Family of Martin Leandre Douradou Pitre & Marie Odile Vicknair

 

 

Martin Leandre Douradou Pitre was born 30 April 1841 in Lafourche, LA (baptism: 9 December 1841 Lafourche) and died 25 January 1917 in Lafourche, LA.

 

Wife Marie Odile Vicknair was born 4 July 1849 in Lafourche, LA and died Abt. 1919 in Lafourche, LA.  They were married 11 January 1868 at St. Joseph, Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA.

 

 

Their children were:

 

1- Henri Valery Pitre b: 27 October 1868  Labadieville, Assumption, LA (baptism: 30 January 1869 St. Philomene, Labadieville, LA); d: 10 December 1920  Plaquemine, LA; burial: 11 December 1920 St. Philomene Cemetery, Pitre Family Tomb

            +Marie Lea Ayo  b: 18 December 1876  Vacherie, LA (baptism: 4 January 1877 Our Lady Of Peace, Vacherie, LA); m: 30 December 1891  St. Joseph, Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA; d: 28 February 1962  Plaquemine, LA; burial: 3 March 1962 St. Philomene Cemetery, Pitre Family Tomb

 

2- Henriette Valentine Pitre  b: 3 April 1871  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA (baptism: 4 May 1871 St. Joseph); d: 28 January 1914  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA

 

Notes for Henriette Valentine Pitre:

- Obituary:  The Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 1 February 1914:  Thibodaux, La., Jan. 31 - Miss Henrietta Pitre, who resided in the upper portion of this parish, died at her home Wednesday night.  She was thirty years old.  The funeral took place Thursday with interment in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

 

3- Mathilde Lina Pitre  b: 23 September 1872  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA (baptism: 2 November 1872 St. Joseph); d: 18 November 1933  Port Arthur, Jefferson, TX                      

            +Justilien Joseph Gros  b: 17 September 1869  Labadieville, Assumption, LA; m: 16 January 1893  Lafourche, LA; d: 30 August 1931  Port Arthur, Jefferson, TX

 

Notes for Mathilde Lina Pitre:

- Obituary, Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, TX), Sunday, 19 November 1933:  Port Arthur, Texas, Nov. 18 - Mrs. J. J. Gross, 60, died in the family residence at Kolb's Crossing at 2:45 o'clock Saturday afternoon.  Surviving are two sons, Ed of Portacres and Roland of Port Arthur; two daughters, Mrs. James Mouton of Port Arthur and Mrs. Orphie Dhuet of Labadieville, La.; two brothers, P. O. Pitre of Hilderbrandt, Texas, and Edgar Pitre of Thibodeaux, La.; a sister, Miss Olie Pitre of Hilderbrandt, Texas, 16 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.  Mass services will be held at 8:30 o'clock Monday morning in St. James Catholic church.  Burial will be in Calvary cemetery, under direction of the Hampton company funeral home.

- Obituary, Beaumont Enterprise (Beaumont, TX), Monday, 31 August 1931:  Port Arthur, Texas, Aug. 30 - J. J. Gross, 63, 208 Ninth street, died at St. Mary's hospital at 2:30 a.m. today after a long illness.  Surviving are a widow; two sons, E. R. Gross of Portacres and Roland Gross of Port Arthur; two daughters, Mrs. James Mouton of Port Arthur and Mrs. Orphie Dhuet of Labadie, La.; three brothers, C., L. and E.G. Gross, all Labadie.  Services will be held at 4:30 Monday afternoon at St. Mary's Catholic church.  Burial will be made in Calvary cemetery under direction of the Hampton company.  The pallbearers will be J. E. LeBlanc, A. and Paul Patin, A. Boudreaux, A. J. Chaisson and M. J. Dugas.

- Tombstone Inscription, Calvary Cemetery, Port Arthur, Jefferson, TX:  Mrs. Lena Gross / 1873 - 1933 / we loved her / but God loved her best // J.J. Gross / Sept. 17, 1869 / Aug. 30, 1931 / gone but not forgotten

 

4- Florence Odille Pitre  b: 28 August 1874  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA (baptism: 19 September 1874 St. Joseph); d: 29 November 1920  Labadieville, Assumption, LA (consumption); burial: 30 November 1920 St. Philomene, Labadieville, Assumption, LA

            +Norbert Peltier  b: 19 October 1871  Labadieville, Assumption, LA; m: 11 January 1893  St. Philomena, Labadieville, Assumption, LA [Clairville/---]; d: 22 January 1938  New Orleans, LA; burial: 24 January 1938  St. Philomena Cemetery

 

Notes for Florence Odille Pitre:

- The Lafourche Comet (Thibodaux, LA), Thursday, 12 January 1893:  A note in yesterday's mail brought us the following piece of news:  Married, on Sunday the 11th, at St. Philomena Church, Labadieville, Father Jobard officiating, Mr. Peltier, son of Mr. Clairville of Assumption, and Miss Florence Pitre, daughter of Mr. Douradon Pitre - a tenant of Prof. John Dolese.  The groomsmen and bridesmaids were:  Misses Henriette Pitre, Amanda Peltier, Lena Pitre, Modeste Dionne and Feliciana Boudreaux.  Messrs Myrtile Kerne, Clinton Ayo, Justilien Gros, Rene Gros, Thomas Boudreaux.  A "grand bal de noces" was had in Prof. Dolese's spacious hall.

 

5- Leandre Edgar Pitre  b: 30 May 1876  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA (baptism: 24 June 1876 St. Joseph); d: 18 July 1947  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA          

            +Marie Rita Lily Gros  b: 1 March 1887  Lafourche, LA; m: 29 January 1907  Lafourche, LA; d: Aft. 1930

 

Notes for Leandre Edgar Pitre:

- 1910 Lafourche census (ED 36, W1, 12B): Edgar Pirtr 34 farm laborer, wife Rita 23, Edgar Jr. 2, Mabel 5 months

- 1920 Lafourche census (ED 42, W1, 4B): Edgarde Pitre 43 farm laborer, wife Rita 33, Edgar 12, Mabel 10, John 9, Lucille 7, Marie 5, Joe 4, Odile 11/2 (Bayou Rd.)

- 1930 Lafourche census (ED11, W5, 22/3): Edgar Pitre 53, wife Rita 43, Edgar Jr. 22, Johnny 19, Lucille 18, Marie 16, Joseph 14, Odile 12, Morris 9, Raoul 8, Merville 3 yr. 2 mos., Leander 8 months

- Obituary:  Times Picayune (N.O., LA), Saturday, 19 July 1947 - Pitre - At St. Joseph hospital, Thibodaux, La., on Friday, July 18, 1947, at 2:30 o'clock a.m., Edgar Pitre Sr., beloved husband of Rita Gros and father of Edgar Jr., John, Joseph, Maurice, Raoul, Merviller and Lender Pitre; also Mrs. Harry Bonvillion and Mrs. Frank Hoffman, Mrs. O'Neil Andras and Mrs. Eves Benoit; aged 71 years; also survived by 29 grandchildren.  Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral, which will take place from the late residence, 1017 Henderson street, Thibodaux, La., on Saturday, July 19, 1947, at 4 o'clock p.m.  Services at St. Joseph Catholic church, Thibodaux, La.  Interment in St. Joseph Catholic cemetery.  Falgout Funeral Home, Raceland, La., in charge.

Tombstone Inscription:  St. Joseph Cemetery, Thibodaux, LA:  In memory of / our father / Edgar L. Pitre Sr. / May 30, 1876 - July 18, 1947  //  Mrs. / Edgar L. Pitre / born Mar. 1, 1887 / died Feb. 12, 1954 / age 87

 

6- Philippe Pitre  b: 23 March 1878  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA (baptism: 9 April 1878 St. Joseph); d: 13 February 1879  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA

 

7- Marcelle Odile Olive Pitre  b: 16 January 1880  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA (baptism: 16 January 1880 St. Joseph); d: 17 March 1948  Port Arthur, Jefferson, TX

 

Notes for Marcelle Odile Olive Pitre:

- Obituary:  Beaumont Journal (TX), Thursday, 18 March 1948:  Port Arthur, March 18 - Services were scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic church with burial directed by Grammier's funeral home for Miss Olive Pitre, 68, resident of Port Arthur for 29 years, who died Wednesday evening at the home of a sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Pitre, after two weeks' illness.  She also is survived by two other sisters-in-law, Mrs. Henry Pitre and Mrs. Edgar Pitre of Thibodeaux, La.

 

8- Octave Philip Pitre  b: 23 December 1881  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA; d: 10 July 1946  Port Arthur, Jefferson, TX

            +Mary B. Ritchie  b: Abt. 1897  Texas; m: Abt. 1918; d: Aft. March 1948

 

Notes for Octave Philippe Pitre: 

- WWI records:  Philip O. Pitre; Jefferson, TX; b. 23 Dec 1881; rel. Mrs. Mary Pitre; tall height/slender build; brown eyes & dark hair.

- 1930 Jefferson, TX:  Philip O. Pitre 49 farmer/farm, wife Mary R. 30, Lillian 11, sister Olive 51

- 1940 Jefferson, TX:  P. O. Pitre 58 farmer/idle farm, wife Mary R. 42, sister Olive 59

- Obituary, Beaumont Journal (TX), Thursday, 11 July 1946:  Port Arthur, July 11 - Philipe O. Pitre, 65, retired refinery employee, died Wednesday about 11:50 p.m. in a local hospital after a two-week illness.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Grammier's chapel, M.E. Davis of Jehovah Witnesses will officiate.  Burial will be at Greenlawn cemetery.  Born in Thibodeaux, La., Mr. Pitre had lived in Port Arthur for 40 years.  He was a veteran of World War I.  Survivors are his wife, Mary of Port Arthur; one granddaughter; one brother, Edgar Pitre of Thibodeaux; a sister, Miss Olive Pitre of Port Arthur.  

- Tombstone Inscription, Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, TX:  Phillip O. Pitre / Texas / PFC 143 INF 36 DIV / World War I / Dec. 22, 1881 - July 10, 1946

- Beaumont Journal (TX), Tuesday, 16 July 1946:  An estate of approximately $20,000 was left by the late P.O. Pitre, who died in Port Arthur July 11.  The will, filed at the county clerk's office Tuesday, names the widow, Mary Ritchie Pitre, as the sole beneficiary.

 

9- Lucie Pitre  b: 11 April 1883  Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA; d: Bet. 1910-1920       

            +Jules Joseph Boudreaux  b: 10 June 1879  Bertie, Assumption, LA; m: 23 April 1906  St. Philomene, Labadieville, Assumption, LA [Desire/Adrienne Blanchard]; d: 30 June 1966  Napoleonville, Assumption, LA

 

Notes for Lucie Pitre:

- Lafourche Comet (LA), 28 April 1906:  Jules Boudreaux, son of Desire Boudreaux and Adrienne Blanchard, married Lucy Pitre, the daughter of Douradou Pitre and Odile Vicknair on Apr. 23rd. at St. Philomena Church. Mr. Pitre is a gray-haired and patriotic Confederate veteran.    

 

10- Elodie Melodie Pitre  b: 31 January 1889  Labadieville, LA (baptism: 5 March 1889 St. Philomene, Labdieville, LA); d: 2 September 1907  Bertie, Assumption, LA      

            +Henry Boudreaux  b: 16 January 1886  Assumption, LA; m: 21 January 1907  St. Philomena, Labadieville, Assumption, LA [Desire/Adrienne Blanchard]; d: 23 May 1956

 

Notes for Elodie Melodie Pitre:

- Obituary:  Assumption Pioneer (Napoleonville, LA), 7 September 1907:  Mrs. Henry Boudreaux, nee Elodie Pitre, aged 18 years 7 months 2 days, died Monday at her home at Bertie.  Deceased was the wife of Henry Boudreaux, a carpenter at Bertie.  The funeral was held Tuesday from St. Napoleon Church.

 

 

Notes for Martin Leandre Douradou Pitre:

- 1880 Lafourche, LA:  Leander D. Pitre 38 laborer, Odile 31 keeping house, Henry 11, Henrietta 9, Lena 8, Florence 6, Edgar 4, Olive 5 months  (ED 131, W5, 18, Vicknair tract)

- 1900 Lafourche, LA:  Doerado Pitre 57 (Mar 1843) carpenter, Odile 51 (Apr 1848), Leni 29 (Apr 1871), Edgar 24 (Oct 1875) farm laborer, Olive 20 (May 1880), Philip 18 (Dec 1881) farm laborer, Lucy 16 (Apr 1884), Elodie 11 (Jan 1889).    (Odile states 9 children, all living at this time)   (ED 24, W1, 22B)

- 1910 Lafourche, LA:  L. D. Pitre 67 blacksmith at shop, wife Odile 60, Anrette 39, Olive 30, Lucie 27, Eurcile Peltier 9 grandchild  (ED 36, W1, 9A)

 

- [From "Records of Louisiana Confederate Soldiers & Commands, Andrew B. Booth, p. 155]:  Pitre, Leander D., Pvt. Co. E, 4th La. Inf.  En. May 25, 1861, Camp Moore, La.  Present on all Rolls to Feb., 1862.  Roll Nov. and Dec., 1862, Absent, sick.  Rolls Dec. 31, 1862, to Aug. 30, 1864, Present.  Roll Aug. 31, 1864, to Feb. 28, 1865, Absent, Captured near Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 17.  Federal Rolls of Prisoners of War, Captured near Franklin, Tenn., Dec. 17, 1864.  Reed, Military Prison, Louisville, Ky., from Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 2, 1865.  Transfd. to Camp Chase, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1865.  Paroled Camp Chase, Ohio.  Forwd. to Pt. Lookout, Md., Feb. 17, 1865, for exchange.  Roll April 20 to 30, 1865, Absent, Prisoner of War, April 8, 1865.  Federal Rolls of Prisoners of War, Captured April 8, 1865.  Reed.  Ship Island, Miss., April 10, 1865.  Transfd. to Vicksburg, Miss., May 1, 1865.  Paroled Camp Townsend, May 6, 1865.

 

- Summary:

Martin Leandre Douradou Pitre was born in 1841 in Lafourche, LA.  He was only eleven when his father died leaving his mother with eight children ranging in age from twenty-year-old Eugenie to one-year-old Mathurin to raise on her own.  His elder brother Numa died just six years later, leaving him as the oldest son in the family at the age of seventeen.  It was now 1858 and the Civil War was close at hand.

Three years later, in 1861, Leandre enlisted at Camp Moore in the Lafourche Guards, 4th LA Regiment of Infantry, as a Private in Co. E.  Though he was never wounded, he was eventually captured in December 1864 near Franklin, TN and sent to a military prison in Louisville, KY, then transferred to Camp Chase, OH.  He was sent to Point Lookout, MD, Ship Island, MS, Vicksburg, MS and finally to Camp Townsend where he was parolled in May 1865.

He returned to Lafourche and in January 1868, three months shy of his 27th birthday, he married 18-year-old Marie Odille Vicknair, the daughter of German Coast settlers Valery Vicknair and his 1st cousin Adele Marie Adeline Vicknair.  (Four generations before, Johann Nicholas Vicner had emigrated from Germany to the south Louisiana territory and married another German immigrant Anna Barbara Friderich. Over the years the German Vicner had become the more French sounding Vicknair.)  They had ten children by 1887 but postwar Louisiana was a lot tougher going.

In the spring of 1900, Leandre applied for a soldier's pension. He stated that he was not engaged in any business, neither he nor Odille owned any property and "having earned support for self and family by common labor, plantation field hand."  Old age and infirmities due to exposure and hard labor were preventing him from earning a living at this time, and he did not use liquor.  He seemed to have gotten no response so in February 1902 he reapplied, same problems as previously but he now had rheumatism.  The Lafourche Sheriff/Tax Collector, probably a fellow soldier, provided a personal reference saying, "one whom I think deserves it as he was as true as they made them."  His sons were not in any position to be of real help as they were also laborers earning 60-75 cents a day. He was granted a pension of $10 month.  He died in 1917 at the age of 75, and Odille 2 years later.

 

  

Parents of Martin Leandre Douradou Pitre

Parents of Marie Odile Vicknair

 

 

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Last updated:  21 October 2022.