"Among the most notable early black Creole matriarchs were Marie Simien and Marie-Jeanne Lemelle of the Opelousas district. Simien, who settled with her four sons in the Opelousas district around 1796, invested her substantial financial resources-evidently derived from her former white paramour-in real estate, developing a vast personal empire by 1818. According to the 1818 tax rolls of St. Landry Parish, Marie owned four parcels of land totaling 7,766 acres……. The uncultivated portion of the land was used to graze over three hundred heads of cattle. Having carved out a niche for herself, Simien established an 800 acre plantation for her son George near present-day Eunice."

"Antoine Simien was the patriach of a long lineage of Simiens in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. His union with a slave girl, Maria grew into a large and properous creole family long before emancipation. A copy of Antoine Simien's will is available at , Antoine Simien Will # 1.