J. V. Bouquet Family

by C. J. Thompson

    One of the pioneer families of Calhoun County is that of Julius Victor Bouquet, who was born in Thilbodezux, Louisiana, on August 6, 1836. His father died while he was a young boy, and his mother, having married again, he decided to answer the urge for adventure and came to Texas, living at first with an uncle in Orange County. When about sixteen years of age, he went to work for a Mr. McFadden, a ranchman. A few years thereafter, he came to Calhoun County, being first employed by a Mr. Blanchet and remained here, in the cattle business, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Captain January's company, at Victoria, which was thereafter attached to Green's Brigade.

    The greater part of his service during the war was in Louisiana, where he did notable scout work, his knowledge of the country and the French language being of especial value in that respect. Accompanying him during his long service in the army was his trusty horse, his personal property, a gray stallion of race an Arabian breed, possessed of great speed and endurance, which saved him from capture on many occasions. This horse was the pet of the men of the entire command, and was the recipient of many evidences of their affection in the way of tidbits to eat, and was always, as a result, in the best of condition. He was also well known to the enemy, and many a Yankee officer desired his capture for his own personal use. It looked, on one occasion, as though this might be done, when a body of Yankee cavalry pursued him down a field fence toward a corner on the other side of which was a deep ditch. Mr. Bouquet held his horse in, just staying far enough ahead of his pursuers to avoid capture, which the enemy felt sure would be the case when they reached the corner. However, when they got there, Mr. Bouquet urged his steed forward, and the noble animal, answering the call upon him, cleared both fence and ditch at a single bound. None of his pursuers were able to negotiate the obstruction, and they were compelled to rein in their mounts and watch Mr. Bouquet canter away from them, a few scattering shots being fired after him, none of which took effect. Being mustered out after the Civil War, he returned to Calhoun County, where he took up his old business of stockraising.

    On January 25th, 1866, he was married to Miss Sarah Ellen Sweeney, the culmination of a romance begun during the war. His bride was born on Grand Chenier Island, Louisiana, on August 3, 1845. He brought her to live at his place on Hog Bayou, near Long Mott, in this county. In the first part of July 1871, he moved to the present Bouquet homestead, on Big Chocolate Bayou, about five miles southwest of Port Lavaca, where he resided until his death on November 27, 1933, at the ripe age of 97 years.

    Twelve children were born to this union, eight of whom are still living (in 1979 ¹), as follows: John M Bouquet and Arthur W Bouquet of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, Mrs. Annie J Garner, Mrs. Rose E. Thompson, Edward V. Bouquet, and Claibourne L. Bouquet, of Port Lavaca; Mrs. Adie Little of Comanche County, Texas, and James S Bouquet of Proctor, Texas.

   "Grandpa" Bouquet, as he was affectionately known in later years, was a man of great hospitality, and each year marked his birthday with a barbecue and all day celebration, which was always looked forward to with pleasure by his many friends. (Taken from the Centennial issue of the Port Lavaca Wave, May 16, 1940)

1. Editors addition the original article was in the 1979 edition of the Quarterly this is posted in 1997.