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The Peter LePatourel Home Page |
Peter LePatourel immigrated to the United States in 1876 from the Isle of Guernsey, which is located in The English Channel between England and France. Guernsey is located off the western coast of France. The islands cover an area of 75 sq mi. The Channel Islands are made up of the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and several islets. Dairy farming is one of the main enterprises and the islands are famous for their cattle breeds, including the Jersey and Guernsey. During the 10th century the islands were a part of Normandy but came under British rule at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. This accounts for why Peter was of French descent. The islands have a large population of French ancestry.
After arriving in the United States, he first settled in Hope, Arkansas, which is located in Hempstead County. He is enumerated in the1880 Census of Hempstead County as a gardener by profession. He was married to Louisa Tosdevin, born about 1858 in England. She is also listed in the 1880 census document.
Peter married Elvira June Arnett in 1882, which was his second marriage. They had no children, but raised a girl named Iva. Iva lived with them until she married, but the Lepatourels never adopted her. The family resided at 156 Henderson.
Peter LePatourel established the first commercial greenhouse located in Hot Springs sometime after moving from Hope. The business was located between Oaklawn and Henderson Streets in what is now The Oaklawn Subdivision. The subdivision was platted in 1904 with Oaklawn Boulevard having an 18-foot wide median, but this was never built. This plat also refers to Higdon Ferry Road as "Hertz Ferry Road". Of the original business buildings in this area, the racetrack built in 1904 is the only one still standing. Peter and Elvira built their home on land that was once a farm. A large grove of huge oak trees surrounded their house and front lawn. The area today is referred to as Oaklawn and was named because of the large oak trees that grew in there.
The greenhouse construction consisted of panes of glass that were fitted into narrow frames that supported the roof. This allowed for the maximum amount of light to pass into the greenhouse. The houses ran east and west. This configuration would add additional light into the greenhouses because this would utilize the sun as it passed across the horizon moving from east to west. The glass roof would always face the sun letting the full potential of the sun’s light to enter the houses trapping light and heat inside. A boiler heated the greenhouses. Heated pipes ran under wood framed benches that were filled with soil. The pipes radiated heat into the growing media, which made it possible to growing vegetables during the winter months. Opening up vents in the roof or sides for cooling during the hot summer months provided ventilation. This design was state-of-the-art technology for the time and these principles were incorporated into modern greenhouse construction. Peter grew up in the greenhouse business on the Isle of Guernsey and utilized this technology when he built his facilities. During the winter months, vegetables were raised in the greenhouses and sold to local hotels in Hot Springs.
In addition to growing vegetables in the greenhouses, Peter operated a large truck garden on the north side of Henderson Street that extended to what is now Oakwood Street. On his plot of land he grew crops of tomatoes, corn, cabbage, beans and other vegetables that he sold to local markets. A team of white mules was used to cultivate the crops and transport the crops in a wagon to the buyers.
A large pear orchard was located on the Oakland Boulevard. side with a row of pecan trees planted by Henderson and LePatourel from the alley to Central Ave. Some of these trees are still living and bearing. Next to one of his Greenhouses A large prized Marcehal Niel rose bush had been trained to grow next to one of the greenhouses growing nearly the entire length of the house.
Picture of Peter LePatourel's Greenhouse
Picture of Greenhouse on Isle Guernsey
Descendants of Peter LePatourel
Generation No. 1
1. PETER1 LEPATOUREL was born June 01, 1851 in Isle of Guernsey, and died November 15, 1913 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He married (1) LOUISA TOSDEVIN 1880 in Pulaski County, Arkansas. She was born Abt. 1858 in England. He married (2) ELVIRA JUNE ARNETT January 01, 1882 in Hempstead County, Ar., daughter of JOHN ARNETT and SUSANNAH PATE. She was born January 26, 1856 in Washington, Arkansas, Hempstead Co., and died December 02, 1942 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
More About PETER LEPATOUREL:
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Hot Springs
Census: June 1880, Hempstead County, Arkansas
Census 1: 1900, Garland Co., Ar.
Occupation: Gardener and Greenhouse Grower
Record 1: Tombstone Inscriptions Vol. 111 Compiled by Inez E. Cline & Bobbie Jones McLane
Record 2: IGI records batch number M586681 marriage record
Record 3: 1876, Immigrated to the United States
More About LOUISA TOSDEVIN:
Census: 1880, Hempstead County, Arkansas, DeRoan Township
More About PETER LEPATOUREL and LOUISA TOSDEVIN:
Marriage: 1880, Pulaski County, Arkansas
More About ELVIRA JUNE ARNETT:
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Hot Springs
Census: 1900, Census Garland Co., Ar.
Individual Note: Gross Funeral Home records listing Elvira parents
Religion: Member First Christian Church
More About PETER LEPATOUREL and ELVIRA ARNETT:
Marriage: January 01, 1882, Hempstead County, Ar.
Child of PETER LEPATOUREL and ELVIRA ARNETT is:
i. IVA JANE2 LEPATOUREL, b. March 02, 1887, Malvern, Arkansas; d. December 25, 1957, Denver, Colorado; m. LEONIDAS ERASMUS REYNOLDS, 1902; b. October 06, 1880, Conway, Arkansas; d. April 16, 1957, Gorman, Texas.
More About IVA JANE LEPATOUREL:
Burial: Fairmount Crematory Arapahoe County, Co.
Cause of Death: Cerebral hemorrliage
Individual Note: Source of information Aubrey Edward Reynolds
More About LEONIDAS ERASMUS REYNOLDS:
Burial: April 17, 1957, Gorman Cemetery, Eastland Co., Texas
Census: Source 1910 Census Garland Co.
Census 1: Source 1920 Census Garland Co.
Individual Note: Leonidas Erasmus went by Lee Reynolds.
More About LEONIDAS REYNOLDS and IVA LEPATOUREL:
Marriage: 1902
Posted by Robert Reynolds
E-mail address boreyed@yahoo.com
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