Louis Joseph Dufilho, Jr.

Other Events:

• Role: Slave Owner
• Residence: Between 1802 and 1855, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Residence: 1810, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Chartres Street
• Residence: 1820, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Chartres
• Residence: 1850, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Obituary: 12 May 1856, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; The New Orleans Bee

Notes:

America's first licensed pharmacist
Dufilho's most significant contribution to the history and integrity of the field of pharmacy took place in New Orleans in 1816. In 1804, the State of Louisiana, led by Governor Claiborne, passed a law that required a licensing examination for pharmacists wishing to practice their profession.
Prior to this law and before Louisiana became a U.S. State, there were some informal territory licensing measures, but none were enforced. A person could apprentice for six months and then compound and sell his or her own concoctions without any regulations or standards. The public received incorrect doses and erroneous medications. In 1804, Governor Claiborne established a board of reputable pharmacists and physicians to administer a three-hour oral examination given at the Cabildo in Jackson Square.
Louis J. Dufliho, Jr. was the first lo pass the licensing examination therefore making his pharmacy the first United States apothecary shop to be conducted on the basis of proven adequacy.

Louis J. Dufilho, Jr. Apothecary & Residence
514/516 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA

Louis J. Dufilho, Jr. purchased the 514/516 Chartres Street lots on June 5, 1822 from Philip Sadler. The original Creole townhouse was constructed between 1822 and 1823. Dufilho officially opened his apothecary for business in 1823. The courtyard originally had several structures that do not exist today.

In 1837, New Orleanian architect, J.N.B. DePouilly proposed and constructed the updates to Dufilho’s building - three-story masonry porte cochere building with an entresol level.

According to City Records, in 1855, Dufilho sold the building and the contents of the apothecary to Mrs. Celestine Pauline Fleitas, widow of James Dupas. She in turn, sold the building in 1875 to Peter Boehm who opened the Crescent City Paper Warehouse on the site.

The building changed hands several times and was vacant for several years. On December 15, 1937, Mayor Robert S. Maestri purchased the building from the Interstate Trust and Banking Co. in liquidation. Mayor Maestri donated the building to the City of New Orleans in the same year to be used as a Napoleon Museum . Officials confused the history of 514 Chartres Street with the history of the Nicholas Girod House at 500 Chartres Street. The Girod House was the home designated for Napoleon’s exile, not 514 Chartres. After additional research, the City of New Orleans realized the significance of Louis J. Dufilho, Jr. and of 514 Chartres to the history of pharmacy and designated the site as the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. After some building repairs and artifact collection, the Museum officially opened its doors in 1950.

Source: New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, www.pharmacymuseum.org

Obituary:
Died, on the 15th of April last, at La Rue (or La Roe), near Blois (France), Mr. L. J. Dufilho Jr., aged 69 years, formerly a resident of New Orleans.
[Source: The New Orleans Bee (New Orleans, Louisiana), 12 May 1856, p. 1, col. 5.]

Died:
Dufilho Louis Joseph
Marié
[Original in French]
L’an mil huit cent cinquante-six, le quinzième jour du mois d’Avril à quatre heures du soir par devant nous Jean Robert Néau, adjoint au maire délégué Officier de l’Etat civil de la commune de Suèvres canton de mer département de Loir-et-Cher, sont comparus Nicolas Morin âgé de quarante-trois ans profession [Prêtre?] domicilié à Suèvres et Auguste Baillergeau âgé de cinquante-huit ans profession de médecin domicilié à Suèvres.
Lesquels nous ont déclaré que le quinze du mois courant à onze heures du matin Louis Joseph Dufilho Junior âgé de soixante-sept ans profession de propriétaire demeurant à Suèvres département de Lois et Cher né à Mirande (Gers) époux de Madame Adèle Becnel, fils des défunts Jean Dufilho et Jeanne Marie Bonnet est décédé en notre commune, en la maison de la rue.
Le premier témoin nous a déclaré être ami et le second témoin être ami du décédé; et les déclarants ont signé avec nous le présent acte, après que lecture leur en a été faite.
[Signatures] Baillergeau, Morin, Robert Néau
[English Translation]
The year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, the fifteenth day of the month of April at four o’clock in the evening in front us Jean Robert Néau, deputy mayor delegate Registrar of the municipality of Suèvres, canton of Mer, department of Loir-et-Cher, appeared Nicolas Morin, forty-three years old, profession [Priest?] domiciled in Suèvres and Auguste Baillergeau, fifty-eight years old, profession of doctor, domiciled in Suèvres.
Who told us that the fifteenth of the current month at eleven o’clock in the morning Louis Joseph Dufilho Junior, sixty-seven years old, profession of owner residing in Suèvres in the department of Lois et Cher, born in Mirande (Gers) husband of Madame Adèle Becnel, son of the deceased Jean Dufilho and Jeanne Marie Bonnet, died in our commune, at [La Rue?].
The first witness told us that he was a friend of the deceased. The second witness was also a friend of the deceased. The declarants have signed this deed with us after it has been read to them.
[Signatures] Baillergeau, Morin, Robert Néau

[Source: "Registre d'état civil, Loir-et-Cher", Archives départementales de Loir-et-Cher, Culture 41 (http://archives.culture41.fr/ark:/57457/vta5350d6332def2/daogrp/0/345), Registre des actes de Décès, Suèvres, Arrondissement de Blois, Département de Loir et Cher, record for Louis Joseph Dufilho, no. 11, (http://archives.culture41.fr/ark:/57457/vta5350d6332def2/daogrp/0/345: accessed 25 July 2021); citing microfilm des registres des naissances, mariages, décès (1852-1862); transcription and translation by Jeff Vinuesa, Mark Edwin Hollier, 2021.]

Death notice states "at La Rue, near Blois"

Louis married Emy Adele Becnel on 29 Apr 1819 in St John the Baptist, Louisiana, USA. Emy (daughter of Maximillian Becnel and Living) was born about Apr 1803 in Edgard, St John the Baptist, Louisiana, USA; died on 16 Jan 1868 in Paris, Île-de-France, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Number 325
Louis Dufilho Jr. & Adéle Becnel
Transcription
Nous soussigné curé de cette parroisse de St Jn Baptiste Comté des Allemands Diocèse et Etat de
la Louisiane une les lettres de dispenses de deux publications de bans de Mr Le Grand Vicaire en
date du 19 avril 1819 signé M. Mons. Vic. Gen et une aussi celles d'autorisation, et de dispense
de 2 bans de Mr le Curé de la Paroisse de St Jacques des Acadiens datées le 26 avril 1819
signées Charles Mariani curé où on a prouvé un oar sans opposition ou empêchement quelconque
venu à leur connaissance : attendu aussi les permissions de MMs les juges de la Nlle Orléans
datées le 20 courant 1819 signée F. Pitot Juge, comme aussi de la psse de St Jacques datées le 27
courant 1819 signée D. Tureaud Juge; avons donné la bénédiction nuptiale et reçu le mutuel
consentement de futur mariage entre Mr Louis Joseph Dufilho, fils majeur et légitime de Jean
Dufilho, et de Jeanne Marie Bonnet, ses père et mère d'une part, natif de Mirande pays français,
Département de Gers, âgé de 31 ans d'une part; et entre Mlle Adéle Becnel fille mineure, et
légitime de feu Maximilien Becnel, et d'Erasie Haydel, native de cette parroisse et domiciliée dans
celle de St Michel d'autre part, âgée de 16 ans. Mr l'époux est résident de la Nlle Orléans. Ont été
présens en qualité de témoins à cette célébration MM Louis Dufilho Pierre et Valsin Bonsonnier
Marmillon, Jean Js Haydel père et fils chez qui le mariage a été fait, et plusieurs autres parens qui
nous ont dit bien connaître les noms domiciles et libertés des dites parties contractantes et qui
ont signé avec nous ce jour 29 avril 1819.
[Signatures]

[Translation]
I, undersigned curate of St. John the Baptist Parish, German County, Diocese and State of
Louisiana, after receiving dispensation letters of two marriage bans announced by the Vicar-
General dated 19 April 1819 and signed Monseigneur, Vicar-General, and also an authorization
and dispensation of two marriage bans by the curate of the Parish of St. James of the Acadians
dated 26 April 1819 and signed Charles Mariani, curate, which proved no opposition or
impediment of any kind known or made to them, and given the permission given by the New
Orleans judges dated 20 April 1819 and signed F. Pitot, judge, as well as one from the Parish of
St. James dated 27 April 1819 and signed D. Tureaud, judge, solemnized the marriage and
received mutual consent to marry Louis Joseph Dufilho, major and legitimate son of Jean
Dufilho and Jeanne Marie Bonnet, his parents, native of Mirande, Département de Gers, France,
age 31, resident of New Orleans, on the one hand; and Adéle Becnel, minor and legitimate
daughter of the late Maximilien Becnel and Erasie Haydel, native of this parish and domicilied in
St. Michael Parish [Convent, St. James Parish], age 16. Those present at this celebration were
Louis Dufilho, Pierre and Valsin Bonsonnier Marmillion, Jean Jacques Haydel Sr. and Jr., at whose
home the marriage took place, and several other relatives, who declared knowing the names,
residence, and freedoms of the contracting parties, and who signed with me this 29th April 1819.
[Signatures]
Pierre B. Marmillion - J. J. Haydel - J. J. Haydel, fils - Valsain B. Marmillion - Dufilho Junr. - Vite Modeste Mina, Curé

[St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (Edgard, Louisiana), Sacramental Registers, Marriages vol. 3, pps. 9–10, Louis Joseph Dufilho and Adele Becnel (1819); copy privately held by Mark Edwin Hollier, 2020; digital images, Archdiocese of New Orleans; translated and transcribed by Christophe Landry, Louisiana Historic and Cultural Vistas, 2020]

St. John the Baptist Church

1. Louis Dufilho was born in Mar 1820; died on 9 May 1820 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; was buried in St Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
2. Amelie Dufilho was born about 1822 in Louisiana, USA.
3. Delphine Louise Dufilho was born on 7 Apr 1823 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; died about 6 Jun 1824 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; was buried on 6 Jun 1824 in St Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
4. Auguste Dufilho was born about 1824; died about 8 Apr 1829 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; was buried on 8 Apr 1829 in St Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
5. Jules Remis Dufilho was born on 1 Oct 1826 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; died on 3 Jul 1832 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; was buried on 3 Jul 1832 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
6. Palmyre Josephine Dufilho was born on 28 Jul 1828 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; died on 11 Aug 1888 in Cherbourg, Manche, Basse-Normandie, France.
7. Adele Dufilho was born on 6 Mar 1830 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; died on 15 Apr 1898 in Paris, Île-de-France, France.
8. Alfred Dufilho was born about Dec 1831 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; died about 26 Jul 1832 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; was buried on 26 Jul 1832 in St Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
9. Alfred Joseph Dufilho, Sr. was born in Jan 1834 in Paris, Paris, Île-de-France, France; died on 3 Jul 1907 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; was buried in Lafayette Cemetery No.1, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Other Events:

• Residence: 1805, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA; 12 Rue Louis of Toulouse

Notes:

With the arrival of Jean Dufilho between the years of 1800 and 1803, the Dufilho family name had its beginnings in Louisiana. Jean Dufilho was married to Jeanne Marie Bonnet, both natives of Mirande, Gascony, France. It is believed that he was an apothecary and operated a small shop at 12 Rue de Toulouse in 1805.

Died:
Charity Hospital

Jean married Jeanne Marie Bonnet in 1780. Jeanne was born about 1757 in Mirande, Gers, Midi-Pyrénées, France; died on 20 Mar 1793 in Mirande, Gers, Midi-Pyrénées, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jeanne Marie Bonnet is a native of Mirande, Gascogny, France.