John & Mary Alexander Enterkin celebrate 75 years, LaSalle Parish La. Copied and Submitted by Kathy LeMay Kelly, P.O. Box 219, Trout, La. 71371 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** TIPS FOR SEARCHING RECORDS ON THE INTERNET Netscape & Ms Explorer users: If you are searching for a particular surname, locality or date while going through the records in the archives or anywhere....try these few steps: 1. Go to the top of the report you are searching. 2. Click on EDIT at the top of your screen 3. Next click on FIND in the edit menu. 4. When the square pops up, enter what you are looking for in the FIND WHAT ___________blank. 5. Click on DIRECTION __DOWN. 6. And last click on FIND NEXT and continue to click on FIND NEXT until you reach the end of the report. This should highlight the item that you indicated in "find what" every place it appears in the report. You must continue to click on FIND NEXT till you reach the end of the report to see all of the locations of the item indicated. Wednesday, January 13, 1999 The Times Signal, Page 3B Reprinted from the Concordia Sentinel Dec. 23, 1998 Accent on People Three-quarters of a century Enterkins celebrate 75 years by Hope Young Community Editor It was 75 years ago today, December 23, 1923, that John Enterkin, then 20, took Mary Alexander, 18, As his bride. The wedding took place in the minister's home, a Bro. Garrett, at Rhinehart and from there the young couple came to live in Ferriday. Today Mrs. Enterkin, 93, lives at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, and Mr. Enterkin, 95, lives at their Doty Road Home. They have three children, two sons and a daughter. Warren Enterkin still lives on the family place outside Ferriday, next door to his father, Charles Enterkin lives in Many, and daughter Johnnie Enterkin Ferguson lives in Oak Grove. They have nine grandchildren and 19 great- grandchildren. The Enterkins met like most young couples in rural Louisiana, they went to school together. "Oh, we went to school in a two-room school called the Alexandria Line school," Mr. Enterkin recalled. The tiny school, first through eigth grades, served children from both Rapides and Catahoula parishes. "We lived in the country and always knew each other," Mrs. Enterkin said. "I guess we were always in love for what I knew." "She looked pretty good," Mr. Enterkin said. "Back then country folks looked the same." Mrs. Enterkin said her future husband, "told me I was spoiled." She admitted she was the apple of her grandfather's eye, and he favored her over the other children in the family. "My grandfather called me his dago baby, dark eyes, dark shin and dark hair," she said. "He did spoil me. He'd give me apples and candy." When they married Mr. Enterkin was already living in Ferriday. He had worked for the railroad "for a couple of years" and then took a barber course in Dallas, Texas. "I barbered for 24 years at a shop across the street from the drug store in downtown Ferriday." He said. "I was a barber at Ellis Barber Shop," he said. "I made a good living barbering, but we worked from seven to seven on Saturdays from seven to one in the morning. You didn't get time off." "I quit in æ42 and worked for Interstate Gas Company for 25 years," Mr. Enterkin said. "It was a good move for me," he said, because by that time they had established a farm on Doty Road and his hours at the gas plant were regular. When he retired in 1967, Mr. Enterkin set out to enjoy the activities he missed while working. "I did just everything, fished, hunted and worked at the farm. I did the things I didn't get to when I was working," he said. During the years he was barbering and with the gas company, Mrs. Enterkin reared the children and took a strong role at the farm. "He was gone a lot and I watched over it," she said. When it came time for the tenant farmers to bring their crops in, she, "weighed cotten and took it to the gin. And I paid them, too." Mrs. Enterkin even manned the tractor in a pinch. "I'd drive a tractor and he'd throw corn in the trailer," she added. Mrs. Enterkin also accompanied her husband on hunting trips and fishing excursions. "We both rode horses. He rode one and I rode one. He'd get off and scare the squirrels up and I'd shoot them," she said. "I've shot many a squirrel." As for fishing, Mrs. Enterkin always loved being in and on the water. "I reckon I was born a-swimming," she said. "There was a creek behind the house when I was growing up." Her love of the outdoors and swimming led Mr. Enterkin to spin a tale for his children about how he met her. "I told them I was walking down the road and she swung out of the woods on a grapevine," he said. "It wasn't true." When the children were growing up, Mrs. Enterkin said a special housekeeper was a great help to her. "Alice was as good as I was," she said. AS with their devotion to each other and their family, the Enterkins were devoted to their church. Today they are the oldest living couple at First Baptist Church in Ferriday. "We were some of the first member," Mrs. Enterkin said. "When we joined there were 20 members. We've been members there all the time." For fun the family often took Sunday outings. "Sundays we'd take a lunch and go out in the country some where," Mrs. Enterkin said. "We were friends with another barber," Mr. Enterkin said. "But they're all gone now. All we have now are some young friends." When asked what they would tell newlyweds or soon-to-weds on how to have a lasting marriage, the Enterkins offered sound advice. "Hard work, live right and do right," he said. "I took care of the house and family and we always agreed on what was done," she said. With a twinkle in his eye, Mr. Enterkin added, "She just couldn't get rid of me." Photo Captions : Caption #1: Mr. and Mrs. John Enterkin of Ferriday took this photograph to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary 25 years ago. They are the parents of Warren Enterkin of Ferriday, Charles Enterkin of Many and Johnnie Enterkin Ferguson of Oak Grove. The Enterkins have nine grandchildren and 19 great- grandchildren. Caption #2: In 1923 shortly before their marriage, the former Mary Alexander, 18, and her betrothed John Enterkin, 20, posed for this photograph. They both grew up in Catahoula Parish, then moved to Ferriday after their wedding. The Enterkin's Diamond Anniversary, their 75th, is today, December 23, 1998. Caption #3: For twenty-four years John Enterkin was a barber at Ellis Barber shop on Louisiana Avenue in Ferriday. Of the gentlemen in this photograph, Mr. Enterkin is second from left, standing and wearing a tie. The other barbers and patrons are unidentified.