The following information is most useful in
allowing the researcher to make family tree connections with
regards to the linage of J. O. Landry.
Fred Joseph Landry born Aug. 30th., 1869 - Louisburg, La.
was the son of 'Octave' Landry born Ascension Parish , La.
June 15, 1835 and Sophia KENNEDY born Aug. 5, 1839 in New
Orleans, La.
J. O. Landry's ( Colonel of 28th. La. Regiment ) father
was Amadeo Landry, his mother Emma BLANCHARD Landry all born
in La. His grand father was Trasimond Landry, Lieu . Gov. of
La.
Sophia KENNEDY's father was Dr. William E. Kennedy horn
in Baltimore Md. Her mother Jane Thatcher CARR born in
Philadelphia. Her grand father also a Dr. W.E. Kennedy born
in France. Her grand mother Sophie MAIESON ( pronounced
May-e-son ) born in France.
Quotation from "Military
Anuals of Louisiana"
by Napier Bartlett -- 1875
The following is a text version of an original document
in the possession of the contributor of the biography of
Joseph Octave Landry.
Apropos of the Louisiana troops in the West and those
which finally joined them at Mobile was the 28th Louisiana,
which went out a short time after the Confederate Response
call of Beauregard, and which was placed at Vicksburg under
Pemberton. Col. Thomas (now at Ascension) was its first
commander; but Allen becoming too cripled to longer command
the brigade known by his name, Col. Thomas became one of his
successors and J. O. Landry became Colonel of the 28th.
As digressions about curious incidents, and gossip about
men and places, are sometimes the most readable part, a word
about the last mentioned name, now held by one of our best
known public men, will not be read without interest.
The Landry family, which dated back to the French and
Spanish occupation of the country, is probably the most
numerous of any in the State &emdash; The blood of the first
settler flowing in the veins of fully 2,000 of his
decendants. The parish in which it is established bears his
name, and a large portion of it was given the family as a
Spanish grant. The name has given to the State Trasimond
Landry, for Lieut. Governor, J. Aristide, a member of
Congress, Narcisse, a distinguished soldier at Chalmette,
Amadeo, one of the city fathers of New Orleans and Chairman
of the Finance Committee, and Theodule, as a Surveyor
General. In the Confederate war, R. Prosper Landry was
Captain of the gallant Donaldson Artillery of Lee's Army.
Of Col. J. O. Landry, now Administrator of Commerce of
New Orleans, it may be stated, by way of showing that races
do not degenerate in this climate, that the present
representative of the old Norman name is over six feet in
stature, robust and red faced in proportion, and is
physically one of the most powerful men in the State.
Col. Landry went into the Confederate service as Lieut.
Colonel of the 28th Louisiana [29th], carrying with him five
companies from his own parish, and as many blood relatives
as the Chief of a Scottish Clan.
At the battle of Chicasaw Bayou, Landry's c mmand were
placed in Thermopylean style, at a narrow neck of firm land,
across which Federals were about marching, in greatly
superior numbers. He was ordered to hold his ground at all
hazzards. This, his regiment did, and so desperate was the
work, for six hours, that the forces were not more than
twenty feet apart when the 28th was relieved.
When Breckenridge made his attack at Baton Rouge, Col .
ndry, who was serving on military commission, patriotically
companied that General, who had been deprived by sickness
for the attendance of some of his staff, as one of his aids.
This expedition was made brilliant by some of the most
desperate fighting of the war.
Col. Landry was paroled at the surrender of Pemberton at
Vicksburg, and was exchanged some thirty days after. He then
took command of the 22nd* at Enterprise and reported to Maj.
Gen. Dabney H. Maury at Mobile. He there took charge of the
fortifications around Mobile and was afterwards sent out on
picket duty to Pollard Station to check Federal raids. He
remained at Mobile until the surrender of the town at the
close of the War. He has since held the position of City
Controller, and is now one of the City Administrators.
*After the fall of Vicksburg in July 1863, the 28th Thomas'
[29th] Louisiana was ordered into parole camp at Enterprise,
Mississippi and at this location about 50 men from the
regiment were assigned to the Consolidated 22nd Louisiana
Infantry Regiment, Co. G., which was then sent to the
defense of Mobile. Col. J. O. Landry was given the position
of Lieut. Col. of this regiment until his transfer to the
Trans-Mississippi Department on 26 May 1864. jlr
The death of Joseph Octave Landry
The following is the obituary of Joseph Octave Landry.
The source of the actual document is not stated. We assume
that the obituary is from one of the local newspapers in the
New Orleans area.
Col. J. O. Landry
The death of Col. J. O. Landry, which occurred yesterday
at noon, ended the life of an esteemed Louisianian, who had
for a long term of years been actively and prominently
identified with the interests of his native State.
Col. Landry was born in Ascension Parish on June 15,
1835, of distinguished parents, and was consequently at the
time of his demise in the fifty-fourth year of his age.
After receiving a good education Col. Landry settled down in
his native parish, where he engaged in farming. Shortly
before the breaking out of the war, when a young and
ambitious man, he removed to New Orleans and entered the
service of Breaud & Landry, bankers and commission
merchants, of which his father was an associate member. His
apitude and excellent business qualifications were readily
observed and appreciated, and he was subsequently taken into
the firm, of which he became a junior partner.
After remaining with the firm for some time Col. Landry
purchased a plantation in St. Landry parish, on the banks of
the Courtableau Bayou, two which place he repaired for the
purpose of renewing his pastoral avocation. At this juncture
the Civil War was declared, and Col. Landry, whose sphere of
usefulness as a citizen was just widening and opening,
demonstrated his fealty to his native State by joining the
Twenty-eighth Louisiana Regiment, Infantry, of which he was
made Lieutenant Colonel.
Throughout that long and bloody struggle, Col. Landry
rendered meritorious service, and after the fall of
Vicksburg was placed in command as Colonel of his regiment.
Subsequently this regiment was attached to the
Transmississippi Department, where Col. Landry served with
distinction until the close of hostilities.
In 1868 Col. Landry, who was always a consistent
Democrat, was elected Comptroller of this city, forsaking
for the purpose of accepting the office a lucrative
warehouse business, which was then being conducted by him
under the firm name of J. C . Landry & Co. During his
tenure of tbis office he gave a striking proof of his
courage and determination and of his devotion to his party
and State. Those were, it will be remembered, dark days in
the history of Louisiana. Gov. Warmoth, as the Chief
Executive of the State, issued an order to Comptroller
Landry whereby that official was directed to recognize the
New Orleans Republican as the official organ of the
government, irrespective of the fact that, at the time, the
New Orleans Crescent, a Democratic paper, held that title,
and was entitled to its emoluments.
Recognizing the illegality of the act and unmindful of
the consequences, Col. Landry, with characteristic courage,
refused to do so, for which act of alleged contempt he was
taken before Judge Cooley, who committed him to the Parish
Prison. Col. Landry was inflexible, however, and to overcome
the refractory official, Gov. Warmoth called a special
session of the Legislature and the office was abolished.
In 1872 Col. Landry was again honored by being elected
Commissioner of Improvements, which office he held
uninterruptedly until the end of his term. During the
exciting days preceding and following the ever memorable
14th of September, Col. Landry acted as Chief of Police.
Col. Landry was appointed Tax Collector of the Sixth
District by Gov. John McEnery, but owing to the
interposition of Wm. Pitt Kellogg, who was then the defacto
Governor, the appointee was never permitted to take his
office. He was also selected and served as Registrar of
Voters during the first administration of Gov. Francis T.
Nichols.
As hay inspector, Col. Landry did creditable service
during the administration of Gov. Wiltz, in recognition of
which he was retained in office by Gov. S. D. McEnery.
At the time of his death he was legal process clerk in
the office of Otto Thoman, Comptroller. This completes the
career of a brave gentleman and soldier, who was admired and
loved by all who knew him for his many strong personal
qualities.
Col . Landry espoused Miss Sophia Kennedy, the
accomplished daughter of Dr. W. E. Kennedy, and the union
was blessed with eight children, the eldest of whom is
married to Mr. Burgess Bennett, of Rehobath, Ala. The
funeral will take place from the late residence of the
deceased, No. 735 Carondelet street, this afternoon at 2:30
o'clock. The services will be held at the Church of Good
Counsel, corner of Chestnut and Louisiana Avenue, after
which the funeral cortege will proceed to the Metairie
Cemetery, where the remains will be interred in the tomb of
the Association of the Army of Tennessee, of which the
deceased was a member.
We at the 28th Thomas' Louisiana Infantry
Regiment
(Volunteers) offer our sincerest "Thank You" for the
information
presented on behalf of the late Joseph Octave Landry.
Information reprinted with kind permission
from:
Mrs. Andrea Finan. Mrs. Finan was kind enough to offer
the
abovemention materials for use in the 28th Thomas'
Louisiana
Infantry Regiment world wide web site.
The information [portrayed on this page] was
passed on
to Mrs. Andrea Finan by Delores A. (Landry) Finan
daughter of
Fredrick and Granddaughter of J. O. Landry. Andrea Finan
is
the wife of Michael Finan, son of Delores Finan.
We, at this time are looking for a photograph of
Col. Joseph Octave
Landry to add to this page. Should another descendant of
Col. Landry
care to contribute a copy of a family photograph of this
Louisiana
gentleman, we would be very grateful for the
acquisition.
Additionally, we at the 28th Thomas' Louisiana
Infantry
world wide web site would be very happy to receive
any
additional information regarding this famous historical
figure
-- Col. Joseph Octave Landry.
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