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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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LOUISIANA.
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♦♦
BY
G. BBI.ISI.JB
— u.
♦♦
I^rora the First Ejzplorers and Settlers
to the Fresent,
THE SABINE BANNER PRESS
1912
• ■ ■ I
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1770825
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I 3* BellQle, John G-. .
i 87677 “ . . ^ ,
i History of..Saoine Parisn
! * first explorers and settlers
I cHany,La. alS13.
Louis iarua,. ?ro^i
to the present.
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Prefatse
3
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1
Paradise of Lo
7
1
Spirit of the Spaniards
■
1
The French Explorers
21
I
The French Settlers i
31
-■
1
St» Denys and Natchitoches
39
1
" Shifting of the Flags
48
*
b
Neutral Strip and Outlaws
...56
1
Neutral Strip and Pioneers
65
Fort Jesup and the Frontier
79
•4
Creation of Sabine Parish
90
c
Pioneer Customs and Society
93
i
1;
Parish Government
102
i, .
^ ■»'
The** Uncivil*’ War
Educational Progress
166
The Press
195 .
1
Towns and Villages
211
sc.
Biographical Sketches
277
The Churches
318
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofsabinepOObeli
PREFACE.
In presenting this little volume to the
public, the author has no intention of so-
liciting applause or posing as a Guizot or a
Macauley, nor so much as lay claim to any
literary honors. He was induced to publish
the work for two reasons: First, he be-
lieved that the book would result in some
good to the parish ; and, secondly, he be-
lieved that the citizens of Sabine parish
would appreciate the work. Disappoint-
ment is not anticipated in either case.
The annals of a single community are fre-
quently as interesting, if not as important,
as the history of a nation, yet the commun-
ity is often neglected by the author of gen-
eral history, and therefore the deeds of the
pioneers are not recorded on the printed
page. ■ It leqilires the little parish to make
the state just as much as it takes the separ-
ate states to form our great republic. But,
to our mind, the most important of all is the
character of the citizenship which laid the
foundation for the civilization of the par-
3
4 PREFACE,:
ish, which has contributed to its progress,
and takes a lively and unselfish interest in
its advancement alonsr all lines of peaceful
and honest endeavor in the days to come.
The real patriot is the man who is proud of
the communitj^ in which he makes his
home, and diligently strives to safeguard
the welfare of his own neighborhood; and
this kind of a patriot may be depended up-
on to rally to the defense of the entire na-
tion whenever his services are required.
The story of Sabine parish is a story of
patriotism exemplified in the highest de-
gree. From its beginning to the present
time its real citizens have clung to those
exalted ideals that go to make a splendid
and a happy land. Many of their acts of
devotion and sacrifice for their country
will never be recorded in a book, but it is
very proper that the things which have not
yet been lost from memory should be pre-
served for the information of the citizens
of the future.
Considerable space, in the first part of
this volume, is devoted to the relation of
things which belong to the history of the
state and the nation, and which are known
to even the primary student of history, but
we did not deem it inappropriate to begin
at the beginning. The fact that the first
permanent settlements in the present State
of Louisiana, by both English ar\d French,
PREFACE.
5
were made in Natchitoches parish, of which
Sabine was forme^dy a part, makes the sto-
ries of the explorers, even in brief, very
pertinent to this work. The data was
gleaned from various authorities, but no
attempt has been made to repeat details of
questionable authenticity or to adorn the
chronicles with flowery rhetoric.
In compiling the history of the parish
since its formation in 1843, we have re-
ceived much valuable information from
good friends who have spent their lives in
the parish, and they ar * given credit in the
proper place in the book. The data per-
taining to the government of the parish
was taken from the records at the court
"house, but it was a difficult task to get this
matter in order, and it is very possible that
errors may be found, however earnest has
been our endeavor to present everything
accurately. VVe have emitted reference to
events, especially in the annals of the par-
ish courts, which might revive unpleasant
memories in the minds of any of our citi-
zens, and have endeavored to present every
topic in an unprejudiced manner.
The work was not attempted for profit,
and while its publication was a very expen-
sive undertaking, its favorable reception by
the public will repay The Author.
Many, La., Nov. 1, 1912.
I
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A'
Xltc Pai?adise of Lo.
Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind
Sees God in clouds, or hears Him in the wind;
His soul, proud science never taught to stray
Far as the solar walk or milky way;
Yet simple nature to his hope has given
Behind the cloud-topt hill an humbler heav’n;
Some safer world in depth of woods embrac’d,
Some happier island in the w'at’ry waste.
Where slaves once more their native land behold,
No fiends torment, no Christians thirst for gold.
To Be, contents his natural desire,
He asks no angel’s wing, no seraph’s fire;
But thinks admitted to that equal sky,
His faithful dog shall bear him company.
Alexander Pope.
"T^ESPITE the labors and researches of
learned antiquarians and “ow^lish”
scientists in their efforts to find the origin
of the American Indian, the
matter remains one of those
profound secrets of the un-
I’elenting past which wiil be
forever hidden. The line-
age of I jo is veiled in a mys-
tery as stupendous as is the
history of the wonderful country in which
the discoverers m the old world found
him. Roman history begins with the story
of Romulus and Remus, that of Gieece with
the legends' of the gods and the Argonauts,
and the people of every ancient nation fur-
7
8
PARADISE OF LO
nish some weird and romantic story of
their beginning, but the first authentic
chapter in the annals of the Indian prac-
tically begins with the coming of Christo-
pher Columbus to the western world (Oct.
12, 1492). All which concerns the Red
Man previous to that event rests on a foun-
dation of uncertainty and conjecture.
When the illustrious navigator anchored
bis little vessels on one ol the Bahama Is-
lands, he believed that he had arrived in
the East Indies, and the copper-colored
people who came to greet him were called
Indians. By that name the remnant of the
once famous race is still known, whether
they are Piruans of the tropics or citizens of
the State of Oklahoma. The news of the
successful voyage of Columbus spread rap-
idly over Europe and many adventurers
flocked to the new found land. The In-
dian everywhere greeted the strangers from
the East. In the country now embraced in
the United States and Canada there were
many distinct tribes, but with the excep-
tion of the’^uni and Pueblo tribes of New
Mexico, and the Piruans and Aztecs, who
were more advanced in civilization, all de-
pended chiefly on hunting and fishing for
their sustenance; but tribal wars seem to
have occupied most of their attention.
Historians place the number ol Indians in
North America at the time of the discov-
i
,i
1!
PARADISE OF LO 9
ery at about 400,000, but as census taking
at that period was not assisted by goyern-
ment bureaus, and as in many instances
the explorers and early settlers were more
interested in counting the dead than the
live Indians, the statements as to their num-
bers can be accepted as only casual guesses.
It is not the purpose of the present writer
to attempt to delve into the hazy past of
the Indians, nor to speculate on the prob-
able social and intellectual status of their
supposed predecessors, the Mound-Build-
ers and the Cyclopean race. We leave this
speculative field to ambitious scientists, ne-
ologic naturalists and fossil hunters, who
may furnish the world with a wealth of
wholesome thought, but, like the pursued
hare, they make countless paths over an
expansive field and ultimately return to'
the point where the chase began. The
only thing we know for a certainty of the
Red Man is that the European discoverers
found him here in a' land of plenteous
beauty, a land in harmony with his nature
where our purposeful Creator had placed
him. He was found in tented villages, on
mountain and plain, and he freely trod the
shady sylvan avenues of Louisiana and
quenched his thirst at the refreshing
springs of our own Sabine parish, breath-
ing that air of freedom which knows no
conqueror save the mighty messenger of
%
10
PARADISE OF LO
death. The noble fire of freedom whcih
burned in the savage breast was apparently
transmitted to his ‘‘pale-faced’^ successors,
for America became the home of real free-
dom, where the despot dare not intrude.
. It is probable that many of the disasters
'which befell the pathfinders were due to an
improper understanding of the nature of
the Indians. The Ked Men were savages,
but all that went to make up their charac-
ters was not dross. Within their bronzed
' breasts there of ten beat hearts as humane
and generous as could be found among peo-
ple accredited with a higher civilization.
They had no written language, no knowl-
edge other than that gleaned from silent
nature, but they had unwritten laws which
were really democratic in character. They
had no kings, but the supreme authority of
the various tribes was vested in a chief and
councilmen, which positions were elective,
and all were subject to “recall” from their
places of authority at the will of the mem-
bers of their tribe. The Indians 'were in-
deed cruel and revengeful, and the readers
of history are appalled at the atrocities at-
tributed to them, but as a whole we fail to
see wherein they were more barbaric than
the early European tribes or more revenge-
ful than some of the more modern people
who boast of a Christian civilization. In
their conflicts with the white man they
PARADISE OF LO
11
were more often on the defense than the
aggressors. They greeted the white strang-
ers with friendship and the pipe of peace,
but when they saw their lands and hunting
grounds being appropriated by the intrud-
ers, they resisted with the same vigor that
the Americans today would put forth if a
stronger nation should attempt to wrest their
homes from them or menace their ‘‘pur-
suits of happiness.’V “The Indian was
moral in the highest degree and was never
guilty of tho'se weaker and meaner vices
which stamped and destroyed the charac-
ter of the ancient Roman and have left
their deep impress upon modern France
and the larger cities of our own civiliza-
tion.”* Never was a savage yet intellect-
ual race placed in a country more harmo-
nious with their natures than the American
Indians. Their hunting expeditions were
rewarded with abundant game, their culti-
vated lands ill times of peace yielded corn,
and some of the Southern tribes enjoyed
fruits and vegetables. War was the cause of
their worst woes, but it is a sad reflection
that war has ever been the baneful heritage
of the human race.
It is a fact worthy of note that some of
the most intelligent tribes of North Amer-
ica lived in the South, among them being
the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws and
*Hopkius' History of Oaniulu.
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12
PARADISE OF LO
Seminoles, and their descendants are to-
day citizens of Oklahoma and splendid
examples of th3 response of their race to
the edicts of civilization. Many men, in
whose veins flows Indian blood, have at-
tained distinction and held exalted public
position and at least two have served in
the United States senate. With the excep-
tion of a few Western tribes that still retain
some of their ancient customs, all are now
“citizens and self-supporting.’’ The only
evidence that the Indian once made his
home in the forests of Sabine parish is the
finding of flint arrow heads at various
places, presumably his favorite hunting
grounds. The race is rapidly losing its
weird and spectacular individuality, and in
a few more decades the real American will
have passed away. But he will live in story
and song, and the names of many towns and
rivers will ever be silent reminders of this
primitive American people.
The white man, with his stupendous and
dazzling civilization, now occupies the Par-
adise of Lo.
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Spirit of the Spaniards.
El Conquistador.*
Bold wanderer, in burnished mail,
Treading our new-fouud sphere,
Opening to us our mystic vale.
Deathless, forever dear,
To memory is the hero’s name;
So haply shall be thine; ,
The conquests that exalt thy fame
On Vega’s page they shine.
Thy soul of daring and the lance.
Esteemed the pride of Spain,
These that shall gladden fair romance
Let not the muse disdain.
But were thy conquests but a dream,
Thy name will deathless be.
Aye, Soto; while the Father Stream
Rolls o’er thee to the sea,
Its billows shall with endless dole
Recall the explorer brave,
And thou, approved of mighty soul,
Can’st boast a hero’s grave.
HEN the Great Admiral wasprepar-
■ ^ • in^ for his departure on the mem-
orable voyage which culminated in the
discovery o£ the Western world, he experi-
enced much difficulty in procuring sailors
to take his little fleet across the then un-
mapped and unknown Atlantic. But when
he returned to Spain with his wonderful
stories of discovery, hundreds of adventur-
*These lines are from an epic poem eulitled “Lou-
isianais,” published by T. C. Armstrong, £sq., of
Pleasant Hill, La., in 1904.
13
I
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14
SPIRIT OF THE SPANIARDS
ers, people from every station in life, were
anxious to go and share in the fruits of his
years of study and labor. In the course of
a few years many expeditions were equip-
ped by various maritime nations of Europe
to seek for the treasures which were sup-
posed to be found in the new land, but the
Spanish explorers, during the first half a
century following the discovery, were most
aggressive in the search for gold. It is a
melancholy admission, but the acquire-
ment of wealth has been the irrepressible
passon and paramount aim of all civilized
or even semi-civilized peoples. The down-
fall of every great nation in ancient and
medieval times may be attributed, directly
or indirectly, to their greed for gold and
madness for riches. Historians have been
ever ready to point a finger of scornful re-
buke at the ambitious Spaniards for covet -
iting wealth and its potent power and haz-
zarding their lives in the pursuit of con-
quests, for apparently no other purpose
than to satisfy their greed for gold. We
would not attempt to apologize for the mis-
deeds of the Spaniards, but justice demands
that we accord them that honor and glory
which are due them for the discovery of
the Western Continent. Columbus, it is
true, was an Italian, but to the indomitable
sovereigns of Castile and Aragon is due the
praise for aiding the discoverer in the ex-
SPIRIT OF THE SPANIARDS 15
ecution of his plan. The greed of the
Spaniards could scarcely have been more
formidable than the desire for opu-
lence and the love for power manifested
among the people of the world’s greatest
nations today. Our present generation of
Americans admit their love for money, and
some, of both high and low repute, procure
it by means that are anything but holy.
At the time that Europe was startled by
the story of the discovery of America, the
Spanish sovereigns, Ferdinand and Isa-
be'/a, had just completed their conquest of
Granada and driven th'^ Mohammedan
power, which had long menaced their
kingdoms, into Africa. These two events
mark the passing of medieval Europe and
the arrival of the time when Christian-
ity should ‘‘measure the earth,’’ when the
light of civilization was to be lifted from
“under the bushel.” The spirit of the
Spaniards in this age awakened the sleepy
nations and inspired them with new life.
The glory of Charlemagne’s reign had been
almost f<u’gotten, and his magnificent em-
pire had disintegrated unT.il nothing re-
mained but petty kingdoms which con-
stantly stood with unsheathed sword to
maintain their existence European civil-
ization was at a standstill. The nations
still went to war on pretexts as trivial as
did the savages in the wilds of America.
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SPIRIT OF THE SPANIARDS
The spirit of Christianity was manifest on
every hand, it is true, but the clannish
greed of ambitious' princes for temporal
gain retarded religious as well as educa-
tional progress. England, Germany and
France, which later contributed to the
greatest civilization the world has ever-
known, were yet little better than nations
of clans. They had as yet no literature
and their field for individual endeavor was
confined to their own clan. The discovery
of America at once revolutionized the gov-
ernment and society of Europe. The sov-
ereigns looked to the West for new em-
pires and the individual ventured across
the sea and risked his life among savages
in quest of homes and fortunes. The spir-
it of the Spaniards opened this mighty
realm of opportunity, but in the end their
empire is no larger than before Columbus
sailed from Palos on his first voyage.
The year 1500 found Spain in possession
of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and the mi-
nor islands of the West Indies. The Cab-
ots, who were Italians in the service of
England, had explored the eastern coast of
North America from Labrador to Florida.
-Amerigo Vespucci had visited South Amer-
ica, and the entire new world had been
named in his honor. But the Spaniards
wei*e yet in the lead in the work of explo-
ration, promptly claiming for the King-
17
SPIRIT OF THE SPANIARDS
dom of Spain, all land in which they set up
their flags, as well as immense territories
which discoverers and conquerors pre-
sumed to exist.
The first attempt at Spanish exploration
in North America was made in 1512.
Ponce de Leon, who was a companion of
Columbus on one of his voyages, sailed
from Porto Kico and the land which he
reached was called Florida. Ponce de
Leon was an old man, a veteran of the
wars in Grranada. The voyage which re-
sulted in the discovery of Florida was in-
spired by stories of a fountain which would
restore youth to the aged said to be found
there. ThC' reports of this wonderful
fountain were much like the advertisements
of the modern patent medicines, quack
doctors and breakfast foods, yet many peo-
ple who pin their faith to these things are
prone to smile at the credulity, of the old
Spaniards. Hostile Indians compelled
Ponce de Leon’s expedition to return to
Porto Kico. Five years later, while again
in quest of the “fountain of perpetual
youth” in Florida, he was wounded by an
arrow and died. Other unsuccessful at-
tempts were made to conquer the natives
of Florida, ' among them being the ex-
pedition of Pineda, who discovered the
mouth of the Mississippi River, and was
the first explorer of Louisiana. About this
fi
18
SPIRIT OF THE SPANIARDS
time (1521) Cortez iir^d comoleted his con-
quest of Mexico and annexed that vast em-
pire to the Spanish crown.
In 1528, Narvarez organized an expedi-
tion of five ships and three hundred men
in Cuba and sailed for Florida to hunt for
gold. Indian arrows reduced this army to
three men, who, after roaming throm^h
wildernesses and atnoag savages for nine
years, finally reached Mexico.
More than a decade elapsed ere the Span-
ish conquerors essayed to exploit the ter-
ritory embracing the Southern states. In
1539, Hernando DeSoto, governor of Cuba,
sailed from Havana with a splendid army
of one thousand men with the intention of
conquering the Indians of Florida and ex-
ploring the unknown counti*}' in the inte-
rior. DeSoto and many of his soldiers had
assisted Pizaro in his spectacular conquest
of Peru and were hardened veterans. Their
equipment included horses, canon and the
most effective arms which the times af-
forded. Never did a proud and confident
army experience an end more humiliating
or pathetic than that of DeSoto^ He
lauded in Florida and at'ter wandering for
thyee years in a wilderness which novv em-
braces the states of Mab iina, Georgia and
Mississippi, he arrived at the Great Hiver.
His army had been reduced by conflicts
with Indians and fevers to about five bun
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SPIRIT OF TEE SPANIARDS
19
died men. Rafts were constructed and the
army crossed over to the west bank of the
river at a point in what is now Arkansas.
He then marched west and north as far as
the mouiitaiDS of Arkansas and Eastern'
Oklahoma. Tiirninsc southward, at the end
of a year, he again reached the Mississippi
at tlie mouth of Red River Here, in May,
loi-2, the conquerer became ill of fever and
died, and his body was buried in the great
river which he discovered. DeSoto had
planned to build boats and return to Mex-
ico or Cuba for a fresh army with which to
continue his conquest and search for gold.
Sickness and the arrows and tomahawks
of the savages had reduced the army to
about oue-third of the number which had
set forth on the expedition. Before his
death DeSoto assigned the command of his
ainiy to his faithful lieutenant, Luis de
Muscoso. The men were now weary of the
haid.ships and privations which they had
suftkred, as well as the constant attacks of
Indians which reduced their numbers, and
were anxious to return to their homes.
Moscoso according to their wishes decided
TO lead the army to Mexico and the march
starred. Ttiis meant more disasters, more
battles with Indians. They marched west-
ward through Louisiana, fighting Indians
as they went. It is recorded that Mosco-
<so‘s baud first halted for a rest at the vil-
iiii
Mm4^mS .■‘^f!
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20
SPIRIT OF THE SPANIARDS
lage of the Natchitoches Indiaus near the
present city of Natchitoches. The band
marched about five hundred miles west-
ward into Texas, but becoming discouraged
by the constant opposition of hostile, In-
dians, the untbrtunate explorers decided to
return to the Mississippi River and adopt
the plan proposed by DelSoto to reach the
habitation of their countrymen The men
w^ere nearly completely exhausted from in-
cessant marches, without sufficient food
to nourish their tired bodies, and many be-
came ill and died. They finally reached
the Missisissippi and, after three months'
hard labor, the boats were completed and
the voyage down the stream begun. Ar-
riving at the mouth of the river, they sailed
in their open boats along the coast of Lou-
isiana and Texas and after fifty-three days,
in the midst of a storm which threatened
their destruction, they beached their fleet
of rude sail boats on the coast of Mexico.
Shortly afterward they reached the capital
of the country^ which Cortez had conquered
only a score ot years before.
Xlie French Explorers.
And there beneath the pine he sees
A vision of old memories;
At thought of realms he help’d to win.
Of his sweet France, of kith and kin.
— -Theroulde.
rilHE disastrous end of DoSoto’s expedi-
tion forever discouraged the Span-
iards from making exploits in the valley of
the Misssissippi. They founded San Au-
LaSALLE,
guestine, Florida (1563), on a veritable
held of blood and conquered the Indian
tribes of New Mexico, but no more armies
21
22
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
from Spain came to meet the fierce Indian
tribes of the Southern states. Spanish
priests subsequently established missions
in Texas and West Louisiana, but the con*
querers were not in the vangcuard; their
swords were there unsheathed only in self-
defense. A century liad elapsed since the
exploits of DeSoto ere a white man piloted
a boat on the Mississippi or braved the
pathless forests which extended from either
bank. In that hundred years Canada had
been settled by the French, English colo
nies dotted the entire Atlantic coast, the
Spaniards had found their treasures of gold
in Mexico and Peru, and their sralleons (un-
less overtaken by “Admirar’ Drake or
other English privateer-^and gently rtdieved
of their rich cargoes) peacefully ploughed
through the waters of the ocean from
America and the Orient to the ports of
Spain. The Castilian dream of wealth and
empire had become a reality and the foun-
dation for our great republic was being laid
on the Atlantic coast.
During the last years of the seventeenth
century French missionaries blazed paths
through the country bordering on the Great
Lakes westward nearly to the source of the
Father of Waters, but Louisiana was yet
unknown to civilization. The explorers
who had reached the Great Lakes often
heard stories of a great river farther west
-1 ^
i
5
■i
\
'i
II-
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
23
and believed that it flowed into the Pacific
Ocean. One of the early missionaries to
arrive on the western shore of Lake Supe-
rior was Father Marquette. He had heard
of the stories about the Mississippi and in
the sprin;2: of 1673 set out on a voyasfe of
discovery, accompanied by Louis Joliet, a
valiant French fur tra(!er. Gliding down
the W'isconsin, they reached the Missis-
sippi River. They continued their voyage
as far south as the mouth of the Arkansas
and returned to the North the same year.
Joliet- proceeded to Canada to convey the
news oi their discoveries, but the venerable
priest remained at his mission and spent
his last hours preaching to the Indians.
The kindness and humility of Marquette
won the savage heart, while the armed
conquerors stirred up the spirit of reyonge.
The calumet was Marquette’s passport
among the Indians and his pious instruc-
tions were always welcomed by them.
Joliet’s report of his voyage with Mar-
quette was spread tlaroughout Canada. No
one leceived the news more eagerly than
Robert Cavalier de LaSalle, a young fur
trader and governor of Kingston, Canada.
He had just returned from an expedition
to Lakes Erie and Huron and the Ohio
Ri ver. In his mind was evolved a vast
plan to explore the Mississippi to its mouth
and claim the country on the west side for
. i .-i ■ v^i.X i-
; hur:.i:y -
» » > ? ■' "t
i./, :-v/,v ■ v-: -r^.:
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:?v'7 f: aT' J’a^doS
: 'b to
: b :ir;7 a'i:;'; faui
■■7: ^ - ■ aa:: ::. 71II 7j7jv ' f^riM
- ,.^ .. 7, a,. ,7;^: ..5^ ' -o'viH
24
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
France. He planned to erect forts at nec-
essary intervals to protect the country from
the mfiuence of the English whose colonies
had now extended westward to the Ohio
Kiver. LaSalle went to France, submitted
his plans to King Louis XIV. and secured
the money necessary to proceed with the
work of exploration. While in France he
enlisted the services of Henri Tonti, a
young Italian, whose loyal and faithful
services were of much assistance to the
great pathfinder and whose daring deeds
adorn the annals of Louisiana.
Returning to Canada, LaSalle made two
unsuccessful attempts to get his expedition
under way. Lesertions from his party
caused repeated embarrassments and the
loss of his boats and provisions exhausted
his funds. But he was not the man who
w^ho would abandon a task once under-
taken. The stories of his trials and priva-
tions bear testimony to’his wonderful de-
termination and fortitude. The third
expedition finally arrived at the Mississippi
and, after experiencing many adventures,
reached the village of the Kappas or Ark-
ansas Indians, near Chickasaw Bluffs,
about twenty miles above the villages which
Marquette had visited a few years before.
Here, on March 13, 1682, LaSalle, with
much pomp and ceremony, took possession
of all the land through which flows the
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. _ /; ‘,\i .l‘>7i.!!.
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y ■:.) r ^ ,;■ ^ /,. ■" ■ y;^4 1> 7)' .' '^•,'7 7C|7' '' bv i./JiiO
Jrrr^'VcbfOK:^ bnB ?;i’Od ^’'t^ol
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A-.--: v:-.;,,, ,F f!-Si;:A'f=’ i,': <■■’«■ Oil V
:'. ■, i :, . ;■ T-^ -,;A S.
,,y.^!i;r; ., -'iriA A/S&tu A'A', ) -.u;*,!’ :>uuiJ
,,i.;,; aIvioi aoiiKUiifiS'J
; J ; a; SrMllf '-S 3C'i.H,f''?‘|4^
, , , y y,d) !o aj’iiiifv ©dt
.;'» AOliif.'isf Af'-'i.'Ji
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS 25
Mississippi and its tributaries for the King
of France and erected a wooden pillar which
contained the following inscription:
'‘Louis the Great King of France and Na-
varre, 13th March, 1682/*
This was the real birthday of Louisiana.
The occasion was made a feast day by La-
fclalle, and historians assure us that the In-
dians joined in the celebration. The ban-
quet may have served to stimulate the en-
thusiasm of the Indians, but as their few
hours^ acquaintance whh the French was
scarcely sufficient to enable them to under-
stand the language of the explorers, it is
possible that the Kuppas joined in the real
spirit of the occasion much as a Dahomey
negro would at a modern political conven-
tion However, this was the birthday of
Louisiana, and it is a sad commentary on
our gratitude for the services of one of
America’s greatest pioneers that the anni-
versary of the christening of one of the
grandest countries on earth is apparently .
forgotten. LaSalle was, indeed, one of the
greatest Fr-^nch explorers, and he lit the
torch ot civilization in America’s richest
field. Departing from the Indian village,
he paddled toward the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi, which he reached April 9, 1682.
Here, with much ceremony, he again took
possession of Louisiana in the name of the
King of France. He then began his re-
26 THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
tura voyage to Canada. The following
wintei* he built a fort on the site of an Il-
linois Indian village which he named Fort
St. Louis. The following spring he turned
the fort over to the command of Tonti and
went to Canada. In the autumn of 1683 he
went to France, reported his discoveries in
person to the king and unfolded his plans
for colonizing the vast territory LaSalle
was received with much favor at the French
Court and His Majesty readily consented to
grant any favor that would aid in the ad-
vancement of the enterprise -An expedi-
tioh consisting of one hundred soldiers and
as many colonists, with necessary equip-
ment and two ships, were enlisted for the
voyage to Louisiana. It/ was LaSalle’s in-
tention to steer directly for the mouth of
the Mississippi River and thus avoid the
long and weary journey way of Canada
and down the river. Among the members
of the expedition were LaSalle’s brother,
Abbe Cavalier, and Henri Joutel, a priest.
All went well with the voyagers until
they reached Santo Domingo and started
to sail across the Gulf of Mexico. Instead
of steering to the mouth of the Mississippi
they went westward, passing it, and were
lost in the Gulf. Land was finally reached
at a point in Southeast Texas, but, believ-
ing that they had only reached the coast of
Florida, LaSalle ordered the vessels to con-
df
tOill
■‘A
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’ ‘ j }'
5/C
^ ' Jl
- , i":, ''ll n
!i«< O'
.. . ,, ':)
'., s. ■ ■'
,r?5:5.' c.;>
.■ ,•..5 ■
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
27
tiLue a westward course and they finally
anchored in what is now known as Mata-
gorda Bay. In crossing the gulf LaSalle
lost one of his vessels and while engaged in
the task of landing the colonists an-
other ship was sunk. And what made the
situation extremely pathetic, many of the
colonists were stricken with fever and died.
In the face of dissensions in the colony
and the attacks of hostile Indians, LaSalle
constructed a fort But he was anx-
ious to find the Mississippi River and sev-
eral expeditions were made in quest of it,
on one of which the last ship was lost.
There now remained less than half of the
colonists that had sailed from Prance, with
hopes of finding fortunes in the New
World, and these were on the verge of de-
spair. The loss of clothing and such arti-
cles as they needed to begin their pioneer
life with, as well their provisions, made
their condition a sad one. At last LaSalle,
with seventeen companions started east in
search of the Mississippi. He had planned
to go to the river, build boats and proceed
to Canada and procure assistance for the
remnant of his destitute colony. They
underwent many hardships from the
start and there was much dissatisfaction
among the men They finally arriv'ed at
the Trinity River where lived the Cenis
Indians. Here the great explorer was as-
28
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
sassinated, io a most cowardly manner, by
one of his men named Dehaut. Follow] a,
a cjuarrel, Dehaut and another man had
murdered a companion the day before and
killed LaSalle to av^oid censure for dheir
crime. Later the assassins quarreled at an
Indian village and both were killed Father
Jout^^l and LaSalle's brother, with five
other members of the party, started across
the country and succeeded in reaching the
Mississippi, then proceeded to Canada and
Frafibe. LaSalle was buried near
the scene of his tragic end and Texans
have marked the spot where his remains
are supposed to rest.
An effort vras later .made by the noble
Tonti to lead an expedition to rescue the
little band of colonists left at Matagorda
Bay, but when he arrived at the village of
a tribe of Indians known as the Caddoda-
quious on Red River, all but one of his fol-
lowers bad deserted him, and hearing that
the colonists had been killed by Indians
he abandoned his enterprise. While La-
Salle’s attempts to colonize the Louisiana
country resulted in failure, his plans still
lived. King Louis XIV. had become dis-
couraged by reason of the failure of La-
Salle’s expedition and had decided to at-
tempt to send no more colonists to Lou-
isiana, but his chief advisei'S, Ponchartrain
and Maurepas, induced him to protect the
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS 29
territorv. The king had just concluded a
treaty cf pe ace with Great Britain, still the
English colonists were gradually pushing
their settlements westward and had, in faet,
already entered territory claimed by France.,
In 1699, a rumor that the English intended
to send a fleet to the mouth of the Missis-
sisippi induced the French king to send an
expedition to Louisiana in command of
Charles LeMoyne Sieur de Iberville, who
had won distinction as a commander in
the French navy. Iberville was reared in
Canada and was familiar with pioneer life.
He was accompanedby his younger brother,
Bienville, and both shared in the glories of
Louisiana history. After exploring the
country, he at last found the mouth of the
Mississippi and proceeded up the stream as
far as the villages of the Houma and Bay-
ougoula Indians. Iberville then decided
to go to France and left a gallant French-
man, Souvole, and Bienville in command
( f the fort. During Iber anile’s absence the
commandants employed their time in im-
proving the fort on Mobile Bay.
In the winter of 1701 Iberville returned
from France. A party of immigrants ac-
companied him, including his brother,
Cbateauguay, and Juchereaude fe^t. Denys,
a gallant 3 oung Canadian, who subsequently
founded the town of Natchitoches and
whose deeds added glory to the French
30
THE FRENCH EXPLORERS
regime in Louisiana Iberville now planned
to build a fort on the Mississippi River,
about fifty miles from its mouth, and it
was named Fort Maurepas. Here he was
visited by parties of Canadians who had
come down the river, amomg them being
Tonti, the former companion of LaSalle.
The exploration of Red River was now un-
dertaken, but after a visit to several In-
dian tribes along the Mississippi, Iberville
became ill at a village of the Tensas In-
dians and returned to Port Maurepas. Bi-
enville assumed command of the Red River
expedition and with a small party of Ca-
nadians and Indians began the march. Af-
ter swimming swollen streams, wading
swamps and enduring many privations, the
party arrived at the village of the Natchi-
toches Indians, near the site of the present
city of Natchitoches (March 28, 1701).
From that place, going up the river, they
passed through the villages of the Yataches
and some time during the month of April
reached the country of the Cadda laquious
tribe in the section which embraces the
present parish of Caddo-. Beiuville then
returned to Port Maurepas and later assisted
Iberville in builiog a fort on Mobile Bay.
Iberville again went to France, leaving Bi-
enville in command of the colony. He
never returned, having died in Cuba four
yeurs later.
* ' ' ' 08'
,■. , ,-.nr.r..J" ; -li
? ^ ^ K,- ' r:;',,' £':■(.'■■ '^'rO- '''• Of
. ..:vr . (.•;-■) .a'?
>, ■■,■,.■:;/ S:':0«v^
:v,:.., ='v:; :• ^ O’' i/,’ •>' •, "
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;. ;, ; ' . , - 'S ' '. r 1 .IH'’'^ -i
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4 .!io •■a"' a ■: ■■.);; ' iia
1,0 ua! ■^a:? ; ... o ' ' . a; r a: ,/i.': ; „„ a da,a ; ,
aoiaaidaia d'a.'i\’.“ ,■ ar' lU
, a,>; ^ ia ao>30‘iq'
aa , : ,. ' ^^»a'' ■ ■ ■■ '■ ■■' a^ '' a .a/i
a '.a j a, ' ',. '. i 0:0. ' 'O.' .... :
^ 'aa : ia^' lia fa^aa^ n l ,1 ' i id T-','" ^ ^ ? ■ :a, a" ia>' ' ''a, : a
aodoa ■ adi 4..o Lara- ’--oa :,,u .^a^r?ao
' ..--aiiO ai beib ('O'-riiir-'" lav*-;,;
Xhe French Settlers.
Some men with swords may sweep the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill;
But their strong; nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still;
Early or late
They stoop to fate.
And must give up their murmuring breath
When they, pale captives, creep to death.
—Shirley.
assuming command of the colonists,
Bienville endeavored to make their
lot more cheerful, and to keep peace with
the various Indian tribes. War had again
broken out between France and England,
and colonists from the Carolinas were ac-
tive among the Indians inciting them to
hostilities against the French settlers. The
French maintained a system of communi-
cation with Canada by means of the Mis-
issippi and the Great Lakes. Missions and
trading posts were established along the
river and lakes. Much of the credit for
these enterprises belonged to the labors of
Tonti, who was known as “the map with
the iron hand.” The war between Eng-
land and France afforded ample excuse for
the English colonists to harrass the French
settlements. The real issue between the
colonists of the two nations was trade su-
4
32
THE FRENCH SETTLERS
premacy with the Indians, and traders of
neither nation had any scruples about in-
citing the savages against the other. The
incursions of the Alabama tribe induced
Bienville to make war on them, and later
against the strong Chickasaw tribes In
these campaigns he was assisted by Tonti
and St. Benys, but desertions of Indian
allies handicapped the French and perma-
nent peace could not be secured For six
BIENVILLE,
years, by reason of the war in Europe,
only two ships arrived from France with
supplies for the colony. English priva-
teers patrolled the West Indies and France
was powerless to raise the blockade. Cha-
tauguay managed to elude the British and
go to Cuba and Santo Domingo and return
t
<
i
i
I
THE FRENCH SETTLERS
33
with food and clothing for the colonists,
but these were soon exhausted. At last
Bienville appealed to the home govern
ment. A new governor, DoMuys, was sent
to take his place as governor, bat he died
while on the voyage to America and M.
Diron D’Artaguette arrived and assumed
control of Louisiana. France had become
bankrupt by incessant wars and the king
now leased Louisiana to a banker named
Antoine de Crozat and left the destitute set-
tlers in charge of another governor, Lemon-
the Cadillac. Bienville had been prevented
from leaying the colony and was retained
to fight the Natchez Indians whose depre-
dations were a source of constant horror to
the settlers. The administration of Cadil-
lac was conducted for the single purpose of
yielding profit to the banker who was
backing it. Merchandise of various kinds
was sent from Prance and shrewd traders
were sent to trade with the Indians. Bi-
enville and St Denys made expeditions up
Red River to check inroads of the Span-
iards in French territory, in 1714, the ex-
ploits of St. Denys being recorded in an-
other chapter. On his return to Mobile,
Bienville found that Governor Cadillac had
been recalled, and he was left in charge of
affairs until the arrival of the new gov-
ernor, De le Epiuay. The Crozat plan had
proved unprofitable and the banker turned
84
THE FRENCH SETTLERS
the affairs of the colony back to the king.
The king now turned Louisiana over to a
corporation known as the Mississippi Com-
pany, which agreed to pay the expense of
running the government for the profits that
would accrue through commercial pursuits.
The new governor, with immigrants, ar-
rived, but ere long he was recalled and Bi-
enville was selected to administer the
affairs of the corporation. The company
sold vast tracts of land to immigrants and
they began to arrive in large numbers at
Dauphine Island. -This compt^ny was the
creation of a scheming Scotch lawyer
named John Law, the champion real estate
shark of the eighteenth century. He cir-
culated wonderful stories of the riches that
could be gathered from mines to be opened
in Louisiana, in the short time it would
take a settler to tip his hat. But the
scheme failed. The mines never material-
ized and if the settlers ever so much as
prospected for oil there is no record that
they ever struck a “gasser'^ as energetic as
Law. After all, this resourceful }>ramoter
did not altogether misrepresent the possi-
bilities of the country, Suppose that the
early settlers were permitted to witness
the fabulous wealth that is taken from be-
neath the soil of Louisiana tcda\x^
Mobile was at last deemed inconveni-
ent for the reception and transportation of
35
1770825
THE FRENCH SETTLERS
immigrants to their new homes, and Bien-
ville proposed to establish a town on the
Mississippi River. The commissioners
representing the company opposed the
plan and decided to move to Iberville^s old
fort on Mobile Bay and lay out a town. In
a short time the new town was destroyed
by fire, accidentally started from a lighted
pipe. The present city of Biloxi was then
founded. The company had objected to
the towusite on the Mississippi because
they did not believe that ships could pass
through the mouth of the river Pdenville
now demonstrated the fact that the mouth
of the river was deep enough for the pas-
sage of large vessels, and sent a import to
that effect to France The report reached
Paris about the time the Mississippi Com-
pany failed. The government of Louisiana
by proprietors had been a losing proposi-
tion, and the board of. liquidation which
now took charge of affairs looked with fa-
vor on Bienville’s plan and he Wets author-
ized to establish a town on the Mississippi
(1718). In June, 1722, De la Tour and
Paugey, two engineers, laid out and made
a plat of the new city, which was named
New Orleans and became the capital of
Louisiana and later the metropolis of the
^^outh.
The real work of the colonization of
Louisiana was now begun, Bienville had-
36
THE FRENCH SETTLERS
previously sent men to take possession of
LaSalle’s old fort on the coast of Texas in
order to protect the country from Spanish
aggression. Under the administration of
Cadillac immigrants had gone up Red River
to settle the country of the Caddo and
Natchitoches Indians. At this time the
territory embraced in the present state of
Texas was claimed by both the French and
the Spanish. The French claim was based
on the settlement of LaSalle at Fort St.
Louis on Matagorda Bay, while the Span-
ish claims were based on the Mexican con-
quest and the explorations of Coronada in
New Mexico in 1540. The fact is very ap-
parent, however, that Spain had not at-
tempted to colonize the territory until after
LaSalle had set up the claim of France by
establishing a colony on Matagorda Bay, in
1685.
Duringr the year following the founding
of New Orleans, Bienville was involved in
another war with the Natchez Indians, as
a result of which the French arms did not
gain any decisive victory. Owing to jeal-
ousies in the colony Bienville was recalled
as governor and ordered to France. This
was the most humiliating reverse which he
had ever suffered, as the order deprived him
of his rank, and his family as well as rela-
tives in Louisiana were made to suffer.
Two years later (1727) the Natchez again
THE FRENCH SETTLERS 37
brought terror to the colonists by the mas-
sacre of two hundred men, ninety women
and fifty-fi\"e children at Port Rosalie, and
it is probable that all the French settlers
would have met the same fate had it not
been for the Choctaws and their kindred
tribes which had always remained the
faithful allies of the colonists. The Nat-
chez were punished, but not conquered,
and the continued depredations of the sav-
ages disgusted the directors who had charge
of the affairs of the colony and they gave
it back to the king. The settlers were dis-
satisfied with the administration of Grov-
ernor Perrier and he was recalled and Bien-
ville, who was considered the only man who
could wisely govern Louisiana aod keep
peace with the Indians, was returned to his
old post. When he arrived at New Orleans
he at once resolved to make war on the
Natchez as well as the Chickasaws for pro-
tecting them. After a campaign lasting
three years, in which he met severe reverses,
returned with his army to New Orleans, re-
signed his office and left Louisiana never
to return. He died in France at the age of
88 years. Bienville devoted forty-seven
years of his life to Louisiana civilization
and is properly esteemed as one of our most
illustrious pioneers.
Jean Baptiste LeMoyne, Sieur de Bien-
ville, came to the colony when only 18 years
tLi
I. ‘ . i - ' 'i:;
38
THE FRENCH SETTLERS
of age, and was chosen to preside over its
destinies as governor when he had reached
the age of 24. He spent his boyhood days
among the Indians of Canada, and his ac-
quaintance with the characteristics of the
savages, his knowledge of the languages
of the various tribes, enabled him to render
services to the pioneers of Louisiana that
few other men could supply. If he had an
equal as a pioneer, it was in the person of
St. Denys, a companion on his early expe-
dition up Red River and faithful lieutenant
in his conflict with savages. As the life
and deeds of St. Denys are most pertinent
to this history, we devote the following
chapter to a brief review of the same.
Sim Uenys and ]\atcliitocltefii.
’Mid the all-pervading gloom of that sad time,
The second hero of oiir dual tale,
Undaunted still, at his far post remained.
Sieur de St. Denys by Sabloniere,
On the dim border of our shadow-land,
Had built a royal seat, and round it reared
The basis of a forest kingdom wide ...
—Armstrong.
"TN 1714, four years before the founding of
New Orleans, Cadillac, the governor
during the administration of the Company,
* sent Juchereau St. Denys with thirty Can-
adians and a number of Indians to estab-
lish a trading post at Natchitoches, which
is the oldest town in Louisiana, in order to
discourage Spain’s effort to establish set-
tlements on French territory and to extend
the trade of the colony with the Indians of
Texas. The French had reasons for ap-
prehension of the occupancy of their ter-
ritory by the Spaniards. During the pre-
ceeding fifty years, and as early as 1694,
Spain had settled a colony of Canary Is-
landers at Adayes, in the vicinity of the
present town of Robeline (Natchitoches
Farish). They had also planted missions
on the Rio Grande and were establishing
several in the neighborhood of Nacogdo-
39
'K'
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■ , ' ’ : , , V. r / . « i 5 ’ V’ >
/w .hn/..;
40 ST. DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES
dies, Texas. The mission and post at Ad-
ayes was finally destroyed by fire and the
settlement subsequently abandoned.
St. Denys, after planning for the estab-
lishment of the post, left a few Canadians
there and went westward on a trading ex-
pedition in Texas. G-overnor Cadillac en-
deavored to open up commerce between
the French and the Indians of Texas, but
Spain had rejected the proposition, as she
had established a rule forbidding any coun-
try to trade with her colonies Notwith-
standing this rule. Father Hidalgo, who
bad undertaken to establish missions among
the Indians of East Texas, made a secret
agreement with the French to assist them
in carrying on commerce if in turn they
would give aid to the Spanish missions.
St. Denys carried a large stock of mer-
chandise on his Texas expedition.. His
party marched across the great province to
a mission on the Rio Grande at a point
near Eagle Pass. Here St. Denys was re-
ceived kindly, but was promptly informed
that he must answer to the charge of trad-
ing in Spanish territory. . While he sub-
mitted plausible excuses for leading an
expedition to the Rio Grande, he was de-
tained and carried to the City of Mexico
for trial, the details of which are not re-
corded. In 171G he returned to Texas as
an officer in a Spanish expedition in com-
XI (ji
■ '•/. in ^feiSq ItitR immm sdT .sszsT
f:nw mja
\b"ia§:m4i‘ih \l^m:ip^Bdt!S
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h^f;} ^pjiyni jj ao f')f ■: wje.oz/ fn^T/ brvii
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'h0ts#j?»d ' '©fnfimxMf* qti ■ ■a’^qo' ol'
n.d ,?jsz3T , la saaif ((il ed T feaa Jaas-i'S sili
&ds p.K 'jOoiJiabqcnq silj ■fcslustfri -ftad eiaxiS-
-.naoa-'tflxi afliidjid’i';'! ^lui n hmiv'idBisn bed
' a "ftjf dlw ellS'il' O.J
odvsr. ^glttbl'H ’£9iiiaj . ■''0: mdf jirfjMfti*
■j;.i’‘t0JS gjiois.'iiid ;>1 ssbxsrj hfid
l«n(J9S-. ■« -sfesio ,f--8z,'jT laiiid. to stuabai «*dJ
txiadl oJ d .■(■:,!•-' '’4 ad^ diiw jaamaaise
y^sdi mm «i li ooisain^ 00 gditms fli '
:f " ;Kao:?.*iai d3i;.r&q& srft ol bin im'g.biiniiw
-0(!-.>a!, 'to. d'OOJK n bai’i'i.GO 3'i^jaQ. *J8
;8iE .0oi£tuqji.9 enzd'! 8fd no ' aaibfoido
OJ dat'ivtrf'q jxooia- otlt R80't"'jj' bi-.’: ' 'O’ou
nnvq B in (^hi n€ olii »d) ao aoimcn &
.'O'l K«w .g««£. 0fj5tsS inea
{)9m'fo5flt vIjqaiO’iq gji i? lod ,vlbaii bovioo
-.liMt la ejj'iario sdi OJ i8’jv«a« laam ad J^dt
-due ad diidW •• 0<-ioJm.0! daijT«q'8' a! nac
lol B-mi'jzst' 9ldt$tifilq bsSJiui
■i.-i)h:SAm M-’ ,ebniinO edi o> uoiJibaqz?
ooizsM^b ViO ©f!J OJ boli'iao bun binsiBi
-8’iijton snrrdoidw; 16 (“IrtJab edi, . Wl
ea (it’isT oi bfacjrtiat Od UITI* iil .babiOs
• m09 III uoi.!iboqzo jleiflaaS a 01 woilio as
ST, DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES 41
mand of Captain Diego Ramon. Tbe ac-
tion of St. Denys in accepting a commis-
sion from the Spanish while he was still in
the service of the governor of Louisiana, is
a topic for the speculative historians. It is'
sufficient to relate that while Captain Ra-
mon was occupied with the temporal af-
fairs of his government at the missions, St.
Denys was busy making love to the cap-
tain’s pretty and accomplished grand-
daughter, Senorita Manuella de Navarre,
who later became his wife
Sc. Denys returned to Natchitoches and
assumed command of the post, which po-
sition he retained for many years. The
establishment of the Spanish missions in
T. xas, five of which were located in the vi-
cinity of Nacogdoches, practically marked
the end of French -influence west of the
Sabine River. While the policy of St.
Denys was, in a measure, responsible for
the loss of Texas to the French, his astute
diplomacy kept the Spaniards west of the
Sabine, and while some of his official acts
w'ere apparently queer, he was withal a
peacemaker. He was a shrewd trader and
it was to his personal interest that peace
should prevail betw^een his people and rhe
Spaniards and various Indian tribes. When
he learned that Marquis de Gallio, the
Spanish governor of Texas, was preparing
to build a fort east of Sabine River, he ar-
42 ; ST. DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES
ranged a conference with the governor and
induced him to abandon bis plans. And
when the Spaniards returned to their East
Texas missions, after having left them
Through fear of a French invasion, St.
Donys went to greet the commander and
assure him of his good will. However, he
was as brave as he was shrewd. During
the war wnth the Natchez the warriors of
that tribe marched against the fort under
his command. By employment of diplo-
macy he endeavored to dissuade them from
making an attack He had won and re-
tained the friendship of the Tejas, Avoy-
elles, Natchitoches, Attakapas and all other
tribes yrilh whi.*h he came in contact, but
the bioodthirsty Natchez refused to listen
to his overtures. The limit of his patience
wms reached wdien the savages approached
and ■burned a French w'oman in sight of
the* fort.; - The real .fighting spirit of St.
Denys was aroused and he was determined
to avenge the inhuman outrage w'hich the
Natchez had perpetrated, and with forty
French soldiers, a score of settlers and a
few warriors of the Natchitoches tribe, he
rushed from the stockade and attacked the.
savages, killing sixty and w^ounding as
many more of theirnumber. The remain-
der ..were put to fiight. Kefugees of this
rapidly vanishing tribe again attacked the
post the. foUqvving.year ( 1781 ), .but were so
V
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1 .]■. .'V; ■ . :-;r : . -
,...'^>rrTi'v7 '../in
il: V .iiti
V; '.n;. ■ ..: ^-4}
OS M ■■ .
SL DENTS AND NATCHITOCHES 43
effectually repulsed that they never re-
turned to molest the settlers.
As previously stated, the French en-
countered little difficulty in' keeping on
friendly terms with the many small Indian
tribes. These included the Yattasees,
Caddos and other minor tribes to the north
and the Attakapas and other tribes to the
south of Natchitoches. On his first trip
to Texas, St. Denys won for the French
the friendship of the Texas tribes. The
idea of setting aside a reservation for the
Indians does not appear to have occurred
to the French settlers, nor to their Latin
cousins across the Sabine, even after they
had secured a foothold. The word segre-
gation had not yet appeared in the lexicon
of American political economy, and there
were no sociologic upstarts who cultivate
a desire to live in an exclusive atmosphere
While the French dispossessed the Indians
of their country, they evidently had a lofty
purpose in doing so. They were not alto-
gether inspired by the spirit of self ag-
grandizement. It was the rule to pay the
natives for their lands, and the early mis-
sionaries zealously lab)i*ed to christianize
them and instruct them in the ways of civ-
ilization. Before the advent of the mis-
sions many of the tribes often suffered
from scarcity of food and lack of proper
clothing and shelter. The missionaries.
44 SL DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES
primarily, taught them the luxury and pro-
priety of the use of clothing for their bod-
ies and of living in houses and producing
more wholesome food by tilling the soil.
They had wild meat, but there was often a
famine of other necessary foods. A. report
of the method of feeding the natives in the
era of the missions says: ‘‘The corn crop
is consumed by giving the Indians what
they need for all purposes ; and they are
also furnished beans, pumpkins, watermel-
ons, pepper, salt, and sugar, which is made
from the cane which they take care to
plant at each mission annually, because
this is the best way to regale the Indians
and the most pleasing to their appetites
In the missions cotton and wool are used
by making them into mantas, terlingas,
rebozas, coarse cloths and blankets for their
protection and covering. The Indians are
assisted, when they are sick, with medi-
cines which this country furnishes, and
some which are brought in for that pur-
mauy of the early settlers of Natchi-
toches purchased their lands from the In-
dians and the terms of the transfers are to
be found in the real estate records of the
parish. In 1769, while the inhabitants of
the town did not number above half a
thousand, it was the chief trading and dis-
*Dr. Oarrison’ia “■Texas.”
1
i
■> i.
i
ST, DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES 45
tributing point for a vast territory. The
population embraced some splendid
French families whose descendants have
rendered valuable Services to their country,
as citizens, soldiers and in public position. .
Many of the pioneers constructed beautiful
homes and opened up large and fertile
plantations. African slaves, which had
been brought to Louisiana under the reg-
ime of the Mississippi Company, were em-
ployed in the cultivation of crops on the
plantations. Trade with New Orleans was
facilitated by small boats on Red River, as
well as by carts overland, and with Texas
by the opening up of a road from Natchi-
toches via the present town of Many to
Nacogdoches and San Antonio. St. Denys
was the prime mover in the establishment
of this road, which was known in Texas as
the King’s Highway, and was designated
by the people of Louisiana as the San An-^
tonio Road or Mexican Trail. In 1762 the
colony at Natchitoches was enjoying a
splendid measure of peace and prosperity.
The forty-seven years of work and strug-
gles of the indomitable pioneers had begun
to bear fruit. Without aid from the home
government, the colony had not only be-
come self-supporting but was a producer of
surplus wealth, which made for the .com-
fort and contentment of the people. The
fertile lands yielded nearly all of their ne-
, ’’rioq -'^xron
.i-
:,; ' ,. UX: I
SL DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES
46
cessities in the w:w of food, and the culti-
vation of the cottoij plant had already be-
come the source of nurplus wealth. But
the ?tar of hope often becomes visible only
to be immediately dimmed by many vicis-
situdes and resultant discouragements for
her people, whose deeds are marked in the
early history of Sabine parish, and whose
posterity are still pro!niQent in the public
and private life of our state.
St. Denys was for many years the faith-
ful commandant at ^tchitoches and his
body found its last resting place there.
Many stories of his long and active life
are to be found in the more voliirainous
chronicles of Louisiana. Notable among
the events of bis early life was a duel
which he fought with a minor officer in the
army while in France. He left the field of
combat, believing that he had killed his
opponent, and hastened to America. ISev-
eral years later, while he was commandant
at Natchitoches, an Attakapas Indian came
to the post and offered for tnide a small
box which the commandant discerned had
been the property of a white man. St.
Denys bought the box and found that it
contained the commission of an officer in
the French army, and bis surprise was
increased when be saw that it bore the
name of the man whom he thought he had
killed in a duel. On being assured that his
SL DENYS AND NATCHITOCHES 47
former antagonist was living a prisoner of
the Indians, he at once planned to go to
his rescue. The man had been among the
Indians several years. It is related that
while his ship was anchored on the Gulf
coast, he had gone on laud and was cap-
tured by the savages. His companions,
believing him dead or lost, set sail. The
man was deprived of his clothing and com-
pelled to follow their savage life. The
Attakapas are said to have been cannibals
and endeavored to induce their prisoner to
eat human flesh. He was finally rescued
by St. Denys, and the meeting of the men
who had formerly faced each other in a
duel is described as a most happy one.
St. Denys, owing to his remarkable in-
fluence with the Indians, was often called
upon to settle disturbances among the
minor tribes.- It is said that on one occa-
sion he sent a detachment of soldiers to
quell an Indian not in the vicinity of the
present town of Many. After a parley the
chief informed the petty officer that he
would treat with no one except the crippled
white chief of Natchitoches — St. Denys —
and peace was not arranged until he ar-
rived at the village.
In conclusion, it is proper to note that
descendants of the Father of Natchitoches
have occupied some of the most important
public positions in the siate.
J
1
i
i
i
Shifiiiftg of ilte
Through all the future and the coming years ^
As through all time that’s past,
One law holds ever good.
That nothing comes to life of man
Uncathed throughout by woes.
HE war which had been waged inter-
mittingly between France and Eng-
land for a century was ended bv the Treatv
of Faris, February 10, 1763. The bat le
that decided which of the two nations
should be predominant in \merica had
been fought on the Heights of Quebec foui-
years before. The French arm\^ of Gren-
eral Montcalm was defeated by the English
and their soldier ^ colonists co mnanded by
General Wolfe. By the terms of the treaty
France ceded to England all her territory
in America except Louisiana and the Island
and City of New Orleans. Canada and all
the French territory east of the Mississippi
passed to England who was now apparently
master of North America. The real test of
this presumption was yet to be made, and
it was, indeed, a scorching one. ‘‘The
victory of Wolfe at Quebec . . . really
contributed iu an indirect way to the loss
of the Thirteen Colonies. The bontires
— Sophocles.
48
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS
49
which then illumed the coasts and settle-
ments of New England, and lit the market-
places of New York and Philadelphia with
the light of a great rejoicinsf, were the last
of their kind in American history, and, in
the capture of the army of Cornwallis at
Yorktown, France obtained revenge for the
defeat of Montcalm on the Heights of
Quebec.”*
. At the beginning of this conflict, known
as the Seven Years’ War, England perpe-
trated an outrage which will remain for all
time a blot upon the history of her colonies
in America The incident is referred to
here for the reason that it is definitely
linked to the annals of Louisiana. Before
the settlement of Jamestown by the Eng-
lish, and many years before the Puritans
landed at Plymouth Rock, a colony of
Breton peasants settled Acadia. In 1754,
the descendants of those sturdy and happy
French pioneers were cruelly expatriated
by the English, who had previously cap-
tured the military defenses of Nova Scotia.
“They were a simple, rural, Grod fearing
people, living in quiet happiness upon their
well-cultivated farms. . . . When their
sky seemed serenest, the Acadiaus were •
suddenly seized to the number of seven
thousand, deprived of their lands, flocks and
other property, and at the point of a bay-
♦Hawthonie’s Hist. U. S. . . ^
•*
'
^ nil
i
y"
Il
■ i:
fmJ
50
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS
onet burned on board an English fleet.
They were then landed penniless along the
the coast from Maine to Louisiana. No
regard was paid to family ties. Parents
were separated from children, wives from
husbands, sistei^ from brothers. Thus in
misery and exile, this once happy people
lingered out a sorrowful and weary exist-
ence.’’*
“In all the annals of Spanish biuiality,
there is nothing more disgraceful to hu-
manity than the systematic and enjoined
treatment of these innocent Bi*etons by the
English. . . . No detail w^as wanting,
from first to last, to make the crime of the
Acadian deportation perfect.”! Many of
the banished Acadians found refuge in
Louisiana.
The people of Louisiana had not suffered
to any great extent from the war, but their
time to feel its direful effects had now
come. King Louis XV., following his dis-
astrous defeat by the English, harbored the
fear than Great Britain would next at-
tempt to occupy his remaining American
possessions and secretly gave the province
of Louisiana to his cousin, Charles III. of
Spain. The people of Louisiana were
much grieved by reason of this action of
their king and petitioned him to reconsider
• ♦Sadlier’s U. S. Hist.
tHawthorue’s Hist. U. S.
51
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS
his act coatinue to be their ruler. Their
request was ignored, and, in 1765, Ulloa,
the first Spanish governor, arrived and
raised the Spanish flag in their beloved
country. The indignant French citizens
made life so unpleasant for Ulloa that he
left the province. He was succeeded b}’' a
tyrant named O’Reilly, who came with a
large array and proceeded to cause the ar-
rest of eleven men who were charged with
being instrumental in bringing aboiu Di-
loa’s departure They were tried by j udges
and found guilty. Five of them, Caresse,
Lafraniere, Marquis, Noyan and Milhet,
were condemned to be hanged, but later
sentenced to be shot and the decree was
executed near the old Ursuline convent in
New Orleans, the men refusing to have
their eyes covered with bandages and he-
roically faced the guns of the Spanish sol-
diers. The six men who escaped the death
sentence were sent to Havana and impris-
oned.
For many years now the lot of the colo-
nists in every section of America was one
of severe trials. The French of Louisiana
were disheartened and made no progress
under the government of Spain, and they
had little hope for a change for the better.
The English colonists were smarting under
the oppressive yoke of George II. He was
succeeded by George III. who assiduously
52
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS
continued to systematically deprive them
of their liberties and to bespatter their in-
telligence with insult until their condition
became intolerable. Within a decade after
this royal bigot had assumed his crown, the
colonists had f ">ught and won their first
battles ar Lexington and Concord, and a
few years later the British army under
Cornwallis made its last stand at York-
town and surrendered to General Wash*
ington and his army of patriots. By this
blow the arrogant English were completely
humbled and the original Thirteen colonies
were no longer subjects of Great Britain.
Only the French colonists of Canada re-
mained loyal to King George. A new’ na-
tion (a republic that did not belie its
name) was born and was destined to be-
come one of the most progressive and
powerful governments known in the rec-
ord of human affairs.’ The culmination of
the war was not only a triumph for the col-
onies, but it started the fires of liberty all
over the world.
The United States had but fairly entered
on its career as a nation when events w^ere
happening in Europe which led to the
struggle that shook the throne of every
monarch on the continent. Louis XYL, a
good man, but a densely ignorant king, \vas
on the throne of France. His misgovern -
ment of his subjects, through wooden min-
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS
53
isters, lost him his head as well as his
crown. The monarchy was succeeded by a
government by a mob, whose chief glory
was in the murders it committed and the
army of Frenchmen it led to the guillotine.
The reign of the mob was supplanted by
the inglorious Directory. The revolution
extended through the last dozen years of
the eighteenth century, and at its culmin-
ation France could boast of nothing gained
from it more substantial than a despotic
government, at the head of which was Na-
poleon Bonaparte who bore the title of em-
peror. In 1803 this arch -disturber was on
the verge of beginning his mighty conflict
with allied Europe. For twelve years the
armies of France, under the direction of
the intrepid Corsican, had triumphed in
practically every battle in which they en-
gaged and thrones were cast asunder and
nations made subservient to his formidable
will. In the course of his conquests, in
1800, the kingdom of Spain was entangled
in his powerful web. Charles IV., a hair-
brained monarch, occupied the Spanish
throne under the guardianship of his wife.
Queen Maria Louise. Napoleon, who was
desirous of regaining the possessions which
France had lost in America, “persuaded’’
the Spanish king to cede Louisiana back to
France. Charles reluctantly yielded to the
“persuasion” of the French emperor, and
<
;
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS ,
54
by the treaty of Ildefonso, which was kept
secret from the world for many months,
Louisiana a<xain passed under the flag- of
France. The wars of Napoleon had ex-
tended through the administrations of
George Washington and John Adams as
presiden^‘5 of the young xAmerican republic
and (in 1803) Thomas Jeffer-on was presi-
dent of the rapidly growing nation. The
immense territory of the United States,
which' extended from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi, was being occupied by thous-
ands of progressive home-builders, and the
occupancy of Louisiana by Spain, with her
stringent trade laws, was considered by the
United States an impediment to commerce
on the Great River, and when the secret
that Charles Hi. had ceded Louisiana to
Napoleon was finally divulged Jefferson
was determined to at least acquire the
Island and City of New Orleans. Robert
Livingston was the United States minister
at the French capital, and James Monroe
was sent to Pans to assist him in negotia-
tions for the purchase of New Orleans.
Napoleon at first declined to consider pro-
posals for the sale of the key to the Mis-
sissippi river, the highway for commerce in
his American province, but just at this
time his warships, which had been sent on
an expedition to bring Santo Domingo un-
der his authority, were annihilated by the
SHIFTING OF THE FLAGS
55
En^clish, and the remainder of the French
navy bein^ of no service to him, his hopes
for retaining a foothold in America were
suddenly and effectually vanished. '‘Some
who have studied ingeniously into the rid-
dles of the Corsican brain attribute to the
French failure at Santo Domingo, more
than any other cause, this sudden relin-
quishment of Louisiana/’* Napoleon also
needed money to prosecute his continental
war and he hastened to cede to the United
States not only New Orleans, but all of his
vast American empire, for a sum that to-
day would not exceed the taxable property
value of four Louisiana parishes.
The United States assigned Governor
Claiborne to the government of the newly
acquired territory, and with General Wilk-
inson, w^ho commanded the federal troops
on the frontier, he took charge in January,
1804. And the Stars and Stripes sup-
planted the flag of France.
♦Henry Adams.
XeuiM^al Strip mid Ootlaws.
For him they raise not the recording stone.
His death yet dubious, deeds too widely known. . - . .
He passed— nor of bis name and race
Hath left a token or a trace. — Byron.
OPAIN was much displeased because of
^ the sale of Louisiana to the United
States and at once began to manifest her
dissatisfaction by incursions on the front-
iers. The Spanish offi-
cials who had remained in
New Orleans under the
short regime of Napoleon
were also reluctant to re-
lease their authority. But
when General Wilkinson,
in command of the West-
ern array, arrived with
instructions to install and
uphold the civil officers of
the United States, the Spaniards “grace-
fully bowed themselves out.’’ With a few
trivial exceptions the change of govern-
ment at New Orleans and other points
along the Mississippi was accomplished in
a very peaceable manner, and in a few
years the Latin citizens of the young re-
public were happily reconciled to the new
order, and subsequent history bears ample
proof of their patriotic loyalty. But the
56
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NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTAWS ■ .57
western frontier of Louisiana was the scene
of Spanish hostility to the United States^
The boundary between French Louisiana
and Spain’s Mexican empire had never
been definitely fixed, and at the time of
Jefferson’s great purchase Spain claimed all
of Texas as well as a strip of land in Lou-
isiana lying between the Sabine Kiver and
the Arroyo Hondo, a tributary of Red
River, seven miles west of Natchitoches,
extending north along Red River and
south, on an imaginary line, to the Gulf.
Several years had elapsed, still no agree-
ment .had been reached as to the western
boundary, nor was the .matter adjusted un-
til 1820, when the United States acquired
the Florida territory by purchase and by
the terms of the same treaty relinquished
to Spain all claims to Texas, the Sabine
River being designated as the boundary.
During the first three years following the
occupation of Louisiana by the United
States, Spain had exhausted many efforts to
retain her sovereignty in the territory lying
between the Arroyo Hondo and the Sabine,
but the army kept a vigilant guard on every
move made by the Spaniards. In 1806,
General Wilkinson and the Spanish general,
Herrera, entered into an agreement which
provided that this territory should be neu-
tral until the matter could be adjusted by
their respective governments. Thus, for
S,r».>r,v1
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Vi.
av\k ^YATl 3 !.%.lWi
Itbf
dij8»3 ?dl «as:.2i;£joJ !o tst.'trpi^ .o'laJasw
esfakjS JbsiifliJ' suj o:^ ■'{iiiiJso.d i£<if£is(f8 .|o
dooaf'! n^wwl'^'d
«¥Sff " Bid 'oasizaM. (s'ai.«q8 -.Baj*
5o sfjij} 8dj 3b b0« ,bsz4 'ilsfi-oflefe adsd
flji .bsajjsfo nt.Eqfe seBiiMuq ta-sig a'-afeassl-sB
- Vf). I ai lii
, ; j 8 B ' W 1 f S7/ 8S- sbzqT '5o
i
i6irj.S' 00 MURm
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i’'> Eslim rm?ea ^levM
bm ^';)viJT ■f>t/i'l ^'noi,B, .rlten saibueixa
^fiBnigefnr ofis m ,riixio»
oir nilv? ,1'^^fcqBia b^d bia-v?
xiialMw m xie0d"l>tt..d
rfajisto. sdJ e^w ‘»o0
as^iiiS balir^tJ' sdi niid^^ fiSthi iii
vd .^cf ^ibho!*^ aril
■b'
b' . B^^rJejapuibi amfis 9ti; lo Bimai edi ' i
i' , ■ijk?a8 8di bl 8a;!.n'.;i ]'« jxhqH oi '|| ;
f . /nabuxidd erf3 SB bsl00is^^al,' in f ■
bxfr g0hvolb5&8.iSt 5>8iii.t ie'jjl vdJ gomrO. ' ' ‘
; ■^JtnU.ad '{d aBsisiuoJ 'lo noitfiqnoso. '■'%*:■■
, ^ ' ■' .. 1
» = b : ^aiqi ^-'oarniil »'i3 fli •^jn^te’xavoE isd nistei , ^ 5 1
.jfci; , -^aaid'sfe exit bn« obxroH oyoiiA edi 0897xi8d . |
% .^8G’8I-, nl .gb-jAu-.Jjqa o^ X<f ebara evom . '1' •
. I v,,.,;
I ■ tioif{w'l'»8fXJeaiSB an otai fmejoe ,»'ioti8H ^
I - «xbi;>.-eirMiJodfr ;J|||y
b • be Js^J[b^^^ •et^ W«oa ;
lol ,8u:1T .8.1usai0teYO§ «7i3»eqset •iiad3 : ';mRH|
I ■ ■■
V- ' '\;W':,;vj
58 NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTAWS
fourteen years this section had no govern-
ment of any kind, and as a consequence it
became the rendezvous for outlaws from
the United States, Mexico and other parts
of the world. It was the home of robbers,
murderers and plotters against the author-
ity of constituted governments. The whole
of Sabine parish was included in this tur-
bulent “No Man^s Land^’ and all stories
concerning it are therefore pertinent to
these simple annals. Natchitoches became
the chief army post on the frontier. That
city had been, long before the purchase,
headquarters for political plotters and
“soldiers of fortune.’’
In 1800, Phillip Nolan, an adventurer
from the United States, conceived the idea
of leading a filibustering expedition into
Texas. Three years previously, with the
consent of the Spanish governor of Louisi-
ana, he went to Texas, ostensibly to pro-
cure horses for the army, but he seems to
have had plans of greater moment than
coiraling bronchos. On this trip he nade
a map of the country as well as seeking the
friendship and trade of the Indians of the
plains. With a party of about twenty of
his countrymen he returned to Texas and
was gathering up some horses in the vicin-
ity of the present city of Waco when his
little band was surrounded by a large num-
ber of Spaniards, who had become sus-
NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTLAWS 59
picious of the Americans. Nolan refused
to surrender and a fierce battle ensued.
Eaily in the engagement Nolan fell mor-
tally wounded. The fight was continued'
by the Americans,
under the command
of Peter Ellis Bean,
until their ammuni-
lion was exhausted,
when, upon promise
that they would be
permitted to return to
the United States,
they surrendered to
the Spaniards But
Spanish officers on
BEAN, the frontiers were not
very scrupulous when it came to redeem-
ing their promises, and this instance was
no exception The Americans were car-
ried to Mexico, imprisoned and were con-
stantly subjected to most cruel treatment.
The number was reduced to nine, by bat-
tles and deaths in prison, and in 1807 one
of them was hanged by order of the vice-
roy, after lots had l een cast to determine
which of the nine Americans should be the
victim of the executioner. With the ex-
ception of Bean, there is no record
as to the fate of the other members
of the band. Bean managed to escape
from the prison, but was recaptured and
I
60 NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTLAV/S
[ kept in chains until the breaking out of the
Mexican revolution, when he was liberated,
after giving his promise that he would fight
I for the king of Spain. He fought fo,r a
^ short time, but when the opportunity came
_ he deserted and joined the army of the rev-
: _ olution which was fighting for independ-
r ence and a republican government Bean
^ distinguished himself in many battles for
skill and bravery and endeared himself to
the Mexican patriots. It is related that
he married a rich Mexican lady and when
J ‘ Mexico gained her independence he was
given a position as an officer in the army.
While in the seryice of the republic he met
the famous filibusterer, Lafitte, accompan-
ied him to New Orleans and rendered
f splendid aid to General Jackson and his
p heroic army in the memorable defeat of
i the English in their last attempt to invade
i the United States.
Pending the settlement of the Neutral
Strip the army remained at Natchitoches,
; ' and in 1812 Augustus Magee, a young lieu-
tenant who was stationed there, resigned
his position in the army and began to or-
t ganize a regiment for the invasion of Texas
in aid of Mexico in her fight to end Spanish
rule. The Americans and the Mexican re-
I publicans were successful in two or three
\ battles, but ultimately suffered a disastrous
defeat at the battle of the Medina. Of the
I
S'
ispi. .
^ ',” , odi 1o ii.(o hsmd^y
J.>^^te‘:;Cli:i riiW 6d -uoilulovm an::'-
Od
'«■»’
m
M
a iv:.i
f^-
i;Uwvi cfl
; , .nisqc lo adt *toi
7tri:iru^t<'>qqo Jiid.
. ,fc boJiaeef) a.i
: ■ ^ q,;;;
&0is. eaiir
llauiiiid b^yddmmtmh-:'
^■0;^'!ivI7K?^£^T.;iv ■■'‘''»■■^^V■/b; bo^
'^"'Udt ^l ,3i MimMq adl
iiaEv/ rioii X. ad .
jRBv/ ad tad
ad I til ta^d-Se •'a? ^-i n:oUi<^<-^q fi
iJsn 'E 'i 1o t>iiaV/
^ ,#3i;iad adl
. &'^‘ ^iii^al'iC.'^ '4/s-C 0; xnid bai
•■ -T' • bti s H0«> a • • b ii'-J*-^noO ot bin i/:bifai\p
^ 5^.) Lit
tqiiiOv'-*,-. ^ ''B'l -'iiad'-t iji 0-':d::>-L:A s4^ ,
LdJilxil) ^
da laaaT^r^I.Uaf^.
-uail i2-jr.fwo'"i M a03fe5fi*u*A at
ilieoclw*?. ^>f^w odv/ Jxir..v;:.-:it r'
**!f.) '*> i>nJi *i^iii*ifi sfiiJ
^iiZ‘/y).v Lmc-muhiid-^ wi Jtrew!!;'*^-! & '■'si.'cy
(STf«ff!3'iMJ» oJ4ii?M H ai -i/ai-A-ttU 50i i>i4 bI
-'?■• isiv.»i-2t»i/i eiis ln;ii nufShamA. f<dT'
-;‘r!jii,'^o'«J as ga&tt^v-'n'saiWnq
ajjcijdsii) a 'tirjjcaiiaia ff)c! ,ssll3^ ^
i>dj 10 .flBil/$M. »siJ to ©iWfid ssO !*• Ifisl’?©
NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTLAV/S Cl
eight huudred Americans who marched to
the war only about eighty escaped the tre-
mendous slaughter inflicted by the Span-
ish troops.
A few years later Dr. James Long, in
league with a Mexican commander named
Gu^ierras, led two expeditions against the
Spaniards which were characterized by
many deeds of daring, but terminated in
defeat for their arms and the death of the
brave doctor.
The expbits of these filibusterers took
place in Texas, but their plots were hatched
in the Neutral Strip, and it was here that
the men engaged in the- enterprises were
assembled and tutored for their venturous
campaigns. It was here that Aaron Burr,
once vice president of the United States,
expected to receive trusted recruits to put
in execution his plan for the conquest of
Mexico and Louisiana and the establish- '
ment of a Western empire over the des-
tinies of which he should preside, but
whose wild dream culminated in his in-
dictment on a charge of treason, the dis-
closure of the Blenuerhassett scandal and
his complete disgrace.
There were two great avenues for travel
through Sabine parish, the road from Nat-
chitoches to San Antonio, opened by St.
Denys, passing through Fort plesup and the
present town of Many, and the highway
■ . j/'
- ■'■'?.h' '.. -^'3 ' ■ i -'-■<?-
" ; :r; , : */ ' ' ' : ' ■' - i'
-q'\ -Hi il3 ^
- >:< t ' '■* : . ■: ; : ■ :■ r J
j:"" Fj6r.;:^y 10 A iOi
V,;. .OO-iA ■ 33. 3 ,7/uM Ic
u,’
* A- ^rv,-/'
f ;
d-
'■.-.3 Jo'
62 NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTLAWS
known as Nolands Trace, blazed by the ill-
fated adventurer, Phillip Nolan, which ex-
tended between Alexandria and Texas,
Fallen Springs, four miles south of Many^
was a popular camping ground for all who
traveled the Nolan road, and in this vicin-
ity many robberies and murders are
alleged to have been perpetrated. Many
stories are related about treasures of gold
and silver which the robbers are supposed
to have buried along these pioneer roads
while hastening to escape the vengeance of
their victims or the “regulators,’^ and the
wealth of travelers alleged to have been
hidden to keep it from falling into the
hands of the robbers. In later years many
endeavors have been put forth to unearth
these “wonderful treasures,” but despite
the aid of “mineral rods,” and their re-
puted unfailing virtues, and the impecuni-
ous wayfarer who peddles “ancient” charts
with directions for locating the long-hid-
den “pots of gold,” if any man has recov-
ered an amount sufficient to pay his poll
tax for a single fiscal year ho has kept the
matter a profound secret.
Men like Nolan, Bean, Magee and Long
are very kindly called filibusterers. They
were not, indeed, desperadoes, but, no
doubt, they enlisted in their service men
upon whose characters was stamped the
brand of the bravo. In this age the Amer-
NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTLAWS 63 .
•
lean bandit was at the Z3nitli of his glory.
The times and the manners were favorable
to the pursuit of his unlawful vocation,^-
Natchitoches was the great trade center of
West Louisiana and a large portion of
Texas. Immense herds of wild cattle and
horses roamed the great plains and there
was a large traffic in these animals. Trad-
ers were constantly engaged in driving them
through Louisfana to the states east of the
Mississippi where they found a market.
Several months weie often consumed in
driving the herds to their destination^ and
while passing through the Neutral Strip
it was a frequent occurance f>r many of
the animals to be separated from the
droves by thieves who took them to a mar-
ket of their own selection. Merchants
also passed to and from the Spanish terri-
tory with their goods and w^ere com-
pelled to keep a vigilant watch for the
nervy robbers. The country was ideal for
the operations of the freebooter, as it was
covered with heavy foiests which were
frequently made nearly impenetrable by
magnificient brakes of wild cane and dense
undergrowths.' In these wild seclasioas
the robbers found protection from their
pursuers until they could finally escape
with their stolen wares or livestock. Th3
outlaws of Sabine were not unlike those
who have infested other sections of our
64 NEUTRAL STRIP AND OUTLAWS
country during the early days of the nine-
teenth century. It may be observed that
in the vanguard of the armies which have
marched, through all ages of tlie world,
holding aloft the torch of civilization, the
robber has ever lurked and assidously
plied his trade. But he unusally flour-
ished for only a brief period, and, if he es-
caped death from violence, he at least
passed from earth ‘‘unhonered and un-
sung^’— no loved ones come to drop a pity-
ing tear upon his grave, and no simple
marba stela marks his earthly goal. Many
of these characters left good homes to seek
their fortunes in the border wilds, others
perchance were fugitiyes from justice, but
their names are now forgotten and their
deeds are remembered only in connection
with the stories of the pioneers.
rX, . i
d'Kkitv.y mk ‘'utic ikaik'ivi
”• -Optin' 'to VJ'XM wdi •%timnh iniaaab
.t,'idl ]jk/ys>y.; :.n 7ijnt ;J ,ri0:kjit» dias^J
f*7sd dMiVf g;y(‘s7‘R sriflo kiAngriJiiir 9iiJ ai
‘ ,L'xpW :i;.' lo ll'VdM
itd'f lo'dS’uM' Mi Jkcilft.ignUdoji
l^nt\ biyi-iid mm i*<d 'jsddox
■ -x;i .& ; --'27^ ?id fcsllq
••:4s iitt !i .hvtii jboixft';] *;9ixu' n ■ii;i0O'To2 bad-et
&d ".Mnalxir moil ri3ii&i)fc;?q«3'
'‘mfTf 'fens iiluv^ moil bo23fi<f
-%jrq ,K qo'sfa o) sm-fto tta7o' on-— "3003
stf4iui5 oa bn: aivjyfs aid lioaxT -mot aoi
■ijasM' '20'(5, c;'.ri ai'moi islela fiOiom
ildoa Oil annwd 6003 J'i'il aiolowifido at >rjl lo
lr»iiio. jvl'lf'-',' isb'joi:! 01 Bgatirml 'as-fil
jod ixifi'i fc'?Yijigxtl c-i9W' ^oaisiurseq
ite'fil htu: 0S#< ra'io ei« ssrnf.c 'lisjia
0Oi'l')Xifmoo ci Ttlno I>tfitdai'9fC9'i eip •^beo.b
Neiilrol Strip and l*ioneers«
O resistless restless race!
O beloved race of all! O my breast aches with tender
love for all!
O I mourn yet uxult, I am rapt with love for all,
Pioneers, O Pioneers!
—Walt Whitman.
EVER A L years -before the boundary
between Louisiana and the Spanish
province of Texas was settled, immigrants
from the old states had settled in West
Louisiana, and no doubt the first English
speaking settlers in this state located in
the Neutral Stiip and within the present
boundary of Sabine parish. In 1803a regi-
ment of United States troops in command
of Col. Cushing was sent up Red River to
repel Spanish aggres .ion and Capt. Turnei
.with a company of soldiers was left to gar-
rison the Fort at Natchitoches. The Eng-
lish-speaking humeseeker followed the sol-
diers, coming from practically all parts of
the United States These settlers were
representatives of the great race which has
made the pioneers of America the most fa
mous the world has ever known. While
Ecglish svas their language, there coursed
through th'Mr veins the blood of the various
races of Northern Europe, the German, the
/' t. • ' -f /
■,, ■' ' "*'. ■\T, I
' WS ■; ':"■ ',•
pthmi' tHiw ■,: *i O I’?j '■■ *> '■<{'* O
,i^V jflfKw 1 .:‘.i;.v;|j i -*,__ -/ni/ois^^ O
■ lemvjiiu;*? O ♦«'id9tiio=’j. ■If •
,"*T A 'v,i^ . , '
“•■4^^ icuod 9dl ^y’scd-id- 8'U;'J7 a ' /'H7cl^
«<.!?■.' ‘ffit fj«.F. tfi«f;f--.i!'Ov! ■
.r :'j!:e »mw 2..zyT1<< ‘/yriWfyiq ,
.■;>.;)V» <<i’ bsbJ-#^ b"ii rsah.:^. t-'o -<Ji ciotl
i;.-iij;'u3 , V’.;- t^d) if} nob os -.■«» ,8U*iBiooJl
«f BHie. 3id| ai snolJtoe y.uJalMqe
ad,t witUIw ini'; qiijfiNiwiuaH ‘'d*
»y? ijfc&air -al .d-ihs.i snidf.P. b) -nabiujod
’• si f'jOfO'ii ii-ijatP V '-u'sa
yi. 'lyviil .»n Ju0s S/Or/ ^«!;'r
.5.^jd.) buK Tiic dei.sjqli
-•10'!^ uv A’y^ -ffi'n 1o V3«<juKu> li dJiw
• rjuS sdT ;idolcK in JioU j-dJ ub«h
- kr/i <.tl3 jjy"// ynf/li'eq^.-i!^il
1o Bh'nq Hb vji -.y;3:j.nil tnokl ,ri^ifa
6n?»w K'lstJjdfe sibdT R iJBjS byiifiU &il3
.end lisuiw ■/‘fB-i 3;.y-jy wd4 lo as'/itsJny-y'tq'/i
. (d /i-r iB jJi' flsi’ttro !to b'tyynoiq yd! fi oi
!/i?d7/ .^v/oi'!r! eatl bbio'// edJ 8»<J£ii
y'l'ruJ qiiyi ■ji'fiij SB*#!®'' :.'-'3
sjjoni^tiJ 5o boqWi^jlJ 3o^-v ii«-dj.
‘.alj',sqt)'!f.'C*{ inydf's’i^
66 NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
Irish, the Scotch, the Dutch and the Anglo-
Saxon, a blendiDar of nationalities which
has always added lustre and glory to the
world’s civilization. They sought the un-
occupied lands, covered with magniS'eeiit
forests, where they could build homes.
Many of them brought their families, and,
despite the lawlessness which prevailed in
the Neutral Strip, they cast their lots here,
and with a few primitive tools erected
housCvS and cleared land for cnltivation of
crops. A few came with slaves, but as a
rule the pioneer of Sabine parish possessed
only small means and depended upon his
strong arm and determination to build his
new home. He had an exalted idea of
justice and a profoaud respect for law, but
in ‘‘No Man’s Land,” where the law did
not prevail, he frequently became identified
with the “regulators and moderators”
who brought terror to the thieves and
bandits by the administration of a code of
unwritten laws, by means of a rope or a
fusillade of bullets. Some of the applica-
tions of the unwritten laws would not be
approved nowadays, but in those times
probably had the effect of commanding
more general respect for the law.
In 1805 the lerritoiy of Louisiana was
divided into twelve parishes, yiz: Orleans,
German Coast, Acadia, Lafourche, Iber-
ville, Pointe Coa}>ee, Attakapas, Opelousas,
v^'l^^it#f'S bat O'lrRU:'! Hfid
at'4u:^Uvim e’forio#
Xmqxii^o
>^e^1vrd bU/0^
bhU'B ♦r^lir.hll s-'t, %h:)ih 'tcl^rH>lO lo qiJBfi
oi B^ji^Wnq' ■':.>idw^ ailJ 9iiq,as»b
, ^"r! H d a ' i d? lij \ -‘-d . (■ , .• ■ ■'' '' . ' i >r| i u 6 d J
- b il'Uw. 'baft
'lo hnmh-<iif)d
3 an ' ilBO diiw ' euti'i:) yt A .r>qoii>
l|''dl'’» s;q 7/; :';iiOiq ■
tii ■ Lt!m9<t^m b0^ vjtio
eid bI;:Cfd' o.t a Vi Inal ■ im:! b avj« .“^^ctot^a
i;b i^^.:i ip;:-S;'0moii v/s*u
.l0ii si ^"d5 j‘>0n5? ••;( iiO 1’Tl‘i B feflB
?'dfo oii ) H*i‘.-u7'..' '’ :. nUinUl y ^i
ho&itm-'bf '7'rLf/pp ,,;!uuHip>7' : ■'' !. ,!i>/w(|1oii
' ^ ^ ‘ e; : I diiw
huM Bi}-'r,,iif 01 ' ■■' idl ctlw
io ai'OD bj ‘ lU ^jd a^ibdiid
B 70 '".o ^ 'T B - -^o 0riB?>fu q<» iiflu iWfty*
-■■■.-jiffiqf! 3fl3 lo -finoa ;«■!•*-! imi lo sLfiiiifut
toti biaov'/ siv/ir!< a^<33li’!*#iM;i t dj io 3i3'‘>it
>.s«iM:j gwMit' oi 'ad ,r.{r.Ln ...(,•;£ tiSWJtjdft
-f*r3S=; 'jd^ UbA vkffidmq
.^V; ■ 0;-!9iriy 910|^
;;, . ,:JpSii^‘i' 7'IOi ,'iii Otl'^r ttl '
,: ;3i'f,,/i8d:-iU'lM>i f^^llmi 03aj-ij3i'iY!&
■■■J''tt’ -S!i‘:7Tl',-/«wi ^aihiirik' ,i.:...-.0 aj!Un‘»0
,1-Jifci<yl9q0 ,ti;t|f;i3sWA ,.j3<[noD oinio*! /jllir
NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS 67
Concoidia, Kapides, Ouachita aud Natchi-
toches. The parish of Natchitoches com-
prised all the territory in the old ecclesi-
astical parish of St. Francis. The town of
Natchitoches was the seat of the ecclesi-
astical parish, which included the present
parishes of Caddo, Claiborne, Bossier, De-
Soto, Webster, Bienville, Red River and
Sabine and part of VVinii, Grant and Lin-
coln. The first grants of lands in Natchi-
toches parish were made during the last
half of the eighteenth century. ‘ The
Sanchez grant at Las Tres Lianas, where
Louis Latham resided in the '20s, was one
of the oldest grants by Governor Lavois,
who resided at Adizes. Sanchez' son was
89 y* ais old in 1820 when District Judije
VNiiliam Murray took testimony in the
case.”*
Later grants were made to Pierre and
Julian Besson on the Ecore Rouge by
Athanase Mazieres, commandant at Nat-
chitoches (1770), aud to Michael Crow on
Sabine Riv'er. Crow’s father ( Isaac) mar-
ried the VVidow (^habineau and purchased
land of Viciente Michele, who held a
S{ anish grant In 1769 St. Denys gave to
to his daughter, Maiie de St. Denys, a
tract of land in this vicinity. The claim
of Athanase Poisol for lands at 'I’hree
Cabins, purchased from Chief Antoine of
♦Memoirs of Northwest Louisiaua.
68 NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
the Hyalasses Indians, was approved, as
was also the claim of Francois Grappe,
who purchased lands from Indians of the
Caddo tribe, and Fierre Gagnier and Hy-
polite Bourdeiin, who had bought lands
from the Chesteur Indians at Natchitoches.
Governor Mird made many grants to set-
tlers who then (1799) lived within the
boundaries of the present parish of Nat-
chitoches. Under the Spanish regime, in
1795, Jacinto Mora was granted 207,360
acres on the ease side of the Sabine River,
“twenty-five leagues distant from the vil-
lage of Our Lady of the Pillar of Nacogdo-
ches, in Texas,” which was known as the
Las Ormegas grant. In 1805 Mora sold
this land to Ed Murphy, William Burr,
Samuel Davenport and L. Smith, and the
tract was legally transferred to them under
the name of the “grant of Santa Maria
Adelaide Ormegas.” The LaNana grant
to Ed Murphy was made in 1797. It em-
braced a territory twelve miles square and
included the present town of Vlany. Tde
LaNana and Las Ormegas grants were not
finally approved by the United States gov-
ernment until 1847.
Practically the entire Neutral Strip was
parceled out in Spanish grants, but some
were of doubtful legality. The Spaniards
very generously donated lands to persons
who had rendered military and other valu-
as J'frt'? yi: »it'« jfus'bal Siik
■ , qGS'.v') r'lwmm i 'to satin' or!k fciJW'
ii-iil I'j- r;islte!/ £;iO"I ?ibm';P%^sdstiiq oriw
' -'ViH bu'ft -isuajj^'O l:'ff.e ,adi‘ii obtei,--
t'iio#.! 'dauf'd b:Kii od;«: 0mo.(j
' io'-jdvt-b liftin'?! ')£ snsiij'Hl’JXiftiasd’d Siii otoiI
';■:, 'aiaiT'i siism LvitM 'jomft’rat>
■Mi" s\M:‘f/ r l ydTr, ) 0 -d: . odw eiftlk’
. I0 d&i’i'6t|: l,l;J:a*a'«| 6ii-3 '10 3ftllSt;:-l?Qd
-, 'k'f aai Tstni J .fr:>dft5tld&
»«■» 8I0M 0,>;';»f.i *6611;
ft'M'*; ftdJ 00 fcaioa
- ] I"® r; ; '■'■'tl, -Jr ad;-' fb v “ ■ ■ ?. tss- ’ *
lo 'isfiH t»d» lo -0)0 \o
yii; ,«8, 'AWf® '8'3*’ miiir/ '‘(RfisaT «i tKsdo
e08i '!i 0sJ
y^^afldOTailli W' '■'d'rfii'.iii ’’3 oJ ■ 5 (j;.j,. ^tdi
■^Vbn* ..'. iiaii .ii-q£ia7ftl iBiimad-
;.';bi;;j JSftdl o'. .titi'Jdslai'.'i":! esor Jootj
.win)d:4 RHifte lo' libfe'ja" »>ii lo ftisma adl-
j-uuKbJ »iJT’ ''.«8'?6.iTnO --il:‘ip!:.bA
-iao'l'l ;:.;.X<'i'Tr iii sfej-'tft mTT ■idqmU f;3 o1
inT#' {.'T< rpK feaiidis^via'F.'j 'l)0oaid
.•{f'a}/' 5o awoi iMsao'jo »dl feiiolaa-i
dots f/njiff 8Ja«iSi eci^sfttinO ".eJ fone
• Yfiy. eftjSjS b'fi.d.uU ftiu {o vllfiO'S
, , .; 'I n ihon.
saiC". Tit fen LyiwMdi.
OtXx . 'fflidaelj answ
9nCai‘!Vi oi efcit ■■;1. 'msm-Mi >■
-tibt ■ioiido baa ■Jieniiia bb-:ol^cm h&a
NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS 69
able services to the king. But grauts were
not approved by the United States until
after abundant proof of their legality had
been furnished. One method of establish-
ing a Spanish claim consisted of pulling
grass, throwing dust in the air and digging
holes in the ground by the claimant. Many
large tracts of land included in these
grants were occupied by settlers who built
homes and reared families on them long
before a valid title was established. In
the course of time many thousand acres
reverted to the government and came into
the possession of settlers under the pro-
visions of the homestead laws.
A large number of the first immigrants
to Sabine parish settled on what was desig-
nated, and still commonly known, as Kio
Hondo lands, the original title to which
was based on a Spanish grant to the set-
tler, in return for some stipulated service
to be or having been rendered, or other
considerations. The residents on these
lauds in 1805 were Joe Leaky, John Wad-
dell, Christopher Antony, Thomas Hicks,
Jacob VV'infree, Jose Rivers, Peter Patter-
son, David Wattennan, John GrorJon, Ben-
jamin Winfree, James Kirkham, Andries
Galindo, Hugh McGuffy, Jose Maria Pro-
cello (heirs of James Denney and Manuel
Bustamento), Thomas Yokum, John Yo-
kum (assignee of Jesse Yokum), Azer
T'7
I ■ i
5 I
■i. V':
•1
>
i
i
I
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70
NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
Matbias, Geoive Slaiiijhtei* (assi;^nee of
Louis WaiTen) Remt^y Christy, William
DavidsoD, Thos. Gray (assiguee of James
Bridges and John Maekay), Stephen Bas-
cus, Jose Baseus, Domingo Gonzales, Fe-
licien and Francisco Gonzales, Kaymoud
Bally, Martin Dios, Dennis Dios, John
Yokum, Matthias Yokum, James Wilson,
Philip Winfree, Absalom J. Winfree,
James Walker, Nicholas Jacks, Hugh Mc-
Neely, Jacob Leahy, Thomas Arthur,
Green Cook (assignee of. Henry Charbi-
neau), Edmund Quirk, William Quirk,
Thomas Gray, Joseph Montgomery, Sam-
uel Holmes, Beiijamiii. Morris, Antoine
Laroux, John Luin, John H. Thompson,
Benjamin Biles, Jose Antonio Mancbac,
Jacques Lepine, David Case, widow La
Lena Padea, Manuel Gonzales, Jean Bap-
tiste Parrot, Andrevv Bassum, Thomas
'Wilson, Louis Latham, Antonio de La
Sarda, Jose Estrader, John Cortinez, Rob-
ert McDonald (assignee of Stephen Moore),
widow Ganissieii Parried, Henry Quirk,
Henry Stcker, Manuel Cherino, Maria
Sanchez, Michael Ear(y; John Litton, Asa
Beckum, Braucisco Rosalis, Jose Antonio
Rodriguez, John Maximilian, the widow
Interest Toval, Guilliam Bebee. These
claimants presented evidences of tlieir set-
tlement on Rio Hondo lands in 1824, but
after a new survey of the country had
>■ -
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iftiteiirfrtir-#
NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS 71
been made eight years later they filed new
proof of their settlement and claims. The
claims were for tracts of various size. One
claimant, Antoine Laroux, very modestly
asked for title to one or two acres, on
which he had located his dwelling in the
woods, explaining that he would not know
wbat to do with more land.
In 1831 the government survey of the
territory within the present boundary of
Sabine parish was completed, the lands be-
ing laid out in towmships and sections.
No official survey was ever made by either
the French or the Spanish, even the alleged
marking of the Arroyo Hondo line defining
the Neutral Strip being fegar<led as myth-
ical. The survey of the United Slates
made available for settlement thousands of
acres of land which could be procured by a
small cash payment per acre. The “five-
yeaF’ entry or free homes law did not pre-
vail until many years later. In Sabine
parish, as in other sections, the liberality
of the homestead laws and government
grants to railway corporations resulted in
diverting many thousand acres from the
the individu d home builder, to whom the
public domain rightfully belonged.
Settlers on government land in this par-
ish between 1832 and I860 were as follows:
1832. — Alonzo Barr (the land lying near
Many, and was sold in 1834 to Domingo
72 NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
Catriaa who sold to F. V'euleman ia 1837),
William Palmer.
1833 —Eld red Parker.
1835. — James Tyler, Sam Wiley, Richard
Cherringtoo.
1836. — Thomas Wilson, B. J. and Sam
Thompson, Henry Hall, William J. Elam.
1837. — Sarah Greening.
1838. — Spencer G. Adams, Sara West-
fall, John Spiker, Reuben Oxley, P. H.
Orals', Carey Morris, James Couk.
1839. — Shadric Howard, Needham J. Al-
form, Couzie Biles ( wife of . Benjamin
Biles), Silas Shellburne, John A. McClan-
ahan, Zadock Turner, Asa Speights, John
J; Francis, William Gallion, Cleri Grillet,
Lydia Webb, Gora Munson, Lou Martha
Moses, J. H. Crockett, Garrison Anderson,
William Ferguson, John Lebo, Martha
Wiley, Lindsey, B. and Benjamin B. Ray-
burn, "SVilliam D. Stephens, James F.
Murphy.
18-10. — Andrew Woods, Henry Ruggley,
G. *A. Sleet, Sarah Litton.
1841 — N. Croker, T. E. Woods, George
W. Tate, S. A. Eason.
1812. — Andrew AVoods, T. Roberts.
1843 — Sam Eldredge, C. R. Wimberly,
Thomas J. Dandy, John Graham, Alatthew
Jones, John H. Thompson, Samuel AV.
Fellerton, Thomas G. Godwin, John God-
■I
1
'.5
■i
i
I
NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS 73
win, Mary L. Branch, John Carroll, State
to John Caldwell.
1844 — Cornelius Wiley, William T. C.
King, John Lapsley, Albert Jordan, M. L.
Branch, Martha Billingsley.
1845. — Mary L. Caldwell, William Cur-
tis, John White, Stephen Wiley, John R.
Yokum to P. A. Reagan.
1846. — Redic Sibley, Joe R. Billingsley,
Nathan Darling, Shelton James, Washing-
ton and Bradley Deer, G. M Cook; Mary
Provence bought land from Palmer.
1847. — William L. Cobbs, Clay P. Wald-
rop, John Jordan, Louis 1. Wamsley, W.
E Woods, James M. Holt.
1848. — William Cook, William Varner,
John Pullen, William F. Woods, John
Gillaspie, John H. Jenkins, J. M Gibbs,
John C. Royston, James Hampton, Elijah
Kembert, Prudent Strother, William lies.
1849. — Fletcher Rallins, Thomas Con-
stable, Daniel P. Lockwood, James L. Wil-
liams, J. J. Greening, John Vines, Jesse
H.^^Fincher.
1850. — T. S. Stafford, John Callens.
1851. — James 1. Self, James A. Woods,
John Self, Sam Webb, J. H. Armstrong,
H. P. Hudson, R. M. Armstrong, Daniel
R. Gandy, William Antony, T. A. Arm-
strong.
1852. - J, J. Snell, Calvin Alston, John
.0 .'^^eSlffiW ,t4iW ■
"cl M'&SioUft^A .^^staq^cX ndo.^- ,^j«i3
■ ariii^-“» *.w0 fiiyiWW ■'■4i»^X»!«0 ,4 ^’jiM—
■' :' "''h'^aW^ -f .'^"Or0JB^oT;,«S4
-SOJflfti^ ,m^rn^ uoiI»dK' .xoihi^ mdu%
M..©-,19»<3 ■i&iba^W kaa aoJ
•taccJa’i «
•V ,V/'‘'l^^l^^lJl^t4’^ ,1 eiqovi jilubtoX* utIoX> >qoi
P,
_ _ .3ioH M esfflftt. ^boo W ^
0*jB|lfil7 ,:(op0 mfiifliW — '^>^1
,-»|ij^p ■ ,^fcooW' ..ie. nmffiW ^ .d«5£xj<J hi<i1»
,H .aiioi* .qiqsaUi®
^0$iL- . - da|H4 .coletoa ;p fldpl>
'''•'ifel?" ' "lae!! gtaOliW ^pdjoija Ja9%l^ .n^w^iasH
LfiVr .46aa»«t>x,WdooJ SMu^a ' >^
,g£jip®95^ •X* .L, ,«OTfiiI.
» .iftdaai'Jft.H
.«a«lliid* aiiol«_^,lwoSttJ8^.8 .Trr-.0d8X
f
V V ■’
,'t»4 . »»&ooW®<iA eeffii^I* ,1198 .J^eaajisTj— .Ic8I
n'lVWr'’'*- ■ ■ - “'— "■ -
m
tsi»«a .fl,^«acx^jjH-ii.%,.H •■^
‘^r\^
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ado,![» mhikO f,; ;*.■•./
.mLf.
74 NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
A Gonld, E. K. Bnker, 'William H. Kil-
louirh, James Walker.
1853. —William Foote, James A. Cran-
ford, Robert Lambert, Ben H. Crai".
1854. — William B. lYestfall, Robert Sib-
ley .
1855. — John BoUon, James Earls, Jarm^s
R. Ph«ares, John Miller.
' 1856 — William Rhodes, Andrew Cut-
rigbt, J. I)ove, J. Varner, J. P. Campbell
,, 1857. — Parish School Board sold bind to
R. Frances, No purchases from the gov-
ernment appear during this year.
1858. — Lydia Godwin, Charles Johns,
Franklin DuUon, R. L. F. Sibley, W. W.
Sibley, *Hugh Dowden, Geoige W, Addi-
son Allen Holland, Russell McDonald,
Lavi Weldon, William Mo-'ely, J »e T.
Lynch, Robert F. Royston, Joseph Brew-
ster, Max McGowan, William Crump, John
' L. Childers, William Fanley, Robert D
Miller, John Hampton, James Fike, W W.
Campbell, Green Weldon, William Kirk-
ham, John Putnam.
1859. — James Owens, Daniel Britton, J.
W. Kirkham, Napoleon Darnell, Sol Roy-
ston, Thomas M Berry, Jeremiah Robin-
son, Sam Johnson, William Vines, John
Aten, R. L. Arinslrong, William P. Glas<,
Daniel Cnmilander, Isaac E. Robinson,
♦Dowden setlled in the Kiyatchie country, making
first entry in an' entire township.
,a
J ' %
'J> i I .
NEDTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS 75
John C. Duncan, Samuel G. Lucius, Joe
C. Garliugton, Isaac Dickinson, William
Cook, James Cook, Temperance Cook, T.
B. Conerly, Valentine Nash, Crawford C.
Presley, William Antony, Allen Arthur,
William Parrott, Hosea B. Lewin^, Major
Hardy, Benjamin P. Nors worthy, Joe Al-
ford, G. W. Durritt, John Boswell, Samp-
son Whatley, Ann Lester, Henry Cook,
Jesse Wright, William H. Stroud, Thomas
J. Arthur, Thomas Grate, William Miller,
Moses Salter, Alfred Self, Enoc Davis.
1860. — Bebee Michel, Robert Parrott,
William F. Smith, Charles Darnell, Harris
& Beck (merchants of Fort Jesup), Sim-
eon Goodrow, Andrew M. Miiler, W. W.
Chapman, C. L. Wamsley, J. C. Sibley, P.
L. Corley, Wm. Y, Weldon, Allen Gandy,
Mary A. Beddenfield.
Among the first land entries in 1832 was
that of William A. Lecure for the north-
east quarter of the northeast quarter of
Section 33, Township 8, Range 11. After
the entry w*as made *no person ever
came to claim or take possession of the
land. The presumption is that Lecure was
an attache of the government surveying
corps which surveyed the parish and ac-
quired the land thinking that it contained
valuable mineral deposits of some kind,
but never returned to do any ‘‘prospect-
ing.’^ No improvements have ever been
p.
- IKMOT ;
t)-jl .gfiioSii “:0 J»{i:maS ..(.SJsfejjQ ,0 mdo%
m
.^I'tyTL
'•'k W
mKiiUW 4iof-;qi/!oi0 '>fifis.i rOO}poife«0 ,>0
,T ,3j'«s') ,'1{i(K)D aflittr;!. iooO
•O' i.'tOl"'«OT0 _
'uoIj'S*'’'- .'siti'wsij ..^i (WOuiG*? mef!?? /?
v^..X .'i .Ktmati'eS ,'{irtaH
,U»vs«iia Hdoti' vllhiwQ ,.W .'O-^bTol
,„,3JOC0'. .. /I3l:S®J. 'BIjA .tf&,^id'/f flOfS
: JituodT .i;»Ui^.,iP. .H Cfti^nl^' Jdrih'VT &saiil
ffAtiM (itsUhi'^ ,& •aT0-AMt{# ' t- fiijdHh .Tt
.aiv«0 ;0ou3 ,Wac? sftPBlC,
J*:-.ii4j»4 ti-adOflC Ortd»5^-;T,088i;
e;rii:H -shBfll!) .dfiuic'- .%-|nKlJ!lW’
-aa.i3 i;v9 "’■<'■■■' ■-' Pini'Jymai) A
M .Vf ,i>!: a'' ii.%OTbaA: ;>-,woA-oo9 ao9
.'7 .v'-ififfiei, .0 A .'^aleu'ssW .. ’ 0 ,;iB£SiqaiiO
,y4u^0 uaiSA ,uab!eVi ,Y .aiVi ,\eboO .A
_gc’?7 ii-c5i ill mhM'B 'bm\ ^noiiiA\ ,.
•►iUiaa sdiMo?: diiioeJL .A iRidlii// to
vv,6>/
'r.YS
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iv;^
•4
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,8 qliigCW'./r ,C8 aoiJSfsS
197S aOfe”i‘JCj 0!t‘ al)Bf0 BUT’' TflJU? f>dl
arit lo floife^:9H8oq eisi lO miaio oJ saica
Zm:7, einasJ Jadi *i poiJqmuimq odT .banl
, Vj,ji-7«jvi0a 3ii:>aifi?9»o| 1o &dO<?t'ii IJfi
,,1‘OB ;....v« d«hBq‘''r^dA4«t'^vti£JB doid’w
b-/c‘i).jisos Ji Jjidl jjiiialiuidJ Baal arii byjiap
,bnJ'il-.4S!ait)t 1o jtlAoqi/i) is'iaaiflJ. aid'olnV’
-J;»9q80'jiq** '?n.e «a- oA'bau’JHbji lavsia jjj'd
9vbA iJaarnevoi^iaj’ oK ”.}sci
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76 NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
made on the tract, which was sold for
taxes in 1879.
In 1844 James Sepulvedo and oth^^rs
bouojht, in partnership, five acies ol la.. •
on Sabine River in order to become qual-
ified voters.
After the creation of Sabiii«> parish, sev
eral land speculators aeqiiiied t.iic. u> *dd
Spanish land grants. Yates & Meintyn*
were the first to buy, and between 1841
and 1859 they sold laud to the following
persons:
Thomas Ford, James Tynes, \Yilli'an
Mains, John Scritchfield, Mary Langford,
B. Dally, James Lesley, W. H. Edmund-
son, Hosea Presley, William M. Polk,
William and B. K. Ford, Henry Hall, N
H. B ray, Samuel Eldredge, S. S Eason, J.
G. Sibley, W. G. Painter, Elizabeth Mc-
Donald, C. Cherringron, Peter Buvens, J.
Anderson, John Graham, A. Arthur, D. G
Etheredge, R. R Kim:, L, Grimsby, Alfred
Litton, Elizabeth Hembei't, James ''aylor,
J. S. Childers, D. A. Blackshear, Asa
Cherrington, W. B. Scritchfield, Hiram
Litton, John Vines, Lee Vhnes, William
Latham, James B. Stewart, J. M. Latham,
Thomas Chambless, VV B. Schac'er, A1
fred Lout, AVilliam Lout, John Branch,
James Latham, T. F. Harkins, Jaiims A.
Lane, Elizabeth Latham, Samuel B. ibiul,
Henry Jordan, W. S. Wluitiey.
■*fpi
'W/iTZ :fC
se'"; r^' v,,,/,?r# ,ilm-.'J 8ifl '.ao
-Ji '■ “ftT'M O'! ^
m:. ofoS’i'fiKi^S se.:nB(- 'tol
■ <!.‘vfi vvft nlcIfJsiSod
■ - ‘''"v
' i'.ystf ol 7<:,tivfo rjj, eaic'iiB fKi
.cieSov }>9ai
'lo i-rtM3»>97.”J «il tSJlA.
!. ; .'i'y i t'iJ-3'L’u..yt;« liOTr' rin'» '
'"-I-
A- ■s.iyi^iii- ^:.ij.04nf bn«.( ddm.qS
ifei 0-^-
,• ,h:/t Lat! /rwd ol . i'--!f3 f’di nsw
i 'idj •■J M#:sI^8 'Ttydj ;06ol ftn«'
•ei? .)'e-5-jq ''V-
U?» fiii'V'/ .-i'MtvT ^ - .i:i;l> .fa'-'5 ' Sil£|^^i
,F/{v.V;.;:'f(iiI . '•'.■’fiiiiilirjfc nilol- ,:|n;«,l(!
-feromh!'! J3 . V , ('-'ie^iJi aaifiwl- ,7jis(l
,/Ho*''i .]'’. i'iii.3i; V.' #i>goU ,_08 •
V. ,si!:H ■ .>i T Ftor. aiftHu'W
:■;. a i! ,y*jS .H
•,jn i;?ti4;,si'j'3 l .3) -W ,ts!di;H
• i, ><i ,nvis:.tii'n -ifO .0 J'^myd
0.(1 jTJftJj’rA .A .;;uiiJ».'iO QticC. ,tsogiybrrA
Si .H ,‘iv»b9ir)di!;l ;’ ,
,'H,'>t'(J5'’ «■'!«/:(•' ■ ,tT!)dai'‘5J3 rij^^flsiUi ,no5}iJ[ '-'• '
v'ch ,'(BM(i^^/i*:)i(lU ./‘. 33' ,!*’!o{)[iiJO •« '
K!(;irH JtlyadyJiT-jB il .Vf .r-->)saii7S£iO >■’
i'i!«i'iii''// .■'■'tir-/ lirfc'!'./
,f!u;;iii:J. ,L! ,l .8 e^/£« ,madxn.l
;;/ ■ , v,8 ;V/, .sey'dAifidO MffiQiiT
0. v,rr .Wi^ .1- \T ^
, ! .'r! I ■ ‘ I'; i'f, : f o-/'- , ( \ i l)i f i /?»..? v ' ' ‘ . < "'a fIB J[
' , . ^ ^3(#UAui.V/ M ‘‘'ll
NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS 77
During this period Thomas Patterson,
who had acquired Spanish claims, sold
lands to S. D Bossier, John C, Garret, R,
A. Patterson, W. M. McCullen. The Pat-
terson lands were on the Las Orgemas and
Lanana grants and were sold to Stone
& Hamlin, Stone’s interests in these lands
were subsequently sold to Florien Giauque,
Lehmer & Pfiirman and heirs of Patterson,
Harvey Baldwin, another pioneer real
estate dealer, sold lands to G. VV, Waller,
Robert McDonald, WiHiam • Wilson, Jose
Procella, Ephraham Butler, T. E. Boyd,
Jose Rock, James Oliver, Elizabeth Rob-
erts, Alston Naboiirs, W. T. Quirk, John
W. Eason, Robert B. and William B. Stiile
The Stilles also bought Waterman’s Rio
Hondo claim in 1853.
Among those who purchased lands from
the State were Thomas Hardin (1859), F.
A. Fuller (’61), James W. Nettles (’60),
L, Barbee (1859).
Mau3^ citizens resided on lands to which
they had no title. If such lands were a
part of the public domain, patents were
finally obtained from the government un-
der the provisions of the homestead laws.
Others settled on lands which were a part
of recognized Spanish claims. The Crow
claim, embracing a large tract of land
on Sabine River, was not finally approved
until the present century, although sev-
a?xK n\Mii
R,Si0Oii,T : feoK.'wj Bldl j}(ih'»'(i. *
i.it)« : X)-n bad od w
.i1 ’.I)- Hdcl- <1 .8 oJ ebaaf
didi wilT J4 ,isoa'J9)]a'I .A
bdit ' 9ui aowst' .; ■,
.wxiolS o| id':-8 (9WW baji ?.Jaa7;e /asncsJ^ : _ ,
febdfiT'-naSd]
.siT'bnGrB oaXtoJ*’! o:l blaa ■|tJd9jip9Edd?.
',u'sd#nf; anarfiS'X ■& Msajdavl
i.99a/jiq .Ki'^rblsfi ’{‘mcH.
/(l) 0.7 febafiJ bloa ,'I9ll3-9i> <y>B)a&
f;»?.ob ,aoskV/ laacUiVf ,bl««o<iol4 :!’i9da^'
(tr^cdi .3 .T ,i9lJ7iE Bi4rit;idq3
• <io5i djyfbv.';, uJ pis'ifiiO a^aiaC ,d:>oJi oaob
ail'&X. .d'ltap .V/ fioJaiA ,a)-::->
o!id'7 .8 t%s»iui <i ’>aii ,fl btPciaJI 'tnoRaa
ci8 ,.k' a fUii'i-vc V .ulptj-od oala at> ilfi8,;»ilT ' ' 'f
, . ; ,KPBi. Ht obaoH
i’i'Ol'l khiit^.4>o»Rt^o'ipq odv/ Bscii) sffopA
,'i wl"''8d ?«n ogstw 9Ji.'i8 j
,(ij<t'^ s&ilJs/' -Vr aemab ,n3') ‘i‘jllo'4
;;,.< ' ..(Go8I) a9d'i/f8 .t.l
" ti-oiriv,' .3,+ hfij'.';! i!o’'&bi39T afftfsijia ’iatdZ
ji d'l rr »f jji[ doaa H .sJiiJ oa bad ■'joilj
©19V/ .aj(i9l«q ,ai*niob oildoq- cafi Jo iiaq
imiCtm'j'ft<% bhaiaKio vilaad
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bfialae/ffO;! 5«j; 'io aft'^faivoriq od7 isb
Jiaq » li.oid'w fdiiiPA a<> baijj&s 8*isdiO
77f i''> odT .sxaiiiio u^iasqS
ba4-,: os'ud as’
fi -/liaiifi )on _-:aw' ,i97f-V^4fld«c’
i'jvaodjffi ,%-tT’isi9» hunriq odi 'iini
’, -i.' ^
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78 NEUTRAL STRIP AND PIONEERS
eral citizens had long been settlers on this
tract. Squatters continued to occupy land
without procuring a title even after the
war between the states. ^ However, that
manner of settlement at this time was
largely by ex-slaves or people who thought
they were occupying public lands.
Some of the American settlers bought
their Rio Hondo claims from the Span-
iards. Henry Stoker, who came to the
Fort Jesup community in 1818, acquired
twelve hundred acres for a small amount
of money and two or three ^‘pack’^ ponies.
Until after the civil war Many and Fort
Jesup were the only towns in Sabine parish
and these places were mere villages. The
names of additional pioneer settlers appear
in chapters devoted to the chronicles of
these towns and of the parish government.
1 f ' <■
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I
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I^^ort Jtesiip and tlie Fronliei?.
The old order changeth, giving pla<’.e to new,
And God fuliills Himself in many ways.
—Tennyson.
~TS 1823 United States troops began clear-
iug the land for building Fort Jesup.
It was lojated in the center of a reserva-
tion two miles square, and was named in
honor General Jesup of the United States
army. The delay in erecting the fort in
the Neutral Strip was due to the tardiness
of the Spanish king in giving his approval
to the treaty of 1819 which made the dis-
puted territory a part of Louisiana, thus
extending the western frontier to the S.ab-
ine River. The site for the fort is one of
the most commanding and picturesque that
could have been selected; situated on one
of the highest elevations in Louisiana and
a surrounding country altogether beautiful.
In the beginning the aim seems to have
been to make Fort Jesup a permanent mil-
itary post. The officers’ quarters were
substantially constructed and the barracks
for the troops were built for conv^enieuce
and com.fort. The foundations of the
principal buildings were made of stone
which was quarried from neighboring hills,
79
80 FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER
and the lime used in the masonry work
was also the product of a rock found in
the vicinity. While the stoue was being
placed on the ground a kiln was mrning
out the lime, and the work executed by the
builders of that period furnishes splendid
testimony of their ingenuity and industry.
The illustration on this page shows some
stone pillars upon which the home
wooden building at the left was the old
kitchen, in one end of which is a brick
chimney, with an immense fireplace about
ten -feet wide on which all cooking was
done. These are the most prominent and
interesting relics, of the one time preten-
tious fort, which now exist. The building
is constructed of hand -made lumber, with
FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER 81
split boards for the roof and are yet ia a
fair state of preservation.
Two miles west from the fort, on the San
Antonio road, Shawneetown was located
to supply the evils which in those days
were believed to be necessary to every
frontier garrison. Here tioarished the sa-
loon, the gambling house and other auxili-
aries of disorder. Soldier and rowdy met
at Shawneetown and the place became
famous for its ruffian revelry. To this day
those passing the spot where the ‘Town*'
once stood frequently recall the report that
many men spent their last day on earth in
that vicinity. A few years ago a small
school house (erected in the '90s) stood on
the site of Shawneetown, but that was la-
ter torn down, and the spot is covered with
pines which have grown in recent years.
Not a relic remains of the place which was
once a popular resort for troops and row-
dies, with their horse races, “gander pull-
ings" and other contests; where the weary
travelers indulged their appetites for a
“toddy" as they passed in either direction
over the San Antonio road and which also
supplied refreshments for the freighters
and muleteers on whom the commerce of
the country depended. Shawneetown is
only a memory.
Fort Jesup was occupied by federal
troops in 182d. The United States had
,82 FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER
two imporiaut objects in view iu the es-
tablishment of this military post. One
was to afford protection to the settlers m '
the hitherto neutral territory, the names
of many of whom appear among the' Rio
ITondo claimants, and assist in establishing
law and order. The other pbje 3t was to
supply the necessary boi’der fortification
a^’ainst incursions from Texas, which was
’yet under the Spanish crown. Thus, iu
order to strentheu the military position of
Eort Jesup, a Block House was erected
near Sabine River, not far from where the
San Antonio road crossed that stream, and
the fortress supplied with troops. Many
stirring events of pioneer life transpired at
this place, but, like Shawneetown, it dis-
appeared, and in later years a church
was erected on or near the site.
In August, 1821, the so-called Mexican
republic was established, w'hich was form-
ally recognized by the United States, but
this did not lessen the necessity for
maintaining a strong garrison at Fort
Jesup. Hundreds of filibustM’ers from the
United States had aided the Mexican peo-
ple in their struggle Spain, still the people
of the South and particularly Louisiauiaris,
had long desired that Texas become a part
of the American Union. Following the
establishment of the ^Mexican republic,
Texas became the I'-lecca for adventurers
, ^nb oj-jadtM 'Sdi
'■ -oi'lx ■ ^‘y^b pJ^0'(^tM' to io-;:
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'.vdj nuu>-'Uy^%i?.my-/
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aviol //• liai'dv/ J*j^w ndJiiq-^i
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M to
■■ trill luwiHob -.55^00! iMuI
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aTyi0tL(7V.bfi, 'io'i ' a^dl emr.ood 8>'^zaT ,
sa" '
FORT JESUP AND THE ERONTIER 83
and land speculators. Americans even
bu'ied themselves to create a sentiment fa-
vorincr the annexation of all Mexico. Gren-
eral Wilkinson, who had become a soldier
of fortune, was an aggressive advocate' of
this plan of empire expansion. Little
confidence was entertained in the stability
of the new Dilexlcan government. A state
of anarchy existed in Mexico, robber bands
infested mountain and plain, and the peo-
ple were at war among themselves. Texas
w^as especially afiiicted with bands of out-
laws. The border garrison at Fort Jesup
was of even more importance than daring
the Spanish regime. During the ten years
following 1824, notwithstanding the turbu-
lent state of affairs, mauv Americans had
secured grants from the Mexican govern-
ment for thousands of acres of land to be
utilized for colonization purposes, and citi-
zens from the United-States, came in large
numbers, to make their homes. Great cara-
vans of emigrants and traders mai’ched
over the old highway's from Natchitoches
and Alexandria to Texas. By 1830 the
English-speaking colonists had begun to
wield a strong inliuenee in the goyerunient
of the Texas province. Nacogdoches be-
came headquarters for political adventur-
ers, many of whom were men of strong
personal character and splendid ability;
others were adventurers at all times ready
1
j
‘i
V
84 FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER
to embark in any eater prise. The colo-
nists were now dissatisfied with the Mex-
ican method of keeping promises and en-
forcins: the provisions of the constitution
which they had fomrht to establish,, and
they were determined to demand tlipir
rights. The Texas revolution was started,
and after the slaus^hterof Americans at the
Alamo at San Antonio by General Santa
Ana^s soldiers, the patriots declared their
independence of Mexico. General Sam
Houston was elected commander- in -chief,
and his victory over the Mexicans at .San
Jacinto brought glory to himself and his
army, avenged the Alamo and commanded
recognition for the Texas republic (1838).
While the revolution was going on United
Slates troops were sent from Fort Jesup
across the Sabine, commanded by General
Gaines, under pretext of enforcing the ob-
servance of the neutrality laws, but it is
noted that the American commander, who
favored annexation, gave material aid to
the Texans. Andrew Jackson was presi-
dent, and, in response to a popular disap-
proval of this move, the troops were or-
dered back on American soil. Texas an-
nexation remained the ''pavtxmonnt issue”
in the politics of the United >States for the
following ten years, the South favoring
and the North opposing the proposition.
That annexation would be the signal for
FORT JESUP AND TEE FRONTIER 85
war with Mexico was generally recognized,
and Port Jesup was amply garrisoned to
meet any contingency. Among the early
commanders of this post was Colonel Zach-
ary Taylor, famililarly known as ‘‘Old
Rough and Ready,” who in 1845 held the
rank ot brigadier general by brevet. He
came to Louisiana directly after the Amer-
ican occupation and purchased a plantation
near Baton Rouge, where he resided when
not engaged in his military duties. He is
accorded much of the credit for the con-
struction work at Fort Jesup, the well
which he had dug for the troops being still
in existence. The members of his family
were visitors and mingled in the society
of the old fort. He was sixty-one years of
age at the outbreak of the war with Mex-
ico, but the command of the first army to
go to the front was entrusted to him, and
his successes were so pronounced that
within tw^o years he rose to the highest
rank in the aimy, which was followed by
his election as president of the United
States. There served with him some of
the most famous military men x^raerica
has produced, many of whom had been
stationed at Fort Jesup. Among the
distinguished officers who accompanied
General Taylor in his invasion of Mexico
were Generals Twiggs, Wurth and William
O. Butler, Captains Bragg, Ringgold and
86 FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER
May, as well as officers ot lower ranks,
Grant, Sheridan and Jefferson Davis, who
later played prominent parts in the affairs
of the nation. Col. Many was among the
commandants at Fort Jesup in the 40s. Sta-
tioned there was the 3rd and 4th Infantry
and Bragg’s Artillery. These regiments
and battery were the first to cross the Mex-
ican border. The infantry went on trans-
ports from New Orleans to Corpus Christi,
while other portions of the army went
overland. The deeds of this heroic army
of-regulars, reinforced by regiments of pa-
triotic volunteers from Louisiana, Missis-
sipi, Tennessee and Missouri, have been
recorded in history. From Polo Alto to the
bloody field of Buena Vista the Americans
were triumphant. As a result of the war
the United States acquired a vast empire
and the former humble commander at Fort
Jesup became the chief executive of the
nation. Though a native of the Old Do-
minion State, he was accredited as a citi-
zen of Louisiana, and he gave to our state
a son who rendered distinguished services to
his country in the war between the states.
With the conclusion oi the conflict with
M exico Fort Jesup ceased to be a military
post, the old buildings and fort long ago
disappeared and the spot transformed into
a model rural village.
Fort Jesup has always been a ‘‘social
FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER 87
center.” When it was a military post the
beaux and belles often assembled there for
a social dance and various amusements.
Regimental bands for the entertainment
of visitors. The old fort was a popular
stoppins: place for those who journeyed
overland to and from Texas and many peo-
ple prominent in pioneer American life
were quests of the old hotel there. An
advertisement of that hostlery is reproduced
FOKT ISOTEl..
A. W. P. UKSERY has the plea-
sure to inform his friends and the
public, tiiat he has taken the Fort
Jesvp Hotels and is now ready to receive
company. He has a commodious house and
stable, and a delightful situation.
In addition to the comforts^of a well regu-
lated house, the weary traveller will be re-
galed at night and morning by the delightful
music of the well known Military Band at
the Fort, to listen to, which is a treat, which
will doubtless be an inducement for many to
call,
A- VV. P. U. requests the patronage of the
travelling community.
May 14, 1837. 5Qw4
From the ‘*Red River Gazette,” published at Natchi-
toches, August, 1837.
on this page which reflects some customs
of the old days. Even after the abandon-
ment of Fort Jesup as a military post it was
famous for its social gatherings and many
of our good citizens recall the pleasant
hours spent as guests of the people there.
The cemetery of a community often fur-
lii:^hes much material for historical narra-
88 FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER
tive and the buryin<r- ground at Fort Jesup
is eminently worthy of notice. The cem-
etery is net lanre, bat is one of the best
kept and preserved in this section of the
state, and contains probably the oldest
marked grave in Sabine parish. This
grave was made nine years before the fort
W'as built, and a stone slab contains the in-
scription :
'‘Viatoria, daughter of Alen and Viatoria
Phillips; horn March 15, 1815; died April
19, 1815.”
During the “military days” slabs were
erected to the memory of the following:
“Ann Remsey, consort of Major George
Birch, tr. S. A.; died October 25, 1829;
aged 48 years.”
“Elizabeth Clair, consort of Major L. G.
DeRussy; died August 30, 1836; aged 44
years.”
“Gordon H. Irvine, died May 11, 1837;
aged 26 years.”
“Lieut. Thomas Cutts, 3rd Regiment U.
S. Infantry; died September 2, 1838; aged
31 years. Erected by officers of the regi-
ment.”*
Among the leading citizens of Sabine
whose remains repose there are: Samuel
Jackson. McCurdy, Rev. J. Franklin,
Riley Stoker, W. AV. AIcNeely, Leslie Bar-
♦This regiment won fame with General Taylor in the
Mexican wax.
FORT JESUP AND THE FRONTIER 89
bee, W. R. Chance, Mabra P. Hawkins, J.
H. White, W H. Peters, Dr. J. R. Frank-
lin, William E. McNeely, William H. Bar-
bee, and William Amos Ponder, who was
also prominent in the history of Natchi-
toches parish.
The burying place for the private sol-
diers is in the vicinity, but no efforts have
been made to care for the graves. Rela-
tives have come, at various times, and re-
moved the remains of soldiers from this
neglected cemetery, which should have re-
ceived some attention by the government.
In 1903 the military reservation was
opened for settlement under the provisions
of the federal homestead laws, fifty years
after the fort had been abandoned.
'J’he parts that have been played in our
parish life by the people of Fort Jesup are
noted in other chapters, and it is sufficient
to state here that they have ever been rep-
resentative of all that ’makes for good gov-
ernment and good society.
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Crealaoii of Sialbaaie
^ABINE PaRISIT, which v/as formerly
^ a part of Natchitoches, was created
by an act of the legislature signed by QUyv-
eriior Mouton, iSIarch 27, 18-13. The par-
ish was named for the river which forms
its western boundary and which stands as
the godfather for several towns, cities,
lakes and counties — the Sabine river — or
anciently the River of the Sabine. The
Spaniards called it Rio A days, after an In-
dian tribe living on its banks, a name sur-
viving in the village of Adays, in Natchi-
toches parish, and recalls an oid story.
A party of Frenchmen landing on the
shores of Lac de Lobos, became very
friendly with the natives. A large number
of the savages were taken aboard the
French boats, but the Frenchmen becom-
ing intoxicated cast the male Indians
ashore and made off with the best looking
squaws, from which incident and its re-
semblance to the story in Roman history
entitled “The Rape of the ISabines” the
lake and river received their name.
The land area of Sabine parish is 1,008
square miles, about the same as that of the
state of Rhode Island. The first census
(1850) after the creation of the parish re-
ported a population of 3,347 v/hites and
90
CREATION OF SABINE PARISH 91
1,168 slaves. The voting population did
not exceed that of Ward Four in 1912.
A large portion of the parish is what is
known as pine hills, but large bodies of
bottom and hummock lands were found
which were converted into rich farms, but
which were once covered with heavy for-
ests of pine, oak, hickoiy, gum, beech,
holly and various other woods. Scill an-
other considerable area is now or was cov-
ered with long leaf pine, the greater part
of the land being level.
The parish is drained by several large
creeks, or bayous, most of which flow into
the yabine River, most prominent among
these streams being Bayou LaNana, Bayou
Scie, Bayou Toro, Bayou Negreet, Bayou
San Patricio and Bayou San Miguel.
Sabine parish was created at a period
when America had entered upon a new era
of progress. Immigrants from the older
states were no longer compelled to make
long and tiresome overland trips to reach
• this section of Louisiana. At the begin-
ning of the century the operation of steam-
boats was made practical and later the ge-
nius of American inventors had so far per-
fected that method of navigation that the
whistle of the steamboat engine was heard
on every river. In 1812 the first steam-
boat to navigate Southern waters reached
New Orleans from Pittsburg, Pa. In the
i
'4
i|;
I
I
4
■(
•<
92 CREATION OF SASJNE PARISH
^30s Captaiu Henry 31. Shreve broiiglit the
first steamboat up Red RLV”er as far as
Natchitoches, and in a short time steamers
were making regular trips between that
city and New Orleans and other Missis-
' sippi River points. The steamboat also
took its place on the Sabine River and
boats plied that stream from Sabine Lake
to points far up into Texas. In the ^50s
a large traffic was carried on, popular
landing points in Sabine parish being Co-
lumbus, East Pendleton and what is known
as Carter^s Ferry. The steamboat became
the popular mode of travel as well as for
the transportation of merchandise and sup-
plies for the settlers. The new parish
presented sufficient attractions for a goodly
portion of the emigrants then seeking
homes in the Great Southwest and each
succeeding year found additions to its
sturdy citizenship. •
Pioneer Cusioms and Society.
The hpmel.y house that harbours quiet rest,
The cottage that affords no pride nor care.
The maa that ’grees with courtly music best,
The sweet consort of mirth and modest fare.
Obscured by life sits down a type of bliss;
A mind content both crown and kingdom is.
— Robert Green.
T^VERY section of Sabine parish now
presented evidences of the labor of the
settler. The dense woodlands were trans-
formed into open fields for the cultivation
of crops which furaish food, as well as for
cotton, the great staple which brought the
ready cash. In the early days the houses
were constructed of pine logs. The re-
mains of some of these structures are yet
to be fouud. Maiij^ of them were rudely
built, while others were most elegant
structures of the kind. The better houses
were built on what is called the ^‘double-
pen’^ plan; that is, with one or more rooms
in two separate enclosures under one roof,
the two sections being divided by a wide
open hall^ A loug gallery or porch usually
extended the entire length of the front of
the house, and chimneys or fire-places
were erected at one or both gables The
chin: neys ' were sometimes of brick, but
most commonly of mud. The old type of
couutiy house is used even iu modern
93
j
!
1
*
:tO
91 PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY
day?, when the liahhed product of the
sawmill has supplanted the pine and
the carpenter with effective tools has taken
the place of the woodsman with no tools
more convenient than an adz and an au<^er.
Split-Log Double-Pen House.
If a planter owned slaves, he provided
them with suitable cabins. Clearing the
woodland plantation for the cultivation of
crops was a hard labor, but the task that
fell to the lot of the women of the house-
hold was so strenuous that it, was akin to
drudgery. Pioneer stores were not tilled
with readv-made clothing. The United
States had not embarked very extensively
into manufactures and the fabrics which
were to be found upon the counters of the
local merchant were, as a rule, importa-
tions from Europe, comprising only broad-
PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY 95
cloths, calicoes and cottonades, and the
prices of these staples were very high. 'Phe
greater portion of the cloths which went to
make the clothinir of the pioneers was
manufactured by the women. In even the
unpretentious home was found the ancient
spinning wheel and loom. The women
canled the cotton and wool into rolls which
were spun into thread, and with the loom
wove the thread into various fabrics. Many
older people of today can remember the
times when they were awakened at the
midnight hour by the hum of the spinning
wheel or the bumping of the loom. Those
were the days when the women of the land
were as much slaves as those blacks which
were held as chattels. It is a happy re-
flection, however, that the emancipation of
the mothers and daughters from the drudg-
ery of supplying the family with “home-
spun” clothing was not accomplished by
the shedding of blood, nor through the
agency of the ballot, but by the ingenuity
of the army of American inventors who.se
creations of labor -saving machinery and
methods for manufacturing the nece.ssary
articles for the comfort of humanity have
done so much to make life’s walk less bur-
densome. Not only has woman’s work
been made lighter in the home, but im-
proved machinery enables the farmer to
cultivate his held with a greater saving of
■': :-:;v.M;>^'y Lv::; K:^
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v;
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96 PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY
labor. A wide field of industrial ^progress
covers the few short years when fanners of
Sabine used wooden jack- plows, still there
is heard the wail of the agitator denounc-
ing a system of government which has
made progress possible and urging, the re-
peal of constitutions which leave the field
free to individual endeavor and legitimate
competition. The invention of the cotton
gin, the steamboat, the railway, the tele-
graph, the sewing machine, and the count-
less labor-saving devices and conveniences
made their advent during the past century,
and nearly all are the product of American
genius, made possible by our system of
government. May that system never be
repealed to satisfy the demands of Utopian
dreamers and noisy communists.
As there were no railroads in Sabine
parish prior to the civil war, the chief
trading points were Natchitoches and
Alexandria, both river towns. A great
many people went to market only once or
twice a year, taking cotton and other mar-
ketable produce, and returned v/ith sup-
plies for their homes and plantations.
Ox teams were the ordinary means of
rural transportation and several neighbors
usually journeyed to market together, and
as it frequently required several days for
the Sabine farmers to make the trip they
camped out on the road.
PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY 97
The farmers of the old days produced
mauy articles at home which they now
buy from stores, such as soap, sugar, and
tobacco. The country had lanyards which
made leather for the manufacture of shoes.
Salt and soda were frequently scarce, and
it was necessary to go to the salt works to
procure that article. In cases of emer-
gency certain kinds of ashes were used as
a substitute for baking soda.
Sabine parish was a veritable paradise
for hunters. Wild game, such as deer,
bear, wild turkey and other animals which
were sources of food supply, was to be
found on every hand. These wild luxuries
have rapidly diminished in numbers until
they are practically extinct. The forests
with their crops of nuts and acorns enabled
the farmers to have fat hogs without feed-
ing them his cultivated crops. The hogs
were allowed to roam at will and soon be-
came wild, and when their owners were
ready to lay in their supply of meat they
were usually compelled to hunt the ani-
mals with dogs and guns. Previous to the
civil war these wild hogs had become so
numerous that the owner who had failed
to mark his hogs was frequently unable to
indentify them.
The days of the pioneers of Sabine were
not without their pleasures. The dealings
and associations of neighbors were of the
98
PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY
most happy character. Every good citizen
was ever ready to render assistance to his
fellow man when the call for aid was made.
The harvest time was especially the' sea-
son for mutual aid and tht*. giving of neigh-
borly feasts. The men gathered for miles
around to help gather a neighbor’s crop,
which was usually accomplished in one
day, and the women came to assist in mak-
ing quilts for the household. The day was
one of jolly work, sumptuous dinners, and
at night came the iueyitablo dance, which
brought delight to the young people and
which continued into the morning hours.
Every neighborhood boasted of a “fiddler,”
whose knowledge of the masters, poetic
quadrilles and dreamy waltzes may have
been a trifl- limited, hut his rustic airs
never failed to inspire the dancers to enter
into the spirit of the occasion. “Candy-
l»reakings” and the “play party” were
other sources of amusement for the pioneer
youths, and when the country afforded
places ot public worship, those gatherings
were also of a social nature.
Ill pioneer days early marriages and the
rearing of large families were the rub, and
the custom apparently has never been ab-
rogated by the people of Sabine parish.
The people were practically all engaged in
agricultural pursuits, and the newly wed
couple, no matter how' limited their fin-
z\kO'r4Ws) .86
...'^ajnfnad'D '^qq-ud iBom
r^id 0$ leva
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dairfv/. •.e»idii:Ji7«0%udj $mut) 'ia
bnA ^iqoaq •;:;0{‘O7. arii OJ id:^[ro7d
.erwc4 'j^etf^nora oHd beaaiJaoo dofdw
'*/ji0ll>i>tf**' B *lo f;ajs,i’0(f boodioddp^^xi
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0v;?,1 v:-j«0*sh. lu^/, «>ailhfci50p
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adj bnn
looBoiq adl^Jol ln0A^0€n0i#l|aao*fii'Oe.^adio
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aeodJ ,qki^io^. 1c aaaulq
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PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY 99
ances raay have been, found waiting for
them a tract of land, and by industry and
frugality they were soon enabled to own a
home. Up to 1840 the nuptial knots were
usually tied by magistrates and judges, ex-
cept among the Catholic population where
priests officiated, but after that time min-
isters of other denomination^ appear on
the records as celebrants of marriage cere-
monies
'fhe first marriage to be officially recorded
in Sabine parish was filed July 8ih, 1846,
the ceremony having been performed June
5th by Justice Abner Bradley. The con-
tracting parties were Joseph Simpson and
Hannah Self.
In 1847, G. W. Johnson, who signs as a
minister of the Gospel, united in marriage
Lewis White and Mrs. Elizabeth J. Wood,
the witnesses being Stephen Wiley and
James Waldrop. Other marriages recorded
in 1847 were: Abram Holt and Miss Eliz-
abeth Bloodsworth, James 1). Pate and
Mrs. Martha Ann Wright (the witnesses of
the later ceremony being S. G. Lucius, A.
Duckworth and Absalom Wright), Vincent
A. Montgomery and Miss Mary Eliza
Gandy, James ]Murphy and Miss Matilda
Shull, E. C. Davidson and Miss Elizabeth
Baldwin (the witnesses being Daniel K.
Gandy, Henry McGallen and P. H. Dillon),
William R. McCollister and Miss Margaret
ICO PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY
Frances, Haney Curtis and Miss Elizabeth
Sneed. The last weddinjr, except one, re-
corded in 1847 was that of Alfred Litton
and Miss Nancy Critchfield, at which Jus-
tice of the Peace R. K. INIc Donald offici-
ated and James Brown, John Self and J,
W.' Scritchfield signed as witnesses.
The marriage of Mark Me Alpin and Miss
Emily Smart was recorded in 1848, John
Carroll, Thomas Stephens and Amos C.
Smart subscribing as witnesses. Other
marriages during the same year were El-
bert Mains and Miss Celia Ritchey, Murry
Rnrr and Miss Mary Ann Magee, John
Hendricks and Miss Eunicy Parrott. The
latter wedding was celebrated at the home
Mrs. Eliza Parrott, on Novomber 30th, the
witnesses bcincr W. B. Nonl, Mij»s Mary
Ann Martin and Janies H. Word. On the
13th ot December following that wedding
the marriage of two of the witnesses, W.
B. Neal and Miss Marlin is noted. William
Self and Maiy E. Boswell, Solomon Ar-
thur and Miss Evilina Curtis ( W. C. South -
well, Benjamin C. Arthur and John Car-
roll being witnesses), Olivier Sanders and
]NIary Vidler, Taylor Morris Cook
and Miss R. Q. Hill, wore also among those
who were married in 1848.
The following marriages were recorded
in 1849: Thomas B. Stephens and Miss
Elender Smart, JohnCutright and Amanda
■f
1
1..
PIONEER CUSTOMS AND SOCIETY 101
Pate, John Forbis and Miss Martha E.
Brown.
In 1852, John Vines ami Miss lonah But-
ler were united in marriage, Justice of the
Peace J. C. Alford officiating. During
this year George West, minister of the
Gospel, makes returns of marriage cere-
monies which he had performed.
From 1852 until after the ciril war there
does not appear to have been any definite
system of keeping the marriage records at
the court-house. Other public records
were scrupulously cared for, but the sys-
tem of keeping a record of deaths, births
and marriages which prevailed in many
commonwealths, was apparently neglected
to a large degree. In later years these mat-
ters received better atiention, and the sys-
tem of keeping the marriage records, in
conformity with state laws, are especially
good.
Cioveriimeiit-
The Police Joey.
FTEU the creation of Sabine, the work
of providing a government of the
new parish \yas immediately begun. The
first record of the Police Jury is dated
June 19, 1843, when the board met in ad-
journed session. John Lebo presided, and
the following members were present: T.
Arthur, B. P. Byles, W. Estes, Robert B.
Stilie, J. R. Smart and A. Saveli. S. S.
Eason, who was also clerk of the district,
parish and probate courts, was secretary of
the Police Jury and John Baldwin treas-
urer. The esiabiishmeiit of some new
roads and the adoption of rules governing
the meetings of the board are noted in the
proceedings, also a pro[)Osition to ask the
state legislature to submit to the voters the
question of a location for the parish site
and the construction of public buildings.
On motion of Mr. Arthur, the first estray
laws for the parish were adopted. After
reciting the methods for estrayiug and
branding livestock, the resolution provided
that any person who was molested or
102
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PARISH GOVERjYMHXT 103
“a^^rieved” by any wild or ungovernable
horse, cow, or hog, could make complaint
to the nearest justice of the peace, and,
after advertisement of the troublesome
stock had been made for thirty days, if the
owner did not offer relief, the person mak-
ing the complaint proceeded on a certain
day to kill the animal. A unique feature
of the branding law was that “no person
shall send or permit any slave or Indian to
go into any of the woods or ranges in this
parish to brand any horse, coll, mule, cat-
tle, hogs or sheep, under any circumstances
whatsoever, unless said slave, or Indian,
be in company and under the direction of
seme respectable white person.” Violators
of this law were compelled to pay twenty
dollars for every animal thus branded, half
of which amount went to the parish and
half to the person giving the information
and prosecuting the suit. At this rneetiiig
the clerk was authorized to have “two win-
dows inserted in the western end and one
door in the easteimend of the building now
occupied by the Police Jury.” He was also
authorized to purchase necessary chairs
and a table for the use of the members at
their meetings, which was to be done “in
the cheapest and most economical manner.”
At the next meeting of tlie body one
hundred dollars was appropriated for build-
ing a bridge across Bayou Toro, near Mrs.
\
i
104 PARISH GO rER:^^MEXT
Curtis’ place. On motion of Mr. Slille, the
following resolution was adopted: ‘‘Ke-
solvei, that Major Fauntleroy be and is
hereby authorized to change the Natchi-
toches and the Alexandria road according
to the diagram exhibited to this board, and,
when completed, to close the Natchitoches
road now running through the garrison at
FortJesup.”
The board elected the first parish admin-
istrators of public schools, as follows :
Thomas Ford, Hosea Fresley, Daniel R.
Gandy, N. J. Alford and Valentine Nash.
Mr. Stille offered the following resolu-
tion, which was adopted: “Resolred, that
it shall be unlawful for anyone to expose
for sale within the bounds of this parish
any slaughtered hog without the head and
ears attached. And it shall be lawful for
any free white person to seize any such
slaughtered hog exposed for sale contrary
to the above section and give notice there-
of to the nearest magistrate, who shall im-
mediately offer it for sale, one -half the
proceeds to go to the informer and one-halt
to the parish.”
A resolution was adopted assessing an
annual license to be paid by the proprietors
of ferries on the Sabine River. The fer-
ries then in operation were Barr’s, Had-
den’s, Gaine’s, Patterson’s, Kirk’s. Haley’s
and Myrick’s.
PARISH GOVERjYMEjYT
105
The board met in May, 1844, and re-
elected the same officers for the ensuing
year, with the exception that Hosea Pres-
ley was elected treasurer. T. Arthur hav-
ing resigned as a member of the jury, J. A.
McLanahan was seated in his place. An
ordinance was passed requiring “peddlers
and hawkers of merchandise of any de-
scription” to pay an annual license of ten
dollars, and failure to pay same made the
. goods liable to seizure and to bo sold for
amount of the license. During this ses-
sion a resolution was adopted instructing
the surveyor, George W.. Thompson, to run
the line between Sabine and Rapides par-
ishes, in accordance with a decision of the
supreme court defining said line.
The president appointed the following
standing committees for the year 1844:
Finance — Stille, Smart and McLaaahan.
Claims — Byles, Estes and Saveli. Election
— Stille, Byles and Smart.
A motion to proceed with the matter of
erecting suitable public buildings was lost
by a tie vote. Mr. McLanahan, member
from the Third Ward, was not present and
the board proceeded to fine him for non-
attendance. This meeting seems to have
terminated in some dissatisfaction among
the members. Messrs. Stille and Estes
tendered their resignations as members and
after that date the nanij of the president,
I
ir
106 PARISH GOVERjYMEMT
Mr. Lebo, does not appear upon the
minutes.
On November 11th, John Ayers^ B. P,
Biles, James Kioner and A. Brown were
seated as members of the jury. Kinner
was elected president. The question of
providing public buildings was asjain taken
up, and John Baldwin, M. Fulchrod, John
TV'aterhouse and Alexander Biles were
named as a committee to arrange to lay out
in' town lots a draet of land (mow occupied
by the town of Many), title to which was
vested in the Police Jury, and offer the
lots for sale at public auction, for cash or
terms, the proceeds of the sale of which to
go to the public buildinvr fund. It should
be noted that the buildiiigs were not erected
until several years later. The board, di-
rected that the secretary see to the n'pair
of some chimneys in the buildings then in
use, and adjourned.
At the next meeting of the board, May
5, 1345, Brown and Ayers were the only
members at the previous session who were
present. The new members who qualified
were R. K. ^IcDonald, M. Fulchrod, J. B.
Elam, T. G, L. Godwin and A. H. Red-
ding. A Brown was elected president.
The only meeting during the remainder of
the }'ear was held in September, and the
business transacted was confined to minor
WMmm.
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uww oriw .^uoiyatjq ed*' in ^^iWineca
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loaim oi'l>‘iii{]jiOo mmaii^.trd
1
PARISH GOVERNMENT 107
matters. The first parish aid to a pauper
.was recorded in the journal.
On June 1, 1846, the following members
were present: R. K. McDonald, Gr. Mun-
son, J. B. Elam and T. Gr, S. Godwin.
Mr. Elam was chosen president and George
E. Ward secretary. Hosea Presley was
allowed $5.25 for holding an inquest over
the body of Joseph Neel, and Coroner Wil-
liam Stoker $20.75 for holding inquests
over the bodies of James Humphries and
B. A. Stone.
At this period agitators had begun to
menance the good order that prevailed
among the slaves by endeavoring to induce
them to become disloyal to their masters.
To discourage these attempts by designing
interlopers to cause disturbances, Mr. God-
win introduced the following resolution,
which was adopted: “Be it* resolved, that
hereafter there shall be captains of pa-
trols in the parish of Sabine; that is to
say, captains for each Police Jury ward as
they now exist. J. R. Smart and Martin
Brock for the First ward, AV. AV, H. God-
win and R. J. AIcLemore for the Second
ward, • Thadeus Montgomery ' and C, W.
Elam for the Third ward, William Stoker
and John Presley for the Fourth ward, H.
Nabours and Samuel Webb for the Fifth
ward, AVilliam E-^tes and Jefferson Ander-
son for the Sixth ward, C. F. Waldrop and
«
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L-' .'i ■ ’ } .bLM>V ii;.£ . L’ i -'■ iOl J
108
PARISH GOrERJ^MEjYT
W. C. Beddingfield for the Seventh ward.
Be it further resolved, that it shall be the
duty of said captains of patrols to call out
all such persons as are subject to miUtary
duty in their respective wards or beat-^,
and that any person neglecting or failing
to turn out after having been notified by
said captains shall forfeit and pr^y one dol-
lar for the use of the parish. Be it further
resolved, that it shall be the duty of the
captains of patrols to call out such persons
at least once a month, and oftener if it be
necessary in the discretion of the captains
ot patrols, or upon the written request of
three freeholders. Be it further resolved,
that it shall be the duty of said captains
and patrols, when on duty, to visit and in ♦
spect all negro quarters, and if in so doing
they shall find any negroes gathered to-
gether with the intent of causing a disturb-
ance among the slaves of the neighborhood
or parish; or, further, if they shall find
any slave, or slaves, in said quarters not
belonging to the owner, or owners, with-
out a pass or verbal permit from his or her
master, unless the captain is satisfied with
the truth of said permit, it shall be his or
their duty to chastise said slave, or slaves,
by giving him, or them, not more than
twenty stripes with an ordinary whip; and
that . they shall have no right to indict
greater punishment, under the penalty of
PARISH GOrERJ^MEjYT
109
the law. The captains of the patrols shall
have a general supervisory control over the
police of slaves in this parish in their re-
spective wards, not only when on duty, but
likewise at any time.’* ■
The parish license for ‘‘keepers of ^ro^
shops, tiplius: houses and retailers of spir-
itous liquors” was fixed at ten dollars per
year.
A resolution was adopted providing for
the payment by the Police Jury of two
dollars for every wolf killed in the parish.
On October 26, the board rented the Meth-
odist church in which to hold sessions of
the district court.
At the June meeting (1847) the board
resolved to submit to the voters of the par-
ish a proposition to increase the tax levy
for the purpose of erecting a public build-
ing at the parish site.
The difficulty which the young parish
encountered in procuring public buildings
is best explained by a glance at her small
finances. The parish, like many individ-
uals in those days, started out with no cap-
tal. In 1843 the taxes collected amounted
to only $984.80, and in 1846 the taxes, ped-
dlers’ and ferries’ license totaled only $1,-
336.64 The taxes of Yates & McIntyre,
who owned considerable land in the parish,
were unpaid and in controversy, the
amount being $436.39. With the limited
■ 110 PARISH GOrERJ\^MEJ^H
funds available it- is little wonde r that the
parish legislature was conlronteJ with
what might be considered a heavy indebt-
edness.
On December 20, 1847, the board met
with the following members present: W.
. B. Stille, Joseph McNeely, John Aten and
W. D. {Stephens. Mr. Aten was appointed
president pro tern. The election lo decide
whether a public building should be erected
^ had resulted in favor of the proposition
and the board proceeded to appropriate
^ $500 for that purpose. A proposition to
provide a house in which to hold court
while the building was being constructed
was lost.
On June 6, 1848, G. Munson was elected
president and George E. Ward secretary.
John R. Smart, chairman of the committee
appointed to investigate the sale of town
fots in Many, reported -that the gross sales
amounted to $1,231.69, of which amount
only $582.98 had been paid into the treas-
ury. At the October meeting, on motion
of Mr. Smart, $200 was appropriated to the
public schools for the tuition of indigent
children. The board also reduced the
amount to be used for building a court-
house to $400. The following were mem-
bers of the board at the December meet-
ing: G. Muusoii, fJosepli McNeely, E.
Brown, G. W. Morris, Joseph Vaner, A.
PARISH GOVERJ^MEjYT 111
Lout and Malen Holden. Joseph McNeely
was elected president. The following June
Mr. McNeely was succeeded by Daniel
Richey. The payment of $25 to John FOr-
bis for supporting two old slares is recorded
in the journal. The board met in October
and again postponed the building of a
court house. The Methodist and Baptist
churches were rented, one for a court house
and one for a jury room. The commis-
sioners of the town of Many were in-
structed to close the mortgages on the lots
which had been sold and on which final
payment had not been made. The law al-
lowing a bounty for wolf scalps was re-
pealed. The estimate for parish expenses
for the following year was fixed at $3,000.
George E. Ward was allowed $29 for taking
a census of the school children for the year
1849. In June, 1850, the following were
members of the Police Jury: Daniel
Richey, T. .G. S. Godwin, James S, Wil-
liams, Littleton Chambliss, N. P. Smart
and N. H. Bray. George E. Ward was
elected secretary and Daniel Richey con-
tinued as president. Among the new
roads authorized at the June meeting (1851)
was one in accordance with the petition of
Leslie Barbee and others, and defined as
follows: “Running from big hill by Les-
lie Barbee’s, to have its terminal at the
Alexandria road near Pollaud’s.” Wash-
112
FAIUSH GOVEllJVMEJ^^T
ington Kirkham, John Dougherty, James
Isgitt and William Stone were reviewers. '
At this meeting Henry S. White, a new
member, was elected president and E. C.
Davidson secretary.
Matthew Jones was president in 1852,
but was shortly succeeded by Moses K.
Speight, and E. F. Presley was chosen
secretary. No further changes in the mem-
bership was noted during the next several
years, nor any business of iinportance
transacted. .
In July, 1859, Marion P. Carter turned
over to the parish the new jail he had con-
tracted to build at a cost of $1,500. In
1860, J. A. Weeks, E. M. Cassell, H. W.
Scoggins and J. J, Horton were jurors,
In March, 1861, President Speight was
authorized to draw on the State Treasurer
for $30,000, Sabine’s share of an appropri-
ation for the relief of suffererers from
floods and drouth. At a meeting iu May
provision was made for the distributitjn of
corn from the depots at Grand Ecore and
Cobble’s Landing. In dune, Allen Hol-
land, G. G. Garner and Silas Poberts ap-
peared -as jurors. M. K. Speight was
re-elected president; A. li. Mitchell, sec-
retary, andE. C. Davidson, treasurer. The
ofiice of examiner of teachers was abol-
ished, but restored the following da}" with
A. K. Mitchell as examiner.
F ARISE GOYERXMEKT
113
On August 13, 1861, the board appropri-
ated money for military purposes, the or-
ganizations mentioned being the Sabine
Volunteers, Captain J. T. Jordan’s Com-
pany, Sabine Rifles and Sabine Rebels.
Five hundred dollars was paid to Captain
McArthur’s company then at the front. In
January, 1862, the board authorized the
employment of a drillmaster, and in April
$7,500 in parish warrants were authorized.
A grant of $7 per month was made to the
wives and mothers of soldiers and each
child of a soldier in the service was allowed
$2 per month. At this meeting J. A.
Weeks succeeded A. R. Mitchell as secre-
tary, and Weeks, Sam Webb, Garner,
Munson, Scoggins, Gibbs, Chambliss, Hol-
land and Speight were members. In June,
1862, the estimate of parish expenses for
the year was fixed at $6,910. Isaac AVright
became a member of the jury in August.
The warrants issued to Captain Wright’s
Sabine Independents in 1861, amounting
to $1,025, were canceled, and in October
an issue of $10,000 in script was author-
ized. The budget for 1833 called for $13,-
940. Bounties and reliet's for families of
volunteers were ordered paid. This was
followed by another issue of $10,000 in
script for equipment ot militia and relief
of families of volunteers. There was no
meeting tf the board in 1861. In 1865. M.
114
PARISH GOYEENMEKT
K. Speight was again elected president,’
and James Fisher Smith, secretary. The
other members were N. H. Bray, A. R.
Mitchell, Leslie Barbee, William Ferguson;
Benjamin Boyd, H. S. Kennedy, H. W.
Scoggins, A. C. Leach, Samuel Webb. E.
C. Davidson was chosen treasurer, but the
election was set aside and N. H. Bray se-
lected for that position. M. K. Speight,
Jr., was chosen collector.
In 1868 the members of the jury were
Speight, Bray, Kennedy, Tyler, Harmon
Carter, Edmund Duggan, John Jacobs, W.
A. Youngblood and John Tynes. E. C.
Davidson was elected parish attorney.
In June, 1869, M P. Hawkins and J. M.
Franklin qualified as members, and in Oc-
tober A. K. Addison and C. B. Darnell
also qualified. At the January meeting
(1870) Jeff Salter was appointed collector
and Alfred Lout and Thomas Wiley were
new members.
The Police Jury which was appointed by
the State qualified in October, 1871, and
organized by electing John Caldwell, pres-
ident, and W. W. McNeely, secretary, the
other members being Alfred Litton, M. P.
Hawkins, D. W. Seif and Thomas A. Arm-
strong. J. Fisher Smith was elected
treasurer, and E. F. Presley attorney.
In December, 1872, Edmund Duggan was
elected president. Other members were
PARISH GOVERXMEHT
115
John Carroll, J. H. Tynes, Alfred Litton
and James M. Gibbs. K. W. Sibley was
secretary. Id July, 1873, J. H. Caldwell
was appointed treasurer. At this meeting
the old question of building a court house
was revived, after many years. In Octo-
ber, 1873, a tax of ten mills on the assess-
ment of the proceeding year was author-
ized for building purposes, and R. B. Stille,
W. H. Aldredge, John Davis, A. H. Hogue
and A. Harris were appointed as a build-
ing committee. In July, 1874, R. G.
Brown qualified as a juror in place of John
Carroll, who had died since the previous
meeting, and in January, 1875, the follow-
ing members composed a new board: M.
K. Speight, Sr., Edmund Duggan, R. G.
Brown, H. H. Callens and S. T. Sibley.
Mr. Speight was elected president, R. A.
Porbis, treasurer, and James F, Garner,
assessor and collector. Edmund Duggan
was elected president in January, 1876, and
at that meeting the tax levy was increased
from 14 1-2 to 29 mills. The trustees of
the Baptist church were paid $25 rent for
their house for the year 1875.
The board, in 1877, was composed of R.
M. Armstrong, president; Wade Ander-
son, D. W. Carroll, G. W. Addison and J.
M. Gibbs. The following June the Police
Jury received a demand from the Parish
Board of School Directors to levy a tax not
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PARISH GOVERNMENT
exceeding two mills for public school pur-
poses. E. F. Presley was elected treasurer
and later was also chosen attorney. In
July the parish was redistricted into eight
wards, but the act did not become effective
until January, 1879, when the jury was
composed of the following members: W.
W. Arthur, T. J. Stringer, D. W. Carroll,
Daniel Vandegaer, W. H. Farmer, H. H.
Callens, C. B. Darnell and W. L. Shull.
This was the first jury after the “recon-
struction” period. In August a 3-mills
tax for three years was levied to build a
court house, and, the voters sustaining the
levy, plans for a building were received in
December, at which meeting W. W. Mc-
Neely was elected treasurer. P. P. Bridges
qualified as juror in place ‘of H. H. Cal-
lens, deceased. During this period two
newspapers were published at Many, the
Sabine Index by J. H. Caldwell Co., and
the Sabine Southron by E. F. Presley. The
Index was awarded the parish printing on
its bid to do the work for nothing and pay
the parish 30 cents additional.
In May, 1880, W. W. Arthur was presi-
dent, and J. H. Mitchell, secretary. J. T.
Lunt was contracted with to erect a court
house at a cost of $2,500. A. H. Hogue
purchased the old jail and lot from the par- ’
ish for $112.50. In August, 1881, D. N,
Carroll was succeeded as a member by W,
117
PARISH GOVERNMENT
T. Alford, and in January, 1882, A. W.
Estes was elected secretary. Plans for a
new jail were adopted and the contract for
building the same awarded to J. T. Lunt
for $1,600. H. S. Kennedy qualified as a
member from Ward 7 in 1882, but was suc-
ceeded by J, M. Stoddard in June, 1883.
Jasper DeLatin was police constable.
In June, 1884, R. A. Forbis, president;
T. J. Stringer, W. T. Alford, Henry Fer-
guson, William Aten, H. H. Cassell and
Jehu Graham formed the board. A. W.
Estes was elected treasurer, and J. A.
Small constable. In January, 1885, on
motion of Jehu Graham,' the board passed
a prohibition ordinance, and from that date
to the present whisky has not been legally
sold in Sabine parish. At the next meet-
ing W. H. Webb appeared as a member in
place of Henry Ferguson, deceased. W.
T. Alford was elected president in place of
Forbis, resigned. In 1886 J. C. Ryan was
elected police constable. In January, 1887,
an effort was made to abolish this office,
but failed. M. B. Petty was elected con-
stable. Two years later J. C. Ryan
was elected and, with the exception of one
year when C. M. Williams seiwed, has held
the position up to the present.
In 1888 Jehu Graham succeeded W. T.
Alford as president, but in June of that
year a new set of jurors qualified as fol-
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liS PARISH GOVERjYMEJYT
lows: R. A. Forbis', president, A. W. Es-
tes, secretary and treasurer; H. S. Ellzey,
T. J. Stringer, H, M, Gandy, W, M,
Webb, H, H, Casse], J. M, Fuller and Wil-
liam Tyler,
In April, 1890, Mr. Ellzey, for a com-
mittee, reported favorably on a petition of
the tax-payers of the parish asking that
election be ordered for the purpose of vot-
ing on the proposition of levying a tax of
5 mills on the property valuation for a pe-
riod of ten years in aid of the Gulf, Sabine
and Kansas City railroad, and recommended
that said election be granted. An ordin-
ance w'as drafted ordering the election and
providing that the railroad should be built
from the north end of Sabine parish, via
the town of Many, to the south line of the
parish, and that the road should conform
to the standard of a trunk line and be com-
pleted within three years from the date the
tax was voted. The election was ordered
to be held on the 15th day of May.
In July, 1892, the members of the board
w’ere AV. D. Hall, T. J. Stringer, H. M.
Gandy, W. R. Alford, T. J. Cramford, H.
H. Cassell, Jehu Graham and W. C. Rai-
ner. Jehu Graham was elected president
and A, AV. Estes, secretary. In October
the board ordered spread upon the minutes
suitable resolutions in memory of R. A.
PARISH GOVERjYMEjYT • 119
Forbis, deceased, who had long been pres-
dent of the Police Jury.
At the meeting in April, 1893, the jury
gare its approval of the efforts being made
looking to the construction of a railroad
from Many to Marthaville. This road was
cbartefed,""but the building was only on
paper.
In January, 1894, H. M. Gandy was
elected president, and at a subsequent
meeting an election was ordered to vote on
the’ proposition of levying a tax of one-
half mill on the taxable property valuation
for a period of ten years in aid of a pro-
posed railroad from Victoria, La,, on the
Texas and Pacific railroad, to Many. The
citizens voted in favor of the tax, but the
road was not built.
On October 7, 1895, the board was pre-
sented with a petition for an election to
vote on the proposition to levy a 5 mills
tax for a period of ten years in aid of the
Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf railroad
which proposed to build its line through
Sabine parish in consideration of that sub-
sidy. 'The petitiou was referred to a com-
posed of Jehu Graham, W. R, Alford and
W. C, Rainer, who recommended that said
election be granted, and every member
voted to order the election. November 15
was fixed as the date for holding the elec-
tion, but was later changed to December 2,
120
PARISH GOVERNMENT
on which date elections for the same pur-
pose had been ordered in DeSoto and Ver-
non parishes. In January, 1896, the board
canyassed the returns of the election and
promulgated the result of the election,
which was as follows: For the tax, 544
votes ; against the tax, 438 votes. The road
was to run through the parish on a north
and south line, east or west of the town of
Many not more than five miles. This road
was constructed during the year, and an era
of great progress in the parish was begun.
H, U, Sally qualified as a jury in place of
H. H. Cassell,
On March 13, 1896, the jury met in called
session to cnnsider plans for the suppres-
sion of a threatened epidemic of smallpox
in Many. Prior to this time no provision
for a board of health in the parish is noted.
The Police Jury at created a health board
with Don E, SoRelle, president; Leo Van-
degaer, secretary; E. C. Dillon, treasurer,
and Dr, W. J. Mobley health officer. Five
hundred dollars was appropriated for the
use of tne board and $100 for vaccine
points. At the April meeting a new board
of health was appointed, as follows: John
S. Carroll, president; Leo Vandegaer, sec-
retary, W. J. Davis, treasurer; Dr, T, M.
Tramel, parish physician. Stringent reg-
ulations were adopted, C. P. McDonald
PARISH GOVERNMENT 121
qualified as a member of the jury at this
meeting.
In July, 1896, the following were present
as members of the jury: P, L Cook, M.
S, Antony, J, W, Nabours, W, R. Alford,
T, J, Cranford, C, P, McDonald, Jehu
Graham, ^ S, M, Wiley and H, U, Sally,
Jehu Graham was elected president, Cran-
ford, Alford and Antony were designated
as a committee to enter into a contract for
building a new parish jail. Plans for a
structure to cost $6,210 were accepted, to
be paid for in four annual installments,
and a 2 mills tax levy was made to liqui-
date this indebtedness.
In February, 1897, the Doard met to de-
vise plans to aid di'outh sufferers in the
parish, crops during the previous season
having been the shortest in the history of
the country. The surplus funds of the
parish were tendered to the needy and
meetings were ordered held in each ward
to urge private aid. The railroads volun-
teered to transport provisions to their sta-
tions in Sabine parish free. In June the
tax levy for the year was made as follows:
Parish tax, 6 1-2 mills; school tax, 1 1-2
mills; jail tax, 2 mills; railroad tax, 5
mills. The new jail was received from
the contractors. The assessor was in-
structed to assess all long leaf pine lands at
$4 per acre.
122
PARISH GOVERNMENT
Jehu Graham was re-elected president
at the January meeting (1898). In April
the board met in special session, revised
the road laws, and fixed the budget of par-
ish expenses for the year in compliance
with a new law. In July an ordinance
was adopted fixing the parish license for
the sale of liquor at $2,000, This action
was intended to discourage attempts to
open saloons in any incorporated towns of
the parish.
The same officers were continued for the
year 1899, and at the April meeting the
matter of building a new court house was
considered. The board decided to work
parish convicts on the public roads and a
superintendent of convicts was elected.
At the June meeting a per capita tax of $1
was assessed every man subject to road
duty, and a tax of 50 cents on two -horse
wagons and 25 cents on one-horse wagons
and vehicles levied. The proposition to
to build a new court house was again taken
up at the July meeting and different plans
and specifications were considered. The
plans of a Louisville firm of contractors
were accepted and 2 mills set aside for the
construction of the building which was to
be completed at a cost of $17,000. R. G.
Bozeman became a member of the jury at
this meeting. On motion of 51r, Wiley the
old wooden court house was sold at public
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auction. In October the board adopted
resolutions in memory of M, S, Antony,
member of the board from Ward 2,
In response to a petition of the citizens
of Ward 6, that ward was diyided and
Ward 10 created at the January meeting
(1900). M. Gr. Antony qualified as juror
at this meeting. The board met the fol-
lowing month for the purpose of accepting
the new court house from the contractors.
President Graham’s report as superintend-
ent of the building was presented, declared
correct and the building accepted.
On May 14 a special meeting was held to
elect a parish board of health. The fol-
lowing were appointed members of that
body for a term of four years: J. E. Lee,
Lem AValters, Dr. S. H. Cade, Dr, J, R,
Franklin, M. F, Webb, Dr, Mott, J, J,
Brown, Dr, T, M, Tramel, J, E, Bullard
and J, W. Ford, Three hundred dollars
was appropriated for the smallpox sufferers
of Wards 5 and 8,
In June, 1900, G, M, Addison, W, L,
ISpeigiits, H, M. Gandy, John J, McCollis-
ter, T, Laroux, J. M. Paul, D, E, Steph-
ens, W, L. Shull, John Edmundson and
J, T. Tanner comprised a new board,
which organized by electing H, M, Gandy
president. Plans were adopted for build-
ing bridges throughout the parish. In Oc-
tober the board adopted a memorial for W.
I
I
124
PARISH GOVERNMENT
L. Shull, deceased member. In January,
1901, W. G. Mains appeared as a member
from Mr, Sli all’s ward, I, D, Rains was
awarded liio contract for erecting an iron
fence around the coart house yard, 'Sur-
veyor Daii Vandegaer was employed to
classify the pine timber of the parish, and
the assessor instructed to assess same as
follows: First“Class at $4,50 per acre, sec-
ond-class at $2 per acre.
In January, 1903, H, M, Gandy was re-
elected president, and D, M, Miller quali-
fied as a member vice G. M. Addison re-
signed, In October of this year the treas-
urer was authorized to procure teams and
tools to work convicts on the public roads.
An ordinance was adopted which prohib-
ited the importation to the parish from
Texas of aii}^ unbaled cotton, cotton seed,
hulls or an}" other product that might con-
vey cotton boli weevil, and providing for a
fine not exceeding $500 for violation of
that act.
In January, 1904, the officers which
served the previous yeai's were re-elected,
The boai'd at the lollowing meeting in-
structed tlie assessor to assess short leaf
pine lands at $4 per acre and long leaf pine
lands at $8 per acre, I’he president was
authorized to contract for steel cnges for
the parish jail at a (^ost of $2,550. The
board was composed ot the following mem-
- PARISH GOrERJ\^ME.YT 125
bers: D. M, Miller, W, L. Speights, H,
M, Gaody, J, J. McCollister, H, H. Fer-
guson, E, F, Latham, W, R, Ross, T. F,
Wiley, John Edmundson and J. T, Tanner,
In October, 1905, owing to the prevalence
of yellow fever in a neighboring parish, $500
was appropriated to maintain a quarantine
against the disease.
During the present century the work of
of the Police Jury has been largely along
the line of public improvements. Good
roads and bridges come in for their share
of consideration. In January,. 1907, the
same officers were continued for the year.
Dr. D. H, Dillon was elected president of
the parish health board, but he resigned in
July to accept a similar position on the
state board, Dr. T, L, Abington was
elected to the place and was also chosen
coroner at the November meeting.
in July, 1908, the board was composed
of the following members: Dr, T,. J,
Satcher, T, W. Conerly, J. W, Nabours,
A, F, Addison, T. Laroux, J, L, Latham,
W, R. Ross. T, F, Wiley and J. T, Tan-
ner, W, R. Ross was elected president.
Messrs. Ponder & Ponder wei*e chosen as
attorneys, and Dr. W. E, Tatum was
elected president of the board of health.
The same officers were continued for the
year 1910, J, B, Fuller appeared as a
member from Ward 10 in place of ]\[r, Tan-
i.. .. .XL,
126
PARISH GOVERNMENT
ner, John H. Boone was employed as
parish attorney. The board subscribed
$500 for stock in the Parish Fair Associa-
tion then being organized in Many, the
motion being offered by J, W. Nabours,
On November 8th an election was held
throughout the parish to vote on the prop-
osition to levy a special tax of 5 mills in
aid of the public roads for a period of ten
years, which resulted in favor of the prop-
osition.
In January, 1911, Dr. Tatum tendered
his resignation as president of the board of
health and was succeeded by Dr. W. E,
Dillon. J. L. Latham was appointed a
member of that body, vice Dr. Satcher,
resigned. Miss Mattie Langford and Miss
Florence Nabours were presented with
scholarships in the State Normal School.
On motion of Mr,. Fuller, at the April
meeting, citizens of Wards 5, 6, and 10
were granted permission to build telephone
lines throughout the wards.
In July, 1911, J, B. Fuller was elected
president of the jury, Mr. B. E, Stoker
was granted a scholarship in the State
University. The treasurer w^as instructed
t« pay all outstanding indebtedness. At
the October meeting the matter of building
a model road to connect with the roads of
DeSoto and Natchitoches parishes w^as dis-
cussed, and a committee composed of J.
PARISH GOVERjYME.YT
127
W. Nabours, J. A. Tramel, T. F. Wiley
and W, R. Ross, In 1912, the budget of
parish expenses called for $32,500, of which
$20,000 was f#r public roads. At the June
meeting $1,000 was set aside for the erec-
tion of dipping vats for the eradication of
the cattle tick in the different wards of the
parish, provided that the patrons of said
vats pay half of the expense of erecting
the same. On reconsideration, however,
the matter was laid over to a future meet-
ing. An ordinance defining vagrancy and
providing punishment for the same was
passed by the board. The report of the
committee appointed to confer with com-
mittees from DeSoto and Natchitoches
parishes on the good roads proposition was
set aside and the matter left for the consid-
eration of the new board.
In July (1912) the Police Jury was
composed of the following members: R.
S. Gandy, Ward 1; S. J. Speights, Ward
2: H. M. Gandy, Ward 3; J. A. Tramel,
Ward 4; T. Laroux, Ward 5; John L. La-
tham, Ward 6; W, R. Ross, Ward 7; D. J.
Holmes, Ward 8; G. R. Pearce, Ward 9;
J. B. Fuller, W^ard 10. The board organ-
ized by electing H. M. Gandy, president;
A. W. Estes, secretary, and J. C. Ryan,
police constable. On motion of 5Ir. Ross,
the board decided to apply to the state for
a convict camp to be employed in the con-
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PARISH GOVERjYMEHT
struction of public roads, and on motion of
Mr. Ross, certain roads between principal
points in the parish were designated as
state highways. Owing to stringency of
state finances, the parish was given no en-
couragement from that source for road
building, and ai the October meeting
the application for a convict camp was
withdrawn. The sheriff was ordered to
to push collection of the per capita road
tax levied by the board. The board met in
in special session on November 18 to de-
vise ways and means for the construction
of state highways. By resolution 40 per
of the special road tax for 1912 was set
aside for the construction of state highway
No. 1, from Many, via Fort Jesup, to the
parish line near Robeline, and the presi-
dent was authorized to co-operate with
State Engineer Atkinson in making sur-
veys and preliminary surveys, and to ad-
vertise for bids for constructing the road.
The engineer completed the survey of the
road, the contract for building awarded,
and Sabine’s first highway, constructed by
modern methods was commenced when
this chapter was being concluded.
On January 6, 1913, A. W. Estes ten-
dered his resignation as secretary of the
board, after serving that body in that ca-
pacity for a period of thirty-one years, the
PARISH GOVERjYMEJ^T
129
longest record of any man except one* in
public position in Sabine parish, William
G, Caldwell was elected secretary for Mr.
Estes^ unexpired term.
The membership of the Police Jury has
always been composed of some the par-
ish’s best citizens, whose aim has been to
work for the best interests of their coun-
try. The present jury is devoting its en-
ergies to better highways, which are as im-
portant in modern life as railroads, and
with the construction of good roads the full
development of the resouroes of the parish
are certain to follow.
The Courts.
When Sabine parish was established the
state constitution provided for what were
known as parish courts. The first record
of this court in Sabine is dated July 3,
1843. William R. D, Speight was judge,
and S. S. Eason, clerk.
• This court had jurisdiction in probate
matters. In 1851 Williamson Mains ap-
plied to the court to be appointed adminis-
tration of the estate of William Mains, de-
ceased. John Davis and John BuvenS
were named as appraisers of the estate. In
♦Hon. John R. Parrott, member of the Parish School
Board.
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130 F ARISE GOVEREMEET
1856 Samuel Webb was appointed admin-
istrator of ibe succession of James Webb,
Mary Ann Beddingfield as administratrix
for the succession of William Beddingfield,
and Ann Fallen for the succession of John
Pullen, The Pullen estate was appraised
at $13,728 and embraced seven slaves val-
at from $200 to $1,000 each, During this
year Daniel R. Gandy was appointed ad-
ministrator of the succession of Nancy
Gandy, his deceased wife, the estate em-
bracing 160 acres of land, mules, horses,
cattle, hogs, sheep and nine slayes, L. J.
Nash was administrator of the succession
of L. B. Gay, and Elizabeth Gay was ap-
pointed tutrix of the minor heirs, William
Hannibal, iMary Eveline. Caroline Eliza-
beth, Felix Crittenden, Victoria Lavina
and Bennett Gay. In 1859 Silas Saudell
was administrator of the succession of Da-
rius and Louise Sandell. the appraisers of
the estate being Daniel Ball and W. W.
Conerly. Marcellus Branch was adminis-
trator of the estate of Julia Branch. In
1862 Daniel R. Gandy was appointed ad-
ministrator of the succession of his wife,
Louise Jane, and tutor of their minor chil-
dren, Nancy Jane, John Wiley, Frances
Eugenia and Rufus Sibley Gandy. Other
successions recorded in the journal of the
parish court in 1862 were those of Susan
Vanshoebrook (Louis Vanshoebrook, ad-
PARISH GO VERjYMEJ^T 131
ministrator), William Cook (Jesse Wright,
administrator).
Late in the ^50s the parish court was
abolished, and a short time afterwards
Judge Speight was killed by Q-. Landrum
on the streets of Many. The court was re-
established in 1868 with M D. Edmunson
judge. W. W. McNeely was judge from
1871 to 1877. He was succeeded by J. C.
Armstrong, who presided until 1880 when
the court was abolished.
The first session of district court in
Sabine parish was held in December, 1843,
with George R. King of the Tenth district
presiding. The following citizens were
members of the grand jury: Henry Hall,
‘Robert Brown, Nicholas Jacks, Thomas
Ford, Daniel McNeely, John Martin, Red-
mond Carter, Hosea Presley, Cornelius
Dollarhide, Robert B, Stille, William
Langton, Leslie Barbee, George W. Ed-
wards and Solomon Royston.
Judge James G, Campbell of the Six-
teenth district presided in 1844, and was
succeeded in 1846 by Judge James Taylor,
when the following grand jury was empan-
nelled: R, A. Gay, D. S, D, Moore, John
Caldwell, Daniel P, Lockwood, Charles W,
Elam, Joseph Smith, Stedman Gordon,
James Parrott, John Carroll, Willliam Sto-
ker, Q. M. Cook, John S. Sibley, Thadeus
T. ]\Iontgomery, S, Arthur, ^1. L. Branch,
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132
PARISH GOVERHMEHT
Edmund Price, Aaron Savelle and Henry
Earls. From 1847 to 1850 Judges E. R,
Ollcut and James Taylor presided at alter-
nate sessions of the court. Judges Charles
A, Bullard and Roland Jones held court
here the following three years, ^ In 1853
Judge Chichester Chaplin presided, and
the following year Judge Thomas T. Land
held court. From 1855 to 1863 Judge
Chaplin presided, and at the regular term
of the latter year, during the civil war, the
following grand jury was selected: H, S,
Ramsey, H. Hartman, S. T. Thomas, N,
Darnell, T, J, Arthur, N. P, Smart, Wil-
liam Stoker, Sam Mitchell, Riley Stoker,
Wade Anderson, James K, Phares, Eli-
Smith, H, S. Kennedy. In 1866 Judge W,
B. Lewis presided and the large docket
was cleared. There v/as no court from
this year until 1873, when Judge John Os-
born opened court and presided until 1875
when Chichester Chaplin, Jr., appeared as
as judge of the Seventeenth district. Judge
Chaplin was succeeded by Judge David
Pierson, in 1877, W. P. Hall was district
attorney at this time, but was succeeded
in 1880 by D. C. Scarborough. In 1881
the grand jury investigated the case where
two prisoners were taken from the jail at
♦In 18o3 William T. Hamilton was district attlorney.
He was succeeded by A. K. Mitchell, who served as
prosecutor for several years.
PARISH GOVERjYMEHT
133
Many and killed, and the jury, of which
William Slay was foreman, exonerated
Sheriff Lout from any blame in the affair,
as he was out of town at the time the
lynching took place. In 1884 a commit -
mittee, composed of D. C. Scarborough, J.
F. Smith, R. W. Sibley and Leo Vande-
gaer, was appointed to draftj resolutions
in memoiy of Sheriff Alfred Lout, who was
killed on the streets of Many, Resolutions
were spread on the court minutes, in July,
1890, in memory of J. Fisher Smith
and William A. McNeely, two prom-
inent serrants of the parish and state,
whose deaths occurred that year. E. F,
Presley, D. C. Scarborough, Amos L. Pon-
der, M. K, Speight and J. H, Caldwell
comprised the committee which drafted
the resolutions. In 1892 Judge W. P. Hall
presided, Sabine being in the Ninth dis-
trict, and contiued as judge until 1901.
Luring this period J, B. Lee was district
attorney. In 1901 J. B, Lee qualified as
judge of the Twelfth district, composed of
the parishes of DeSoto, Sabine and Ver-
non, and Amos L. Ponder as at-
torney for the district. In 1905 Judge
Lee was re-elected and James W, Parsons
qualified as district attorney. Judge Don
SoRelle presided as judge of the Twelfth
district from 1909 to 1913 and James Gt.
Palmer officiated as district attorney. In
134
PARISH GOVERjYMEHT
1913 Mr. Palmer was elected judge aud
William M, Lyles district attorney. It
would require a large volume to give the
records of the courts. The judiciary has
through all past years been compelled to
punish many crimes, characteristic of every
country on earth. The law has demanded
the life of only one person in satisfac-
tion for crime, and, with few exceptions
the spirit of the mob has not been manifest
since the early days of the parish. Alto-
gether the men who have presided over the
courts of the parish were known for their
conscientiousness and integrity, they had
the support of a citizenship which has
stood for law and order and wliose labors
have made regard for the law in Sabine as
thorough as can be found anywhere.
The bar of Sabine has been composed of
men of splendid ability, many of whom
rendered distinguished services to their
parish and state. Since 1843 the following
lawyers have been members of the Sabine
Parish bar: W, L. Tourney, Joseph B,
Elam, Chichester Chaplin, VV. T. Hamil-
ton, S, H, AVaples, E, C. Davidson, E. F,
Presley, Geo, Head, R, E, Hunter, W. A.
Seay, AV. G, McDonald and Amos L, Pon-
der, Mr. Ponder left in 1908 to take the
position of attorney for the State Game
and Fish Commission and is at present a
resident of Amite city. The bar for the
1
135
PAPiISlL GOVEPJYMEXT
past several years has been composed of
the following: T. C. Armstrong, Pleasant
Hill; Silas D. Ponder, Don E, SoKelle,
John H, Boone, William P. Good ' and'
Richard A. Fraser. John H, Williams,
Jr., was a member of the bar here in 1904,
but after assuming the position of parish
superintendent of public education he
was required to giye up the practice of
law, and after leaving that office he en-
gaged in business pursuits.
Pakish Oeficials,
In 1843 William R, D. Speight, judge of
the parish court, administered the oath of
office to the following officials: Samuel
S. Eason, clerk of parish, district and pro-
bate courts; Silas Shelburne, sheriff; E, F.
Presley, assessor; John Baldwin, treas-
urer; William Stoker, coroner; Hosea
Presley, John S. Wells, Robert K. Mc-
Donald, Joseph McNeely, A. Bradley, P.
Rogers and Joseph White, justices of the
peace; John McDonald, Lewhs McDonald,
Bradley Dear, John Critchfi.eld, James
Curtis, James M. Gibbs, A, W. Rogers,
John Carroli, S. A. Eason and Lawrence
White, constables.
In 1844 Daniel R. Gandy was sheriff and
tax collector; Hosea Presley, treasurer; G,
W, Thompson, surveyor; Charles Wag-
goner and Nathaniel Forshee, constables,
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136
PARISH GOVERNMENT
John R. Smart qualified as a notary public.
In 1845 Charles W, Elam qualified as as-
sessor; F. W. Godwin, F. Vines and Wil-
liam Roberts, as constables, and P. H.
Dillon as justice of the peace
In 1846 P. H. Dillon, justice of the
peace, administered the oath* of office to
the following: Hosea Presley, clerk of
the district court; K. J, McLemore, as-
sessor; Henry P. Welch, coroner; John
Baldwin, recorder; William E, Phillips, P.
B. Reagan, Nathaniel Sanders, W. C. Bed-
diugfield, justices of the peace; Thomas
Ford, auctioneer.
In 1847 J, T. Sibley and Daniel Richie
were justices of the peace, and George
Mains and John D, Tucker constables.
Id 1850 William D. Stephens qualified
as superintendent of parish free schools;
R. A. Gay, recorder; K. J. McLemore,
sheriff; E. F. Presley, clerk; George E.
*In 1846 the various officers of the parish were re-
quired to make the following Oath: “I , do sol-
emnly swear that T will support the Constitution of the
United States and that I will faithfully and imparti-
ally discharge and perform the duties incumbent on me
as___ , according to the best of my ability and un-
derstanding; and I do further solemnly swear that
since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being
a citizen of this state, have not fought a duel with
deadly weapons in this state nor oat of it with a citizen
of this state; nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to
tight a duel with a citizen of this state, nor have I
acted as second in carrying a challenge or aided, ad-
vised or assisted any person thus otfendiug. ”
„• s # *3"* ^ ' •'■ "''^- ’'y ' ■• '“
PARISH GOVERN mm
137
Ward, assessor (succeeded by L. B. Gray);
N, H. Bray, coroner ; John Baldwin, R. W.
Peck, S. Sandford, John Caldwell, justices
of the peace; Theodore Montgomery, Ho-
sea Marine, D. C. Cumalander, constables.
The following year W. D. Stephens
was treasurer; John Baldwin, recorder; R.
W. Sibley, sheriff and collector; E. A.
Campbell, school superintendent.
In 1854 John C. Sibley was clerk of the
district court. No further record of the
administration of the oath to parish offi-
cers appears until 1860, when the follow-
ing officers qualified: Alex. Barr, sheriff;
David W. Self, assessor; John J. Byles,
surveyor; Isaiah Kirk, H. W. Scroggins,
Elijah Cox, Allen Arthur, John Baldwin,
James I, Horton, Moses K. Speight, Alfred
Lout and Andrew J. Norswortby, justices
of the peace; Albert Self, Felis Sharnac,
Isaiah Curtis, Charles B, Burr, Isaac Ar-
thur, Lorenzo Largent, William S. Liles
and James H. Cobb, constables.
In 1866 W. W. McNeely was clerk of the
district court. Moses K. Speight and
Thomas Wiley qualified as justices of the
peace, Thomas Mitchell and William Shull
were constables and John Davis recorder.
G-. W. Small took the oath as justice of
the peace in 1871. The parish govern-
ment had been disorganized since the war
between the states and the methods em-
138
PARISH GOVERNMENT
ployed by the federal officials did not en-
courage a revival of stable government by
the white people. In 1872 the outlook be-
gan to look brighter, and the following
qualified as parish officials; Alfred Lout,
sheriff; R. W. Sibley, clerk; John B.
Vandegaer, recorder. In 1877 A. W. Es-
tes was recorder; F. D. Self, tax collector;
J. H. Caldwell, assessor; John Mcllwain,
H. H, Callens, W. R. Haynes, justices of
the peace; John H. Cobbs and J. B. Fro-
cello, constables.
In 1879, Hiram Tynes, M. K. Speight,
W. H. Sowell, J. H. Caldwell, John Me-
Ilwain, C. B. Darnell, Isaac Best and H.
H. Callens were justices of the peace. Dr.
J, H. Word, coroner.
Under the constitution of 1879, R. W.
Sibley became ex-officio recorder in 1880,
New officials qualified that year as follows:
Alfred Lout, sheriff; W, W. McNeely,
clerk, J. A, Caldwell assessor; W, W. Ar-
thur, W, S. Brown, A. K. Addison, John
Mcllwain, C. B. Darnell, J, J. Best, R B,
Middleton and William Aten, justices of
the peace; A. C. Leach, J. J, McNeely,
Byron Bolton, Robert A, Forbis, J. B,
Procella, Bailey Lout, Isaac Rains and C,
W. Brooks, constables.
The representatives of the parish from
1843 to 1864 were W. B. Stille, C. Chaplin,
J. H, Stephens, E. C, Davidson, elohn R.
PARISH GOVERNmNl
139
Smart and E. P. Presley, Mr, Davidson,
as representative, signed the ordinance of
secession in 1861. Since that period the
following served as representatives: R. B,
Stilie, J, P. Smith, R. M. Armstrong, D.
W, Self, J. E. Bullard, W. D, Hall, J. W.
Conerly, Dr. D. H. Dillon and A. Litton,
The parish surveyors since 1860 were
John J. Byles (1862), J, P. Beddoe (1868),
Peter Munson (1869), Carroll Miller (1875).
Daniel \Tandegaer, the present surveyor,
has occupied that position since 1878.
The principal officers of the parish from
1884 to 1901 were :
Sheriffs — Bailey Lout (1883) Prank D.
Self, D, W, Self, J, W. Conerly (1888 to
1900).
Treasurers — John B. Vandegaer, A. W.\
Estes. Mr, Estes has held the office con-
tinously since that time and is the present
treasurer.
Assessors — J. H. Caldwell, Leo Vande-
gaer, J. A. Tramel, W. H. Vandegaer,
Coroners — Dr. J. C. Armstrong, Dr. John
V. Nash.
On the death of W, W, McNeely, clerk of
the court, in 1890, his son W. E. McNeely,
qualified and continued in that office until
1909, when AV. H. Vandegaer, the present
clerk, was elected.
In 1901 H, Henderson was sheriff, but
he was succeeded one year later by Thomas
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140
PARISH GOVERNMENT
tl, Cranford, who is the present occupant
of that position.
In 1908 (ieorge L. Jackson succeeded
W. H. Vandegaer as assessor and was re-
elected to the position in 1912. Dr, T, L. -
Abington became coroner on the death of
Dr, Naj?h in 1906 and has been elected
to that office twice since that time.
In 1900 ei . W, Pharis, S. J. Speight, J, S.
Carroll. Vf, M. Prothro, T. C. Gaddis, H.
H, Patrick, A, Hubier, A. P. Keene, J. J.
Browne, E, A. Pierce and R. W. Collier
were justices of the peace.
In 1904 J, E. Jordan, J. W, Phares, J,
J, Whittaker, Morris G. Antony, B. B.
Hardin, C. J, Law, L. G. Modlin, W, M.
Bolton, Jehu Graham, A. S. Keelan, J, A,
Armstrong and R, W. Collier were elected
justices of the peace; J, H. Skinner, G. W.
Arnold, F. E, Self, Willie Gibson, H. V.
Smith, J. J, Self,* L. B. Farmer, C. T.
Ilight, J. B, Brown and T. H, Parrott, R.
H, Callens and J. E. Largent, constables.
The present justices of the peace are J.
E. Jordan, K. A. Sanders, J, J. Whittaker,
Morrris G. Anton}g W. H, Armstrong, C,
L. Hawkins, Wh H. Pierce, J. A. Raimond,
I. W. Tatum, Jehu Graham, E. G. Sigler,
A. F. Hatcher, A. R. Horn, John Wright.
The following are constables: J, H, Skin-
ner, L. W. Byrd, Smith Antony, F, E.
Self, J. C. Ryan, Riley Stoker, C. W. Bat-
I 'lo-
H
J .1,
[3C'
PARISH GOVERjYMEjYT
141
tan, Gc. C. Chesher, L. B. Farmer, J. H.
Aten, W, T. Boring, R. H. McAllen, J. R.
Sistrunk, S. W. Reed,
From 1880 to 1903 sessions of the Court
of Appeals, 1st circuit, were held at Many,
J. C. Moncure and A. B. Q-eorge were the
first judges. Judges E, W. Sutherlin, J,
C. Pugh and B. P. Edwards seiwed as
judges until the sittings of the court were
discontinued at Many.
‘ Note.— The writer waa unable to procure a complete
list of ward officers in some instances and regrets that
it was necessary to omit them. '
<1,
Furl that Banner! True ’tis gory.
Yet ’tie wreathed around with glory,
And ’twill live in song and story,
Though its folds are in the dust;
For its fame on brightest pages,
Penned by poets and by sages,
Shall go sounding down the ages—
Furl its folds though now we must.
—Father Abram J. Ryan.
rilHE war between the States - (1861- 65)
is most commonly referred to as the
“Civil "War,’’ but some writer has ^iven it
a more appropriate designa-
tion which is selected for
the caption of this chapter.
It was far from being a
civil affciir; it w'as a mortal
combat between military
giants and geniuses, with a
million brave and loyal fol-
lowers, and has had no
equal in the history of man-
kind and was conducted on a larger scale
and has been more far-reaching in its ef-
fect than any armed conflict since the
beginning of the Christian era. It is not
important that an attempt at enumeration
of the many things which have been as-
scribed as causes for the stupenduous com-
bat should be made by the present writer.
142
THE ‘‘mCIVIL’^ WAR
143
Able historians (some favoring the North,
seme favoring the South, some measure -
ably impartial) have furnished the world
with many volumes setting forth sundry
causes for the war, but after all the count-
less opinions and discussions have been
submitted, the whole cause might be ex-
pressed in two words — African slavery.
The cause was inherited. The people who
lived and fought the battles in the sixth
decade of the nineteenth century were no
more responsible for the prevalence of sla-
very than the present generation is for the
existence of distilleries or other approxi-
mate causes of universal evils. Long be-
fore the establishment of the great Amer-
ican republic was ever so much as dreamed
of, trading vessels of the maritime nations
of Europe were engaged in the slave traffic.
The traders bought or kidnapped the na-
tives and sailed from the African ports for
America where a market was to be
found for the ignorant slaves. In early
days the cargoes of negroes were usually
supplemented by stocks of rum or other
intoxicants, which were sold to the colo-
nists, who in turn traded the fire water to
the Indians who evidenced their apprecia-
tion of the liquors by inaugurating war
dances and scalping the white settlers.
The native home of the negro being in the
tropics, he could not adapt himself to the
144 THE ^HjYCinr^:,WAR
rigorous Northern climate, and slaves
proved a bad investment for the New Eng-
land colonists. Furthermore, in the early
days of the slave traffic, the Northern col-
onists produced no crops more staple than
navy beans, Indian corn and cabbages,
while in the balmy, sunny South, cotton
and tobacco, for which there was a world-
wide demand, were raised in abundance
(besides yams, Opossums and watermelons,
sources of delight for the slaves ! ). Cotton
and tobacco were yielding more wealth to
the planters in the nineteenth century
than was being produced from the gold
mines of the world. The campaign against
slavery did not begin until after the Amer-
ican colonies had won their independence
from the British crown, and until millions
of Africans had been unloaded in the
South. The institution of human slavery
was as old as the world and, up to the ad-
vent of the nineteenth century abolition-
ists, was considered as legitimate as the
present relations between master and serv-
ant.' But the world saw the South pros-
pering with her slaves, and, for half a cen-
tury an abolitionist was born every minute ;
for years the storm was gathering, for
years the South labored and compromised
to protect her States’ rights and iuherited
property under the republican constitution,
while her neighbors labored as assiduously
THE ^^U.YCIVir WAR 145
to deprive her of these rights. The climax
of the long mooted questions was
reached with the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the presidency of the United
States in I860, and the immediate with-
drawal from the Union of the Southern
states. Fate had decreed that the ques-
tions should be settled on the battlefield,
and the story of the mighty struggle is
told in the four years’ war between the
states which followed, in which thousands
of patriotic Americans gave up their lives
fighting for what they deemed the right.
From the beginning the South was the
greatest sufferer, for the reason that hos-
tilities were, for the most part, confined to
Southern soil. Pen will never be able to
describe the privations endured in the
South and the sacrifices made to keep her
armies in the field; words could not de-
scribe what the Southern women endured
during those dark days, in lack of food and
clothing and grief for fathers and sons who
had fallen in battle. During those years
the children knew no school except the
field, where their hibor was required to
produce food, and while thus occupied per-
haps they heard the roar of cannon or the
discharge of musketry that told of a battle
in which the ones they loved were engaged.
In many instances faithful slaves remained
at their masters’ home and did loyal serv-
i :
■,1
!
-II -i'': I
146 TEE ^‘UNCIVIL” WAR
ice for their families. The negro was con-
sidered more than mere property by the
average slaveholder. Brought from his
African home an ignorant savage, in half a
century he had not only been instructed in
the work of civilization, but in the tenets
of Christianity. Four -fifths of the slaves
were members of some of the various relig-
ous denominations, It is a matter of rec-
ord that more than a hundred of the slaves
of St. Denys, the founder of Natchitoches,
were baptized in the Catholic faith, while
the great number of negroes who are mem-
bers of the Baptist, Methodist and other
sects should suffice to show that their
former masters regarded them more than
mere chattels, African slavery is a thing
of the past, and it has been asserted that
the South would fight again rather than
revive that ancient institution, but is an
established fact that the Southern white
man is still the negroes best friend. The
social life of the two races must eyer re-
main separated, but left free from the med-
dling of political busybodies who pass cur-
rent as “statesmen,’^ both will work in
harmony in the work of building up the
best civilization the world has ever known.
While the people of the North are strug-
gling to solve the problem of industrial
slavery, the rejuvenated South, no longer
suffering from the^ woes with which
r:^'yj-pnW OXlT ' UIIbI'!? bffl''
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THE ^^UJ^CIVIV^ WAR 147
she WAS afflicted half a century ago, will
jog happily and prosperously along, an in-
terested but silent spectator.
In 1860 the white population of Sabine
parish numbered about four thousand, and
there were less than two thousand slaves.
There were few really wealthy people in
the parish, and many owned not more
than one or two slaves. The owners of
six or more in 1861 were: R. L. Arm-
strong, S. L, and Allen Arthur, Wade An-
derson, T. A. and Mary Armstrong, J. H.
O. Antony, Minerva Allen, W, M. Antony,
John G. and Francis Buvens, A. Barr, M.
L. Branch, Theo. G. Boyd (sue.), I). A.
Blackshear, G. B, Burr, Beck & Harris,
M. W. Burr, Willis Cooper, C. Carroll,
Nathan and Mary Cook, James Cook, F.
M. Carter, Maria Childers, W. W. Chap-'
man, Rebecca Conerly, A, M. Campbell,
John Caldwell, John Carroll, Joseph C.
Coleman, F. Dutton, E. C. Davidson, J. D.
Estes, W, H, Edmunson, Milton Evans, L.
P. Edrington,W. C. Faircloth, J. M, Gibbs,
Daniel R. Gandy, Lydia Godwin, C.
Hainsworth, Allen Holland, Matthew
Jones, D. 0. Hay, John Kennedy, Isaac
'Kirk, S. G. Lucius, Bluford Lowing, Jo-
seph Lynch, John Maximillian, Louis
May, Joseph F. Montgomery, P. P. Mas-
sey, Mark McAlpin, John MeGee, A. S.
Neal, Valentine Nash, C. E, Nelson, R.
I ■
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148
THE ‘‘VNCIVW’ WAR
Oliphant, Gare Palmer, Mary Provence,
M. L. Price, Ann E. Pullen, John Presley,
Mary Quirk, P, Rollins, Isaac Rains, Solo-
mon Royston, John R, Smart, V, P. Smart,
Mris, Susan B. Smart, John L Sibley, D,
W. Self, R. B, Stille & Co,, Joseph D.
Stille, John H. Stephens, T. B. Stephens,
M. K. Speight, Slephen Smith, Nancy
Stoker, William Stoker, W. W. Sibley
(administrator), R. L. P. Sibley, Mrs,
Mattie Smith, John H. Thompson, M. B.
■Thompson, C. B, Thompson, John A.
Thompson, B. R. Truly, Jesse Wright, E.
A. Winfree, Nancy Williams, H. L. Wil-
liams, L, G. Walters, Madison West,
James A. WMods, C. P. Waldrup and C.
Antony.
The largest slayeholder was W. W. Chap-
man who owned sixty-five. The last as-
sessment of the negro as persona! property
was made in 1864,
The guns at Fort Sumpter, vrhich an-
nounced the real beginning of the war be-
tween the States, had scarcely become si-
lent and the last reverberant sounds died
away when citizens of Sabine parish
answered the first general call to arms, and
throughout that memorable four years’
conflict the parish never faltered in its
aid, with men and money, of the cause of
the Confederacy and state’s rights. To
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149
( ■
THE ^‘UNCIVir WAR
Ward Two belongs the distinction of furn-
ishing the first troops to enlist in the con-
flict from this parish. In April, 1861, Ar-
thur McArthur,* a young citizen of the
Bayou Toro community, organized a com-
pany and they proceeded to Camp Moore
to be mustered in the army of the South.
This company was no sooner accepted for
six months’ service, the time stipulated in
the call for troops, when orders came that
enlistments were not to be made for less
than twelve months. This change in the
period of enlistment was made to meet a
similar action by the Washington govern-
ment. “Many noble souls found in this
substituted call their death warrant.
The Sabine company and two companies
from Union parish refused to go for that
length of time and the organizations were
disbanded. McArthur ihen proceeded to
the organization of a company, with men
‘ from the three disbanded companies, which
was to serve twelve months. The new or-
ganization was mustered into the Sixth
Louisiana Infantry, being Company A of
that regiment, and was named the “Sabine
Kifles,” The ofiicers were: Arthur Mc-
Arthur of Sabine, captain ; Captain Allen
♦The data for Capt. McArthur’s Company was furn-
ished by Johu J. Curtis, of whom a sketch is printed on
another pai^e.
tSohoular’s U. S History.
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150 TEE ^^UjYCiyir^:WAR
Calloway of Uaion parkh, first lieutenant,
J. F. Phillips of Union parish, second lieu-
tenant; J, Fisher Smith^ of Sabine parish,
third lieutenant. The record of the serv-
ice of the members of the company from
Sabine parish is as follows:
Isaiah Curtis, orderly sergeant, killed at
the second battle of Manasses.
Privates Peese Smart, James Davis,
Shade Cook, Simon Weinbei^g, John J.
Martin, K, A. Mains, T. J. Stringer and
Tom Provence came home and died; John
Godwin, killed at Fredricksburg ; Robert
Caldwell and Taylor Cook, died of mesales;
K. Speight, lost arm at Three Forks, died ;
"William Law, died in camp; Himan Bath,
killed in battle; Theodore Montgomery,
killed at Three Forks ; Reddick Sibley, lost
leg at Winchester, came home and died;
Valrey McLanahan died of measles,
J. J. Curtis and C. C, Nash came home
at the close of the war and are still living
(1912), They are the only surviyors o£
the famous company which enlisted from
Sabine parish. Mr. Curtis resides near
Many, while Captain Nash, as he is famil-
iarly known, is a resident of Natchitoches
parish. Directly following the war Cap-
tain Nash lived at Colfax and was sheriff
*Mr. Smith was ii member of tlie State Senate in 1S90
when he died. He wan a prominent lawyt'r of Sabine
parish. Tlirough an oversio;ht his name was omitted
from the personnel of the Parish Bar.
151
, THE ^^UjYCIVIE* WAR
of Grant parish when the terrible race riot
took place there, April 13, 1873, in which
ninety-five negroes and several white citi-
zens were killed, but which had the effect
of checking the attempts to force goyern-
ernment by negroes upon the people of
Louisiana,
The Sabine Rifles were sent for service
with the army in Virginia and were as-
signed to Stonewall Jackson^s brigade.
They accompanied that illustrious com-
mander on his famous campaigns and par-
ticipated in some of the bloodiest engage-
ments of the war. Mr. Curtis says the
company was so badly depleted that when
they marched to the battle of the Wilder-
ness (May 5, 1864) only fourteen men were
able to be in line. Mr. Curtis was seriously
wounded during this battle and saw his
comrade, Robert Runnels, killed by his
side. This was the last battle in which the
famous company participated, for all had
been killed, wounded, died in camp or ta-
ken prisoners. The survivors, as noted
above, w'ere later released and they re-
turned to Louisiana, Captain McArthur
was a young man and came to Sabine par-
ish fram the state of Maine in the ’50s,
He had been educated for the law, but
after coming to Louisiana he engaged in
teaching scbool. In view of the political
complexion of his native state, it might
152
THE ‘‘VNCIVW^ WAR
seem strange that the captain cast his lot
with the Confederacy, but he was un-
doubtedly loyal and brave and endeared
himself to the people among whom
he lived in Sabine parish. Following the
early battles of the war he was promoted
to the rank of major for distinguished
services and bravery, and would probably
have attained a higher position if his life
had been spared. He was killed at the
battle of Winchester, and his brother, an
officer in the Union army, came and car-
ried his remains to his old home in Maine
for burial.
The next military organization to leave
Sabine for the front was the ‘‘Sabine
Rebels,’^ which was mustered in as Com-
pany B of the 17th Louisiana Regiment
in September, 1861, Colonel S, S. Heard
commanded this regiment, which went to
Camp Moore immediately after its organ-
ization, but returned to New Orleans in
November, 1861. The following January
the regiment proceeded to Corinth, thence
to Shiloh and on April 6th and 7th (1862)
participated in that memorable battle, after
which they retired to Corinth. In May
the army vfent to Vicksburg. The regi-
ment was then assigned to patrol duty on
the V. S. & P. Railway between Vicksburg
and Jackson, at Edwards Station and la-
ter did similar service along the Mississippi
wm
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lEE “UNCIVir^ WAR
153
River. While employed in patroling the
river the Sabine Rebels participated in the
battle of Port Q-ibson and took part in a
•number of minor engagements including
the battle of Chickasaw Bayou. On May
17, 1863, they retired within the fortifica-
tions of Vicksburg which was invested by
the Federal armies, who prosecuted one of
the most famous sieges of the war. Pen-
ned up on all sides, and without hope of
relief, the Confederates capitulated on July
4th (1863). The* Confederates were pa-
roled and the soldiers of the Sabine Com-
any returned home.
The original muster rolP' of the Sabine
Rebels and the records of the members fol-
low:
Captain D, W, Self, promoted to major,
came home, served his parish as sheriff,
dead; First Lieutenant L, J, Nash, now
living at Many; Lieutenant Mat Thomp-
son, came home and died; Lieutenant S.
T. Sibley, living; Sergeant C, Bray, dead;
Sergeant John Weeks, deserted; Sergeant
R. AV. Arnett, died at home ; Sergeant
Henry Frances, died in camp; Sergeant T.
T. Small, died at home; Corporal V, Byles,
Corporal W. J. Garins, dead ; Corporal
S, B. Sanford, died at home; F. D. Self,
died at home; S, S. Andrews, dead; W. H.
*Tliis roll Wiis by Mr .raiae*^ A.Small,a sur
vivor of the c*ompiuiy, who in sutTer»‘(l the misfor-
tune of heeoiu ing totally blind.
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[ - -=i
154 THE **UNC1VW^ WAR
Addison, died at home; I. A, Addison, liv-
ing; William Addison, killed at Vicksburg;
Gin Arthur, living; Dave Bray, living;
Joseph Brown, killed at Vicksburg; F. A,
Barker, killed at Vicksburg; Arckie Addi-
son, killed at Vicksburg; W, L, Buzzle,
died at home; Dr.W, R. Curtis, regimental
surgeon, died at home ; Taylor Curtis, came
• home, died in Texas; W, J, Cooper, liv-
ing; James, Cooper, living; Archie Fitts,
died at home; M, M. Duggan, living; J. S.
Duggan, died at home ; W, J. Duggan, died
at home ; Fred Dupre, died at home ; Tom
Dixon, died at home; G, W. Dixon, dead;
D. R. Gandy, living; D. P, Gandy, died at
home; J, H. Gooch, dead; W. M, Harges,
living; Tom Herndon, killed at Vicksburg;
Tom Horton, dead; Jack Luman, died at
home; Glendy McLanahan, living; John
J. McCollister, living; Thomas McCollis-
ter, died in camp; John McConathy, died
at home : A. J. McConathy, dead ; G, W,
Neal, died at home; H. D. Pearce, living;
Levi Pruett, killed at Vicksburg; P, P.
Provence, dead; George Perkins, died at
home; W. J, Powell, killed at Port Gib-
son; James A, Small, living; Q. W. Small,
died at home ; J. A, Stroud, died at home ;
R. D. Sibley, living; T. B, Sibley, living;
James Spears, dead; J. C. Jordan, died at
home; William Johnson, killed at Vicks-
burg; S. B. Jackson, died at home; Sam
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^‘UNCIVIL’’ WAR
155
Lucius, died at home ; Dan Lucius, dead ;
L.W. Knippers, living; Tom Lowe, killed at
Port Gribson; Joe Kelley, dead; H. B. Mil-
ler, died at home; B. W. Miller, died at
home ; Charley Mayers, died at home ; Sam
Miller, Tom Miller, John Miller and Pay-
ton Miller, died at home; W. B. Miller,
dead; Dave Miller, living; Elijah Miller,
dead ; Elisha Miller, died at home ; J. E,
Miller, dead; Seabe Mains, dead; Felix
McLanahan, dead; Noah Mains, living;
William Eoaton, died at home; Hard
Stroud, died at home ; W. J. Salter, dead ;
Se abe Speights, dead ; Moses Salter, died
at home; John Skinner, living; James
Stone, died at home;' Albert Self, dead;
William Self, died at home; Maj Stroud,
died in camp; E, A. Salter, Hying; Frank
Self, Jr., dead; James Whittaker, killed at
Shiloh ; William Tastrick, died at home ;
J, M. Wright, living; W. R. Wright, liv-
ing; T. J. Williams, living; J, H. Wil-
liams, Sr., living; Cris Whitley, living; T.
A. Wheeler, living; Martin Williams, dead;
Richard Lee, died at home; J. Fisher
Smith, came home and died.
While the army was at Vicksburg, Com-
pany B was reorganized with D. W, Self,
captain, C. W. Dixon, Will Duggan and
F. D, Self, lieutenants. Later Captain
Self was promoted to major and Lieutenant
Frank D. Self was commissioned as cap-
m... •
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156
THE ^-^UNCIVir^, WAR
tain and J. Fisher Smith as lieutenant*
Lieutenant Lmith had previously resigned
his commission as an officer in the Sabine
Rifles with the army of Virginia and re-
turned home, but in a short time re-enlisted
as a private with the Sabine Rebels, Lieu-
tenant L.'J, Nash, owing to ill health, left
the company at Vicksburg, and his organ-
ization had been surrendered and paroled
before he was able to return.
Lieutenant Nash saved the original flag
of the Sabine Rebels and kept it in his
possession until recently, when he pre-
sented the relic to his niece, MissMcNeely.
In 1862 CaptaimlVright organized a com-
pany in Sabine parish, but after proceed-
ing to New Orleans 'it disbanded. The
men went in all directions. One squad
went to Edwards Station, 3Iiss., and were
mustered into Company B, 17th Louisiana
Infantry, by Lieutenant L, J. Nash. Mea-.
sles and pneumonia \vere prevailing at this
camp, and among those who died there
of these diseases were Joe and William
White, recruits from Captain Wright's dis-
banded company.
Captain Holland organized a company
in Sabine parish. AV. M. AlcConathy of
Hornbeck, a survivor of tinit organization,
furnished the writer wuth the followung
named citizens who w’ere also members of
Holland’s company: Jabos McConathy,
THE ^^UjYCIVIV' WAR 157
J. B. Prewitt, Tolivar Kay, W. M. Kay,
W. J, Langton, Sr., and Asa Langton.
Many citizens of Sabine parish enlisted
in companies organized at other places.'
In 1862 several from Ward One joined
Company C of , Natchitoches parish, which
finally oecame a part of the Consolidated
Crescent Kegiment and won distinction
at the battle of Mansfield, April, 1861.
Among those thus enlisting were: W. P.
Leach, died in camp ; T. G, Coburn, liv-
ing; L J. Leach, killed at Mansfield; W.
M. Lyles, killed at Mansfield; W, Smith,
died in camp ; W. M. Lester, died since the
war; H. J, Lester, living; Malachia Gandy,
J, M. Anders, W, S. Ellzey, J. B. Ricks,
died since the war; Adam Cole, living;
Barry Boswell, living ; John Isgitt and W.
M. Isgitt, wounded at Mansfield and died
since war.
In 1861 the following citizens of Sab-
ine parish enlisted in Capt, Works' cav-
alry then being organized at Woodville,
Texas, and which was assigned to Colonel
Terry’s Rangers: Abe Wrinkle, living;
Silas Vanshoebrook, living; Will Thomp-
son, dead; AVilliam Peace, dead; Wade
Barr, dead; Joe ^laxcy, living.
G. W. Cain, at pi’esent a citizen of ^lena,
served in Holland’s and Wright’s compan-
ies, but later joined the famous Crescent
Regiment.
■
,U ,rr
.i. ■ J.
' ‘^S
158
THE ^rVNCIVW’ WAR
John K, Parrott, John B. Vandegaer,
Steve Martinez and erohn MeCormic were
also among the Sabine citizens who were
with the Crescent Regiment and partici-
pated in the battles of Mansfield and
Pleasant Hill. With the exception of Mr.
Yandegaer, all the above named citizens
are still living.
A splendid detailed story of these great
battles which took place near the border of
Sabine parish, April 8th and 9th, 1864, has
been furnished by John E, Hewitt, editor
of the Mansfield Enterprise, and historians
have told the story ; hence a summary of
those engagements will suffice here. The
battles were fought after the first soldiers
to go from Sabine had finished their fight
for the Confederacy, and those who did not
die on the battlefields had returned home
on paroles. In the early spring of 1864
General Banks, in command of a Federal
force of 31,000 troops, advanced from New
Orleans with Shreveport as the objective
point and with the intention of threaten-
ing an invasion of Texas, The Federals
were supported in the march up Red River
by a fleet of gunboats under Admiral Por-
ter. General Steele, who commanded a
Federal force in x\rkansas, was ordered to
co-operate with Banks in the capture of
Shreveport, which was occupied by a Con-
federate army under command of General
THE UNCIVIL’^ WAR
159
£. Kirby Smith, who was chief commander
of the Confederate forces west of the Mis-
sissippi. His principal lieutenant was
General “Dick'^ Taylor, a son of General
Zachary Taylor, the hero of the Mexican
war. In 1863 Generals Taylor, Thomas
Green and Mouton, with small forces, kept
the Federals from overrunning Louisiana,
among the notable engagements being the
battle of Berwick Bay on June 23 of that
year. Following the reverses to the Con-
federate arms at Vicksburg and Port Hud-
son, Taylor was forced to turn^ his atten-
tion to the defense of West Louisiana. He
was reorganizing his army at Mansfield and
Pleasant Hill when Banks’ army was ad-
vancing up the river to give him battle.
Banks’ army was divided in two divisions
and General Taylor, whose entire force
was about 11,000 men, decided to strike the
army by crushing one division after an-
other. The battle began at a place known -
as Honeycut Hill, three one -half miles
from Mansfield, on the morning of April 8,
where the Federal advance found a force of
Confederate cavalry. General Green’s
cavalry occupied the attention of the Fed-
erals . while Taylor formed his line of
battle on the opposite side of the Moss
plantation from that on which the Federals
were advancing, “Had the Federal ad-
vance beeen resolutely pushed,’’ relates
'm
At:
I*;
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160 TEE ^‘UjYCIVIE^ WAR
Mr. Hewitt, “they could have occupied
Mansfield that morning without scarcely
firing a giin.“ The Federals formed their
line of battle just west of the old Sabine
Cross-Koads'and posted 11 pieces of artil-
tillery to command Honeycut Hill, sup-
ported by an Iowa brigade. At 1:30 a. m,
General Banks ordered forward two brigades
of infantry, passing the line of Iowa troops,
and a brigade which comprised a Massa-
chusetts regiment^ the 18th Kentucky and
130th'lllinois. Banks established his head-
quarters at Antioch church and awaited an
attack. While General Green was detain-
ing Banks at Honeycut Hill, General Tay-
,lor sent forward three regiments of in-
fantry and posted six pieces of artillery
on the Mansfield -Natchitoches road, which,
with a part of the 2nd and 8th Louisiana
cavalry, formed the Confederate left. In
the afternoon, to prevent a flanking move-
^ment on the Confederate left, the Lousi-
ana troops and General Polignac^s Texas
brigade shifted from the right to the left.
The Federals replied to this move by open-
ing up an artillery fire, which was met by
tremendous fire from the Confederate guns.
Captain Thigpen’s company of the Cres-
cent regiment were sent out as skirm-
ishers, and at 3:30 p. m. General Mouton
was ordered to support these sharpshooters.
He ordered his brigade forward which was
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THE WAR 161
shortly followed by an advance along the
entire Confederate line. The Crescent
Regiment was the first to reach the strongly
entrenched Federals and the fight began at
close range. A volley from the Illinois
regiment killed 55 men in the Cresent, in-
cluding every field officer, and wounded
over 150. “This dreadful charge/’ says
Mr. Hewitt, “staggered this gallant regi-
ment; man after man grabbed the fallen
colors and tried to bear them onward, only
to fall as fast as they took it. Six had
fallen, including the gallant Captain Rob-
ert Seth Fields of New Orleans, when that
peerless regiment, without colors and few
soldiers, rushed forward, forced the line of
the Federals, who were barricaded behind
piles of rails, overwhelmed and captured
the 130th Illinois regiment and threw into
confusion the entire Federal line. The
cost was terrible, for the 130th Illinois was
a typical regiment of American farmers
who did not shoot and run away, but who
stood up manfully, realizing that they held
the key to the situation, and that victory
or defeat depended upon their being able
to hold their position. It looked like the
immovable had been struck by the irresist-
ible and that something had to happen.
The Illinois regiment had suffered almost
as much as had the Crescent, and Colonel
Reed lay wounded on the. field. In the
162
THE ^^UNCIVIU^ WAR
moment of furious fig:hting and utter con-
fusion, General Mouton and staff rushed
forward at the head of the leaderless, but
furiously fighting Crescent, One of his.
staff brought forward the blood-stained
regimental flag, when it was greeted with
a volley from the stubbornly resisting Fed-
erals and again fell to the ground, this
time stained with the life-blood of General
Alfred Mouton, as game a man as ever laid
down his life as a willing sacrifice upon the
altar of his country, three balls having
pierced his manly breast. The conflict
was almost a hand to hand affair, but the
Illinois regiment were soon all killed,
wounded or taken prisoners. It was a
soldier’s fight, for neither regiment had an
officer left to make or take a surrender.”
While this engagement was in progress.
General Green' s Texas cavalry routed the
Kansas cavalry, and then, dismounting,
quickly defeated a line of Federal in-
fantry, The 18th and 27th Louisiana
Regiments met and defeated Massachusetts
troops. General Polignac assaulted and
captured the Federal artillery at Honeycut
Hill and the entire line of the invaders
was broken, and the army began a retreat.
General Banks’ army was completely de-
moralized and defeated, and while retreating
he was harrassed by Confederate cavalry,
who captured large quantities of wagons.
, TEE ^EKCIVIV^ WAR 163
horses and supplies. Banks made^a stand
at Chapman’s Hill, and Greneral Taylor
sent a brigade of Texas infantry against
him, but he held his position and darkness
put a stop to the fight. During the night
Banks’ entire army retreated in the direc-
tion of Pleasant Hill. The Confederate
loss was 450 killed and 1200 wounded. The
Federal loss was as follows: Every regi-
mental commander in the 13th Corps, either
captured, killed or wounded; 385 men
killed, 1100 wounded, 2800 prisoners; 20
cannon, 400 loaded wagons and teams, and
a large number of small arms, horses and
supplies. The Federals engaged in the
battle numbered 13,000 while the Confed-
erates numbered less than 11,000,
The next morning, April 9, General Tay-
lor decided to complete his victory by
again attacking Banks. The Federals,
however, had now been reinforced and had
about 18,000 men in line, Taylor waited
for the arrival of some Arkansas and Mis-
souri regiments under the command of
General Churchill and his army now num-
bered about 12,500 men. The battle be-
gan about 3 o’clock in the afternoon when
Churchill’s men were ordered forward
with a view of turning the Federal left.
Here the Missouri troops made a brave
fight, but, as was the case at ^lansfield, it
remained for Generals Green’s and Polig-
u
) i.'i
164
TEE ^^UNCIVW^ WAR
nac’s cavalry to turn the tide of battle and
when night came the Confederates were in
^possession of the field. During the night
Banks retreated to Grand Ecore and later
to Alexandria, laying waste the country as
went. The battles of Mansfield and Pleas-
ant Hill were among the bloodiest contests
of the war. Some old citizens of Sabine
who went over the battle fields immedi-
ately after the engagements recall the
scenes with horror. The dead were buried
in pits and several days were spent m
clearing the field of the carnage. The bul-
let scarred trees there still bear evidence
of that stubborn conflict.
These were the last battles fought in
Louisiana and a few months later the war
was brought to end. Then came the pe-
riod of “reconstruction^^ which extended
over a dozen years or until the administra-
tion of Francis T. Nichols as governor.
The Southern men accepted the result of
the four years’ war in a spirit that charac-
terizes true American manhood and re-
turned to theirdilapidatedjif not devastated,
homes and bravely undertook the work of
rebuilding on the foundation of shattered
hopes. This was, indeed, a greater battle
than any in which they had participated on
fields where clashing arms and the can-
non’s roar argued their cause. Deprived
i
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■1
1
THE UNCIVIL’ WAR
165
of their political rights, they were forced
to renew their civil pursuits under the
government of strangers, whose only aim
was their personal gain. The “carpet-
bagger” did not thrive in the “Free State
of Sabine,” which never surrendered to
the domination of piebald officials, but in -
many sections of the state clashes between
citizens and the interlopers and negroes
were frequent. The cause of the white
Southerners eventually triumphed and the
country entered upon a new epoch of
existence which was marked by an ad-
vancement along all lines of endeavor that
•is unqualled by any people in the history
of the world. And that chivalrous spirit
which brought glory to the people of the
South on the battlefield and led them
through the humiliating period which fol-
lowed will inspire them in the peaceful
pursuits of life and with an unfaltering
loyalty to the constitution of the Old Re-
public,
If'
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E!duc£itioiial I;*i»ogi»ess«
npHE-KE were no schools maintained by
public funds in Sabine parish in 1843,
In three or four communities private
schools were conducted for terms not ex-
ceeding three months, the patrons paying
a fixed tuition for each scholar. Instruc-
tion was rarely afforded in any branches
except reading, writing, spelling and arith -
metic, and it frequently happened that the
teachers were hardly competent to teach
these essentials of a primary education.
Those who desired a common or academic
education were compelled to attend the
various private institutions of learning in
Louisiana and the South. Many of, the
pioneer youths ol Sabine never attended
any school. If they were fortunate enough
to be able to read and write, they received
their instruction at home and pursued
their studies by a pine -knot fire. Some of
the men who began their education by the
light of the fire in an old mud chimney
became prominent in the 'public affairs of
the parish and state. If the young citizens
of Sabine in the 40s had been afforded the
advantages given by the schools of today,
how different might the story of the parish
be written. Until recent years the school
166
i
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W
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 167
houses were rudely constructed of pine
logs, covered with clapboards. No glass
adorned these primitive structures, the
light being admitted through openings
over which swung board shutters. The
floor, if any except Mother Earth,
was of split logs, and the seats were
of slabs with wooden pegs for legs, and
frequently no desks of any kind were sup-
plied, Later the box school house sup-
planted the log structure, but not until re-
cent years did the model building with
proper furniture and equipment supply the
young a, place for study and instruction.
Today the demand for education is so en-
thusiastic and insistent that elegant brick
buildings are being erected,
In 1850 a movement to provide public
education in the parish was inaugurated,
William D. Stephens was chosen superin-
tendent. He was succeeded the following
year by E. A. Campbell. There were no
taxes to amount to anything for education,
and the public school fund, until several
years after the war, consisted only of small
appropriations from the state which were
used by the private schools. On one or
two occasions the Police Jury supple-
mented this fund by small appropriations
for the benefit of those who were unable to
pay tuition. In the ante-bellum days
schools were maintained at Bayou Scie,
f
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'■l.. -
168
EDUCATIONAL PBOGRESS
Toro, Fort Jesnp and Many; also
at iSampson Whatley’s on Middle Creek,
The most popular school in Sabine in the
-50s was known as Bell wood Academy, lo-
cated at old Sulphur Spring about one and
one -half miles from Many. This institu-
tion was established by Prof, C. C, Pres-
ton, who came from Ohio, Neat and com-
fortable buildings were erected for the ac-
, commodation of boarding and day pupils.
Besides the regular branches which pro-
vide a common school education, Prof.
Preston gave instruction in Latin and the
'modern languages. Some of his old pupils
are still living and refer to him as an edu-
cator of rare ability. In 1861 the school
was moved to New Bellwood in the Kis-
atchie community. Two years later he
moved to Harris County, Texas, and es-
tablished a school about half way between
Houston and Galveston. Mr. E. C. Dillon
of Many, who was a pupil of Prof. Pres-
ton, attended his school in Texas, and re-
calls that among the students at Bayland,
as the school was known, was C. Anson
Jones, a son of the first governor of Texas,
and who after the war was a prominent
lawyer and judge of Houston, Among
those who attended Bellwood school near
Many were: Ex -Governor Newton C.
’Blanchard, Hugh Walmsley, Clarence
Pierson, M, H. Carver, Louis Bordelon,
EDUCAIIONAL PROGRESS
169
T. P. Chaplin, George Hublej, John’ Par-
rott, John and Valmore Byles, Joe Ed-
munson, J. Fisher Smith, Dr. Elliott
Smith, John B. Dillon, Cobb Kachal, E. C.
Dillon, Mrs, Caroline Hawkins, Mrs. Mary
McNeely, Martha Self, Martha Stone. Emile
Sompayrac, Emile Cloutier and several
from Natchitoches and other parishes.
Prof. Preston abandoned his Texas school,
owing to poor health, and returned to his
old home in Ohio.
Among the schools established since the
war, the Masonic Institute at Fort Jesup
occupied a prominent place. It was organ -
' ized in 1887 with T. R. Hardin, president
of the faculty. Rev. J. M. Franklin was
the prime mover in the establishment of
this school. The first board of directors
were: J, Fisher Smith, president; J. M.
Franklin, vice president; Leslie Barbee,
treasurer; T. J, Smith, W, D. Broughton
and J. F, Vidler. Many young people of
Sabine and other parishes received in-
struction'in this school which did so much
to revive the spirit of education in Sabine
parish. The Masonic Institute finally be-
came the Sabine Central High School, ref-
ferences to which are made on the follow-
ing pages in connection with the history of
the Parish School Board, which reflects
the progress of public education in the
parish during the past forty years.
.1
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170 . EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
The first record of a Parish School
Board is dated August 1, 1871, at which
tho following members were present: John
B, Vandegaer, William W, McNeely, J.
Fisher SmitLg Richard T. Walters and Wil-
liam S. Summers, The board organized
by electing John B. Vandegaer, president,
and J, Fisher Smith, secretary and treas-
urer, The board tendered their thanks to
Hon. Thomas W. Conway, state superin-
tendent for their appointment. In No-
vember following the board authorized "the
employment of teachers for the Many
white and colored schools. At the April
meeting (1872) the secretary was instructed
to purchase a sufficient supply of books for
the schools of the parish. In July, 1873,
a new board was organized, A. Harris be-
came a member in place of McNeely.
The meetings of the board during these
years do not indicate the transaction of
much business. In 1873 there were 29
primary and intermediate schools in the
parish. The enrollment for the year was
1,321; value of school houses, $2,325.
There were three private schools with an
average attendance of 108 pupils. The
text books used were McGuffy’s Reader,
Webster’s Speller, Mitchell’s Geography,
Greenleaf’s Arithmetic, Smith’s Grammar,
Wilson’s History, Comstock’s Philosophy
and Robinson’s Algebra. School land of
";o:'
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■?T" l i r'
EDUCA2I0NAL PROGRESS
171
the parish was valued at 50 cents per acre.
No doubt the appraisers placed what they
believed to be an honest value on the land,
but it is man’s constant regret that he cannot
see into the future. In October, 1874, Miss
Emma Pierson was allowed $25 per month
for teaching a school at Pugh’s Mill, The
members of the board in July. 1875, were:
J. B. Yandegaer, president; J. Fisher
Bmith, secretary; Robert B. Stille, Abra-
ham Harris, Jame^ H. Caldwell and Wil-
liam S. Summers, S. T, Sibley declined
to qualify as a member and Dan Yande-
gaer was recommended in his place. No
record of meetings of the board appears
for 1876,
In June, 1877, the following members
qualified: Robert B. Stille, E, F. Pres-
ley, L. J. Nash, A. S. Neal, P. P, Bridges,
Charles Darnell, Yalmore Biles, David
Shelby, Elias Sibley. Robert B. Stille
was elected president and E. F. Presley,
secretary. At the July meeting the fol-
lowing ward trustees were appointed:
Ward 1 — William S. Ellzey, J, S, Corley
and J. H. Tynes, Ward 2. — William M,
Antony, John H. McNeely and M. K.
Speight, Ward 3, — J. J. Horton, William
Salter and A. K. Addison. Ward 4— Ed-
mund Duggan, Leslie Barbee and James
M. Franklin. Ward 7 — John Fike, Henry
Barron and J. C. Skinner. Ward 8 —
172 EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
James Tyler, Joseph Woods'’and John R.
Parrott. The board was involved in a
financial muddle extending over a year,
and although the minutes do not so state,
the matter was satisfactorily adjusted. In
July, 1878, J. H. Caldwell was secretary
of the board and E. F. Presley treasurer.
Previous to 1879 the school fuods of the
parish did not amount to over $2,000 a
year. In July of that year J. H. Caldwell
was elected president and R. P. Hunter
secretary, In April, 1880,' W. W. Mc-
Neely, parish treasurer, was treasurer for
the school board, and the following July
E, P. Presley was elected president and J,
H. Caldwell secretary, the other members
being'jW, M, Antony, D, W, Self, ; W, H,
Carter, W. C. Mains, W. J. Salter'and Al-
fred Litton. Sub -directors for the yarious
wards were appointed as follows: J, B.
Ricks, J. S, Corley, W. S, Ellzey, E. M,
Miles, Asa Curtis, W. S. Brown, D. P,
Gandy, A. J. Montgomery, W. F. Sandel,
Edmund Duggan, P, F. Rachal, C. Brown,
C. B, Darnell, Henry Ferguson, Jack Pro-
cello, W. H. Sherwood, H. H. Cassell, T.
W. Abington, J. B. Skinner, John J.
Fike, .R, B. Middleton, John R, Parrott,
B. W. Barr and W. L. Shull.
The next record of the Parish School
Board is dated April 18, 1881. The mem-
bers were appointed by the governor and
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EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 173
seven members constituted the body. The
wards not having a representative were in-
vited to send citizens to the stated meet-
ings to look after the interests of their sec-
tions, The members of the board were as
follows: E, F. Presley, president; W. A,’
Carter, secretary; J, H. Caldwell, William
C. Mains, W, J, Salter, D. W. Self and
William M. Antony. The treasurer was
instructed, to apportion the funds and a
resolution was passed declaring the schools
of the parish open and the secretary au-
thrized to contract with teachers. The
president’s suggestion that the office of
parish superintendent be abolished for the
reason that ‘dt was an unnecessary ex-
pense,” was rejected.
At the meeting in July Treasurer W.
W. McNeely made his report to the board,
the school fund balance on hand being
$2,145.61. Each ward was provided with
sub-directors appointed by the board. The
maximum salary for teachers was fixed at
$35 per month. At this meeting Leo Van-
degaer was em[>loyed as teacher of school
No. 1 (Many) for two months at a salary
of $25 per month, the balance of his sti-
pend being supplied by the patrons of the
school. This method of contracting with
teachers prevailed throughout the parish
and the school term was consequently very
short. The board adjourned until the reg-
174 EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
ular meeting in October, but a special ses-
sion ^as called for August 15th, at which
Mr. Presley resigned both as president and
member of the board. Messrs. Carter and
Antony also tendered their resignation's.
John B. Vandegaer, Alfred Litton and M.
K. Speight were recommended for appoint-
ment to fill the vacancies. The salary of
the secretary was fixed at $50 a year. At
the regular meeting in October, John B.
Vandegaer was elected'president and J. H,
Caldwell secretary, J. Fisher Smith was
appointed a member of the board of exam-
iners. The next meeting of the board was
held April 1, 1882, five members being
present, yiz: John B. Vandegaer, Alfred
Litton, W. J. Salter, L. B. Oay and J, H.
Caldwell. The president and secretary
were authorized to contract with teachers
for not less than a three months’ term of
school, and, in case there was not sufficient
public money to pay the teache-‘s for that
period, patrons the school were required to
supply the deficit. Miss Lizzie Rachal
was- allowed the balance on. her salary as
teacher of school No. 5 (Ward 4). At the
July meeting, on motion of Mr. Salter, a
school was granted to the citizens living in
the vicinity of the oldJ^Block House, near
Sabine River. In April, 1883, on motion
of D, W, Self, Pleasant Hill school was
established, with twenty-nine pupils. It
!
I
ED UCATIOJVAL PROGRESS 175
being found that for two years certain
schools had not made use of the money al-
lotted to them, and it was ordered that if
said money be not used by the following
July it would revert to the general fund.
The construction of a school building for
the Many district was authorized. At this
session Messrs. Caldwell, Gray and Antony
resigned as members of the board and Eli-
jah Cox, R. B, Middleton and W. S,
Brown were recommended as their suc-
cessors. Leo Vandegaer was elected sec-
retary pro tern at the October meeting,
William Bunting, as teacher of school No.
3 (Ward 3), was allowed his salary.
The report of the sub-directors of the va-
rious wards submitted lo the board (April
26, 1884), gives the schools in the parish
as follows: Ward 1 — Toro, Mt. Carmel,
.Tynes, Middle Creek, Corley, Prospect,
Ricks, Mt. Carmel (colored). Ward 2 did
not report. Ward 3 — East Pendleton, Zi-
on Hill, William Marshall (colored), Anti-
och, Neal, Bolton, Four Porks, Ward 4 —
Many, New Hope, Rocky Mount, Friend-
ship, Armstrong, Speycher (col.). Union,
Cator, Lowing, Many (colored). Port
Jesup (col,) Ward 5 — Sepulveda, Darnell,
Ferguson, Blue Lake, Mrs. Young’s, Cath-
olic Church, Parea, Smithart. Ward 6 —
Hicks Camp, Grraham, Jacobs, Byles,
Hatcher, Latham, Freedman’s, Oak Grove,
176 EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
Sardis. Ward 7 — Union, Spring Ridge,
Friendship, Clark, Arbor Spring, Pleasant
Hill. Elizabeth (col.) Ward 8 — Hardee,
Parrott, Litton, Tyler. The pupils of
school age, exclusire of Ward 2, numbered
2,152.
On September 20, 1884, the membership
of the board was as follows: J. D, Stille,
president; John Blake, secretary; John R,
Parrott, W. T. Alford, Harry T. Cassell,
D. W. Self, Henry Ferguson, J, H, Wil-
liams. J. Fisher Smith, J, D. Stille and
John Blake were designated as the board
of examiners. In January, 1885, A. W.
Estes signs as school treasurer. His re-
port gives the amount on hand as $2,060.
In October, Peter S. Gibson was elected
secretary and T. C, Armstrong is named as
a member of the board. R. Rutland
was employed as attorney to collect the in-
terest funds. H. H. Cassell qualified as a
member of the board, January, 1886, and
at the following meeting W, M. Webb was
a member and J. W. Smithart was recom-
mended for appointment for Ward 5, and
Peter S. Gibson to supersede T. C, Arm-
strong. At a special meeting in May,
Amos L. Ponder was elected parish super-
intendent and ex-officio secretary. The
sub-directors were instructed to visit the
various schools and report at each quar-
terly meeting the condition of school af-
r\ \:mi
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. EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS .177
fairs in their respective wards. In April,
1887, the board asked the Police Jury to
- levy a reasonable tax for support of the
. public schools.
The members ef the board in September,
1888, were W. S. Brown, A. C, Lamberth,
Joseph D. Stille, J. W. Smithart, W. H.
Sherwood, John Graham, John li. Par-
rott, S. E, Self and Amos L. Ponder, The
salary of the superintendent was fixed at
$150 per annum, and the sub -directors for
the various wards were appointed, as fol-
Ward 1 — J, S. Corley, H. J. Lester, R. D.
Sibley, Ward 2— M, K, Speight, Dr. J.
M. Seever, Jonathan Curtis. Ward 3 —
George Leach, B, K, Ford, Isaac N. Car-
ter. Ward 4— Daniel Duggan, M. B.
. Petty, J. B. Brumley, Ward 5 — J, M,
r Hardy, J. E. Sepulvedo, Steve Martinez.
Ward* 6 — S. 8. Tatum, John Cates, Gran-
ville Pugh, Ward ?— J. E. Bullard, W. T.
Hopkins, W. M. Cobb, Ward 8— S, M,
Wiley, John Leone, B. W. Barr, In Oc-
tober, John Speycher and W, R. Cutright
were tendered the thanks of the board for
‘ the donation of two acres of land upon
which to erect a public school house. In
January, 1889, new schools were author-
ized as follows: Lanana, Pine Flat (col.),
Williams Spring, Bay Spring, Ebarbo,
Patterson and Bayou Scie, and at the fol-
lowing meeting Evergreen, Beech Spring
Tti;,, '
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178
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
and Pisgah schools were established. In
July a resolution by Mr. Ponder, abolish-
ing the sub -directors and entrusting their
duties to local boards in each district, was
adopted. In April, 1890, the board granted
the petition to have a public school estab-
lished at Port Jesup. In July the school
funds on hand amounted to $5,615. Sup-
erintendent Ponder, in view of the short
school funds, voluntarily reduced his sal-
ary one -half for the year 1891, at the Jan-
uary meeting. The Sabine Southron and
Sabine Banner presented their bids for
publishing the proceedings of the board.
The Banner’s bid was $12, while the
Southron offered to do the printing free.
The board accepted the bids of both papers
and both were instructed to do the printing
accordingly. In July, 1891, W, R. Alford,
T. J. Franklin and T, -J. Smith were ap-
pointed truestees of the Port Jesup school
and authorized to make arrangements with
the Masonic institute of that place to run a
public school in connection with the col-
lege. A new school, Sandy Ridge, was
created with W. T, Mitchell, H. Knippers
and L. W. Knippers as trustees. In re-
sponse to a demand for a more rigid exam-
ination for teachers, all certificates were
ordered annulled on January 1, 1892, and
at this meeting the following new schools
were created: Holly Spring, Little Flock,
i..-
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EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 179
Red Lick (col,), Short Creek (col.), Mi-
chel and Smithfield. Don E. SoRelle,
Profs. A. D. Carden and J. J. McFarland
were named as the examining board. The
salary of third grade teachers was in-
creased from $15 to $20 per month,
October 1, 1892, the new school board,
appointed by Grovernor Foster, was com-
posed of W. S, Brown, John S. Carroll, J.
D. Stille, J. A. Cates, W, T. Hopkins, W.
M. Webb, John R, Parrottt and Amos L.
Ponder, Mr. Stille was elected president
and Amos L. Ponder secretary. A. D.
Carden, J. J. McFarland, C, G. O’Connor
and Leo Vandegaer were appointed to ex-
amine teachers. In January, 1893, Kan-
sas Springs, Elm, Barr Lake (col.). Cart
Bayou and Bascus schools were created.
J. W. Phares qualified as a member of the
boarn. John S. Carroll was acting presi-
dent, and resolutions were adopted in
memory of Hon. Joseph D. Stille, the
president, who had died since the former
meeting. At a special meeting in May, J.
M. Franklin became a member and was
elected president. The McCormic school
was created in October, 1893, and in Jan-
uary, 1894, the Robinson, Victoria, Clear-
water and Bolivar schools were established.
At a call meeting the same month several
schools were abolished and consolidated
and the text books of the State Board were
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180
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
adopted. Many of the schools were re-
established at the next regular meeting.
In April, 1895, J. A, Cates tendered his
resignation, but the board declined to ac-
cept same and he remained a member. Mr,
Ponder resigned his position as secretary
in October and Prof. W, J. Davis was
named as his successor. Mr. Ponder was
tendered a yote of thanks for the efficient
manner in which he had discharged the
duties of the position. Dr. J, M, Middle -
ton, W, J. Davis and E, C. Dillon com-
posed the examining committee at this
time. The board, at its meeting, January,
1896, instructed the teachers of the parish
to attend a summer normal. J. A. Tramel
and A, J. Franklin, representing a com-
mittee from the Sabine High School and
the Fort Jesup Masonic Institute, presented
a proposition to donate the unincumbered
buildings and property of that institution
to the board for the purpose of establishing
a * public Central High School, title to be
held by the board so long as the public
high school should be maintained. The
president appointed a committee to confer
with the directors of the Masonic Institute
and arrange for acceptance of the propo-
sition. In July, Amos L, Ponder, chair-
man of the committee for the parish board,
reported that everything had been arranged
for the legal transfer of the property to the
EDUCATIOjYAL progress 181
board, and a motion to accept the same
prevailed. Amos L. Ponder, John S. Car-
roll and W, T. Hopkins were appointed as
a committee to draw up an ordinance cre-
ating the Central High School, rules gov-
erning same and to submit a list of names
for a board of directors. The following di-
rectors were appointed, to serve one year:
T. J. Franklin, J. A. Tramel, C. C. For-
bis, J. A, Bond, W. H. Barbee, George R.
Pattison, £. C. Dillon, J. J, Brown, J, J.
MeCollister, A. C. Stoker, W. R. Alford,
T. J. Smith and George W. Lucius, The
local board reported its organization, at the
October meeting, with J. F, Lucius, chair-
man, and W, H, Barbee, secretary, and
that the following faculty had been em-
ployed for the ensuing school year: Prof.
E. H. Smith of Missouri, principal; Miss
Louvina Hollidaj", assistant; Mrs. F. V.
Jackson, primary. The enrollment at the
opening of the school was 153 pupils. Prof.
Smith was again employed as principal for
the year 1897,
Oh May 1, 1897, the board met in ad-
journed session for the purpose of arrang-
ing for summer schools, and the following
teachers were selected to conduct the
schools named : Miss Emma Clower, Toro ;
Miss Mary MeCollister, Mt. Carmel; J. P,
Clower, Tyne; Miss Lavonia MeCollister,
Corley; J, P. Edinundsoii, Ebenezer; J. D,
182
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
WilsoD, Union; Miss Maude Self, Holly
Spring; J. H. McCollister, Whatley; J. D,
Earle, Pisgah;'J. B. Fox, Toro; C. E. Rain-
water, Clearwater; E. Brown, Elm; D, J.
Holmes, Evergreen; J. W. Smith, Mar-
shall; Wiley Miller, Antioch; W, C, Mid-
dleton, Williams Spring; L, D. McCollis-
ter, Arthur; R. K, Nabours, Alliance; Miss
011a Tetts, Rocky Mount; Miss Judia
Heard, Speycher; Miss Celeste Byles,
Union; D. S. Strickland, Lewing; Miss
Margaret McCollister, Miller Creek; Ed-
mond Smith, Bay Spring; Miss Ola Smith,
McCormic; Miss Ada Smith, New Castle;
Miss Bertie Pullen, Cutright; T. J. Rains,
Cherry Spring; J, P. Youngblood, Darnell;
W. E. Tatum, Mitchell; W. R. Middleton,
Vines; T. H, Latham, Hicks Camp; E. T,
Fuller, Hatcher; L. E. Litton, Sardis; Mrs,
Jennie Jackson, Patterson; R. B, Mat-
thews, Union, Ward 7; M. L. Carter,
Spring Ridge; Miss Nellie Berry, Bluff
Spring; Mrs. L, M. Slay, Arbor Spring;
W. H, Wagley, Pisgnh; Miss May Seever,
Bayou Scie, J. H. Bonnett, Allen Spring;
Mrs. E. T. Tyler, Tyler; ]^[iss Florence
Tanner, Smithfield; ^Matlie Branch, Eliza-
beth (col.); Lugenia Fox, Red Lick (col);
A. R. Lewis, Negreet (col.) Dr. J.
Seever was placed oa the local board of the
Central High School in place of T. J,
Franklin.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 183
In August, 1897, Prof, W. J. Davis re-
signed as secretary and superintendent and '
E. H, Smith was elected to that position,
but at the October meeting he was suc-
ceeded by Don E. SoRelle. The board
abolished the local board of the Many pub-
lic school and appointed the following
trustees: M. P. Buvens, A. L. Ponder, A,
Dover, Don E, SoEelle, J. D, Stille, R. H.
Buvens and E. C. Dillon.
The years 1896-97 marked a new era in
all lines of enterprise in Sabine parish.
The . Kansas City Southern railroad had
been constructed through the center of the
- parish which added to taxable value of
property and brought numerous sawmills
to convert the immense pine forests into
wealth. The time was favorable for edu-'-^
cational as well as industrial progress and
henceforth every meeting of the board was
characterized by splendid and rapid for-
ward strides. The new superintendent at
once recommended many changes in the
system of conducting the public schools,
urged more taxes for their maintenance,
providing better houses and more conveni-
ences in the way of furniture and appar-
atus. He later saw his suggestions bear
the desired fruit. It would require a vol-
ume to note the great progress made in
public schools from that period to the
present in detail.
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184
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
The faculty of the Ceatral High School
for 1898 was as follows: G. C, Lewis,
principal ; George F. Middleton, Mrs. Alice
B, Morris and Miss Maggie Clark. The
names of John Bitter, P. E. Pieters, J. D.
Wilson and W, S, Middleton were added
on the local board.
In January, 1899, J. M, Franklin re-
signed as president and member of the
Parish Board and John W. Taylor was
recommended as his successor. Mr, Tay-
lor qualified as member of the board at the
subsequent meeting and was unanimously
elected president. In June a resolution
was adopted recommending that a fire
mills tax be voted in aid of the public
schools of the parish. John L. Latham
was recommended as a member for Ward 6
at the meeting in January, 1900, that ward
having been divided by the Police Jury in
order to create Ward 10. In July, W. M,
Cobb, William Jackson and K, E. Holli-
day were appointed members of the Cen-
tral High School board, and at the next
meeting the following pupils from the va-
rious wards of the parish were granted free
scholarships in that school: Misses Rena
Whatley, Texio Bolton, Lela Boswell, Eva
McGee, Estelle Tatum. Arthur Henderson,
Louis B. Gay, dr., and James Andrews,
On October G, 1900, a now Parish Board
qualified, as follows: Thomas G. Coburn,
EDUCAIIONAL PROGRESS
185
John W. Taylor, W. Webb, J. B. Ful-
ler, Dan Phillips, John R, Parrott, John
M, Ritter, J. H. Williams, "George W,
Heard, Mr, Taylor was elected president,
and Don E. SoRelle, secretary and super-
intendent, In January, 1901, Misses Ber-
tha Addison, Maude Shull and Pearl Litton
and Robert Shull were granted scholar-
ships in the Central High School, and at
the June meeting J. E. Bullard was ap-
pointed a trustee of that school. The fac-
ulty for the year was as follows: M. H.
Deeper, principal; S. I. Foster, assistant;
Miss Clara Wood, primary; Miss Lucile
Rogers, music, A vote of thanks was ten-
dered to Prof, C, C. Lewis, the retiring
principal, for his splendid services to the
school. Prof. Deeper later declined to
take charge of the school and Prof, S, R.
Cummins was elected principal.
In September, 1901, a special tax for ten
years was voted in aid of the schools of
Ward 1. In January, 1902, John H, Wil-
liams tendered his resignation as member
of the board and at the following meeting
E. P. Curtis qualified as his successor. The
superintendent was authorized to corres-
pond with various school supply houses for
prices on desks and furniture. On July 5,
1902, Prof, S. I, Foster was chosen princi-
pal of the Central High School and G. T.
Rossen, assistant. During this year a
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18G
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
special tax of five mills in aid of the public
schools for ten years was voted throughout
the parish, and at a special meeting in Au-
gust a resolution prevailed favoring the re-
duction in the number of schools and pa-
trons urged to get together and effect con-
solidation of districts. It was also decided
to set aside a certain sum for providing
better houses in the various districts. In
1903, C.Au. Hawkins, C. J. Law and J. J.
McGcllister were members of the High
School board. An increased number of
summer schools was awarded,*
In October the directors of the Central
High School donated the new building to
the board.
In September, 1904, a new board quali-
fied. Superintendent SoRelle submitted
*Tiie nameB of the schools and teachers follow: En-
terprise, Miss Ida Phares; Warren, Edward Ellzey;
Mt. Carmel, J. K. Phares; Whatley, Miss Lula Peters;
Pine Grove, W. D. M. Dowden ; Lewing, J. H. Bonnett;
Corley, Lovy Holliday; Union, Miss Viola Holliday;
Christie, Miss Nora Nash: Toro, IVOss Kate Stoker;
Mi. Idle Creek, Elliott Smith: Toro (col.), Belle Garner;
Pleasant Hill, Lud Nash ; Carroll iSfiller, Albert Mil-
ler; Williams Si>ring, Miss Maude Antony; Cedar
Grdvt', Miss Bertha Addison; Alliance, Dona Terry;
Antioch, ;M. F. Hall; Arthur, Dan Strickland; Spring
Grove, Louis Vines; jMiller Creek, George D. Cobbs;
S[)eycher, ^yalter ^Vilson ; Alford, iSIiss Mollie Wilson;
Aimwell, Miss Belle Heard: Ferguson, Joseph H. Ez-
ernac; Brown, Miss Alice Pugh; Hicks Camp; Mrs. A.
E. Read: Piiiey Woods, R. A. \VagIey; Greening
Si)riugs, Miss Emily Eike; Clark, Miss Alice AVinu ;
Arbor Springs, Miss Martha Strother ;|Bayou Scio, Miss
M aggi<‘ Franks ; Sand Hill, Miss J^feda Franks ; Pis-
gah, T. A. Rains; Sardis, Miss Bertha McCoilister.
EDUCA2I0NAL PROGRESS
187
his report reviewing educational progress
in the parish under the administration of
the retiring board. Better houses had been
constructed and equipped with good furni-
ture; a special tax had been voted, which
had been supplemented by the voting of
special district taxes in several districts
in aid of their schools. The new board
was composed of T. G. Coburn, A, J. Man-
hein. W. S, Brown, Dr. W. P, Addison, J,
F. Lucius, J. W. Taylor, C. L. Hawkins,
T. Laroux, G. AV, Pugh, John R. Parrott,
C. B, Skinner, Alfred Litton and W, B.
Adkins. Mr. Lucius was elected president,
but declined the position, and the board
then re-elected Hon. J. W. Taylor by ac-
clamation. John H. Williams, Jr., was
elected superintendent for one year at a
salary of $600. Prof. Jenkins was elected
principal of the Central High School, Miss
E, L. Cochran, assistant; Miss Louvina
Holliday, primary. Miss Pitts, music.
In June, 1905, W. M. MePerren qualified
as a member of the board in place of C. B.
Skinner, whose death had occurred since
the last meeting, and the board evinced
their respect of the esteemed member by
the adoption of fittting resolutions. The
board, in a formal resolution, expressed its
disapproval of an attempt to vote saloons
in the town of Many, and pledged their
moral support against the proposition.
138 EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
A committee from the Many High
School, composed of J. H. Boone, Frank
Hunter, S. S. Moore, S. D. Ponder and P.
W. Davis, was authorized to proceed with
the work of financing and erecting a school
building.
In April, 1906, the board, by order of
the state superintendent, was ordered to
elect a new parish superintendent. The
names of J. H, Williams, Jr, ; T, E.
Wright of Boyce, La., and W. C. Court-
ney of Jennings, La., were presented as
candidates. T. E, Wright was elected.
The Parish Board at this time was ap-
pointive and was obliged to serve the will
of the governor and the State Board of Ed-
ucation. Wright’s election was probably
not desired by any of the members of the
parish board, although that gentleman was
reputed to possess splendid qualifications
for the position. The people of the parish
were prompt to thunder their disapproval
of the election of a man to the position
who was not a citizen of Sabine, and Mr.
Wright finally declined to serve. On the
26th of the following month the board met
in special session and elected J. H, Wil-
liams, Jr. The other candidates were
Profs. S. J. Davis and Grit Petty. The
board, in an appropriate resolution, ex-
tended praise to ]\Ir. Williams for the able
manner in which he administered the
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 189
school affairs of the parish. Later the
board members were elected by the people,
a move that has gone far towards removing
the schools from the domination of the
state politicians.
The school fund of the parish had
grown to be the largest in its history
and substantial educational advancement
was now manifest on every hand. Better
school houses, better salaries, better teach-
ers and more earnest efforts were put into
general school work.
In July, 1907, 0, L. Hawkins reported
to the board that the High School dormi-
tory and Masonic hall had been destroyed
by fire.
In August, 1908, the board met in spec-
ial session and seclected teachers for the
school year,*
*The names of the teachers and their schools fol-
low; Toro, Ivy Miller; Mt. Carmel, Mrs. Addle Read,
Miss Pearl Brittain; Corley, Miss Emily Curtis; War-
ren, Nolan Dees; Fisher, D. L. Sharp; Pine Grove,
Dennis Sirmon ; Florien, D. F. Turner; Gum Springs,
S, G. Keadle; Carroll Miller, Miss May Patrick; Vic-
toria, Miss Julia Miller; Gravel Hill, Miss Lola
Hughes; Evergreen, W. R. Pilcher; Zion Hill, Miss
Nell Pierce; Antioch, Miss iSlarion Hess; Many, "W. C.
Roaten, Miss Jennie Ford; Spring Grove, Miss Lou
Self; New Hope, M. V. Petty; Rocky Mount, Miss Au-
rie Sibley; Rocky Springs, Miss Amanda Duggan;
Fort Jesup, C. R. Trotter, Miss Kate Stoker, Miss Car-
rah Beauchamp; New Castle, John 1. Carter; Shaw-
neetown. Miss Carrah Edmondson; Many (col), T. J.
Simpson; Camp Creek (col.) S. R. Stephens; Sepul-
vedo, R. C. Nesom; Ferguson, Miss Pearl Nabours;
Catholic Church (Zwolle), Miss Evilina Hubley;
190
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
The school term was increased to six
months, and in districts which had special
taxes an ei^ht months’ session was author-
ized for the ensuing year.
In January, 1909, the following citizens
qualified as members of the board: J. W.
JPhares, J. W. Byrd, G-. L. Nabours, John
H. Boone, S. P. Thomas, Gr, W. Pugh,
James McFerrin, John R. Parrott, W, F.
Skinner and S, S, Tatum. Mr, Boone
was unanimously eledted president.
The superintendent’s report at this time
showed that there were 79 white and 26
negro schools in the parish. Thirty of the
white schools were to run for a term of
eight months. All white schools, except
three had been supplied ^ith patent desks,
blackboards, maps and 1121 volumes. The
enrollment was 4,095 white and 1,218 col-
ored, and the total school funds amounted
to $59,357.30.
In April, 1910, J. H. Williams, Jr., ten-
Ebarbo, Miss Mattie Langford; Vines, Miss Alice
Pugh; Hicks Camp, Miss .Jennie Fuller; Jacobs, Miss
Anna Edwardsi Byles, W. L. Patrick; Hatcher, A. S.
Rains; Converse, Miss Mamie Furness; Brown, Miss
Bertha Boyd; San Patricio (col.), R. E. Jacobs; Pleas-
ant Hill, P. C. Fair, Mrs. P. C. Fair, Mias Inez Fur-
ness; Spring Ridge, W. M. Dowell, Miss Lealnia Fer-
guson; Bayou Scie, IMiss Birdie Clark; Hamlin, Miss
Mayo Linder; Smithfield, Miss Meda Franks; Zwolle;
S. J. Davis, Miss Garrett, Mias Elizabeth Wilson; Sand
Hill, Miss Evvie Skinner; Oak Grove, Earnest Dees,
Miss Gannie Partrick; Sardis, Miss S. L. Roach, Miss
Helen Tatum; Mitchell, Miss Adele Nash, Miss Della
Edwards.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 191
dered his resignation as superintendent.
The following day the board elected Prof.
Walter S, Mitchell to that position. Pro-
vision was aiso made for an office assist-
ant and Miss Lizzie Armstrong filled' the
place until it was discontinued the follow-
ing year. Special taxes in aid of schools
was voted in many districts in succeeding
years. In 1911 special levies were made in
thirty-seven districts and in 1912 other
districts followed.
In April, 1911, Hon, J, H. Boone re-
signed as president and member of the
board and Hon, G. W. Pugh was chosen
president and Joe Smith qualified as mem-
ber from Ward 4.
At a special session in May, the Oak
Grove school was made a high school.
In November the following were elected
members of the board: A. B, Jordan, J.
W, Byrd, J. S. Salter, Joe Smith, Pat Le -
one, H. Harper, A. D. Ashby, S, H. Por-
ter, W. F. Skinner and S. S, Tatum. Mr.
Tatum was elected president for a term of
six years, and S. H. Porter, vice president.
The board members were divided into
three groups in order that their terms of
office may expire on different years. The
terms of the first group expire in two
years, the second group in four years and
the third group in six years. * The board
created the office of chaplain, and Rev. A.
192 EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
D. Ashby, member from Ward 7, was se-
lected for that position.
The school funds of the parish for the
fiscal year 1912-13 amounted to $89,847.66,
including $27,260.25 in bonds of the Zwolle
and Pleasant Hill districts.
The teaching force of the parish has im-
prored as the finances have increased. At
present the instructors ih Sabine's schools
will compare most favorably with those of
any parish in the state,* and the people
are manifesting real progressive ideas
in public education by providing modern
buildings and facilities and conforming to
the principles of systematic instruction.
The present Parish Board is also composed
of some of the parish's most energetic and
public-spirited citizens and education will
continue to make progress under their ad-
ministration.
The day has vanished into the obscure
past when the people of Sabine parish
have reason to deplore their educational
facilities. The failure of the youth to se-
cure an adequate education to carry him
or her along the ordinary highway of life
is no longer the misfortune of the parish,
but is the fault of the individual.
♦The teachers of the parish and the schools tanght
by them in 1912-13 are as follows: Toro, A, C. Palmer,
Miss Gene Stringer, Miss Nelli<‘ Cranford; Mount Car-
mel, Miss Jewel Fincher, Miss Mary Lou Carroll;
Middle Creek, E. E. Deee, Miss Jennie Duggan; Cor-
ley, J. O. Palmer, Miss Catherine Byrd; Warren, G.
'■•'S';'#'..
■' 'i
Jmm.,
H» mod^0^^%U»im^>,Him msi^im itiwiv
'* ■ *^'6»il«0»}|<ko& tot A^a«^viM(a /
w
aiUft^.wrf 30
«s«fi
m
m
'M
m
fm
EDVCATlOJfAL PROGRESS 193
W. Byrd; Fisher, R. B. Fargeraon, Miss Willie So-
Relle, Miss Kate LaCour; Pine Grove, W. A. Johnson,
Miss Kora Stringer; Enterprise, P. O. Cox; Florien,
Geo. A. Odom, Miss Bertha Gandy, Mias Leola Rodg-
ers, Miss Sea Willow Carroll; Christie, R, A. Boze-
man; Lewing, Mrs. Iva Dees; Gum Springs, S. G.
Keadle, Mrs. S. G. Keadle, J. C. Corley; Carroll Mil-
ler, Mrs. Pearl McCormic; Caldwell, Dennis Sirman;
Pleasant Hill, Miss Georgie Willhite; Victoria, Mias
Pearl Peace; Gravel Hill, Miss Lola Sellers; Pisgah, J.
Leon Palmer, Miss Ethel Palmer; ^yrd, J. H. Arnold;
Roberson, Leroy Miller; Ford, Miss Beulah McLeroy;
Zion Hill, Miss Emma Salter; Antioch, Henry Leach;
Liberty, Miss Alice Brewster; Spring Grove, Miss
Blanche Self; Siloam, T. W. McKinnis; Alliance, Miss
Nettie Parrott; Pilgrim Rest, Miss Ivy Jordan; Many,
W. C. Roaten, R. V. Evans, Miss Clara Carnahan,
Miss Irma Broadwell, Miss Pauline Armstrong, Miss
Carrie Billingsley, Miss Hope Haupt, Miss Willie
Ponder; Rocky Mount, Miss Aurie Sibley; Rocky
Springs, Miss Ollie Jacobs; Spoycher, R. C. Nesom;
Miller Creek, Miss Beulah Jones; Fort Jesup, Grady
Holloway, Miss Ruth Whitlow, Miss Ema Etheredge;
Klondike, J. W, Miller, Miss Maude Duggan; Lanana,
T. A. Armstrong, Miss Lizzie Armstrong; Cutright,
Miss Lillie Gibbs; Central Springs, Leon Law; Hope-
Castle, J, E. Harper, Miss Nettie Antony; Sepulveda,
Mrs. H. H. Ferguson; Clyde, Mrs. Ima Russell; Aim-
well, Miss Myrtis Ford; Martinez, Leon Burnes;
Ebarbo, O. J. Roberts; Vines, Louis Vines, Miss Mag-
gie McFerren; Loring, Mrs. A. E. Hendrickson; No-
ble, J. P. Clark, Miss Susie Ellis, Miss Winona Gill-
ham, Miss Mayme Cowan, Miss Belie Nabours; Byles,
Miss Alice Stringer; Hatcher, O. M. Corley, Miss Hat-
tie Skinner; Converse, Mrs. A. E. Read, Miss Frances
Morris, Miss Texie Bolton; Brown, Miss Mattie Vines;
Sulphur Si)rings, Miss Rena Skinner; Palmetto, W. M.
Dowell, C. L. Carter, Mrs. Ada Middleton; Clark,
Mrs. Sadie Butler, Miss Ranie Bozeman; Progress,
Miss Eftie Wright; Red Oak, Miss Ethel Bumgardner;
Pleasant Hill, J. C. Wbitescarver, Miss Alice Petty,
Miss Margaret McGee, Miss Hattie Champion, Miss
Vinnie Ross, Miss Gertrude Waller, Mis* Kathleen
Moore ; Spring Ridge, T. C. Aubrey, E. L. Skinner,
Miss Katie Abington; Bayou Scie, Miss Pearl Na-
194
ED VGA TIONA L PROGRESS
hours; Hamlin, Miss Maudo ^.huU; Smitbfield, E,
Skinner; Zwolle, W. R. Mididetoa, Miss Louvina Hol-
liday, Miss Nelle ]M. Palmer, Miss Cordelia Hart, Miss
Teene Graves; Sand Hill, Miss Victoria Bozeman;
Union, Charles R, Trotter, Mrs'. Charles R. Trotter,
Miss Jennie Fuller, Miss Arline Ponder; Pisgah, W. E.
Hunter; Mitchell, Miss Kathrpne Moore, Miss Mary
Sloane, Miss Zonla Tanner, Mrs Esther vViliianison;
Oak Grove, O. L, Sanders, R. A. Wagley, Miss Ozie
Allen, Miss Margaret Craniord, Miss Fannie Patrick;
Sardis, Miss Mamie Best, Mary Cates; Spring
Creek, Miss Rose A. MilleT; Shiloh, P, J. Spears,
The Press.
I^EWSPAPERS were printed in the
French and the Spanish languages
at Natchitoches at an early date, probably
before the beginning of the nineteeth cen-
tury. When the first English paper was
printed is not definitely known, according
to the compilers of the Memoirs of North-
west Louisiana (published in 1890), who
fix the date at 1848, when Thomas C, Hunt
published the Natchitoches Chronicle.
However, the present writer had the for-
tune to have in his possession a copy of
the Red River Gazette (Vol. II, No. 10),
which bears the date August- 12, 1837, and
and was published at Natchitoches by R. P.
Des^pallier. The paper is in possession of
Leo Vandegaer, proprietor of the Sabine
Banner. It was found in the frame of an
old family picture of Mr, G. W, Cain,
whose people were pioneers’ of the
parish, in 1905, and contains much inform-
ation which minutely reflects the spirit of
the old days and the writer deems it ap-
propriate to give a short review of its con-
tents. The Gazette was a seven -column
folio, three pages being printed in English
and one in French, and the subscription
price was five dollars per annum. With
195
190
THE PRESS
the exception of legal notices and adver-
tisements, the paper contains nothing in
the nature of what the newspapers of our
time would consider local news. The first
page begins with a poem, entitled ^^The
Frairies/’ by William Cullen Bryant, and
is followed with a story by that prince of
early American literature, Washington
Irying, The first lines of the narrative re-
real the sublime optimism of the illustri-
ous writer, whose work has lived and will
never fail to delight the reader. He said:
‘‘The world is growing older and wiser.
Its institutions vary with its years and
mark its growing wisdom.’’
The editorial page of the Gazette is
characteristic of the time, and the literary
efforts of the editor were, indeed, worthy
of acclamation. One article, headed “The
Philosophy of Smoking,” might not be re-
ceived with generous ‘ applause by many
people of the twentieth century, but when
we reflect that Louisianains were just
learning to smoke, it was, at least, a timely
and clever defense of the habit. A por-
tion of the editor’s “pipe dream” follows:
“Just fancy to yourself the venerable Ho-
mer, seated on a bench, reciting the sub-
lime verses of the heavenly Iliad, with his
sightless eyes turned toward the firmament
— how much would the beauty of the pict-
ure be heightened by supposing a goodly
¥ '■ '■ tea rssS'r-a
as gnidJoxj ^ ■.> sdi
'Mi- wi}qaB^r»f¥a¥|i|:;iB47^^
Jtnii '’'ijiT .B7J»?! ‘{afKii '3Bsfe-,sa!.ts fclijf-":- atei
'■■■. ' ';;¥:^!lTV'' ,a:f»<).«^ ¥J5 rflm: gaigsd 93»q
; ,,,, itaatail mUxtO caaifUW 'vd '‘’■.?(ahfa"'*i
- ' si
' §-i^oj»txMsM'W ,eTiitim^'‘rt xtMsirsiiPfA
9TiJii5L5fiH. ojdJ 5o S'^iih' mh vdT ,falril
i<5 ftiii.'iijijqo dtaiMxis »dS lasY
' <; }; *:' tevil ;-s'l a'low wod?- ,x9t'iw aeo
■ ''.Bks ©H ^ .xstey! ariJ'#dsik& eJ lialaayea,
468iw' tea -jftf)Io 3q:i^oi^ ariT”
;.i'.'a sisax i£Jiw- '^my: »ct>ij7rkk£ji ail
'\ e::Gbai:w'
fti 9ii¥)a&£) tiiij i:o .iidra®Jii;>» m;'!'
1(fTfii9.?i[,,8di Bni; ,,9|ni,? -^dj ?o afifthaj.jJt-';r{o
'.■ -^beebsi ,sMatr ''rjiibe aaflo aitcte
Bsbsftd (SJaiJis 0iy«, ' ,fioil*i£fl{!i.'?;jK }o
; *.0!i ad Jofl- ii.iajitr ' ',^eii!oiiCS io \xlg:ofe«n'ij'*l
lUfisr yJ jmtslqrie-' s/.uc-^.mo-^ dJiv' L^rho
.mdv :}ad ,xjiiiiiaa':dMmewA 'sko.-j,-!.
_ , iaut STOY!' fcflkaa:si.a-c4 iadi ibelisT '' ©w '
ylaoiii 4 ,la*al U ,sflW-3i '.bdoais oj ^aiaiaal
loq A Jicffld adi io fscaiab taTal# tea
,,„ ,,^jswi)Uoi-'nma7h aqiq‘' '‘Qxwa '■iit fc soiJ
' *0'fl sWaiOHST, 0xi;f itttetaoy oi i■■x5i-■*
.^fikfpa'i ,x';>jvd fi. ao baiAm ,‘xeat
'■ ii,sf^.dii^ MHl xlasYx&d »MiM etmi '
inagtigtijnd a-ii inmoj bhaiiij-mis
. _ "Ibiq: adi 5o xlj/«sd sdi Mte4bii6t,CT 'nod'—
tefietdgiad ad mu
197
THE PRESS
Dutch pipe between the ^od-like lips! I
once, indeed, seriously intended to trans-
fer the idea to canvas, but desisted through
an unwillingness to give scandal to the
learned by a sheer anachronism. Had to-
bacco been introduced into Europe a few
centuries sooner, the witty Horace would
have written a score of odes to his pipe,
and Virgil no doubt have had his Tytyrus
and Meliboeus reclining ‘sub tegmine fagi’
and regaling themselves with a comfortable
smoke. Why is it that we Louisiahaians
are the most active and enterprising people
in the world! It is because nine-tenths of
us are smokers. Why is it that the coun-
cils of the American Indians are the most
solemn assemblies in the world, clothed
with far more impressive dignity than the
Congress of the United States or the Brit-
ish Parliament! The answer is obvious,
because in the two latter tobacco is ex-
cluded. Why was it that the deliberations
of the Dutch settlers of Manhattan, so well
described in Mynheer Knickerbocker, were
conducted with such harmony and free-
dom from party wrangling, which we
should be glad to see imitated by modern
legislators! It was because their fiercer
passions were soothed into complacency by
the irresistable power of that invaluable
plant — tobacco!’'
AVhut innumerable woes our people might
198
THE PRESS
hare escaped if this morsel of ‘‘philoso-
phy’^ had been generally disseminated in-
stead of finding lodgement for three-quart-
ers of an eventful century in the back of a
picture which hung silently on the walls of
a rural home in Sabine parish! “Sartor
Resartus” (the Philosophy of Clothes)
was given to the world in the same
Reproduced from “Red River Gazette,” August, 1837.
fliid very black complexion, five : feet and a
few-itiohes high, they epeak English only.
alias Geo. Wasbii^ton, a man
Anitfive feet S or iO inches high, has a bro-
ken tooth in front, complexion somewhat red,
Botne oid scars of the whip on^his bodv,
ipeaks English only.
jTen dollars over the legal reward will be
paid §or each, to Vnoever will bring them
teck to my plantation* or lodge them in any
jail trithiu this State.
age, and covered the writer with glory to
spare, while the “Philosophy of Smoking”
barely escaped oblivion by filling the vac-
uum in a picture frame from which it was
ultimately recovered. But fame has ever
been partial.
Texas had just gained her independence,
still the Gazette was apparently suspicious
Rivefy 25th i uly . ,
- SILVESTRE RACHAL,
rer,' 25th July. , 8w6
THE PRESS
199
concerning the moYements of the Mexicans
and submits the following advice: “Great
preparations are said to be making in
Mexico for the recovery of Texas. The
president, Bustamente, having effectually
quelled the msurrection of Moctezuma, is
turning his attention with enthusiasm to-
wards Texas, and adopting the most ener-
getic methods in relation thereto. Our
Texian brethren will dowell to keep a vig-
ilant eye upon him.”
The following paragraph was reprinted
from the New Orleans Courier: “The
loyal and loving subjects of the British
Isles are in a most perplexing predicament:
inconsolable grief for the loss of their king
and transported with joy at the accession
of their queen, Victoria! Those who do not
share in these transports deserve to be
transported to Botany Bay.”
Another item reprinted from the Cour-
ier says “Bennett of the New York Her-
ald has the following paragraph in his
synopsis of English news: CY singular
report prevailed at Portsmouth. It was
that Ylr. Marlin Van Buren, president of
the United IScates, had made a proposal of
marriage to Victoria, the queen of Eng-
land, through his minister, Mr. Stevenson.
Mr. Van Buren is a little too slow on trig-
ger for that matter.’ We would recom-
mend that Marly doff those claret colored
I • :> '■ ^ 4
I -.r
200
THE PRESS
whiskers of his and wear a wig, if he would
hope to unite the ancient house of Kinder-
hook with the royal house of Hanover/’
An interesting feature of the Gazette is its
advertising columns. Apparently every
line of business is represented by adver-
tisements, including cards of physicians
and la'wyers. Even the postmaster, Wil-
liam P, Jones, announces that specie will
be ‘ ‘taken at par for quarterly accounts
due the pos^toffice,” and that “debtors in-
clined to take advantage of the above are
invited to call and settle,”
The minutes of a meeting of the Police
Jury appear in this number of the Gazette,
and is probably one of the oldest records in
existence of a meeting of that body. B.
B. Breazeale was president and P. Wil-
liams, clerk. The following , resolution
was adopted at this meeting: “Kesolved,
That Nicholas Jacks, Franklin Dutton,
Hugh McNeely, Asa Speight, P. Curtis,
John West and Gade West be and they are
hereby appointed a jury to trace and lay
out a road, commencing at P. Curtis’ on
Bayou Toro, and to intersect the road lead-
ing to Natchitoches at the nearest and best
point near the former residence of Asa
Hickman.”
The new'spapers of Natchitoches in early
days seem to have had rough careers. In
I860, Ecnest LaGendre published L’ Union
i V: '
it
•i
i
THE PRESS
201
in English and French, In 1862, L. Du-
plex was publisher, but the Federals took
charge of his printing plant. After the
war Mr. Duplex again equipped the office
and published the paper under the name of
Natchitoches Times until 1872, when the
From the “Red River Gazette.”
To Revolutlonnpy' PensioimeiTS.
EYOLUTIONARY Pensioner’s
blank accounts for receiving pen-
sions, for sale at this office.
For Sale.
negro girl, good cook, ironer.
washer and house servant: — For
terms apply to BETSEY SOM PA Y-
RAC, /. IV. c.
Nat. Aug. 1837.
O. ROCA begs leave to
inform the inhabitants of the
town and parish of Natchitoches that
he intends teaching music, in all its
various branches.
Any person desirous of taking les-
sons will please hand in their name
and address to Mr. D, P. Despallier,
at the office of the “Red River Ga-
zette,” on Jefferson Street.
Terms of Teaching.
Piano Forte, per quarter, $40.00
Psalm Singing, per month, 2.00
Classical Singing, “ 10,00
in advance.
July 28, 1837. 8tf
paper ceased to exist. lu 187-4, J. H. Cos-
grove revived the paper under the title of
' xS08 i n I ^ b na riaiig a.3^n I
;.j,) ^^di ^4Srd f^^iiiftUdxiq^SJiw xelq .
W^hnhq zld lo ''ai^p^jdo
o.iilfio. ;aifi " f:u;q.i|irfp xelqoCI ,-*rM 'i#iw _,y
%0 -Bmm mii Wiistx "s^q&q vS^ bBd'Mlduq hnfi ','
^iii'; i:r'^,|■^'#/ ,2T8l' UiBum'miT
' ' -Pjl,.. ; Yii A.:. H-'TOJOTH^
II 5i:-: ■■:),» .
iQl.iinoia' ■
^
rTimo'ii' ■, sloop ■ boo:;^. ,h>:;i Jk
la'l — ! X r. aTi^a sm : .l>^i w w:
t^if^T3f'€ ' ot •'/(qqa
.3 .\ss .\^DAil
MBl :^uA jM
, ..„:v. mmi AO^OM «tt
■ 0l1X k> ..piIj aiioini
" ' ' V'»jrfpo-jrfh'v?aK io fi^:hnq hat. amr-x
. v:»/i
mrhiimd ^.^)rmv
, ■ . priui.h.: norj^^q yhA
s.noiij cr : f)M'd ' 'fiw miaf. :..'
. «it lo, y/iHo. prij ■ ', '
' ' ’: 00 ,01? , J ‘m.r, !,f p , oo 1 o'’i OfT®! q
„00.^ ..«i{j0O£fi
^:0O.Oi";
:;p.,,l4B-'^;v;^ ;' • ' ,TS8X ,v^-;
-'3oO .H . b ,rY8i, iti .^i>lxs oi immo
lO efiti 6di 19&1HJ -jsqTO dll LaviYai »vOTg
202
THE PRESS
the People’s Vindicator and conducted it
until 1881, when it was sold to Phanor
Breazeale, shortly a^ter which time pub-
lication ’was suspended. D. W, Hubley
From the ‘‘Red River Gazette.”
Hand and for sale. A good as-
sortment of Groceries, Brandy,
Whiskey, Wine. Sugar, Coffee, Salt,
Molasses, &c.
By D, H VAIL & CO.
N^otice.
LL persons havingclaims against
the estate of Doctor John Sibley
deceased will please present them to
ihe subscriber without delay, and all
those owing said estate will please
come forward and make immediate
payment to P. F. KIMBALL,
July, 24, 1837. Adrar.
•^NOTES of the banks of Misis-
sissippi, Alabama and Tennessee will
be received by the subscriber at par,
for the purchase of goods or the pay-
ment of store accounts.
MARTIN, MEAPvS A Co.
Natchitoches, May 25, 1837.
Sacks Liverpool Salt, just
received and for sale bv
MARTIN. MEARSA CO.
was also among ttie early post-bellum pub-
lishers at Natchitoches and at Robeline.
The first newspaper published in Sabine
parish, the Sabine Southron, was issued at
Many, May 5, 1878, by E. F. Presley and
i
t
i
I
■ 1
I
I
I
I
THE PRESS
203
Henry Potts^, Mr. Potts retired in 1879*
and Mr, Presley continued the publieation
of the Southron until 1890, when he trans-
ferred the plant to his sons, E. F. Presley,
From “Red River Gazette.”
American Churches and Taverns. — The
loftiest roofs of an American town
are, invariably, its taverns; and. let
metaphysics j^et over the matter as it
may, I shall contend that such a thin^
is, at least, unseemly to the eye. With
us it is not Gog and Magog, but grog
or no grog; we are either a tame plane
of roofs, or a pyramid in honor of
brandy and mint Juleps. When it
comes to the worship of God, each
man appears to wish himself a nut-
shell to contain himself and his own
shades of opinion; but \vhere there is
a question of eatins: and drinking, the
tent of Peri Banou would not be large
enough to hold us,— Cooper.
Jr., and H. M, Presley. In 1879, J. H.
Caldwell, John Blake and Levi Stewart
launched the Sabine Index as an opponent
of the Southron. After two years the In-
dex gave up the vocation of ‘‘molding pub-
lic opinion,” and following the anti -lottery
campaign of 1892 the Southron also ceased
publication.
The Sabine Index, as was usually the
case in those days when a newspaper was
started, was launched as a political organ,
and, in delivering its salutatory, Septeni-
* W. P. HiUchiusou was also associated with Mr.
Presley.
. ^'.JC '..it , :
-. :\f-
' ! ^
. jiji'OsS
' i<y
:.q0
r
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204 TEE PRESS ^
ber 6, 1879, says: '‘It has already been
said that this paper is started in the inter-
est of the ‘New Many Clique/ This ex-
pression implies the pre-existence of an
‘Old Many Clique,’ and if any charge
were true it would go to prove that a
‘clique’ may be made up of a very small
number of persons, and that a population
as small as this town is divided against
itself. If ours is a ‘new clique’ and we can
find that ‘old clique,’ we promise to fight it
from the word go, as it would seem to be
our duty to do, and we will not fail to
claim the credit due for bursting it into
‘smithereens’ if that should be the issue of
the contest ; and if we should get ‘bursted’
instead, we will claim the credit for that,
too, as then there will be one ‘clique’ less
trying to ^et all the offices and running
things to suit themselves.” The editor
vows to stand for the principles of the
democratic party and “to see that the
powers of the general government are ex-
ercised in the interest of the people and as
a necessary consequence to secure to the
Southern states recognition of their rights
and an acknowledgement of their claims
to justice and fair play,” During its ex-
istence the Index participated in the great
campaign of 1880, when General Winfield
Scott Hancock was the standard-bearer of
the democratic party for president, but
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THE PRESS
205
was defeated by General James A. Gar-
field. The editorial writing for the paper
was done by James H. Caldwell, who was
assisted by John Blake, a prominent mer-
chant of Many. Mr. Caldwell, who was
for many years a progressive citizen of
Sabine parish and was identified with the
interests of the parish, is at present the
popular and efficient postmaster at Robel-
ine, Natchitoches parish, Mr, Blake died
in 1887.
The local news of the Index was served
according to the popular demands of those
days. The citizen who paid his subscrip-
tion with turnips, potatoes and wood was
certain to find his name in the local col-
umn and the personal mention was sprin-
kled with that sort of near-wit which
characterized the country weekly in the
“days gone by.” Most prominent among
the entertainments mentioned in the Index
during its career was that given at the
closing of the Many school, June 18, 1880.
Prof. Grainger was the teacher. The
numbers on the program included the fol-
lowing: Prologue, Master Walter Stille;
“The Candidate,” ISIaster Riley Buveas;
“Man Was Made to Mourn,” Miss Jennie
Presley; “Little Folks,” Lee Petty; “Some
Girls,” Miss Lula Hogue; “Suppose My
Little Lady,” ^Master Tom Small ; “The Boy
Stood on His Little Sled,” INIaster Tom
206
THE PRESS
DeLatin. Others v/ho participated m the
entertainment Vv^ere Masters Leo Clanau,
Henry DeLatin, Brodie Sibley, Joa Dug-
gan, Louis B. Oay, E, A. Buddenbrock,
William Stille, Corrie Lunt, Henry Buv-
ens, William H. Yandegaar, Clarence
Lunt, Elliott Stille, Edwin Hogue, Chris
Alford, Billy Armstrong, Walter Hawkins,
Willie Gandy, Joe McNeeiey, Eddie Mc-
- Neely, Willie Caldwell; Misses Ella Sum-
mers, Lethie Smith, Lula Sibley, Belle and
Jennie Preslev, Anna Gandy, Mollie Car-
ter, Annie Armstrong, Beulah Stewart,
Florence Byles, Ella Smith, Lizzie Byles,
Mollie Carter, Ida Byle's, Bettie Smith and
Lotta Abington. An address by Hon. J.
Fisher Smith concluded the entertainment..
Besides the advertisements from home
merchants, the Index received some pat-
ronage from business and professional men
of Natchitoches, Shreveport and New Or-
leans.
During the lottery campaign, Judge Don
E. SoRelle, who had previously conducted
a newspaper at Pelican, DeSoto parish,
but had recently engaged in the practice of
law in ^lany, established the Sabine Ban-
ner. The paper has occupied the field ever
since. In 1S96, J. H. Williams, Jr., and
C. F. Bolton launched the Sabine Demo-
crat. They later acquired the Banner and
discontinued the publication of the Demo-
THE PRESS
207
crat. During the later ’90s J. A. Tetts, a
veteran newspaper man, published the
Sabine Free State in Many, but that paper
ceased publication in 1901.
In 1898, Judge W. R, Rutland, a law-
yer, who had been prominent in politics in
Q-rant parish during reconstruction days,
purchased the Banner and conducted the
paper until 1900, when he accepted a po-
sition in the State Land Office at Baton
“Sabine Banner’’ Building.
Rouge, and the ownership of the Banner
was transferred to J, D. Woods, who at
the present time is assessor of Sabine
County, Texas. The long and eventful life
of Judge Rutland was ended in 1903, in
Many, among his family and friends.
t
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208
THE PRESS
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On September 1, 1901, Miv Woods sold
the Banner to Judge Don E. SoRelle and
Leo Vandegaer. Judge SoRelle was edi-
tor, Mr. Vandegaer, business manager and
John G, Belisle was engaged as publisher.
In 1903, Leo Vande-
gaer acquired the sole
ownership of the pa-
per and is the present
proprietor, while J,
Gr, Belisle has con-
tinued to be the pub-
lisher. The present
mechanical equip-
ment is complete in
every detail, and the
plant occupies a large
and substantial two-
story brick building,
constructed in 1911
on the lot formerly Occupied by the store
building of J. B. Vmdegaer & Sons. Mr.
Vandegaer being the postmaster, the front
half of the lower floor is used for the post-
office, The present proprietor has endeav-
ored to improve the paper whenever the
times and the conditions would justify the
same, and while local newspapers are not
productive of much wealth to their owners
(the Banner being no exception), he is
proud of the record it has made under his
charge in the way of standing for every-
LEO VANDEGAER
THE PRESS
209
Albert S. Clanan
thing which would count for the progress
of the parish. (A biographical sketch of
Mr, Vandegaer is given in another chap-
ter). Politically the^ Banner is neutral,
and under the present man-
agement it has never espoused
the cause of any partisan or-
ganization or individual. At
the same time its columns
have been an open forum for
the expression of opinions
concerning all public matters,
and particulaily where such
expressions have had for their object the
upbuilding of the country. The printers
employed by the Banner in
1912 are Daniel H. Yandegaer
and Albert S. Clanan, both of
whom have been in the service
of the. paper for more than
five years. Miss Eula Vande-
Dan H. Vandegaer gaer, the accomplished daugh-
of the editor, is the bookkeeper and, inci-
dentally writes the society news. She is a
member of the Louisiana Press Associa-
tion and Second Vice President of that or-
ganization.
For a few years prior to 1902, W. C. Da-
vis published the Sodus News at Pleasant
Hill. He moved to El Paso, Texas, and
the publication of the News was discon-
tinued. Mr. Davis was a progressive citi-
f'
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210
THE PRESS
zen. He served as a member of the Lou-
isiaaa Senate and occupied other positions.
He stiil owns real estate in Sabine.
Frequent attempts have been made to
piiblirh a newspaper at Zwolle, The Sab-
ine Enterprise is now published there by
B. Lusk. The Enterprise was estab-
lished by H, A, Miner in 1910.
TofWiis Jincl Villages.
m:a.:s:y.
"T^HEN Sabine parish was organized in
’ ^ 1843, the question of a seat of par-
ish government was left to be settled. Fort
Jesup was the most important point at that
period, but it was a Federal military res-
ervation, and lacked several miles of being
a central location. A place known as
Baldwin^ Store was chosen as the parish
site. It was located on the main Natchi-
toches and San Antonio highway which
was intersected at this point by other
roads. The place was named Many, in
honor of Colonel Many who commanded
the garrison at Fort Jesup, It appears
that, even after the site had been chosen,
there was no land' on which to locate it.
To supply this deficiency, on May 17, 1843,
Messrs. W, R. D, Speight, I. W, Eason,
G. W. Thompson and S. S. Eason donated
to the parish forty acres of land adjoining
the Peter Buvens plantation (now owned
by E, C. Dillon), described as “beginning
at the forks of the road east of Hosea
Presley^s old house and along the Speight
road,“ On December 21, 1844, a plat of
the town was made, by Surveyor G. W,
211
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212
towjYs ajti) villages
Thompson, which exhibited a public square
and eight streets.
The first government of the town was
vested in five commissioners, appointed by
the Police Jury, as follows:. John Bald-
win, Alexander Byles, M. Fulchrod, Henry
Earls and John Waterhouse. The com-
missioners were authorized to open a sale
of lots in the new town. Among the early
purchasers of these lots were Robert Par-
rott, William Edmundson, J, B, Stoddard,
P. H. Dillon, -William Tavlor, S. S. Eason
and John Baldwin, and a little later on
L, Stevenson, L. M. Rodgers, B. K. Ford,
C. Chaplin, T. McCarty, Tabitha Baldwin,
J. B. Elam, G-. E. Ward. The first pur-
chasers of lots were citizens who were in-
terested directly or indirectly in the gov-
ernment of the parish or identified with
business pursuits.
In 1847 another transfer of lots was
made, when John Baldwin, Robert Stille
and G. E. Ward, commissioners of the
town of Many, deeded to John Caldwell,
John D, Tucker and Robert A. Gay, for
use of the Masonic Society (known as
Hamill Lodge), and to Abraham Roberts,
William D. Stephens, Robert D. Wright,
William Mains and Dr, Henry McCallen,
trustees of the Methodist church, certain
lots in consideration of the sum of $20.
These societies jointly erected a two -story
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TOWNS AND VILLAGES 213
building, the upper floor of which was used
for the lod^e and the lower floor for relig-
ious services. In 1852, Daniel R. Gandy
donated to Antony McGee and Noah Mar-
tin, trustees of the Baptist denomination,
suitable lots on which to erect a church.
Among other lot owners in the original
town up to 1869 were Eli Self, J. E. Smith,
K. G. McLemore, Wiley Weeks, G. C, De-
Berry, James Garner, Job Hobbs, William
Cook, G. G. Garner. B. Campbell, Little-
ton Cook, Robert Parrott, George Dens-
more, Louis Vanshoebrook, G, B, Stod-
dard, Louis Levison, John W^aterhouse,
G. W. Gibson, Isaac Rains, G. E. Jackson,
Dr. E. Thigpen, James Brown, Abe Har-
ris and J. B. Vandegaer.
The first house in Many was erected by
John Baldwin, a pioneer of the sturdy
type, for whom the wilderness had no ter-
rors and who rather sought the frontier
life. The house was a large log structure,
ot the double-pen design; it stood where
Joseph D. Stille’s residence now stands,
and was known as a hotel or tavern, Mr.
Baldwin also conducted a mercantile busi-
ness. The country tavern in the old days
in the South, wdiiie guests paid for their
accommodations, was famous lor itshomely
hospitality and sociability. The Baldwin
hostlery was no exception to the rule. The
well-disposed stranger was given a cordial
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214
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
welcome, and the hotel was frequently
the scene of neighborhood feasts and so-
cial gatherings attended by the elite society
of Fort Jesup and visiting military celeb-
rities. Mr. Baldwin had two accomplished
daughters. The eldest, Miss Jane, became
the wife of P. H, Dillon, both dying
before the war, Two of their children,
still living, are E. C. Dillon of Many and
John B, Dillon of Mansfield. Mr, Bald-
win's youngest daughter. Miss Elizabeth,
married E, C. Davidson, for many- years a
prominent lawyer of Many. Baldwin was
the first postmaster .and his name was
prominent in all the early progressive
movements in the parish. The building
which he used as a store house was still
standing in 1912, when it was torn down
by E. C. Dillon, who erected a brick struc-
ture on the lot.
'^ Probably the first settler in the vicinity
of Many was William Mains, who settled
the plantation now owned by the heirs of
of Louis and Frances Buvens. Mr. Mains
was born m North Carolina and in early
life was left an orphan. He was kidnap-
ped by some traders and carried to the
North and apprenticed to a carpenter
and learned to be an expert woodworker.
On reaching manhood he went to Pike
County, Mississippi, where he was married,
and, in 1830, moved with his family to
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TOWNS AND VILLAGES 215
Louisiana, near the present town of Many.
Indians still roamed the woods, and wild
animals were numerous, He was com-
pelled to cut his way through a dense cane
brake to make a clearing for the house
which he constructed, Mr, Mains was the
father of seven children, one of whom,
Noah, is still living, being a resident of
Pleasant Hill, William, the eldest son,
who shared with his father the trials of
pioneer life, was born in 1817, in Pike
County, Mississippi, and died June 26,
1904. During the Mexican war he moved
army equipments from Fort Jesup to the
old Block House on Sabine River. At
his death he was survived by two sons W,
C. and Rich Mains, and two daughters,
Madames W. L Shull and Asa Vines,
'Peter F. Buvens, an old settler of the
neighborhood, came here in 1837 from" Bel-
gium and settled on land adjoining the
present town of Many, His family com-
prised six children, Theodore, Henry (died
in early life), John, Francis, Virginia (died
in early life), Maria, who mand Ml John B.
Vandegaer in 1859; and Mary, wife of John
Davis, who also was owner of a large
plantation near Many,
Another pioneei was Hosea Pi*esley,
who came here before the parish was cre-
ated and acquired title to his plantation
lying west of the town limits.
"j
216
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Previous to 1878 Many did not have a
municipal government. At that time the
town secured a charter under the new
constitution. In May, 1878, G, W, SmaU
was elected mayor, John Blake, clerk, and
A, H. Hogue, R. B. Stille and J. F. Smith,
councilmen. In 1882, Dan Vandegaer was
mayor. He was succeeded in 1884 by John
B. Vandegaer, For several years after this
time the council did not meet and the cor-
poration government was abandoned.
In 1898, A, C.Lamberth was mayor, H.
Henderson, J. E. Wright, G, L. Jackson
and I. L. Pace, councilmen, and W, G.
Caldwell, marshal. ~ .
In 1900, A, C. Lamberth was mayor, the
councilmen being I. L, Pace, secretary; J.
G. Brown, E. C, Dillon, W. B, Cleveland
and Dan Vandegaer. In 1901 Don E. So-
Relle was mayor and the same board of al-
derman commissioned. F. W. Davis was
marshal.
In 1903, Don E. SoRelle was mayor,
and C. L, Lunt, J. H. McNeely, Dan Van-
degaer, A. Dover and R. H. Buvens com-
posed the council, and F. W. Davis, mar-
shal. In 1905, John H, Boone was elected
mayor and Dan Vandegaer, Dave Goldring,
R. H. Buvens, A. C. Lamberth and J. J.
Andries councilmen, F. AV, Davis continu-
ing as marshal. In 1907, Mr. Boone was
re-elected mayor, and Dr. J. M. Middle-
m
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TOWjYS and villages 217
ton, Frank Hunter, W. T. Collier, J. J.
Andries and Jesse Low, coiincilmen.
In 1909, Silas D. Ponder was elected
mayor, F, W, Davis marshal; John Blake,
O, E. Williams, Dr. J. M. Middleton, J. C,
Ritter and P. C, Horn councilmen. Mr,
Davis resigned as marshal the following
year and J, J. Andries was elected to serve
for his unexpired term.
In 1911 E. C. Dillon was mayor, J. J.
Andries, marshal; Dr. J. M. Middleton,
John Blake, 0. E. Williams. S. L. Carroll,
and Dr. W. M. Henry, councilmen. Mr.
Carroll subsequently resigned and was suc-
ceeded by J, E. Ross.
Mr. Baldwin was succeeded as postmas-
ter by Henry McCallen. The latter was
succeeded by William B. Stille, who re-
tained the office until 1870, when Robert
B, Stille was appointed. Mr. Stille died
while a member of the Constitutional con-
vention of 1879 and John B. Vandegaer
was commissioned postmaster, holding the
the position until his death in 1895, when
his son, Leo Vandegaer was continued in
the office and has filled the positon since
that time,
Robert B, and William B, Stille were the
first genercil' merchants to locate in the
new town of ]\Iany, They came from the
East and established a mercantile house on
Bayou Scie in 1837. The store was moved
,
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218
TOV/NS AND VILLAGES
to Many and conducted under the name of
R. B. Stille & Co. for more than half a
century.
Leo Vande^aer took the census of the
town in 1880, when the population- was
147, Business houses were conducted by
R. B. Stille & Co., A. H. Hogue, J. B.
Vandegaer and John Blake. J. F. Smith,
W. A. Carter and R. P, Hunter were law-
yers here, and Drs. Dallas and J. C, Arm-
strong and J, H, Word were physicians
and Dr. Hancock was the dentist. In 1880
Gay Bros, conducted a general mercantile
business in Many. Dan Vandegaer and
John Davis run a saw mill near town, sup-
plying the local trade with lumber.
Among the tradesman and mechanics of
the old days were the following:
Louis Vanshoebrook ran a tanyard at the
big spring on the old John Buvens place
(now the Andries estate) in the ’50s, He
was an experienced hand at his trade, hav-
ing learned the art of leather-making in his
native country, Belgium. The tanyard
was discontinued after the war, when the
tanning of hides by hand was no longer
profitable. John B. Vandegaer ran a
blacksmith shop in Many before the war.
In 18G7 he embarked in the mer-
cantile business and his brother, Dan Van-
degaer, conducted the blacksmith shop.
Albert Clanan catered to the needs of the
TOWjYS ajvd villages
219
public as a shoemaker for many years after
the war. Messrs. Clanan and John B,
Vandegaer also learned their respective
trades, of which they were thorough
masters, in Belgium. For many years af-
ter the war J. T. Lunt was the principal
building contractor here. The first court-
house and other buildings in the town were
erected under his supervision. The first
recollection of a barber shop in Many was
in 839 , when an itinerant barber started a
shop here, but, after remaining a short
time, moved away. ‘‘Uncle” Mike Boltz
was accorded the distinction of being the
first citizen to be shaved in a barber shop
in Many.
The first power gin to be erected in Sab-
ine parish was located on what is now the
farm of Mr. Snell, just outside the town
limits. It was built by E,.C, Davidson, the
owner of that plantation, in the early ’50s.
The gin was run by horse powmr, and was
run during the war, and after that period
by R. W. Arnett, who came to Sabine
parish as a school teacher and married
Miss Duggan, daughter of Rev. Edmund
Duggan, a pioneer Baptist preacher. 'Mr.
Arnett died in the late ’GOs, and his wife
married Seabe Alford, a prominent farmer.
Other gins of the early days were run by
Shade Eason, near Many; by Mr. Darnell
on San Miguel, Thomas Armstrong on Ba-
220
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
you Scie, R, G. Brown on San Patricio
and James A. Woods on Bayou Scie. The
first steam gin in the parish was erected by
John Buvens on his plantation adjoining
the town of Many in 1869. Dan Vande-
gaer was associated with him in conducting
the gin, and after Mr. Buvens’ death,
in 1873, acquired the entire business.
" Prior to 1885 the merchants of Many
received most of their goods from New Or-
leans by Red River steamboats to Grand
Ecore, and from thence were transported
by freight wagons. With the completion
of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, goods
were receved at Robeline and hauled to
Many. But with the construction of the
Kansas City Southern Railway to Many in
1896 freighting with wagons was discon-
tinued. The river station at Grand Ecore
had for nearly two centuries enjoyed a
rnerchandise traffic with an immense ter-
ritory. Cotton was hauled from East
Texas to the old landing and shipped to
.New Orleans, and the wagons returned
loaded with merchandise. In the ’90s rail-
roads were built in East Texas and thus
the old system of transportion came into
entire disuse.
Before the building of the railroads in
Sabine mail was received in Many not of-
tener than ever other day. In 1879 mail
was received from Natchitoches three
ohhi&'^M&B ao .0 M ,,,eh8 t/o;|
edT. , -eisB (fi^sS. '^ gbOioY/ .'A- bsujbL fjaa
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fjiaiaiotfej. ao(tiiiaai<q nmwS adol
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bm^t) Biaodsmg^^'tB'iiil .fceg-Td tsBiUi;
fedJioqaijBii 0'i07.* y-iaf-di txio-iS has
0O'ijorf|£n-'OO od.T lilfYiT ji{gj0^Sd{[id
s&oos .bBO'dis'A ofli.-sa foas ' c,-?2.dT adi So
■Oi :bai0aj4 Jbn® ooii.dd(>S{ jf. ba’vaofti o'low
ads So iiofioOTjriaoo ariS xlsi',-/ Ji® .-^obM
•ni-T^i£ 0? AM47?,lifvJi xilZ' •
-0oaax§ asw R0'0?‘ftw iiSiw" §aj#d«mS imr
61003 brsix) in aoijisSB lavii adT ,bt)jjc.r
a aaiii/Joea-' ■ ow j ' i£h/!oo toS
-lai ®8i!^t0foi m tij'rb afflsiS asibosciMaai
SeaSd-SoiSe l>e[ as^T- oolso^ . -ttbJil
ol bou,;?;:-: baa j^iubaxs} biodadS oi afixe'i'
dOfliiij *'i 8002 ®d/ bna ^eiutghO waH
-Ii/21 gi.'G' adi ol .gsibdBd:mm-mv b9br.o!
a!ai.t bug ggx«T SsjjH iii Jliad oi&ir ehmor
dial ^ lo «&J*y8 bJo of{J
BT* .aaosib sifla®
ar '8baoifl»d%dS' 1o sfioSoH.
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liiixu GrSX ai .■’tbfc aadSo 1670 aadj laao?
6v:di aad&iStniaigK moil
Ji'.P ...
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221
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
times a week. A line from Many to Lake
Charles and Orange furnished a weekly
service and mail was received from Mans-
field and other up -state points once a week
and a similar service V7as furnished to
Texas. The mail was usually carried by a
horseback rider, but in early times the
stage coach, drawn by four or more horses,
was employed, and as the routes were
long the coaches were run at night and
horses changed at intervals in order to
make the trips on time.
In 1879 pork sold for 3 cents and beef at
4 cents a pound. The market was abund-_
antly supplied with mutton and venison at
50 cents per haunch. Prevailing prices for
other commodities were cotton 10 cents,
corn 50 cents per barrel, meal $5,00 and
flour $5.50 to $6.50 per barrel. Dry goods
were high as compared with the prices of
the present time, calicoes selling as high as
15 cents per yard. Small boxes of matches
retailed at 10 cents. And while tariffs and
trusts had not yet excited consumers and
thrown politicians into paroxysms, sugar
sold at more than 8 cents per pound,
and coal oil retailed at 45 cents per gallon.
The newspaper of Many, in September,
1879, chronicled the death of Mrs.EUzabeth
Small, wife of G, W, Small, in the G8th
year of her age; also the demise of Mrs.
John Daugherty, Samuel Paul and Buck
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222
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Brown, and, in 1880, Sampson Whatley, a
pioneer of Ward 1.
In 1898 the principal merchants of Many
were Stille Bros., J. B. Vandegaer & Sons,
M. R, Shelton, R. H. Bnvens, Dillon Drag
Co., C, L, Lunt, Dr. J. M. Middleton, Si-
mon Bros., A. Dover, H, Meehan, J. O'.
Brown & Co,, Dr, P. M, Perkins and W.
B, Cleveland. M. Weiss was in business
in Many in 1900, and R. K. Franklin, P.
E. Peters and Minnis & Dellinger in 1901.
Mrs, W, G, Caldwell conducted a millinery
store and in 1903 W. G. Caldwell was en-
gaged in the mercantile business.
In 1881, Plorien Giauque, a well-known
lawyer of Cincinnati, Ohio, acquired from
Jack & Wamsley and heirs of Patterson
title to their claims in what is known
as Lanana Grant No. 1*, the west line of
which runs through the town at a point
near the Sabine Banner building. Several
citizens had built homes on lots here to
which they had no title. However, Mr.
Giauque’s ownershipof the lots was a ben-
efit to the citizens as he sold them the
lots at very reasonable prices and furnished
them with proper titles, Giauque’s addi-
tion to Many was platted and town lots of-
fered for sale, and several citizens bought
them. Mr. Giauque first came to Many in
1879, on business as a lawyer. He trav-
from Cincinnati via St. Louis to Marshall,
TOWjYS AjYD villages 223
Texas, thence to Shreveport on a freight
train; from Shreveport to Mansfield on a
stage and from the latter town to Many on
horseback. There were no railroads in
West Louisiana at that time. While ful-'
filling the duties of his first business mis-
sion to Sabine parish, Mr. Giauque became
impressed with the many possibilities of
the country. He saw what the people
who had been born and reared here had not
yet seen — that lands which were consid-
ered dear at iroin $1 to $3.00 per acre would
ere many years be sought at much higher
prices. These lands, except where here,
and there a settler had cleared the forest
for a farm, were covered with magnificent
forests of pine, oak and other timbers and
the soil wds capable of producing every
variety of crops raised in the temperate
zone, Mr. Giauque, while a lawyer, had
accumulated some real estate experience,
and at on^e manifested his faith in the fu-
ture development of the country by invest-
ing in several thousand acres of Sabine
parish lands, much of which had been held
by doubtful title, and a portion was[occupied
by “squatters,” He spent much time and
money in perfecting the titles and offered
the lands for sale, urging the people to
own their homes, and thos3 who had set-
tled on lands which had come into his pos-
session were given an opportunity to buy
It-
4
4
224 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
for a low cash price or given a long time
to pay on generously small payments. His
land, at first, did not sell as rapidly as the
proverbial ‘‘iiot cakes’^ (and some people
laughed at him for makiug investments in
what they termed ^‘no ’count’’ dirt), but
as the years sped by two railroads reached
the parish, followed by saw mills and kin-
dred industries, land values increased, as
he had predicted they would, and the de-
mand for homes became more urgent.
A large part of his holdings embraced
lands that were included in old Spanish
grants, the owners of which in the early
days of the parish had, labored to induce
settlers to occupy them, but with only
a small measure of success. There have
been many non-resident land -owners in
•Sabine parish, but none have shown a
more earnest iuterest in the welfare of the
people than Mr. Giauque. He made
friends of all who had the pleasure of
meeting or dealing with him, and his prac-
tical advice and conservative counsel in-
spired many thinking people to acquire
their own homes, He donated, wherever
required, lands for the use of schools and
churches, and even after the parish had
fairly entered upon its real period of devel-
opment in 1896, after railroads and saw-
mills had been built, he sold land at less
than its value, in 1902 he issued a circu-
. '4^. .
iMkim ms ' iss
'-NK'
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t
Si??'
0tr;rJ so.<>l ®
' ' SjB. .^09XSriRcr '
©til «0 '^iBiqsu e4 {l!88 Joii fiS'iQ Js ,ba&i
: 0{qoex|ii,|fl»©s .fio/sj JOif‘ Jsiflisvojq,
. m eln wrja^.'^'ui ivl
• lad ,(J'iiX:' '^:Ujyo# 00“ Jariw
, ■fe,qd&ea'i^,8fo0^fi« vd baqs; 6d^ as
'" b'& ei U ffl y m ' jd aq
i;.fi (fosa/satani ‘^aals'''- baal ,aah38wbflr b9'i&
. *^fa Bill baa ,i)I«ow v^adl,L‘>tft?6^q bfid ad
,|jtia:gia atOBj 9ra«D9d''%C£t0il ' ’Xot ftaBra
bWiidaia a^aibix#! slri ld.\;,;jxxxq ftBia! ,4
jfsiobqg, f)If>'"ltrf babrjiaci msw tadj 'abafil
x(hs9 s.dq xfi doiilw "0 .riaavH) :,:dj
(fovbui 0] i)9‘ioo’,(;i.i>fid dsiiisq adt 3o by*^
7jao djpr ix'd .msri! 'iqmoo w # aialJias
e-^sd aqa|iT .SBaaotf?. 'lu saifanam ib -ne e'
d1- R-isa'ao-bxjxu' jasldsa-i-floff xi'.ifui^ aaad
|i • "nwojii- avad .soon .''iud ,d«i'if,;q ysidaS-
sdj/lo IbSla*/? adi ni Jaa-jatti? ;:='7tn.sa .axora
‘fci:-0t sH .eijpaaj-tt .*#, 0®dt alqov>q
Ipf-mua.' afq adi b%p ^ odw IIb 3o abtiahl.
-O0?q ai*cl lBaiv,tbdd ,di/w juiiixab -lo ;§!f(l9sm
-fli bsayoa arihi7'i9?aoa^ h«is ‘joivbn lJtoiJ
G‘ii0pOf» 0^ af<jp^>c[‘ vn^ai
-( ^ ^ H '3 i'lJ 0 d^_ u o t
bats doodm. ’lo/a'n .ddbwl aboid ;bxri(u^
|)i;d ilrdii^q bna ” ..eodfxiida
-^‘jvsb 5b Ltoiiaq f»ai »ii noqif f-malna
^v/,^ hi!0^‘sbJiO'i :.im^fi)‘iji ,06^1 «i ioamqo
aital 3k boxd Li,uft"^atl , Iliad fiaad i)Sfl ellifq
-ns’fio « beyesi »rf £001 ai di aiuli
225
TOTTJ^S VILLAGES
lar containing the following wholesome
and timely advice to the people of Sabine
parish; ‘‘Q-et yourselves a home of your
own, even if it be a modest one, if you
haven^t any. On it at all times, even if it
be a small and poor farm, you can at least
make a living. The factory operative, the
clerk in the store, and every other em-
ployee, is liable to be thrown out of em-
ployment, either permanently or tempor-
arily, by strikes, by lockouts, by panics,
by the whims or misfortunes of his em-
ployer, But when he is thrown out of
employment, he, his wife and children
must still be fed, must still be clothed,
must still be sheltered by a roof, and
money must be paid for rent, food, clothing
and other necessaries, just as well under
such circumstances as when he was em-
ployed, or he must be. dependent on public
or priyate charity — a humiliating and poor
dependence. The planter or farmer, even
if he be a tenant, does not appreciate how
well off he is in these respects. He ought
to own the roof that shelters him and his
and the ground that will feed and clothe
them, and be at all times independent of
financial disturbances and storms of the in-
dustrial world. And the only person who
can be thus independent is the one who
l^ets his living directly from the ground.^'
While Mr, Griauque is not a citizen of Sab-
i
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:iS
?
226 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
ine parish, he has been so prominently
identified with the progress of the country,
and has been, in the broadest sense, a ben-
efactor, that his name and generous deeds
will ever be held in grateful remembrance
by the citizens.
In 1901 the corporate limits of Many
were extended and the territory occupied
by the town increased to a mile square.
No effort has ever been made to boom the
town. Its growth has been of the plodding
kind, yet the progress made in the past
score of years has been of the substantial
brand. Its location is most ideal for the
building of a splendid town ; situated on
hills, of ample elevation to afford excellent
natural drainage, which were formerly cov-
ered with a forest of pine and other native
trees; and removed from unhealthy
swamps, is a desirable place of residence
Many does not take second rank with any
of the towns of equal pretentions in West
Louisiana, even tho^ others may have re-
sorted to the expedient of booming and ex-
ploiting their claims for a more numerous
citizenship.
Prior to 1901 there was not a brick busi-
ness house in Many. In September of that
year the Sabine Valley Bank, the first in-
stitution of the kind in the parish, began
business in a small brick building which
had been just completed. At the same
1
_ -OH ./gii-J B,d ■jlghAq S'0}; ^
t ,dr:'-
, .., ;■ ' !'\
r’jv
I ^ 'j'--' c ' V-’.' - '. Jj . "A
' A.; ' ,. qA 0S'f') ' q'-q'dr' ^
t Jj':r ■; :■ v [,,, •: LiJ.-c -i
i. lol ^iqA;Ah.dA|
> , q.i hi '!■-'■!
y ::■' , ,='.;i '•■hruA:Ah'f
A01-D myl fc'Ali
TOWKS AKB VILLAGES 227
time Dr. J, M. Middleton erected a one-
story brick structure, which subsequently
became and is now the property of 0, E,
Williams.
The Sabine Valley Bank was organized
with a capital of $12,500. The board of
directors was composed of J, Q-, Brown, E.
C. Dillon, A. L, Ponder,, W. B. Cleveland,
Dr, J, M, Middleton, Dan Vandegaer, P.
E, Peters, A. B. Banks, A. W. Estes, H.
M, Gandy and Frank Hunter. J. G,
Brown was president. Dr. J. M. Middle -
ton, vice president, and Frank Hunter,
cashier. In 1904, the Many State Bank
was chartered with a capital stock of $20,-
000, and erected a neat two-story brick
building on the lot now occupied by the
Sabine State Bank, the first board of di-
rectors being Silas D. Ponder, W, D. Stille,
Dr, J. V, Nash, J. R, Buvens, George L.
Jackson, W. H. Powell, T, C. Wingate, A.
Dover, Silas D. Ponder was president. A,
Dover and W. D. Stille, vice presidents,
and W. J. Powell, cashier. After serving
a few months, Mr. Powell was succeeded as
cashier by George E. Wycoff, In 1904,
Leo Vandegaer succeeded J. G. Brown as
president of the Sabine Valley Bank and
the capital stock of that institution was in-
creased to $25,000. In 1906 the two banks
were consolidated and the new institution
chartered as the Sabine State Bank. The
I
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:i:hT43 Ol':> ■ ' '' ■ ■ n' a bf' J
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228
TOWJ^S AjYD villages
following composed the board of directors :
A, B. Banks, Leo Vandegaer, S. D, Pon-
der, Dr, J. M. Middleton, E, C. Dillon, A.
Dover, I. L, Pace and Prank Hunter. Mr.
Hunter was chosen president, S, D. Pon-
der, vice president and George E. Wycoff,
cashier. In 1898, Mr. Wycoff resigned to
take a position at Baton Rouge, where he
died a few months later. He was suc-
ceeded as cashier ot the Sabine State Bank
by W. M. Knott, who still retains the po-
sition. This bank has enjoyed splendid
prosperity. It has a capital stock of $25, -
TOJVjXS ajyd villages
229
000, the major portion of which is owned
by some of Sabine^s most substantial citi-
zens, Besides paying satisfactory divi-
dends it has a surplus of nearly $10,000.
The deposits have always totaled above the
$200,000 mark. Its officers are public
spirited and progressive and are ready at
all times to extend to the people every
courtesy and favor that should be expected
of any safe and conservative banking in-
stitution.
In 1906 file destroyed three blocks of
the principal business houses in Many, and
two years later two more blocks wer3
burned. Nearly the entire present busi-
ness section of the town is new. Since
these fire' briek business structures have
been erected by the Sabine State Bank, A.
H. Hogu ‘, AV. E. McNeely (deceasul), A.
li, Peter'on, Mrs. Nash (wife of Dr. Jjhn
V. Nash, deceased), Lm Vbindegier, E, C
Dillon and the new People’s State Bank,
Sheet metal buildings hav^e been erected by
A. L. Ponder, A. K. Petei'son, W. M.
Phillip?, H. A. McFarland, G. W. Phil-
lips and 0. E. Williams, The principal
merchanis of Many at present are noted as
follows:
Joseph D. Stille occupies Mrs. McNeely’s
building and carries a large stock of gen-
eral merchandise. His father and uncles
were among the first merchants of the par-
M
■ Jb.0irW'O al d!)i,i{w,'"|0 ,i3tc*i‘xoq' loptai 'eiir,'v'fOO
-Ilia ■ Jo embn ^/<i
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• Wdi BTOiM hefr^lof '<ilfgoqe6 -M.T
aildiiq ^ 'gH- -' ' 000,00§rj:,
■■J# -Y'biiai ©‘IB iio^sr 'ff^jfj:ae'3f^O‘iQ .hm hoShfqi^:
$lqo&q ejds hm3Z9 of l!a
baiaaqx^i ed Bijtioda IbiU %or/i1 hnn 7gohmn
:sar^aMd/ aviiiiiTieaxj'oa bms eU'n xan ‘io-
'■ ^noifniiiii
!o siaoid eoi'rM aiS d(K?I ;(].
huis.. ■^\iH‘t£ iii at*gi^oii. h:i|.:-vvUriqv<^(i.j
flaw fcilaold inom , ov/i- ifU/d «;.wj
aiiJna *;dj *{l'T/iaki , • .f)S‘';rn.id
soBiH' a ki ifwot f>di id
Jj. .>liJ^ii^] f: V£ia OIjidjifc ■ J/jl 7<l 707d"
• A : 4. j-' y a ! '^. .ti jiii<iH -^'
■ tirfo t .ill 'lo'^ j ,.niK ''^i!Uif-fi!*/i Ji
0 .K ,/iai ^.f)i:ixi4>V ofd ({h^kn^:,o-/h .V
^>l7il:i£l- a’aiqoj*! V-..‘j|J ?•;[],] djlii fiob, {(4,^5
,^d liatavoj y aad avxii a^uifd'hjd iMani i‘>ad8
•M /// ,rrjr:vJ9*i '.Ji .A .' .,tl .A
-iirfS .V;- .0 ,> Ji ,^qi!UdH
ksqhjjhq &ilT .snwhtiV/ vSl .0 bu;; &qii
' Eli aiii Jaaao'iq Ik
.fj'dv; .!5yiq0i)!;vo a'i '^3 ;»Cl dqeaoL
iiaols .ft aarniid
faalaiirf bii ^'j ’iadJftl. eiH ''
-*XBq aril Jo &loiu{oi0fn la’jfl odJ f;?-(0W
230
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
ish, the house of R, B. Stille & Co. having
been established in 1837, M r. Stille is a con -
servative business man and he has a good
trade. His store employees are Mrs. W.
H, Peters, Joseph D. Williams and C, J.
Hubley, who are efficient and courteous
salespeople.
VV, D, Stille, a brother of J. D. Stille,
has a large mercantile establishment. He,
too, has spent his entire life in selling
goods in Many. His salespeople are Mrs,
Lillian Stille (wife of his brother, Elliot 0.
Stille, deceased). Miss Mary Williams and
Clarence L. Lunt,
The J. H. McNeely Mercantile Co. have
a large business house and have an im-
mense trade. The company is composed
of Joseph H. McNeely, William H, V'an-
degaer and John J. Blake. Mr. McNeely
has been employed by stores or run a busi-
ness in his own name for many years, Mr.
Blake’s father, John Blake vvas a promi-
nent merchant of Many back in the ’80s,
while, as previously noted, Mr. Vande-
gaer’s father entered the mercantile busi-
ness in Many soon after the civil war.
Robert T. Hatcher, whose father was a
merchant at Hatcher, this parish, for sev-
eral years, is an efficient salesman with
this company.
The J. G, Brown Trading Co. is a mer-
cantile corpation composed of J. G.
^m7B.d .oD '5^ M .jj tOfSBod ocij ,iai
boo;;;^ if? od
. «f0?Ffofq«ia. ..ohHXi
.U X) l^ijt am4liUW\Xl xlq$?oT? ,H.
?^xmaJ'i0oo baie- o,dw ■.^eldfxtH
; _ . ■■'- . , .afqor3q'^£>i'sj«
,‘3niiS M X 1o^ i3£lloid' f, :dlidi ' .0. ,Y/; '
; oH . ...|03aidy4^^ md
.^Hjjilea " m 3}d. ,.^‘nide aid lasqa md :.„'tao?
■*B:iM. m.i'. 6!qo3(|a3ii?,a ai® ai alioos^:
.Odoii'i(3. /i3a:to'id aid ’’lo' m?iilivl
beta '".aiM ^'i)mm*}f^h .affllS
d^HvI .kI
av^d .oO aiiiofa/T^M YiesKoM .H X> ©dT
*,mr ' 0n evisd hnt.'Bu^od ag^0iaud •' s^ial b
f>^>aoq.inot> |tyj,;jirarrfnor> ^u:iT .phm^ :,:p;9m
^>0iiV ^H, Xi io
.'ilfi .^:*li.iH X (tdoTi. hytB TejBgf^fa
£ am;iQ0'i0jX^ii b'riofqi.a9-a9$d aad
/iM ‘ "{a';'..,.0 70? Hrfjao'j’iwo aid ai *'>.30
-ixqoiq ,ii aaw odoT, ^Tedia'l
od3.,.iii doiid ^{a'}?l/, lonrf‘^*xMT la.aa'''
-&hii£i'X .7.1, ( ,hajOfJ vlauohajq aa ^^lidw
elijaMoim! edt howiaa
/k;-^ !i7i':>,M{T ‘lutlii iiooa di aao0
0 axm vaorfv/ /r3ii‘dnn ,T, Xutdoil
- v«^a 7ol lii lnxiteoaqi,,
dii?f/q[a^i«3bm ?qo:bxfl3 ub ti b'lisfr^ tee'
' ■;-’ '■ •■ /{imqaioD aidl
rVJu: M M .oO awo'iS 3^0 ,I> odT,,Y-
♦.t): db lo doaoqxTToe ooiiaqioe eliloxie
231
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Brown, J. C, Joyner and I. L. Pace and
have' a large trade, Mr. Brown, the man-
ager, is a native of Scott County, Miss.
He came to Many in 1896, erecting the
large building which he now occupies, and
conducted a business in the firm name of
J. G-. Brown & Co. for ten years, when he
left Many to enter business in Texas. He
returned to Many in 1911 and organized
the present company. The business in his
building during his absence was conducted
by I. L. Pace and R, Pattison under the
name of I. L. Pace & Co,, which he pur-
chased when he returned. The J. Gr,
Brown Trading Co. enjoys a substantial
trade. Miss Fannie Joyner, A. G, Dees
and James Brown are popular clerks at
this store.
O. E. Williams has a large mercantile
establishment which has a big trade. Mi*.
Williams began bis business career as a
delivery boy for WT B, Cleveland in 1901,
and his progress in his chosen vocation was
so substantial and rapid that when Mr.
Cleveland left Many five years later he ac-
quired the business. Later he purchased
the brick building which he now occupies.
He has been very successful and is es-
teemed as one of the town s substantial
and enterprising merchants. His brother,
DeWitt T. Williams, is pn energetic and
valuable attache ot the store, and Miss
232
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Pearl Stoker is also a popular clerk. Mr.
Williams also owns a farm and is interested
in raising livestock,
H, W, Cofield has conducted a mercan-
tile business in Many since 1908, making a
specialty of groceries. He came to this
state from G-eorgia. He is a good store-
keeper, a pleasant business man and
enjoys a nice trade. He is assisted in the
store by Mrs. Cofield.
H. A. McFarland has been engaged in
the grocery business in Many since 1904,
when he became associated with W. G.
Caldwell, the style of the firm being Cald-
well & McFarland, but the firm was dis-
solved after a few months. . Mr, Mc-
Farland suffered losses in both of the big
fires which swept the business section of
Many, the first destroying his entire stock
on which he carried no insurance. He has
a good trade, and is assisted in his store -
keeping by Mrs. McFarland and his accom-
plished daughters. Misses Kena and Lola.
W. B, Cleveland conducts a staple and
fancy grocery business and at present ca-
ters to the wants of grocery consumers ex-
clusively. He is a native of Coosa County,
Ala, He came with his family to Many in
1898, and he and his son, L. D. Cleveland,
engaged in the general merchantile busi-
ness, the style of the firm being AV, B.
Cleveland & Son. They disposed of their
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TOWMS AjYD villages
233
store here in 1906 and moved to Texas.
Mr, Cleveland returned to Many in 1912
and purchased the stock of W. M. Jack-
son, who ran a store at his present loca-
tion. Mr, Cleveland is a clever gentleman,'
a good merchant and enjoys the confidence
and patronage of a large number of peo-
ple, In his present business he has a ge-
nial and polite assistant in the person of
his sou, Harvey Cleveland.
At present the Many Drug Co. supplies
the needs of Many and vicinity in the drug
line. This company is incorporated, the
stockholders being E. M. and Mrs. E. M.
Fraser, Pearl C. Horn and Dr. W. M,
Henry, Mr. Fraser is the manager. He
is a registered pharmacist, has had many
years^ experience at his profession and is a
genial gentleman. Nolan Dees and Mas-
ter Willie Addison are courteous attaches
of this store.
In the latter ’90s the Sabine Hotel here
was run by A, B. Davis, now the proprie-
tor of a popular hostelry at Mansfield. J.
A. Bonds became proprietor in 1903, and
after that time the hotel changed owners
several times and in 1906 was destroyed by
fire. In 1904, Mrs. M. J. Hubley built
the Capitol Hotel, her daughter, Mrs. Ma-
bel Fielder (now Mrs. C. W. Leary) and
her son, C. J. Hubley, managed the busi-
ness. In 1907, the property was acquired
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234 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
by F. W. Davis, the present owner. The
Capitol has always been the popular hotel
for the traveling public. Mr. Davis has
greatly enlarged and improved the hotel,
and for the convenience of his patrons he
maintains a livery and transfer business.
J, E. Ross has been a contractor and
builder in Many since 1898. He is a na-
tive of Mississippi. A large number of the
buildings in Many have been constructed
under his direction. He carries a stock of
building material and has a workship on a
lot adjoining his cozy home.
In 1910, W. M. Phillips erected a large
building for a hotel and boarding house
just west of the court house. It is known
as the Phillips House and has a good pat-
ronage. Mr. Phillips is a native of Sabine
parish and has lived in Many since 1896,
He has a position as deputy sheriff and
looks after the affairs of the parish jail,.
A, R. Peterson is a dealer in paints and
building material and has a nice store.
For several years he followed contracting
and building, but for the past few years he
has been in poor health. He was a hustler
in the years when he was able to work and
accumulated some nice real estate property
in Many.
Among the industrial enterprises is the
Rust Lumber Co. The business of this
company is conducted by John H. Rust
TOWJVS AKB VILLAGES
235
and his sons, Milbaru J. and Ralph. The
, past three years, however, the latter has
been a student of Baker University in Kan-
sas. The Rusts came to Sabine parish in
1906 and bought the Hoagland & Cade saw .
mill near Recknor. Later they moved the
mill to Many where they also built a planer
of ample capacity to supply their needs,
and the plant being destroyed by fire they
rebuilt it In 1912 a boiler explosion
. wrecked their saw mill which has been re-
placed by a better plant. The company
also owns another mill about eight miles
southwest of town. The Rusts came from
Labette County, Kansas, where they have
extensive business and realty interests.
For several years J. T. Sirmon ran a
gin and grist mill near the railway station.
He also owned a saw mill seven miles
southeast of town, which was abandoned
in 1904. Mr. Sirmon died in 1911, The
gin property is now^ owned by John A,
Hoagland, In 1910, an electric light com-
pany was organized and power for running
the system was procured from the Sirmon
gin plant. The company failed. Mr,
Hoagland will furnish the power for the
electric lighting system, which has been
revived. For the past several years he has
been^associated with Dr. S. C, Cade in the
saw mill business which was conducted
under the name of Many Lumber Co,
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236 . TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Their mill is located four miles east of
town. Dr. Cade is .a son of Dr. S, H.
Cade, deceased, who was a prominent
physician of the parish. Mr. Hoagland is
a native of Missouri (his* father was also a
physician) and he is an experienced busi-
ness man.
The Pelican Stave, Co, located a mill at
Many in 1912, and it is a splendid addition
to the industries of the town. The com-
pany owns considerable timber, besides
buying many cords of stave bolts from the
farmers. J, B. McCollough is the man-
ager of this enterprise.
The owners of the principal farms in the
immediate vicinity of Many are M. M.
Duggan, Mrs. Hattie Addison, Jeff Peters,
P. H. McGarrhan, Commodore and As-
bury Byrd, Warren and Wilson Cutrer, M.
V. Petty, Mrs, Quayhaeghen, Henry, Ju-
lian and Thomas Andries, Estate of Louis
and Francis Buvens, 1. L. Pace and R.
Pattison, W, H. Vandegaer, T. J, and
Francis Davis, M, W. Snell, W. F. Peterson,
Daniel A. Robinson, C. B. Small, Jonathan
C. Ryan, J, H. Maloney, H, W. Simpson,
W. M. Cobbs, Ross C. Alford, John Van
Hess, T. V. Small, J. B. Blackwell, Es-
tate of N. A. Williams, F. DeKeyser, J. L.
Dees and Charles Henry.
The Many postoffice furnishes two rural
free delivery routes . and efforts are being
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237
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
ing made to secure others. G. L, Nabours
and William E. Buvens are the courteous
and efficient carriers.
J. B. Hill is the popular agent of the
Kansas City Southern Railway here, hav-
ing occupied that position for the past four
years. The Many station has a large busi-
ness and Mr. Hill is always on duty, ren-
dering the proper services to the public as
well as the corcpany.
The Sabine Parish Fair Association was
organized in 1910 and has held four very
successful fairs. Business men of Many,
the Louisiana Long Leaf Lumber Company
of Fisher, the Sabine Lumber Company
of Zwolle, the Police Jury and progressive
farmers contributed substantially to the or-
ganization of the enterprise. The follow-
ing are the directors: E, C. Dillon, W. C,
Roaten, I. N, McCollister, J. M, Ritter, W.
E. Skinner, D. J. Holmes, G, L. N abours,
G. I. Paul, AV. H. Vandegaer, J, H. Boone,
H. M, Gandy, M V. Petty, AV. W. Warren,
Wilson, Cutrer, J. W, Sistrunk,AV. R. Ross,
Frank Hunter, W. AI, Cobbs, O, F. Aloore,
Louis ATnes, P, H. Lester and G. L, Jack-
son. For the first two years Dr. J. AI. See-
ver was president; AV. C. Roaten, vice pres-
ident; Frank Hunter, treasurer; E, C. Dil-
lon, manager, and J. G. Belisle, secretary.
For the third fair G. L. Jackson was secre-
tary, The present officers are E. C, Dil-
238
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Ion, president; W. C. Roaten, I, N. McCol-
lister and W. H, Vandegaer, vice presi-
dents; Frank Hunter, treasurer, and J. Gr,
Belisle, secretary. The association owns
a fine tract ot land ‘near the depot. Ad-
equate buildings have been constructed
and a splendid half-mile race track pro-
vided. The fair has served its purpose
of stimulating an interesi in better farm-
ing methods and the raising of more and
better livestock, and now promises to be
a permanent enterprise, from which many
benefits to the entire parish will accrue.
The physicians of Many are Drs. D. H.
and W. E. Dillon, Dr, T. L, Abington, Dr.
J. M. Middleton and Dr. W, D. Lester.
Dr. W, M. Henry is the dentist.
■ Pugh Bros. (Arthur and Tullo?) own
the City barber shop. They are splendid
young men, have an elegant shop and en-
joy a good patronage.
The latest financial institution chartered
in Many is the People’s State Bank, which
will open for business July 1st, 1913. The
stockholders are composed of a large num-
ber of farmers and business men of West
Louisiana, as well as some business men of
Southeast Texas. The first board of di-
rectors is as follows: E, C. Dillon, J. H.
Boone, P. H. Lester, 0. 0. Cleveland, J.
G. Montgomery, George C. Addison, John
A. Hoaglaud, Dr. S. C. Cade, J. E.
TOWm AKD VILLAGES 239
Phares, G. K. Aaron, G. B. Arrington,
John P. Davis and W, K. Wingfield. The
officers are: E, C. Dillon, president; J. H.
Boone, first vice president ; P. H. Lester,
second vice president, and 0, 0. Cleve-
land, cashier. The bank starts out with a
capital stock of $16,300. An elegant two-
story brick building has been erected as
the home of this institution, and up-to-
date banking bouse fixtures and a modern
safe installed. The institution will begin
business with bright prospects and will aim
to take as large a part, as stable banking
will permit, in the business and industrial
life of the parish.
The early history of the public school in
Many is, for the most part, like that of all
other schools which had to meet and over-
come many obstacles to maintain its ex-
istence, For many years, owing to a lack
of public funds, the school was run on the
subscription plan and then only for short
terms. In the ’90s successful schools were
taught by Prof. W. J, Davis and by Rev,
George F. Middleton, the present pastor of
the Many and Zwolle Baptist churches.
In 1901-2, Prof. J. F. McClellan was prin-
cipal, and the following two or three years
other teachers had charge of the school.
The building was an old dilapidated struc-
ture, wholly unfit for the purpose intended.
In 1906, a few of the patrons (mention of
1
240
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
whom is made in a forrxier chapter) met
and devised plans for the erection of a
buildine: that wmuld meet modern require-
ments. During the year a neat building
was erected at a cost of about $3,500, to
which additions have been subsequently
made, as well as a splendid and and com-
modious auditorium, separate from the
school building, at a cost of about $3,000.
With the completion of the new school
buildings Prof. W, C. Roaten was em-
ployed as principal, and in 1909, he and
Parish Superintendent J. H. Williams, Jr.,
organized the Many High School, which
was duly approved by the state in the fall
of that year. Prom the first Prof. Roa-
ten’s efforts in school building produced
results, and with the organization of the
high school public education in Many was
given an impetus never before experienced,
and the progress of the school has been
rapid and stable. The first board of
trustees was composed of Dr. J. M. Mid-
dleton, president; E. C, Dillon, J. E. Ross,
S. D. Ponder, Prank Hunter, J. H. Boone
and W. II, Armstrong. The first faculty
was as follows: W. C. Roaten, principal;
Misses Jennie Ford, Annie DuBois, Mar-
garet Herring, Dora Craig, Ethel Everett
and Mrs, d. H. Williams, Jr., assistants.
The faculty for 1912- 13 was composed of
W. C. Roaten, principal; R. V. Evans, as-
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TOWjYS AJ^D villages 241
sistant in high school grades ; Miss Clara
Carnahan, sixth and seventh grades; Mias
Irma Broadwell, third, fourth and fifth
grades; Miss Hope Haupt, drawing and
singing ; Miss Carrie Belle Billingsley, do-
mestic . science, and Miss Willie Ponder,
instrumental music. The school has two
buildings, both constructed of wood, but
sufficiently large to accommodate the
school. The auditorium is one of the best
school auditoriums in this section of the
state. The school is well supplied with li-
braries, laboratories, pianos and cooking
utensils, and the general equipment, in
many ways, surpasses the requirements of
the State Board of Education. At the be-
242
TOWJVS AjYD villages
ginniDg of Prof. Roaten^s administration
as principal, a School Improvement League
was organized, and the organization has
been a potent and happy factor in building
up the school. The domestic science de--
.partment was installed at the first of the
1911- 12 session, and through the instru-
mentality of the School Improvement
League, sewing was added to the course,
and cooking was added at the beginning of
session of 1912-13. Interest in this de-
partment had increased until at the latter
session twenty-two girls were taking this
work. The domestic science course covers
the four years of the regular high school
work and is optional, those taking it being
permitted to omit Latin and higher math-
ematics. From the first the attendance
has increased every year, the high school
department enrolling during the session of
1912- 13 forty-nine pupils. The following
are the graduates: 1909-10, Miss Dora
Currie. 1910-11, Misses Maude Duggan,
Lena Jackson, Maudeola Presley, Messrs,
S, D. Ponder, Jr., and Jimmie Etheradge.
1911-12, Misses Willie and Katie Abington,
Leone Addison, Josie Dillon, Rena Mc-
Farland, Lilburne Middleton, Willie So-
Relle, Messrs. William Ponder, Arthur
Tramel and Van Vines. 1912-13, Misses
Jessie Guile, Lola McFarland, Gertrude
Moore, Bessie Ponder, Gladys Ross, Eula-
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TOWJ^S AMD VILLAGES 243
nee Presley, Della Tramel, Messrs. Robert
Jackson and Gilbert Pace. Definite aims
and united support have been the two great
elements which contributed to the success
of the school. Eleven of the graduates
have been in attendance at higher institu-
tions, including Ward's Seminary, the
State Normal, and the Louisiana State
University, Eight have taught in the pub-
lic schools of the parish, and nearly all
seem determined to secure a higher educa-
tion and be worth something to the world.
The Many High School is one of the town's
best assets, and the fact is becoming more
generally recognized ; and, by adhering to
its present policy to furnish its students
with a real, practical high school education
the school is destined to enjoy a bright
and prosperous future.
St, John's School (Catholic) is another
institution which has provided the
youth of Many and elsewhere with an
education. This school has few gradu-
ates, but a large number of boys and girls
who are honorable citizens and ’^orthy
members of society have received all or a
part of their education there. This de-
nominational school was established in
1887, with Miss Emma Currie (now Mrs.
Leo Vandegaer) as teacher. She was suc-
ceeded by Miss Aimee Hertzog, who taught
in 1890, During the subsequent eight
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244 TOWJVS AjYD VILLAGES
years, the following teachers, in the order
named, presided as teachers: Miss Annie
Currie (now Mrs, W, T. Colquitt of Shreve-
port), Miss Marie Burt (now Mrs, Henry
Buvens), Miss Blanche Blake (now Mrs,
J. J. Andries), Mrs. Baird and Prof,
O^Connor. The school house was a one-
room structure which stood near where the
present. building stands. In 1898,
the patrons of the school decided to turn
the institution over to some regular teach-
ing order of the denomination, and Rev.
A. Anseeuw, who was at that time rector
of St. John^s church, arranged for the Sis-
ters of Divine Providence to take charge
of the school. The home of this order is
at Sin Antonio, Texas, and these sisters
have many parochial schools in Louisiana,
Oklahoma and Texas, Sister Lucy was
the first superior of St. John’s School and
two other teachers were installed as her
assistants. The increased number of pu-
pils at once made necessary the building of
a larger and better house. Sister Lucy
was succeed as superior in 1901 by Sister
St. John, who served until 1906, when
Sister Bonaventure, the present superior,
assumed charge, Four teachers were now
required to accommodate the pupils. The
literary course of the public schools of the
state of Texas is. the course adopted and
used, with slight variations, by the Sisters
TOWJ^S AJVD VILLAGES
245
of Divine Providence. In addition they
give instruction in music, painting, elocu-
tion, fancy work, as well as furnishing a
practical business course, embracing type-
writing, stenography, bookkeeping and
penmanship, and several boys and girls
St. John’s School.
who received their instruction in these es-
sentials to a business vocation at this
school are turning their knowledge to
some account. While the school is de-
nominational, religious instruction is given
only to those pupils who desire it. Among
the boarding and day students there has
always been enrolled pupils of the various
denominations and their religious beliefs
scrupulously respected. The graduates in
the literary department of St. John’s
school are Miss Olive Buvens, 1905; Miss
Ethel Armstrong (Mrs, Arthur Pugh),
1911, and Miss Annie Clare Vandegaer,
1913. On November 21, 1911, the school
^ l :' ^yvi B
246
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
building and the sisters’ house were de-
stroyed by fire, and, unfortunately, the
loss was not covered by insrirauce. . But
through the efforts of the Catholic Knights
of America, the substantial aid of Right
Rev, Bishop Van de Ven and the contri-
butions of citizens of Many, funds were
soon raised for the erection of the present
large and splendid structure, audthe school
promises to continue to occupy a more
prominent place than ever in furnishing an
education to the youths of the parish.
Many Lodge F, & A. M. was first organized in
1850, and was a prosperous lodge until after the
war when the charter was surrendered. Many
Lodge No. 285 F. & A. M. w'as organized in 1904,
The records and lodge hall were destroyed Decem-
ber 24, 1909. The present officers are Don E. So-
Relle, W. M.; W. C. Roaten, S, W.; F. W. Hunter,
J. W., and P. C. Horn, secretary.
Many Camp No, 171 W, 0. \V, was organized
in 1903, with Don E, SoRelle, C. C, and John H.
Boone, clerk. The camp has abour G3 members.
W. G Caldwell is C. C. and J. H. Boone, clerk.
St, John’s Branch No. 1)12 Catholic Knights of
America was organized duly 5, 1903, with Leo
Yandegaer, president, and F. B. Blake, recording
secretary. The following have served as presi-
dent of the branch: Leo Yandegaer, J. K. Buvens,
Rev. Q. Vanderburg, C. W*. Leary John Blake and
C. J. Hublej". Rev, A. Anseeuw was the first chap-
lain. The present ofiicers are: Rev. Q. Yander-
burg, chapain; J, G. Belisle, president; Louis Da-
vis, vice president; Daii Vaudegaer, Jr., recording
secretary; A, S. Clanaii, financial secretary; J. J.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES 247
Blake, treasurer; F. N. Buvens, sentinel; W. R.
Robinson, escort: Leo Clanan, guard.
The above is the charter name of one of
the most substantial of the small towns Of
Sabine parish. The original town of that
name was across the boundary of DeSoto
parish, but near the line of DeSoto and
Sabine. It was settled somewhere about
1840, and one tradition is to the effect that
the first settlers hailed from a certain Pleas-
ant Valley, in Alabama, and reyived
old memories, as far as possible in their
new surroundings, by naming their new
home Pleasant Hill. It was here the noted
battle of Pleasant Hill was fought during
the Civil War. This was a bloody and
strongly contested battle between the Con-
federates under General- Dick Taylor and
the Federals under General N. P. Banks.
The Confederates, flushed with victory at
Mansfield the previous day, were here con-
fronted by Banks’ army, reinforced and
greatly strengthened by a division of har-
dened troops under the veteran general, A.
J. Smith. The result was one of the stern-
eit and bloodiest small battles of the Civil
War. Not so very small, either, as Banks’
army was supposed to number 40,000 men;
and Taylor’s army, though smaller, was
somewhat in proportion to its opponent.
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248
TOWNS AND VKLAGES
One of the most stirring scenes of that bat-
tle, doubtless, was the charge of Tom
Greene’s Texas cavalry across the old race
track field, their surprise and sudden re-
pulse by Federal infantry concealed in tho'
.woods bej^ond: and the second and more
determined charge of the same cavalry,
then dismounted, over the same ground,
then strewn with dead men and horses;
which last desperate effort was successful,
though with heavy loss, while their oppo-
nents paid for their temerity with the loss
of half their commands. These events be-
long to a former generation, and we con-
clude reference to them with the following
extract from a poem written in commemo-
ration of one of the many gallant Louisi-
anians who lost their lives among those
then unpleasant hills, amid the forest flow-
ers of that fateful spring:
• “No sounds but sounds of peace arouse
The echoes oC the forest now;
The vales are furrowed by the plow,
Upon the hills sleek cattle browse.
The dogw^ood still, each spring, appears
.Clad as in spirit robes, wdth smiles
^ Of snowy radiance lights the aisles
Of pine, then drops its Howlers like tears ”
With the building of the Texas and Pa-
cific railroad, in 1882, Pleasant Hill per-
formed the unusual feat (for a town) of
shifting its base and making Sabine, in-
stead of LeSoto, its domicile from that
time. Since moving to its new location it
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
249
has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth.
(The railroad station is called Sodas).
While its population of less that 1,000 still
makes it, strictly speaking, a Tillage instead
of a town, it has several mercantile houses,
a couple of banks, several nice churches, a
promising high school, called, for courtesy,
a college, recently installed in a new and
magnificent brick college building; a cot-
ton gin, and is surrounded by a good agri-
cultural country that is being developed by
some of the most progressive farmers in
West Louisiana. On the reorganization of
Pleasant Hill in Sabine parish, its first
mayor was H. S. Kennedy, now deceased;
a citizen, by the way, who is worthy of
more than passing notice.* The charter is
dated February 28, 1893, when H. S, Ken-
nedy was mayor, H. Youngblood, H. H.
Kenndy, R. L. Armstrong, Jr,, W. C. Da-
vis and S. E. Galloway councilmen, and H,
H. Parker, marshal, in 1894, S. E. Gal-
loway was mayor, and H. L, Davis, R, L.
Armstrong, Jr,, J. M. Fuller, N, W. Par-
ker, councilmen and H. H. Parker, mar-
shal, J. M. Fuller was mayor in 1895 and
AV. B. Adkins in 1898. In 1904, George S.
List was mayor and J. P, Edmondson,
clerk. In 1906, J. J, Browne was mayor
and G. W. Browne, clerk, AV. B. Adkins
is the present mayor, having seryed since
♦See “Biographical Sketches.”
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250 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
1909, Frank H, Tarver, clerk, and other
members of the council are T, W, Hardy,
G. F. Keene and A. A. Hammond. W. H.
Bartlett is marshal.
The territory which furnishes trade for
the merchants of Pleasant Hill embraces
portions of Natchitoches, Sabine and De-
Soto parishes and a large annual business
is transacted,
The Bank of Pleasant Hill was organ-
ized in 1904, with a capital of $10,000.
The directors are H. H. Kennedy, J. J.
Browne, T. W. Hardee, P. M. Gaddis, S,
Y, Jordan, J. W. Ramsey and W. B. Ad-
kins. H. H. Kennedy is president and
Frank H. Tarver, cashier. This bank has
been very prosperous and besides paying
good dividends to its stockholders, has
earned and added to its resources a surplus
of $11,000. It occupies a substantial brick
building, and the equipment is fully in
keeping with modern banking methods.
The officers are capable and courteous and
are always anxious to serve their patrons
with the accommodations customarily
accorded by similar financial institutions.
Frank H. Tarver, the popular cashier, is a
a competent business man. He is a native
of Bienville parish, acquired his education
in the schools of that parish and came to
Pleasant Hill in 1897 to take his present
position.
TOWJy^S AjYD villages
251
The Citizens’ Bank of Pleasant Hill was
organized about four years ago with a cap-
ital of $15,000, A, A. Hammond, a prom-
inent and substantial business man, is pres-
ident. The bank owns a neat brick build-
ing which, with the fixtures, is valued at
$5,000. C, E, Smith is the efficient book-
keeper,and acting cashier.
One of the largest mercantile establish-
ments in the town is that of T, W. Hardee
andP. M, G-addis, the style of the firm be-
ing Hardee & Gaddis. They entered busi-
ness in 1907. Mr. Hardee is a native of
of Alabama, while Mr. Gaddis was born
and reared in Sabine parish. Both are
young men and acquired their education at
the old Fort Jesup high school. They are
wide-awake business men and as citizens
are in line with every progressive movement
in their town and parish.
S. V. Jordan conducts an up-to-date
naercantile house, and enjoys a good trade.
He was born and reared in the Pleasant
Hill community, Capt. J. T. Jordan, who
served in the 12th Louisiana Infantry dur-
ing the Civil War, was his father, and John
Jordan, one of the first settlers of this sec-
tion and who owned stores and land in De-
Soto and Sabine parishes, was his grand-
father. He was born December 23, 1866,
and received his education at Old Pleasant
Hill, For fourteen years he followed
252
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
railroad work, spending several years as
station agent in his home town, resigning
that position about six years ago to enter
the mercantile business. In 1906, Mr.
Jordan married Miss Anna Davis, daugh-
ter of H. J, Davis, a pioneer settler in the
community.
The Sodus Mercantile Co., Ltd.,. was or-
ganized in August, 1910. This corpora-
tion is composed of B. F. Ramsey, presi-
dent; R. W. Lafitte, vice president, and
J. A. Lafitte, All are young men. They
were born and reared in DeSoto parish,
where they acquired their education in the
public schools and were engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits until they began their
present business. This firm carries an im-
mense stock of general merchandise and
by their courtesy and splendid business
methods have built up a good trade.
The Mutual Mercantile Co., Ltd., has a
large store and carries everything in
general merchandise and does an immense
business. This company began business in
1910, the corporation being composed of
Dr. J, C, Armstrong, president; H. H.
Kennedy, vice president, and F. H, Tar-
ver, S. C. Glaspie, a competent business
man, is the store manager. He was born
and reared at Marthaville, where he attended
the public schools, and acquired his knowl-
edge of the mercantile business in the store
TOWNS AND VILLAGES 253
of Robinson & Kennedy. He has efficient
assistants in the Mutual Mercantile Co/s
store In the persons D, L, and T. L. Dykes,
who are proud to claim Sabine parish as
the place of their nativity.
J. M, Bridges, who is also interested in
other enterprises, conducts a mercantile
business in Pleasant Hill. T. A, Rains is
the courteous and genial salesman for this
atore; he was born and reared in Sabine
and his ancestors were among the pioneers
of the parish.
Jehu Graham runs a mercantile business
here which was started in 1904, Mr. Gra -
ham is also justice of the peace for his
ward and during his life has taken a prom-
inent part in the public affairs of the par-
ish. He was bom near Many, December
25, 1840 (George W. Graham being his
father). The family moved to Arkansas
in his early life, but Jehu Graham later re-
moved to Rapides parish and finally re-
turned to Sabine after the war and was en-
gaged in farming until he embarked in his
present business. He served several years
as a member of the Police Jury and was
president of that body when the present
]atl and court house were constructed.
Among the citizens who have taken an
active part in the business life of the town,
James B. Brown deserves mention. He
has been identified with the lumber Indus-
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
254
try of this section for thirty years, was the
promoter of the Roberts -Brown Lumber
Co., and is now interested in a mill in
Webster parish. Mi\ Brown has been also
engaged in farming and mercantile pur-
suits, He was married in 1889 to Miss
Lula Kennedy, and they have a pretty
home and interesting family.
One of the two recognized high schools of Sab-
ine parish is located at Pleasant Hill. The erec-
tion of a large modern school building has just
been completed, which shows that the people are
determined to keep awake in the matter of educa-
tion, The faculty for 1912-13 was as follows:
prof, J. 0 Whitescarver; principal; Miss Kathleen
Moure, assistant; Miss Alice Petty, 6th and 7th
grades; Miss Hattie Champion, 4th and 5th
grades; Miss Vernie Ross, 2nd and 3rd grades;
Miss Gertrude Waller, primary; Miss Margaret
McGee, music and art. Prof. vVhitescarver ks au
educator oi splendid ability. He is a native of
Missouri and a graduate of the University of Ne-
braska. He has been inst'ructor in the schools of
four states and at the Meridian University.
The physicians of Pleasant Hill are Drs. Mum-
ford and Armstrong.
Pleasant Hill Lodge No, 230 F. & A. M, was or-
ganized at Old Pleasant Hill after the war, and
was moved to the new town in the ’80s. The
present officers are P, M. Gaddis, W. M.; L. T.
Dykes, S. W.; I. W. Jennings, J, W.; Jehu Gra-
ham; treasurer; F. H. Tarver, secretary.
The Texas and Pacific railroad maintains a lo-
cal division at Pleasant Eliil and the road does a
large business at this point.
Among the prominent farmers of the vicinity
TOWJ^S VILLAGES 255
are J. k. Cranford, M.T. Bostick, Isaac Rains, James
McFerren, A. D. Ashby, L. A. Horn, F. P. Cobbs,
Robert James, L. S. McLeroy, Will Grantham, J.
J, Fike, J. Grantham, C. J. Gaddis, Dan Phillips,
D. E. Stephens, T, 8. Ponder, J. C. Phillips, Henry
Free and S. M. Bostick, many of whom have the
convenience of free rural mail delivery.
JSOJ3I.1S.
Noble is a progressive little town on the
Kansas City Southern railroad seven-
teen miles north of Many, between Bayou
San Patricio and Bayou San Miguel. It
is surrounded by a fertile farming country
of the sandy and alluvial soils which
are especially adapted to trucking as well
as the production of the staple crops, A
goodly number of thrifty farmers have
homes there and among them some of the
best citizens of the parish. The settle-
ment of this section dates back to the ’30s,
but among the oldest of the English-speak-
ing pioneers were the following: 0, P.
and Robert McDonald, Andrew Aaron, H.
Litton, R. A.'Rembert, Rev. J. B. Moore,
Alfred Lout, John Jacobs (who lived at
Brown’s Bluff), The main road through
that section ran from Gr-^nd Ecore via
Pleasant Hill to Myrick’s Ferry, on Sabine
River, San Patricio was the first postoffice
in this section and Rev, J, B. Moore or-
ganized the church (Baptist) there. The
country was a wilderness, broken by a few
farms, until the early ’80s, when settlers
began to come in, sev^eral hailing from De-
Soto parish. At that time there were no
schools. Rev. J. M. Franklin, a Metho-
dist preacher, held services once a mouth.
256 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
and preachers of other denominations, oc-
casionally, at a place known as the Four
Dogwoods, on the road running from L.
Riddick's Store to Pleasant Hill. The
meetings were held under a brush arbor.
The four dogwoods were noted as a great
deer stand. Hunters would go into the
immense wildwoods between Bayous San
Patricio and San Miguel with their dogs
and would drive out the deer which would
pun across the ridge where stood four good-
sized dogwood trees. Many of the settlers
here during the ’80s purchased their lands
from W. H. Jack, and secured a deed to
land on which to build a church, and a
small box house was constructed in which
both the Baptist and Methodist denomina-
tions worshipped for several years. Talk
of a railroad building through the country
was first started in 1888, and created in-
tense excitement. Some of the old citizens
who had never seen a railway argued that
it would be impossible to build such a road
through the forests and hills of that local-
ity. The early school was at Hicks’ Camp,
among the first teachers being B. Godfrey
and A. Hubier. The to-^n of Noble was
started in 1896, when the K. C. S. railroad
was completed through the parish, and the
people who thought the building of the
road an impossibility haye found it a great
blessing. The timber industry has been
developed by the Trigg and the Frost-
Johnson Lumber companies, and Noble
has developed into a thifty little town,
with a progressive, hospitable citizenship,
and when more good farmers come there
to help work the idle lands it will be one
TOWJVS AJTD VILLAGES
257
of the wealthiest sections of Sabine parish.
The town was chartered in March, 1905, when
J.P, Youngblood was major. He was succeeded bj'
John Trig^ who served until 1907, when A, Dean
was elected. In 1909 W. C, Lav was mayor and
in 1911 C. C. Sullivan, the present incumbent, w'as
elected to the position. The following citizens
have seryed as councilmen: 0, A. Robinett, W. C.
Lay, A, A. Rodgers, J. B. Bickley, J. T, Ballard,
A. Dean, J. H. Adger, W. W. Wynne and F. Mc-
Williams. The following have served as marshal:
Joe Barkman, Badey Lout, Gene Barr, Walter
Forest, U. C. Sullivan, 1 G. Brown, J. W. Robin-
ette and F. M. Jacobs. C. W. Batton is the occu-
pant of that position at this time.
The first postmaster was Newton Lewis, but the
office w’as discontinued and was not re-established
until 1899 when W. W. Wynne was appointed.
Mr. Wynne came from Mansfield and bought
twenty-tw’o acres of land on which a large portion
of th^ town loon tod nnd dividpr] it into town
lotcj. lie fetili occupies the position of postmaster
and has always taken an active interest in the de-
velopment of the towm.
The R. L. Trigg Lumber Co., began the erection
of a mill here in 1899. The interests of this com-
pany were subsequently transferred to the Noble
Lumber Co., who in turn sold to the Frost-John-
son Lumber Co. The latter company now oper-
ates a w'ell equipped mill with a daily sawing ca-
pacity of 75,000 feet of lumber, and a planer with
ample capacity to handle the output of the mill.
The company also maintains a large general store
which has a good patronage from the people of
surrounding country as well as its employees.
The efficient directors of the company’s business
are 8. H. Adger, mill superintendent; \V, L. Tom-
ling, planer foreman, \\ , C. La}", mill foreman; C.
C. Hattaw-ay, commissary manager; E. D. Trigg,
bookkeeper.
The Bank of Noble w-as organized October 6,
1909, with a capital of $10,000. The officers and
I i.''
4 ; .
258 TOWjYS AKB VILLAGES
directors were as follows: Dr. S. E. Prince, presi-
dent* J. E. Graham, vice president; E. D. Trig^,
cashier; VV, H. Vandegaer, Frank Hunter, J. G.
Long, S. M.. Lord, John R. Parrott, Perry Castle,
Dr 1\ J. Tribble, A. J. Burkett and G. R. Aaron.
Several months after the organization of the bank
Mr. Trigg resigned and J. G. Long served as cash-'
ier until 1912, when D. B. Wardlow assumed the
position. This bant: is one of the most prosper-
ous financial institutions in the parish. It has
paid in dividends 50 per cent of the amount of its
capital stock and has surplus and undivided '
profits amounting to $3,500. The officers are
courteous gentlemen who have great faith in the
future of that section and are always ready to
lend encouragement to worthy enterprises and
their patrons and friends,
J. E. Graham conducts a large mercantile busi-
ness here, and has been identified with the busi-
ness life of Noble nearly from its beginning. He
has always taken a vital interest in the industrial
progress of that section, and made special efforts
to encourage truck farming. He has handled the
farmers* Irish potato crop for several years, 36
cars being sl)ipped from Noble in a single season.
He is a courteous merchant and good citizen.
Bell & Payne are prosperous merchants here,
The firm is composed of Leo Bell and R. V. Payne
who have been in business four years, succeeding
R. P. Bell (father of Leo) who opened the first
mercantile house in Noble. Both are young men
of splendid business ability, carry an immense
stock of goods and enjoy a fine trade,
S. L. Bison is another young merchant of Noble,
beginning business here in 1906. His parents
were Joe and Mary Bi^on, old settlers of this sec-
tion. He is courteous to his customers, and while
his stock is not large, he has a good patronage.
Other mercantile establishments are conducted
by E, E. Latham and McWilliams Malloy. Bell
Bros, are the accommodating proprietors of the
livery barn. The cotton gin is owned by Pugh
&. Lord, and the fact that 1500 bales of cotton
has come to Noble in a season is sufficient evidence
i
'i
•V
TOWJ^S AjYD villages 259
that they do good business. They also have a
mill for grinding corn meal.
J, A. Raimond is the efficient justice of the peace
and a notary here. He is also proprietor of the
Raimond Hotel, which caters to the needs of the
traveling public, and is also the owner of an up-
to-date barber shop. Mr. Raimond w'as born and
reared in this community, his father being W. J.
Raimond, an old settler. He spent his life on a
farm. He also served several years as deputy
sheriff. He is a progressive citizen and is a boos-
ter for the Noble community all the time.
F. M. Jacobs, proprietor of the Jacobs Hotel,
was born and reared in this section of the parish.
His father, John Jacobs, was a well-known pio-
neer, and his wife was Miss Aaron, daughter of A.
J. Aaron, who w’as also an old settler. Besides
the hotel business, he owns a good farm on San
Miguel,
Noble has a splendid graded school. Prof. G. A.
Odom, an edncntor of splendid ability, being the
present principal. The [)rogressive people have
proviaed a large biiiiding which is located in one
of the prettiest sections of the town. A. splendid
corps of teachers have charge of the school and
students are assured the best instruction that
it is possible to give.
The Masonic Lodge at Noble was organized in
1907. The following have served as VV'orshipful
Masters: James R. Robinett, A Dean, Dr. S. E.
Prince and Charles Robinett, C. C. Hathaway is
the present master.
* Elm Camp No. 112, Woodmen of the World, is
alao a prosperous fraternal society here.
The Baptist and Alethodist denominations have
houses of worship at Noble. Rev. J, C. Rousseaux
is pastor of the Methodist c‘^urch, while Rev. J, G.
Mason is pastor of the Baptist congregation.
A favorite resort of this section is the well of hot
salt water just west of town. This well was de-
veloped by the Long- Bell Lumber Co. while pros-
pecting for oil. A bath house lias been provided
at the well and many visitors go there, as the wa-
I
I
I
i
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j
i
i
i
260
TOWMS AjYD villages
ter is reputed to possess splendid medicinal value.
Some of the prominent farmers of the Noble
community are Bailey Lout, J. Vines, J, M. Kus-
sell, John L. Latham, J. E, Lynch, C. A. Wall, J.
W. Moore, M. W. Henderson, W. M. Barton, T, F.
Aaron.
Zwolle is a live and growing town situ-
ated twelve miles northwest of Many on the
K, C. S. Ry. It was established in 1896
and was named for a daughter of an official
of the railroad. Zwolle has always been
one of the best sawmill towns of the par-
ish and in recent years has enjoyed a rapid
and substantial growth, both as a com-
mercial center and and a place of residence.
The town was incorporated in 1901 in
order to furnish the needed municipal gov-
ernment. No town can boast of a more
hospitable and progressive citizenship nor
better society. The people have just com-
pleted a large modern brick public school
building and that institution will be made
a high school. The Baptist, Methodist
and Catholic denominations have neat
houses of worship, and the Masons and
other fraternal societies have lodges here.
Electric lights, waterworks and an ice fac-
tory are also among the conveniences of
the town. Several large business houses
are located here and have a large trade.
Zwolle is surrounded by a country rich in
agricultural possibilities, being especially
adapted to truck growing and fruit raising,
and the development of these industries is
going gradually ahead. During the past
few years the town has supported a Pro-
a'/A*.
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1
TOWKS AKB VILLAGES 261
gressive Leagcue which has accomplished a
great deal in the way of advertising the re-
sources of that section. The leading in-
dustries are the Sabine Lumber Company
and the Progressive Lumber Company, the
latter being a hardwood enterprise. Both
companies employ a large number of men
and furnish the town with good payrolls,
The Bank of Zwolle was chartered in 1905 and
reorganized in 1906 with the following board of
directors: J. W. Reynolds, J. P. Towery, Frank
Hunter, T. Laroux, A. S. Keelen and S. H. Porter.
The capital stock is |25,000, It is one of the
most substantial financial institutions in the
parish and has enjoyed merited prosperity. The
bank owns a neat brick building which is
equipped with all necessary furniture and fixtures.
It Dumb^^rs among its stockholders some of the
most substantial citizens of this and other sec-
tions. The present officers are: J, P. Towery,
president; S. H, Porter and A. S. Keelen, vice
presidents; R. L. Gay, cashier; W, C. Webb, as-
sistant cashier‘
The Sabine Lumber Co. conducts an immense
store here and does a large bufiness, probably no
other establishment in the parish enjoying a
greater trade.
. Carroll & Stephens is a progressive firm doing a
general mercuandise business. They are clever
gentlemen and do a fine business. For several
years Mr. S. L, Carroll, the senior member of the
firm’, was the t fficient office deputy in the sheriff’s
office at Manv, and previous to tnat time had
been engaged in mercantile pursui'S.
A. S. Keelen is proprietor o^ the Pelican Drug
Store. He has been a resident of Zwolle since the
early days of the town, has held several public po-
sitions ai.d has been prominently Identified with
its growth and best interests.
F. C. Mitchell i^’ manager of the drug store of
Peterson, Mitchell tfc Co., and also the popular
postmaster. II is a splendid business man and a
262 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
progressive citizen. Mr. Mitchell was born and
reared in Sabine and began his business career in
Many with the Dillon Drug Co.
()ther prominent merchants of Zwolle are S. H,
Porter, Dover & Dover, Mrs. H. S. Meyers, M. J.
Cooley and G. T. Brown.
The Arlington Hotel, the leading hostelry, is
conducted by Mrs. Gaul. Tt is most pleasantly
located, affords fine accommodations and is very
popular with the traveling public.
R. H. Mitchell conducts an up-to date restau-
rant and has a good patronage. He has spent
many years in the restaurant and hotel business
and knows how to serve his patrons.
Zwolle has a rural free delivery route, among
the patrons being W, J. Aten, J, B. Adair, J. J.
Rains, H. H. Thomas, John Middleton, VV, L. Dai-
ley, B. W. Barr, John R. Parrott, S. T. Quarles,
\V. M, Aten, Jonn Tyler, Asa Vines, P. V. Webb,
J. 0. Wiley, T. F. Wiley, vV. C. Mains, T, 0. Phil-
lips and D. A, Moses.
The physicians of Zwolle are Dr. R. L. Parrott,
Dr. M. Boring, Dr, R. I. Vines, Dr. T. M. Tramel
and Dr. L. Vines. Dr. C. C. Woods is the dentist.
mSHBR.
BTsher is one of the most important saw-
mill towns on the Kansas City Southern
Railway, and is not only an excellent
model of towns of that class, but is an ex-
ample of thrift and systematic progress
that any small city might profitably Imi-
tate. Fisher furnished Sabine parish with
the first large sawmill plant and has per-
haps done more for the prosperity of the
people than any other other institution. The
town is owned by the Louisiana Long
Leaf Lumber Company, of which 0. W.
Fisher is president, and W. W, Warren
general superintendent. The company
263
lOWNS AND VILLAGES
began clearing the timber for the townsite
in July, 1899 and in March, 1901, the mill
was ready for operation. Besides the im-
mense mill which turns out annually mil-
lions of feet of pine lumber, a large mill
was later erected for manufacturing hard-
wood products. Large planing mills con-
rert the products of these plants into the
finest finished lumber. In addition to
these industries the company operates a
modern machine shop and over fifty miles
of railroad. This road, the Victoria,
Fisher and Western, connects Fisher with
Victoria, where the company operates an-
other modern plant. The town of Fisher
was laid out with a view of making some-
thing more substantial than the ordinary
sawmill town. The townsite is among the
prettiest in Sabine parish and was platted
with uniform streets and avenues. Splen-
did homes have been built for the employ-
ees, and in numerous instances furnished
with all conveniences of a city, including
electric lights and waterworks. The rela-
tions between the company and its em-
ployees are the most amicable imaginable
— harmony of interests is manifest in every
department, which speaks well for a cor-
poration that employs a thousand men.
The town has a splendid public school for
the benefit of children of employees, and
religious services by difiiereut denomina-
tions are held at stated periods,
^ The town is noted for its orderly
citizenship, and its society is as good as
can be found anywhere. Although Fisher
is a remarkably healthy town, the com-
264 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
pany employs two capable physicians to
supply the medical needs of its employees,
and has completed at no little coat a neat
and commodious building to be used as a
sanitarium, for the convenience of those
who may be in need of the services of 'such
an institution, and it will be conducted
along modern lines. An immense mer-
cantile establishment is maintained as the
supply store for the town, but it also has a
large trade with the people of the sur-
rounding country. Besides the staple sup-
plies, the store furnishes the people with
nearly every luxury which a city store or
market could offer. Fisher is an open
market for the farmer, and the rural citi-
zens of that section find a ready and profit-
able sale for their products. The com-
pany contemplates the erection of a model
store building in the near future in order to
provide better facilities for its increasing
trade. The structure will be of concrete,
85x120 feet, the architecture of old colon-
ial style, and the estimated cost between
$15,000 and $20,000. The aim is to build
one of the largest and most up-to-date
commissaries in the state. The present
structure will be occupied by the Young
Men^s Christian Association.
The company owns many thousand acres
of land in Sabine parish and has sufficient
timber to run its mill for twenty or more
years. They have never offered their
*‘cut-over’^ lands for general sale, but have
sold such lands to soyeral farmers for bom as
at reasonable prices, Miss Leona LaCuer
is the capable postmistress at Fisher.
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TOWJVS AJV^D VILLAGES 265
W. W. Warren, the company's g:eneral superin-
tendent, was born May 11, 1876, at Lincoln, Tl.
linois, moved to Thayer, Nebraska, in 1883, and
in 1893 began learning the lumber business at a,
wholesale office in Omaha, Nebraska. Two years
later he entered the employ ol the Missouri Lum-
ber and Mining Company at Grandin, Missouri,
remaining there until he came to Sabine parish in
June, 1899. As superintendent of “4L” company
he has commanded the esteem of the employees as
well as everyone with whom he has business rela-
tions. He is not interested solely in removing the
timber wealth from the parish, but desires the
country developed and has never declined to give
moral and financial aid to any enterprise for the
public good. He is considerate of the interests of
his employes, regardless of the grade of their po-
sition, and labors unceasingly to make Fisher an
ideal town.
The men who help to direct the affairs of this
company at Fisher are as follows: P. A, Bloomer,
assistant general manager; J, H. Yanlanding-
ham, general sales agent; C, L, Krieger, book-
keeper; F, C. Wheeler, cashier; H, W. Gardner,
mill superintendent; E. W. Mitchell, foreman pine
mill; S. E. Clark, foreman hardwood mill; W. J,
Williams, foreman planer No, 1; W. M. Kilborn,
foreman planer No. 2; Perry Frost, chief engineer;
T. J. Bunch, assistant; E. W. Lawson, engineer at
hardwood mill; S. D. Anderson and M. J. Dibble,
filers; J. N. Graham, engineer at pine mill; Eugene
Lumpkin and Ira Thorla, sawyers; C. C, Stod-
dard and Charles Suddles, filers. At machine
shops — Frank Riiff, Sr., master mechanic; Leon
Mitchell, machinist; (hiarles Hughes, assistant;
Charles Coarser, blacksmith; K. A. Brown and
Sydney Hendricks, car repairers. Fred McGee is
woods superintendent and trainmaster; Tim
Liddy, woods foreman. C, C. Carletonis surveyor
and looks after the land and timber interests of
the company. R A. Brown, of the car shops,
has served the company longer than any other
man now in the employ of the company, having
begun work in 1900. He is general utility man
and booster for local functions and always ready
c ,
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268 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
to give assistance where it is needed in the town.
A. R. Brian is the genial and capable manager
of the company’s mercantile department. He has
as his assistant S. Bragdon. A corps of fourteen
courteous clerks also assist in transacting the
business of this large establishment. Mr. Brian
was born and reared in Claiborne parish and has
been engaged in mercantile pursuits all his life.
He entered the employ of this company as a clerk
in 1901, and after a service of eighteen months
was promoted to manager. He was married in
1904 to Miss Valley Seever, the estimable daugh-
ter of Dr, J. M. Seever, and they have a pretty
home at Fisher.
H. E, Ellis is the popular manager of the Fisher
Hotel, the principal hotel of the town. - He came-
to Fisher in 1900 from Cape Girardeau, Mo., and
is an experienced hotel-keeper as well as a courte-
ous gentleman. The Fisher hotel is pleasantly
situated and the manager takes pleasure in cater-
ing to those who seek the best accommodations.
Dr. T. B. Younger is the company’s capable
physician and is assisted by Dr. C. M. Petty.
Fisher Camp W. 0. VV. was organized in 1900
with H, E. Ellis, C. C. The charter was surren-
dered, but was reorganized in 1900 and is now a
proseprous camp with sixty members. The officers
are R. A. Brown, C. C.; William Kunce, clerk; vv.
J. Williams, banker; I. J. Prince, vice lieutenant;
Lee Prince, conductor; Ira Thorla, watchman;
Emmett Peterson, inside sentinel; VV. J. Williams,
Dr. T. B. Younger and William Kunce, managerSc
Fisher Lodge No. 128 1. 0. O. F. was instituted
by Grand Master E. L. Dick, Sept. 14, 1907, with
the following as charter members: R. I. Turner,
Joe Dover, 1. L. Frazier, Tim Liddy, J. A. Goss,
Dr. T. B. Younger and D. F. Turner, The first
officers were: R. 1. Turner, Noble Grand; J, D.
Darby, vice grand; H. R. Crumpecker, secretary,
and T, B, Younger, treasurer. Since the organiz-
ation of this lodge the following have passed
through the chair and are past grands of this
lodge: James D. Darby, Dr. T B. Y^ounger, C. C.
Carlton, T. 11. Malin, \V. P. Hicks, William G. Kil-
'■i
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1
!
4'’!
TOWJfS AND VILLAGES 267
born and B, H, Berry. The officers for the last
half of the year 1913 are B. H. Berry, N. G.; Ira
Thorla, V. "G.; William G. Kilborn, secretary; J. W.
Kunce, treasurer. The lod^e has had a steady
growth from the start and at present has a mem-
bership of sixty-one in OTod standing.
Sabine Encampment No. 31 I, O. 0. F, was in-
stituted Dy Grand Chief Patriarch J, F. Dennison
on May 21, 1912, with W. P. Hicks, Dr. T. B,
Younger, C, C. Carlton, T. R. Malin, Frank Ruff
and William G. Kilb prn charter members. At the
time of organizing the following officers were
elected: W. P. Hicks, chief patriarch; Dr. T. B.
Younger, senior warden; C. C. Carlton, junior war-
den; Frank Ruff, high priest; T. R. Malin, scribe,
and William G. Kilborn, treasurer. Since that
time, Dr. T. B. Younger and William G. Kilborn
have passed through the chairs and are past chief
patriarchs of the order. The officers elected for
the last half of the year 1913 are J. W. Kunce,
C. P,; P. J. Palmer, S. W.; Frank Ruff, J. W.;
James Aiken, high priest; T. B. Younger, scribe;
Ira Thorla, treasurer. While this branch of the
order has as yet a small membei ship, it is stead-
ily growing.
CONVBRSB.
This is the most northern town in Sab-
ine parish on the K, C. S. R’y. It was
named for Col. James Converse, who owned
a large tract of laud in that vicinity, in-
cluding the townsite. The town was
started after the railroad was built (1906),
Dr, Q-. M. Mott and Wilt Morgan erecting
the first business house. Converse is sur-
rounded by a fine farming country, and
a large amount of cotton is ginned and
marketed there every year. Rural tele-
phone lines, owned by independent com-
panies composed of citizens, connect Con-
verse with the surrounding country, and a
bank is soon to be established there. That
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268 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
section of Sabine is the first to vote a spec-
ial tax to aid in the construction of a model
road and the road will be built soon. The
people are progressive and are determined
to develop their country. Converse has
a good school, a church, several stores and
a cotton gin. It is the chief trading and
shipping point for a large territory.
The principal business houses are conducted by
G, I. Paul, Tatum Bros. (N, R. and Dr. W. E.). A.
J. Burkett, vy, D. Gates, W. F. Ledford, j! G.
Burkett, The gin is owned by Jackson Bros, (C.
L. and J, M.),
The resident physicians are Dr. W. G. Allen,
who was reared in this community, and Dr. E. K.
Harris, a native o/ Claiborne parish.
Mrs. Ruthie Kay is the efficient postmistr^s.
Among the prominent citizens and farmers of
Converse are Buren Lout, J. VV. Latham, W, M.
Bolton, H. J,, C. P. and Lee McDonald, J.M. Paul,
Jal Raymond, L. B. Farmer, C, C. Bazemore, R.
G. Bossier, M. V. Flores, Henry Tatum, W. H.
McPhearson, C. E. Pugh, S, A. Spillyards, R. S.
Heard.
Fi.ORin:s.
This flourishing little town is located on
the K. C. S. R^y, twelve miles south of
Many. It was started in the latter part o£
the ’90s and was named for Mr. Florien
Giauque. Florien is surrounded by a fine
agricultural country and is an important
shipping and trading point. The town has
a fine school, church and fraternal socie-
ties, and several live business houses.
The postothce was established in 1908 with
Willie Hall postmaster. Since that time the office
has been held by A. J. Mahein, James M. Leach,
W. G. Leach and D. S. Leach, the latter being the
present postmaster.
Joe Dover, a leading merchant, began business
here in 1907. He is native of Germany. In 1902
r' x> ** G' •■■•'' !■
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TOWNS AND VILLAGES- 269
he came from Tensas parish to Many where he was
associated with his brother, A. Dover in business,
and later was at Zwolle until he located at Florien
on his own account. He w is married in August,
1911, to Miss Lizzie Williams of that place. xMr.
Dover is a young man of good business ability,
carries an immense stock of general merchandise
and does a splendid business,
Williams Bros, conduct a big mercantile busi-
ness here. The firm is composed of B. L. and S.
K. VVilliams, and succeeded the firm of Corley &
Williams which began .business there in 1907.
They were born and reared in Sabine, are pro-
gressive young business men, have an up-to-date
mercantile establishment and a good patronage.
They are alwmys ready to give encouragement to
every move to develop the resources of their
country.
A.C. Leach conducts a modern mercantile estab-
lishment here and is assisted by his son, C. C.
Leach. He is the oldest merchant in the town,
having embarked in business here in 1897. He
is a native of Alabama and on coming to Sabine
parish located in the Middle Creek country and
was engaged in farming until he engaged in busi-
ness at Florien.
Newton F. Leach entered the mercantile business
here in 1910. His parents were *J. W. and Sarah
Leach who came to Sabine parish from Alabama
in 18G0 and settled in the Toro community- Mr.
Leach was engaged in farmiog prior to his entry
in mercantile pursuits.
J. P, Simpson conducts a mercantile business
here w’hich was commenced in 1906. He is a na-
tive of Alabama, ttie uate ol his birth being Octo-
ber 1, 1846. He came to this parish in 1883, lo-
cating near Negreet where he engaged in farming
which occupation he continued to follow until a
few years ago.
Chance A Maliaffey, progressive young men op-
erate a saw mill. Besides the product sawed for
shipment, they supply the local lumber wants.
The Wyatt Lumber Co. is erecting a large mod-
ern mill south of Florien. This company has a
270
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Prominent amono^ the citizens and farmers of
the community are H. D, Miller, I. H. Byrd, R. S.
Gandy, George Z. Corley, Tom, (^onerly, J M, and
L. F, Corley, T. M. Aldredge, M. W, Lockwood, E.
A. M others hed, James M, Leach, W, K. Holt, R.
A. Sand^^rs, M. V, V\"estbrook, J. L, McCormic, B,
R. Arrington, Walter Long, Dess Miller, Willie
Miller, W, F. Salter, W. T. Cook, D. R. Price, Wil-
son Pilcher, S, T, Salter, Asa Miller, L, W. Byrd,
W, C. Vogel, A. R, Gentry, N, A. Miller, L, A.
Pynes, M. M. Mahaffey, A. T. Arthur, W, C: Lee,
M. M. Leach, Dr. C, C. Conerly, J. M. Sandel, G, B.
Arrington, J. D, Chance,
I^ORT JTBSUR.
After Fort Jesup was abandoned as a
militaiy post it continued to be an impor-
tant point. The surrounding country had
been settled by a large number of progres-
sive farmers, and in 185J Surveyor Thomp-
son made a plat of the town, title to most
of which had been acquired by Harris &
Beck, who conducted a mercantile busi-
ness there. Among the owners of lots at
Fort Jesup in the ’50s were M. B. Thomp-
son, Mary Ann Cosgrove, G. H, Thomp-
son, Chichester Chaplin, Susan Hart and
G. W. Small. Since that time a large
number of people have owned real estate
there, and the village and surrounding
country numbers among its citizenship
some of the leading people of Sabine par-
ish, For many years Fort Jesup was the
educational center of the parish and still
has a good school as well as churches of
the Baptist and Methodist denominations.
The Masonic Lodge at Fort Jesup is one of the
oldest in liOuisiana. Sabine Lodge held its first
meeting June 22, 1848, under dispensation from
Louisiana Grand Lodge, and received its first
iO f.o ?»iii ^non?B •txi^'ninioi:’^
fn? ^ viloumnioj sdj
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lo aodoi^iit/ SB il0w m 1oo4<>,b .g sad -
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TOWNS AND VILLAGES 271
charter, No, 11, January 16th, 18 tO, John Gedj^e,
R. W. Grand Master. Charter No. 75, dated
March 4th, 1850, was issued to Sabine Lodge by
the Gra.nd Lodge of Louisiana, F, & .4. M,, and
charter No. 11 returned. In the year 1886, under
the p rsonal supervision of Rev. J. M. Franklin,
Sabine Lodge founded a high scnool at Fort
Jespp, and during its existence the lodge has edu-
cated a number of children of deceased Master
Masons, and has been liberal in her charities to
those dependent on her protection. In 1899 the
lodge celebrated its Semi centennial, Leslie Bar-
Dee, a life member, who was living at that time,
was made a Mason in Sabine Lodge, initiated in
1848, passed in 1849, raised in May, 1849, and
had the distinction of filling all the stations in the
lodge. The officers and members in 1899 were J,
W. Taylor, W, M.; T. J. Franklin, S. W; J. H.
Caldwell, J. vV.; W. R. Alford, treasurer; J. A,
Tramel, secretary; tJ. M, Frariklin, chaplain; Geo.
R. Pattison, S. D.; J. L. Ashy, J. D,; k'. V. Jack-
sou, tyler, tJ. W. Arthur, fLr^sIie Barbee. fW. 0.
Bates, f\V. Y. Barnhill. tC. S. Beard, fA. S. Cassady,
W, H, Cox, W. C. Cox, A. W. Estes, fJ. R, Frank-
lin, fJas- M. Gibbs, fE. W. Hamlin, A, A, Ham-
mond. 1), J. tiorn. Harry Houck, S C. Hughes,
Wm. F. Hyde, Win. F. dacksrn. (1 W. Lilly, C. J,
Law. fH. .Manhein, J. M. Middleton. fW.S. Middle-
ton, tJas. W. Mitchell, fWin. E. McNeely, fW. W.
Moore. fJ. J. Mimes, I. C. Onen, P, M. Perkins,
fWin. H. Peters, M. B. Petty, A. L. Ponder, J. C.
Ryan, A. B. Rains, E. A. 8n Iter, J. M, Seever, Don
E. SoRelle, tR. W. Stoker. J. B. Storv, J. W. Tin-
dall, T. M. Tramel, J. B. Wood and W, B, Wood.
Honorary members: Robert H. Gage (dead),
Curtis T. Hines (dead), L. E, Thomas and Rich-
ard Lambert. The following members have served
as Worshipful Master: J. B. Stoddard, K. J. Mc-
Lemore, John L. Hamill, (’. Beck. L. Barbee, J. C.
Armstrong, R. A. Forbis, J. M. l-h*aidvdin, J. H.
Caldwell (living), G. Munson. T. Beck. John Ken-
nedy, C. Chaplin, Sullivan; ,S. Din^e, J, W.
Taylor (living). C. J. L:iw (livi ;g), A. B, Rains
(living); W. G, Caldwell (living), ddr^ present of-
tDecfjised.
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272 TOWNS AND VILLAGES
fleers of the lodoe are as follows: J. W. Taylor,
W, M.; Chas. J. Law, 8. W.; Marion V. Petty. J.
W.; VV. R. Alford, treasurer* G. W. Lucius, secre-
tary; \V. G. Caldwell, 8. D.; J. \V, Cutror, J. D,; F.
V. Jackson, tyler.
Clarence I.. Hawkins conducts a merchandise
business at Fort Jesup. Hi® father was M. P.
Hawkins, a pioneer of that section. He has held
ward offices, has taken a live interest in parish af-
fairs, and is withal a proo;ressive citizen. Miss
Carrie Hawkins has cliarj2;e of the postoffice.
Geor«i-e W. Lucius also conducts a mercantile
business here. His father, 8am uel G. Lucius, was
an old settler in the w^estern portion of the parish.
Mr. Lucius is a good citizen and has always taken
a lively interest in tne worK of advancement in his
community.
Among the prominent citizens of the commu-
nity, many of whom are members of the oldest
families in the p Irish, are: A, C. Stoker, W, M.
Smith, Joe Smith. Clyde Gibson. Henry Stoker,
Riley Stoker, J.- W. Beard, -H. 8. Varnell, R. E.
Salter. J. W. Taylor, Miles Parker. E. B. Lee, J.
K. Stoker. \W R. Alford, A. M. Salter, A, M. Miller,
U. P. rnbb'j, J. L. Barbee, A. L. Landrum, VV. H.
Tynes.
Belmont.— -This is one of the thriving commu-
nities ui tile parish. The postoltce was started
about 1879 with Dr. T. 11. Hardin postmaster.
He w.is succeeded by L. A. Trailor. George VV.
Heard, the present postmaster, has had charge of
the office since 1892. Belmont has a Baptist
church, which was organized in 1872; a good
school, a Masonic lodge, and two merc''i;ntile es-
tablishments. G. VV. Heard has conducted a busi-
nes.s for many years. John E.. VVrn. F., and Joe
P .Skinner run a business there which was started
in 1898 under the name of Skinner Bros. Many
of the early settlers of the Belmont community
came from Lincoln and Union parishes, but in la-
ter years a number of settlers came from Missis-
sippi. Among the progressive citizens of that
section are the following: VV. S. Haley, R. G.
TOWKS AJ^D VILLAGES 273
Bozeman, E. T. Linder, T. F. Linder, J. L. Heard,
J. E. Bullard, J. A. Armstrong, G. L. Sebren, E.
N. Haley, L. B. Horn, R. W. Nesom, S. J. Ramsey,
J. C. Wright, W. M. McFerren. J. A. Haley, W. W.
Currie, Ben Skinner, J. P. Skinner, E. W. Tyler,
D. J. Austin, C. H. Skinner, D. M. Currie, J. A.
Salley, VV’. F, Haley, L. W. Salley.
Tyne.— This postoffice was named for John
Tynes, a pioneer of that section and was estab-
lished aDout 1889. Abraham Ricks was the first
postmaster, and was succpeded by John \V^. What-
ley, and the latter by W. J. Norsworthy who is the
present postmaster and conducts a mercantile
business. His father was A. J. Norsworthy who
came from Alabama in 1859 and whose family
of ten children, seven of whom are living, namely:
George W. of Natchitoches parish; J. C., W. F.,
Mrs. G. W. Lockwood, Mrs. W. A. Montgomery,
Mrs. G. N. Welden and W. J. The latter’a wife
was Miss Sarah Craig of Natchitoches parish and
they have a family of ten children. J. W. Canady
was a prosperous nierchant of Tyne for several
l.-Lit li-' hitc’.y r.-t 1 us’i.e.^s. Thr?
'oneera of this section w. re Henry Letter, Samp-
son Whatley, A, J. Norsworthy, James isgirr,
Sam Cole and Thomas Boswell. ‘‘Shake flat,”
which was located on the old N'^lan Trace or Alex-
andria and Texas road near Tyne, was famous in
early days as the headquarters for outlaws and
rowdifs, and the place, which contained two
stores and saloons, was ii’iven its name because it
was remarked that the people there would ‘‘fight
at the shake of a hat.” Prominent residents of
Tyne at this time o.re J. W. Canady, H. J. Lester,
J. T. and P, W. Tsgitt, J, C. Norsworthy, F, J,
Byrd,. E. Canady and Enoc Moss.
Mill Creek,— Among the progressive citizens of
this postoffice are J. C. Sibley, A. J. Withers, J. E.
Withers, J. E. and A. B. Jordan, T. J. Dowden,
A. M. Stewart, J. Strickland. G. J. Davis, Jr,, and
J. Wiley Miller. A good school and a Baptist
church are maintained at Mount Carmel. The
church was constituted November 9, 18G;3. by the
following presbytery: Elder Henry Simmons and
Deacons Charles and Zack. Corley. S, Y. Addi
274 TOWJVS AjYD VILLAGES
son of Corley ville is the pres-^iifc church clerk.
Kisatchie Lodge No. 156, F\ & A. M. is located
here. It was chartered February 12, 1858, with
the following members: W. P. Goinf>\s, xM. G. Mc-
Neely, Jacob Kile.J. T. McNeely, •!. K. Phares, W.
G. Norris and L. J, Nash. The lodge was first lo-
cated at Kisatchie, in Natchitoches parish, but
later moved to Mount Carmel, in Sabine, The
present officers are as follows: J. Wiley Miller,
W, M.; C. F, Knippers, 8. W.; R. L. Tynes, J. W.;
A. B. Jordan, treasurer; .1. E. Jordan, secretary;
W. D, Stewart, S. 0 ; 0, T. Knippers, J, D.; \V. B.
Hays, chaplain; L. E. Coburn, tyler.
Toro. — The first settlers of the Toro community
were William Curtis, Sr., William Curtis, dr., and
John McCollister, who cume in 1827, They cut
down and burned the cane and made two crops
before they fenced their fields, for there was noth-
ing to fence against except wild animals. The
next s->ttlers to come were Eli Chance, Irom Mis-
issippi, Fletcher Rollins, James Holt, W. C.
Southwell, Valuetine Nash, T. J. Godwin, Charles
Bennett, S. G. Lucius and John Caldwell. They
erected one of the first school honses in the parish
which was built of pine poles and split log benches
were used for seats. A church wms established in
later ears and the church and school named
Pleasant Hill. The first schools were taught by
Harn Nash and S. G. Lucius, both gentlemen hav-
ing come to Sabine parish from South Carolina.
Pleasant Hill now has a splendid church and
school building and the community is prosperous
and progressive. Prominent citizens of Toro are
J. M. Miller, J. S. Lucius, J. J. Whittaker, W. J.
McMillan, A. Slav, W. (S Ford, John F. Koonce,
B. B, McMillan, j. J. McNeely, C. W. Antony, W.
L. Prewitt and J. H. Brewster. Rtvltan is another
postoffice 111 this section, prominent among the
residentxS there being B. C. McCollister, M. C. An-
tony, J. M, Runyon, J. D. Miller, W. L. Arnold, J.
W. Byrd, C. W, Westbrook and R. R. Arnold. Co-
lumbus is an old postollice located farther down
in the lower corner of the parish on Sabine River.
Among the residents there are C. C. Antony, J. A.
Speight and S. J Speight, all good citizens.
TOWm AjYD villages 275
Clare.— This postoffice, established in 1908,
was named in honor of Mis>i Annie Clare, youngest
daughter of Leo Vaiidegaer. J. M. Ritter and
son, Houston, who are engaged in merchandising
at that point, started the postoffice. J, M. Ritter
is a substantial citizen of that community and
a wide-awake farmer. Other prominent residents
of this thriving section are John 8. Caldwell, \V .
L. Speights, W. A. Stringer,' W. A. Speight and W.
Y. McConathy.
lOBUR.N. — This postoffice was started in 1903,
and was named in honor of T. G. Coburn, an old
settler there. The names of the pionoers are men-
tioned eliewhere. C. J. Law was the first post-
master and was succeeded by W. M. Lester, who
fills that[position at this time. Coburn is supplied
with a good school, church and Masonic lodge.
Middle Creek Lodge No, 321 was organized here in
1908, and the following members have served as
worshipful masters: C. J. Law, J. VY. Phares, J.
M. Dow den, P. J. Herrington, T. G, Coburn and
J. n Pv>’'"\ Mr. i' ‘se yires^'et mestfr.
'ihe loiiuw.ag a:e ci; iZi-m.s of iiils couimuuiCN • 1-
G. Coburn, Adam Cole. J. J. Alford. S. L. A. Dow-
den, P. I. Cook, J. M. Britt, R. A. Dowden, W. D.
Cobb, Rev. J. H. Ricks, C. C. Alford, P. J Herring-
ton, \V, A. Ricks, 0. R, Alford, A. J. and G. W.
Weldon and Alonzo Herrington.
Negreet.— This community is about twelve
miles southwest of Many, and its settlement dates
back to 1822, when Cliristopher Antony located
there. It is a rich farming section. In recent
years much prospecting for oil has been engaged
in there, and the indications are that that com-
modity will yet be found in paying quantities.
This section has the conveniences of a telephone
line from Many, a good school and ohurch, and
will soon have a model road to the f)arish seat.
Little Flock Lodge F. A A. M., organized at 18G7
at old Winebnrg, is located here and is a thriving
lodge. Frank Dutton was an old settler of
this place and ran a tanvard in early times,
coming from New’ York. R. J. Lucius, who was
born and reared here and foi* many years w’as en-
gaged with his brother, James F,, in farming and
TOWjYS akd villages
276
merchandisino:, is postmaster. They are now in
the real estate business. Promin<ait citizens of
Neg;reet are M. H. Addison, Hoyt and E. P. Cur-
tis, M. F. Gandy. H. M. Gandy; J S., T. G and J,
C. Salter, W. T. Addison, C, 1). Carroll, T. C, An-
tony, W. R. McCormic, J. I. Cook, G. W. Miller, J.
W. Pbares.
people’s state bank, 3IANY, la.
Mitchell. — This postofhce is located in one of
the most progressive sections in the parish.
It was named for Jack Mitchell who was inter-
ested in sawmills. The tirst store was built by
Wilt Morgan in 1895. Jack Mitchell was the first
postmaster and was succeeded by J. L. Jackson.
B. F, Moore & Son have conducted a sawmill and
mercantile business there since 189(3. Mitchell is
live agricultural section, has a good school, rural
telephones and will soon have modern roads,
Mitchell Lodge No. 252, F. A A. M., was chartered
in 1896. Tl)e first officers were M, (k Geiger, W.
M.; J. A. Cates, 8. W.; \V. F. Ledford, J. W.; J. F.
Jackson, J. b.; P. L. Tatum, tyler; A. G. Kidd,
chaplain. J. R. Barron is the present worshipful
master. Among the citizens of this community
are J. D. McLeroy, J. W. Sistrunk. T. II. Coplen,
J, R. Barron, J, E. Largent, Jeff Tatum, W. II.
Mains, A, E. Slay and R. L* ihice.
Biographical Sketches.
Br. J. C. Armstrong. — The subject of this sketch
is entitled to honorable mention in any history of Sab-
ine parish, for the reason that it can be said of him as
truthfully as of any one that he lived and labored for
the good of its people rather than for wealth or per-
sonal aggrandizement. He was born in Dallas County,
Ala., and came to this parish on or about 1850, where
he lived until his death in 1896. This parish was, con-
sequently, the scene of his labors for over forty years.
While he was a popular and successful physician, and
always did a large practice, all he got, or wished to
get. out of it, seemingly, Avas a \ery modest living.
The poor and needy, especially, had cause to revere the
name of Dr. Crit Armstrong, who guarded and fre-
quently saved their lives, and did so, as often^as other-
wise, ‘"without money and without price.”. It was
said of the knightly Bayard, the beau-ideal of the age
of chivalry, that he always exhibited an utter disregard
for money and financial matters. This was pretty
much the case with Dr. Crit Armstrong, our good and
true knight of the scalpel, whose tender heart was as
well knoAvn as his majestic figure to the people of every
section of this parish. At one time Dr. Armstrong had
the remarkable experience of being elected Parish
Judge, without having any special knowledge of law
or of court proceedings. Being well supplied with
sound sense, however, he filled the position to the sat-
isfaction of the people. But on one occasion there was
a great tumult in his court. Two^ irate attorneys were
apparently thirsting for each other’s gore; the crippled
clerk* was tossed aside and the sheriff was unable to
quell the uproar, until the judge from the bench gave
the remarkable order to “let ’em fight,” which had
the effect of quieting the disturbers, as fighting Avas re-
ally the last thing th« blustering attorneys wished to do.
At this day and time, Avhen love of money is properly
regarded as tlie root of so many cauIs it is refreshing
to contemplate a character Avith whom generosity and
all kindly impulses were unaffected by sordid consid-
erations, and whose moral and physical strength and
breadth of braAvn enabled him to exemplify such prin-
277 '
278 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHRS
ciples throughout his course. The grave of old Dr.
Crit, in the- cemetery at Many, is entitled to reverence
as that of the kindliest fathers of our people and our
parish.
A. D. Ashby. — Mr. Ashbj^ is a member of tlie Par-
ish School Board from Ward Seven. He was born in
Itawamba County,
and lived there until 18 years
of age, receiving such edu-
cation as the small rural
schools afforded, which was
very limited. He came to
Sabine parish in 1899 and
resided here ever since. On
March 9, 1910, he was mar-
ried to Miss Mattie Bruce.
Mr. Ashby’s principal occu-
pation has been farming,
but in 1910 he entered the
ministry of the Congrega-
tional Methvdist church,
wuth which denomination
he is prominently^ identified.
His chief regret is that he was unable to finish his ed-
ucation. In 1912 he was elected member of the Parish
School Board and at the organization of the new board
he was elected chaplain of that body, being the first
man ever honored with that position. Mr. Ashby has
always been an advocate of a modern educational sys-
tem that would thoroughly fit the youths of the parish
for the battle of life and the attainment of a more ideal
citizenship, and his influence will be cast with all pro-
gressive movements for the public weal,
T. C. Armstrong ( Attoruey-at'Law). — This gen-
tleman was born in Sabine parish on October 18, 1857,
and is consequently in the the o(5th year of his age. His
Dirthplace was in the San iMigiiel neighborhood, in the
northern portion of the parish. His father was Wil-
liam Hamilton Armstrong, who died wdien (piite young
and when Thomas, his only child, M'as a baby. Ham-
ilton Armstrong, though young, was a teacher of high
repute, to whom some of our old citizens, his former
pupils, still refer with much resiiect and pride. He
was equally known us a marksman and hunter.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 279
Thomas’ grandfather, on his father’s side, was James
H. Armstrong, who came to this parish or its vicinity-
in 1847, from Kentucky, originally, by w^ay of Alabama.
His grandfather, on his mother’s side, was William D.
Stephens, w-ho came to this section of the state in 1835,
before the organization of this parish, from Virginia,
originally, by way of Tennessee and Ohio. In his boy-
hood “Little Thomas” attended the ordinary old-field
schools of the San Miguel neighborhood, and the some-
what superior one at Old Pleasant Hill. In 1875 he en-
tered Emory and Henry College in Southwest Virginia,
where he graduated in 1878. While at the old-field
schools referred to, he exhibited considerable precocity,
so to speak, and when he graduated at college he pock-
eted the first honor of his class. He studied law at
home in Sabine parish, and in New Orleans at the Law
Department of the University of Louisiana, and was
admitted to the bar in 1882. On beginning his profes-
sional life, instead of hunting a location more suitable
for a lively career, he remained at horn® without re-
gard to consequences. Up to this time, these have not
been as serious as might have been expected. He
ranks well in our cotorie of able and conscientious at-
torneys, has an interesting family, a pleasant home at
Sodus and .another residence at Many; and, at last ac-
counts, a sufficiency of the necessaries of life. While
he has been rather slow about completing an ambitious
and patriotic literary task, commenced some time ago,
we would hesitate to call him “Le Fairioaut,” as we
are not certain what he has up his sleeve. While he
has not entered the arena of politics, he may do so (as
this notice is not intended as his obituary), and may
have good prospects in that direction.
Marion S. Antony.— The subject of this sketch is
a citizen of Ward Two, an., is now serving as consta-
ble of that ward. His gian.lfather was Christopher An-
tony, a pioneer of the Negreet community v ho came
to this country in 1822 froi;. Virginia by way of Ken-
tucky and Texas. Chri.^topher’s father was Martin
Antony, who was a native of Cxermany,
and he and his eido >t son, J acob, were sol-
diers in the American a. rmy during the revolutionary
war. William A[, Antony, father of Marion S., was
born at Negreet in 1827, being the eldest of a family of
eight sons and two daught< rs, and in 1851 was married
’•■i..; i:,;;... -,,! brr..^
. :■ '.'? 1/:
i A ■ .}/: 4 ,.•' ;n /i/jw
r'‘ P--- '’Tv- ■;; Ui iwJTO'i-
b oWj > r,L
280
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
to Mary Alice, daughter of Aaron L. and Penelope
Neil, to which union were born ten children, those now
living being Thomas R., George C., Marion S., Charles.
W. and Mary E.,wife of J. C. Salter. William M. An-
tony served his country in the war between the states,
and his parish in various civil capacities and was a
well-to-do and esteemed citizen
Dr. Rezix Laurence ARMSTRONG'was born in Dal-
las County, Ala., on Decemberl 30, 1821, and died at
Pleasant'Hill, this. parish, January 4, 1899. He" was of
Scotch-Irish descent, and a worthy son of sturdy and
heroic sires. Tradition ’ relates, that his’great-grand-
father was burned at the stake by savasres in some por-
tion of what was then ’referred to as ‘‘‘the wilderness of
the West.” His grandfather, WilMam Armstrong, was
a pioneer and Indian fighter of Christian County, Ken-
tucky,.who made the savages pay dearly for the mur-
der of his sire. The father of Dr. Laurence moved to
Sabine parish in 1817, and from that time until his
death the doctor practiced his profession in the vicin-
ity of Pleasant Hill"aDd was.[a prominent figure in the
community for more than half a century. In his
youth, while still a resident of Alabama, he graduated
in medicine.at the New Orleans Medical College, a pro-
totype of the'present Tiilane University. Soon after-
wards, on February 27, 1845, he married his first wife,
Cynthia Reed. Of the Several children of that mar-
riage, Dr. R. L. Armstrong, Jr,, of Pleasant Hill is the
only survivor. On August 5, 1858, Dr. Armstrong mar-
ried Virginia A. Pullen, his second wife and surviving
widow. Too modest and unselfish for a politician, the
only public“positiou that he ever occupied was that of
state senator. Besides standing, as it were, a monu-
ment of incorruptible integrity and spotless honor, he
was equally distinguished for the greater and softer
impulses of the heart, for open-handed liberality and
above all his true charity. Upon his memorial shaft
is inscribed, “He Was the Poor Man’s Friend.” He
was buried at Pleasant Hill by the Masonic fraternity.
Dr. R. L. Armstrong, Jr., was horn June^9, 1857, near
Pleasant Hill. He attetided the Medical University of
Louisiana in 1877-78 aiul graduated at the medical de-
partment of Louisville lliiivtu’sity in 1879. Soon after
graduating he married Miss Hattie O’ Pry and located
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
281
at Pleasant Hill, where he has been a prominent phy-
sician for over thirty years. He has a son, Dr. Ralph
Armstrong, who is now a physician, thus making in
the family three generations of physicians.
Senator John H. Boone.— The subject of this
sketch was born at the old town of Sparta, in Bienville '
parish, November 7, 1871.
His parents were Judge J,
T. and C. L. Boone, mem-
bers of old and estimable
families. His father was
a prominent figure in the
politics ol his parish and
state for many years and
occupied important public
positions. The early years
of John H. Boone’s life
were spent on a farm.
In 1888 the family moved
to Mt. Lebanon where he
attended Mt. Lebanon Col-
lege, and being an earnest
and hard-working student
he secured an education
sufficient to enable him to
enter his chosen profession.
Senator Boone
After concluding! his college
course he taught in the public schools and at Mt.
Lebanon College for two years. In 1899 he was ad-
mitted to the bar and practiced law in Bienville parish
until 1901 when he came to Many, forming a partner-
ship with Judge Don E. SoRelle. Upon Mr. SoBelle’s
election as district judge in 1908, the firm w^as dissolved,
but the partnership was resumed during the present
year. Mr. Boone is not only a hard-working lawyer,
but has always taken an active and patriotic interest in
the material welfare of the parish, and is a firm expo-
nent of every move for the uplift of the people morally
and intellectually. His popularity among the people
is amply attested by the fact that they have elected
him to every position for which he has offered. He
served several years as mayor of Many, and on being
elected a member of the Parish School Board he was
unanimously chosen as the presiding olficer of that
•>
I
i
283
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
body, and filled these positions with honor. In 1912 he
was elected a member of the State Senate from the dis-
trict composed of the parishes of DeSoto, Sabine and
Vernon and has rendered his district and state splen-
did services. It is a safe prediction that among the
young lawyers of West Louisiana no one has a more
promising future, in any of the endeavors which a law-
yer is privileged to make, than Senator Boo'ne. He
was married, December, 1899, to Miss Minnie D. King,
an accomplished young lady of Mt. Lebanon, and they
have a most interesting family. Senator Boone is vice
president of tVie People’s State Bank of Many and owns
a cozy home here.
W. S. Brown.— Few men have spent a more ex-
tended and useful life as a citizen of the parish than
W. Scott Brown. He was born in 1818 and spent his
^entire life in Sabine par-
ish. His parents were
pioneers of Ward Two,
where some of the earli-
est settlers of this section
of the sta^'e located. Mr,
Brown has served his
parish and ward in vari-
ous official capacities for
many years, as may be
seen by reference to the
annals of the parish gov-
ernment. He was an up-
right and conscientious
citizen and commanded
the respect of all who knew him. Mr. Brown was en-
gaged in the mercantile business for many years and
a few months ago opened a store at Horn beck. While
these memoirs were being printed Mr. Brown died at
the home of his son, Mr. Edward Brown, in Ward Two.
J. W. Byrd.— This gentleman is a member of the
Parish School Board from Ward Two. He was born in
Winn parish, September 21, 1SG7, and when a small
child came to Sabine parish, near Negreet. He was
reared and has always resided in the southern part of
the part of the parish. He attended the old school at
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
283
Fort Jesup during the first and third years of its exist-
ence, when Prof. T. R. Hardin presided as principal of
that institution, after which he taught school for sev-
eral years. Mr. Byrd was married to Miss Estelle
Sanders, September 11, 1892, and to that union nine
children have been born, five boys and four girls. He
joined the Missionary Baptist church in 1892. He set-
tled on a small farm after his marriage,* and established
Rattan postoffice in 1893, and was postmaster eight
years. He w^as elected as a member of the School
Board from his ward and was re-elected in 1912. He
is a good citizen and stands for every move in the di-
rection of parish progress.
Leslie Barbee.— No history of this parish is in any
manner complete without notice of Leslie Barbee, the
most prominent pioneer of Fort Jesup, who came to
this parish in 1842 He Avas born in Wake County, N.
C., January 16, 1812, and died in 1900, He was a son
of Mark and Tempey (Garner) Barbee, who were of
English and Scotch descent, respectively. When he
came to this country he located at Fort Jesup and en-
gaged ill agricultural pursuits, although he was known
as a “Jack of all trades,” and could turn his hand to
any useful employment. He engaged in the mercantile
business in 1860, in which he continued for many years.
He always took a prominent part in parish affairs and
in 1878-79 represented the parish in the State Legisla-
ture. Mr. Barbee was married in 1838 to Miss Arge-
nene, a native of Georgia, and to them were born six
children: Caroline, Avifeof M, P. Hawkins (deceased) ;
Mary J., wife of W. W. INIcNecly (deceased); William
H. (deceased), Joseph L., Nellie, wife of W. A. Ponder
(deceased), and Nettie, wife of Amos L. Ponder, Jo-
seph L. Barbee is now a resident of Fort .lesup and
has a pretty home there. He has a family of six chil-
dren, Joseph L., Jr., being the eldest. He has been
engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits all his life.
William H, liarbee was during bis lifetime engaged
in the mercantile business at Fort Jesup, besides tak-
ing a part in every move for the good of his parish and
community, occupying at various times several public
positions. He wife was Miss Emma Draughon. Pie died
March 11, 1908, his wife's death occurring a few years
284 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
prior to that time. Five children were born to them;
Leslie, ElSie, wife of I. L. Pace; Rena, wife of Reese
Pattison; Wm. J., and Nona.
Oscar O. Cleveland, cashier of the recently es-
tablished People’s State Bank of Many, was born in
Leak County, Mis-
sissippi, October
9, 1876. He went
to public schools
and after coming
to Many with his
father, W. B.
Cleveland, in 1898,
he entered the
station of the K.
C. S. R’y to learn
the railroad busi-
ness remaining in
the employ of that
company until he
engaged in busi-
ness in partner-
ship with J. H.
McNoely in 1902.
In 1905 he again
entered the em-
ploy of the railroad
as station agent at
Many, and after three years service he resigned and
accepted a position with the Santa Fe Railway. He
filled some important positions with that company in
Louisiana and Texas. He resigned to become cashier
of the People’s State Bank of Many, He is a conserv-
ative business man and a genial gentlemen. Mr. Cleve-
land was married in 1904 to Miss Claudia, eldest daugh-
ter of Judge and Mrs. Don E. SoRelle.
Julian Curtis, M. D., was born at Negreet, Sabine
parish, September 16, 1875, and is the third son of Dr.
William R. Curtis, a pioneer physician of Sabine and
a surgeon in the Civil War, and Emily Francis IMoore.
His childhood days were spent at Hemphill, Texas,
and at Negreet, in this parish. At the age of 15 he en-
tered the Fort Jesup Masonic Institute while the school
was under the supervision of Prof. A. D. Carden, one
of the South’s ablest instructors. Early in life he mar-
iri ' . r -
’ 'Ji
'"V
O. O. CLEVELAND
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 285
ried Miss Nona Jackson and resided at Negreet until
his father’s death in 1897. B^ ing inspired to take up
his father’s profession where he laid it down, he en-
tered the Alabama Medical College at Mobile, attend-
ing one term in the fall and spring of 1897-98, and then
spent two years at the Memphis Hospital Colloge,
graduating in the spring of 1901 and passed the State
Board of Louisiana in May of the same year. He lo-
cated at Fort Jesup and practiced until October, 1904,
when he accepted a position with the Kapides Lumber
Co. at Woodworth, La., one of the Long-Bell plants, as
physician and surgeon, resigning same in April, 1906,
and moved to Many, where he continued the practice
of his profession in partnership with Dr. D. H. Dillon
until October of that year. The succeeding seven
years have been delightfully spent in the service of the
Brown Lumber Go. at Shamrock, La.
John J. Curtis was born in Sabine parish on June
17, 1843, and is one of the oldest native citizens now
living in the parish. His
father was a pioneer of the
Toro country, settling there
in 1827. The subject of this
sketch received what little
education he was able to ob-
tain in a log school house.
In April, 1861, when only 18
years of age, he enlisted in
the first company which left
Sabine parish to fight in the
Civil War, under the com-
j. J CURTIS. mand of Capt. Arthur Mc-
Arthur. This command was assigned to the army in
Virginia in Gen, Stonewall Jackson’s brigade. Mr.
Curtis was in the most memorable battles of the cam-
paigns of that famous commander. When the battle
of the Wilderne.ss was begun on the 5th of May, 1864,
only fourteen men of Mr. Curtis’ company responded
for service, and his leg was broken in this bloody
conflict, and his friend Bob Kunnels was killed by his
side. After lying vvounded on the field for three
days, he was picked u|) by the Yankees and taken to
their hospital and he saw only two or three of his
comrades after that time. He was taken prisoner by
yiHi& ■ Sn 'Jjtbif'. •■>'■! .f^m ^•A^M. htdi ,
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286 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Stev art’s cavalry. He recovered from his "wound suffi-
ciently to return home the following fall, and the war
was ended a few months later, out, after more than
half a century the scenes of that mighty conflict are
still fresh in his memory. He v as married and reared
a family, all of whom have ])assed to their reward.
Thomas jEFFTMtshx Crawforp, the present sheriff
of Sabine parish, was born near Pleasant Hill, Sabine
parish, October 3, 1833, his parents being William H.
and Cyuth a (Anderson) Cranford. Pli.s father, whose
death occimred while serving in tlie Civil War, May,
1864, was a native of Alabama, while his mother was
born and reared in Sabine parish, her father being
Wade Anderson, a pioneer, whose sou, ,Teff Anderson,
was sheriff of this pari : b. in 1863 and died while an oc-
cupant of that office, his father serving the nnexpired
term. When old enough to 'work Mr. Cranford fol-
lowed the plow and belpt d to supp'ort his wddowed
mother. There were no schools in the country and he
reached manhood with a very limited education. His
mother, several year.s after the war, married C. 11.
Carroll, to which union two children were born, S. JL.
Carroll, who is now a i)rommerit merchant of Zwolle,
and Annie, who is tlie wife of John Paul and resides in
Te.xas. Mr. Cranford folio w.'d the occupation of farm-
ing until 1902. He served two terms ys Police Juror in
the ’90s and was a luemlver of that body from his old
home ward (the Sixth) vlieii the present courthouse
and jail were constructed. In 1901 lie moved to Many
to accept a i>osition as field deput.> for Sheriff Hender-
son, purchasing a farm just outside tlie corporate lim-
its. Mr. Hendersou resigned his office in November,
1902, and Mr. Cranford was appoitited sheriff by Gov-
ernor Heard. He has occupied the position ever since,
having been three times elected. As ex-officio tax
collector, he has always collected the taxes and turned
same into the parish treasury proni]>tly on the first of
July of each year, and has made it a rule to collect
more than is charged. He is also proud of the fac^
that he has never found it necessary to .seriously hurt
a prisoner while in the discharge of hi.s duties Mr.
Cranford is a genial gentleman and courteous oflicer.
In 1886 he was married to Miss Cora Hooker and to
them have been born four children: Maggie, Rupert
(died at the age of? year.s), Ijola and Nellie.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 287
Thomas G. Coburn, of Coburn postotfice, was born
in Coffey County, Alabama, April 23, 184:4, and moved
with his parents to Louisiana in February, 1852, arriv-
ing in Many that
year. The family
was going to Texas,
but after staying,
here two years
procured land in
the southeast cor-
ner of the parish
where the subject
of this sketch now
resides. Mr, Co-
burn might thus be
considered a pio-
neer. He enlisted
in the Confederate
army in 1862, at the
age of 18 years, un-
T. G COBURN. der General Dick
Taylor and served
.until the battle of Mansfield, April, 1864, when he was
■ seriously wounded, and he has never fully recovered
from the effects of the wound. After the war he re-
turned to his home to start anew and to do battle
.against the outrages of reconstruction. On November
19, 1868, he was married to ]\[iss S. J. Phares, and to
that union ten children were born, seven of them still
living. Mrs. Coburn died on March 5, 1899, and on
/January 1, 1890, he was married to Miss E. C. Bolton.
.Six children were born to them, five still living. On
June 19, 1910, she, too, passed to her reward. Mr. Co-
burn served for a number of years as a member of the
Parish School Board, and has been identified with all
progressive movements in his community and parish.
E. C, Dillon. — This gentleman enjoys the distinc-
tion of being the oldest citizen now living who was
born in the town of Many, and whose life has been
spent in this vicinity. It is not the portion of many
men to live to witness the many changes and wonder-
ful transitions that have been seen by the sub-
ject of this sketch. His maternal grandfather was
John Baldwin, “the father of Many,” who felled the
, iflret trees for a home here and contributed much to
'8g ■
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2^8 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCBilS
the work of the early development of the country. Mr.
Dillon was born at September 10, 1849. His father was
Patrick Henry Dillon, a native of Virginia, and his
mother was Jane Baldwin, daughter of John Baldwin,
To their marriage were born two boys, John Dillon, a
prominent citizen
of Mansfield, and
E. C., the subject
of this sketch.
His mother died
in 1850, and his
father’s death oc-
curred a few years
later. He was
reared by his un-
cle and aunt, Mr.
, and Mrs. E. C-
Davidson. He is
proud to recall
that he received
his instruction at
old Bellwood Col-
lege, near Many, ^
under Prof. Pres-
ton, and later ih a
school conducted
by that learned
' ^ E. C. DILLOX teacher in Texas,
i . In 1871 he was
i married to Miss Louisa Sibley, daughter of Major Wil-
liam W. Sibley, and to that union six children
Were born; Daniel Harvey, W. Edward, Davidson,
! ^ (deceased), Elizabeth (wife of A. R. Peterson), Lattie
(wife’of Floyd C. Mitchell) and John P, Two of his
sons, D. H. and W. E., are prominent members of the
medical [irofession in this parish. After the death of
Mrs. Dillon, he was married to Miss Rilla Self, daugh-
ter of Judge Elijah Seif, a pioneer of Sabine and for
many years an esteemed citizen and prominent in the t
political life of Vernon parish. Four children were
born to them, three now living: Percy, Josephine and
Bertha. Death again claimed his wife and companion
- and in 1892 lio marriiHl Miss Annie Coss of Pleasant
Hill and they have a pretty and pleasant home. Mr.
: Dillon is brisk and active for a man of his advanced
BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES 289
age. He has always been a lover of his town and par-
ish,has always stood for everything for their glory and
and material welfare, and has an abiding faith in the
future of his country. In battling with the adversities
of his long life he has ever been in the vanguard of the
optimists, never losing sight of that star of hope which
is the beacon of the just on earth and in theafter-while.
His geniality and open-heartedness have made a hint
friends wherever he is known, and these traits of char-
acter are manifest every day. For many years Mr.
Dillon was engaged in farming, but in later years in
business pursuits, and conducted a drug business under
the name of Dillon Drug Co, He served the past two
years as mayor of Many, and was the prime mover in
organization of the Parish Fair Association in 1909,
and is the present president of that institution. Mr.
Dillon is president of the People’s State Bank of Many,
and it was principally through his efforts that this bank
was started. He remembers \vhen there was not a
• cook stove or sewing machine to be found in the par-
ish, observes that there has been great progress made
since that time, but he hopes to see more.
W. E. DiLLO^r, M. D., was born January 15, 1877, in
Sabine parish, his parents being E. C. and Louisa (Sib-
, ley Dillon. He attended parish schools and the Mem-
phis Hospital Medical College, graduating from that
. institution on April 27, 1900. For the follow’ing six
years he practiced at Fisher and Florien and for two
years was located at Bon Ami. He returned t® his old
home at Many, where he is now' engaged in the prac-
tice of his profession, about four years ago. In Decem-
ber, 1901, he was married to Miss Zeta Brown of Can-
ton, Miss,, and to them three children have been born,
two of whom, a boy and a girl, are living. Dr. Dillon
has a pleasant home in Many and is an enterprising
citizen.
D, H. Dillon, M. D., w'as born in Sabine parish.
May 12, 1873. being the eldest son of E. C. and Louisa
(Sibley) Dillon. His early education was procured in
the public schools and at Keachie College. He entered
Memphis Medical College from which he graduated in
1898 and came to Sabine parish to practice his profes-
- sion. For some time he was located at Fisher as chief
surgeon for the Louisiana Long Leaf Lumber Company
290 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
and local surgeon of the Kansas City Southern Rail-
way. In 1904 he was elected representative of Sabine
very successful, being a hard and untiring worker.
At this time lie has as his professional associate Dr. W.
D, Lester and has an office In the People's State Bank
Building. Dr. Dillon was married in 1896 to Miss Net-
tie Self, daughter of .Tudge Elijah Self, and to
them has been born one son. The doctor has always
been progressive in his ideas, has always been a con-
spicuous figure in public affairs and is not ready to
promise that he will keep out of the political game in
the days to come.
Richard A. Fraser (Attorney-at-Law) was born in
Mansfield, La., February 3, 1879, and was reared and
secured his education in that town. In 1904 he gradu-
ated from the Law Dei)artment of Tulane University
and returned to his home town and practiced his pro-
fession until 1909, when he formed a partnership with
Silas D. Ponder at Many, wliieh was dissolved , in
-1912. Besides having a good law practice, he is asso-
parish in the State
Legislature for a
term of four years.
During that time he
also practiced med-
icine at Many, one
year in partnership
with Dr. J ulian Cur-
tis. In 1908 Dr. Dil-
DR. D. H. DILLON.
Ion was appointed
president of the
State Board of
Health by Governor
Sanders and occu-
pied that position
for two years and
left a clean record.
Resigning his place
on the board, he re-
turned to Many and
again took up the
practice of his pro-
fession. As a phy-
sician he has been
M
■; ' ' ; -■ V . , ■ ■ . . i '^ ;
' '■> .,. iJ.;
■'SJ--... ■■'; V 'Ir. ■' i .) r:r: ' , ,: ‘’i' T’’
j. •' ' ,:■'. "'-■‘.-r'i''’ j-’j;;! K'
,. Uf, bAK*g ;,. Jif'T -.Sitl.'
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 291
dated with Dan Vandegaer in the abstract business,
the style of the firm being Vanclegaer & Fraser, and is
secretary and treasurer of the Sabine Realty Co. He
was married in 1910 to Miss Lula Peters, an estimable
young lady of Many, and they have a nice home.
Addison W. Estes. — Sabine parish has never had a
better citizen nor a more faithful public servant than
Mr. Estes. He was born in this parish September 11,
1847. While still a
young man be was
crippled for life, but
for many years there-
after he followed
farming and the sad-
dle maker’s trade.
He reared a family of
four girls and tv o
boys, three of whom
are still living. His
wife died in 1902 and
he was later married
to Miss McDonald,
daughter of Robert
McDonald, a pioneer
of the parish, and to
that union two chil-
dren have been born.
In July, 1884, Mr. Es-
tes was elected parish
treasurer and has
A. w. ESTES. held that position
ever since. In 1892
he was elected clerk of the Police Jury and remained
in that position until the present year, when he re_
signed and was succeeded by W. G. Caldwell. The es-
teem in which he is held by liis fellow citizens is best
exemplified by his continuance in his public position.
John B. Fullei; was born at Shiloh, Union parish,
November 22, 1851, and spent his bojdiood days there.
On May 27, 1871, lie was married to Evie Sherwood and
in August of that year moved to Catahoula parish,
near Harrisonburg, and in 1875 came to Sabine parish
and has’ resided here ever since. In 1880 he was elected
constable of his ward, but resigned in 1889 and was ap-
pointed postmaster at Mitchell and served in that po-
292 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
sition for two years. He served one term as member of
the Parish School Board. In 1910 he was elected as a
member of the Police Jury, and for one term was pres-
ident of that body. In 1912 he was re-elected Police
Juror. Mr. Fuller has always been a conservative ex-
ponent of every proposition for the public good and ad-
vancement, standing for the things that make for good
citizenship, and has aimed to serve the people faith-
fully and impartially, and is esteemed as a man of ster-
ling integrity and splendid character.
Bufus Sibley Gandy, member of the Police Jury
from Ward One, was born on his father’s esta^'e near
Many, November 29, 1861. His father was Daniel
R. Gandy, one of the early settlers of the parish, whose
prominence in parish affairs is recalled on other pages
of this book. Mr. Gandy’s parents died when he was
quite young and he lived with his maternal grand-
father, John I. Sibley, on Bayou Toro, this parish, un-
til he was 14 years of age. He then lived with his un-
cle, L. J. Nash, until 21 years of age. On December
17, 1885, he married Ida R. McLanahan of this parish
and settled on the estate w’here he now resides, near
Florien. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity
and is the popular representative from his ward on the
Police Jury and is an enterprising and energetic
citizen. His family consists of two daughters and
one son.
Harvey M. Gandy, a prominent farmer and presi-
dent of the Police Jury, was born in Bibb County, Ala-
bama, in 1847, and is a son of of Harvey M. and Mary
Caroline (Martin), whose deaths occurred in 1847 and
1854 respectively. His grandfather was John Gandy, a
native of Georgia and his grandmother was the daugh-
ter of Jolm Martin, a planter, of North Carolina. He
was reared by an uncle, Wiley R. Gandy, but received
only a limited education. When 14 years of age he
joined Companj- B, Forty-fourth Alabama Infantry,
which was assigned to the Army of Virginia, partici-
ating in the greatest battles of that famous army. He
was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga and inca-
pacitated for duty for several months, and during his
service he was twice made a prisoner, but each time
was paroled and returned to his command and was a
sergeant when General Leo surrendered at Api)omattox
Court House. After the war he returned to Alabama,
I
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 293
and in 1868 came to Sabine parish, being married in
1872 to Mary J., a daughter of Elijah Self, she being
born in this parish and dying eleven months after her
marriage. Mr. Gandy’s second union took place in
1874, his wife being Mary Caroline Sibley, a daughter
of William and Minerva Sibley, who were born in St.
Helena Parish, Six children were born to them. Mr.
Gandy’s third marriage took place in 1888 to Winnie,
daughter of T, A. and Matilda Addison, the former
born in St. Helena and the later in Sabine parish. To
Mr. Gandy’s last marriage a son and a daughter have
been born. He owns a fine farm near Negreet and is
one of the most progressive and substantial farmers of
the parish. For more than twenty years he has served
as a member of the Police Jury and a large portion of
the time as president of the body, and has rendered
his parish most valuable services. He is held in the
highest esteem by his fellow citizens for his conserva-
tive judgment and counsel, unpeachable integrity and
withal a most genial gentleman. jDespite his ad-
vanced age, he takes a live interest in the affairs in his
community and parish.
Florien Giauque.— While the subject of this mem-
oir is not in the real sense a citizen of Sabine parish,
he has been prominently identified with the material
progress of the parish for more than a third of a cen-
tury and is worthy of special mention. At one time he
was one of the largest individual land owners in this
parish and still own? considerable real estate here. The
data for the following sketch was gleaned from biogra-
phies of Mr. Giauque which appear in histories of
Wayne County, Ohio, ‘‘Alibono’s Dictionary of Au-
thors” and in ”Who’s Who in America,” and from his
old friends and acquaintances in Sabine parish. Flo-
rien Giauque was born in J?erlin, Ohio, May 11, 1843.
His parents were Augustus and Sophia (Guillaume)
Giauque, w’ho were born of good families in the French-
speaking Canton of Berne, Switzerland, and immi-
grated to Holmes County, Ohio, wliere the.y were mar-
ried. In 1849 they moved to Wayne County, Ohio, Mr.
Giauque’s father dying soon afterward, leaving to his
widow only means enough to buy a modest cottage
home in Fredricksburg, where she began the work of
rearing her children, sending them to the public school
4
,v
i
i
I
cation. One of Mr. Giauque’s pleasantest as well as
proudest recollections of his boyhood days was that,
“prizing first of all good character, he would make of
himself a man as well educated and cultured and well-
to-do financially as his people had ever been in Swit-
zeriand (they having sulfered liuancial losses by immi-
grating to America), and to this end he determined
to graduate at a good college, and, soon after, also de-
termined to become a good lawyer.” He nev'er wav-
ered from this detcninination, although his path was at
times strewn with trials. In ISGl his mother died of ty-
phoid fever and a few days later his eldest sistt‘r, who
had married, also succumbed to the same disease.
294 BIOGRAFEICAL SKETCEES
and to the Presbyterian Sunday school. In 1855 she
married Mr. Jeanneret, also a native of Switzerland,
who followed the trade of a jeweler. The stepfather,
while providing for the wants of the family, did not
encourage young Florien’s ambition to secure an edu-
/
»
i
\ri
-v,- , ^ ■, : ;i >; “'"ii : ^y.tf
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• '; y:\< :> . ■>'■■ s\ hirii :i-}V’ 7 b'(ui<f
BIOGRAPHICAL SKEICHRS 295
With $10 he had earned making ties, and with what he
could earn while school was not in session, he attended
a five months’ session at Vermillion Institute, Hays-
ville, Ohio, with a view of fitting himself for teaching.
He worked for farmers that summer and secured a
good school at Wooster, Ohio, for the following winter.
But the Civil War was now going on and his state was
calling for volunteers and he enlisted in Co. H, 102nd
Ohio Infantry. He served under Generals Grant, Bu-
ell, Sherman, Rosecrans and Thomas. During his
term of service in the army he never asked for nor re-
ceived a furlough, and while he was in broken health
when discharged at the end of the struggle, he has
never applied for a pension and says he never intends
to. He first came to Louisiana when the days of re-
construction were yet dark, but never tried to conceal
the fact that he had been a soldier in the Union army
neither did he ever make his political views the subject
of a conversation calculated to offend anyone; his de-
portment always has been that of a polished gentle-
man, ever ready to extend kind words, good counsel
and assistance and many citizens of Sabine parish are
grateful for having formed his acquaintance. After
the war Mr. Giauque resumed the work of completing
his education by becoming a teacher-student at Vermil-
lion Institute. In 18G6 he entered Kenyon College at
Gambler, Ohio, where he graduated with the highest
honors in 1869, having won his W'ay into the Phi Beta
Kappa society by his high standing, the only way any
person may become a member except by distinguished
scientific or literary work. He wears the watch
charm which was presented to him by that society and
esteems it as one of his most valuable possessions.
Though' })oor in the material things of the world, he
won the respect and cst«!em of his wealthy classmates
from the Eastern states, and in his senior year they
elected him the class orator, the highest honor they
could bestow. After teaching school for a while, he
opened a law office in Cincinnati and has been practic-
ing that profession ever sinc(‘, and most of the time has
had as a partner Henry K. McClure, Esq., who is re-
puted as an excellent gentlenian, a finished scholar and
an able lawy(>r. Mr. (Jiau<(ue, besides being a hard-
working lawyer, has luam the editor of several legal
works and has contributed articles to the leading j)eri-
: : i 'j'/
i':. ;
t
‘:f' JjK.d
tilJ^
iiiov-f
f'..ij"IOV/'
296 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
odicals of the country on request, principally on scien-
tific subjects, and. has occasionally delivered lectures.
He has taken a keen interest in American archaeology,
and once had a splendid collection of stone and copper
prehistoric implements, pottery, etc., which were ex-
hibited and won medals at various expositions, includ-
ing the World’s Fair at Philadelphia in 1776. After be-
ginning the practice of law Mr. Giauque gave seme at-
tention to buying and selling real estate, which busi-
ness has been so fascinating for him that he has con-
tinued in this line and his ventures have been uni-
formly successful. He has promoted additions to Cam-
eron, Mo., and Deshler, Ohio. When the Kansas City
Southern Railroad built through Sabine parish he sold
32,700 acres of land to promoters connected with that
road, and they honored him by naming the town of
Florien in this parish for him. He still owns several
thousand acres of land in several parishes in Louisiana,
but he has disposed of a large part of his lands in Sab-
ine. For many years he spent the month of December
in Many, but in recent years his visits here have been
brief and less regular. He still predicts a great future
for the parish and that the South will yet become
the richest and grandest country in the world.
Mr. Giauque was married November 18,- 1884, t© Mary,
daughter of William H. Miller, a lawyer of Hamilton,
Ohio, who w’as killed in action while serving as an offi-
cer in the Union army. She was the grand-daughter
on her mother’s side of John Woods, during his life-
time a leading lawyer of Hamilton, a member of con-
gress, auditor of the state of Ohio, and the promoter of
several important public enterprises. Five of her an-
cestors did honorable service in the Revolutionary
War, on the American side, and others in the earlier
colonial wars, Mrs. Giauque died during the winter
of 1912. No children were born to Mr, and Mrs.
Giauque.
W. P. Good (Attorn«y-at-LawO.— Of Scotch-Irish
and English-Trish stock, the subject of this sketch
came into being amid the hills of York County, S. C.,
was left an orphan at the age of 11; at 12 was taken by
a w’ealthy uncle, a self-made man, to live with him in
yorkville, where superior school advantages were en-
joyed. With a scholarship purchased by his father be-
fore the subject’s birth, he attended Davidson College,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 297
MeckelbergCo., N. C., and graduated in June, 1873, one
year having intervened and been utilized to recuperate
his finances by clerk-
ing in a general mer-
chandise store. In
February, 1874, visit-
ing relatives in Mis-
sissippi, he secured a
school and taught six-
teen out of a possible
18 months, and with
the money saved stud-
ied law under Camp-
bell & Anderson of
Kosciusko, and thence
went to Lebanon Law
School in Tennessee —
graduated and was
licensed to practice
law in that state; but
his interests remaining
in South Carolina, he
returned thence and
assisted in redeeming
the state from repub-
lican misrule, af-
w. p.GOOD ter which he en-
gaged in practice at Yorkville. Having accumulated
considerable money by the judicious handling of capi-
tal derived from land inherited, and thinking to find a
better field for the pursuit of his profession, he re-
moved to Texas in March, 1885, to meet with disap-
pointment in finding the profession overcrowded, and,
having invested his money in a speculative venture, he
was compelled to await developments, which resulted
in the loss of all by reason of the financial stringency
of 1890. Presaging the tide of prosperity from Texas to
Louisiana, in April, 189H, he preceded the railroad to
Many, M'here he has since devoted himself to the hon-
orable pursuit of his profession.
David J. HolmEvS, member of the Police Jury from
Ward Eight, was born on a farm in Kankin County,
Miss., Jiiiip 6, 1868, and was reared on a plantation in
that state. In 1885 he was married to Miss Mollie
Chapman, and after her death he came to Sabine par-
ish in 1891. After attending school at Many three
298 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
years, he taught in the i)ublic schools of the parish for
three years and located at Zwolle in 1898. In 1899 he
was married to Miss Nonie Youngblood. He was
elected a member of the Police Jury in 1912, and is
rendering splendid services to his w'ard and parish,
and is especially active in all propositions for public
improvements.
Frank Hunter, president of the Sabine State
Bank, was born in Marshall County, Tenn., Feb-
ruary 2S, 1875, and spent his boyhood days on
a farm. He was jriven fair opportunities for
procuring an education and he took advantage
of them, and was able to pursue the profession of
teaching, but subsequently decided to enter upon
a business career, for which his education fitted
him. In 1901 he
came to Many to
become cashier of
the Sabine Valley
Bank, the first
banking’ institu-
tion which was
organized in the
parish. He re-
mained in this po-
sition until the
Many State Bank
and the Sabine
Valley Bank were
consolidated and
rechartered under
the name of Sab-
ine State Bank
when he was made
president of that
institution, which
position he still
FRANK HUNTER. occupies. He is a
conservative and
progressive business man, and besides atlending
to his duties as the head of the bank has given en-
courugeiijent and assistance to worthy enter-
prises and has filled several positions, honorary
and political. He is a good citizen and as presi-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 299
dent of the bank is always ready to extend favors
when it is in the interest of safe banking to do so.
In 1904 Mr. Hunter was married to Miss Persia
Brown of Canton, Miss,, and they have an inter-
esting family and pretty home.
George L. Jackson, present occupant of the,
assessor’s office in Sabine parish, was born in oicl
' Jackson (now Lincoln) parish, near Ruston, No-
vember 21, 1851, his pa-
rents being Fied and Si-
lina (Shipp) Jackson.
His grandfather was an
old settler of Lincoln
parish, having erected
the first mill in that sec-
tion. Fred Jackson’s
family consisted of six
children: W. F. of Rap-
ides parish, A, S. of Nat-
chitoches parish, 11. S. of
New Orleans, Norma
(wife of Dr. Curtis of
Shamrock), Mrs. A.
L. Stephens of Leesville,
GEO L. JACKSON. ' and George L. The sub-
ject of this sketch was enabled to secure only a
very limited education the last schcol he attended
being at Many in 1874 when Prof. Davies was tiie
teacher, His father’s family came to Sabine par-
ish in 1872 and located near Fort Jesup and
he followed farming until 1870 when he entered
the printing office of the Sabine Southron at Many
to learn the “art preservative” at a salary of §la
month. After an extended experience at the
printer’s trade, however, he left it to accept a po-
sition in the store of L. B. and F. (1 Gay at Uobel- -
ine, in which he remained four years. Hewiis then
employed by Caldwell k Hill, and later was mana-
ger of the store of the Farmers’ Co-Operative As-
sociation at F ort Jesup for two years, after which
he farmed two years and then worked for three
years in A. Dover’s store at Robeline. He tiieii
spent eight years as salesman and buyer for the
mercantile house of Stifle Bros, at Many, resign-
. .'1 ’V'A
.1
I
300
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
in^ that position to make the race for assessor, to
which office he was elected ia 1 1)08. In 1912 he
was re-elected without opposition, which is suffi-
cient evidence of Ms personal popularity. He is a
progrressive citizen and efficient public official. In
1888 Mr, Jackson was marned to Miss Mary L,
Presnall of Eobeline and to them ten children
have been born: Kate (\Yife of T, J. .Chisholm),
Lena, Robert B., Norma, Daisy, Morence (died in
Fred, James, Carro and Mary Evelin.
George W. HexVrd, merchant and prominent
citizen of Belmont, was born in Perry County, Al-
abama, April 11, 1854, his parents moving to
Union parish in 1855, where he spent his boyhood
days. In 1875 he was married to Miss Frances
Goocher, and in 1S7G he moved to Belmont where
he engaged in farming and later in the mercantile
business. He has been postmaster at that place
for more than twenty years and has served as a
member of the Parish School Board. He is es-
teemed as a citizen of unquestionable integrity
and splendid character and has always been found
on the side of every move for the moral and ma-
terial advancement of the parish. Six children
were born to his marriage, three of whom are liv-
ing: Mrs, Jiidia Callens of Many, Mrs. Alma Ow-
ens of Mississippi, and G. B. Heard, the popular
agent of the Kansas City Southern Railway at
Benson, La.
Dr. William Marvin Hexuy was born in Union
parish, near Walnut Lane, on January 5, 1883,
where he spent his early life. He attended school
at Calhoun and Downsville, and in October, 1900,
entered the Southern Dental College at Atlanta,
Ga., from which institution he graduated as
D. D. S. on Aprd 29, 1903. Returning to Louisi-
ana, he practiced at various places for three
years. In October 1906, he selected Many as his
Eennanent location, bought ]>roperty, and has
een very successful. Besides practicing his pro-
fession, he is interested in business ventures; he
lias served as town councilman and is in line with
progressive movements. On May 27, 1911, Dr,
Henry was marrieii to Miss Minnie Addison, one
of Many’s most estimable and accomplished young
j ;/r'‘
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MGRAPEICAL SKETCEIS 301
. ladies, and they have one of the prettiest homes
in the town.
A. B, Jordan, member of the Parish School
Board from Ward One, was born May 8, 1867,
about two miles from the farm on which he now
lives. His father, John H. Jordan, was born at
Covington, Ala., July 29, 1823, and was twice
married, his first wife being Mildredge Watts,'
born in 1821, and his second wife Martha A. Par-
ker, born April 24, 1832, who is still living. His
first wife died Jul.y 15, 1846, one child was born,
Margaret A. F,; born April 15, 1846, and to the
second marriage the following births are recorded:
Euphemie B., January 15, 1850 (died April 15,
1158); Obedience, Sept. 5, 1851 (died October,
1864); William L., April 17, 1853; Ophelia, Jan.
21, 1855; Winnie, Sept. 26, 1857;
Amanda, March 12, 1860; John
Henry, July 6, 1862 (died June
14. 1874); Martha Ann, Nov, 17,
1864; Asberry (A, B,), May 8,
1867; Walter D., May 15, 1859,
and James E,, Sept. 24, 1871.
He moved from Alabama to
Mississippi in 1856, and in the
latter part of 1857 he came to
Louisiana, settling near the line
of Sabine and Matchicoches par-
ishes in Ward One. He became
A. B. JORDAN, a member of the Baptist church
at Cedron in August, 1860, and
took his Masonic degrees iu Kisatchie Lodge No.
156 in 1864, and was an esteemed citizen of that
section. His death occurred July 8, 1899. A. B.
Jordan has always lived in the community where
he now resides. During his youth there were no
public schools there and he went for brief terms to
private schools taught by Abraham Ricks, Sam
Sibley, Valmore Byles, Elias and Dave Sell at Mt.
Carmel and Middle Creek, On December 1, 1892.
he was married to Eunice Belle Coburn, who was
born in Sabine parish, July 10, 1870, and to their
union five children have been born: Pearlie, Sept.
12, 1893 (inarrried George Mclnnis, Jr., died Dec.
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302 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
9, 1912); Ivry, March 8, 1895; J, Orange, Feb.
27. 1897; Florence O,, Nov. 7, 1899 (died June
30, 1910); John T., Jan. 28, 1902, Miss Ivry is
a popular teacher. Mr. Jordan has been always
engaged in farming. He is a member of the Bap-
tist congregation and Kisatchie T^odge F. & A. M.
at Mt. (Jarmel and is a splendid citizen. In 1912,
he was elected a member of the Parish School
Board, and is a consistent worker for educational
progress along all lines.
James E. Jordan, justice of the peace for Ward
One, was born September 24, 1871, his parents
being John H. and Martha A, (Parker) Jordan,
early settlers in the
southeast part of
the pan>h. He was
reared, and always
lived, on a farm, and
attended the public
schools. On Febru-
ary 3, 1903, he was
married to June A,
Coburn, and to them
has been born one
child, Sarah Jane
(June 26, 1904).
He served four years
as constable of his
ward and is serving
his third term as
justice ot the peace.
He took his Masonic
degrees in Kisatchie
Lodge No, 156 in
xiugust, September
j. E. JORDAN. and October, 1908,
and since that time
has occupied prominent places in lodge circles,
was W. M. six years, besides at various times fill-
ing other important offices. For the past five
years he has served as 1). D. G. M. for the Masonic
order. On January 16, 1910, he was made a
Royal Arch Mason in Vernon Chapter No. 51, R.
A. M. Mr, Jordan has been an enthusiastic stu-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 303
dent of vocal music and for several years has suc-
cessfully taught vocal classes,
H. S. Kennedy.— Mr. Kennedy (Uncle Hugh) was a
citizen of Sabine parish from about 1860 till his death a
few years since. It w’as said of Uncle Hugh and an-
other worthy old citizen of Pleasant Hill that they
were in the habit of sallying out of a morning and in-
dulging in a little uproarous profanity before break-
fast, as a cons*^itutional health measure. Aside from a
few harmless eccentricities of this kind, that served to
accentuate his individuality, he was a man of social
disposition; and, possessing a remarkable memory, was
full of interesting reminiscences of this section, extend-
ing from the time that he met Sam Houston of Texas
on the streets of Many to and including the latest hap-
penning of local or national politics. He was of mark-
able personal appearance, his head being almost en-
tirely bald. It was full of sound sense, how^ever, and
with an Irishman’s wit and knack of expression; but
for lack of opportunity, he might have been a Grattan
or a Curran in oratorical power. He was, besides, a
man of high character, and the w’orthy ancestor of some
of our best people.
• H. H. Kennedy, one of Pleasant Hill’s most prom-
inent and substantial citizens, ia a son of Uncle Hugh
Kennedy, was born and reared in that neighborhood.
He received his schooling at Old Pleasant Hill and
worked with his father in his business enterprises.
Mr. Kennedy has been uniformly successful in his en-
deavors, is at presnt interested in business and other
enterprises and is president of the Bank of Pleasant
Hill, a prosperous financial institution. Anxious for
the development and prosperity of his country, he is
ever ready to assist in progressive endeavors, and he is
genial gentleilfan and energetic citizen. On October
23, 1896, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Bettie,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fisher Smith of Many.
John L. Latham, member of the Police Jury for
Ward Six, was born in Webster County, Miss., Sep-
tember 7, 1859, where he grew to manhood. In 1881 he
came to Sabine parish and entered the employ of his
uncle, James L. Latham, on Bayou San Patricio, and
remained with him two years, receiving $150 a year.
He then worked for H. H. Cassell two years,
after which he was in the employ of 11. G. Brown for
five years. On October 10, 1889, he started to farming
on his own account, built the house where he now
lives, and was married to Jennie Paul, sister G. I.
Paul of Converse, Kev. S. S. Holliday oificiatiug at the
304 BIOGBAPHICAL SKETCHES
marriage. Five children have been born to them, three
of whom are now living. Mr. Latham is a splendid ex-
ample of a man who has made a success by his own de-
termination and industry. He owns 520 acres of land ^
near Noble as well as some property in that town, and
he belives there is yet plenty of room in that section
for energetic farmers to settle and soon be living under
their “own vine and tig tree.” Mr. Latham aided in
the erection of the first school house at Noble and has
always worked for better educational facilities. He is
■ a member of the Baptist church and the Masonic or-
der. As a member of the Police Jury he is naturally
partial to the interests of the constituents of his own
ward, yet there is not to be found a citizen who is a
better booster for the entire parish and more ready to
do Bomething for the good of the country.
William T. Latham was born September 7, 1859, in
Webster County, Miss., being a brother of the subject
of the foregoing sketch, and is a successful farmer and
business man of Nohle. -He came to Sabine parish in
1882 and engaged in farming on Bayou San Patricio,
and continued to farm until 1903 when he entered the
life insurance business with the Mutual of New York.
When he first came to the parish the country lying
between Bayous San Patricio and San Miguel was
practically a wilderness and was still a fine hunting
ground, abounding in deer and other wild game. In
1903 Mr. Latham went to Noble and bought land in the
town which was divided into town lots and sold. Dur-
ing that year he erected the first storehouse in the
town which he leased to R. P. Bell. He has always
believed that this section had a bright future and is an
^ enthuastic advocate of every proposition to advance
its interests. Besides attending to his own business
• affairs, he looks after the extensive land interests of
the Long-Bell Lumber Co. On December 13, 1883, Mr.
Latham was married to Miss Willie Cranford, who was
a member of an old family of the parish, and they
have a pleasant home.
W. M. Knott, cashier of the Sabine State Bank,
was born in Natchitoches parish, near old Beulah
Camp Ground, February 16, 1879. His father, George,
was a native of Kentucky, came to Louisiana in the
early days and was a successful farmer. W. M. Knott
attended ])ublic schools and the Fort Jesup High
School. He learned telegraphy and for seven years
was in the employ of the K. C. S. and the Rock Island
railroads, after which he entered the employ of the
Thoinp.^fpi-Rithchie (k>., wholesale grocers, at Rustou,
where hc remained three years. He came t© Many in
1909 to become cashier of the Sabine State Bank, in
which position he has made a most creditable record.
I V : ■ ■ . : i j • 3
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! it :>}.;•!<)• ' >'i lilt' *.r • i < J ai
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 305
Alfred Litton, Sabine’s representative in the
State Legislature, was born near Mitchell, in this par-
ish, December 31, 1859. His grandfather, John Lit-
\ ton, settled on Bayou Wal-
lace. Alfred Litton, Sr.,
father of the subject of this
sketch was married three
times and reared a family
of fourteen children. Al-
fred, Jr., was reared on a
farm and attended public
public schools In 1883 he
was married to Miss Sallie,
daughter of P. L. Tatum
and to them seven'children
have been born. Mr. Lit-
ton has always taken an
active, and patriotic inter-
est in public affairs and is a
zealous advocate of parish
A. LITTON. progress. He was a mem-
^®r of the Parish School Board for three years and is
®®rving his second consecutive term as representative
®f his parish in the State Legislature, and as a member
of that body has made a clean record. IMr. Litton is a
good citizen and is esteemed for his upright char-
acter and genial personality, and has never received
censure for any official act. He is a resident of Con-
verse and is especially interested in the progress of
that resourceful community.
James F. Lucius.— Mr. Lucius is one of Sabine’s
most substantial and progresssive citizens, and he is a
splendid example of a self-made made, whose success
in life has been won by persistent effort and untiring
energy. He was born in this parish in ISGO to Samuel
G, and Martha (Moss) Lucius, who were born in South
Carolina and Alabama in 1811 and 1830, respectively,
his father being a man of good education and a
pioneer of Sabine parish. J. F. Lucius was the fourth
of seven children, three sons now living: George W.,
James F. and Robert J. James F. was reared on a
farm, and besides going to the public schools attended
a high school at Milam, l\‘xas. His education has also
been increased by reading and travel, his travels hav-
ing extended all ovt*r Aiiu'riea, as widl as to Europe,
Egypt and the Holy Land. In 1879 he and his brothers
began rafting on the Sabine River and after three
years opened a mercantile business at Columbus. In
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306 BIOGRAPinCAL SKETCHES
1885 J. K. and R. J. Lucius moved to Negreet an opened
a mercantirc business which they continued for several
years, and at the same time bought cotton and directed
their farms. For tiie past ten years they have been
nearly entirely engaged in real estate investments, es-
pecially in timber lands, and have been very succesful.
James F. has always been an ardent advocate of pro-
gress and has neveV failed to serve his neighbors or his
parish when his services were needed, is a genial gen-
tleman and a high-class citizen.
Pat ImoNK, member of the Parish School Board for
Ward J’ive, was born in tlie community in which he
now resides July 9, 1891. Being without the^means or
opportunity to procure an education, he received his
instruction in the common schools, 'which was very
limited, and the measure of success which has come to
him has been largely due to his ow'ii efforts. He is a
good citizen, has the best interests of his community
at heart at all times and stands up for the advance-
of education in the entire parish. The people of his
ward expressed their confidence in his ability by elect-
ing him a member of the parish School Board.
Dr. Jame-S M. Middleton, prominent physician of
Many, was born at Simpkinsville, Monroe County, Al-
abama, September 2, 1866, and -was reared on a farm.
He chose the medical profession for his life’s work and
graduated at Vanderbilt Medical College in 1890 and
located at Maiiy. He took polyclinics at New Orleans
in 1893, a post-graduate course at Tulane Medical Col-
lege in 1896, a second course in polyclinics in 1899, and
has attended medical lectures since that time. He is
a member of the Parish Medical Society, has held vari-
ous ollices in that society and assisted in its first or-
ganization, Soon after locating in Many, Dr. Middle-
ton was married to Miss Lee, daughter of Mr, and Mrs.
J. F. Smith and to tiieir union was born a most inter-
esting family. Mrs. Middleton died in 1911. The doc-
tor’s eldest son is a graduate of the literary department
of Vanderbilt University and is preparing himself for
the bar by taking a law course at the State University.
Besides being a hard-working physician. Dr. Middle-
ton has always taken an active interest in public en-
terprise.^, and is a s])leudid citizen.
Rev. T. j. Lites. — The suiiject of this sketch w'as
born at Forest Park, Clayton County, Georgia, Jaiiu-
uary 17, 1859, and spent his boyhood days on a farm
with his parents, Daniel and Sarah (Aikins) Lites.
He lived oiio year in Alabama and went to Arkansas,
la 1881, where he b(‘gan teaciiing vocal music. In the
fall of 1883 he moved to Rockwall, Texas, and the fol-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHBS 307
lowing year was married to Miss Mattie Atherton of
has been pastor of some of the best ehurchf^s m the
Sabine and North Sabine Associations. In 1909 he
gave up pastoral work and became a missionary of the
American Sunday School Union and has been very
successful as a Sundae" school evangelist. He has re-
sided in Ward Four, about siv miles from Many, for 22
years and has been an untiring worker for the moral
and material progress of the country.
Geor(}E Rouert Pierce, member of the Police Jury
from Ward Eight, was born in Copiah County, Miss.,
July 18, 1866, and spent his boyhood there. He moved
with his parents to Sabine parish in 1882, and has al-
ways been engaged in farming and has been very suc-
cessful. Mr. Pierce has always been a strong advocate
of organization and co-operation among the farmers as
a means of bringing prosperity to them and building
up the agricultural interests of the country. He was
elected a member of tin* Police Jury in 1912 and is in
line with the progri'ssive policy of that body; he is a
gOod citizen and a high-idass gentleman.
Walter S. MircirEim, parish siiptu'int(*ndent of
public education, was born ou a farm four miles south
REV. T. J. LITES
that place. To
this union thirteen
children have been
born, twelve of
whom are living.
He moved to Co-
lumbus, this par-
ish in 1888, and
has perhaps done
more for the par-
ish, in a musical
way, than any
other man; has
taught vocal mu-
sic in this state
with splendid suc-
cess. In 1894 he
was ordained to
the Gospel minis-
try by authority
of the Missoinary
Baptist church at
Fort Jesup, and
308 BIOGIUFIIICAL SKETCHES
ol Fort Jesiip, June 21, 1883. At 6 years of age he en-
tertKl the school at New Hope, and with the exception
of a part of two terms at Fort
.lesnp and three months at
the New Castle school, he at-
tended this school until 16
3^ears of age, when, resolving
to prepare himself for the
profession of a teacher, he
entered the Fort Jesup High
School. At 18 years of age
he obtained a certificate
and taught a three months’
school in Vernon parish dur-
ing the summer of 1901. He
continued to attend school at
Fort Jesup in -winter and
taught district schools during
w. s. Mn’CHHLL, the summer months until
1904 when he entered a military school at Meridian,
Miss., from whirh he graduated on May 26, 1909, dur-
ing which time he taught a summer session at his old
home, school at ?\ew Hope. After graduating he re-
turned to Sabine and continued to pursue his profes-
sion, teaching in turn the Whatley and New Castle
schools. He attended the latter school when 7 years
of age, and while teaching there, April 3, 1910, he was
elected parish suptriutendent to fill the unexpired
term of three years of J. H. AVilliams, Jr., resigned,
and on April 5, 1913, was re-elected for a term of four
years. Prof. jMitcbell has a tlattering college record,
having filled with di.'^tinction the highest positions in
his militarj- company and in the various college soci-
eties, and on his graduation received the degree of
Bachelor of Science. As parish superintendent he has
been a hard and conscientious worker, a»d marked
and very creditable improvements have been made un-
der his administration. He is a polished and courte-
ous gentleman, and among our self-made men no bet-
ter example can be cited. On March 18, 1911, Prof.
Mitchell was marrit'ii to iMiss Hattie Gertrude Hart, an
accomplished young lady of Kiple^*, Tonn.
L.J. Nash was born at Columbus, Lowndes Co., Miss.
April 22, 18:12, his parents being Valentine and Mary
Nash, natives of Soutli Carolina, who moved from
>lississij>pi to Natchitoches parish in in 1838, and soon
thereafter settled on Toro, Sabine [>arish. Valentine
Nash died in I8'.d, at the age of 98 j'ears. His family
consisted of th(^ following children: John, Abie, Eliz-
!
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 309
abeth (wife of L. B. Gay), Eveline (Mrs. Nicholas Mc-
Neely), Ludlow J., (living), Leonora (Mrs. Mitchell
Carnihan), America (Mrs. John Carnahan), Columbus
C. (living), Isabella (died in infancy), Valentine, Jr.
(living); Victoria (Mrs. A. H. Hogue, died 1880). L.
J. Nash was first married to Caroline E. Sibley, eight
children being born to them: Franci.s Marion (died in-
infancy), John V. (died in 1906), Virginia L. (wife of
Dr. S. H. Cade), Samuel Adrain (deceased) (Coleman
S. (deceased), Colurnbus C., Mary Jane (Mrs. W. E.
McNeely), Elizabeth (Mrs. Joseph D. Stille). After
Mrs. Nash’s death he was married to Leonora Koontz
and two children were born to them, Ludlow and Le-
onora. Mrs. Nash and Leonora died in January, 1911,
their deaths occurring the same week. L. J. Nash
(familiarly known as captain) is now making his home
in Many, and still retains much of th^ vigor of his
youth. He is a splendid type of the old-time Southern
gentleman. His father established the first postofiice
(Nashboro) in the southern part of the par-
ish, which was discontinued during the war, reopened
after that period and continued until the railroad was
built through the parish in 1906. The Nashes ran a
store and plantation there for half a century. Captain
Nash went to school to Samuel G. Lucius in 1841, stud-
ied Walker’s Dictionary and Smiley’s Arithmetic, la-
ter attended grammar school and took a course in
penmanship and bookkeeping in New Orleans, and
taught schools. He was a member of the Parish School
Board in the ’70s. He served in the Civil War as lieu-
'tenantofthe Sabine Rebels. and brought home with him
the company’s tlag. Captain Nash has been one of the
parish’s most useful citizens, 'defending the right and
condemning the wrong. Everyone who knows him
is his friend, and his kind heart and and uui(iue gen-
tlemanly manners will be ever rememberedby all who
have had the pleasure of knowing him.
Dr. S. E. Prince, prominent physician of Noble,
was born in Bossier parish, August 8, 1869. He was
reared oa a farm and received his education in the
parish schools, and received his medical education at
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore,
graduating at that institution in April, 1896 He then
located at Yellow Pine, Webster parish, where he re-
mained until December, 1900 when he moved to Sabine
parish and engaged in a general practice at Noble, be-
sides being the physician and surgeon for the Frost-
Johnson Lumb(‘r Co. Dr. Prince has occupied a ]>rom-
nent place in the progre.ss of the thriving town of No-
ble, He organized the Noble State Bunk and is the
310 BIOGRAPHICAL SKBTCHBS
president of that prosperous and growing institution.
He is a past master of Noble Lodge No. 320, I]* A.
M.,-and a member of Vernon Chapter No. 51, R. A. M.,
of Leesville. Dr. Prince was married in 1900 to Miss
Pauline Trigg, three children having been born to
them, and they have a pretty residence in Noble.
John R. PARROTT.a successful farmer of Zwolle, was
born in the state of Alabama, March 11, 1839, and
moved with his father to Northeast Louisiana in the
early ’40s and from there to Sabine parish in 1854, where
he has since resided. He served as a soldier in the
Confederate army, was seriously wounded at the battle
of Mansfield, April 8, 1864, after which he was honor-
ably discharged. At the close of the war he married
and reared a splendid family, three of his sons being
successful physicians. While Mr. Parrott has been
largely occupied in farming and stock raising, he has
lent aid and encouragement to various enterprises and
has been very instrumental in the development of the
fine section in which he resides. For many years he
was a member of the Parish School Board, and
held that public position longer than any official in the
history of the parish, and has always been ready to
answer the call of duty. His record as a citizen and
official is ample testimony of the high esteem in which
he is held by his fellow cittizens.
G. W. Pugh, a progressive citizen of Noble, was
born in DeSoto parish in 1859, moved with his father to
Sabine, ten miles from the DeSoto parish line in 1872.
His father built a sawmill with gin and corn mill at-
tached,which was known as Pugh’s Mill and for many,
years was a voting precinct. G. W. Pugh resided here
until 1900, when he moved to Noble and engaged in the
gin business which he still conducts. He has been
twice married and has ten children. Mr. Pugh has ta-
ken an active interest in local and parish affairs. He
has served as a member of the Parish School Board
and as president of that body. He is a genial gentle-
man and good citizen.
S. H. Porter, member of Parish School Board from
Ward Eight and prominenX business man of Zwolle,
was born in Natchitoches parish. Sept. 2, 1877, lived
with his parents, ISIr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Porter, on
Bayou Pierre, near Allen, La., until 14 years of age,
when they moved to MarthavMlle, where he entered
school, graduating from the Marthaville High School
in the class of ’95. On January 1st, 1897, he entered
the employ of W. C. Davis of Pleasant Hill as sales-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKEICRRS 311
man, remaining four years and was promoted each
year, and on January 1, 1901, he became associated with
Mr. Davis in the mercantile business at Zwolle which
was later incorporated as the Davis-Porter Co. In 1906
Mr. Porter acquired all the stock in the company and
since that time has conducted the business in his own
name. Aside from being a successful merchant, Mr.
Porter is a booster for his town and parish. He has
served as mayor of Zwolle one term and as councilman
for several years. He is now a member of the Parish
School Board and vice president of that body.
W. R. Ross, member of the Police Jury from Ward
Seven, was born near old Vermillionville, Lafayette
parish, March 29, 1862. Shortly thereafter his parents
moved to Rankin County, Miss., where he was reared
and resided until November, 1892, when he came to
Sabine parish, located near Pleasant Hill and engaged
in farming. Later he was employed as bookkeeper, in
turn by Dr. H. L, Davis, Davis Bros, and H. H. Ken-
nedy. He was married July 15, 1888, and has nine
children living. Mr. Ross is at present engaged in the
gin business at Pleasant Hill. In 1901 he was elected a
member of the Police Jury and is serving his third
term, and has served as president of that body. He is
energetic and progressive and was prime mover in
the present campaign of modern road building in this
parish.
S. J. Speight, member of the Police Jury from
Ward Two, was born in Sabine parish. Sept. 28, 1864,
and was reared on a farm. In 1888 he went to school
two sessions of ten month’s each at Fort .Jesup to Prof.
T. R. Hardin, which embraces his schooling. On Sep-
tember 18, 1890, he was married to Miss Emma Lewis
of San Patricio, west of the present town of Noble, and
to them seven children, five girls and two boys, were
born, of'whom four girls and one boy are living Mrs.
Speight died in 1903. In 1900 Mr. Speight was elected
justice of the peace of Ward Two, and declined to run
again. In 1912 he was elected Police Juror for his
ward. Mr. Speight is a successful farmer, a good cit-
and is loyal to the best interests of his parish.
Prof. O. L. Sanders was born July 22, 1887, near
Rattan postofUce, is a sou of W. J. Sanders, and was
reared on a farm in Sabine parish. He attended th(‘
public schools, principally at Florien, secured a first
grade certificate and entered the teaching profession
at the age of 17. Desiring to e(iui[) himself fora more
useful life, he entered the Louisiana Statt' Universsty
in 1901, from which he graduated four years later.
I,
;
I
!
i
312 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
with the degree of Master of arts; he was senior cap-
tain of the corps of cadets and president of his class.
He then completed one year’s work in law at the same
institution. For the past three years he has been
principal of the Sabine Literary and Agricultural
High School at Oak Grove, three miles east of Con-
verse, where he has rendered most satisfactory service,
and has been re-elected principal for the session of
1913-’14.
Judge Don E. SoRelle was bora at Quitman,
Wood County, Texas, August 1, 1857. His pa-
rents w’ere Dr. Thomas W, SoRelle, a native of
Alabama, and Mildred Ford of Georgia, he being
their fifth child. In 1850 he moved with his par-
ents^to Mississippi, where he remained until 1869,
when they came to Louisiana, locating in Rapides
parish.near the town of Boyce. Judge SoRelle re-
ceived moat of his education under the instruction
of his father and mother and studied law at home, _
In 1886 he graduated from the Law Department
of Tulane University and located at Leesville for
the practice of his profession. He had formerly
been associated with John F, Smart in the news-
paper business at that place. In 1890 he estab-
lished a newspaper at Pelican, La , but moved to
Many in August of that year and started the Sab-
ine Banner as an anti lottery organ, and took up
the practice of law. His official record is noted
in former pages of these annals. He has been an
untiring and conscientious worker for an ideal
educational system and citizenship in the parish,
and as the present mayor of Many hopes to do
some good for the town. He is associated iathe
practice of law with Senator John H. Boone. On
January 7, 1880, Judge SoRelle was married to
Miss Mattie Self, daughter of Judge Elijah Self,
they have reared a most estimable family, and
they have one of the pettiest and most commo-
dious residences in Many. •
S. 8. T.\tum, president of the Parish School
Board, was born Dec. 12, 1853, in Jackson par-
ish, and at the age of 10 movt^d to Catahoula and
later to Union parish where he lived until 1875,
when he came to Sabine parish. In September of
that year he w.is married to Miss Sallie J. Tanner
and to that union eleven children have been born,
five boys and six girls, ten of whom are living.
.... o.,d 7 10 -v.-;-.!* ; 'iJ.dJSW
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V.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 313
Mr. Tatum is a prominent and prop:res8ive citizen
of the Tenth Ward and is an enthusiastic sup-
porter of improvements alcnp; all lines. He was
elected a member of the Parish School Board in
1908 and re-elected in 1912, and at present is the
worthy and esteemed president of that body.
John W. Taylor, a prominent and esteemed cit-
izen of Fort Jesup, was born near Akron, Ohio,
July 26, 1839; moved with his father's family to
Kansas, and w'hen the Civil War came on he en-
listed in Compp.ny I, 32nd Regiment, Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry. At the close of that conflict he was
married to Miss Mary M. Russell of Clyde, Ohio,
^ho was at that time a member of the faculty of
Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas, Until 1878
he was enj^aj^ed in the mercantile business, when,
for his wife’s health, he moved to Colorado, where
he spent three years in the cashier’s office of theD.
& R, O. Railway Co. In 1884 he came to Sabine
parish and the following year bought a farm, on
which he has since resided. Mr. Taylor has been
identified with public affairs, serving as trustee
of the Masonic Institute and High School at Fort
Jesup, as representative of the parisU in the gen-
eral assembly of 1892-94, as member and presi-
dent of the Parish School Board, and is prominent
in Masonic circles as a member of the pioneer
lodge at Fort Jesup and as Deputy District Grand
Master. Mr. Taylor is an affable gentleman, loyal
to thf^ interests of country of his adoption, and
bespeaks for it a glorious future.
James A. Tram el, member of the Police Jury
from Ward Four, was born in Sabine parish, No-
vember 13, 1860, his parents moving here from
Alabama in 1859. His father died in March, 1865,
as a result of the Civil War, and he was reared by
his widowed mother on a farm eight miles north
of Many. His limited education was such as could
be obtained in the common schools just after the
war; yet his strict adherence to the principles of in-
dustry won him confidence and esteem. He wij>e
married to Lula Lewis in 1886, to which union
eight children have been born, six now living. He
took a limited course in Soule’ businesss college in
1888. Mr. Tramel has been a member of M. E.
314 BIOGRA PBICA L SKETCHES
Church ISouth j^ince 188^). Besides serving; as par-
ish assessor, he has been constantly identified
with the directorship of schools. He moved with
his family to h ort Jesuo in 1890 and ior ten years
was secretarv of the board of directors of the Sab-
ine Central 11 ic'h school; he made the first white
enrollment hi the parish lor W. H. Vandeg;aer ns
suvervisor of the work, in March, 1911, he was
elected Police Juror to fill the unexpired term of
A. F. Addison; was re-elected in 1912 and was ap-
pointed chairman of the ways and means commit-
tee and is now assisting; in doing pioneer work in
model road building m Sabine parish. Mr. Tramel
is a faithful and conscientious public official and
stands for a better and greater parish,
William IL Vandegaeu, "clerk and recorder,
w^as born in the town of Many. December 2, 1865,
being the second son of John B, and Maria (Bu-
vens) A'andegaer. He has spent
his entire life here, attended
sciiooi in Many and at St. Charles
College, Grand Coteau. In 1894
he wns married to Belle Buvens;
after her death, which occurred
in 1901, was married to Mrs. G.
W. Hatcher. Two children were
horn t.o his first inarringe, John
B, and vSarah. Mr. Vandegaer
was engaged in the mercantile
business with his father until the
latlei'ks death. In 1893 he was
W. H. Vandegaer ap[)uinted parish assessor by
Governor Murpliy J, Foster and held that posi-
tion for twalve years, (n 1909 he was elected
clerk and lecordtr to lill the unexpired term of W.
E. McNeely (deceased), and is the present occu-
pant of that ))osit/ioii. He is an efficient and cour-
teous ofiic'ial and progressive citizen. Aside from
his public duties he is interested in. prosperous
business enterprises.
J. H. Wiij.iAMs, a prominent citizen of Florien,
was born in DcSoto pa-rish, March 6, 1847. His
father was Hightfoot 'Vilhains, who settled near
Many in 18.17, where ho owned a gin and a fine
oMMiiMiiiM
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 315
plantation, and his mother before her marriage
was a Miss Somerville. On March 29, 1866, J. H.
Williams wa» maried to Miss Neorni Ford and to
their union nine boys and two p-irls were born:
John H,, B. L., Robert L., Samuel K., Lemuel L.,
Sydney J., Daniel S., Edward L,, Byron, Lizzie
(Mrs. Joe Dover), and Mary. Mr, Williams’ sec-
ond marriage was to Susan Woodel, December,
1891, and to them three children were born. Van,
Jeff and Bessie. Mr. Wiliams’served with the Sab-
ine Rebels durins: the Civil War. He has been en-
gaged in farmins: and in later years was interested
in saw mills. He is a good citizen and has con-
tributed his part to local progress.
- W, C, Roatl'X, principal of the Many High
School, was born in Wayne County, Ky., August
31, 1861, and was educated in the common
schools of his native state
and at the Southern Nor-
mal School; took -special
w’ork in the Summer
School of the South at
Knoxville, Tenn., and in
the Louisiana State Uni-
versity summer schools.
He has taught every
year, except one, smce he
graduated in lSS-1. thir-
teen years as principal of
Louisiana high schools,
the last seven years at
Many. Prof. Roaten has
always been a diligent
w. c. ROATEN student of educational
subjects, trying to find the best for the people
around him; an untiring worker and painstaking
instructor. He is an optimist by nature, an out-
spoKen exponent of what he thinks is right, and a
mild but firm disciplinarian. Borne of the results
of his work are noted in the annals of the Many
High School Prof. Roaten is a member of the
Christian church. He was luarrie 1 in 1890 to
Mollie Reed of Mississi[>pi, and they have onechild,
Stanley, born in 190-1.
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316 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Silas D. Ponder (attorney-at-law) was born
on a farm six miles east of Robeline, Natchitoches
parish, January 15, 1860, His father, Wil-
liam A. Ponder, was a highly esteemed
citizen of that parish, and, besides being
a successful farmer, was identified with progress-
ive and public spirited movements; was member
of the constitutional convention, and assisted in
the work of banishing carpet-bag rule from his
parish after the war, Silas D. Ponder spent his boy-
hood days on the farm, was educated at the Uni-
Tersity of the South at Sewauee, Tenn., and sub-
sequently graduated at law from Tulane Univer-
sity and began the practice of law at Natchi-
toches. On account of a severe attack of fever he
removed to Texas, in 1886, where he lived for fif-
teen years, and while a citizen of that starte he
filled several important positions of trust, among
them being prosecuting attorney of Denton
county. In 1901 he moved back to the beloved
state of his nativity, located at Many, and for
several years was associated with his brother,
Amos L. Ponder, in law practice and for a short
time with R. A. Fraser, but at present is practic-
ing entirely on his own account. He is a success-
ful lawj^er, a genial gentleman and good citizen.
Elected without opposition, he has satisfactorily
served as mayor of Many. Mr, Ponder was mar-
ried, in 1885, to Miss Cora Templeman of Shreve-
port, and they have seven children now living-
two boys and five girls.
Amos L. Ponder, son of William A. Ponder,
was born on a farm six miles east of Robeline, in
Natchitoches parish, in September, 1863, and was
reared there. He graduated from Centenary Col-
lege at Jackson, La., in 1883. In 1885, he was
married to Miss Anita Barbee and to them four
children, boys, have been born. After his mar-
ried he kept books for tlie store of L. Barbee at
Fort Jesup. At the same time he spent his leisure
moments reading law and was admitted to the
bar in 1887, after standing a brilliant examina-
tion by the Supreme Court. He began the prac-
tice of his profession at Many, where he resided
until appointed attorney for the State Game and
i-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 317
Fish Commission, when he moved to New Orleans
and later to Arnite City, where he is at present en-
^agjed in practicinpj law. While a citizen of Sab-
ine parish he occupied several important public
positions; was parish superintendent of public
schools, represented Sabine in the constitutional
convention of 1898, and was one of the most tal-
ented and influential members of that body. He
served four years as district attorney for the 12th
Judicial District and rendered spend id services.
Besides being an able lawyer, Mr, Ponder is a pro-
gressive citizen and a pleasant gentleman.
Dan Yandegaer, parish surveyor, was born in
the Province of Brabant, Belgium, December 26,
1814, his parents being Jasper and Joanna
(Broweer) Yandegaer, who immigrated to Amer-
ica in the early ’50s, settling in Rapides parish,
where the subject of this sketch was reared. In
1867 he came to Many and engaged in ginning
and later in running a saw mill. For many
years he has been parish surveyor and still per-
forms the duties of that position and is also par-
ish abstractor, having as his associate in the lat-
ter business Attorney R. A. Fraser. Mr. Yande-
gaer is esteemed as a gentleman of sterling integ-
rity and splendid character, and is one of the
parish’s most useful citizens. He has been thrice
married and has seven children living: Rev. N, F.
Yandegaer of Monroe, Dan H., Nina, Thomas,
Cecil, John and Theresa.
Leo Yandegaer was born December 21, 1859,
in the town of Many. His parents were John B,
and Maria (Buvens) Yandegaer, natives of Bel-
gium, who immigrated to America with thtir pa-
rents in the early ’50s. Leo Yandegaer has lived
in Many all his life, received his education at 8t.
Charles College, Grand Coteau, La. For several
years he was engaged in the mercantile business
with his father, and after the latter’s deatli suc-
ceeded him as postmaster at Many and still re-
tains that position, and is also editor of the Sab-
ine Banner. He has served in several public posi-
tions, and has contributed as much as any one
citizen to the upliuilJing of the parish. On June
3, 1886, he was married to Jennie, daughter of
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318 TEE CHURCHES
Dr. T. W. Abinffton, one child being born to them,
Maggie. Hia wife died in 1887, and on September
4, 1889, he was married to Miss Emma Currie of
Shreveport, and to their union four children were
born, Eula, Mary, Annie Claire and Leo Jr., the
young ladies having completed their education in
splendid academies, w^hile Leo Jr., is a student at
nis father’s alma mater, St. Charles College.
Xlte Cliiirches.*
Various religious denominations are repre-
sented in Sabine parish and churches are to be
found in the towns as well as in the leading com-
munities. Besides the denominations mentioned
below the Congregational Methodists, Presbyte-
rians, Latter Day Saints and others have organ-
ized churches.
Missionary Baptist.— The oldest Baptist church
west of Red River was organized on Toro in the
’30s, and the Sabine Assotiation, with seven
churches, was organized in 1846. Among the
earl^Y preachers were Elders William Cook, McAa-
liff, E. A. Canipbeil and B. R. Roberts. In the
early '50c Elder.s W, C. Southwell, ‘‘Billy" Sibley
and N, K. Bray were members of the association.
Rev. I. N. McCollister was ordained in 1852 and
for many years was state missionary. He died in
1879. Among other prominent preachers of that
association in the Old days were Revs. Edmund
Duggan, Matthias Scarborough, Y, J. Prewett,
and, later, G. W. Stringer, Hiram Brewster, James
Saveli, Abraham Weldon, J, G. Bailev^ Daniel
Slay, W. M. Lilly and W. M. Bush, In 1878 the
association was divided and Vernon association
created. In 1S9G Sabine Association had about
G5 churches and was again divided. North Sabine
.association being created. Among the preachers
belonging to tiie latter association are Elders J.
B, Wood, Vv . M. Bush. Geo. F. Middleton, Jas. G.
Mason, M. Smith, A. G, Kidd, J. M. Pate. W. R,
♦Owing to thi‘ inability of the writer to secure satis-
factory data, this part of the parish annals could only
be presented brielly.
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[I ^ ' '
THE CIIITRCHES
319
Carroll. H. A. Phillips, A. R. Horn, T, Buckley, II.
W. Therwood, II. D. Williams, W.- R. Law and J.
H, Ricks.
Methodist Episcopal (South).— This denom-
ination has several chuiches in the parish and a
large number of prominent ministers have been
assigned to this field since 18-I0, and that cliurch
numbers among its membership some of the lead-
ing citizens oi the parish. W. D. Stephens, who
came to the parish in 1835, w^as probably the first
local Metodist preacher. He \vas also a mechanic
and superintended the work of building Fort
Jesup,was intimate with Gen. Zachary Taylor, and
declined a Federal position wliich the general of-
fered him when he became president. Mr. Steph-
ens was a member of the state constitutional con-
vention in the ’40s. Rev. W. F. Henderson is at
present in charge of tlie Many circuit
Roman Catholic.— The church of Las(.'abezas,on
Bayou Scie, wms established in about 1795, which
was followed by another church known asNuestra
Senora de Guadeloupe. These old churches have
passed into history, having been succeeded by the
present church (St. Joseph’s) at Zwolle, of which
Rev. J. A. Aubree was the first rector. Rev. F.
Van Haver was stationed there for several years.
The church at Many w’as erected in 1870, Rev.
Father Aubree serving as rector until his death
in 1896. Rev. A. Anseeuw later took charge, re-
maining until 1906, when Rev. Q. Vanderburg,
present rector, came, Beside.^ having charge of
the church (St. John’s) at Many, Father Vander-
burg has as a mission the church at Spanish
Lake, wliich succeeded the mission at Adais, estab-
lished in the early- part of the eighteenth century.
m
