This is the final resting place of Charles Sallier, Lake Charles' namesake. The historic marker near the cemeteries entrance reads: "Believed to be the first cemetery in Lake Charles — It was the family cemetery of the Salliers prior to donation in June 1884 by Miss Severine Sallier who was born near here on October 24, 1816 and died November 20, 1884." In fact, the donation by Miss Sallier was to the entire Sallier family and relatives. The property is still owned by the heirs. Severine was the daughter of Catherine LeBleu and Charles Anselm Sallier. Charles Sallier was born around 1805 in Holy Trinity Parish, Diocese of Chambery, Province of Savoy, France. He was the first known white settler on Shell Beach. The Lake and City were named for him. He married Angelica Fontenot January 31, 1792, later Catherine LeBleu August 9, 1802. Charles was the first son of Jean Monmayer and Michel Sallier, also of France. The first recorded burial is that of Thomas Rigmaiden's daughter, Lucy. In his diary on September 6, 1820, Thomas Rigmaiden records: "Our darling Lucy died yesterday and today we brought her across the lake and buried her in the private cemetery of Madame Sallier." This makes it the oldest known burial in town. Early pioneer names found within the cemetery include: Barbe, LaGrange, Farque, LeBleu, Pithon, Granger. The site became an early favorite burying ground for many of the French people and has remained so to the present. A survey of the headstone was conducted in 1957 at which time 595 named persons were identified, along with unmarked graves of 45 adults, 6 children and 6 Infants. Severine Sallier never married. Legend has it that the man she was to marry was on his way home from a ceremony, on horseback — riding through the woods he was caught by an over hanging branch. He was thrown violently to the ground, his neck broken by the fall. After Severine was told of his death she put away her wedding dress and dressed herself in black which she wore to her dying day. After her death, the trunk was opened and the fine silk dress divided among the children of her brother. Louis Reon (father of Lastie Reon) was buried here in January 22, 1837. Mr. Rigmaiden also records this event in his diary: "Louis Reon buried in the family burial ground of Madame Charles (Sallier)". The oldest remaining tombstone found in the cemetery (and probably the oldest in town) is that of Samual Adams Kirby Jr., who died in Lake Charles in 1847. In 1958 the Sallier cemetery was cleaned up, tombs renovated, and an arch erected on the Ryan Street entrance.