Louis de Planque
Place of Birth: Prussia
Age at Death: 56 years, 14 days
Date of Death: May 1, 1898
Interment source:
Bay View Cemetery Association, Corpus Christi, Texas. Record of Interments
and Bay View Cemetery Map, ca 1940
Map states: "Mr. and Mrs. de Planque are two of the wooden markers."
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
1. Photograph
Louis de Planque (left) and William J. Biggio, Jr.
Provenance: Mrs. Willie Lee Biggio Jones and Rebecca Lee Jones
2. Ad from Corpus Christi Weekly Caller
Source: Corpus Christi Weekly Caller, August 8, 1891
Research by: Msg. Michael A. Howell
3. News Item, 1872
Our well known photographer, Louis de Planque, announces today that he will positively close his gallery here on the 31 inst. He has just received a splendid lot of photographic novelties, as may be seen from his advertisement, and he is no prepared to produce those magnificent Porcelain Photographs at $5.00 each. The excellence of Mr. de Planque's work is well known, and those who wish good photographs should not fail to call on him at once.
Source: Nueces Valley, January 13, 1872, p 3 ,col. 2
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission
4. News Item, 1888
Messrs. Louis de Planque and F. E. Wells returned home Monday from their San Diego trip which they report successful and satisfactory. On July the 4th Mr. de Planque took several views in this city, one being Central Wharf which presented a lively appearance on that day. The gentleman [unreadable] photograph of the gun club [shooting as a?] group. To-day Messrs. De Planque and Wells go to Beeville.
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, July 7, 1888, p. 5, c. 2
Research by: Monsignor Michael A. Howell
Transcribed by: Kathryn H. Martin, member Coastal Bend Genealogical Society
5. Article in newspaper, 1939
Louis de Planque
Born 40 Years Too Soon
Today's Buccaneers Have Nothing on Luis de Planque, Who Dressed for
The Occasion When Corpus Christi Celebrated the Landing of Columbus
By Bill Barnard
The fellows who ran around town in pirate hats yesterday had noting on Luis de Planque. If the whole truth were known, it probably would be found that Luis de Planque had something on them.
People knew him as "Don Luis" and he was a gay photographer who came to Corpus Christi from Indianola in the seventies and stayed here until shortly before the turn of the century. He was a big man – he was six feet tall and weighed nearly 200 pounds – but he got around. No celebrity or near celebrity ever visited this city without being tracked down by Don Luis and dragged off to his "photo art" studio where the Roy Murray Motor Co. is now located. He was the only photographer in town and he took thousands of pictures.
He Loved Celebrations
Luis de Planque like a good time and he loved celebrations. In those days Corpus Christians celebrated early and often. One of the favorite things to celebrate was the landing of Columbus in America – that epochal event was observed three times, twice on Columbus' Birthday anniversaries and once on July 4.
The last time they landed Columbus was in 1886. Thomas B. Southgate, pioneer insurance man of this city, remembers it very well. More than 8,000 visitors were here to see it. One 50-car trainload of out-of-towners stalled on the Nueces Bay railroad causeway and the hapless passengers were trapped without food or drink for hours.
It was a big day, Southgate says. A one-mile track was fenced off on North Beach and there were horse and chariot races. Five baseball games were played in different parts of the city, all at one time. Sloops and schooners came from as far as Galveston and New Orleans to participate in the nine-mile sailboat race around the bay which offered a $500 cash prize to the winner. The parade in the afternoon was a sight to be long-remembered, what with Columbus and his happy crew and hundreds of Indians, un-historically enough, on horseback. Fish chowder was furnished free to everyone. Yes, it was a big day all right. Members of the entertainment committee dug down in their own pockets to make up a $275 deficit.
It Satisfied Him
But that was the kind of a celebration Don Luis loved. Truly entering into the spirit of the thing, he would arm himself with his knives, pistols, and gun. He would decorate his hat with a feather, sling an Indian blanket over his shoulder and carry a braided lariat in his hand. His tie flowed down his chest and his leather leggins reached above his knees. All this, combined with his fine grey beard, must have made him a colorful figure...a figure worthy of anyone's second glance. Although he was asked often enough, Don Luis never could make up his mind as to just what his costume was supposed to represent. He always smiled and said he didn't know, but observed that it satisfied HIM. It's a pity that Don Luis isn't alive to attend the Buccaneer Days festival here this year. As it is, perhaps he will kick up his spiritual heels at the sight of all the gaiety. For Don Luis loved celebrations!
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, July 1939
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales
6. Obituary
Died, in Corpus Christi, Tex., May 1, 1898, at 9:25 p.m., of apoplexy, LOUIS DE PLANQUE, native of Prussia, aged 56 years and 14 days.
It was with much sorrow the people of this city and section heard of the sudden death of Louis de Planque the first of the week. Mr. De Planque, who was up and about last Saturday was found in his bed in an unconscious condition. Everything possible was done to restore him, but it proved unavailing. His daughter, Mrs. Lelaurin, who was telegraphed to at San Antonio, arrived on the evening train a few minutes before her father breathed his last.
Mr. De Planque came to Corpus Christi in 1868 from Matamoros, Mexico, accompanied by his wife, who died in this city a few years ago. Mr. and Mrs. De Planque made their home here, only leaving the place once or twice for a short while, one of the times being when they went to Indianola and came near losing their lives in the terrible storm which destroyed that city. Mr. De Planque as nearly every one in this section knows, was an artist --- one of the best photographers in the state. Like many others, however, he never accumulated much of this world’s goods. A more kind hearted and polite man than Mr. De Planque was not to be found and he will be missed in this community for many months to come. He was buried Monday at 4 p.m. by the Sons of Herman, of which lodge he was a worthy member. The pall bearers were E. Bechert, G. Uehlinger, H. Nolse, A. Barthlome, J. J. Uehlinger, Henry Uehlinger.
Source: Corpus Christi Caller, May 6, 1898, p. 5, col. 6
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Rosa G. Gonzales