Louis was born to Thomas, Jr. and Melasie Picou too late in 1870 to be included in the census. He shows up in the 1880 census as their nine-year-old son. Clemance Lasseigne was born in 1877 according to Les Voyageurs, a publication of the German-Acadian Coast Historical and Genealogical Society. However, she shows up in the 1880 census with her parents as age 5. So, more research to find the exact birth date is needed.
Les Voyageurs shows their marriage in 1894 which would make Louis 24 and Clemance seventeen or nineteen. When they, as a couple or individually, moved to St. James Parish and Gramercy is not known. All their children were born in Gramercy. Their first child Carmen was born the next year 1895. Son Louis, Jr. was born in 1897, daughter Etta in 1901 and son Ellis in 1906.
Louis was the founding postmaster of Gramercy, LA. It is assumed that the post office was in his store on the corner of his property which was later taken over by his daughter and named the Etta Shoppe. His paternal uncle James took over as postmaster in 1914. In 1922 he again become postmaster and kept that position until six days before his death. His daughter Etta became acting postmaster for the fifteen months after his death.
The entire family including Clemance's mother shows up in the 1910 census living in Gramercy. The mother appears with slightly different names Adine, Alexandrine, and Alanander nee Tonguis. Her correct name is still uncertain. So far, they have not been found in the 1900 or 1920 census records.
The family shows up in the 1930 census, Louis, Sr., Clemance, Carmen, Etta, and Ellis. It also shows Etta's husband Clifford and her 18-month-old son, Clifford, Jr., although Clifford is marked as absent from the home. Clifford's absence is not surprising as he was a salesman requiring frequent travel. Louis lists his occupation as Postmaster of Gramercy.
Louis, Jr is absent from this census entry because he married Stella Cosse in 1917. The couple eloped to St. Bernard Parish for a civil ceremony, then had the marriage blessed in the cathedral before returning to St. James Parish. Both families agreed to the marriage but wanted them to wait longer. The entire episode was published in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Louis died in Gramercy in 1932. Clemance died in New Orleans in 1940 although living in Gramercy. The exact date of her death is uncertain due to a discrepancy between several records. Clemance does not show up in the 1940 census which should have been taken before her death.
