John B. Esnard
John B. Esnard | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the St. Mary Parish district | |
| In office 1868–1870 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1846 New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| Died | June 2, 1931 (aged 84–85) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Children | 7 |
| Occupation | Politician |
John B. Esnard (1846 – June 2, 1931) was an American politician. Born a slave, he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1868 to 1870.[1]
Biography
John B. Esnard was born in 1846, in New Orleans, to a slaveholder,[1] and was of French descent. He was described as mulatto and when asked if he was a "colored man" he said "I cannot answer that; I do not know exactly whether I am or not".[2] He served during the American Civil War in the Union Army.[1]
Esnard represented St. Mary Parish along with A. J. Demarest at the 1868 Louisiana Constitutional Convention.[3] Along with P. B. S. Pinchback, O. C. Blandin and Auguste Donato Jr., he signed the new constitution but registered protest against Article 99, which they believed went against their Radical Republican support of universal suffrage.[4][5]
Esnard and Demarest were then elected to represent St. Mary Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives.[6][1] Due to threats, made he fled north, but returned soon after to take his seat, serving from 1868 to 1870.[1] During his tenure, he served on the Committee on Railways.[7] One source erroneously claims that he represented the Iberia Parish in the Louisiana State Senate from 1870 until 1876.[8]
Esnard was married to Florentine K. Esnard, and had four sons and three daughters. He moved to Los Angeles c. 1913, dying there on July 2, 1931, aged 84 or 85. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery.[9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Foner, Eric (August 1, 1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-8071-2082-8. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ Rankin, David C. (1974). "The Origins of Black Leadership in New Orleans During Reconstruction". The Journal of Southern History. 40 (3): 417–440. doi:10.2307/2206492. ISSN 0022-4642. JSTOR 2206492. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Important Military Order - Assembling of the State Convention". The Times-Picayune. October 21, 1867. p. 1. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Constitutional Convention - 18th Day - Radicals Protest". New Orleans Republican. March 15, 1868. p. 6. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ Unknown. "Article 99 of the State Constitution of 1868". The New Orleans Crusader. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Member of the General Assembly: Senators and Representatives". New Orleans Republican. June 20, 1868. p. 1. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3509&context=gradschool_disstheses
- ↑ Perkins, A. E. (1929). "Some Negro Officers and Legislators in Louisiana". The Journal of Negro History. 14 (4): 523–528. doi:10.2307/2714198. ISSN 0022-2992. JSTOR 2714198. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Obituary for John B. Esnard". The Los Angeles Times. June 4, 1931. p. 25. Retrieved December 30, 2023.