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==Background==

==Background==

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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/

 

In 1878, Adolphe Lafargue 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=December 10, 2019}}</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 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/>​

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/>​

==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>

 

Lafargue developed the Businessmen's Club of Sulphur, which later became the West Calcasieu Association of Commerce. He won the Silver Beaver Award award from the [[Boy Scouts]]. He was a director of the [[American Red Cross]]. He was president of the Gulf Beach Highway Association, which promoted the construction of U.S. Highway 27. He was vice-president of the Louisiana Division of the Old Spanish Trail Association, which lobbied for the extension of [[U.S. Highway 90]] from the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] to the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coasts.<ref name=lahist/><ref name=archives/>​

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>​

 

Lafargue developed the Businessmen's Club of Sulphur, which later became the West Calcasieu Association of Commerce. He won the Silver Beaver Award award from the [[Boy Scouts]]. He was a director of the [[Red Cross]]. He was president of the Gulf Beach Highway Association, which promoted the construction of U.S. Highway 27. He was vice-president of the Louisiana Division of the Old Spanish Trail Association, which lobbied for the extension of U.S. Highway 90 from the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] to the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] coasts.<ref name=lahist/><ref name=archives/>​

 

==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==

Lafargue died in Sulphur at the age of seventy-nine. He is interred at Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles.<ref name=lahist/> He once said that his great accomplishment was having never turned away a patient in need.<ref name=doctors/>​

Lafargue died in Sulphur at the age of seventy-nine. He is interred at Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles.<ref name=lahist/> He once said that his great accomplishment was having never turned away a patient in need.<ref name=doctors/>​