PART SIX: THE END The Hanging At the time convicted murderers, Jean Baptiste and William Chevis, had received their original reprieve in the summer of 1896, it had been almost a year since Dr. Duchesne T. Courtney’s killing. After T.S. Fontenot’s term had ended on June 22, 1896, H.H. Deshotels became the new sheriff andContinueContinue reading “The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story”
Author Archives: GenealogyGriot
The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story
In case you’re wondering what is the outcome of Chevis brothers’ indictment for the murder of D.T. Courtney, here are the particulars of the trial and the other legal strategies used to get them out being hanged.
The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story
PART FOUR: MORE TRUTHS In Part Three of this series, I used creative license to try to understand what the victims and witnesses involved in the Chevis incident may have experienced, based on newspaper reports. In this post, I share the perspectives of Dr. D.T. Courtney’s accused murderers and their mother.1 Leontine Chevis Leontine didn’tContinueContinue reading “The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story”
The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story
Read Part 3 of the Chevis Boys and the Murder at Coulee Croche…You’ll learn about the points of view of some of the main actors in this incident, based on reports featured in local newspapers.
The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story
PART TWO: EXTRA, EXTRA! In my last post, I started telling you about my Aunt Olivia’s story about her two uncles who were accused of a murder occurring in Coulee Croche community of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana – Jean Baptiste Chevis (born circa 1866) and William Chevis (born circa 1879). Remember, I’m investigating this storyContinueContinue reading “The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story”
The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story
PART ONE: MURDER The weekly editions of the St. Landry Clarion and Opelousas Courier were preparing to go to press when the news broke of the up and coming physician’s impending death. The publishers really didn’t have a whole lot of time or information, which is why the story appeared on page three, some of theContinueContinue reading “The CHEVIS BOYS and the MURDER at COULEE CROCHE! Using Newspapers and Genealogy to Investigate a Family Story”
EXTRA, EXTRA! Read all about Newspapers and Genealogy
Newspapers are a valuable resource to genealogists and family historians. I definitely didn’t understand their benefit in my early research on my ancestors, and, even when I did, I didn’t mine them as effectively as I do now (and there is still room for improvement!). At first, I used newspapers primarily to find deaths, funerals,ContinueContinue reading “EXTRA, EXTRA! Read all about Newspapers and Genealogy”
A Few Benefits of Researching Your Family History
The old adage says that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. How true that is when it comes to genealogy research! You probably look more like your grandmother than you thought now that you’ve seen that photo from her debutante ball. That red hair you have? Oh, that’s courtesy of that great-grandpa youContinueContinue reading “A Few Benefits of Researching Your Family History”
Anatomy of a Funeral Program
Death happens to all of us, and it reveals that life is ephemeral. It provides an opportunity to recognize the ephemeral nature of life and be inspired to make the time we have on earth more meaningful. As normal, expected, orderly, and even productive it is for human beings to die, it still can beContinueContinue reading “Anatomy of a Funeral Program”
Old Food is Soul Food
For years, I have been preoccupied with my health and the food and exercise decisions I make to support the changes I’m trying to make (e.g., losing weight). When I think about the grandmother who raised me, I don’t remember her talking about any of that stuff. She was a stout woman with strong legsContinueContinue reading “Old Food is Soul Food”
The Genealogy Griot 