TGS Newsletter
Vol. 24 No. 7 September 2005

Visit our home page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~laterreb/tgs.htm

     Please note that our September meeting will be held at the North Branch in Gray. Due to a previous commitment at the Main Branch Library, our regular meeting room will be pre-empted.
     The August meeting was real cozy. Only a few members other than board members and their spouses braved the Hurricane Watch for Katrina that Saturday, 27 August 2005. Many of our friends and family had either evacuated or were intending to do so. Someone even asked if this was a “real” meeting. So we mostly sat around the table and munched on the goodies that had already been baked and just HAD to be eaten. But we did have a Brick Wall submitted. Julia BENOIT was the only person to submit same, so she won by default. No matter. It is an interesting one. It seems there is some question about the mother of Louise M. BOURG. On Louise’s marriage record, her mother is given as Caroline GAGNEY, and her father is Richard BOURG. Louise was born 19 November 1879, in Theriot, LA, and died 12 March 1977 in Houma, LA. She married Adam Joseph BENOIT on 15 February 1898 in Terrebonne Parish. When we go to Richard BOURG’s marriage record of 17 January 1879 (a scant 10 months before the birth of daughter Louise) we find his wife listed as Odelia FIELDS. Nothing more is know about either Odelia or Caroline GAGNEY. These names are not common, so it seems that we could locate something about either one to corroborate or refute the possibility that one of them is Louise BOURG BENOIT’s mother. Wanna give it a shot? If you find something, Julia would like to hear from you. Write Julia A BENOIT at 111 Lynwood Drive, Houma, LA 70360 or call (985) 868-1141 or her email address is julia at juliabenoit dot com.
    We also learned that our fabulous board member, Patty WHITNEY, has been asked to speak at the Patterson branch of the Louisiana State Museum on October 29, 2005. Her topic will be “Quirks and other Strange Things about Louisiana Research.” As the date approaches we will be more specific about the time but if you want to “scope it out” you can visit their website at http://www.cypresssawmill.com/museum.html and click on the Location/Map button. If you want to know why I used the adjective “fabulous” just go hear her talk. OK?

DEATH: Our sympathies go out to member Josephine MacKAUCH DANTIN, who lost her husband, Jean Baptiste DANTIN on May 25, 2005. He was born September 17, 1920 in Golden Meadow, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jean Baptiste C. DANTIN and Leance AUTIN. Besides his wife, Josephine, he is survived by sons John Michael and Robert Thomas DANTIN, daughters Mary Ann MASI, Linda Elaine BIAS, and Susan Fae KENNEY; one sister, Anna Lou TERREBONNE, and brothers Clifton Joseph and Riley. His paternal grandparents were Horace DANTIN and Josephine MARAN [Note: this name has several spellings, and her parents have yet to be identified. Ed]
  
KATRINA: As of this writing, New Orleans has just begun its rebirth. The flood waters are now being pumped out and the real clean-up will soon begin. Our hearts go out to all those who have suffered losses of any kind, and if we can help in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us. I don’t even know if this is reaching you because of the mess that is the postal system right now. You may be reading this on a public computer, such as in a library somewhere. We are not mailing your quarterly if your former address is in one of the affected areas. Please let us know as soon as you can where we can mail your quarterly. Be sure to give us other contact information, as well, even if it is temporary, e.g. if you are staying with your in-laws.
 
NORTH BRANCH: I know what you are thinking. You think that something terrible has happened to the Main Branch Library, or something like that. That is the reason we are moving the meeting to the North Branch — to give the staff time to scoop out the mud, maybe. Well, that isn’t it. There was a previously scheduled event taking place that Saturday, so we graciously moved our meeting so the other group, which shall remain nameless, could have the meeting room. So now that you know the real reason, don’t you feel better?
 
SEMINARS: We announced a couple of seminars in the area in last month’s newsletter, and you may be wondering about whether the schedule has changed due to Katrina. The DOMINIQUE reunion on Saturday, October 8, 2005, is still on. It will be held at the Gheens Recreation Center in Gheens, LA. For further information, contact Robert J. DOMINIQUE (504) 392-6099, Bernice DOMINIQUE (504) 371-8363, or Peter DOMINIQUE (985) 532-3529.
     The Irish Genealogical Seminar is to be located in Jones Hall on the Tulane University Campus which was under almost 3 ½ feet of water at the highest point of the flood, so the schedule is a little more doubtful. The fact that it is not going to be held until November is in its favor. Keep watching the page www.geocities.com/jeffersongenealogicalsociety and click on GSMNO Seminar to see their flyer.
  
BOOKS: The sale of our books on newspaper notices is going nicely. However, we should warn you that the opportunity, once passed, may not return very soon. Think of how long some people have waited for this chance because they missed the first printing. Deadlines will depend on what year you are wishing to order. For the 1996 - 2000 books (Houma Courier Deaths, Comet Deaths, or Houma Courier Births) the deadline is the October meeting of 2005 (Saturday, October 29, 2005) and we will print them in November. Time flies, people. You gotta decide NOW. You have a little more time for the 1991-1995 books. Watch this space for further announcements. Remember, there was one of each title published each year.