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Leforts in Lafourche
Pierre Napoleon Lefort

by Paul Wallace Lefort Jr.
last updated:  22-Jan-2005 06:06:43 PM

Pierre Napoleon Lefort was the fifth child of Alexis and Marie Ferlau, born May 14, 1815 and baptized on April 16, 1816 with his Godparents Louis Duhon and his oldest sister Chothilde Lefort. He was raised in Caminadaville and shows up under Alexis on the Jefferson census thru 1840.

Pierre Napoleon married Marie Melasie Pitre from Thibodaux on Aug. 27, 1842 in Thibodaux. She was born on February 18, 1824 in Thibodaux to Joseph Eleanor Pitre and Ursula Dalphine Molaison. Marie Melasie was the sister of Marie Veturie Pitre, Maximilien’s wife.

Pierre Napoleon and Marie Melasie had 4 children: Marie Josephine b. June 03, 1843, married Louis Norbert Bourgeois June 27, 1868, d. April 28, 1907; Pierre Wallace b. Feb. 04, 1845; Camilla Uranie b. Nov. 11, 1846, married Paul Lefort Aug. 3, 1865, d. Sept. 21, 1890; and Joseph Michel b. Aug. 01, 1849, married Cecilia Lirette Sept. 8, 1870, d. June 7, 1916.

In 1850 he is listed on the Jefferson Parish census as a head of household at age 35 with his own family, including his mother-in-law Dalphine, near his father Alexis, and his brothers Maximilien and Alexis Jr. The 1850 census list him as a 35 year old carpenter. Then he appears in 1860 on the Lafourche Parish census on property about one half a mile south of Lafourche Crossing, which is the Lefort property that supported three generations. In 1860 he is listed as a 46 year old farmer with a property value of $1,200.00 and an estate value of $3,000.00. They are the only Lefort family listed in Lafourche Parish in 1860.

The original property is on LA. Hwy 1 about 5 miles south of Thibodaux and about 1000 foot south of Lefort By-Pass Rd. It is 2 arpents wide going back to the 40 Arpent Canal. This is where Pierre Napoleon and family lived.

The Lefort property has an interesting history in the family. The location described above was first purchased by Maximilien Lefort, Pierre Napoleon’s brother, on March 1, 1855, from the estate of his deceased father-in-law Joseph Pitre at Sheriff’s sale for $1,810.00. Pierre Napoleon and Max married the Pitre sisters, so this was obviously a great opportunity for them to acquire land. In the purchase agreement, it is stated that Mrs. Joseph Pitre would be allowed to live in her house on the land for the remainder of her life, and be entitled to any amount of firewood necessary for her use.

Then on June 1, 1855, Max sells one half of the property to Pierre Napoleon for the amount of $900.00, $225.00 down and three installments of $225.00 payable in March of 1856, 1857 and 1858 at 8% interest. It was probably soon after this time that Pierre Napoleon built a home here to move his family from Caminadaville, as reflected on the 1860 census. On March 30, 1870 Max sells his half to Pierre Wallace Lefort, Pierre Napoleon’s son, for $800.00; $400.00 down payment and a note for $400.00 at 8% payable in one year. Pierre Napoleon was deceased by now, so Pierre Wallace and his mother are the owners. Pierre Napoleon and Max evidently were into the real-estate business, buying and selling many pieces of property in the area.

March 2, 1855, Max and Pierre Napoleon purchased the property next to Lafourche Crossing on LA 1 described as 4 miles below Thibodaux, a short distance from the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad for the sum of $600.00 from Pierre Lagarde. On March 31, 1859, they sold the north half to Adam Bourgeois. The purchase included a store with the property for $750.00, and a dry goods inventory for $923.00. This proves the Lefort’s started the store between 1855 and 1859. On Dec. 20, 1865, Adam Bourgeois sold the one half back to Mrs. Pierre Napoleon, including the store. The Bourgeois’ and Lefort’s may have remained partners in the operation of the store for some time. The census’ show both Pierre Wallace and Joseph Michel were employed there for many years as young men. On May 20, 1882, Mrs. Louis Norbert Bourgeois (Josephine), Mrs. Paul Lefort (Camilla, married to her cousin from down the bayou), and Pierre Wallace sell their interest in the Lafourche Crossing property with the store and inventory to Joseph Michel Lefort. In the Nov. 19, 1887 edition of the "Thibodaux Weekly Centinal" newspaper, the "Bourgeois & Lefort" store is listed as a voting location for Ward 3, Poll #1 for upcoming elections.

Joseph M. Lefort lived in the beautiful old house on LA Hwy 1 just south of Lafourche Crossing RR that is presently occupied by Dr. Paul Leslie. Written on the wall next to the front door inside are notes left by the family that are well preserved and give us a priceless bit of history.

From top to bottom: "Big Snow Dec 28 1901"; "Mr E P Lefort ate dinner Sept 20 1928, Mr & Mrs E P, Lucil, ____, Paul, Marie Louise Lefort"; "Eventful day 10-1-1929"; "____, ____, ____ Sept 22 1930"; "August 13-31, Emile, Adeline, Marie Adeline, Lucie, Mrs Larieu(?), ____, Shirly, Tante Sis X Lillie"; "August 27, 1935, Ms Lucy, Lillie, Tante Sis Shirly, Marie Louise and Marie Adeline ate dinner here". Lillie was Joseph Michel’s daughter who lived in the house until the 1970’s.

Pierre Napoleon died at the age of 45 on Nov. 20, 1860, just before the start of the Civil War. He is buried at St. Joseph Cemetary in Section 31 in the beautiful old "Napoleon Lefort" tomb, along with 18 family members. Marie Melasie died on Dec. 07, 1881 and is also buried in the tomb.

Also listed in this tomb is the sad story of a family ravaged by a Yellow Fever epidemic in 1878. Pierre Napoleon’s daughter Marie Josephine married Louis Norbert Bourgeois, and they had a few children. In October of 1878 Louis died along with Augusta Bergeron (Pierre Wallace’s first wife) age 32, Ernest Bourgeois 4, Alexandre Bourgeois 3, and Charles Bourgeois 16 months. A family wiped out.

Interesting note: Pierre Napoleon’s daughter Camilla married his brother Jean Alexis Jr’s son Paul on Aug. 03, 1865, they were FIRST cousins.

Also of interest is a listing in the "South Louisiana Records" of the birth of a slave girl of Pierre Napoleon; "Lefort, Marie Therese (Anne) slave of Napoleon Lefort b. 20 March 1854 (Raceland Ch. :v. 1, # 173)." Pierre Napoleon’s large farm may have used slave labor to operate prior to the Civil War.

A copy of Pierre Napoleon and Marie’s marriage bond from Aug. 27, 1842 is enclosed showing his signature and the fact that he is from Cheniere Caminada.

Pierre Napoleon’s brother Maximilien died June 6, 1878 and is buried in the "Maximilien Lefort" tomb in St. Joseph Cemetary in Thibodaux. His wife Marie Viturie Pitre (b. Feb. 7, 1833), died March 14, 1881, and is also with him along with their children. There must have been a tragic epidemic that took place in 1855, that accounted for the deaths of four of their children, and it appears two others also died young. The sad listing goes a follows;

Maximilien Jr. b. January 4, 1840 d. August 9, 1855, age 15
Victor b. January 4, 1846 d. August 7, 1855, age 9
Oscar b. February 8, 1848 d. August 9, 1855, age 7
George Wash. b. July 29, 1854 d. May 10, 1855, age <1
Paul Wash. b. February 28, 1856 d. August 20, 1859, age 3
Eulalie b. Sept. 9, 1862 d. January 4, 1870, age 7
Maximilien b. May 20, 1819 d. June 6, 1878, age 59
Marie Viturie Pitre b. Feb. 7, 1833 d. Mar. 14, 1881, age 48