Cemetery: Cedar Grove & Pickens Family Cemetery and Burial Ground; Caddo Par., Louisiana Submitter: Joel Blue Date: July 2001 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** City of Shreveport Location: Between 74th and 75th Streets , on St.Vincent's Avenue, Shreveport Louisiana. Israel Pickens; b. April 12,1832..d. April 30,1903 Martha ;b.August 14,1838...d.June 10,1916 Mattie Bell; b. 11/ 20/ 1871...d. 3/ 16/ 1879 Charley Herring; b. 11/ 28/ 1866...d. 9/ 18/ 1869 Samuel Felix; b. 8/ 17/ 1864...d. 4/ 01/ 1873 William Lasley; 9 /28/ 1858...d. 6/ 02/ 1859 Alice Drusilla; b. 8/ 26/ 1857...d. 10/ 05/ 1867 Martha T.; b. 10/ 17/ 1849...d. 5 / 04/ 1859 William; b. November 29, 1805... d. 11 June, 1852 Location of Cemetery: The cemetery lies on the west side of St. Vincent Avenue, between 74th and 75th Streets, in the city of Shreveport, LA. It was originally in the town of Cedar Grove which was incorporated into the city of Shreveport about 1928. (There is still a state highway sign at the corner of 70th Street and Mansfield road which has a right hand turn arrow to “Cedar Grove”.) St. Vincent Avenue was called the “Cedar Grove Road” going south to the town of Forbing, LA. It was an unpaved gravel road from 70th Street, southward, past the cemetery site, all the was to Forbing. It was known as Forbing Road going North from Forbing into Cedar Grove. The cemetery lies just off the street. It is surrounded by a short wrought iron fence . It’s access is an open gateway on the west side. All stones face east. The overall condition is well maintained. There is evidence of one marker being removed on the southeast, first row. In the northeast corner, at the fence, is a shallow, secondary fenced in area, which is unmarked, of a small size. Some history: The cemetery is on land which was behind the Pickens home and it had a small “meeting house” next to it. Across the street stood a Baptist Church which was also on the family property. That church is now gone and a retirement home is there. Next to the cemetery today, is “Word of Faith Baptisit Church” shich is just south of the cemetery site. This church also stands on land which was part of the Pickens family home. I was told by the secretary of the Word of Faith Church that they had recently found records which showed the transfer of land to the church by the Pickens family. The site has a Historical Site Marker which says: “Dating from the 1840’s this was once the family burial ground of the Pickens Family, planters of Caddo Parish. Among those buried here is Isreal Wilson Pickens, Caddo Sheriff from 1862 - 1865 during which time Shreveport was the Confederate Capital of Louisiana.” Arthur Blue said, “Clyde Pickens, Isreal Pickens son, lived on 70th Street in the 1920’s. Clyde was a Deputy Caddo Sheriff”. It was Clyde who patrolled Cedar Grove and kept it safe. He always gave the kids a ride if he saw them walking into town. It is felt that Clyde’s marker may be the one missing. The Tombstones: Starting from the southwest corner, the first Grave is central to the site. It is a large obelisk with a Masonic emblem. One it are the following words “Sacred Memory of Isreal Pickens, born April 12, 1832 .. Died, April 30, 1903” ..and.. “Blessed are all the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God”. On it’s base, facing the entrance it has the name “Pickens” inscribed. Next, to the north, upon a tower marker, a dove lies engraved inside a wreath of roses. It has inscribed “Martha … Born August 14, 1938 .. Died June 10, 1916” ‘She hath done what she could’.. Mark XIV” The second row, coming east, starting with the south side, is a set of small plain markers for children. They are: Mattie Bell …11/20/1871...3/16/1879 Charley Herring …11/28/1866 …9/18/1869 Samuel Felix …8/17/1864...4/01/1873 William Lasley…9/28/1858...6/02/1859 Alice Drusilla…8/26/1857...10/05/1867 The first row, facing St. Vincent Avenue, starting from the south side: First, a large white marble slab, inscribed “Martha T. .. Daughter of William L. and Meekly Pickens… Born 10/17/1849...died 5/04/1859 .. Aged 9 years, 6 mo, 17 days. Next, at center, is a large battlement-tower marker, with a domed top, which has a small flagpole in its center. It has a finely carved hand within a wreath of roses with the forefinger pointing upwards. It is inscribed; “William Pickens.. Born in Livingston Kentucky.. Nov 29, 1805... died in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, 11 Jun, 1852. Submitted, transcribed, compiled by: Joel Blue - Daniel56@aol.com Consulting Information, Arthur C. Blue of Cedar Grove ********************************************* ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ********