Ansley History ; Jackson Par., La
Submitter:Sharon K. Ray
Source:Jackson Independent June 26, 1936
Date: 1 Apr.2004


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History of Ansley and the Davis Brothers Lumber Company.Ansley is the home
of the Davis Brothers Lumber company. The town was settled by the Davis
Brothers and their employees in the later part of the year 1901, before the
town was established here, a dense forest of yellow pine, black gum, red
gum, oak and hickory were in evidence. These men are pinoneers of the lumber
industry, having begun their career as lumber men in Nevada County, Arkansas
when they were mere boys. In 1881, the company was incorporated and
chartered in the year of 1902. The pine mill began operation in December
17th, 1902. The first line was sawed at 4 p.m. by P. N. Davis, Manager, but
who at that time was sawyer for the mill. The planning mill began operation
in March 1903.In 1914, a hardware mill was erected which increased the daily
capacity to one hundred and twenty-five thousand feet.The company owns many
miles of railroad tract and a sufficient amount of locomotives to keep a
generous supply of logs for each of the two saw mills.The former officers of
this company were: James M. Davis, President; John M. Davis, vice-president;
N. M. Davis, General Manager; R. W. Davis, Secretary and Treasurer. Death
having removed three of the former officials and the fourth incapacitated
because of ill health, the company has been re-organized and the roster is
as follows: G. A. Davis, President; Mrs. R. W. Davis, vice-president; Henry
Hodde, General Manager; P. N. Davis, Secretary and Treasurer. During the
depression, this company continued operation, althought at a loss, that they
might give employment to their men, many of them having been in the companys
employ for many years. (The writer of this article has been in their employ
for 44 years). The lumber industry is the only industry here, as most all of
the citizens of this community work for Davis Brothers.In the year 1909,
through the generosity of Davis Brothers, in donating a sufficient amount
ofland, and through the earnest efforts of Profeeor D. G. Armstrong, mobly
supported by the citizens of this school district, a state approved high
school was established which has produced or graduated many boys and girls,
who are now holding responsible positions.There are only two religious
organizations in Ansley. They are: Yhe Missionary Baptist Church and the
Methodist Protestants, who worship in the same building and operate as
smooth as bees in a hive.Ansley is proud of her schools and churches. Some
of those who were responsible for the settling of the town and the
establishing of the school and churches are as follows: Messrs, J. E.
LaGrone,W. S. LaGrone, J. N. Landes, H. D. Young, G. W. Rogers, B. J. Mayes,
C. A. Moore, L. R. Parker,O. L. Burdine, and the Edwards Brothers. Dr. J. S.
McBride who has been the company physician here for 30 years figured
prominently in the establishing and maintaining of both church and
schools.The many kind deeds of Dr. McBride and Davis Brothers will be
remembered by their beneficiaries for years to come.We might state in
conclusion, that the Davis Brothers, with a number of their employees, moved
to this place in 1901, from Columbia County, Arkansas, near Waldo, where
they had operated two mills for 14 years.