Ceran F. DeLassus, proprietor of Bailey's Landing, Perry Co., Mo., was born in 1826, and is the son of Ceran E. and Elenore (Beauvais) DeLassus, natives of Ste. Genevieve County, Mo. Ceran E. DeLassus was born in 1800, and was a farmer and merchant. After his marriage, in partnership with another man, he purchased Bailey's Landing, where for many years he did a flourishing business, perhaps the most extensive general mercantile and shipping business in the county. He died in 1856.

To him and wife were born eleven children, six of whom are living, the subject of this sketch, being the eldest one living. He was born in Ste. Genevieve County, and was educated by a private tutor. When a boy he clerked in his father's store, and when twenty-one years of age engaged in the mercantile business for himself at his present location.

In 1858 he was married to Mattie E. Walton, a native of Georgia, born in 1838, by whom he has four children who are living: Jesse, Julia, Eusebia and Felix. In 1865, Mr. DeLassus removed his family to Patton, Bollinger Co., Mo., where for several years he was engaged in merchandising, after which he removed to Claryville, Mo., and was there engaged in merchandising and commission business for four years. He then purchased the old homestead, where he has since resided and is still engaged in merchandising. Though his present shipping is somewhat retarded by the condition of the landing, in the past he has been one of the most extensive wheat speculators in this section of Missouri.

Besides owning the landing and general merchandise store, he has 800 acres of land, on which is one of the finest peach orchards in Southeast Missouri. In 1887, he shipped 1,300 boxes of peaches to St. Louis. He has just added to his valuable orchard 500 Damson plum trees and various other fruits, and meditates going still stronger into the fruit business.

He is one of the most enterprising and substantial men of the county. He and family are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.