OXFORD, J. William, Lincoln, then Acadia Parish, Louisiana
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Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Mike Miller, Apr. 1998
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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 341-342.  Edited by Alcee
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Oxford, J. William, of Crowley, superintendent of schools, Acadia parish, was
born in Lincoln parish, La., Nov. 22, 1880, the son of Reuben G., and Louisa
(Harvey) Oxford, the former a native of Claiborne (now Lincoln) parish, and
the latter born in Winn parish.  Jerry Oxford, paternal grandfather of the
subject of this sketch, came from Georgia to Claiborne parish over 60 years
ago and was a farmer.  When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in a Louisiana
regiment which was assigned to Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's division; serving
with conspicuous bravery, and meeting a soldier's death at the battle of
Jonesboro, Ga.  On the maternal side, J. W. Oxford is distantly related to the
family of Jefferson Davis, late president of the Southern Confederacy.  Mr.
Harvey, father of Mrs. Reuben G. Oxford having married in his native state of
Mississippi before removing to Winn parish, a Miss Davis, kin of the
distinguished chief of the lost cause.  Mr. Harvey served for a few months in
the army of the south, returned to Winn an invalid and died at the age of 40
years.  J. William Oxford, whose father was a farmer, was educated in the
public schools of his native parish, taught school during 1900 and 1901; then
entered the state normal school at Natchitoches, La., graduating in Jan.,
1905.  Soon after leaving the normal institution, he was occupied in teaching
in Natchitoches, and was subsequently connected with the educational
institutions in Louisiana as follows:  Assistant principal of Marksville high
school, 1906-1908; principal of grammar school at Pine, Washington parish,
1908; principal of grammar school at Tioga, Rapides parish, 1908-09, principal
of high school at Columbia, Caldwell parish, 1910-11; principal of school at
Estherwood, Acadia parish; assistant principal Crowley high school, 1912-13;
elected, by unanimous vote of the people, in Nov., 1912, to the office of
superintendent of the Acadia parish schools for a term of 4 years, commencing
July 1, 1913.  Prof. Oxford took great interest in summer schools, attending
in 1906, 1908, 1910 and 1912, the summer school at the state university, Baton
Rouge, La., and being connected during 2 summers with the work of the senior
class of the state university; also doing post-graduate duty in 1909 at the
state normal school at Natchitoches.  In religion, Prof. Oxford is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church, South; in fraternal orders, a Woodman of the
World; and in politics, a democrat.  He married May 20, 1908, Miss Lillie R.
Knight, a daughter of J. W. Knight, resident of Pine, Washington parish.  They
have 1 daughter,  Eula May Oxford.

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