John B. Esnard (1846 - June 2, 1931) was a Reconstruction era politician who served as a delegate at the 1868 Louisiana Constitutional Convention and in the in Louisiana House of Representatives 1868-1870.[1]
John B. Esnard | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the St. Mary Parish district | |
| In office 1868–1870 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1846 |
| Died | 1931 (aged 84–85) Los Angeles |
Biography
editEsnard was born in 1846 to a slaveholder,[1] in New Orleans and was of French descent.[2] 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 that they believed went against their Radical Republican views on universal suffrage.[4][5]
He 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 and he served from 1868 until 1870.[1] He served on the Committee on Railways.[7]
Esnard moved to Los Angeles 18 years before his death there on July 2, 1931 at his home aged 85.[8] He was survived by his wife Florentine K. Esnard, four sons and three daughters and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery.[8]
See also
editNotes
editOne source "Some Negro Officers and Legislators in Louisiana" says that he was a senator for Iberia Parish from 1870 until 1876 but this does not concur with the contemporary newspapers and also fails to mention his election to the house so appears to be erroneous.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Foner, Eric (1 August 1996). Freedom's Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-8071-2082-8. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ a b 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 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Important Military Order - Assembling of the State Convention". The Times-Picayune. 21 October 1867. p. 1. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Constitutional Convention - 18th Day - Radicals Protest". New Orleans Republican. 15 March 1868. p. 6. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Unknown. "Article 99 of the State Constitution of 1868". The New Orleans Crusader. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "Member of the General Assembly: Senators and Representatives". New Orleans Republican. 20 June 1868. p. 1. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3509&context=gradschool_disstheses
- ^ a b "Obituary for John B. Esnard". The Los Angeles Times. 4 June 1931. p. 25. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ 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 30 December 2023.
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