William Louis Prudhomme (1869 - 1952)

Born 11 Apr 1869 in Opelousas, St. Landry, Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sadie (Dupuis) Prudhomme — married 5 Oct 1891 in Garland, LA

Husband of Mary Ella (Hamilton) Prudhomme — married 9 Jul 1904 in Opelousas, LA

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1952 at age 83 in Houma, Terrebonne, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

William Louis Prudhomme was born in 1869 to Gilbert Prudhomme and Marie Sittig. He passed away in 1952. He spent his life in law enforcement. At various times he was a deputy sheriff, oyster commission boat captain, city marshal, policeman and for many years chief of police in Opelousas.

PRUDHOMME, William Louis (Gilbert & Marie SITTIG) b. 11 April 1869 (Opel. Ch.: v. 6, p. 291) ^[1]

TAG OR MONEY.

The Law Relative to License on Vehicles Strictly Enforced---Many Paid The Penalty.

"Wheel-carriages I hae but few,. Three carts, and twa are feakly new."

If Burns had lived in the age of road licence and Bill Prud'homme, he would have put his old carts under the barn and used a wheelbarrow, because 'tis said that the Scotch bard was so poor that he could afford but one meal of oatmeal a day. And it goes without saying that even the distress of such an illustrious genious would have fallen short in dealing with Bill's tender mercies. Bobby would have to pay or his carts would now be keeping, company with many others on the courthouse square, awaiting to be redeemed or dealt with as the law directs. The road law of St. Landry parish provides for a license on all vehicles and prescribes as proof of the payment of said licence a tag, which shall be securely attached to the vehicle. Last year the law was laxly enforced, few vehicles meeting the requirement in regard to having the tag attached, hence it was im possible to enforce the law. The occupant of a vehicle would tell the officer "I have my tag at home," and there he had either to take his word for it or begin a tedious investigation; especially when not in easy reach of the courthouse. This year tho', it was decided to follow the strict letter of the law, and deputies in every ward were delegated for the special duty of catching the tax dodgers. And my, what a calemeety! Here in the first ward, Wm. Prud'homme, alias "Six-Shooter Bill", the villian for the ward, caught forty-two in one day, and he is still catching them. The courthouse square has been decked with vehicles of all description the entire week. In the meantime the news is spreading in every direction, and the delinquents are coming daily, via various modes of transportation. The darkeys generally walk in, fearing even that their plug will be ceased unless properly tagged. They look upon Bill as an incarnate fiend turned loose on earth to torment struggling humanity. But it is not only the darkeys and the farmers that are being caught napping. The town fellows with biled shirts are not immune from Six-Shooters' raid. Aye, not even those who made the law, unless they are fleeter than Sixer's nag. And an instance of this kind occurred one day last week, the participants being Six-Shooter and "Uncle" Mel. Durio, police juror from this ward, and the goal was the corporation line. Mr. Durio knew that S. S. was circling 'round the western end of the corporation limits, a la Rojestvensky, seeking whom he may devour. But Mr. Durio is a sly duck, and he bethought himself to fool the wily S. S. by going by way of a circuitous and mysterious route, make the country, return the same way, and then have the laugh on S. S. He confided in Marion Swords, and right there his plan smashed. Swords likes fun himself, and concluded to turn the"tables on the first ward police juror.' He; communicated Mr. Durio's strategic move to S. S. with a reward of $5.00 if S. S. caught Mr. Durio.

Putting spurs to his fiery steed, S. S., mountain howitzer and all, was soon posted watching for his prey. Swords hid in the woods and watched the fun. Soon came along Mr. Durio but lo! He beheld S. S. in the distance and veering 'round , put whip to his horse. S. S. gave chase. There was a race for the corporation line: S. S. being on horseback, gained fast. The whip-lash made music. Swords watched the race from a vantage point. Will S.S. overtake Mel before he reached the corporation line? The white post marking the line comes nearer into view. Now it is right close-Hip! Mel crosses the line with S. S. just six feet behind! "Hey, where are you going?" shouted Bill. "To town to get my tag," responded Mel. And so endeth the race. ^[2]

SIX SHOOTER' IS NOW THE CHIEF

Bill Prud'homme Qualifies as Successor to Geo. Goodloe as Head of the Police "Smiling Six-Shooter" Bill Prudhomme qualified as chief of police of the city of Opelousas on Monday morning when he received his commission. He replaced George Goodloe ,who has been chief for the past eighteen months, and whom Bill defeated by a narrow margin after the death of Chief C. L. Hayes. The new head of the police force says that he is going to do his duty. He admits that the job of policeman in Opelousas is one that will eventually make a human lazy, since the people have gotten so good in this community that arrests are as scarce as sugar-or liquor in "free America." ^[3]

FIVE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS SUNDAY

Chief of Police Bill Prudhomme told the editor of the Star-Progress that on Sunday there were five automobile accidents in Opelousas.

This is indeed some record, so the chief has put on his war paint and has already pulled eighteen in two days. Some record again.

It looks Iike some people have no regard for life, law or anything else and the sooner the officers do their duty the better for us all. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Hebert, Rev. Donald J., Southwest Louisiana Records CD-ROM, Rayne LA: Hebert Publications
2. ↑ St. Landry Clarion, 20 May 1905
3. ↑ The Star-Progress, May 08, 1920
4. ↑ The Star-Progress,July 17 1920

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87V-RV2 : 12 April 2016), William Prudihomme in household of Gilbert Prudihomme, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 189, family 574, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,029.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDXF-2HJ : 15 August 2017), William Prudhome in household of Gill Prudhome, 8th Ward, St Landry, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 47, sheet 437A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0470; FHL microfilm 1,254,470.

• "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJH-BB11 : 15 October 2015), W L Prudhomme and Sadie Dupuis, 07 Oct 1891; citing St. Landry, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 870,698.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSRQ-F2H : accessed 19 February 2018), William Prudhomme, Opelousas town, St. Landry, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 52, sheet 23B, family 478, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,580.

• "Louisiana, Parish Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJH-1GL2 : accessed 6 May 2016), William L Prudhomme and Ella Hamilton, 09 Jul 1904; citing St. Landry, Louisiana, United States, various parish courthouses, Louisiana; FHL microfilm 870,70

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPYV-5DV : accessed 19 February 2018), W L Prudhonme, New Orleans Ward 9, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 153, sheet 1A, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 522; FHL microfilm 1,374,535.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVWS-9T2 : accessed 19 February 2018), William Prudhomme, Opelousas, St Landry, Louisiana, United States; citing ED 88, sheet 22A, line 24, family 496, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 630; FHL microfilm 1,820,630.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMT9-MDZ : accessed 19 February 2018), W L Prudhomme, Opelousas, St Landry, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 2B, line 94, family 44, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 819; FHL microfilm 2,340,554.

• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:VY5X-W39 : Fri Jun 09 22:11:54 UTC 2023), Entry for W Y Prudhomme, 1940.

• "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X2L-RR6W : Sun Jul 09 19:51:59 UTC 2023), Entry for W Louis Prushomme and Ella H Prushomme, April 10, 1950.

• "Louisiana, Deaths Index, 1850-1875, 1894-1956," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F3MS-V8V : accessed 21 Sep 2014), William Lewis Prudhomme, 05 Jun 1952; citing Houma, Terrebonne, Louisiana, certificate number 198, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 1542720.

• "Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for William Louis Prudhomme (11 Apr 1869–5 Jun 1954), Find A Grave Memorial no. Find A Grave: Memorial #156614370, citing Bellevue Memorial Park, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by Bond girl (contributor 47393484) .