Leopold Caspari
Encyclopedia
Leopold Caspari was a French
-born business
man and politician
from Natchitoches
, Louisiana
, who, as a state representative
in 1884 pushed for the establishment of Northwestern State University
.
Caspari was born in Lauterbourg
in northeastern France
, the son of David Caspari (1800–1873) and the former Charlotte Baruch (1802–1844). He was a young apprentice in a dry goods store. In 1849 at the age of nineteen, five years after the death of his mother, and a year following the Revolution of 1848, Caspari emigrated to the United States
. He first settled as a merchant in Cloutierville
in Natchitoches Parish
south of the city of Natchitoches
, where he resided after 1858. He served in the Confederate States of America
Army as a member of Pelican Rangers No. 1 at the rank of second lieutenant
. By the end of the Civil War
, he had been promoted to the rank of captain.
In 1884, Caspari was elected as a Democrat
to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served two four-year terms, his tenure ending in 1892. From 1900 to 1908, he served in the Louisiana State Senate
. After a year's absence, he returned to the Senate in 1909, when his immediate successor, B.W. Marston, resigned. Caspari remained in the Senate until 1914, shortly before his death. At the time there were no term limits in the Louisiana legislature. Caspari led the campaign that selected Natchitoches as the site for NSU, then known as Louisiana State Normal School, specifically for the education of teacher
s. He was a president of the People's Bank and the Red River Valley Railroad, both based in Natchitoches. He also engaged successfully in farming. For years, he was active in the Confederate veterans' organization, the Knights of Pythias
, and the anti-defamation league, B'nai B'rith
, a Jewish organization.
Caspari also served for eight years on the Natchitoches Parish School Board.
Caspari was married to the former Amanda Woods (died 1883). Their children were Richard L., Samuel, Joseph, David, Emanuel, Charles, Gustave, Julia, and Dora Caspari. He died in Natchitoches and is interred at the historic American Cemetery on Second Street across from NSU.Caspari lost two grandsons in December 1903. Bertrand Leopold Glover (1896–1903) and Claude Alban Glover (1901–1903) died seventeen days apart at the ages of seven and two, respectively. Their mother was Julia Caspari "Julie" Glover (1864–1920).
Caspari Hall and Caspari Street at NSU are named in Caspari's honor.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who, as a state representative
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
in 1884 pushed for the establishment of Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...
.
Caspari was born in Lauterbourg
Lauterbourg
Lauterbourg is a commune and Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. Situated on the German border and not far from the German city of Karlsruhe, it is the easternmost commune in Metropolitan France...
in northeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the son of David Caspari (1800–1873) and the former Charlotte Baruch (1802–1844). He was a young apprentice in a dry goods store. In 1849 at the age of nineteen, five years after the death of his mother, and a year following the Revolution of 1848, Caspari emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He first settled as a merchant in Cloutierville
Cloutierville, Louisiana
Cloutierville is an unincorporated community in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies about south of the city of Natchitoches on exit 119 at Interstate 49...
in Natchitoches Parish
Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Natchitoches Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Natchitoches. As of 2000, the population was 39,080. This is the heart of the Cane River Louisiana Creole community...
south of the city of Natchitoches
Natchitoches
Natchitoches may refer to:*Natchitoches , an American Indian people*Natchitoches, Louisiana, a city*Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana...
, where he resided after 1858. He served in the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Army as a member of Pelican Rangers No. 1 at the rank of second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. By the end of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he had been promoted to the rank of captain.
In 1884, Caspari was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Louisiana House of Representatives and served two four-year terms, his tenure ending in 1892. From 1900 to 1908, he served in the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
. After a year's absence, he returned to the Senate in 1909, when his immediate successor, B.W. Marston, resigned. Caspari remained in the Senate until 1914, shortly before his death. At the time there were no term limits in the Louisiana legislature. Caspari led the campaign that selected Natchitoches as the site for NSU, then known as Louisiana State Normal School, specifically for the education of teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s. He was a president of the People's Bank and the Red River Valley Railroad, both based in Natchitoches. He also engaged successfully in farming. For years, he was active in the Confederate veterans' organization, the Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
, and the anti-defamation league, B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
, a Jewish organization.
Caspari also served for eight years on the Natchitoches Parish School Board.
Caspari was married to the former Amanda Woods (died 1883). Their children were Richard L., Samuel, Joseph, David, Emanuel, Charles, Gustave, Julia, and Dora Caspari. He died in Natchitoches and is interred at the historic American Cemetery on Second Street across from NSU.Caspari lost two grandsons in December 1903. Bertrand Leopold Glover (1896–1903) and Claude Alban Glover (1901–1903) died seventeen days apart at the ages of seven and two, respectively. Their mother was Julia Caspari "Julie" Glover (1864–1920).
Caspari Hall and Caspari Street at NSU are named in Caspari's honor.