William E. Glassell, Culpeper Co., VA., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000




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William E. Glassell, who has been a resident of Louisiana since 

early childhood, has for forty-five years been a factor in the 

agricultural and commercial affairs of Caddo Parish.  He is president 

of Foster and Glassell Company, Limited, wholesale grocers, a 

Shreveport establishment known over three states.



Mr. Glassell was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1855, son of 

John and Mary (Thom) Glassell.  His parents were also natives of 

Virginia, of Scotch ancestry, and in 1860 they left their native 

state and, coming to Louisiana, settled in De Soto Parish.



William B. Glassell at that time was five years of age.  He grew up 

on his father's plantation near Mansfield, and was educated in such 

schools as were then available, during the war and its aftermath.  

From De Soto Parish Mr. Glassell in 1879 came to Bossier Parish and 

took charge as manager and overseer of the plantation store and the 

extensive plantation of more than 5,000 acres owned by the late J. M. 

Foster, who over a long period of time was accounted one of the 

outstanding characters of the City of Shreveport and the State of 

Louisiana.  Mr. Glassell remained associated with Mr. Foster until 

the latter's death.



About 1889, withdrawing from the active management of the plantation, 

he organized the wholesale grocery firm of Glassell & Rives in 

Shreveport.  This business had the financial endorsement of Mr. 

Foster, and subsequently the name was changed to the Foster & 

Glassell Company, Limited.  For over thirty years Mr. Glassell has 

been head of this very prosperous business, which has extended its 

trade connections out over all Northwest Louisiana and adjoining 

states.  It is a business that has earned prosperity for its owners 

and stockholders, and at the same time has increased the commercial 

prestige of Shreveport.



Not only in business but in civic affairs Mr. Glassell has had a long, 

honorable and useful career, and has lent his aid to every worthy 

movement.  He has served as president of the Shreveport Chamber of 

Commerce and its predecessor, the old Board of Trade.  For six years 

he was member and chairman of the Finance Committee of time Caddo 

Parish School Board, being especially interested in the establishment 

and improvement of the rural schools.  It should be recalled that 

under Mr. Glassell's leadership the first boy's pig club in the United 

States was formed, in Caddo Parish.  A business man and land owner, he 

was appointed by Governor Sanders a member of Louisiana's first Board 

of Conservation.



Mr. Glassell is one of the prominent church lay-men in Northwest 

Louisiana.  He was one of the first members of the First Presbyterian 

Church, becoming associated with it in 1879.  He has served as elder 

of the church longer by many years than any other.  His leadership 

plans were made and funds were raised to establish the Dunlap Memorial 

church in honor of Doctor Dunlap, the first pastor of the First Church.





Mr. Glassell married Miss Janie Adger.  Adger is an uncommon family 

name throughout most of the United States, but in and around the City 

of Charleston it represents a family of distinguished intellectual 

and social attainments, and of that family Mrs. Glassell is a member.  

They are the parents of five children:  Mrs. Eugene Conway,  Mrs. W. E.

Hawkins,  Mrs. Margaret Robinson,  William E., Jr., and  John Richmond

Glassell.



A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 38, by Henry E. Chambers.  

Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.