Their moms and dads, Louis LeBleu and Marie Gentils had been immigrants out of Bordeaux, France
” It 40-mile-large increase off wasteland and you will marsh homes, principally inside introduce-big date Calcasieu and you will Cameron parishes, turned a geographic organization inside 1806 when the border ranging from Spanish Texas additionally the Us was a student in argument. In that 12 months, the “Simple Floor Agreement” based the newest “Natural Strip” which was leftover unoccupied of the troops and you may law enforcement out-of possibly nation. That it agreement stayed in 
essence up to 1821. Although a few legitimate belongings seekers compensated around, the latest Strip soon became infamous for harboring this new lawless issue and you may personal outcasts out-of several countries. Bounded to the west-by brand new Sabine Lake and on the newest eastern because of the Calcasieu, the location is known for its of numerous strong, cypress-lined and moss-draped bayous, their marshy lowlands, and live-oak-studded cheniers about coastal otherwise southern area sector, as well as its oak forest and you can wood bottomlands on the northern business. From the 1820, merely a beneficial sprinkling regarding light settlers and slaves was in fact lifestyle there together with small bands of one’s quick-vanishing Attakapas tribe, provided by the Captain Calcasieu (Quelqueshue meaning Weeping Eagle).
In that way out of lives afforded your the opportunity to meet many somebody
Bartheleme Blaise LeBleu was the first light settler to construct a great long lasting residence on the Calcasieu region. Brand new LeBleus are the prominent master group of Southwest Louisiana. LeBleu along with his family found an approach to prosper on the info it based in the city. Bartheleme was born in 1722 on Arkansas Blog post over the higher Mississippi Lake. While in the his age with the Mississippi, the guy discovered new river and you will seaside elements and became a airplane pilot. The guy lived-in The brand new Orleans for some time, but lead west just after his relationship in order to Marie Josette de- los angeles Mirande from inside the 1769. The guy started westward for the a two-wheeled bullock cart and you can entered the latest Calcasieu River period after. Coming to the fresh coast off Lake Charles and you will trying to find it hopeless to ford, the guy turned back, repaying in the half a dozen miles east of your own lake along what’s today titled English Bayou. Bartheleme and you can Marie compensated along with half a dozen youngsters. The 2 earliest, Arsene and you can Catherine, turned significantly inserted in the lore nearby early reputation for Lake Charles.
Arsene LeBleu are the initial light man born in the Calcasieu city into Oct 29, 1789. Inside the younger ages, LeBleu was an excellent buccaneer, cruising up against the Spanish as one of Jean Laffite’s captains. Of the 1815 LeBleu had created his home in the a spot where the brand new Calcasieu River intersected the fresh Opelousas Walk and Dated Spanish Trail in your neighborhood now-known since LeBleu Payment. He was among prominent property people in the southwest Louisiana. Their household is actually a roomy cypress house, covered with plaster and you will attractive painted murals into smooth wall space. LeBleu’s stock, numbering regarding the plenty, grazed the brand new Calcasieu prairie southward less than their home found on the higher is at regarding English Bayou. He drove his herds out of Texas so you can The Orleans with his domestic became a highly-recognized ways channel, otherwise “stay,” with the Tx cattle drivers across the Opelousas Path. Cows “stands’ have been run within the Louisiana, providing the drovers accessibility cows pencils, lodging in the evening, and you can enjoying eating. A number of their family unit members provided James and you will Resin Bowie. They were instance buddies one to Resin are titled “Parain” otherwise godfather off his boy Arsene Jr. Whenever you are James (Jim) is more well-known for eliminating men into the bowie knife, people are unaware of it actually was their aunt Resin you to definitely tailored brand new well-known blade.