St Landry Trade Review Dec 1896
HON. GILBERT L. DUPRÉ, OPELOUSAS.--Gilbert L. Dupré, representative of St.
Landry parish in the State House of Representatives, and a successful attorney of Opelousas, is a native of St. Landry, born September 20, 1858. His great- grandfather, Jacques Dupré, was a pioneer of St. Landry parish, and a man of extensive influence and wealth. He was Governor of the State about the year 1830; was a member of the State Senate in the forties, and was at one time Presidential Elector from his district. He was a cattle king and extensive cotton planter. His grandson, Lucius J. Dupré, the father of our subject, was a graduate of belles lettres from the University of Virginia, and also a law graduate from the University of Louisiana. He became one of the most prominent attorneys of the State, and was elected Judge of the then Fifteenth Judicial District; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1861; entered the Confederate States service as a private in the Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment, but was transferred by the votes of the people to the Confederate States Congress, where he served with distinction for a period of four years. He died in the maximum of his usefulness in 1869, at the age of forty-seven years.
Gilbert L. Dupré was ten years of age at the time of his father's death, and, having a highly educated and refined mother, he was not forced to pay strict attention to schooling, and his only education was received at home; but he always had a taste for literature in a high degree, and has acquired quite a literary education. At the age of seventeen years he became an employe in the office of the parish clerk, where he remained until 1880. During this time he pursued a course of law study, and was admitted to the bar in New Orleans in 1881. After being admitted to the bar he formed a partnership with Judge E.
D. Estilette, of the Opelousas bar, and there began his practice. In June, 1871, he married the only daughter of Judge Estilette. The result of his happy union is four children: Fannie Estilette, Marie Lucile, Ethel May, and Gilbert L., Jr. In 1888 Mr. Dupré was made the regular nominee of the Democratic party for the State Legislature from his parish, and his popularity is evinced in that he received more than the party vote. He has served with distinction in the Legislature and was identified with the leading measures of that body during its deliberations. Mr. Dupré is characterized by his candor and the earnestness with which he expresses his convictions. Whatever political differences may exist, even those opposed to him admit that Mr.
Dupré acts from purely unselfish motives on all public questions. As an attorney he has a high standing. He is at present engaged as the attorney for the Southwestern Louisiana Land Company and also for the New Orleans and Pacific Railroad Company,
Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, p. 28.
Edited by William Henry Perrin. Published in 1891, by The Gulf Publishing Company.
Hon. Gilbert Louis Dupre, who was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1880, has practiced law with distinction in St. Landry Parish, has been on the district bench, and has a career of unusual attainment to his credit.
He is of Acadian and French descent, his paternal ancestors having settled in the Carencro locality on coming from Acadia. This ancestor was Dr.
Borda, a French surgeon. Jacques Dupre, a great-grand father of the judge, was governor of Louisiana. In the maternal line his grandfather was Benoit Vanhille, who came to Louisiana from France direct, and married in St.
Landry Parish, Miss Caroline Fontenot, a daughter of Grand Louis Fontenot.
Judge Dupre was born near Opelousas, September 20, 1858, son of Lucius J.
and Caroline (Vanhille) Dupre. His father graduated in law from the University; of Virginia, July 4, 1842, and was an able lawyer, judge, a private soldier with the Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment in the Confederate army, and for four years a member of the Confederate Congress, having been a member of the Secession Convention of 1861.
Gilbert L. Dupre was deprived of opportunities to secure an education in any university beyond that of experience. For about five years he attended parochial schools, was in the public school at Opelousas for about fifteen months, and by private study qualified himself for admission to the bar.
He was admitted at Opelousas, July 10, 1880. For about four or five years before that he had been employed in the clerk's office, and he engaged in a law practice that put him on one side or the other in a large number of important cases in his district. He was elected to the Legislature, serving a two year term, 1888-1890. In 1896 he was elected district judge, serving four years. in 1914 the Legislature chose him to fill an unexpired term on the bench, and he has been kept in the judicial office continuously by reelection in 1916, 1920 and 1924. Judge Dupre was a member of the constitutional convention of 1921. Many years ago he was a member of a cavalry company of state militia and in 1887 was on active duty a few days around Morgan City just after the Patterson riot. He is affiliated with Opelousas Lodge No. 1048, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In politics and in religion, Judge Dupre has chosen the difficult part of thinking for himself,, though he has not kept apart from human affairs, with cynical indifference, but has worked both with tolerance for the opinions of others and with enthusiasm for definite causes. He has always been classed with the reformers, though in many cases the regulars have supported his candidate. In religion he was reared a Catholic, but in religion as well as in politics, he has found it necessary to solve his own philosophy of conduct. Not long ago, he said: "I have played the game forty-eight years. I never intend to quit. When called upon to solve the great adventure, I shall carry with me the belief that I did my duty as I saw it in behalf of the common good, regardless of self."
Commenting on this philosophy, the editor of the New Orleans Item said in
part:
"There was a statesman in Tennessee who attributed his popularity to the fact that he had never voted for a tax, or against an appropriation. We might almost say of Judge Dupre that we do not recall his ever having voted for a tax increase, salary increase, or for an increased appropriation.
The position of the twelfth man in opposition to eleven stubborn jurors is one which the Judge is not afraid to take in a world which loves to have unanimous action, and where kickers are generally made uncomfortable."
We trust many years will pass before the Judge is called on to solve the Great Adventure and that he will continue in the meantime to actively aid us in the solution of the multitudinous problems which continue to vex us here below. Most men, as they grow older, must find some philosophy to sustain them. They must render an accounting with themselves for the things that they have done, and for the things they have heft undone. In spite of the criticism which each of us can eagerly pass aim the lives and deeds of others, there are a good many who will carry with them the belief that they have done their duty as they saw it, and as the lives and achievements of these men are measured up by the oncoming generation, there can be no doubt that the greatest legacy they can leave will be that of good deeds done rather than of material accumulation."
Judge Dupre married at Opelousas, June 1, 1881, Julia B. Estilette, only child of the late Judge E. D. Estilette. Her father was a graduate of Yale College with the class of 1857, and was speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1876. Her mother was a Connecticut Yankee. Mrs. Dupre was born in New Haven, Connecticut, May 12, 1860. Her aunt married Professor Eugene L. Richards of Yale College, and her first cousin, E. L.
Richards, is a distinguished lawyer of New York City. Judge and Mrs. Dupre had four children: Marie Lucille, who died November 21, 1910, and Gilbert F., Dupre, Jr.. who died September 29, 1913. The living children are Fannie Estilettte Dupre, wife of Dr. F. 0. Pavy; Ethel May, wife of Isaac Litten.
A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 378-379, by Henry E. Chambers.
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.
St Landry Trade Review Dec 1896
HON. GILBERT L. DUPRÉ, OPELOUSAS.--Gilbert L. Dupré, representative of St.
Landry parish in the State House of Representatives, and a successful attorney of Opelousas, is a native of St. Landry, born September 20, 1858. His great- grandfather, Jacques Dupré, was a pioneer of St. Landry parish, and a man of extensive influence and wealth. He was Governor of the State about the year 1830; was a member of the State Senate in the forties, and was at one time Presidential Elector from his district. He was a cattle king and extensive cotton planter. His grandson, Lucius J. Dupré, the father of our subject, was a graduate of belles lettres from the University of Virginia, and also a law graduate from the University of Louisiana. He became one of the most prominent attorneys of the State, and was elected Judge of the then Fifteenth Judicial District; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1861; entered the Confederate States service as a private in the Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment, but was transferred by the votes of the people to the Confederate States Congress, where he served with distinction for a period of four years. He died in the maximum of his usefulness in 1869, at the age of forty-seven years.
Gilbert L. Dupré was ten years of age at the time of his father's death, and, having a highly educated and refined mother, he was not forced to pay strict attention to schooling, and his only education was received at home; but he always had a taste for literature in a high degree, and has acquired quite a literary education. At the age of seventeen years he became an employe in the office of the parish clerk, where he remained until 1880. During this time he pursued a course of law study, and was admitted to the bar in New Orleans in 1881. After being admitted to the bar he formed a partnership with Judge E.
D. Estilette, of the Opelousas bar, and there began his practice. In June, 1871, he married the only daughter of Judge Estilette. The result of his happy union is four children: Fannie Estilette, Marie Lucile, Ethel May, and Gilbert L., Jr. In 1888 Mr. Dupré was made the regular nominee of the Democratic party for the State Legislature from his parish, and his popularity is evinced in that he received more than the party vote. He has served with distinction in the Legislature and was identified with the leading measures of that body during its deliberations. Mr. Dupré is characterized by his candor and the earnestness with which he expresses his convictions. Whatever political differences may exist, even those opposed to him admit that Mr.
Dupré acts from purely unselfish motives on all public questions. As an attorney he has a high standing. He is at present engaged as the attorney for the Southwestern Louisiana Land Company and also for the New Orleans and Pacific Railroad Company,
Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, p. 28.
Edited by William Henry Perrin. Published in 1891, by The Gulf Publishing Company.
Hon. Gilbert Louis Dupre, who was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1880, has practiced law with distinction in St. Landry Parish, has been on the district bench, and has a career of unusual attainment to his credit.
He is of Acadian and French descent, his paternal ancestors having settled in the Carencro locality on coming from Acadia. This ancestor was Dr.
Borda, a French surgeon. Jacques Dupre, a great-grand father of the judge, was governor of Louisiana. In the maternal line his grandfather was Benoit Vanhille, who came to Louisiana from France direct, and married in St.
Landry Parish, Miss Caroline Fontenot, a daughter of Grand Louis Fontenot.
Judge Dupre was born near Opelousas, September 20, 1858, son of Lucius J.
and Caroline (Vanhille) Dupre. His father graduated in law from the University; of Virginia, July 4, 1842, and was an able lawyer, judge, a private soldier with the Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment in the Confederate army, and for four years a member of the Confederate Congress, having been a member of the Secession Convention of 1861.
Gilbert L. Dupre was deprived of opportunities to secure an education in any university beyond that of experience. For about five years he attended parochial schools, was in the public school at Opelousas for about fifteen months, and by private study qualified himself for admission to the bar.
He was admitted at Opelousas, July 10, 1880. For about four or five years before that he had been employed in the clerk's office, and he engaged in a law practice that put him on one side or the other in a large number of important cases in his district. He was elected to the Legislature, serving a two year term, 1888-1890. In 1896 he was elected district judge, serving four years. in 1914 the Legislature chose him to fill an unexpired term on the bench, and he has been kept in the judicial office continuously by reelection in 1916, 1920 and 1924. Judge Dupre was a member of the constitutional convention of 1921. Many years ago he was a member of a cavalry company of state militia and in 1887 was on active duty a few days around Morgan City just after the Patterson riot. He is affiliated with Opelousas Lodge No. 1048, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In politics and in religion, Judge Dupre has chosen the difficult part of thinking for himself,, though he has not kept apart from human affairs, with cynical indifference, but has worked both with tolerance for the opinions of others and with enthusiasm for definite causes. He has always been classed with the reformers, though in many cases the regulars have supported his candidate. In religion he was reared a Catholic, but in religion as well as in politics, he has found it necessary to solve his own philosophy of conduct. Not long ago, he said: "I have played the game forty-eight years. I never intend to quit. When called upon to solve the great adventure, I shall carry with me the belief that I did my duty as I saw it in behalf of the common good, regardless of self."
Commenting on this philosophy, the editor of the New Orleans Item said in
part:
"There was a statesman in Tennessee who attributed his popularity to the fact that he had never voted for a tax, or against an appropriation. We might almost say of Judge Dupre that we do not recall his ever having voted for a tax increase, salary increase, or for an increased appropriation.
The position of the twelfth man in opposition to eleven stubborn jurors is one which the Judge is not afraid to take in a world which loves to have unanimous action, and where kickers are generally made uncomfortable."
We trust many years will pass before the Judge is called on to solve the Great Adventure and that he will continue in the meantime to actively aid us in the solution of the multitudinous problems which continue to vex us here below. Most men, as they grow older, must find some philosophy to sustain them. They must render an accounting with themselves for the things that they have done, and for the things they have heft undone. In spite of the criticism which each of us can eagerly pass aim the lives and deeds of others, there are a good many who will carry with them the belief that they have done their duty as they saw it, and as the lives and achievements of these men are measured up by the oncoming generation, there can be no doubt that the greatest legacy they can leave will be that of good deeds done rather than of material accumulation."
Judge Dupre married at Opelousas, June 1, 1881, Julia B. Estilette, only child of the late Judge E. D. Estilette. Her father was a graduate of Yale College with the class of 1857, and was speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1876. Her mother was a Connecticut Yankee. Mrs. Dupre was born in New Haven, Connecticut, May 12, 1860. Her aunt married Professor Eugene L. Richards of Yale College, and her first cousin, E. L.
Richards, is a distinguished lawyer of New York City. Judge and Mrs. Dupre had four children: Marie Lucille, who died November 21, 1910, and Gilbert F., Dupre, Jr.. who died September 29, 1913. The living children are Fannie Estilettte Dupre, wife of Dr. F. 0. Pavy; Ethel May, wife of Isaac Litten.
A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 378-379, by Henry E. Chambers.
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.
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