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|alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]
|alma_mater=[[Louisiana State University]]
[[Tulane University]] School of Medicine<br>
[[Tulane University]] School of Medicine<br>
|spouse=Florestine Richard Lafargue<br>
'''Children''':<br>
Alvan Lafargue, Jr.<br>
Myron Lafargue<br>
Myron Lafargue<br>
Irene L. Owens<br>
Irene L. Owens<br>
Prudence L. Burns<br>
Prudence L. Burns<br>
'''Parents''':<br>
'''Parents''':<br>
Adolphe Jolna and Annie Winn Irion Lafargue
Adolphe Jolna and Annie Winn Irion Lafargue<br>
'''Relations''':<br>
Malcolm Lafargue (nephew)<br>
Alfred Briggs Irion (maternal grandfather)<br>
Arnaud D. Lafargue (uncle)
Arnaud D. Lafargue (uncle)
|religion=Roman Catholic]]
|religion=Roman Catholic]]
'''Alvan Henry Lafargue, Sr.''', [[M.D.]] (October 14, 1883 – February 11, 1963), was a [[Louisiana]] [[physician]] for fifty years and a [[politician]] and civic leader. He was one of the early settlers and the [[mayor]] from 1926 to 1938 of Sulphur west of [[Lake Charles]] in [[Calcasieu Parish in the southwestern portion of his state.<ref name=lahist/>
'''Alvan Henry Lafargue, Sr.''', [[M.D.]] (October 14, 1883 – February 11, 1963), was a [[Louisiana]] [[physician]] for fifty years and a [[politician]] and civic leader. He was one of the early settlers and the [[mayor]] from 1926 to 1938 of Sulphur west of [[Lake Charles]] in [[Calcasieu Parish in the southwestern portion of his state.<ref name=lahist/>
==Background==
Lafargue was born in Marksville, the seat of government of Aoyelles Parish in south central Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Lafargue&GSfn=Alvan&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=23639492&df=all&|title=Dr. Alvan H. Lafargue (with gravestone photograph)|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=December 10, 2015}}</ref> He was from a prominent family originally from the [[Pyrenees]] Mountains of [[France]]. His father, Adolphe Jolna Lafargue]] (1855-1917), received his education at the former Jefferson College in Convent in St. James Parish in south Louisiana,] and then studied law at what became [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]]. He returned to Marksville and published and edited<ref name=archives/> what became ''The Marksville Weekly News,'' the oldest continuously operating newspaper in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/la/avoyelles/|title=Newspapers of Avoyelles|publisher=angelfire.com|accessdate=February 17, 2011}}</ref> In 1878, he married Annie Winn Irion (1860-1889), the daughter of [[U. S. Representative]] Alfred Briggs Irion of Evergreen in Avoyelles Parish. In addition to Alvan Lafargue, the couple had three other sons, Walter Strong, Edwin Louis, and Sidney Eustis.<ref name=archives/> When Annie died, Adolphe married her sister, Emma (1870-1961), who died in New Orleans long forty-four years after the passing of her husband in 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=73384092|title=Judge Adolphe Lafargue|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 19, 2015}}</ref>
Lafargue was born in Marksville, the seat of government of Aoyelles Parish in south central Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Lafargue&GSfn=Alvan&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=23639492&df=all&|title=Dr. Alvan H. Lafargue (with gravestone photograph)|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=December 10, 2015}}</ref> He was from a prominent family originally from the [[Pyrenees]] Mountains of [[France]]. His father, Adolphe Jolna Lafargue]] (1855-1917), received his education at the former Jefferson College in Convent in St. James Parish in south Louisiana,] and then studied law at what became [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]]. He returned to Marksville and published and edited<ref name=archives/> what became ''The Marksville Weekly News,'' the oldest continuously operating newspaper in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/la/avoyelles/|title=Newspapers of Avoyelles|publisher=angelfire.com|accessdate=February 17, 2011}}</ref> In 1878, he married Annie Winn Irion (1860-1889), the daughter of [[U. S. Representative]] Alfred Briggs Irion of Evergreen in Avoyelles Parish. In addition to Alvan Lafargue, the couple had three other sons, Walter Strong, Edwin Louis, and Sidney Eustis.<ref name=archives/> When Annie died, Adolphe married her sister, Emma (1870-1961), who died in New Orleans long forty-four years after the passing of her husband in 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=73384092|title=Judge Adolphe Lafargue|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 19, 2015}}</ref>
Considered an excellent [[orator]], Adolphe Lafargue was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1896. In 1899, [[Governor]] Murphy James Foster (1849-1921), named him to fill an unexpired term as [[judge]] of the state 10th Judicial District. In 1912, he was elected judge of the 14th District, a position that he held until shortly before his death.<ref name=archives/>
Considered an excellent orator, Adolphe Lafargue was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1896. In 1899, [[Governor]] Murphy James Foster (1849-1921), named Lafargue to fill an unexpired term as [[judge]] of the state 10th Judicial District. In 1912, he was elected judge of the 14th District, a position that he held until shortly before his death.<ref name=archives/>
Alvan Lafargue's grandfather, Pierre-Adolphe Lafargue (1818-1869), was an educator who served as the school superintendent for Avoyelles Parish and founded Marksville High School. He was also a mayor of Marksville. He started the newspaper then named ''The Pelican'' and later ''The Marksville Villager.'' Lafargue's father, Judge Lafargue, continued to publish the newspaper as the ''Marksville Weekly News.''<ref name=doctors>{{cite web|url=http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/FTBooks/reid%20doctors.htm|title=Early Calcasieu Doctors|publisher=McNeese State University|accessdate=February 17, 2011}}</ref>
Alvan Lafargue's grandfather, Pierre-Adolphe Lafargue (1818-1869), was an educator who served as the school superintendent for Avoyelles Parish and founded Marksville High School. He was also a mayor of Marksville. He started the newspaper then named ''The Pelican'' and later ''The Marksville Villager.'' Lafargue's father, Judge Lafargue, continued to publish the newspaper as the ''Marksville Weekly News.''<ref name=doctors>{{cite web|url=http://library.mcneese.edu/depts/archive/FTBooks/reid%20doctors.htm|title=Early Calcasieu Doctors|publisher=McNeese State University|accessdate=February 17, 2011}}</ref>
Lafargue's brother, Walter Strong Lafargue (1879-1951) of Thibodaux,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Lafargue&GSfn=Walter&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=91541057&df=all&|title=Walter Strong Lafargue|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 13, 2015}}</ref> was first the assistant principal of Thibodaux College and thereafter the long-term superintendent of schools in Lafourche Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianacajun.com/msg/louisiana-cajun-forum-message-show.asp?id=24789&fid=202&tid=0|title=Genealogy search for Lafargues|publisher=louisianacajun.com|accessdate=February 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/avoyelles/bios/lafargue29gbs.txt|publisher=American Historical Society, Inc.|accessdate=February 15, 2015|title=History of Louisiana, Vol. 1|pages=388–389|author=[[Henry E. Chambers]]|location=[[Chicago]] and [[New York City]]|date=1925}}</ref>
Lafargue's brother, Walter Strong Lafargue (1879-1951) of Thibodaux,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Lafargue&GSfn=Walter&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=91541057&df=all&|title=Walter Strong Lafargue|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=February 13, 2015}}</ref> was first the assistant principal of Thibodaux College and thereafter the long-term superintendent of schools in Lafourche Parish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisianacajun.com/msg/louisiana-cajun-forum-message-show.asp?id=24789&fid=202&tid=0|title=Genealogy search for Lafargues|publisher=louisianacajun.com|accessdate=February 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/avoyelles/bios/lafargue29gbs.txt|publisher=American Historical Society, Inc.|accessdate=February 15, 2015|title=History of Louisiana, Vol. 1|pages=388–389|author=[[Henry E. Chambers]]|location=[[Chicago]] and [[New York City]]|date=1925}}</ref>
Lafargue was educated in the Avoyelles Parish schools, [[Louisiana State University]], the [[Tulane University]] Medical School, and the [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] Hospital Medical School, since the [[University of Tennessee|University of Tennessee Medical Center]], from which he graduated in 1910. He married the former Florestine Richard (pronounced REE SHARD) of Baldwin in St. Mary Parish, a daughter of Arthur Richard, a [[sugar]] planter, and the former Blanche Dumesnil. The couple had four children, Alvan, Jr. (1913–1994), Myron J. Lafargue (1914–1973), Irene L. Owens (1917–1969), and Prudence L. Burns (1924–2009).<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=http://www.lahistory.org/site29.php|title=Lafargue, Alvan Henry|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,'' publication of the Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' uses Erbon W. Wise (a Sulphur author), ''Brimstone! The History of Sulphur, Louisiana '' (1981) and the Lafargue family papers as the basis of its sketch of Dr. Lafargue.</ref>
Lafargue was educated in the Avoyelles Parish schools, [[Louisiana State University]], the [[Tulane University]] Medical School, and the [[Memphis]] Hospital Medical School, since the [[University of Tennessee|University of Tennessee Medical Center]], from which he graduated in 1910. He married the former Florestine Richard (pronounced REE SHARD) of Baldwin in St. Mary Parish, a daughter of Arthur Richard, a [[sugar]] planter, and the former Blanche Dumesnil. The couple had four children, Alvan, Jr. (1913–1994), Myron J. Lafargue (1914–1973), Irene L. Owens (1917–1969), and Prudence L. Burns (1924–2009).<ref name=lahist>{{cite web|url=http://www.lahistory.org/site29.php|title=Lafargue, Alvan Henry|publisher=''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography,'' publication of the Louisiana Historical Association|accessdate=December 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'' uses Erbon W. Wise (a Sulphur author), ''Brimstone! The History of Sulphur, Louisiana '' (1981) and the Lafargue family papers as the basis of its sketch of Dr. Lafargue.</ref>
A Lafargue nephew, Malcolm Lafargue, a son of Edwin Louis Lafargue, was from 1941 to 1950 the U.S. attorney for the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana,e based in [[Shreveport]]. Dr. Lafargue and his nephew died six weeks apart in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103311402|title=M. E. Lafargue, Former [U.S.] Attorney, Dies – Succumbs in Sleep Here at Age 54; Services Saturday|publisher=''[[Shreveport Journal]]''|date=March 28, 1963|pages=1-A, 4-A|accessdate=February 10, 2015}}</ref>
A Lafargue nephew, Malcolm Lafargue, a son of Edwin Louis Lafargue, was from 1941 to 1950 the U.S. attorney for the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana,e based in [[Shreveport]]. Dr. Lafargue and his nephew died six weeks apart in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103311402|title=M. E. Lafargue, Former [U.S.] Attorney, Dies – Succumbs in Sleep Here at Age 54; Services Saturday|publisher=''[[Shreveport Journal]]''|date=March 28, 1963|pages=1-A, 4-A|accessdate=February 10, 2015}}</ref>
==Medical practice==
==Medical practice==
Lafargue practiced medicine in Cheneyville in south Rapides Parish, Baldwin and Franklin in St. Mary Parish, and, finally, Sulphur, to which he located in 1915.<ref name=lahist/> The Lafargue family was among the first to settle in Sulphur. The Lafargues spoke [[France|French]] but did not pass on the language to their children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/article/20081012/NEWS/310129987|title=Meet Your Neighbors: Prudence LaFarge Burns|publisher=''The Sulphur Daily News''|date=October 12, 2008|author=Susan LaFarge Kyle|accessdate=February 13, 2015}}</ref>
Lafargue practiced medicine in Cheneyville in south Rapides Parish, Baldwin and Franklin in St. Mary Parish, and, finally, Sulphur, to which he located in 1915.<ref name=lahist/> The Lafargue family was among the first to settle in Sulphur. The Lafargues spoke [[France|French]] but did not pass on the language to their children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/article/20081012/NEWS/310129987|title=Meet Your Neighbors: Prudence LaFarge Burns|publisher=''The Sulphur Daily News''|date=October 12, 2008|author=Susan LaFarge Kyle|accessdate=February 13, 2015}}</ref>
In Baldwin, as the physician for a sawmill, Lafargue treated accident victims and often performed operations and amputations with [[whisky]] as the only available [[anesthesia]].<ref name=doctors/> Lafargue opened his office in the Paragon Drug Store in Sulphur. He covered an area of some twenty-five miles by horseback, buggy, and later, a Model T [[Ford]].<ref name=doctors/>
In Baldwin, as the physician for a sawmill, Lafargue treated accident victims and often performed operations and amputations with [[whisky]] as the only available [[anesthesia]].<ref name=doctors/> Lafargue opened his office in the Paragon Drug Store in Sulphur. He covered an area of some twenty-five miles by horseback, buggy, and later, a Model T [[Ford]].<ref name=doctors/>
In Lake Charles, Lafargue was the Calcasieu Parish health officer from 1934 to 1938. He thereafter served as the Sulphur municipal health officer. He was a director of the Lake Charles Charity Hospital, later known as the W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center, which was merged in 2013 into the Lake Charles Memorial Health System. Dr. Lafargue served on the staff of both St. Patrick and Memorial hospitals. He was instrumental in building the West Calcasieu-Cameron]] Hospital in Sulphur, of which he was the first president. He was the physician of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1960, he was honored by the Louisiana Medical Society in Baton Rouge for fifty years of physician service, A memorial light was placed on the Sulphur water tower to recognize his delivery of five thousand babies.<ref name=lahist/>
In Lake Charles, Lafargue was the Calcasieu Parish health officer from 1934 to 1938. He thereafter served as the Sulphur municipal health officer. He was a director of the Lake Charles Charity Hospital, later known as the W. O. Moss Regional Medical Center, which was merged in 2013 into the Lake Charles Memorial Health System. Dr. Lafargue served on the staff of both St. Patrick and Memorial hospitals. He was instrumental in building the West Calcasieu-Cameron]] Hospital in Sulphur, of which he was the first president. He was the physician of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1960, he was honored by the Louisiana Medical Society in Baton Rouge for fifty years of physician service, A memorial light was placed on the Sulphur water tower to recognize his delivery of five thousand babies.<ref name=lahist/>
At the ceremony, Lafargue said, "Fifty years of being a doctor adds up into lots of buggy trips on cold nights and hot days, long hours of waiting for babies to be born, tears, laughter, and a heap of satisfaction."<ref name=doctors/>
At the ceremony, Lafargue said, "Fifty years of being a doctor adds up into lots of buggy trips on cold nights and hot days, long hours of waiting for babies to be born, tears, laughter, and a heap of satisfaction."<ref name=doctors/>
==Political and civic matters==
==Political and civic matters==
An active [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lafargue was the mayor of Sulphur from 1926 to 1938, only the second mayor to be elected to a four-year term, first in 1926, then 1930 and 1934.<ref>Confirmed by the mayor's office in [[Sulphur, Louisiana]]; ''A Dictionary of Louisiana History'' has his dates of mayoral service as 1926 to 1932, instead of ending in 1938.</ref> during which time he initiated many municipal improvements. The town was in debt, and he made so many visits to a bank in Lake Charles that some said with humor that the people there thought he worked at the bank. In time, Sulphur was put in the financial black.<ref name=doctors/> He also served on the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.<ref name=archives/>
An active [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Lafargue was the mayor of Sulphur from 1926 to 1938, only the second mayor to be elected to a four-year term, first in 1926, then 1930 and 1934.<ref>Confirmed by the mayor's office in Sulphur, [[Louisiana]]; ''A Dictionary of Louisiana History'' has his dates of mayoral service as 1926 to 1932, instead of ending in 1938.</ref> during which time he initiated many municipal improvements. The town was in debt, and he made so many visits to a bank in Lake Charles that some said with humor that the people there thought he worked at the bank. In time, Sulphur was put in the financial black.<ref name=doctors/> He also served on the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee.<ref name=archives/>
A [[Roman Catholic]], Lafargue was a member of the men's organization, the [[Knights of Columbus]]. He was also active in Rotary International and the Woodmen of the World. In 1925, Dr. Lafargue founded the bi-parish Calcasieu-Cameron Fair and served many years afterwards as president of the organization. From 1932 to 1934 and again in 1949, Dr. Lafargue was president of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals. He was the founding president of the organization in 1932. His daughter, Prudence Burns, was the state fair president in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laffnet.org/history.html|title=Past Presidents of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals|publisher=laffnet.org|accessdate=February 15, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, a Lafargue grandson, Gerold J. LaFargue (with capital "F"), a former assistant [[Attorney General of Louisiana]], was named grand marshal of the parade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/article/20081012/NEWS/310129997|title=LaFargue named Grand Marshal of Cal-Cam fair|publisher=''Sulphur Daily News''|date=October 12, 2008|author=Susan LaFargue Kyle|accessdate=February 13, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, the fair begun by Dr. Lafargue was moved from its 12-acre site at 923 Lewis Street in Sulpuur to the West Calcasieu Events Center near Interstate 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/article/20141013/News/141019932|title=Cal-Cam Fair's move to new site a 'challenge'|publisher=''The Sulphur Daily News''|date=October 14, 2014|author=Heather Regan-White|accessdate=February 15, 2015}}</ref>
A [[Roman Catholic]], Lafargue was a member of the men's organization, the [[Knights of Columbus]]. He was also active in Rotary International and the Woodmen of the World. In 1925, Dr. Lafargue founded the bi-parish Calcasieu-Cameron Fair and served many years afterwards as president of the organization. From 1932 to 1934 and again in 1949, Dr. Lafargue was president of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals. He was the founding president of the organization in 1932. His daughter, Prudence Burns, was the state fair president in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laffnet.org/history.html|title=Past Presidents of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals|publisher=laffnet.org|accessdate=February 15, 2015}}</ref> In 2008, a Lafargue grandson, Gerold J. LaFargue (with capital "F"), a former assistant [[Attorney General of Louisiana]], was named grand marshal of the parade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/article/20081012/NEWS/310129997|title=LaFargue named Grand Marshal of Cal-Cam fair|publisher=''Sulphur Daily News''|date=October 12, 2008|author=Susan LaFargue Kyle|accessdate=February 13, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, the fair begun by Dr. Lafargue was moved from its 12-acre site at 923 Lewis Street in Sulpuur to the West Calcasieu Events Center near Interstate 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sulphurdailynews.com/article/20141013/News/141019932|title=Cal-Cam Fair's move to new site a 'challenge'|publisher=''The Sulphur Daily News''|date=October 14, 2014|author=Heather Regan-White|accessdate=February 15, 2015}}</ref>