Family of Arthur Joseph Leonard & Oceana Marie Arcement
Arthur Joseph Leonard was born 25 August 1861 in Plattenville, Assumption, LA (baptism: 10 March 1862 St. Philomene); and died 30 March 1949 in Louisiana. Burial was in Huey P. Long Cemetery, Gretna, LA.
First wife Myrthe Aysenne was born Abt. 1862; m: 4 June 1883 St. Philomene, Assumption, LA; d: Bef. 1896
Second wife Oceana Marie Arcement was born 4 November 1865 in Labadieville, Assumption, LA (baptism: 8 January 1866 St. Philomene), and died 13 November 1944 in Louisiana. Burial was in Huey P. Long Cemetery, Gretna, LA. They were married 7 July 1896 at St. Philomene, Labadieville, Assumption, LA.
Their children were:
1- Theophile Henri Leonard b: 9 May 1897 Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA; d: 29 November 1988 Louisiana; burial: Huey P. Long Cem., Gretna
+Edna Agnes Ford b: 22 March 1899 Louisiana; m: 8 December 1917 Louisiana; d: 8 April 1979 Louisiana; burial: Huey P. Long Cem., Gretna
2- Jean Cecile Mable Leonard b: 15 December 1898 Lafourche, LA; d: 26 May 1994 Iberville, Plaquemine, LA; burial: 28 May 1994 Buried Grace Memorial Park, Plaquemine
+Cyrille Charleston Pitre b: 2 December 1894 Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA; m: 27 August 1915 Lafourche, LA; d: 15 November 1945 Iberville, Plaquemine, LA; burial: 17 November 1945 St. Philomene Cemetery, Pitre Family Tomb
[Notes for Mable: (Thanks to cousin Lana Merliss for taping and transcribing talks with family members.)
There was a school near the White Plantation where Mable went until the 5th grade. She once said that she was so lonesome when they first moved to Plaquemine that she cried for 6 months. This was in 1929 during the Depression. One of Mable's Ayo relatives worked on the Evergreen Plantation in Plaquemine and told Cyril about a job opening. The plantation owners, the Wilberts, gave the families a free house and utilities. Mable was never close to her older step-siblings from her parents' first marriages.
Mable could make anything grow. She loved plants and flowers. Visits with her usually ended with a tour of the yard where she showed off her latest possessions. The large-leafed ivy-type vine growing up a huge oak in the side yard grew from a small piece Mable smuggled in her purse aboard a plane returning from a trip to California
Mable was an 'unbelievable' cook. On Sundays she'd cook enough for an army, never really knowing who was coming to eat. No matter who stopped by, or who called and received an invitation, there was always plenty to eat. One of her specialities was crawfish bisque. She laboriously cleaned the crawfish shells to be stuffed with dressing. When the grandchildren were served the bisque in soupbowls, they'd place the empty shells on the rim of the bowl to see who'd got the most. She threw out leftovers. Her breakfasts consisted of hot chocolate and bread topped with whipped butter. She usually served milk with meals but never with seafood. She never made iced tea; water or soft drinks replaced milk on Fridays or other 'fish days'. A coffee pot was always ready on the stove. Her cakes were always homemade. She'd start with creamed butter and sugar, done by hand. Then she'd add flour and other ingredients. When threatened with a bought cake mix, she replied, "Don't ya'll bring no cake mix in this house."
She never questioned food prices, didn't drive and never owned a car. If company came and she needed something to cook, she'd call the grocery and tell them to deliver, say 5 pounds of round steak, and charge it to her daughter. There was a chest freezer in the kitchen where she kept containers of homemade soup, which she offered to anyone who was sick. She also kept her famous crawfish bisque there, which was served up and often given to guests to take home. The counter near the backdoor held the ever-present liquor: creme de menthe, cream de cocoa, whiskey, etc; and on holidays, bowls of candy. Homemade ice cream, often peach, was served in glasses on the old screen porch. There were old rockers with sealhide seats. The huge table was 'picnic' style with benches attached each side. The silverware 'mysteriously' often said U.S. Navy. Mable was always up early. She attended Mass most mornings. When she needed to wake up somebody in the back bedroom over the kitchen, she'd hit the ceiling with her broom handle.
At her funeral the theme of the priest's eulogy was "She died unto herself." He explained that when she was widowed 50 years ago with 12 children, she became completely selfless and gave her life to her children. (And later she was 'there' for her grandchildren as well.) He said God had not called her to be a mother or a grandmother, that He makes but one request of us all, to be perfect. If we do the best we can, then in His eyes we are perfect. He added that the pain felt that day was ours, not hers. There was a full Mass with prayers and communion.]
3- Clarence Joseph Leonard b: 19 August 1899 Louisiana; d: Abt. 1968; burial: Military Cem., Hwy. 90, Avondale
+Nona Boudreaux
*2nd Wife of Clarence Joseph Leonard:
+Marie ?
4- Jean Arthur Leonard b: 9 February 1903 Thibodaux, Lafourche, LA; d: Bef. 1910
5- Alvin J. Leonard b: 5 June 1905 Louisiana; d: 30 January 1971 Louisiana; burial: 1 February 1971 Huey P. Long Cem., Gretna
+Laura Rodrigue b: 18 February 1902 Louisiana; m: Abt. 1923; d: 17 February 1983 Louisiana; burial: Huey P. Long Cem., Gretna
Notes for Arthur Joseph Leonard:
- 1 June 1900 census, Lafourche ED29:
Arthur Leonard 39 (Aug 1860) - farm laborer
Osiana 34 (Nov 1865) (both married 17 years, she is mother of 8 children, all alive)
Mary 16 (May 1884)
Jeb 13 (Oct 1886) - farm laborer
Albert 12 (Apr 1888) - at school
Lucille 10 (Nov 1890) "
Mary 8 (Aug 1891) "
Numa (F) 7 (Dec 1892) "
Theophile 3 (May 1897)
Mable 1 (Dec 1898)
(none could read, write, or speak English)
- 1910 Lafourche, ED 36, W2, p. 93A: Arthur Leonard 49 plant overseer, 2nd wife Oceana 35 [mar. 14 yrs.; 2 children/2 still living], son Jule Thompson 23, Theophile 13, Maver 12, Clarence 9, Alvin 5
Parents of Arthur Joseph Leonard
Parents of Oceana Marie Arcement
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