Lafleur's plantation, in this parish. The principal state witness was Ortere Pitre, at whose home, on the William Reed plantation, about five miles from this city, the conspiracy is supposed to have been formulated and agreed upon. Otere Pitre testified that the two accused had arrived at his home at about ten o'clock that Tuesday night and after awaking him (Otere) and his wife they came into his home. The two had been drinking and still had some liquor, which they offered Otere. After the liquor was consumed Armand Green, who resides on an adjoining plantation was summoned to go to C.N. Bertrand's for some more, which he did not get. Pitre claimed that the two son-in-laws of Mr. Ardoin first asked him to perform the deed, offering him one hundred dollars cash and five hundred dollars after the murder of Alexandre Ardoin had been accomplished. He claims that he refused, whereupon they made the same proposition to the negro, who accepted to go to the home of Mr. Ardoin and murder him on the next night, after which the two accused departed for their home in Chataignier. Pitre stated that on the fateful Wednesday night, Green came to his home and stated that he was preparing to go to the Ardoin home for the execution of his promise. He testified that he prevailed upon the negro not to commit the crime, threatening to declare the plot. On the following morning Pitre informed Ambroise Vidrine of the alleged conspiracy, immediately after which Mr. Vidrine rushed to Opelousas and laid the whole thing before William Ardoin, a brother of Alexandre Ardoin. The negro was immediately imprisoned and when the case came up before the court, testified to nearly the same facts that Pitre told the jury. The state sought to prove that the accused wanted to do away with Mr. Ardoin in order to receive the money their wives are to inherit from the succession, while the defense attempted to show that the accused are being persecuted by Otere Pitre and Armand Green, the negro, in an attempt, either to get hush-money from Manuel and Lafleur, or to receive a reward from the Ardoin family. [Jury was divided, a mistrial was declared.]
The Star Progress (Opelousas), Saturday, 5 July 1919: Two Prisoners escape from jail - Otere Pitre and a young Latiolais, prisoners in Opelousas jail, filed one of the iron bars of their cell, let themselves down to the ground with their blankets and made their escape Thursday night. They were incarcerated on the second floor. Otere Pitre was awaiting transfer to the state penitentiary, having been convicted and sentenced to 15 years for killing a negro at Prairie Ronde. Young Latiolais was being held on some minor charge. Sheriff Fontenot began a search for the men Friday morning and says that it will be only a question of time before he catches them.
Star progress (Opelousas, LA), Saturday, 20 December 1919: Ortere Pitre Delivers Self - White Man Convicted of Killing Prairie Ronde Negro, Gives Himself Up - Ortere Pitre, who escaped from the parish prison several weeks ago, following his conviction for the killing of a negro in Prairie Ronde early last spring, delivered himself up to the parish authorities on Monday. Pitre was recently given a new trial by the supreme court, and would have been tried at the last term of the criminal court had he not broken jail. It is now contended that he has no longer any claims to his second trial by a jury and must serve his sentence of twenty years imposed by Judge Pavy. Pitre gave as his reason for delivering himself as lonesomeness. He told deputies that he was lonesome and thought it best to go back to jail. He had been at large for several weeks, and while the authorities were constantly on the lookout for him, no definite clue as to his whereabouts could be obtained, although it was known that he had never wandered far away.
Beaumont Enterprise (TX), Saturday, 27 October 1928: Man gets term for old crime - Arrested for cow theft, He is recognized as St. Landry slayer - Opelousas, La., Oct. 26 - The theft of a cow in Evangeline parish last week by Otere Pitre started the mill of justice to grinding again in his case and as a result he is now at the state penitentiary serving a sentence of from 15 to 20 years for manslaughter meted out to him in June, 1919, by Judge B.H. Pavy in the district criminal court here. Pitre was charged with the killing of a negro at St. Landry, this parish. He was found guilty and appealed the case. Pending the appeal he broke jail here and left for parts unknown. The appeal was lost and some effort was made by Darius Fontenot, then sheriff, to locate Pitre but he never was apprehended although it was reported that he was living in a neighboring parish. Some time ago, according to report, Pitre returned to Acadia parish, just across the line from St. Landry, and engaged in the cattle business. He stayed out on the prairie and never came to Opelousas and evaded capture, although the old charge almost had been forgotten. But this week when Judge Pavy went to Ville Platte, Evangeline parish, to hold court he found that one Otere Pitre had been charged with stealing a cow. The judge remembered the name and found that the man was the one he had sentenced for manslaughter so long ago. The result was that Pitre under arrest in Evangeline, was turned over to Sheriff Charles Thibodeaux of this parish and was taken to state prison to serve out the sentence given him almost 10 years ago.
Weekly Town Talk (Alexandria), Saturday, 10 November 1928: Judge Pavy Remembers Pitre after 9 Years - Baton Rouge, La. - Ortere Pitre doesn't like judges with good memories. On June 14, 1919, Judge B.H. Pavy, of Opelousas, sentenced Ortere, who is 47 years old and a native of Ville Platte to serve from fifteen to twenty years at the State penitentiary on a charge of slaying a St. Landry negro. Ortere entered an appeal from the decision. During the intervening months awaiting trial, he escaped the St. Landry parish jail. He made his new home in Calcasieu parish, they say, and the years passed quietly for Ortere. Not so long ago he moved into Acadia parish and decided to raise some cattle. He procured one cow, but is said to have failed to pay for it. Arrested by the sheriff of Evangeline parish on a charge of stealing the bovine, Ortere was brought into court. On the bench was Judge Pavy. It was nine years later. But the judge took one good look. And Ortere packed his scanty belongings. Mail that arrives at Angola prison farm during the next fifteen years may now and then contain a letter addressed to Ortere Pitre, who doesn't like judges with good memories.
Clarion News (Opelousas, LA), Thursday, 20 June 1929: Convict Escapes from State Farm after Recapture - Man Serving Term for Manslaughter later sentenced for Stealing - Old Case re-opened Ortere Pitre Flees - Keen Memory of Judge Pavy Responsible for Criminal Identification: When Ortere Pitre was brought before Judge Pavy October 19, 1928 charged with cow stealing, an old case of lost records in annals of crime was re-opened and the keen memory of the District Judge recalled having tried the same man many years ago on a manslaughter charge, sentencing him from 15 to 20 years. The same Ortere Pitre escaped from the state farm at Angola last week. Sheriff Thibodeaux received a picture and description of Pitre in his office this week and deputies in St. Landry and Evangeline are looking for the escaped convict. When Judge Pavy recognized Pitre when he was brought before him on the cow stealing charge, he was taken back to the penitentiary to serve the balance of his term for manslaughter conviction. Records show that Pitre escaped from the state prison the first time and went back to his home in Evangeline parish where he had resided as a peaceful citizen until he became involved in the stealing of cattle. Pictures of the escaped convict, together with description, have been broadcast throughout the state.
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), Tuesday, 27 August 1929: (recaptured) Ortere Pitre, a second termer, serving 15 to 20 years for manslaughter in St. Landry, who escaped from a tubercular ward at Angola in June, retaken in St. Landry.
Obituaries for the children:
Lena Pitre: The Ville Platte Gazette (Ville Platte, LA), Thursday, 28 October 1971: Funeral services were held Monday at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church for Mrs. Audley Fontenot, 67, who died at the Ville Platte Medical Center at 3:55 p.m. Monday following a long illness. Burial was in the old cemetery with Ardoin Funeral Home in charge. Surviving are one son, Roy Fontenot; one daughter, Mrs. Burke Phillips both of Ville Platte; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; two sisters, Mrs. Lake Young and Mrs. Joel Ardoin of Ville Platte.
Tombstone Inscription, Old Ville Platte Cemetery, Ville Platte, LA: FONTENOT / Audley / June 30, 1906 / July 5, 1949 / Lena P. / Sept. 8, 1904 / Oct. 25, 1971 [Obit for Audley is dated 6 July 1950]
Agnes Pitre: The Ville Platte Gazette (Ville Platte, LA), Thursday, 17 May 1979: Funeral services were Saturday at 9 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church for Mrs. Joel Ardoin, 67, the former Agnes Pitre, who died at 4:30 a.m. Friday in Ville Platte General Hospital following a short illness. Interment was in the Chataignier Mausoleum directed by Ardoin's Funeral Home of Ville Platte. Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Lake Young of Ville Platte.
Tombstone Inscription, Mount Carmel Cemetery, Chataignier, Evangeline, LA: Joel Ardoin / 1911 - 1979 / Agnes Pitre / 1913 - 1979
Etta Pitre: The Ville Platte Gazette (Ville Platte, LA), Thursday, 4 January 1996: Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Catholic Church for Mrs. Etta Pitre Young, 80, of Ville Platte, who died on Sunday, Dec. 31 at Ville Platte Medical Center after a long illness. Burial followed in Gates of Heaven Cemetery under the direction of Ardoin's Funeral Home of Ville Platte. Survivors include: two sons, Vincent Young and Russell Young, both of Ville Platte; and two grandchildren.
Back one generation to parents of Orter Pitre
Items in RED verified from transcriptions in the following:
- Southwest Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records of Parishes of Acadia, Allen Beauregard, Cameron, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, St Landry, St Martin, St Mary and Vermillion.
- Some Louisiana births, marriages & deaths in RED taken from obituaries or the LA vital statistics collection (which includes spouses/parents).
Last updated: 7 November 2022.