Bio:  William J. Garland, 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. Garland is a successful merchant and postmaster of Dykesville, La. 
He was born in Sumter County, S. C., May 9, 1851, to Edward and Ann Nora
(McKay) Garland, both born, reared and married in the Palmetto State.  After
residing in South Carolina engaged in planting until the opening of the war,
Edward Garland entered the Confederate Army, and while in the service died in
Virginia.  His widow is still living, and makes her home with her son, William
J., the subject of this sketch.  The latter is one of three sons and four
daughters that grew to maturity, all of whom are now the heads of families. 
William J. attained his nineteenth year in his native county, and upon his
removal to Louisiana in 1869, located on a plantation in Claiborne Parish,
where he spent a few years.  In 1888 he purchased an interest in the store
where he is now doing business, and in 1889 became sole proprietor, and
carries an excellent stock of general merchandise, his trade being large and
constantly on the increase.  He came to this parish empty handed, and first
worked as a farm hand, next farmed on rented land, and in this manner saved
enough to purchase a small place, which he successfully managed from 1870 to
1886, and then sold out his land, at that time amounting to several hundred
acres, all the result of his earnest endeavor to succeed in life.  His wife,
Miss Lydia M. Garland, was born and reared in this parish, and on August 11,
1873, their union took place.  Her father, W. W. Garland, was born in South
Carolina, and was one of the pioneer residents of this section, and a man of
substantial and business-like attainments.  The following children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Garland: Nobie, Edward, Hubbard, Cora, Katie and Nannie. 
A daughter, Maggie May, died at the age of eleven years, and a son, Bedford
H., died when six years of age.  Mr. Garland was appointed postmaster at
Dykesville in 1889, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which he is one of the stewards.

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