TIME LINE
1894
In January, Thomas H. Gleason (1857-1935), Arnaud M. Dulion (1859-1909), and Michael J. Louge (1847-1921) of the Biloxi City Council were appointed to meet with property owners on Biloxi's Front Beach to request that they transfer 40 feet of land to the City to build a road from Lameuse Street to Porter Avenue.(The Biloxi Herald, January 6, 1894, p. 1)
1899
In June 1899, the following Biloxi landowners sold to the City of Biloxi for street purposes a tract described as: J.H. Keller; Caroline Johnson; Van B. Mass, C. Dennies, Dora M. Sterne; Alex LeBatard; Sarah Kuhn; Mrs. George W. Dunbar; August Dorries; L.A. Valle; Louise Harriet Crawford; A. Gambel; Mrs. J.T. Maybury; and E. LeBatard.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk. 41, p. 402)
1914
In June 1914, H.E. Latimer & Son, contractor, with a crew of eight men and mule teams were building 'Glennan Avenue' from Pass Christian Road to the proposed cemetery in Naval Reserve Park.(The Daily Herald, June 2, 1914)
1922
All Biloxi resident males between 18 and 55 years of age, not exempt by law, were notified that they were required to work on the streets, avenues, and alleys of Biloxi for a period of six, ten-hour days each year. In lieu of this service, one could pay the City Clerk $3 no later than March 5th. After that date, an additional 1$ was added to the fee.(The Daily Herald, March 4, 1922, p. 4)
1923
On February 26, 1923 the citizens of Biloxi voted to pass a $550,000 bond issue for streets, playgrounds, schools, libraries, parks, or community building. $350,000 of this money was to be allocated to pave nine miles of the principal thoroughfares in Biloxi with bitulithic asphalt, brick or some other hard surfaced material.(The Daily Herald, January 31, 1923, p. 1)
1924
In 1924, the Southern Paving and Construction Company began laying brick and asphalt on Biloxi Streets.(The Daily Herald April 4, 1924, p. 3 and June 9, 1924, p. 3)
1940
By mid-April 1940, 4300 feet of concrete had been poured on the Biloxi section of the WPA and Mississippi Highway Department sponsored new, double, beach drive project with 2100 feet of roadway left to complete. (The Daily Herald, April 16, 1940, p 1)
1954
In August, the Clark Brothers of Jackson, Mississippi, James Clark, project manager, were awarded the $863,535 contract to build four 12-foot lanes and 2 auxiliary lanes 10 1/2 feet wide, sidewalks, and a 13-foot neutral ground between the Biloxi Lighthouse and Myrtle Street on Point Cadet. Many large trees were destroyed to construct this section of US Highway No. 90.(The Daily Herald, August 11, 1954, p. 1 and November 10, 1954, p. 1)
REFERENCES:
The Biloxi Herald ,“Paving of Biloxi streets means more tourist travel”, January 6, 1894.
The Daily Herald, “City Council", January 31, 1923.
The Daily Herald, “Begin work of paving”, April 24, 1924.
The Daily Herald, “Brick laying began today”, June 9, 1924.
The Daily Herald, “Howard Avenue open to Lameuse”, June 13, 1924.
The Daily Herald, “4300 feet paving laid at Biloxi”, April 16, 1940.
The Daily Herald, “Clark Brothers get Biloxi road work for $863,535”, August 11, 1954.
BILOXI STREET NAMES
ATKINSON ROAD
John William Atkinson (1856-1941) came to Biloxi circa 1907. Recognizing the similarity of the soil and plant life with that of the fruit growing areas of Florida, he decided to attempt citrus culture on lands on Back Bay north of Beauvoir.
Family
J.W. Atkinson was the son of William H. Atkinson (1827-1921) and Mona Holland. Brother-R.L. Atkinson (18-1941+) of Madison, Wisconsin; Sarah Atkinson, his sister, married Nathan V. Boddie (1850-1929); Allie Daniel of LA; Eugenia Stokes of Canton.
J.W. married Miss Pearl Anna Harmanson (1876-1970) on August 24, 1904 in Harrison County, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. A.D. Harmanson of Florala, Mississippi. (MRB 16, p. 66)
They were the parents of: Mona Atkinson (1905-1991) m. George Wallace; Pearl L. Atkinson (1907-1983) m. Louis Gutierrez (1909-1978); John Atkinson (1909-1984); Thomas Harmanson Atkinson (1910-1974); and Woodrow Joseph Atkinson (1916-2002) m. Edna Lucille Harpole.
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”, , .
The Daily Herald,“”, 191.
The Daily Herald,“Back Bay North of Beauvoir”, August 5, 1910.
The Daily Herald,“Back Bay”, November 25, 1911.
The Daily Herald, “Interesting story about Back Bay written for Manufacturers Record”, January 7, 1914., .
The Daily Herald, “Father of J.W. Atkinson dies”, June 23, 1921.
The Daily Herald,“John W. Atkinson dies in Biloxi”, June 4, 1941.
BEACH STREET
In early days of Biloxi's history was called 'Front Street'. Lameuse Street became the dividing line between West Beach and East Beach. Road bed composed of a mixture of oyster shells and sand.
PAVING
In late August 1923, the Morgan Paving Company was contracted to pave a section of the West Beach Road from Heartsease Park to Beauvoir. Morgan subcontracted the work to local contractors, Ahern and Guiterrez, but continued to supervise the project. Funds for the work was provided by the Federal government and the State Highway Commission. The scheme called for a roadway with a six-inch, concrete base covered with a thick asphalt.(The Daily Herald, August 27, 1923, p. 3)
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “West Beach in bad consition”, August 20, 1923.
The Daily Herald, “Begin work upon roadway”, August 27, 1923.
The Daily Herald, “”,
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BELLMAN STREET
Bellman Street and Charles F.N. Bellman
Bellman Street was originally called Ryan’s Road, after Jacques Ryan, who acquired land in the Jean-Baptiste Carco land claim in 1812. It was a six-foot wide footpath on the western perimeter of the Dorsette Richard land claim. Ryan’s Road was cut in 1843 and went north to the Pass Christian and Point Cadet Road, now East Howard Avenue.(Cassibry, Vol. II, p. 131, p. 142, and p. 143)
Charles F.N. Bellman (1806-1868) was born at Kiel, Germany on May 30, 1806, as Carl Friedrich Nicolai Bellmann, the son of Carl Gottilieb Bellmann (1772-1859+) and Friederica Christina Krause (1775-1860), the daughter of Otto Wilhelm Krause of Kiel. His birth was recorded in the Lutheran Church on June 7, 1806, at Schleswig-Friedrichberg.
Carl G. Bellmann was a musician and composer from Muskau, in Saxony, now in eastern Germany. He was the composer of “The Song of Schlewig-Holstein”. Carl G. Bellmann and Miss Krause were married on December 9, 1800, in Schleswig-Friedrichberg. In addition to Charles F.N. Bellman, their other children were: Carl Adolph Eduard Bellmann, born November 10, 1801; Friederika Henriette Adolphine Bellmann, born May 25, 1803; and Carl Friedrich Fedor Bellmann, born December 29, 1811 and died May 29, 1874 in Kiel, Germany.(research of Felicia Bellman Tucker, March 14, 2002)
Charles F.N. Bellman (1806-1868) was a pioneer settler of Biloxi, Mississippi. He arrived at Biloxi in 1835, and circa 1836, married Pauline Ryan (1815-1899), the daughter of Jacques Ryan (d. 1849) and Elizabeth LaForce (LaFauce) (17 -1850+). At Biloxi, Charles Bellman made his livelihood as a boarding house proprietor, druggist, and doctor. Bellman Avenue, which strikes north-south from East Beach Boulevard to Howard Avenue, in Biloxi is named for Charles F.N. Bellman.
Bellman children
Charles F.N. Bellman and Pauline Ryan Bellman brought nine children into the 19th Century world: Theodora Bellman(1838-1901), married Louis L. “Toon” Ryan; Adolphine Bellman (1838-1893), married Moses Seymour (1838-1893);Charles W. Bellman (1841-1885), married Louisa Wilhemena Egan (1851-1881); Edwardine Bellman (1843-1921), married Benjamin F. Noel (1841-1910+); Harro Bellman (1847-1920) married Euphrosine “Frazine” Ryan (1852-1904);Bertha Bellman (1851-1932) married Ernest M. Beaugez (1862-1903); Ada Regina “Lida” Bellman (1854-1870+);Ralph Charles Bellman (1855-1899); and Pauline Josephine Bellman (1857-1933) married George W. McCary (1848-1925).
Charles Bellman
First overseer of the Biloxi and Pass Christian Road. Appointed April 1842.(Minutes Bd of Police, p. 24)
REFERENCES:
Harrison County, Mississippi Minutes of the Board of Police
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
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BENACHI AVENUE
Benachi Avenue is a north-south striking street situated in Biloxi, Mississippi east of the iconic Biloxi Lighthouse. Its name came from the Nicholas Marino Benachi family of New Orleans. Nicolas Marino Benachi (1812-1886) was born on the Greek Island of Khios. Khios is located in the Aegean Sea off the west coast of Turkey. It is believed to have been the birthplace of Homer. Khios is known for its school of epic poets, the Homeridae, and it sculptors. It became a Greek possession in 1912. Today with the adjacent islands of Cyclades, Dodecanese, Lesbos, and Samos, Khios forms the Greek department called Aegean Islands.(Webster’s New Geographical Dictionary-1988, p. 261)
Ownership
Nicholas M. Benachi (1812-1886), Greek immigrant and cotton broker at NOLA died intestate on February 8, 1886, at New Orleans. He left the following lands at Biloxi with an estimated value of $15,000.
Bounded South by the front bay or Gulf of Mexico. East by property now owned by John Cleary. North by Section line and West by the estate of Jacques Fayard having a front on said front bay or Gulf of Mexico of three hundred and twenty two feet-six inches running back due North between parallel lines to said section line a distance of 40 arpents more or less. Also one lot bounded South by lands of Henry Miller. West by property now owned by Dr. Maloney. North by the property of Charles Fayard. East by above described lot measuring North and South eight hundred feet, East and West.(Harrison County Chancery Court Cause No. 676, August 1894)
Trees
Benachi House relocated
Request for street
In early March 1904, a deed to a portion of ‘Benachi Street’ was presented to the Biloxi City Council for action. At this time, it was read and referred back to all interested parties with the caveat that “all streets donated to the City must be in passable condition.”(The Biloxi Daily Herald, March 2, 1904, p. 6)
Deed
On August 8, 1905 Anthony N. Benachi (1858-1916) and William Patrick Kennedy (1873-1951) conveyed a tract of land to the City of Biloxi. It was described as: forty-five feet wide front on West Beach Boulevard on the south and running north to Howard Avenue a distance of 1253 feet on the east line and 1262 feet on the west line. The consideration to the grantees was one dollar and that ten feet off the east and west lines be used for sidewalks. The City of Biloxi agreed that no tree or trees could be cut, injured, or disfigured by the grantee or assigns on said avenue.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk. 69, p. 414)
At the Biloxi City Council meeting held on August 12, 1905, the deed to the Benachi-Kennedy land donation for Benachi Avenue was read and accepted. A petition from the denizens of Benachi Avenue was also read to the City Council and asked them to shell and light the thoroughfare and that a water main be laid.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, August 12, 1905, p. 1)
A.N. Benachi
Anthony Nicolas Benachi (1858-1916)-was called Tony. He was born April 10, 1858, at New Orleans. Tony Benachi made his livelihood in the Crescent City as a cotton broker and at Greenville in the Mississippi Delta.(The Biloxi Herald, February 16, 1916, p. 2)
In 1900, he appears to be residing in the Benachi House on the beachfront at Biloxi and employed as a cotton classer.(1900 Federal Census-Harrison County, Mississippi)
A.N. Benachi seems to have been a bon vivant, and yachting at Biloxi was a favorite pastime. Benachi owned the Royal Flush, a sixteen-foot catboat, which competed annually in the Biloxi Regatta. The swift craft also sailed in match races for sizeable prize money. (The Ocean Springs Record, April 2, 1998 and The Biloxi Daily Herald, August 7, 1900, p. 8)
A.N. Benachi expired at Biloxi, Mississippi on February 16, 1916, while residing at 422 Elmer Street. His remains were interred in the Benachi plot in the Biloxi Cemetery.(The Biloxi Herald, February 16, 1916, p. 2)
Built
The Biloxi City Council approved the improvement of Benachi Avenue from Howard Avenue to West Beach Boulevard in December 1905 when it was ordered “graded and shelled.” A local reporter wrote: “This is good news to those living on that beautiful ‘Avenue of Oaks.’ When completed it will form one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in the South, or anywhere else.”(The Biloxi Daily Herald, December 6, 1905, p. 1)
REFERENCES:
The Biloxi Daily Herald,“”,
The Biloxi Daily Herald,“”,
The Biloxi Daily Herald,“City Council”, March 2, 1904.
The Biloxi Daily Herald,“City Council holds meeting”, August 12, 1905.
The Biloxi Daily Herald,“Back to his seaside home”, September 20, 1905.
The Biloxi Daily Herald,“Benachi Avenue to be shelled”, December 6, 1905.
The Daily Herald,“Biloxi News Paragraphs of Interest”, June 27, 1910.
The Daily Herald,“Know Your Coast-The House That Changed Its Address”, December 20, 1956.
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BRADFORD
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
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CAILLAVET
Raymond Caillavet (1838-1898) called "Medeaux" was born at Biloxi in 1838. He was the eldest son of Francois Caillavet (1815-1883), a carpenter, and Euranie Fayard (1818-1895). Raymond Caillavet was the grandson of Louis Arbeau Caillavet (1793-1860), a native of the Opelousas Post, Louisiana and Marguerite Fayard (1787-1863) of Biloxi. Louis A. Caillavet was baptized on March 31, 1793, with Louis Carriere and Marie Despaux standing as his godparents. L.A. Caillavet's father, Symphroen Caillavet (1746-1806), was born at Bordeaux, France. His mother was Marie Rose Carriere (1766-c. 1855), a native of New Orleans.
The Caillavet family at Biloxi was well respected. Louis A. Caillavet, the progenitor of the family here, had arrived in 1809, from Opelousas, Louisiana. His mother, Rose Carriere and brother, Adolph Caillavet (c. 1803-1842) joined him at Biloxi later .
L.A. Caillavet (1793-1860) married Marguerite Fayard (1787-1863) circa 1811. She was the daughter of Jean Baptist Fayard, Jr. (1752-1816) and Angelique Ladner (1753-1830). These families are among the oldest at Biloxi.
L.A. Caillavet was fluent in the French and English languages and acted as an agent-interpreter and representative to wealthy Creole families from New Orleans as well as his neighbors in land and legal matters. He was often called as a witness in Probate (Chancery) Court matters and his depositions in several court cases reveal something about his life. From Nap Cassibry's excellent two volume series, Early Settlers and Land Grants at Biloxi, the following has been extracted concerning L.A. Caillavet:
1. was in Biloxi in 1809 and no later than 1812.
2. sometimes he was the only one in Biloxi who could write.
3. served as an interpreter and notary in legal matters.
4. he was blind by 1848.
L.A. Caillavet acquired much land on the Mississippi coast. In February 1837, he received a U.S. Government land patent on 71.85 acres at Jackson County, Mississippi described as Lot 1 of Section 32 T7S-R8W. It comprised the NE/4 and SE/4 of the NE/4 of that section. This land is located on the beach front at east Ocean Springs west of Halstead Road. Louis A. Caillavet was elected treasurer of the Harrison County Board of Police (Board of Supervisors) for the term 1841-1843.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 96, pp. 325-326)
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CEMETERY [now IRISH HILL]
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
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CLAIBORNE
In February 1903, August Dorries conveyed for $600 a large corner lot with a front of 180-feet on east Howard Avenue and 200-feet in depth to Nancy Marshall Claiborne. An unamed street was left open on the east side of the Claiborne tract by Dorries and Kuhn earlier land owners in this area.
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
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CRAWFORD STREET
The Crawford family of New Orleans acquired land at Biloxi, Mississippi in February 1871, when Mary Crawford and Theodosa Jane Crawford acquired a tract of land on Biloxi’s East Beach from Mathilda Pradat, the widow of Christobal Toledano. Mrs. Pradat sold a parcel from the western part of a lot known as the Green Oaks Hotel lot. The Crawford tract costs them $3900 and had a 180-foot front on East Beach and ran north to the Back Bay of Biloxi.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk. 11, p. 531)
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
CROESUS
Probably named for John Crusius (1806-1866) of New Orleans. He was from Hanover, Germany and made his livelihood in the Crescent City as the owner of a gambling house. Owned property at Biloxi.
REFERENCES:
DAVIS
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
DE BUYS ROAD
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
DELAUNEY [now G.E. Ohr]
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
DIVISION STREET
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
DORRIES STREET
Dorries Street is located in East Biloxi. It starts on East Howard Avenue and runs north to Division Street. It was named for August Dorries (1941-1909).
In April 1904, August Dorries conveyed to the City of Biloxi a strip of land 40-feet wide.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk. 11, p. 531)
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
DUKATE
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
ELDER
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “Native Biloxian Dead [James W. Elder]”, May 3, 1926.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
ELMER
Elmer Street was named for Jacob Elmer.
Howard to Beach
From Howard Avenue south to Beach Boulevard was initially known as Grand Jack Alley or Perella Street before it became known as Elmer Street in the late 1890s. Elmer Street in this area was changed to Dukate Street circa ??.
REFERENCES:
ESTERS BOULEVARD
Esters Boulevard was named for Michael Leverne Esters (1951-1983). Michael was born on May 25, 1951 to Rehofus Esters and Barbara Carter Esters. He graduated from Notre Dame High School at Biloxi, Mississippi and attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College and Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. In April 1977, Michael married Gail Rose Tyler. They were the parents of Imari Esters, a son.(The Daily Herald, March 25, 1983, p. 2 and Harrison Co., Mississippi 2nd JD MRB 14, p. 525)
Michael L. Esters was employed by the City of Biloxi and was the first Black Councilman elected to the Biloxi city government. Michael was elected to represent the people of Ward II in 1981. He was killed in an automobile accident on March 24, 1983. Michael and his family were domiciled at 641 Fayard Street. They worshiped at our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church on Division Street.(The Daily Herald, March 24, 1983, p. 1 and March 25, 1983, p. 2)
Esters Boulevard was named by the Biloxi City Council in ? to honor Michael L. Esters It runs eastward from Bohn Street to ? and was formerly called Railroad Street.
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “Michael Esters”, March 24, 1983.
The Daily Herald, “Michael Esters”, March 25, 1983.
The Daily Herald, “”,
FATHER RYAN
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
FORREST AVENUE
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
HOLLEY STREET
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
HOPKINS BOULEVARD
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
HOWARD AVENUE
This major east-west artery through Biloxi was original known at the Pass Christian-Point Cadet Road or Pass Road. In 1896,
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “Brick laying began today”, June 9, 1924, p. 3.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
HOXIE
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
IRISH HILL
‘Irish Hill’ mentioned in newspaper in September 1903, Frank and Herbert Schaffer living here.(The Biloxi Herald, September 4, 1903, p. 6)
The Biloxi Daily Herald, “City News”, September 4, 1903.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
KELLER AVENUE
JOHN H. KELLER
John Henry Keller (1830-1908) was born in Germany or Switzerland. Married Elizabeth Gresser, also German. She expired at NOLA on April 18, 1882. Their children were:
Married Martha Washington Silk (1853-1913) at New Orleans in November 1888.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH LOT
On July 26,1892, the great New Orleans philanthropist, John Henry Keller (1830-1908), himself not a Presbyterian, donated Lot 1 (50 feet by 150 feet)-Block 6 of Keller's tract to the Biloxi Presbyterian Church. The church was located on East Howard Avenue east of the old Biloxi Public High School. W.L. Covel (1836-1926) was contracted to erect the 'small and modest building" of the newly organized congregation. The deacons and elders of the Biloxi Presbyterian Church, among them Bemis O. Bailey (1898-1969), an Ocean Springs native, sold their property to the City of Biloxi in late December 1940, for $3659.(Harrison Co., Ms. Land Deed Bk. 28, p. 205 and The Biloxi Herald, July 2, 1892, p. 1 and July 16, 1892, p. 4)
The Biloxi Herald,“”,
The Biloxi Herald,“”,
The Biloxi Herald,“”,
The Biloxi Herald,“A noble gift”, July 2, 1892.
The Biloxi Herald,“a new church”, July 16, 1892.
The Biloxi Daily Herald, “”,
The Biloxi Daily Herald, “”,
The Biloxi Daily Herald, “”,
The Biloxi Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
KUHN
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
LAMEUSE STREET
Lameuse Street is a north-south striking thoroughfare located in Central Biloxi between Main Street and G.E. Ohr, formerly Delauney Street. It’s name come from Rene’ Lameuse (1788-1883), a native of Haiti. Lameuse had settled at New Orleans as early as 1827, since Louise Appoline Lameuse (1827-1892), his daughter, was born here at this time. His spouse, Angelique Lameuse, died at Biloxi in 1829. She is buried in the Old Biloxi Cemetery. Circa 1845, Louise A. Lameuse married Urbain Laroussini (1815-1899), a native of France, and merchant and resident of the Crescent City. They reared a large family at New Orleans on Villere Street.
Rene’ Lameuse acquired a one arpent tract of land at Biloxi in July 1831 from Lansent Gazone. It ran north from the Beach to Bayou Auguste [present day Bradford Street] and was bounded by Joseph Ladner to the east and the lands of Jean Delauney [now Lameuse Street] to the west.(Cassibry, Vol. II, 1986, p. 8)
Urbain Laroussini v. Heirs of John B. Carco
In a deposition from Urbin [sic] Laroissini [sic] v. Heirs of John B. Carcos filed by Urban Laroussini in August 1849, in the District Vice Chancery Court at Mississippi City, Jean Delauney in February 1850 related that: Lameuse took possession about ten to fourteen years ago and built a brick house upon it and about two or three years afterwards. The improvements in 1844 was a brick house, kitchen and framed house, where Briscoe lives, on the front and a house and kitchen where Madame Seaman now lives on Back Bay.(Cassibry, Vol. II, 1986, p.32)
Louis A. Caillavet in January 1850, was deposed in the same litigation and related: I know the road now called Lameuse. There was no road there in 1815 or 1818. The road was first established after Lameuse went onto possession; there was no road there previous to 1836.(Cassibry, Vol. II, 1986, p.23)
Larned Davis of Pass Christian another deposer in Laroussini v. Heirs of J.B. Carco related the following in February 1850: I came to Biloxi in June 1835 and stayed there only eight months. I do not Lameuse was there in 1835. The land was all uncultivated and there were no improvements on the land. In the summer of 1838 Lameuse told me that he had built a road and that it was his road and offered to sell me some lots on the east side of the road. In 1838 there was a small shop where groceries were sold and some other improvements, but cannot say what they were and to what extent the land was improved.(Cassibry, Vol. II, 1986, p.23)
Biloxi
While a resident of Biloxi, Rene Lameuse was active in social and political affairs. He was elected the first to the first Board of Police of Harrison County, Mississippi which met on July 6, 1841. Mr. Lameuse’s tenure was short lived on this board as he resigned during the September 1841. Rene Lameuse protested that the Board of Police of Harrison County was not legal because the law authorizing the Board required that the first meeting be held in Biloxi. Lameuse resigned from the Board and was fined $10.(Minutes of the Board of Police Bk. 1, September 13, 1841, p. 6)
In 1850, Rene Lameuse was a resident of Biloxi domiciled on Front Street. He became an American citizen in 1856, while living at Biloxi. Mr. Lameuse returned to New Orleans and lived out the remainder of his life with Urbain Laroussini, his son-in-law, and family. He expired in the Crescent City on April 30, 1883 at the age of ninety-five years.(1850 Harrison Co., Mississippi Federal Census M432_372, p. 95)
Shady Grove
In June 1850, John Coates was operating the Shady Grove resort at Biloxi. It was described as: large lawn and great number of shade trees surrounding the house make this one of the most desirable for families along the seacoast. Attached to this house are large and commodious bathing houses. Rates: $1.25 per day; $7 per week; and $30 per month.(The Daily Picayune, June 8, 1850, p. 8)
1875
The Shady Grove Hotel has undergone an entire renovation and refurbishing under the guidance of Urbain Rambaut (1832-1889), the proprietor. Mr. Rambaut was born in France and settled at New Orleans where he owned a coffee house and barroom on Decatur Street. Rambaut pledges to outdo his service of prior years to his patrons. Back Bay furnishes the finest fish for his table and Professor Knapp drives a fine buggy to deliver visitors from their arrival as well as giving driving tours of Biloxi. He knows the denizens well and imparts valuable information of the area for the curiosity and knowledge of his passengers.(The Star of Pascagoula, June 26, 1875, p. 1 and 1870 and 1880 Orleans Parish, Louisiana Federal Census M593_522, p. 382, 6th Ward and T9_461, p. 3, ED 33)
Peter Lienhardt, et al v. Sherrod Seaman, et al
In May 1874, Chancellor W.G. Henderson of the Chancery Court of Harrison County, Mississippi opined and adjudicated in the partition suit of Chancery Court cause No. 143, Peter Liendhardt et al v. Sherrod Seaman et al. This litigation involved the partition of the ‘Lameuse Property’ also called the ‘Shady Grove Hotel’ at Biloxi. This tract was described in this law suit as“containing by estimation forty arpents of land [more or less] bounded and described as follows. Beginning at the Beach at the Pass of Biloxi, thence north to the Back Bay of Biloxi; thence southeast along the shore of said Bay so as to include one arpent; thence south to the said Pass of Biloxi; thence to the place of beginning. Bounded south by the Pass of Biloxi or Gulf of Mexico; north by the Back Bay of Biloxi; west by Lameuse Street; east by Wetzell heirs having a few small lots sold off.
(Biloxi Cemetery Bk. A, p. 21)
Richard Lameuse (Biloxi Cemetery Bk. A, p. 234)
Circa 1845, Louise A. Lameuse married Urbain Laroussini (1815-1899), a native of France, and merchant and resident of the Crescent City. They reared a large family at New Orleans on Villere Street.
Biloxi
In 1850, Rene Lameuse is a resident of Biloxi domiciled on Front Street. He became an American citizen in 1856, while living at Biloxi. Mr. Lameuse returned to New Orleans and lived out the remainder of his life with Urbain Laroussini (1815-1899), his son-in-law, and family. No further information.(1850 Harrison Co., Mississippi Federal Census M432_372, p. 95)
1902 Ordinance
The Biloxi City council passed an ordinance to sell privledges for using streets for the construction of wharves. The foot of Lameuse Street was the most valuable as its asking bid had a minimum rent of $50 per year for a six year lease. Biloxi’s other streets were non-bid and had a fixed rental rate of $10 per year for six years. The City prohibited oyster shops for being built on any of these piers. Bathhouses and warehouses were allowed.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, May 8, 1902, p. 8)
REFERENCES:
Nap L. Cassibry II, Early Settlers and Land Grants at Biloxi, Volume I, (Mississippi Coast Historical and Genealogical Society: Biloxi, Mississippi-Special Issue 5, November 1986), p. 82.
Nap L. Cassibry II, Early Settlers and Land Grants at Biloxi, Volume II, (Mississippi Coast Historical and Genealogical Society: Biloxi, Mississippi-Special Issue 5, November 1986).
The Biloxi Daily Herald, “New Ordinance passed”, May 8, 1902.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “Howard Avenue open to Lameuse”, June 13, 1924.
The Daily Picayune, “Shady Grove, Biloxi”, June 8, 1850.
The Star of Pascagoula, “Our Watering Places”, June 26, 1875.
MAIN STREET
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
NIXON STREET
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “ ‘District’ woman takes poison”, September 14, 1914.
The Daily Herald, “Defendants acquitted”, July 23, 1915.
The Daily Herald, “Red light part of Biloxi raided by Deputy Walker”, August 5, 1915.
The Daily Herald, “Arrests ordered by Committee on Police of Biloxi”, February 19, 1916.
The Daily Herald, “”,
PORTER AVENUE
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
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QUERENS AVENUE
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FREDERICK C. QUERENS
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
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RAILROAD STREET
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “Begin work of paving”, April 4, 1924, p. 3.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
REYNOIR STREET
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
RODENBURG
Named for John Henry Rodenberg (1810-1862+), a German immigrant merchant, who settled at New Orleans. He acquired Lots 1-4 of the Mansel White Survey in Biloxi in May1852. The Rodenberg Tract contained about 54 acres with 768 feet on the Gulf and ran north for about 3100 feet.(Harrison Co., Mississippi deed Bk. 61, p. 353)
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
SEAL AVENUE
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “Improving Seal Avenue”, January 10, 1925.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
JUDGE SEKUL
John Marshall Sekul (1911-1984) was born at Biloxi, Mississippi on January 31, 1911 to Steve M. Sekul (1880-1966) and Elena Trebotich (1884-1970), both Croatian immigrants from Bobovisca on the island of Brac in the Aegean Sea off the Dalmatian Coast. Their children were: Alena Sekul (1909-2002) m. Peter Cerinich (1895-1930+); John M. Sekul (1911-1984) m. Elizabeth Marjorie Lamas (1917-1984); Jacobena Sekul (1913-2003) m. Percy J. Wetzel (1907-1980) and Andrew Gillich; Vincentia [Vitsie] Sekul (1915-2002) m. Alonzo Gabrich (1894-1948); Josephine Sekul (1918-1986) m. William Schaaf; and Clare B. Sekul (1922-2011+) m. Warren H. Hornsby (.
Education
John M. Sekul matriculated to Springhill College at Mobile and graduated from Loyola University Law School at New Orleans. He took the Mississippi bar exam in 1935 and in April 1935 spoke to the Biloxi Lions Club on the Biloxi seafood industry, a subject that he was intimately acquainted having been reared on East Third Street on Point Cadet.(The Daily Herald, April 2, 1935, p. 5)
Clare B. Sekul, John’s sister, also became a lawyer and his law partner in late May 1945 shortly after she graduated from the University of Mississippi Law School. At this time she became the 41st woman to be admitted to the Mississippi State Bar. Clare had attended the Harrison-Stone-Jackson Junior College at Perkinston before entering the pre-Law program at Ole Miss.(The Daily Herald, May 28, 1945, p. 7 and May 30, 1945, p. 7)
Family
On October 30, 1938, John M. Sekul married Elizabeth Marjorie Lamas (1917-1984), the daughter of Rudolph Lamas (1875-1939), a Biloxi seafood merchant, and Mary Catherine Coleman (1877-1944). John and Marjorie were the parents of Judy Sekul m. Seymour and Steve M. ‘Buzzy’ Sekul. (Harrison Co., Mississippi MRB 49, p. 244)
Demise
Judge Sekul died in the Biloxi Regional Medical Center on January 9, 1984. His corporal remains were interred in the Southern Memorial Park cemetery at Biloxi, Mississippi. Marjorie Lamas Sekul expired in
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “John Sekul speaker before Lions Club”, April 2, 1935.
The Daily Herald, “Miss Clare Sekul receives law degree”, May 28, 1945.
The Daily Herald, “Miss Clare Sekul and John Sekul”, May 30, 1945.
The Daily Herald, “Mrs. Elena T. Sekul”, December 3, 1970.
The Daily Herald, “Attorney and former city judge Sekul dies in medical center at age of 72”, January 10, 1984.
The Sun Herald, “Alena Sekul Cerenich”, July 7, 2002.
SUTER PLACE
REFERENCES:
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
WHITE AVENUE
Judge Walter A. White (1854-1942) was born December 1, 1854 near Steen's Creek, Rankin County, Mississippi to Thomas S. White and Salina Smith. Married Harriett Enochs (1860-1880+), the daughter of Captain I.V. Enochs and Harriet Byrd. Their children: Cora White (1878) m. Gabriel H. McMorrough (1876-1974); Lula White (1881-1931) m. Reverend William O. Sadler (1875-1949); Laura White (1883-19); and Nell White (1886) m. Allan J. Watson
After the demise of his spouse, Judge W.A. White married her sister, Cora Enochs (1864-1934), in October 1890. Their children: Walter Enochs White (1891-1940) m. Besse Still (1890-1980); Harry KnoxWhite (1898-1899); John T. White (1901) m. Pauline
WHITE HOUSE HOTEL
REFERENCES:
Twentieth Century Coast Edition of the Biloxi Daily Herald: Historical and Biographical (George W. Wilkes & Sons: Biloxi-1902).
JOURNALS
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “Have record attendance of guests”, September 2, 1924.
The Daily Herald, “Mrs. White dites at home”, September 7, 1934.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Sun Herald, “Save the White House Hotel”, December 26, 2011, p. A11.
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Herald, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
The Daily Picayune, “”,
