Originally published in 1943, this comprehensive volume chronicles the history of Avoyelles Parish, from the first Indian settlers to the time of the book's publication. Saucier provides in-depth information about the organization of the parish as it grew out of the Avoyelles Post during the French regime. Throughout the book, Saucier explores the many hardships endured by the first settlers, such as the health and sanitation, relief and welfare organizations, and numerous disasters-most notably the Red River flood of 1927. Saucier also provides the history of institutions, such as churches, education, banking, and journalism, that would serve as a foundation for its future population.
The author takes the reader on a journey through time from the earliest beginnings of the parish, through the Civil War, and two World Wars, and finally, to the last man standing who practices Judaism today in this mostly agrarian section of the state.
Originally published in 1943, this comprehensive volume chronicles the history of Avoyelles Parish, from the first Indian settlers to the time of the book's publication. Saucier provides in-depth information about the organization of the parish as it grew out of the Avoyelles Post during the French regime. Throughout the book, Saucier explores the many hardships endured by the first settlers, such as the health and sanitation, relief and welfare organizations, and numerous disasters-most notably the Red River flood of 1927. Saucier also provides the history of institutions, such as churches, education, banking, and journalism, that would serve as a foundation for its future population.
The parish has a rich history begun by people of many different descents--French, Spanish, English, Scotch-Irish, German, Italian, and Jewish--coming together in mutual respect and peace, but not without the ups and downs that come with the human condition. The books takes the reader on six tours through Avoyelles, from the towns of Marksville and Cocoville to Lake Pearl and Cottonport, giving the reader a penned as well as pictorial background of life in the parish as well as the culture that still thrives within them. Members of the executive board of La Commission des Avoyelles have combed the sections of their parish to bring forth the written and oral history and every old picture that could be found. Brought together in a masterful collection, the pieces document Avoyelles parish, its beginning, its development, and its present.
"The NORMAND Family of Louisiana" is a two-volume encyclopedia of information about the lives of the Normand family from France to Canada and thence to Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, written by family historian Mark J. Normand. Volume one, "The History from Normandy to Avoyelles," is 315 pages filled with everything you want to know about our colonial ancestors, from the birth of Francois-Simon Le Normand (1570-1630) in Igé, Normandy to the death of Jean-Pierre Normand (1742-1824) in Avoyelles, Louisiana. It re-creates the historical setting for each of the family forefathers. We learn what motivated Gervais Le Normand (1597-1665) to pull up roots in Igé, France and plant them in Quebec, New France; of the family trials of Jean Le Normand (1637-1706) whose life ends mysteriously when his body is found trampled and bloody in a field of peas; the adventures of Charles Le Normand (1663-1715), the successful coureur de bois, roofer, and litigator in Quebec; the zigzag itinerary of Jean-Gaspard Normand (1712-1788) from Quebec to Montreal down to the American colonies at Fort Duquesne, back the Montreal, and finally to Louisiana; and Jean-Pierre Normand (1742-1824) who built a successful plantation and portage on the Red River, and began the great Normand family of Avoyelles, Louisiana. The book ends in the descendancy to the fifth generation from Jean-Gaspard Normand. The book also features Louisiana families who married into the Normand and Gaspard families: Vicknair, Matherne, Dupuy, Dauzat, Bonnette, Bordelon, Mayeux, Brouillette, Bernard, Couvillion, and many more. Debbie Melendy Norman, who helped edit the book, writes in her forward, "Mark's writing is lively and detailed, as he comes from a long line of raconteurs who have preserved hundreds of years of family memory. A gifted researcher, he has mined the archives of the United States, Canada and France for additional nuggets of information that he then works into the pure gold of story."
