Francois was a farmer with considerable property near the Red River outside of Marksville. He was born in France and migrated from Ohio to Louisiana.
The 1900 Avoyelles census has his birth as Nov 1818, 81 years old and married 60 years.
From an article published in the Avoyelles Heritage column of the Weekly News, P. O. Box 523, Marksville, LA 71351:
"Francois Bettevy was born about 1817 in France. He was one of the few of the late French settlers of Avoyelles who did not settle in the Mansura area. He lived on the southern side of the Red River, north of Marksville, where a community was at one time known for him. Earlier, he had lived in Ward One, near his wife's parents and a road was named Bettevy Road off of Cole's Island Road. They lived at the head of Horsepen Creek.
In the late 1880's, Bettevy operated a steamboat landing on Red River, known as Bettevy's landing. One of his sons Michel would later operate a steamboat landing on the Red River, which was probably the one established by Francois. Witnesses of the 1870 marriage of Francois' youngest child, Caroline, are Ludger Barbin and Marie Barbin, of nearby Barbin's Landing. The Michel Bettevy landing was located just northwest of the intersection of the Brouillette Road and the road leading west along Red River at the end of the Avoyelles Prairie.
Francois Bettevy was married to Louise Beaubouef, oldest daughter of Yves Hypolite Beaubouef and Denise Belgard. Louise was born in 1827 and died June 17, 1907. Francois Bettevy died August 30, 1902. They were the parents of 12 children.
Francois Bettevy was listed in the 1860 census, age 43, native of France, with $3,000 of real estate and $1,000 of other property. In the census were:
Louise, 32, native of Louisiana
Joseph 18, farm laborer
Marie, 15
Magdeleine, 14
Elisabeth, 12
Louise 10
Jean 6
Francois 4
Jean B. 1
Jean Courrier, 35, wood chopper, native of France
Baptiste B., 23, wood chopper, native of France (this could be Baptiste Bettevy or it could be Baptiste Courrier)"