Bienville-Lincoln County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Colbert, Sr., James Polk April 17, 1919
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The Bienville Democrat   April 24, 1919
The Bienville Democrat.
Arcadia, Bienville Parish, Louisiana
April 24, 1919
Page 5

A Prominent Citizens [sic] Passes Away

On Thursday night, April 17, at 9:30 p. m. death claimed one of the widest 
known and best loved pioneer citizens of Bienville parish, Mr. J. P. Colbert, 
Sr., who passed away at his home, at the age of 74, after a brief illness of 
only a few days, the cause of this demise being heart trouble.  Mr. Colbert, 
who was the son of William W. and Mary Goodson Colbert, came of a prominent 
Alabama family and was a native of Montgomery county of that state, his 
parents moving to Louisiana when he was but five years of age.  Mr. Colbert 
spending practically his entire life in this immediate vicinity, with the 
exception of his period of service in the Confederate army, and a few years 
during which he was a resident of Ruston.  Mr. Colbert was a student at the 
noted boys' academy in Mount Lebanon, La., under Colonel Prescott, at the time 
the civil war began, and though but 16 years of age immediately made efforts 
to enlist in the Confederate forces but was refused on account of his youth.  
The following year, however, he was more successful and enlisted in Captain 
Gibbs' company at Mount Lebanon, becoming a member of Company E, Fifth 
Louisiana Cavalry, and being appointed orderly on Colonel Capers' staff, 
serving the remaining three years of the conflict with great distinction and 
making a [b]rillant record for his personal daring and intrepid spirit.  In 
February, 1869, Mr. Colbert married Miss Fannie Leary, daughter of Major 
Calvin Leary, of Minden, who still survives her husband.  For many years Mr. 
Colbert was engaged in the hotel business, first at Ruston, then later at 
Gibsland, and hosts of traveling men throughout this and other states will 
grieve to learn of the passing of one who was affectionately known by the 
traveling fraternity, far and wide, as "Uncle Polk," his genial spirit and 
kindly hospitality being proverbial among all with whom he came in contact.  
As a citizen he was ever progressive and alert to the best interests of the 
community and was the instigator and promoter of the movement which resulted 
in the building of Maple Park, the handsome little square on Front street, 
which transformed an unsightly bit of land into a beauty spot, and which will 
remain as a fitting memorial to the public spirit of its founder.

In addition to his widow, the deceased is survived by five children, J. P. 
Colbert, Jr., of Hot Springs, Ark., Mrs. Daisy Griswold, of New Orleans, Miss 
Mattie Morgan Colbert and Mrs. S. M. Oden of Gibsland, and Will Colbert, of 
Dallas, but who is at present with the American Army in France.  Two sisters, 
Mrs. Maggie Potts of Dallas and Mrs. E. M. Potts, of Stamford, Texas, and two 
brothers, A. J. Colbert, of Mt. Lebanon, and Augustus Colbert, of Welsh, La., 
also survive.  Many friends and relatives from Shreveport, Dubberly, Ruston, 
Mt. Lebanon and other points were present for the funeral and a great quantity 
of exquisite floral offerings from different parts of the state testified to 
the high esteem and affection in which the deceased was held.  The funeral 
services were held Friday afternoon at the Mount Lebanon cemetery, the remains 
being laid to rest with the rites of the Episcopal church.



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