History: Greenville History, Lincoln Parish, LA Submitted by Linda Franklin Green ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. [Submitter's note: Several years ago Mrs. R. H. Griffin showed this to me and I retyped it for her. She used to write an article for the Ruston Daily Leader many years ago about the Greenville Community.] GREENVILLE HISTORY The first two teachers in Greenville in 1907 were Miss Betty and Emma Langford. Twelve grades were taught. Miss Betty was the principal. She taught the higher grades, Miss Emma taught the lower grades. They had to walk several miles to their boarding place, Will Franklin's home near Mineral Springs. There were no roads, only a foot path through the woods. These women asked Mr. J. W. Green to build an extra room across the hall on his house. He got busy and built it. There the teachers boarded for many years. The need was imperative for a school in the Greenville community. The land for school was donated by Mr. Jim Green. The name Greenville was named after Mr. Jim Green. The lumber was bought and hauled in by mule teams. All residents were handy with a hammer and saw. Some of the carpenters were Laster Smith, J. W. Green, George Brewster, Wash Brewster, Jim Brewster, Tom and Abb White. In Sept. 1907, pupils and their parents came from near and far to be present for the first day of school. It was a great occasion. History was in the making for the Greenville Community. For thirty two consecutive years, this school was very much in the moulding and influencing of the boys and girls. As time flashed by families became smaller. The huge group of boys and girls who once walked together grew up and made homes for themselves. The school board announced that the country schools would have to close. Greenville school closed around 1939. No more would the school bell ring, nor would you hear the laughter and singing of the children in the morning or evening. That unique way of life of children walking to and fro from school was over. The first school bus that was hired by the school board ran to Ruston High in the year of 1929. ( this inf. about the year maybe wrong). Floyd Green Colvin told me that her dad, Lasta Green drove the first children to school. Mrs. Clara Farmer, a widow, contracted to drive the school bus. Clara and husband had four sons, Garland, Floyd, Morris and Fred and one daughter, Lorena. Clara retired after twenty two years of services. Her son, Fred drove for sixteen years, but is now retired. Harold Griffin also drove a bus, he drove a model T school bus. Harold pick the boys and girls up and took them to Ruston High. They paid their fares to ride the bus. Harold's mother was supposed to be the first one to put the bus on the road. The students were Helen Griffin, Watson Green, Floyd Green, Dalton Smith, Pauline Smith, Bess Anderson, Ena Anderson, Louise Griffin, Griffin White, Mandy Hancock, Alma Duke, Roy Wade, Addie Wade and Jim Griffin. Before the school at Greenville was built the children had no school to go to, however, the older children would walk to D'Arbonne or Hoewell or Rock Corner. The smaller children could not keep up with the older ones and the parents could not let the smaller ones go. Ouida Volentine who worked for Berry Furniture Co, told me she used to go to Rock Corner school. She would walk with her uncles, Cliff and Clyde Hancok. Homie and Ora Green, daughters of Mr. J. W. Green, used to stay with their grandfather Jim Hammons of Hopewell and go to school there. Homie is Mrs. Charles B. Colvin of Dubach. She told me she learned to count to 100 her first year at Hopewell. She was seven years old when she started at Greenville. She made two grades in one year and caught up with her age group. Dr. W. P. Griffin was the country doctor at Greenville's early years. He was born in Vienna, La. Oct. 1871. He married I. V. Pardue of D'Arborne. She was born June 1881. Harold and Helen, Doc's children, used to drink his castoria. Harold was called Doc by his friends. Dr. Griffin cured Dot White of shingles, but she has forgotten the remedy. Dr. Griffin delivered Griffin White, son of Della Hancock White and Tom White. He was named after his physician, hence came the name Griffin White. Oh! the happy time at Greenville, the box suppers, picnics, Easter egg hunt, concerts at the end of school. Sunday school was held in Greenville on Sunday afternoon for many years. Capt. J. M. White (my grandfather) organized the Sunday school. Mr. Wash Brewster was Supt. at one time, the Methodist minister and Baptist at one time. The host of boys who lived in Greenville for generations have enjoyed the cool waters of Gum Root. A marvelous spot to cool off on a hot summer day. Gum Root brings fond memories to my husband Harold. Greenville commmunity is situated in the rolling hills of north La. 10 miles north of Ruston. on Hwy. 33. The best water melons, peaches, cantaloupes and vegetables are grown in Greenville. The people are friendly, honest God fearing folk. Some of the earlier settlers of Greenville: Doc and Martha White, Wm. W. White, J. Abb White, Tom White, Laster Smith, The Will Hancok family, W. D. Hancock, --------- Hartness, Jeff Anderson, George Brewster, Alf Ford, Dr. W. P. Griffin, Laster Green, J. W. Green, Mrs. T. . P. Farmer, Mrs. Tom (Guthrine) Truett, Mr. O. J. Smith, Mr. Lee Pylant, Wash Brewster, Jim Brewster and George Brothers.