Theophile Martel Household Close up - 1900 Census
According to the 1900 census: Theophile Martel was head of household. He was born in August of 1838 and was 61 years old. His wife "Dreen" (Alexandrine Estorge) was born in September of 1842, and she was 58 years old. They had been married for 35 years. Living in the same household was Alexandrine's sister Odile Estorge, who was born in November of 1854.

According to the 1870 census, Theophile and his wife Alexandrine were living in the same household as BA Martel who was a lawyer. Theophile was listed as a domestic servant. Theophile and Alexandrine had a daughter Mary who was five months old. Other sources have revealed to me that Theophile was the son of BA Martel by a young woman of color, Clarisse Lemelle.
According to my cousin Rose, Odile had moved into Theophile's house, which was located on the corner of Church and Market Streets across from the Macks (Vivian and Charlotte). Theophile and Odile eventually started having children together. According to Rose they lived together as one family. Rose said that things like that happened back in those days and were more acceptable then. Rose said that although Alexandrine didn't like what was going on, she accepted it, and she had said that she was glad that it was not some other woman. Odile had two other children (1880 census ) before she moved in with Theophile and Alexandrine. Listed here are four: Corinne Martel-born in Nov. 1881, Dreen (Alexandrine) Martel - named after Odile's sister - born in Sept. 1882, Felix - born in Oct. 1884, and Leonard - born Aug. 1890. According to the 1880 census, Odile Estorge was a servant (cook) most likely for Judge BA Martel since she is listed next to him and his family. According to that census, Odile had a daughter "Azelie?" age 4 and a son John age 2 born in 1878

According to family Bible records and his death certificate, my grandfather John Martel was the son of Theophile Martel and Odile Estorge. He was born on June 3, 1978.

According to the 1880 census Theophile age 42 and his wife Alexandrine age 32 were living in a separate household and had two children: Mary age 10 and Albert age 9..
Odile Estorge was a wash woman. Three of her four children were attending school when the census was taken.