Meullion Family Papers. Folder 01-02, 1831-1906. - Meullion Family Papers. Folder 01-02, 1831-1906.

Primarily papers of Baptiste Meullion, François Cheval Meullion, Bellazaire Meullion, and Alphonse Meullion. One group of papers relates to Baptiste Meullion’s 1833 application for a mortgage of $5000, including, correspondence, application and supporting documentation of assets and collateral comprised of confirmation of his previous land purchases and extracts of the acts of sale in which he bought enslaved persons. These records contain the name of the slaves and from whom they were bought. A few accounts of Francois Cheval Meullion with local merchants and a letter appointing him commissioner of roads for a part of Saint Landry Parish are found. Bellazaire Meullion papers comprise a stock certificate in New Orleans, Opelousas, and Great Western Railroad Co., financial correspondence from Bellocq, Noblon and Co. (a New Orleans cotton broker firm) about her cotton and purchases, a few personal letters from friends and relatives (Louise Lemelle, Alice Dessauer, and unidentified authors) that relate family news, and her amnesty oath after the Civil War, and a petition (ca. 1890) filed by her nephew Alphonse Meullion to the U.S. court of Claims on behalf of her estate for livestock and provisions taken during the Civil War. Also present is a list of the property of the widow of Francois Cheval Meullion confiscated by the U.S. Army in April 1865; it appears to be related to her succession as well.</br></br>Alphonse Meullion papers are primarily personal and business correspondence including from Cornelius Donato about collecting money for Meullion, neighbor Madelaine Stelly inquiring about news of her brothers, J. B. Firan regarding the possibility of opening a grocery store in Jeanerette, La., and his current teaching position. Of note is a letter (1869 March 17) from Alphonse Meullion's cousin Gustave Donato about black voters, Republican politics, and the suitability of Joseph Balquet for office.</br></br>A related item is a letter from Michel Vidal to Antoine "Donat" Meullion in which Vidal discusses possible efforts underway to keep people from voting for him and plans to organize black voters, and asks for Meullion's assistance. Vidal, a native of France who came to Louisiana via Texas, settled in Opelousas, Saint Landry Parish, La., in 1867. He was elected to represent Louisiana's 4th Congressional District as a Republican; he served 1868-1870.</br></br>Documents in French and English.