Firearms
Several people with the surname of Provost were either killed by firearms or involved in events where firearms killed others.
Stanislas Provost (1838 to 1870)
Three newspapers carried the story of the shootings that killed Stanislas Provost and his brother-in-law Felix Tremble in August 1870.[1] Stanislas is my maternal grandfather’s second cousin once removed. Their shared ancestors were Nicholas Provost and Marie Jeanne Prevost. Stanislas was the son of Norbert Provost and Coralie Lange.[2] See Figure 1.
Figure 1- Norbert Provost pedigree chart. He was the son of Stanislas Provost and Therese Laurie Provost. This chart illustrates how Stanislas and Therese were related before marriage.
Three weeks after the shooting incident, the Courrier des Opelousas printed a story with details of the event including motivation that other newspapers had not printed.[3] Stanislas had been at a social event months before his last days on earth where he and Bernard Leblanc had a disagreement. Bernard seriously injured Stanislas at that time. One story described Stanislas as provoking a fight with Bernard the day the tragedy occurred. Bernard shot Stanislas in self-defense and Stanislas died twenty-four hours later. Though Stanislas had been shot, he ran to a nearby store and fired a shot apparently aiming at Bernard. However, the bullet struck Felix Tremble, his brother-in-law. Felix died almost immediately. One newspaper named Mr. Bernard as the shooter while another named him as Bernard LeBlanc. [4]
Felix Tremble left his wife Felice Provost, Stanislas’s sister, and four children under eight years old.[5] An editorial comment ended the article written in French in the Courrier des Opelousas which translates to “Our citizens, while regretting such a calamity, should make every effort to prevent similar misfortunes, and enforce the ordinance regarding the carrying of illegal weapons; and thus prevent terrible tragedies.” The commentary has a familiar ring to it.
Likewise, Stanislas also left a wife and four children. Three months before his death, he had married Mathilde Babin, who was approximately 18 years old.[6] His first wife, Therese Laure Provost (his second cousin; they shared great-grandparents Nicholas Provost and Marie Jeanne Prevost – see Figure 1), had died in 1867 from yellow fever.[7] Graciense, Stanislas, Tulles, and Norbert, were the children of this union.[8]
With the death of their father, family meetings were held to determine how to take care of the children.[9] The following people attended family meetings: Ursin Provost, great-grandfather of the minors; Godefroy Provost (brother of Stanislas), Clet Provost (Stanislas’s uncle), Edouard Provost (Stanislas’s uncle), Arthur Provost and Edmond Provost Jr., cousins of the minors. Joseph Alcide Provost, brother of Therese was named Administrator of Stanislas and Therese’s estate while Hypolite Larenandie, brother-in-law of Therese, was named tutor of the children. (A tutor in Louisiana is like a legal guardian.) The land Stanislas and Therese had owned was leased and an auction of the rest of the estate was held. The auction brought in almost $6,000.[10]
This was the first of several newspaper stories where Provost family members were involved in accidents with guns. Additional stories will be posted in the following weeks.
[1] “Shooting Affair at Jeanerettes,” The New-Orleans Times (New Orleans, Louisiana), 14 August 1870, p. 6 col. 5; digital image, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/226997267/ : viewed 3 May 2026). “From the New Iberia Times,” Bossier Banner-Progress (Bossier, Louisiana), 27 August 1870, p.2, col. 5; digital image, Newspapers.com,https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/348630843/?match=1&clipping_id=new : viewed 3 May 2026). “Tragedie a Jeannerette,”The Opelousas Courier (Opelousas, Louisiana), 3 September 1870, p. 1, col. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com(https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/143822949/?match=1&clipping_id=186398672 : viewed 3 May 2026).
[2] Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (1750-1900) CD edition (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Claitor’s Publishing Division 1975-2019); Prevost, Stanislas (Norbert & Coralie Lange) m. 25 May 1870 Mathilde Babin (Lydia Ch.: v. 1, p. 40).
[3] “Tragedie a Jeannerette,” The Opelousas Courier (Opelousas, Louisiana), 3 September 1870, p. 1, col. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/143822949/?match=1&clipping_id=186398672 : viewed 3 May 2026).
[4] “Shooting Affair at Jeanerette” The New-Orleans Times (New Orleans, Louisiana), 14 August 1870, p. 6 col. 5; digital image, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/226997267/ : viewed 3 May 2026). “From the New Iberia Times,” Bossier Banner-Progress (Bossier, Louisiana), 27 August 1870, p.2, col. 5; digital image, Newspapers.com,https://www.newspapers.com/image-view/348630843/?match=1&clipping_id=new : viewed 3 May 2026).
[5] Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (1750-1900) CD edition (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Claitor’s Publishing Division 1975-2019); Prevost, Felice Josephine (Norbert & Coralie Lange) m. 23 April 1861 Felix Gustave Tremble (Charenton Ch. v.1, p. 110). Tremble, Felix Huston (Felix & Felice Prevost) b. 19 April 1862 (Charenton Ch.: v. 1-B, p. 111). Tremble, Michelle (Felix & Felicia Prevost) b. 17 March 1866 (Charenton Ch.: v.1-B, p. 137). Tremble, Louis (Felix & Felicie Prevost) b. 9 May 1869 (Charenton Ch: v. 1, p. 198). Tremble, Austin (d. Felix & Felicie Provost) m. 8 Feb. 1900 Marie Celeste Pitre (Charenton Ch.: v. 2, p. 162)
[6] Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (1750-1900); Prevost, Stanislas (Norbert & Coralie Lange) m. 25 May 1870 Mathilde Babin (Lydia Ch.: v. 1, p. 40). Provost, Stanislas (M— & Coralie Lange) m. 4 May 1870 Mathilda Babin (NI Ct. Hse.: Mar. #33).
[7] Donald J. Hebert, Southwest Louisiana Records (1750-1900); Prevost, Stanislas (Norbert & Coralie Lange) m. 2 July 1860 Laure Prevost (Charenton Ch. v.1, p. 104). Prevost, Mrs. Stanislas d. 21-30 Oct. 1867 at age 25 yrs. of yellow fever (Charenton Ch.: v.1, p. 44).
[8] “Iberia, Louisiana, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y7-9S49-R?view=fullText : Apr 2, 2026), images 439 to 448 of 670; Iberia Parish (Louisiana). Clerk of Court. Image Group Number: 007689302
[9] “Iberia, Louisiana, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y7-9S49-R?view=fullText : Apr 2, 2026), image 447 of 670; Iberia Parish (Louisiana). Clerk of Court. Image Group Number: 007689302
[10] “Iberia, Louisiana, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y7-9S49-R?view=fullText : Apr 2, 2026), image 448 of 670; Iberia Parish (Louisiana). Clerk of Court. Image Group Number: 007689302