LINCOLN PARISH HISTORY: Forward Contributed by: Jo Autrey This information has been generously shared by the 1976 Bicentennial Committee who published "Lincoln Parish History 1776-1976." ********************************************** 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 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. ********************************************************************* LINCOLN PARISH HISTORY FORWARD Edited by Mary Frances Fletcher, Ralph L. Ropp Lincoln Parish Bicentennial Committee, 1976 Used with permission Submitted by Jo Autrey Here in the beautiful hills of North Louisiana, our people have lived for more than a century. Our earliest settlers were, in the main, men whose names still appear in the records of the parish. Whether any descendants of the Indians who lived here are still in the area is not known to the editors. Today, according to the 1975 estimate, there are 36, 122 people in Lincoln Parish. Today, still blooming in the springtime are the little bulbs the pioneers brought with them. They help to locate the places where the old settlements were and are a bright reminder of those who planted them and are now gone. The hills, the hyacinths, and the tiny jonquils are part of the eternal beauty of a section of the world God has loved and blessed - the region commemorated in this volume. In presenting the history of the region as authentically as we can, for we have taken note that there has never before has been a hardback book about Lincoln Parish. In failing to honor its past in such a manner, our North Louisiana parish has not been singular. Mr. Gil Jackson, the representative of the Walsworth Publishing Co., had hardly been seated in the Conference Room of the Ruston Building and Loan, where he first met with our committee, when he asked, "Why is it that you along the strip of land bordering Highway 80 have written so little of yourselves?" Humility is one of the reasons so little has been said by the people here of themselves. There is great pride in Lincoln Parish, but in many of the old families there is great reserve. Yet the taciturnity is not conductive to the preservation of history. Lincoln Parish has been and is a good place in which to live, a good place in which to rear a family. Many who came through on their way to Texas long ago loved it and remained to build their homes here. Their experience has been repeated again and again and is recurring even today. Where else in a verdant, scenic land can one find opportunities for such an abundant life and universities and schools like those that are here! As this Lincoln Parish History was first conceived, it was our purpose to collect for republication documents that are primary sources of information concerning the parish. Had President F. Jay Taylor not given us our initial encouragement in this generosity in letting us use the Tech publication of Miss Kathleen Graham’s history, our book might not have been realized. Dr. G. W. McGinty was helpful in permitting us to include his work on the Indians in Lincoln Parish. Our histories were augmented with the distinguished manuscript of Mr. Morgan Peoples written especially for the Centennial of the parish in 1973. The catalogue of the Ruston College is from a xeroxed copy belonging to Miss Kathleen Graham. The copy of Louisiana Chautauqua Memorial is from the Louisiana Collection of the late brother of the editor, Joel Lafayette Fletcher, Jr. Permission for the publication of the document was given by Miss Edith Gunby, who asked that there be an acknowledgement of Judge Gunby’s great interest in education. In his "Prefatory Note" Judge Gunby in July, 1908, explained his reason for preparing the memorial. In his document he gives an insight into himself. How fortunate for history that one so intimately connected with the Chautauqua recorded such authentic information concerning it. The manuscript on the cemeteries was begun by Mrs. Howard Smith, with the help of her husband, for the historical program of the Pierian Club in 1949-1950. It was continued and completed during the following decade because Mrs. Smith thought the study should be made. Working with Mr. and Mrs. Smith in tours of the parish were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Monroe, who also began a Pierian Club assignment, research on the churches, that was continued for a long period of time. Histories of Tech and Grambling continue the story of higher education in Lincoln Parish, where two colleges preceded them - The Ruston College and the Chautauqua. It had been planned from the beginning to include in Lincoln Parish History a sampling of all the involvements of our people. What was not planned at the beginning was the family histories. There has been an extraordinary interest in these. It is hoped that their inclusion may be a source of helpfulness and pride to all the families that have submitted material. Certainly many early families, except those that have moved away, are included either in the family stories or in the cemetery records. The book ends with the story of our Symphony, which like our poetry festivals, our science fairs, our opportunities in our magnificent new Lincoln Parish Library, encourages and inspires the cultural development of our children. With all the changes that have been wrought from that day our first pioneer moving West stopped and lingered "for a spell" on an unchartered trail to rest his family and "wind" his oxen, to our railroads, our airport, and our highways flowing ribbonlike in every direction, our people have preserved the beauty of our landscape - the revered old blending perfectly with the modern new. Throughout the years Lincoln Parish has had preeminence in North Louisiana because of its religious educational, and cultural values. Lincoln Parish History, in appreciation of our heritage, has emphasized these. We hope that "remembrance of things past" may become an enrichment in the lives of all our readers. To Mrs. Calvin Watts, Projects Chairman of the Lincoln Parish Bi-Centennial Commission, everyone is indebted for the initiation and launching of Lincoln Parish History. The editors deeply appreciate the guidance, the sturdy helpfulness, and the encouragement of Mrs. Barbara Brooks Hammock, Co-Chairman of the Lincoln Parish Bi-Centennial Commission. All the information, material, and helpful suggestions that have gone into the preparation of this Bi-Centennial volume, we could never acknowledge. To everyone who has helped us with our manuscripts, as President Taylor and President Jones, we are grateful. Especially are we grateful to Mr. Jack Ritchie and Mr. R. C. Snyder, for the use of the pictures in the Ritchie Collection in the Lincoln Parish Library and to Miss Marsha Kay Clinton for having them made for us. Mr. Steve Rodakis generously contributed Tech pictures to Dr. John Ardis Cawthon for our use. Grambling was equally generous in its contributions to Dr. Allen Williams. Dr. Richard Parnell, Mrs. Ruth Alexander, Miss Nancy Bergeron, Major L. J. Fox, and Mr. O. K. Davis have also helped us with pictures and in other ways. The antiquarian interests of Mr. B. G. Willett and Mr. Gary Lain have added value to Lincoln Parish History. Courtesies of Miss Marjorie Leigh, Mrs. Joel L. Fletcher, Jr., Mr. Jack Madden, Mrs. Jacqueline Vidrine, Mrs. L. E. Dawson The E. L. Kidd Family, Mrs. Carroll Biggs, Dr. and Mrs. John Winters, Mr. J. B. Kendall, Jr., Dr. Philip C. Cook, Mr. S. A. Dyson, and Mrs. N. Nicol should be acknowledged. The continuous loyalty, co-operation, and high sense of responsibility of Mrs. Jerry Miller was a blessing. Finally, but not least, Mrs. R. L. Ropp and Miss Willie Fletcher should be thanked for their help and their forbearance. Mary Frances Fletcher Ralph L. Ropp