MY GRANDFATHER, OLINCE LANDRY

By Barbara Lee McClard Thibodeaux
Have you ever thought about what the world was like when your grandparents were
born? In my quest to learn more about my family history, I set out to research the year that my
grandfather, Olince Landry was born in Broussard, LA, July 5, 1888, to Cleopha Landry and
Augustine Verret Landry.
World events this year were the "Great Blizzard of '88" shutting down commerce and
killing more than 400, the Football League was formed, George Eastman registered the
trademark "Kodak" and received a patent for his camera which uses roll film and increased the
popularity of photography as a hobby. The Washington Monument officially opened to the
general public. On November 6, Grover Cleveland won the overall popular vote in the U. S.
Presidential election, but was voted out of office because he lost in the Electoral College to
Benjamin Harrison after many bizarre decisions.
Grandpa was one of9 children, six boys, Filias (Philias), Alphe, Olymee (Olince),
J. Adiole, D. Homer, H. Homer, and three girls, Lucretia, Nicesse, and Felicie Landry born of the
union of Fabien Cleopha Landry and Felecie Augustine Verret. He was the fourth child. I am
told most of this branch of the Landry family were farmers/tenant farmers, and they worked from
dawn till dusk on the land.
January 8, 1910 he married Elmire Guilbeau at Sacred Heart Church in Broussard, LA.
He was 21 years old and she was 19 years old as they set out on their journey of raising a large
family in Youngsville, LA, working as tenant farmers on the farm of Dr. Roy Young. Ten
children were born of their union. Dudley Hilaire was born November 28, 1910; Dalton Joseph
born November 17, 1912; a stillborn baby unknown date; Rhena born December 4, 1915; Paul
Andis born July 11, 1918; Rose Ami, born November 13, 1920; Eula Mae, born November 18,
1923; Mercedes Cecile, my mother, born January 1, 1925; Flossie Therese, born October 13,
1927; and Ruby Cecile, born September 30, 1930.
Olince grew very ill, when he was just 46 years old. I learned he traveled to New Orleans
alone to seek medical attention probably by train. His wife was unable to accompany him with so
many young children to look after. He was diagnosed with cancer. His brother went to New
Orleans to accompany back home. Cancer research and treatment in the 1930's was
controversial and not well understood. He died August 14, 1934 leaving a large family.
That same year in California, 16 terminally ill people with cancer and other diseases were
brought to the Scripps 'ranch'. A team of doctors along with Dr. Royal Raymond "Roy" Rife,
using a microscope developed by Rife capable of magnification 17,000 times, compared to 2,000
times, of which the ordinary microscope was capable, worked on human beings for the first time.
They learned much. Rife wrote: "With the frequency instrument treatment, no tissue is
destroyed, no pain is felt, no noise is audible, and no sensation is noticed. A tube lights up and 3
minutes later the treatment is completed. The virus or bacteria is destroyed and the body then
recovers itself naturally from the toxic effect of the virus or bacteria ... Sixteen cases were treated
at the clinic for many types of malignancy. After 3 months, 14 of these so called hopeless cases
were signed off as clinically cured by the staff of five medical doctors and Dr. Alvin G. Ford,
MD, pathologist for the group". Quoted from 'The Cancer Cure That Worked' by Barry Lynes
(Marcus Books), later published in Nexus Oct-Nov 93. Much has been learned and is still being
learned in treating and dealing with cancer in the years since.
.;.
The economy in the Lafayette area at this time as quoted from Jim Bradshaw's recent
article in our local newspaper "The Advertiser", from information provided by Marshall Lafleur,
was "1 grew up in Grand Prairie, St. Landry Parish, where most of the common folks were tenant
farmers. The only cash crop was cotton at that time. 1 still have the receipt of our first bale of
cotton sold that year. This amounted to $18.20 for our share after paying for the ginning cost
and one-third share to the landowner. We made three bales of cotton that year.
This period was in the middle of the Great Depression, and jobs were very hard to come
by in the towns and cities. Men were coming to the country looking for work. 1remember the
going wages for day laborers was 50 cents plus a noon meal. The working hours were from
sunrise to sunset. Pop would hire an occasional helper to do some hoeing in the cotton patch.
But then during that period, he hired a young man for $8.50 per month, which included room and
board those lucky enough to fmd ajob in towns were making something between $40 and
$60 a month. Teachers were being paid $60 per month."
Barbara