Bio:  William J. Field, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000


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William J. Field was brought up to the life of a farmer by his father, and has
continued that calling with care and perseverance up to the present time, a
business to which he seems naturally adapted.  Almost from his birth, which
occurred on October 1, 1828, he has resided in this parish, his parents, Lewis
and Mary (Duty) Field, coming thither in 1834.  The former was born in Chester
District, S. C., in March, 1799, and in his native State grew to manhood,
participating in the War of 1812, being with Jackson in the battle of New
Orleans.  After receiving his discharge he went to Arkansas, and in that State
was married, his wife being a native of East Tennessee, and a daughter of
Solomon Duty, an Englishman by birth.  After the removal of Mr. Field to this
State and parish he opened up a fine plantation, and for some time was a
member of the police jury, and held the position of magistrate, besides some
other local offices.  He was a man of fair education, a greater lover of good
books, and was also very fond of hunting and trapping, the country at that
time affording ample scope for the cultivation of that taste.  On one occasion
he, with a number of other lovers of the chase, was gone on a hunting
expedition in Arkansas for eighteen months, and he often pictured in vivid
language the thrilling encounters he had with wild animals and Indians.  His
wife had two or three brothers killed by the Indians.  She survived her
husband several years, dying in 1847.  The paternal grandfather of the subject
of this sketch, Thomas J. Field was born near where he is now living, while
his parents were on a visit here from Arkansas, but he located here
permanently with then in 1834, and here also grew to manhood.  He was also a
hunter in his younger day, the abundance of wild game in the vicinity, no
doubt, adding to the taste he had inherited from his father, and many are the
bears, panthers and hundreds of deer, which fell a victim to his trusty rifle. 
The country at that time, was almost a complete wilderness, heavily covered
with timber and underbrush, and log rollings or house raisings were held with
great rejoicings, by the settlers, who were pining for something "exciting,"
settlers for fifteen miles around being in attendance, and contributing all in
their power to the entertainment.  Although Mr. Field's chances for acquiring
an education were very meager, he improved every opportunity, and his is now
considered on of the intelligent men of the parish, and one of its most
substantial citizens.  In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Twelfth Louisiana
Infantry, and after being in active service for one year, was detailed to work
in a blacksmith shop, which trade he had learned in his youth, and this
occupation received his attention until the war closed.  His work was in
Arcadia, Bienville Parish, and after the war he continued there for a number
of years.  In 1873 he sold his shop and moved to the farm where he now
resides, which was in a very dilapidated condition.  He immediately commenced
to improve this land, and now has 640 acres of as good land as there is in the
parish, with about 125 acres under cultivation, on which he has built a large,
substantial residence, and good outbuildings.  He also owned 800 acres of land
in Lincoln Parish, but divided this among his children, all of which property
he earned by hard work and good management, after the close of the war.  He
was married in Union Parish, November 1, 1854, to Miss Celia Autrey, A Perry
County, Alabamian by birth, and a daughter of Absalom Autrey, one of the
pioneers of the State. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Field:
William L., Della (wife of Thomas Rodgers), Thomas J., George W. (a clerk in
Arcadia, also assistant book-keeper and a fine mathematician), Frank F. And
Bettie.  Mr. Field is a Royal Arch Mason, in which he has attained to the
chapter.  He is a man whose reputation has ever remained unblemished, and the
respect which is accorded him by all classes is fully deserved.

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