C.H. Mouton Collection

Collection 261

Mouton, C.H. (1823–1912). Collection, 1859–1880, n.d.

7.5 inches

Charles Alexandre Homer Mouton was born 8 December 1823 in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, the son of Charles and Marie Julie Latiolais Mouton. He graduated from St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1844. Mouton married Henriette Celimene Dupré, the granddaughter of former Governor Jacques Dupré, on December 13, 1848. They had five sons and three daughters. Celimene died 17 December 1864 in Opelousas. Mouton then married Marguerite Emerente “Emerite” Olivier on 8 August 1867 in St. Martinville. They had five sons and two daughters. Emerite died 9 October 1911. Mouton died 16 March 1912, and was buried in St. John Cemetery, Lafayette.

In addition to his law practice, Mouton served as District Attorney for Lafayette, St. Landry, Vermilion, and Calcasieu Parishes before the Civil War, and for Iberia and St. Martin Parishes after. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1855, but resigned and was elected district judge. During the Civil War he closed his court to serve as aide-de-camp to his cousin General Alfred Mouton. His house in Opelousas was used by Governor Thomas Overton Moore as his residence when the Confederate state capitol was located in Opelousas in 1862-1863.

His son-in-law, Conrad Debaillon, and his son Orther joined him in the practice of law under the name Mouton and Debaillon.

This collection consists photocopied pages of a copybook of C.H. Mouton’s correspondence from the 1850s to the 1880s. Also included is a record book of financial transactions which contains a copy of a ledger from 1870s.

Mrs. Charles (Helen Hamilton) Bailey, great-granddaughter of C.H. Mouton, donated this collection.

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