Bio: C. H. Teal, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana Nashville and Chicago, The Southern Publishing Company, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Carver Thompson ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** C. H. TEAL Merchant, Colfax, La Among the enterprising business houses of this town, whose operations are worthy of record in a work of this kind, is that of Mr. C. H. Teal, who is classed among the first class merchants of Colfax. He was born in Natchitoches Parish, La., in 1851, and his parents, John and Amelia (Barlow) Teal, were natives of Louisiana. Their paternal ancestors emigrated to Louisiana from Tennessee at an early day, probably about 1828, and located in Natchitoches Parish. The paternal grandfather located there about he same time and owned the Tessier place in 1850 as it now stands. He followed planting up to 1860, when he sold out and engaged in merchandising which he carried on until his death. John Teal, father of our subject, emigrated to Texas in 1855, selling his plantation and slaves, and moved to Refugio county, Tex., where he bought wild land. He has since been engaged in the stock business, and still resides there, being considered one of the big stock men of the Lone Star State. To his marriage have been born nine children, eight of whom are living at the present time. The first death that occurred in the Teal family was in 1885, when John H., son of C. H. Teal, received his final summons. The family then numbered over forty persons. C. H. Teal, the eldest of the nine children born to his parents, was principally reared in Texas, and educated in the common schools of that State. The portion of the State they were then living in was for the most part prairie land, and neighbors were few and far between. In 1875 C. H. Teal located in Grant Parish, engaged in planting, and also established a stock depot on Lillie Bend plantation, which he carried on in connection with planting until 1880. He then moved to Colfax and became sheriff of Grant Parish, under the new constitution, holding the position for four years. At that time there was some feeling among the parishes forming that district, as to which parish was entitled to the nomination. Mr. Teal consented to be put up by (his) Grant Parish in the contest, all delegates having withdrawn from the convention, and each parish run its own favorite son. He was then put up for the Senate, but was defeated by thirty six votes. He has been in the mercantile business since 1880 and has an extensive and lucrative trade. He is also the owner of 350 acres of alluvial land on Red River, adjacent to the town of Colfax, and has 1,000 acres of fine piney. He is now engaged in stock farming and has a fine pasture. He started the hay enterprise in Grant Parish, which he finds very lucrative. In fact Mr. Teal is one of the leading men of this section of the State, and is identified with all its public enterprises. He was married in 1875 to Miss Cora McLaCour, by whom he has two daughters: Mary and Louise. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined that organization in Rockport Tex.