Bios: Jeptha Colvin, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by: Dorothy Rinehart Taylor,
111 Racove Drive, West Monroe, LA 71291




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JEPTHA COLVIN AND NARCISSA RAINEY


Jeptha Colvin, son of Daniel Colvin, married Narcissa Rainey.  She was a descendant of
the Rainey who came from the original pioneer group.  The first Rainey settled between
Farmerville and Downsville, but later lived on Wafer's Creek in the Terryville
Community.  Here he was known to have buried gold.  Year's later Sam Skinner, son of
John Skinner, plowed up a pot of gold on this place.  He acknowledged that the pot
contained $800.00.

Jeptha and Narcissa lived on the south side of the road near
Vienna on what is known as the Mimy Huey place.  Jeptha prospered greatly.  He was
generous to his children and always happy to have the members of his family around
him.

Narcissa Van Hook Coleman, familiarly known as "Nod" writes: "Upon the death of my
father I went to live with my grandparents, I was five years old at the time.  I was
named for my grandmother and looked like her, being slender with a narrow face and
delicate features.  Naturally I was her favorite grandchild.  Grandma Nicy was a dear,
sweet woman, kind and gentle with a pleasant word for everyone.  You always felt
better after being with her.  She loved to sit out doors and smoke her Pipe.  One
little Negro was kept busy fetching a live-coal from the kitchen fire to keep her pipe
going.  She died in 1861 and is buried in the family graveyard near Vienna.  My
grandfather Jeb was jolly and full of fun.  His grandchildren were the apples of his
eye.  He never tired of his kinfolk's.  He was a successful planter and very kind to
his slaves.  During the Civil War (1862) Jeptha refugeed to Texas, but when the
Negroes were freed he sent back to Louisiana all those that wanted to return to the
old home.  He remained in Texas, married again to a Smith, had one child by this
marriage, died and was buried there in 1868.

Before going to Texas, Jeptha went to Monroe, bought tombstones for all the unmarked
graves in Katy Graveyard.  Many of these stone are now missing; among them being that
of his wife, Narcissa Rainey.

The children of Jeptha and Narcissa Rainey Colvin received their schooling at the
Vienna Academy.  This was a log house near the home site of Capt. J. J. Neilson.  It
was northeast of where the Pershing highway now crosses the Old Vienna and Monroe
Road. The school opened about January 1, 1855 with Mr. Hall from Kentucky, teacher in
charge. In the spring an epidemic of measles broke out and a number of the children
died, among whom were several of Jeptha's children. Huthrance, (sic)-another teacher
of this school brought the first piano to Vienna directly from England. It created
quite a sensation and was later bought by Mr. Alfred Tims.

The first church was opposite the Old Potts place. It was also a one room log house.
It was a union church serving all the denominations. Bro. Kimball, a Methodist, Bro.
Goodjoin, Methodist, Bro. Mays, Baptist was among the early ministers.