Family came from France, to Canada, and then to Louisiana. Joseph Elphege was born 08/10/1841 in Iberville Parish, LA. He was baptized 05/29/1842, St. Gabriel Catholic Church, St. Gabriel. In the1860 census he was listed as a teacher at the age of 18.

Later he became a civil war soldier and then a prisoner of war. He enlisted in Company A, 1st Regiment Louisiana Volunteer Cavalry, 26 Aug 1861, Camp Schlatre, age 19. Present to Jun 63. On U.S. POW rolls as J.E. Arceneaux, 1st Battery, captured Big Hill, KY, 30 Jul 63, forwarded to Ft. Delaware, DE, 29 Feb 64, transferred to Camp Chase, OH, 4 Mar 64, exchanged at City Point, VA, 7 Mar 65; also as J.E. Arceneaux, 1st Battery, captured Big Hill, 30 Jul 63, received at Military Prison, Louisville, KY, 3 Aug 63, sent to Camp Chase, 6 Aug 63, transferred to Ft. Delaware, 4 Mar 64, paroled and forwarded to City Point for exchange, no date given, exchanged, probably City Point, 7 Mar 65. There seems to be some confusion in the records as to his transfers to Camp Chase and Ft. Delaware.

After the war was over he migrated from the north to Kentucky where he met and married Amanda Susan Darby.

Joseph Elphege Arceneaux