Labadie, Nicholas Decomps, 1802-1867

Nicholas Descomps Labadie fought and tended the wounded as a surgeon at the Battle of San Jacinto. Labadie moved from Chambers County to Galveston in 1838 where he built Labadie's Wharf and the first frame house, established a shipping company, ran a drug store, practiced medicine, and helped to build the first Catholic church, St. Mary's Cathedral. He was involved in a libel suit with John Forbes following the publication of his memoirs in the Texas Almanac in 1859. Labadie married three times: Mary Norment, Agnes Rivira, and Julia Seymour, leaving four surviving children, Sarah, Charlotte, Mary Cecelia, and Joseph.

From the description of Dr. Nicholas D. Labadie family papers, 1831-1942, (bulk 1850-1870). (San Jacinto Museum of History). WorldCat record id: 46452045

Physician, businessman, and San Jacinto veteran, Nicholas Descomps Labadie was born on December 5, 1802, in Assumption Parish, Windsor, Ontario to Antoine Louis Labadie and Charlotte Barthe Labadie. At age 21, he began to study for the priesthood in Missouri. After rejecting his vocation, Labadie studied medicine under Dr. Samuel Merry and eventually moved to Louisiana. In 1831 Labadie visited San Felipe and decided to settle in Anahuac where Col. John Davis Bradburn employed him as the post surgeon. In 1832 he participated in the rebellion at Anahuac against Bradburn. Between 1833 and 1838 Labadie and his family lived on a plantation on Lake Charlotte north of Wallisville in Chambers County.

Labadie marched with the Liberty Militia to join Sam Houston's army on March 11, 1836. At the Groce family's Bernardo Plantation, Houston appointed him surgeon of the first regiment of regulars on April 6. On April 21 Labadie fought under Sidney Sherman and tended the wounded at the Battle of San Jacinto. Returning home in May 1836, Labadie found his family and his property devastated with one child dead and his home and cattle destroyed. Extremely ill for over a week, Labadie eventually recovered his health, but lost his hearing. In 1838, Thomas J. Rusk, Secretary of War, ordered Labadie to Galveston where he built the first frame house, constructed Labadie's Wharf, established a shipping company, ran a drug store, and practiced medicine. An observant Catholic, he helped to build St. Mary's, the first Catholic church in Galveston. Labadie wrote of his experiences at both Anahuac and San Jacinto in the 1859 edition of the Texas Almanac. This reminiscence caused a libel suit to be brought against him by John Forbes which was finally settled in 1867.

Labadie married three times: Mary Norment who died November 5, 1839 leaving three surviving children - Sarah, Charlotte, and Mary Cecelia; Agnes Rivira who died 1843 leaving one son - Joseph; and Julia Seymour who survived him with no issue. Nicholas D. Labadie died in Galveston in 1867. Labadie's daughter Sarah married S. B.Wallis in 1854, their daughter is Sarah R. Murphy.

From the guide to the Dr. Nicholas D. Labadie family papers MC007. 46452045., 1831-1942, (Bulk: 1850-1870), (Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, )