| Notes |
- Biography of Eblen, John Orleans ParishSubmitted by Emily Eblen October 2003
Source ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY pgs. 388 & 389
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Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
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Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
http:/www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb /la/lafiles.htm
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JOHN EBLEN, Florist
Probably few realms of professional or business life furnish so satisfying a
means for earning a livelihood and at the same time participating in the
beautiful things of the world as does that of the florist. John Eblen,
though native of another land, had much to do with the beautifying of New
Orleans, La., his adopted city, specially in the Arabella Street vicinity;
and his career, especially given to the culture of roses, was one of value
and inspiration. Successful from a business point of view, Mr. Eblen was
also loved for his kindliness and generosity of spirit, his warmth of
sympathy and depth of understanding, and his many excellent qualities of
mind and character. His career was of worth, his life finely lived, his
death a cause of infinite sorrow and regret.
Mr. Eblen was born on October 12, 1843, in Stuttgart, Germany, the capital
of the Province of Wuerttemberg, and received his early education in the
schools of that German city. His father died while the boy was still very
young; and John Eblen then went to work with his uncle, who was head
gardener at one of the royal estates in Stuttgart. This uncle, a man of high
ideals and understanding, had much to do with the shaping of the character
of the young man, who, after a time, however, left his native community and
went to France. In that country he was engaged in the gardens of the Phillip
de Rothschild estate, near Paris.
There his experience gave him a wide knowledge of plants and flowers, for
the Rothschild gardens contained almost all varieties of growing things.
Later he went to Le Havre, France, where he met and married his wife, like
himself a native of Germany. Meanwhile, he had communicated with the German
Consul in New Orleans, and had found that there was need of a man of his
profession in this city of the New World.
At the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, he set sail for America, coming
first to New York City, and afterward proceeding to New Orleans. He
purchased a tract of land where Arabella Street now lies, and here built
both his home and his nurseries. It might be truly said that he was the
pioneer developer, at least from the point of view of floral beauty, of this
region of New Orleans. Later, he subdivided some of his property and built
houses, which he sold, thus extending his activities into real estate. Here,
too, he had many other business investments. He was especially interested in
the growing of *oranges and mandarins, although his greatest interest ever
remained the culture of roses.. He became, at the earliest opportunity, an
American citizen, and never again returned to Europe. He became a writer,
too, contributing to florists' annals a number of articles of importance.
During the famous Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans, in 1884, he
helped to design and beautify the Horticultural Hall and the grounds
surrounding it.
A man of many and varied interests, he did not confine his activities to one
field alone but rather directed them into all branches of life. Politically
his allegiance was to the Democratic party, although he Ws never very active
in politics. His sense of beauty was a quality that seemed inherent in him;
and it was manifest not only in the profession that he chose, but also in
his fondness for music and the arts. He was a student by nature, was well
read and informed. At one period of his career, he was asked to accept a
professorship at Leland University, but declined this honor, stating that
the primary work of his life was elsewhere.
Into all his activities he ever put his fullest measure of energy and
enthusiasm, and as a result he was esteemed in widely varying walks of life
and was loved by his fellowmen. On his eightieth birthday hisfellow florists
tendered him a reception through the New Orleans Gardeners' Club and the New
Orleans Horticultural Society, of which he was a founder and its treasurer
since its origin, and he was, at that time, presented a loving cup by the
Gardener's Club and a large silver platter by the Horticultural Society. His
work in beautifying the city will long stand, of course, as a monument to
him, for, in parks and _____ets throughout the New Orleans community, he
planted trees and plants in large numbers.
Busy as he was, Mr. Eblen always gave his selfless devotion to home and
family. He married (first) in LeHavre, France, on May 14, 1870, Maria Shutz,
daughter of Carl Shutz, and his wife Elizabeth; and (second) in New Orleans,
LA, in 1890, his first wife's sister, Mrs. Catherine (Shutz) Lohr. His first
wife died in New Orleans in 1889. His children, by the first marriage: 1.
Elise, now deceased, who became the wife of Harry C. Dawes; they had two
sons; Harry C. Dawes, Jr., married Katherine Hermann, by whom he had a son,
Harry C. Dawes, 3d, and Walter E. Dawes, who married Beatrice Wilkinson, and
they have a son, James Wilkinson Dawes. 2. Emma, who became the wife of
Christian P. Eilerson. 3. Rosa, who became the wife of Adam L. Rau; their
children: John Eblen, William Lloyd, and **Norman Herman Rau. 4. May, who
became the wife of Louis C. Datz; their children were; Warren E..; Edwin
(died at the age of twenty); Elise Charlotte, and Rosemary Datz. Children
by the second marriage: 5. William Frederick who married Violet Cox. 6.
Eugene Frank, who married Thurza Barr; they have two daughters: Catherine
Augusta Eblen and an infant daughter*** born March 26, 1931.
The death of John Eblen occurred in New Orleans, La. on August 13, 1924. His
friends were many, and were in all branches of New Orleans life. And they
recognized always his value as a citizen, his lovable qualities as a man,
and his good influence through his words and deeds, as they recognize today
the power that lingers after him in memory and spirit.
Copied from the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY pgs. 388 & 389.
Additional notes by Emily Eblen Elstrott, granddaughter:
* He was not only interested in the growing of oranges; he developed a
strain of mango-oranges that were commercially successful. He was also a
propagator of ferns.
** Norman Herman Rau was (accurately) Herman Norman Rau.***Emily Mae Eblen
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1843 - 1924 (80 years)