Family:Michel Benoit and Marie Duhon (1)

Parents: Michel Benoit and Elise Granger Michel Maran Benoit b. 9 Jan 1833 Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana d. 14 Apr 1909 Vinton, Calcasieu, Louisiana

Parents: Jean Duhon and Marie-Celanie Farque Marie Donathile Duhon b. 6 Jan 1854 Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana, USA d. 26 Mar 1896

m. Abt 1875

Family Portrait

This photo hung in the home of Willie and Lucy Benoit. It is believed that this portrait includes Michel, Domathile and their first five sons, which means it would have been taken before 1892 (when fourth son Preston was born). The daughters in the photo could be Michel's daughters from his marriage to Marie Cleonise Babineaux and/or Domathile's daughters from her marriage to George Favier.

Marriage

Michel Maran Benoit married Marie Domathile Duhon, widow of George Favier, about 1875. Michel was 41 years old and Donathile was 21 when they married.

According to Michel Benoit's nephew, Donathile passed away while Michel was on a cattle drive to New Orleans. The priest would not bury her because Michel didn't have any money. Michel brought her back and buried her at Niblett's Bluff. After that, he wouldn't have anything more to do with the Catholic Church. She was probably buried in an unmarked grave. Michel is also buried at Niblett's Bluff, in a grave marked as Mitchel Benoit.

Children

There were seven sons from this marriage.

• Justilian "Julian" (6 Apr 1879 - 30 Dec 1959)
• Eustlian (6 Apr 1879 - 30 Apr 1960)
• Murphy (25 Oct 1882 - 11 Jan 1957)
• Ramie (4 Mar 1888 - ??)
• Roman "Romey" (30 Dec 1889 - 27 Dec 1975)
• Preston D (16 Nov 1892 - 1 Nov 1962)
• Willie (27 Jul 1894 - 16 Mar 1985)

1880 Census

In 1880, the Census lists the family as living in Lake Charles. Following are the family members listed in the household:

• Benoit, Michel Head WM 46 beef driver
• Donathile wife WF 26 keeping house
• Antaell son WM 19 laborer (Michel's son from his marriage to Marie Cleonise Babineaux)
• Edgar son WM 16 (Michel's son from his marriage to Marie Cleonise Babineaux)
• Eudea daughter WF 14 (Michel's daughter from his marriage to Marie Cleonise Babineaux)
• Adaline daughter WF 8 (Michel's daughter from his marriage to Marie Cleonise Babineaux)
• Juleen son WM 1
• Justilian son WM 1
• Favier, Cleontine stepdaughter WF 8
• Babino, Odelia servant WF 12
• Surner, Ernest laborer WM 18, born in Texas

Documentation

Photographs

1880 Census - Household of Michel Benoit and Domathile Duhon S1

Census Records

Family portrait - Michel and Domathile Benoit

1.   United States. Bureau of the Census. 10th census, 1880. Louisiana, 1880 federal census : soundex and population schedules. (Washington, District of Columbia: The National Archives, 19--?)
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana; Roll T9_449; Family History Film: 1254449; Page: 482.4000; Enumeration District: 8; Image: 0729., 4 Jun 1880.