This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.


JOSEPH JOHN SEUZENEAU
BORN - MARCH 19,1881 DIED - SEPTEMBER 18,1961
Joseph John Seuzeneau lived to age 81. It is commonly-believed that he never married. Arthur Baudier told me he had married, however, he wasn't married long. With that bit of information I was able to locate the marriage license that is evidence of his nuptial escapade. I chose the word escapade since Marti received this bit of family news with disbelief. Other than he was married, nothing further is known of the blissful situation or the bride.
This uncle was known as Uncle John. I knew him but my association was very remote and I only know a few stories.
Uncle John was a free spirit. Probably the classification of "wino" is appropriate. Today, he would be classified as "homeless".
Many speak of him with terms of endearment. Emerald Baudier recalls the first time she met him, he was funny and nice. After a short visit he departed saying he was returning to the "poor house". Emerald thought he was joking but Aunt Dodie related that he had a drinking problem and did indeed live in the "poor house". Aunt Dodie advised Emerald that he never caused any one in the family trouble and never asked for anything. All of Uncle Martin's boys remember him with great affection. (See below.)
Teen gave a different version. She recalled that Uncle John caused our grandmother lots of worry and heart break.
He made his home in Bay St. Louis and I'm sure she saw him often. John was eight years old when their mother died, and our grandmother was fifteen. As the oldest girl at that time, I'm sure she became the surrogate mother to the younger children, at least until her father remarried. Whatever the attitude towards John, I understand our grandmother continued a close tie with him until her death.
I recall one incident recorded here. I had driven Teen, Edna and Elvie to Bay St. Louis for an event, the occasion I do not recall. As we were about to depart, Teen stated that we should try to find Uncle John and give him a few dollars as their mother had always worried about him. Elvie and Edna agreed, but Elvie stated, "I hate to see him because he's always dirty, needs a shave and will probably want to kiss me". We found uncle John. There were kisses: Edna first, then Teen. When he kissed Elvie, he exclaimed he was so happy to see the girls he was going to kiss Elvie again'
I do recall Uncle John although my contact with him was very casual. He had some definite features of the Seuzeneaus; long face, small eyes, big ears and slight of body frame. The few times I saw him, he was unkempt.


Seuzeneau 044
© 2008 - 2024
Hancock County Historical Society
All rights reserved