This image features Emmanuel GUILLORY, a free man of color, alongside his wife, Amelia KING. Emmanuel is a descendant of Catherine Victoire Donato BELLO, wife of Jean Baptiste GUILLORY and sister to my direct ancestor, Martin Donato BELLO. All were free Creoles of color. For years, I have meticulously researched in various libraries and archives, gathering sourced information on these families. Now, I aim to connect with the living descendants of the ancestors I’ve traced. Like the DONATO family

My ancestor Martin DONATO, a free man of color, was a prominent landowner, with substantial holdings, including 600 head of cattle. He owned thousands of arpents of land, known as vacheries that were spread across multiple locations in Louisiana. This shares the significant role Creoles of color played in the cattle industry. It’s no surprise that many recognized There were first generation born Cowboys in Texas to Louisiana-born parents. Currently, I am studying the history of the cattle drive.

These Creoles of Color from the Auzenne, Lemon, Fournier, Barnabé, and other families of Prairie Laurent, Louisiana, formed a powerful alliance. Their bond was so strong that many of their descendants still live on ancestral land that predates the Louisiana Purchase. This legacy is reflected in the IFBS Lodge, a testament to their enduring unity and cultural resilience.#CreoleHeritage 🇸🇳 🇫🇷 #LouisianaHistory 📜 #AncestralLand 🌿 #PrairieLaurent #FamilyLegacy 👣 #IFBSLodge #GenealogyResearch