Dracos Anthony Dimitry (September 17, 1858 - October 24, 1918) was a mixed race Louisiana Creole councilman, mayor, solicitor, and railroad station agent. His grandmother was Marianne Celeste Dragon and his first cousin was George Pandely. He was a member of the prominent New Orleans mixed Greek Creole family known as the Dimitry Family. The family underwent countless hardships of racism throughout the 19th century two major incidents involving the family were documented in court entitled Forstall, f.p.c. v. Dimitry (1833) and Pandelly v. Wiltz (1854). The Creole family was heavily pressured to pass as white because during the Jim Crow era laws became more severe including segregation and eventually the one-drop rule was adopted in Louisiana by 1910.[1][2][3]
Dracos Anthony Dimitry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Carencro Councilman | |
| In office May 4, 1891 – May 1, 1893 | |
| Preceded by | G. H. Guilbeau |
| Succeeded by | Dr. F. W. Courtney |
| Mayor of Carencro | |
| In office May 1, 1893 – May 1, 1899 | |
| Preceded by | Dr. F. W. Courtney |
| Succeeded by | Hon, E. L. Estilette |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 17, 1858 New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| Died | October 24, 1918 (aged 60) New Iberia, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Saint Peter's Cemetery |
| Spouse |
Lizzie D. Ruth (m. 1882–1918) |
| Parents |
|
| Profession | Politician Railroad Station Agent |
| Relatives | Alexander Dimitry Marianne Celeste Dragon Michel Dragon Charles Patton Dimitry John Bull Smith Dimitry Ernest Lagarde Theodore John Dimitry Jr. George Pandely |
| Family | Dimitry Family (Creoles) |
Dracos was born in New Orleans to Creole educator Jean Baptiste Michael Dracos Dimitry and Sophia Powers. Jean Baptiste was the fifth child of Marianne Celeste Dragon and Andrea Dimitry. Both Dracos' parents and grandparents were involved in interracial marriages.[4] Dracos' uncle was Creole author and diplomate Alexander Dimitry and the family was extremely educated six members attended Georgetown between 1820 and 1870 including Dracos' father and older brother Theodore John Dimitry.[5] Dracos was the mayor of Carencro from 1893 to 1899 and the railroad station agent of Carencro, Jeanerette, and New Iberia.[6][7][8][9]
Dracos participated in countless organizations in his local town most of the fraternal organizations were for whites only some included: New Iberia Lodge No. 554, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 39, and the Knights of Honor Lodge No. 3155.[10][11][12][13][14] Dracos won several awards for maintaining his railroad station to the highest standard. He died in New Iberia, Louisiana at 60 years of age and his wife, Lizzie lived another twenty years.[15]
Early life
edit
Dracos was born in New Orleans to Creole educator Jean Baptiste Michael Dracos Dimitry and Sophia Powers.[16] He was their fifth child and his mother Sophia was around 41 years old when he was born.[6] His parents were involved in an interracial marriage and Dracos' grandmother was Marianne Celeste Dragon.[17] His father was called Michael Dracos Dimitry and finished Georgetown University in 1856. Both his parents had a successful women's school entitled the Orleans Female Academy (1842-1871) and his uncle Alexander Dimitry was the first superintendent of education in Louisiana.
Dracos' uncle Alexander was also the first person of color to hold that position and the first person of color to be the United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. From an early age, Dracos was educated by his parents. Due to their African heritage, the Dimitry family underwent countless hardships of racism during the 19th century.[18][19] The family chose to pass as white as a legal solution and for their safety specifically during the Jim Crow era. Two major court cases were filed dealing with the family's racial ethnicity entitled Forstall, f.p.c. v. Dimitry (1833) and Pandelly v. Wiltz (1854).[20]
Dracos' first cousin was George Pandely. On March 28, 1853, Pandely ran for the position of assistant alderman in New Orleans, a role similar to a city council member. He won the election but he was removed from office when several members of the city of New Orleans presented evidence of his African heritage in a local Newspaper which eventually reached national headlines.[21] It was illegal for people of African descent to hold political office. Pandely sued his accusers soon after and was able to pretend he was descended from a Native American chief's daughter of the Alibamu tribe named Malanta Talla to maintain his social status. The incident became known as the Pandelly Affair. During the Jim Crow era, the family was further forced to appease the growing pressures of racial segregation.[22]
They denounced their African heritage and passed as white. Most of the notable members of the family fought for the Confederacy including his older brother Theodore John Dimitry, Alexander Dimitry, Charles Patton Dimitry, John Bull Smith Dimitry, and George Pandely. Alexander's wife's first cousin Robert Mills Lusher was a proponent of racial segregation in schools. During the final year of Republican occupation in the South in 1877, Dracos was listed as a private in the Louisiana National Guard Company C of the First Crescent City Regiment which was formerly known as the White League.[23]
The painting entitled Marianne Celeste Dragon Dimitry completed between 1790 and 1800 by José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza was donated by Dracos' sister Mary Celeste to the Louisiana State Museum regrettably the subject their grandmother was whitened. Luckily historians were able to recompose the original image and show her true characteristics and complexion.[6]
Dracos married his first cousin Virginia Ruth Dimitry's daughter Lizzie D. Ruth who was his second cousin.[24][25] His first cousin George Pandely also married his first cousin. Pandelly was also the superintendent of the Pontchartrain Railroad and by the 1880s Dracos was listed as the railroad station agent for Carencro and eventually also managed the stations at Jeanerette, and New Iberia, he was a station agent for most of his life. His older brother Theodore John Dimitry was also affiliated with railroad companies.[26][27]
Later life
editDracos owned a plantation where he lived with his wife and mother-in-law Virginia Ruth Dimitry. He performed various agricultural enterprises including beekeeping.[28] He was very active in his local community. In 1891, Dracos was listed as a councilman for Carencro, Louisiana a position from which his first cousin Pandely was ejected due to his race thirty-eight years prior in New Orleans leading to the Pandelly Affair. The population of Carencro was about two hundred people in the 1890s and shot up to over 400 by 1900.[29] Although Carencro was founded by African, Acadian, and Creole people the toll of Southern politics heavily impacted the small town.[30][31] African American Republican politicians were constantly attacked and mistreated and black voters were disenfranchised. Two years after his term as councilman Dracos was elected mayor of the small town from 1893 to 1899.[9][8][7][3] His African heritage was confined to the people of New Orleans and memories of the Pandely Affair all but faded. Regrettably during his tenure an African American Republican politician named Telismare Paddio was brutally beaten by a small mob because of a verbal altercation he had with a local judge.[32] Telismare was also affiliated with New Orleans and was an agent in the custom house a position also occupied by Dracos' older brother Theodore.[33] Dracos was a clerk during the elections of 1896 and 1897 for the Republican voters.[34][35] During the 1890s, he was also a station agent for the Carencro station and by 1900 he was an elected delegate to the Democratic congressional convention.[36] He continued to work as a station agent in Jeanerette (1900–1905) and finally settled at the New Iberia station (1905–1918) towards the end of his life working for both the Southern Pacific Rail Road and the Iberia and Vermillion Rail Road Company which he was also a secretary.[37][38] By the age of 60, he was elected solicitor of New Iberia regrettably he died that same year. His wife Lizzie lived another twenty years and died in 1938.[39]
Dracos also joined many fraternal whites-only organizations throughout his life including the: New Iberia Lodge No. 554, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 39, and the Knights of Honor Lodge No. 3155. Dracos was also a notary public, officer of the Interstate Building and Loan Association, vice president of the Farmers Union, Secretary of the Carencro Social Club, a member of the Good Roads League, and a member of the Atakapas Club.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46] His wife Lizzie was educated and participated in countless charities and soup kitchens including volunteerism for the American Red Cross and Saint Peters Catholic Church of Carencro. His daughter Celeste married a prominent local doctor and his son Dracos Alexander Dimitry was a lieutenant in the early American Airforce.[47]
References
edit- ^ Horton, Fasching-Varner & Martin 2016, p. 56.
- ^ Pilgrim 2024.
- ^ a b "At the municipal election held at Carencro" (PDF). The St. Landry Democrat, Volume 14, No. 17. Opelousas, Louisiana: The St. Landry Democrat. May 9, 1891. p. 1, col. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Christophe 2018, pp. 8, 15, 19.
- ^ Maxwell 1916, p. 111.
- ^ a b c Pecquet du Bellet 1907a, p. 175.
- ^ a b "The following municipal ticket was elected on May 3" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 5, No. 11. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. May 15, 1897. p. 1, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Following ticket was Elected last Monday to serve the ensuing two years:" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 3, No. 10. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. May 11, 1895. p. 3, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "Carencro Town Election" (PDF). The Daily Picayune, Volume 57, No. 98. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Daily Picayune. May 2, 1893. p. 12, col. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
The following ticket was elected: Mayor D. A. Dimitry
- ^ Mjagkij 2001, p. 146.
- ^ "New Iberia Lodge No. 554" (PDF). The Weekly Iberian, Volume 15. New Iberia, Louisiana: The Weekly Iberian. April 3, 1909. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Elks last Night" (PDF). The Daily Enterprise Leader, Volume 4, No. 251. New Iberia, Louisiana: The Daily Enterprise Leader. February 5, 1909. p. 2, col. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Iberia Lodge No. 39, Knights of Pythias" (PDF). New Iberia Enterprise, Volume 26, No. 36. New Iberia, Louisiana: New Iberia Enterprise. November 5, 1910. p. 3, col. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "The following members of Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 39" (PDF). The Times Democrat, Volume 46, No. 18,517. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Times Democrat. December 27, 1908. p. 3, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Jeanerette" (PDF). The Times-Democrat, Volume 43, No. 17,330. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Times Democrat. September 26, 1905. p. 3, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Pecquet du Bellet 1907a, p. 165.
- ^ Christophe 2018, p. 19.
- ^ "Nomination Confirmed". Evening Star, Volume 15, No. 2164. Washington D.C: Evening Star. January 25, 1860. p. 2, col. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
Nomination Confirmed The appointment of Alexander Dimitry, as Minister to Africa, was yesterday confirmed by the Senate. amongst others.
- ^ "Buchanan Scrubbing the Ohio Democracy" (PDF). Weekly Ohio State Journal Vol. 49 No. 24 (Columbus Ohio), p. 2. Digital Academic Research Archives. September 26, 1859. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
Prof. Alexander Dimitry, whom Mr. Buchanan has recently appointed Minister to Nicaragua is reported to be of African descent, in part, and could not be a voter, or eligible to hold office in this State, according to the Democratic law of last winter. His supposed Africanism, it is said, impaired his usefulness in Louisiana, his native state. The president probably wanted to spite the rebellious Democracy of Ohio in making this offensive appointment.
- ^ Foretia 2023, p. 11.
- ^ Maddox 1853a, p. 3.
- ^ Thompson 2009, pp. 50.
- ^ Vaudry 1877, p. 11.
- ^ "Ruth at Carencro, La" (PDF). The Times Democrat. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Times Democrat. September 27, 1891. p. 3, col. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "A Number of Friends Assembled at Saint Theresa's Church" (PDF). The Daily Picayune, Volume 46, No. 338. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Daily Picayune. December 29, 1882. p. 2, col. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "A Host of Friends Pay the Last Sad Tribute" (PDF). The Daily Picayune, Volume 58, No. 249. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Daily Picayune. September 30, 1894. p. 3, col. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ Pecquet du Bellet 1907a, p. 173-174.
- ^ "Bee Culture" (PDF). The Dispatch, No. 42. Clay, Kansas: The Dispatch. December 15, 1886. p. 3, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Blanchard 1905, p. 53.
- ^ Brasseaux 1992, p. 184.
- ^ Beduze, Graham (June 23, 2024). "About the City of Carencro". Carencro, LA: City of Carencro. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Southern States Items of Interest" (PDF). The Daily Picayune, Volume 61, No. 202. New Orleans, Louisiana: The Daily Picayune. August 14, 1897. p. 12, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
Judge Abbadie, who, in the meantime, had sworn out a warrant for Paddio's arrest before Mayor D. A. Dimitry on the charge of assault and disturbance of the peace. Constable Alex Areeneaux arrested Paddio and lodged him in the town jail. This was about 5 o'clock Mayor Dimitry fixed the ball at $100 for two charges.
- ^ Pecquet du Bellet 1907a, p. 174.
- ^ "Election Notice" (PDF). The Lafayette Advertiser, Volume 32, No. 8. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Advertiser. October 10, 1896. p. 3, col. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "6th Ward, 5th Percinct" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 6, No. 35. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. May 15, 1897. p. 4, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Democratic Committee" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 8, No. 29. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. September 15, 1900. p. 1, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "In Line with Government Policy" (PDF). New Iberia Enterprise, Volume 34, No. 25. New Iberia, Louisiana: New Iberia Enterprise. August 24, 1918. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Division Agents Meet" (PDF). Lafayette Advertiser, Volume 44, No. 81. Lafayette, Louisiana: Lafayette Advertiser. May 14, 1909. p. 1, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "The following named parties, serve in their respective precincts as solicitors in the city of Iberia" (PDF). New Iberia Enterprise, Volume 34, No. 11. New Iberia, Louisiana: New Iberia Enterprise. May 18, 1918. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Notice" (PDF). The Lafayette Advertiser, Volume 27, No. 6. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Advertiser. October 17, 1891. p. 4, col. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Last Saturday a branch of the Interstate Building and Loan association was organized at Carencro" (PDF). The Lafayette Advertiser, Volume 25, No. 41. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Advertiser. June 14, 1890. p. 5, col. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Farmers Union" (PDF). The Lafayette Advertiser, Volume 25, No. 43. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Advertiser. June 28, 1890. p. 4, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "At a meeting of the Carencro Social Club" (PDF). The Lafayette Advertiser, Volume 25, No. 28. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Advertiser. March 15, 1890. p. 5, col. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Good Roads League" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 3, No. 49. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. February 8, 1896. p. 4, col. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Carencro Brass Band and Social Club" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 5, No. 12. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. May 22, 1897. p. 1, col. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Atakapas Club" (PDF). The Lafayette Gazette, Volume 5, No. 15. Lafayette, Louisiana: The Lafayette Gazette. June 12, 1897. p. 1, col. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Mr. and Mrs D.A. Dimitry announce engagement of their daughter" (PDF). The Daily Enterprise Leader, Volume 4, No. 30. New Iberia, Louisiana: The Daily Enterprise Leader. May 22, 1909. p. 2, col. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Thompson, Shirley Elizabeth (2009). Exiles at Home The Struggle to Become American in Creole New Orleans. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674023512.
- Maddox, Joseph H. (August 4, 1853a). "Evidence of Lineage The Pandelly Affair". New Orleans Daily Crescent, Volume 6, No. 129. New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans Daily Crescent. p. 3, col. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
The Pandelly Affair
- Pecquet du Bellet, Louise (1907a). Some Prominent Virginia Families. Vol. 4. Lynchburg,VA: J. P. Bell Company (Incorporated).
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- Christophe, Landry (August 18, 2018). "Mixed Marriages In Louisiana Creole Families 164 marriages" (PDF). Louisiana Historic & Cultural Vistas. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
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- Blanchard, Newton C. (1905). Report of the Secretary of State. Baton Rouge, LA: State of Louisiana.
- Pilgrim, . David (June 23, 2024). "The Tragic Mulatto Myth". Big Rapids, Michigan: Ferris State University. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.