Joseph Eugene Burguières
March 16, 1876 - August 24, 1911
Joseph was vice-president/treasurer and director of The J. M. Burguières Co., Limited for twelve years, and served as president of the Louisiana Sugar Company. He was also active in various sugar cane organizations such as the Louisiana Sugar and Rice Exchange. Joseph married Laura Fauntleroy on January 1, 1907. They lived in the Garden District of New Orleans at the corner of Seventh and Prytania Street. He was involved in land and lumber companies, banking, railroad, and manufacturing. On August 25, 1908, his wife and infant son died as a result of complications during childbirth. Three years later, on August 24, 1911, Joseph himself died of appendicitis at age thirty-five. He left a large sum of money to the Sisters of Charity in New Orleans to build the Burguières Home for the Incurables. Other philanthropic gifts went to Loyola University, the Catholic churches in Louisa and Patoutville (near the family plantations in south Louisiana), and the Catholic church in Houma.
Laura Fantleroy
1875 - August 25, 1908
Born in 1875, Laura Fauntleroy was the daughter of General Fauntleroy, who had distinguished himself in the army, and the granddaughter of General Josiah Chambers, owner of Morland Plantation near Alexandria, Louisiana in Rapides Parish. She lived at her grandfather's plantation throughout her childhood. On their wedding day, Joseph gave Laura a gold wedding band with the inscription, "Joe to Laura, Jan. 1, 1907." They lived in the Garden District in New Orleans and according to the Times Picayune, "Mrs. Burguières was one of the most popular and highly esteemed of the younger matrons of the city." Unfortunately, Laura died in childbirth at the couple's residence on August 25, 1908. The Times Picayune wrote that Mrs. Burguières' death "came as a great shock to scores of the leading people" of New Orleans, where "her winning personality and accomplishments" had gained the respect of all who knew her. Mother and child were buried together at the historic Civil War cemetery, Mt. Olivet Chapel Cemetery, in Pineville, Rapides Parish, where she had lived as a child. Her tomb is located next to the tomb of her mother, Mary Eliza Chambers Fauntleroy (1842-1894).
Children
Joseph and Laura had one son, Joseph "Joe" Burguières who died in childbirth along with his mother.
