Grover C. Womack of Catahoula Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Dorothy Taylor; dtaylor@bayou.com Source: Date: 9/8/1999 7:45:00 PM Central Daylight Time ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** This was published in a book called Eastern Louisiana a History of the Watershed of the Ouachita River and The Florida (?) A narrative Historical Edition Preserving the Record of the Growth and Development of the Territory Together with Genealogical and Memorial Records of its Prominent Families and Personages. The publishers were: Frederick William Williamson and George T. Goodman , Editors. The Historical Record Association - Louisville, KY, Monroe, La, Shreveport, LA. Note there is no date of publication in the book - but it had to have been published in the early 1930's - It is my understanding that the people with articles - paid to have them in the book - probably similar to the Heritage books that are being printed. GROVER C. WOMACK born January 28, 1885 - died May 25, 1956 In a Churchyard Cemetery in Catahoula Parish there is a gravestone which bears the inscription, "He died as he lived - a Christian," and "An honest man's the noblest work of God." The gravestone on which this inscription is carved marks the last resting place of Jacob G. Womack, the father of this subject, and the inscriptions are a tribute to a man who is best remembered as one who served the whole countryside, going about and doing good, relieving suffering and giving aid to everyone who needed it. All the fine Christian traits which characterized Jacob G. Womack have been inherited by his son, Grover C. Womack, and when he shall have been called to his f inal destiny he will long be remembered as the man who met a great crisis at the worst of the depression in 1932 and financed the tottering banks of his community with his own money that they should not be forced to close and thereby cause many small depositors, as well as large ones, to lose their business and their savings. Grover C. Womack was born in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana on January 28, 1885. His father was born July 2, 1848 and died December 12, 1921. The family moved from Tangipahoa Parish to Catahoula Parish in 1867. The elder Womack was a farmer and a merchant, and served in the Confederate army. His father Steven G. Womack, was also a Tangipahoa parish planter, and also a Confederate veteran. The, mother of Grover Womack was born August 15, 1850, and died February 23, 1907. She was the mother of six children: A. N. Womack, J. E. Womack, T. R. Womack, Lottie B. Womack, B. A. Womack, and the subject of the sketch, Grover C. Womack. Mr. Womack attended the schools at Manifest, Louisiana, but received only an elementary education. When a youth he worked in his father's store and also raised stock until he was 26 years of age. He then bought the "Herd" plantation which he still owns. At the death of his father, he took over the management of his father's store, and purchased the interests of all the other heirs. He has long been a community leader, enjoys the confidence of his friends and neighbors and is most highly esteemed. He has been a member of the parish police jury for three terms. He is the president of two banks, the bank at Harrisonburg and the bank at Jonesville. During the World War he was parish food administrator, and he has always served on all Red Cross Committees. He is a member of the Baptist Church and active in all the affairs of the congregation. During the moratorium and panic of 1932, he went to New Orleans and pledged his personal property for funds to save the banks of his community, and in the rendering of the service he prevented what would have been the greatest financial catastrophe ever to visit Catahoula Parish. The farm place which Mr. Womack owns has been in the hands of the family for move than 100 years, and the original home, 120 years old, still stands. Mr. Womack employs 32 families, all of them white, and in addition to his planting and cattle raising activities, he operates and manages his large mercantile establishment. He is the "first citizen" of Catahoula Parish, and the pride of Manifest, where he has resided for many years.