Capt. Joseph Boisseau, a cotton planter and factory, owner and dealer inreal estate in Shreveport, La., has in his veins the blood of the oldFrench Huguenots who came to this country on account of their religiousbelief, taking up their abode in the State of Virginia. Capt. Boisseauwas born in Dinwiddie County, Va., January 23, 1829, to Joseph and Julia(Rives) Boisseau, who were also Virginians, the father being an honestand fairly successful tiller of the soil. In the winter of 1848 he movedto Harrison County, Tex., and continued to make his home in the Lone StarState until his death, which occurred about 1868. After this event hiswidow removed to Louisiana and here she passed from life in 1874, havingborne a family of eight children, five of whom are living: Mrs. Ann E.Jones, Capt. Joseph, Mrs. Mary Tucker, William and James. Capt. JosephBoisseau was reared principally in the State of Tennessee, his early daysbeing spent on his father's plantation, and in that State his earlyeducation was acquired. In September, 1849, he came to Shreveport, La.,and secured employment as a clerk in a warehouse, being engaged inbilling and shipping, hie employer being E. C. Hart (now deceased). Heremained with him until 18583, then began steam boating on the Upper RedRiver and down to New Orleans, and in time became commander of thesteamers "Marion," "Newsboy" and "Trent". he continued to follow thiscalling with fair success until 1861, then enlisted in the FirstLouisiana Regiment of Caddo Rifles, and served the cause he espousedfaithfully until November of that year, when he put in a substitute andwent to New Orleans and purchased the steamer "Trent", expecting theblockade to be raised, and fitted her up for that purpose. The blockadefailing, he ran his boat in the service of the Confederate governmentuntil some time in 1863, when he sold the "Trent", and was afterwardappointed by Jefferson Davis as pilot of the gunboat "Missouri", whichhad been built at Shreveport. This boat he took to Alexandria, to defendthe forts at that place, and was there kept until the final surrender,the Captain receiving his parole on this boat. He then became pilot ofthe steamer "Cotton", that took the generals in command of thetrans-Mississippi Department to the mouth of Red River, where the finalterms of surrender were made, their names being Buckner, Price, Maj.Means and Lieut. Carter. After surrendering, the boat "Cotton" was givenup to the Federal officers at Shreveport. Capt. Boisseau then returned toShreveport, La., and embarked in the wholesale grocery and cottonbusiness, the firm of Walsh & Boisseau became sole proprietor, and assuch has since continued. He has seen Shreveport grow from a village toits present admirable proportions, and he has always identified himselfwith its interests in every way. he owns about 6,000 acres of finefarming land, controls as much more, and is the owner of some valuablebusiness buildings in the city, which are located on Front and MilanStreets, and several choice residence lots, which he offers for sale onthe most reasonable terms. He is one of the heaviest tax-payers in thecity, is doing well in every enterprise in which he is engaged, and isone of the substantial and honored citizens of this section, for he ispublic spirited, upright in every worthy particular, and is kind,generous and manly at all times. He has never been an aspirant foroffice, buy has paid strict attention to the details of his business, andas a result, is one of the wealthy men of this section. He is a memberand director of the Cotton Exchange, and is also one of the directors ofthe Commercial National Bank. He was married in 1866 to Miss Josephine E.Boisseau, of Virginia, by whom he has a family of four sons and threedaughters: Joseph, Jr., Nettie P., Elizabeth S., Richie W., James H.,Richard W. and Robert C. Mrs. Boisseau is a worthy member of theMethodist Episcopal Church, and socially he belongs to the Masonicfraternity and the K. of P.
Joseph Boisseau, the fourth child of Joseph Williamson Boisseau and JuliaA.
Rives, was born on January 23, 1829. When his father moved the family to
Harrison County, Texas from Fayette County, Tennessee, Joseph insteaddecided
to move out on his own, to Shreveport, Louisiana. It is unknown if he setoff
on his own from Fayette County, or moved with the family to Texas andthen set
out, but by 1850 he was living in Shreveport, Louisiana. Shortly afterthe Civil War, he returned
to Virginia, where he met and fell in love with his cousin, Josephine
Elizabeth Boisseau, the daughter of James Poythress Boisseau andElizabeth Ann
Scott. They married on April 11, 1866, and afterwards, they returned to
Shreveport, Louisiana. He opened a wholesale grocery, and a cottonbusiness in
Shreveport. Joseph died there on December 23, 1905. Josephine Boisseaudied on
April 7, 1906.1. Joseph Boisseau
2. Nettie Poythress Boisseau
3. Elizabeth Scott Boisseau
4. Richia Walsh Boisseau
5. James Holt Boisseau
6. Richard Walter Boisseau
7. Robert Cummings Campbell Boisseau
8. Julia Anna Boisseau
Confederate Research Sources
Volume 1
B.
page 25
Boisseau, Joseph,Pvt. Co. A. 1st La. Infty. Nelligan's). En. New Orleans,La., April 28th, 1861. Roll for Nov. and Dec., 1861, “Furnishedsubstitute Nov. —, 1861.” Res. Shreveport, La. Age when enlisted 28.Single.
Josephine Elizabeth Boisseau, the first child of James Poythress Boisseauand
Elizabeth Ann Scott, was born in 1843. She married Joseph Boisseau, theson of
Joseph William Boisseau and Julia A. Rives, in Dinwiddie County, on April11,
1866. H. B. Cowles performed the ceremony. He was a resident ofShreveport,
Louisiana, who had returned to Virginia probably due to his service in the
Confederate Army. After their marriage, this couple returned toShreveport,
where they raised their family, This line is further traced under hishistory
section.
Ann Eliza Boisseau, the first child of Joseph Williamson Boisseau andJulia
A. Rives, was born on March 16, 1825. She married Joshua Green Jones on
October 28, 1846, and moved to Greenwood, Louisiana. They had:1. Harry Jones
2. Anna Jones
3. Mary Jones
4. Joshua Green Jones
5. Martha Kemp JonesThis line has not been traced.
Joseph Williamson Boisseau, the first child of Joseph Boisseau and Mildred
Coleman, was born probably around 1800. He was old enough to own land, by
1820, when he received his first portion of his late father's estate, 307
acres 5 miles north of the county courthouse on Gravelly Run. He receiveda
second parcel of land, an additional 68 acres from his father's estatealso on
Gravelly Run in 1829.
He married Julia A. Rives, the daughter of Richard Augustus Rivesand Ann
Rivers, on April 15, 1824. She was born in Dinwiddie County in 1804.Joseph
Williamson Boisseau and Julia A. Rives were third cousins, through his
mother's line , Mildred Coleman, and her father's line. This couple hadnine
children:1. Ann Eliza Boisseau, born Mar. 16, 1825
2. Jane Wilson Boisseau, born Mar. 16, 1826
3. Henrietta R. Boisseau, born 1827
4. Joseph Boisseau, born Jan. 23, 1829
5. Richard Boisseau, born Dec. 23, 1832
6. William Holt Boisseau, born Dec. 23, 1832
7. Mary Mildred Boisseau, born Aug. 16, 1834
8. James Rivers Boisseau, born Oct. 23, 1843
9. Julia Alice Boisseau, born Apr. 6, 1845Joseph Williamson Boisseau and his family moved to Wilson County,Tennessee,
in 1838. However, he was listed in Fayette County, Tennessee, in theCensus of
1840. Although he made his home in Tennessee, he continued to own a small
portion of his father's former estate, keeping 20 acres near GravellyRun. In
the winter of 1848, he moved from Fayette County, Tennessee, to Harrison
County, Texas. Joseph Williamson Boisseau died on July 4, 1867. The dateof
his wife Julia's death has not been determined.
The fifth child of Joseph Williamson Boisseau and Julia A. Rives, Richard
Boisseau, was born on December 23, 1832 along with his twin brother,William
Holt Boisseau. He served in the Confederate Army in Texas along with his
younger brother, James Rivers Boisseau. He was killed in the war, leavingno
wife or children.