Continuation of tree (4th child of Jean Marcel Pitre/Camelia Detiveau); all known surname descendants:
9 Paul Laurent Pitre b: 15 March 1898 Montegut, Terrebonne, LA; d: 10 December 1943 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
+Ollie Rita Marcel b: 12 February 1906 Houma, Terrebonne, LA; m: 15 August 1927 Houma, Terrebonne, LA [Felicien/Josephine Lapeyrouse]; d: 8 March 1984 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
10 Rita Anne Pitre b: 7 August 1929 Terrebonne, LA; d: 29 August 2005 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
+Anthony Jack Vitrano m: 26 April 1948 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
10 Arabella J. Pitre b: Abt. 1931 Terrebonne, LA; d: Aft. January 2019
+Florian Jerome Thomala b: 15 January 1930 New Orleans, LA; m: 13 June 1954 Terrebonne, LA [Florian J./Maud Chauvin]; d: 22 January 2019 Castor, Bienville, LA
10 Georgia Marie Pitre b: Abt. 1933 Terrebonne, LA; d: Aft. March 2010
+Elmer Blanchard b: 5 March 1932 Chauvin, Terrebonne, LA; m: 17 March 1952 Houma, Terrebonne, LA [Willie Ernest/Necia ---]; d: 26 March 2010 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
10 Daisy Dean Theresa Pitre b: 25 November 1937 Houma, Terrebonne, LA; d: 19 July 2004 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
+John Robert Leboeuf d: Aft. July 2004
10 Wilma May Pitre b: October 1939 Terrebonne, LA; d: Aft. October 2010
+Leroy Joseph Leboeuf b: 19 February 1934 Houma, Terrebonne, LA; m: 13 February 1955 Terrebonne, LA [Emile Paul/Flavia Trahan]; d: 7 October 2010 Houma, Terrebonne, LA
Notes for Paul Laurent Pitre:
Census
- 1930
- 1940 Connely, Houma, Terrebonne, LA: Laurence Pitre 42 packer/oyster company, wife Ollie 35, O. Anne 11, Arabella 9, Georgia 6, Daisy Dean 2, Wilma May 5 months. [East Park Ave.]
- 1950 Daigleville, Terrebonne, LA: Ollie R. Mahler 44 (sep), daughters Arabella Petrie 19 waitress/restaurant, Georgie Petrie 16, Daisy D. Petrie 12, Wilma Petrie 10, Geraldine Mahler 5, & son Earl P. Mahler 3.
WWI registration records: Laurence Paul Pitre; Terrebonne, LA; born 15 Mar 1898; Mrs. Marsel Pitre; medium height, medium build; black eyes & brown hair.
WWII Records: Paul
Laurent Pitre, res. 1228 Decatur, New Orleans, LA; b. 15 Mar 1898 Terrebonne,
LA; contact Peter Bourgeois (Houma, LA); 5' 11", 125 lbs., blue eyes & brown
hair, ruddy complexion; 16 Feb 1942 New Orleans, LA.
Misc:
It may have been one drink too many, or just the bravado of a young man
determined to prove his mettle, but on Christmas Day, 1917, Lawrence Pitre
arrived at Salvador Carlos Ward 4 dance hall with a chip on his shoulder, what
today might be called an "attitude." The episode is preserved in testimony
taken nearly two months later, from those attending the dance and witnessing the
brief altercation that resulted in charges against Pitre, Connely Collins and
Elie Pellegrin. Pitre, a young man, possibly still in his teens, seems
to have arrived at the Carlos dance hall already spoiling for a fight, a pocket
knife in his hand and muttered threats on his lips. Pellegrin offered to
fight Pitre in the road. Collins responded to a slap with a
punch. None of the dozen witnesses questioned under oath on Feb. 16, 1918,
by Ward 4 Justice of the Peace Joseph A. Waguespack saw everything that
happened that Christmas night. The scenario must be pieced together from
their individual statements. "I was at my refreshment stand when the
disturbance started," Salvador Carlos told Waguespack under oath.
Carlos, who owned the dance hall, had sought out Waguespack on
Feb. 9, 1917, to charge Pitre, Pellegrin and Collins in connection with
the ruckus. Why he waited a month-and-a-half to take action is not clear.
"Pitre and Pellegrin were on the public road," Carlos continued.
"Lawrence Pitre came in the ballroom and slapped Conely Collins.
Collins then took off his coat and struck Lawrence with his
fist. No, I did not see Pitre when he slapped Collins;
someone told me so. But I saw Collins when he struck Pitre."
Teles LeBoeuf testified about what he saw and heard outside the dance
hall. "Mr. Lawrence Pitre and Ellie Pellegrin were on the public
road. Mr. Lawrence asked who was on his side. No one
answered. He then pulled out his knife and said he would defend himself.
He then came in the hall. I didn't see or hear what happened after."
Ernest Voisin, one of at least three Voisins present at the dance,
admitted that he saw virtually nothing of the actual fight. "The only
thing I saw was Mr. Collins with his coat off in the ballroom." "I
saw Lawrence Pitre and Pellegrin come out in the public road to fight,"
Joseph Prevost told the justice of the peace. "I heard them say
they were going to fight. Pitre asked Who is on my side? No
one answered. Sydney Luke and Augustine Pellegrin were with them.
Lawrence then came on the gallery of the hall and spoke to Lawrence
Voisin, and Conely Collins struck Pitre with his fist as he
came into the hall." Lawrence Voisin said he was called on to try
to keep Lawrence Pitre out of serious trouble. "Bernard Pitre
came to me and asked me to stop his brother Lawrence who had a knife in
his hand. I made him put the knife back in his pocket, and he walked to
the ballroom." John Voisin appears to have witnessed more of the
trouble than most of the others. "I was on the ballroom gallery.
Mr. Lawrence Pitre came on the gallery and said I will do up somebody
tonight, and right now I feel like striking in the crowd. Mr. Ellie
Pellegrin then told him, No, do not strike the crowd, but if you want to hit
one man." John Voisin recited the rest of the Pitre/Pellegrin
confrontation. "Mr. Pitre answered, You seem not to be pleased; if
you are not satisfied, come outside. I'll fix you. They then came
out on the public road. I also walked to the road; when I got there
Lawrence Pitre had his knife in his hand, opened it and said, Yes, I have my
knife open, and I can open it in jail. Mr. Lawrence Voisin came to
him and told him to put up his knife. Pitre then went towards the
hall. I don't know what happened after." Laurencia Benoit saw
Lawrence Pitre as he entered the building. "Mr. Pitre came
in the hall with his hands in his pockets, and said, Excuse me. Mr.
Collins was about six or seven feet from the door, (he) walked up to Mr.
Pitre, pulled off his coat and struck him, knocking him down; and while he
was down struck him again. I then walked away." Justilien Carlos
testified that he saw little other than the blow that knocked Pitre down.
"The only thing I saw was when Conely took off his coat. Pitre
was near the door, Collins walked up to him and struck him with his
fist." The testimony of Edward Portier revealed that Pitre
considered himself underage, but it is not clear whether he was referring to 16,
18 or 21 as the age of manhood. "I saw Ellie Pellegrin and his
brother in a fuss with Lawrence Pitre," Portier said under oath.
"Pitre pulled out his knife, and said I am not of age, and I will defend
myself with my knife. I told him to put up his knife. He did so, and
went in the hall. "When he got to the door, just inside the hall, Mr.
Collins walked up to him and struck him with his fist. I did not hear
anyone curse." Waguespack had apparently asked whether Pitre
and Collins had exchanged words before they exchanged blows.
Bernard Pitre, the brother of Lawrence, appears to have been surprise
at the ruckus. "I was in the hall," he testified, "and the first thing I
knew was my brother lying on the floor and Collins striking him with his
fist. I picked him up and brought him to the bayou to wash his face.
I did not hear anyone curse." But even after he was carried out and
cleaned up, Pitre seems to have been unable to let the matter rest.
Ernest Authement was one of two men who testified that Pitre later
came back for more. "I was in the hall talking to Collins,"
Authement said, "about five feet from the door. Lawrence Pitre
walked to Collins and slapped him in the face. Collins
struck him back with his fist. Somebody picked him up and carried him
away. A while later, Pitre came back and said, If you are not
satisfied, and threatened to cut someone; he didn't say who, but had his hand in
his pocket." Lawrence LeBoeuf's testimony essentially repeated that
of Authement. "I was in the hall talking to Collins. Pitre
walked up to him and without a word slapped him in the face.
Collins struck him back with his fist. Someone carried Pitre
away. Pitre came back about 10 minutes later and said he was not
satisfied and threatened to cut Collins. I did not see a knife, but
he had a hand in his pocket." There is no indication that Collins
or anyone else took up the second challenge. And it is a story without an
ending. Terrebonne Parish Courthouse records from which this tale is drawn
show that Pitre, Pellegrin and Collins were each charged with disturbing
a peaceable assembly, but if there was a trial and judgment, it is not a part of
the record. [My apologies to the compiler of this report, as I can find
no source within my notes.]
Tombstone inscription, Magnolia Cemetery, Houma, LA: Marcel / John Pitre / Jan. 14, 1869 / Oct. 20, 1961 / age 92 // Paul / Lawrence Pitre / Mar. 15, 1898 / Dec. 10, 1943
Notes for Ollie Rita Marcel:
- Ollie remarried to --- Muller/Mahler, then to Theophile Robichaux.
Tombstone Inscription, Holy Rosary Cemetery, Houma, LA: THEOPHILE ROBICHAUX / Theophile Robichaux / born Jan. 6, 1910 - died Feb. 15, 1974 / our beloved mother / gone but not forgotten / Ollie M. Robichaux / born Feb. 12, 1906 - died Mar. 8, 1984
Obituaries for the children:
Daisy Dean Theresa Pitre: Lafourche Daily Comet (LA): Daisy Dean Theresa Pitre LeBoeuf, 66, a native and resident of Houma, died at 3:45 a.m. July 19, 2004. Visitation will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Chauvin Funeral Home in Houma. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, with burial at St. Frances de Sales No. 2 Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, John Robert "Tiger" LeBoeuf Sr. of Houma; son, John R. LeBoeuf Jr. and his wife, Monica, of Alexandria; daughters, Cynthia LeBoeuf Matheson and her husband, Mark, of Edmond, Okla., and Sheila LeBoeuf Guidry and her husband, Toby, of Prairieville; sisters, Rita Vitrano, Georgia Blanchard of Houma, Arabella Tamala of Saline and Wilma LeBoeuf of Bayou Blue; grandchildren, Mathew Foret, John R. LeBoeuf III, Nicole Foret Ganaway, Dale LeBoeuf, Sarah LeBoeuf, Daisy Guidry and Scott LeBoeuf; and great-grandchild. Gabriel Ganaway. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Paul and Ollie Rita Marcel Pitre; and brother, Earl Muller.
Tombstone Inscription, St. Francis de Sales Cemetery #2, Houma, LA: JOHN R. LEBOEUF / Daisy Dean Theresa Pitre LeBoeuf / November 25, 1937 - July 19, 2004
Back one generation to parents of Paul Laurent Pitre
Items in RED verified from transcriptions in the following:
- South Louisiana Records: Church and Civil Records of Lafourche-Terrebonne Parishes (Rev. Hebert)
- Some Louisiana deaths in RED taken from obituaries or the Louisiana Deaths collection (which includes spouses/parents).
- Some birthdates in RED taken from Social Security records based on obituary/tombstone inscription deathdate.
Last updated: 31 August 2022.