n about Thomy Lafon and incidentally about
other persons in New Orleans:

New Orleans, La., Jany. 25/09.
COLONEL JAMES LEWIS,
_Dear Sir:_

In answer to your letter of 14th instant, will say that the delay
in my answer was caused by my desire to obtain and furnish to
you all informations regarding the late Mr. Thomy Lafon.

The baptismal records in the archive of the Cathedral at that
time written in Spanish attest that the late Mr. Thomy Lafon was
born in this city on December 28th, 1810. He died at his home,
corner Ursulines & Robertson Streets, on December 23rd, 1893, at
the ripe age of 83 years. His body rests in the St. Louis
cemetery on Esplanade Avenue. He was a man of dignified
appearance and affable manners. In early life he taught school;
later he operated a small dry goods store in Orleans Street until
near into 1850. He was never married. Sometime before the war of
Secession he had started his vast fortune by loaning money at
advantageous rates of interest and by the accumulation of his
savings. Toward the close of his career he became attached to the
lamented Archbishop Janssens and began his philanthropies. By the
terms of his will, dated April 3rd, 1890, he provided amply for
his aged sister and some friends, and wisely distributed the bulk
of his estate among public charitable institutions of New
Orleans. His legacy was appraised at $413,000.00 divided in
securities and realty.

In recognition of his charity, the City of New Orleans, named
after him one of its public schools.

Before his death he had established an asylum for orphan boys
called the Lafon Asylum, situated in St. Peter Street between
Claiborne Avenue & N. Derbigny Street. To this Asylum he
bequeathed a sum of $2000, and the revenues, amounting to $275
per month of a large property situated corner Royal & Iberville
Streets.

Other legacies were to the

Charity Hospital of New Orleans $10,000
" " Ambulance Dept. 3,000
Lafon Old Folks' Home 5,000
Little Sisters of the Poor 5,000
Shakespeare Almshouse
Catholic Institution for indigent orphans 2