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            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 square miles. 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, Peter first settled in Hope, Arkansas, which is located in Hempstead County. He is enumerated in the 1880 Census of Hempstead County as a gardener by profession. Peter's brother, Harry LeParourel,  is listed in the same household with him. Peter married  Louisa Tosdevin in Pulaski County, Arkansas in 1880, She was born about 1858 in Guernsey. She is also listed in the 1880 Census document with her husband Peter.

Peter married Elvira June Arnett, January 01, 1882, which was his second marriage. They had no children, but raised a girl named Iva Jane LePatourel.  It is interesting to note that the English word for Iva means a climbing evergreen ornamental plant. Iva lived with them until she married Erasmus Leonidas Reynolds, about 1902,  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 around 1885. The business was located on the west side of Second  Street between Henderson Streets in what is now The Oaklawn Subdivision. The subdivision was surveyed  by J. R. Frank and platted in 1904 with Oaklawn Boulevard having an 18-foot wide median laid out by Advance Reality Investment Company, but the spacious avenue was never developed. The original plat was located in part of N. W, qt. of S. E. qt of S. W qt. of Sec. 8 Township. 3  S. Range, 19 W.  Sometime after arriving in Garland County the PePatourels bought property in the same section Oaklawn that is located, description reads, S. E qt. of  section 8 Township 3, along the Hunts Ferry Road. Hunts Ferry would later be changed to present day Hidgon 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  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 grow 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 this plot of land he grew crops of tomatoes, corn, cabbage, beans and other vegetables that he sold to local markets. In 1885 Peter bought a gray 10-year-old horse and a  10-year-old bray pony. The purchase also included a light two- horse wagon from John Loughran for $400. I can only speculate, but it's more than probable that the wagon and larger horse were used to deliver produce to the market.  It is reasonable to assume that the small bay pony was used to pull a small weed cultivator between the vegetable garden rows. According to an article in The Record Volume 7, researched by Nellie Maner, a  team of white mules was used to cultivate the crops and transport the crops in a wagon to the buyers. The use of the mules must have been later.  Peter  owned seven acres of property between McNahan and Terry Street, somewhere close to the Sunset Drive-in Theater on Central Avenue. This possibly could have been another track that was used to grow vegetables.

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 and  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:

OBITUARY Hot Springs Sentinel Record
Mrs. Elvira LePatpourel 86, resident of Hot Springs for the past 58 year, died yesterday at her home, 156 Henderson Ave. after a illness of three weeks.
Born June 26, 1856 in Washington, Ark., she later moved to Hot Springs and has been a member of the First Christian Church here for 35 years. She is the wife of the late Peter LePatpourel who formerly owned and operated a truck garden and greenhouse in the Oaklawn section of the city. She is survived by one daughter Mrs. Iva Reynolds, Corpus Christy Texas and one Ross Arnett, Hot Springs.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Gross Mortuary.

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:

Obituary Hot Springs New Era, November, 20 1913

Peter Lepatourel was born on the Isle of Guernsey, June 1, 1850 and passed away at his home in Hot Springs ,Arkansas, November 15, 1913, at the age of 63 years five months, 14 days.

The deceased came to the country when he was 18 years old. He spent some time in the North and then came to Hope, Arkansas where he resided for several years. In 1886 Mr. Lepatourel came to Hot Springs where he has lived ever sense. Most of this time has been spent at or near the location of the present home, where a special market gardening business had been built as an evidence of the thrift and energy of the subject of this sketch.

In 1886 Mr. Leparourel was united in marriage with Miss Elvira Arnett, who remains to mourn the loss of a devoted and righteous husband. He also leaves to brothers to mourn his loss, one in the Isle of Guernsey and one in New Albany, Indiana. There is one sister yet living, who resided in the Isle of Guernsey Mrs. Reynolds adopted daughter in truth, also remains to fill the loss of one who was a real father to her.

Mr. Lepatourel was a member of the Episcopalian Church in Hope, Arkansas and his wife amplified the fact that they lived close to the heavenly father. Besides the family there remains to mourn his loss a large circle of relatives, neighbors and friends, who have felt the touch of this man strong personality and who are the better for having known one to whom being honest and upright was very keynote of life.

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 Ann 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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