History: Rapides Parish, La
Source:  Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez

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History: Rapides Parish, La
Source:  Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890
Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez

PAGE 525

                            CHAPTER XI

RAPIDES PARISH--LOCATION, TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, PRODUCTIONS, POPULATION,
STREAMS, WILD ANIMALS--SETTLERS AND INCIDENTS--DUELING--ACTIONS OF THE POLICE
JURY--OFFICERS--ELECTION RETURNS--LOCAL COURTS AND BAR--THE PRESS--SOCIETIES
AND ASSOCIATIONS--MILITARY AFFAIRS--CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES--EDUCATIONAL
AND
RELIGIOUS BODIES AND PROCEEDINGS--NOTABLE OCCURRENCES--LODGES--FACTORIES AND
OTHER BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS--PERSONAL AFFAIRS.


Bright and glorious is that revelation;
Written all over this great world of ours;
Making evident our own creation
In these stars of earth-these golden flowers.-Longfellow.


This parish forms a part of Central Louisiana, but still belongs to the
southern tier of the parishes of the territory known as Northwestern
Louisiana.  It embraces the congressional townships known as 1, 2,3, 4 and 5,
north, and 1 and 2 south of the base line, in Ranges 1,2,3 and 4 west, and 1
and 2 east of the second principal meridian, Alexandria, the seat of justice,
is in Latitude 31  degrees 18' north and Longitude 15 degrees 22' west, eighty
feet above sea level, and on the border of the sugar-producing country, of
which the southern townships for a part.

The lands of Rapides comprise the long-leaf Pine Hills, 900 square miles, the
oak uplands, 123 square miles, and the alluvial, or Red River bottom lands 475
square miles.  In 1879-80 there were 76,149 acres of land in cultivation, of
which 25,622 acres were in cotton, yielding 17,990 bales, 29,366 acres in
corn, 1,875, in sugar cane 2 acres in rice and 232 acres in sweet potatoes. 
The bottomlands of Rapides are said to form the most productive portion of the
Red River Valley.

The returns of Assessor Haworth for 1890 give the following statistics: Total
assessment $3,493,300;* total poll tax, $4,984; barrels of molasses, 6,565;
hogsheads of sugar 3,350; barrels of sugar, 5,188; bales of cotton, 17,930;
bushels of corn, 460,320; bales of hay 25,800; bushels of potatoes, 55,260.

The total population in 1880 was 23,563, or 9,512 white and 14,051 colored. 
In 1870 there were 7,742 whites, and 10,26i7 colored; in 1860 9,711 whites,
291 free colored and 15,358 slaves or a total of, 25,360.  In 1850 the
population was 11,360 slaves, 184 free colored and 5,037 whites; in 1840,
10,511 slaves, 378 free colored and 3,254 whites; in 1830 5,329 slaves, 113
free colored, and 2,133 whites; in 1820, 2,491 whites, 85 free colored and
3,489 slaves; in 1810, 996 whites, 123 free colored, and 1,081 slaves, or a
total of 2,200 in 1810.  The population in May 1890 (assessor's returns), was
24,539, or whom, 2,000 were subject to military duty.  In June 1890, the
United States enumerators found 27,635 inhabitants in the parish.  The number
of children of school age is 9,127, of whom 4,915 are of African descent,
there being 2,488 colored males, and 2,427 colored females.


*In 1860 taxes were paid on 377,099 acres.  Of this area there were 294,021
acres uncultivated; 13,460 under cane, produced 12,800 hogshead of sugar and
23,090 barrels of molasses; 37,460 acres under cotton, yeilded 43,731 bales,
31,731 acres under corn, produced 674,587bushels, and 60 acres of rice yielded
heavily.  There were 14,339 slaves, valued at $7,535,871, while real estate
was valued at $8,130,203.  The assessed value of horses was $454,136; of
carriages $54,964; of moneys, at interest and in trade $495,000; of stock in
steamboats, $2,500, and of unseated real estate, $13,085, or a total valuation
of $16,684.645.  The number who paid trade of profession tax, 126, and the
number of poll-tax payers 1,997.  J. J. Swan was then assessor.




Red River flows in a general southeasterly course through the northeastern
half of the parish.  The stages of high water in this river, at Alexandria,
since 1872, are shown as follows: April 29, 1872, 33.30 feet; June 19, 1873
30.20 feet, May 20, 1874, 34 feet, April 27, 1975 23.90 feet; April 17, 1876,
32.80 feet; May 15, 1877, 25.45 feet; March 16, 1878, 27.05 feet; May 26,
1879, 19.20 feet; April 12, 1880,21.80 feet; March 20, 1881, 24.75 feet; March
17, 1882, 34.85 feet; March 20, 1883 26.20 feet; May 30, 1884 35.25 feet; May
19, 1885, 30.90 feet; June 17, 1886, 27.90 feet; March 24, 1887, 14.90 feet;
March 27, 1888, 29.60 feet, and on February 5, 1889, 29.90 feet.  In June,
1886, the river rose to 36.46 feet, and flooded the town, while on May 19,
1890, the water rose 36.85 feet, but did not flood the town, the levees being
raised and guarded day and night by the citizens.  The fifty-hour rain of June
1886 caused a rise of 25 feet, and 1 3/4 inches in Red River, at Alexandria. 
It was the heaviest continuous rainfall ever known here.

The headwaters of the Atchafalaya and of the Calcasieu rise here, and several
streams, such as historic Bayou Boeuf and Bayou Rapides, flow at random
through as fertile a country as exists.

In the fall of 1860 M Maillefert (who in 1855 was contractor for deepening the
channel at the falls, near Alexandria) discovered the remains of a mastodonic
animal, the teeth of which were four and one-half inches with tusks six inches
in diameter.  In the middle of the last century great herds of buffalo visited
Louisiana annually, and mention is made of this animal as well as of others by
early explorers, excerpts from whose letter on this subject are made in this
work.  The deer is still here with the wolf and the bear.  During the war
several immigrants came from the Trans-Mississippi States, such as the mink,
otter, and smaller animals, and the panther, which migrated years ago,
revisits his old screaming grounds.  In July, 1890, P. J. Sleet, of Bayou
Rapides, purchased a white mocking bird, caught near his store.  This rare
songster has pink eyes.

At the McEnery quarry, above Boyce, a good quality of building stone is found. 
This rock when broken makes excellent macadam, and has been used by the city
of Shreveport in making roadways.  Even for bridge piers it is well adapted
and it is intended to use this rock in the piers for the proposed bridges over
Red River at Alexandria.

The back lands, beyond the valley of the Red River, are clothed in large pine,
while alluvial lands, north of Latitude 31(, are devoted to cotton, while
south of that degree to sugar cane.  Great hay fields covered with a mixture
of native and Bermuda grasses are common and produce largely.

The proposed railroads are the Kansas City, Watkins & Gulf Railroad, from Lake
Charles to Alexandria and thence northwestward through Sabine, De Soto and
Caddo; the Houston Central from Alexandria via Monroe to Arkansas City, partly
built; the Louisiana & Northern, from Alexandria through Winn, Bienvelle and
Claiborne Parishes to Camden, Ark., partly built; and the Trinity, Sabine &
Red River Railroad, from New Trinity, on the Ouachita, to Ogden, Tex.  The
bridging of the Red River at Alexandria may be accomplished in 1891.

A plat made by the Spanish commission in October, 1803, shows the location of
the Beluxy, Pascagoula, Old Yonahny and Choctaw villages.  In 1813 there were
three large claims in Rapides, on Bayou Boeuf, above Bayou Clear, derived from
titles from the Indians, approved by Spanish governors, viz.: Joseph
Gilliard's 16,000 acres from the Pascagonia Indians, of which 9,300 acres were
confirmed; Miller & Fulton's 46,600 arpents on Bayou Boeuf, from the Choctaaws
and another claim of 11,230 arpents, or 9,487 acres, from the Appalaches and
Tensas Indians.  The conveyance form the Tensas was approved by Manuel de
Salcedo, governor.   Miller and Fulton were traders at the post of Rapides as
early as 1803.  In March, 1813, there were 184 claims.  Caesar Archinard was
commandant of the post of Rapides, in 1798; Richard Claiborne was judge of
Rapides in 1811, and Valentine Layssard, surveyor and military commandant. 
The latter, in his testimony of January, 1812, in re the Gilliard claim,
states that the Pascagonia Indians were given permission to form a settlement
in the place known as Les Ecores du Rigolet du Bon Dieu, at the confluence
with Red River.  De Blanc was then chief, and permit was issued to him by
Joseph de la Pena, of the Natchitoches post.  The chief resided on a hill near
Rigolet du Bon Dieu, while several clearings were made between Bayou Phillipe
and the chief's house.  In March, 1795, the Pascagoula lands were sold, and
Layssard was ordered to settle with the tribe at Catahoula, but the Indians
moved that year to the Choctaw lands(settled by them in 1778), on Bayou Boeuf. 
Michael La Prerie, who was born at the post of Rapides, in 1774, substantiated
the evidence of the surveyor.  The Appalache Indians (Chief Luis) had their
villages on the southwest side of Red River, below and adjoining the
Pascagoula territory.  In May, 1802, the sale to Miller & Fulton of the lands
of the Choctaw, Pascagoula and Beluxy Indians, on Bayou Boeuf, was certified
by Chucacha, Puschus, De Blanc, brother of Grand Chief Mingo, and Melad.  The
Choctaws who signed the petition asking permission to sell their lands so as
to pay their debts, were Mataha (chief of beluxy), slopahibahi (second chief),
Legrose Frize, Cachounabe, Lagrosselette, the son of Ocean, Thomas Cachounabe,
Cachenot, Le Bon Casseur, PetiPeti, son of La Culotte, son of Gros Femme,
Holop Finau, Petoche Laine, Ataipe, Chapeau Canaia, Dalsida and son of Culotte
le Jeune.  This petition was drawn up at the house of Nicholas Chatelin, for
the Indians.  

In Rapides, on the Opelousas and Avoyelles (right bank of Bayou Boeuf) road,
was an Indian village up to 1802.  In 1803 Thomas Long and Littleton located
there.

In 1860 James and Sarah Jeune claimed 800 arpents (original Spanish
concession) in Bayou Rapides, as granted in 1802 by Intendand-Gen. Juan
Ventura Morales.  John Hebrard claimed 3,200 superficial acres on Black River,
as granted by Gov. Estevan Miro in 1786.  Claims were also made by Dawson
Hull, Bernard Gaynard, Pedro Lamero (1791), Jacques McAnulty (1798), on Bayou
de Canne, Cyprian La Cour (near the Cuney lands), William Miller (at falls of
Row Gully Bayou), Madam Burney, Baptiste Valerie and John Henderson (Bayou
Cote), Hugh Bailey, Jean L. and Mary La Croix, Mark Powell, Hugh Coyle, F.
Arro (Pointe Maigre), John, James and Ignatius Tear (Bayou de Cordille), John
Holley (Bayou Hemphill), Jesse Kirkland (Avoyelles Prairie), Edmund Fahey
(mouth of Sandy Bayou), Pierre Baillio (opposite mouth of Bayou Marteau),
Xavier Robichant, Dr. Green and Victor Babin (Catahoula Prairie), Milling
Wooley and Charles McKernon (at the ferry on road from Avoyelles to
Alexandria), Augustin and Francis Bordelon, Joseph Gaspard, Joseph Renois
(Bayou Rapides), Valerie Dozat, Joseph Gautier, Joseph Roy, Urban Plauche, P.
Dupre, C. Fonche, Joseph Firmin (Avoyelles Prairie), Louis Huffman (Red
River), William Lacey (Catahoula Prairie), Celestine Moreau, Jacques Des Hotel
(Baton Rouge Prairie),Mark Elishe, Ludling, Gideon Walker (Avoyelles Prairie),
Andrew Ryan, James McAunity, John Breard, W. Raimon, T Passano (L. Isle de
Racourcie), William L. Collins(Baton Rouge, where an old doctor settled in
1784),Henry and J. P. Decotte, Michael Barry (Avoyelles Prairie), George Rowe
(where the Indians lived, on Bayou Boenf) John Shults (Red River), Gabriel
Martin (Bayou Rapides),David Duplechin (Bayou du Lac), R. T. Sachett (West
branch of Cotelle Bayou), Benjamin Miller, W. Scroggs (White Bluff), Stehen
Fluke, John Sandres, Henry Palmore (Red River), Jean Laflord (cut off), Thomas
Bays, James M. Manedue, J. M. T. Husk (Red River), Martin Despoiler, Val
Layssard, Joseph Loaner, Babylon Layssard (Bayou Rapides), while near by were
the lands of Nicholas Wallace and Alex Fulton, John Myers (Bayou Marteau),
Robert Wilson, J. White (Black River), William Hargrove, Littleton Long (Bayou
Boeuf), George Wolf, Ann Wade (three miles below Alexandria), Beverly Chew
(Bayou Rapides), James Levins (Sicily Island), Richard and Matthew Earls
(Catahoula settlement), Benjamin Lindsey (Prairie Boeuf), Morris McLaughlin
(Little River), Paul Cavener (Island of Bayou Lemonre), John Hickland, D.
McClure, John Watson (Burnt Prairie), William Beasley (Bayou Boenf),Joseph
Procelle,(Bayou Cotie), Charlette Ledoux (Charlette Prairie; her house was
built in 1794), Alex Freeland (Little Lake), Robert and Joseph Tanner, W.
Pierce, Paul Robert, Stephen Jackson, John Grimble (Bayou Boeuf), Henry Burger
(Bayou Cannes, Jean B. Leonard (Avoyelles Prairie), Angelic Des Hotel, Jean de
Lavarre (cut off),John P. Farkin, John Harrison (Sicily Island), Nicholas
Gallien (Red River), N. Teunas, William Murphy, Joseph Poiret (Bayou Boeuf),
James Say (Wiggins Creek), Barns Clark (Bayou Row Gully), Nicholas G. Vedricin
(Red River), John Cooney (Bayou Boeuf), John Moore (Red River), Benjamin
Ritchie (Bayou Cotie), David Lard (Bayou Rapides), Ed Dorsey, James Nelson
(Bayou Mason), Bosra, the Indian, claimed lands on Avoyelles Prairie, between
the plantation of Hypolite Trion and Joseph Carmouche, confirmed to him in
1786 by Jacques Gaynard, Commandant at the post of Avoyelles, by instructions
for Gov. Miro.

Maturin Babin inhabited lands on the south side of Bayou Catahoula as early as
1800.  John Hevert, then aged fifty-seven years, testified to this fact, and
was believed, while one John Rutledge, a witness for John Carroll, and a
professional liar, would not be relied upon by the commissioners.  Prior to
1813 a man by the name Mecom was killed during a dispute over the ownership of
lands on Bayou Mason.  One Combs was accused of this crime, but he and
Rutledge fled.  Fraudulent entries were common and Rutledge and others were
brought forward to swear to their validity.

A thousand novels could be written on facts suggested by those names.  Ten
Thousand pages could not contain the incidents, connected with the lives of
the men names.  One incident, however may be related here.  The duel of
September 19, 1827, resolved itself into a free fight between the Currys,
Wells and Bowies on the first part and the physicians, Maddox and N. Wright
and the Blanchards and Col. Crane on the second part.  The affair took place
at the sand bar at Natchez.  The duelist, Dr. Maddox and Sameul Wells fired
two shots and settled the point of honor without injuring one another. 
Afterward Curry and Crane resolved to settle old feuds, Maj. Wright went to
the assistance of Crane, who had inflicted a slight wound on Bowie; but was
encountered by Bowie and cut in two by the dreadful knife in the hand of the
desperado.  In later years Crane and Bowie met in New York under most peculiar
circumstances and were afterward friends until Bowie was killed, while drunk
or sleeping, at the Alamo, March 6, 1836.

Rapides Parish was established in 1805, and officers appointed to administer
its affairs.  Its original territory, while not nearly so extensive as that of
Natchitoches Parish (also formed that year), was large indeed and, up to 1808,
when Avoyelles was detached, complete in her ambitions and proud of her size
and power.  The incisive methods of the legislature in 1807-08 were not
received with anything approaching applause by the people of the upper portion
of the parish.  The division of the territory was opposed by Representative
Johnson without success.  For several years the parish judge was, in fact,
administrator of public affairs, and in most cases attended to judicial
business.  Thomas C Scott, who was parish judge in 1833, was succeeded shortly
after by John H. Johnson.  In 1836 William J. Calvitt was sheriff.  Judge
Henry Boyce, who came from Ireland to Louisiana in 1829, died March 1, 1873. 
In the thirties he was elected judge of this district, and held the position
fifteen years, when he was appointed United States district judge for Western
Louisiana, a position he filled up to 1861.  In 1865 he was elected
representative, and the Legislature elected him United States Senator, but the
National authorities refused to give him the seat.  All his contemporaries
died before him-Judge Bullard, Richard Winn (who died in 1840), Dunbar, Elgee,
Ogden, Flint and other members of the old bar of Rapides.  The vacancy on the
Supreme bench caused by the death of William M. Levy was filled by Thomas C
Manning in 1882.

Very little that is authentic can now be learned of the district court or of
the police jury of ante bellum days, for in 1864 the records were destroyed. 
The jurors in 1850 were: L. Baily, Rigolet, president; Charles C. Cheney,
Cheneyville; Col. T. J. Wells, Spring Creek; William West, Annacoco; R. Smart,
West; William Justice, Cotile; G Lacour, Jr., Plaisance; D. C. Goodwyn,
Alexandria; J. M. Sollibellos, Pine Woods; W. H. T. Bynum, Rapides; J. Dunham
Calcasieu; W.C.C. Martin, Lamourie J. L. Lawrence, Bertrand Prairie.

A decade may be said to have seen all those men retired and the new men chosen
to represent the wards.  They were dangerous times when ignorance, passion and
prejudice played politics and led men to change their friends, their officials
and their own minds as often as opportunity afforded them a chance.

In June, 1860, the police jury elected the following named officers:  G.
Baillio, president; J. N. Rhorer, Clerk; D. W. Shaw, Officer; M. R. Ariail,
attorney; E.B. Price, physician, and E. R. Biossat, treasurer.  The members of
the jury on 1859 who held over were Neal Davidson, N. Villian, C. W. Boyce, J.
R. Eddleman, K. M. Clark, and T. B. Helm.  The new members were J. H. Hynson,
A. Rachal, John Davis, S. D. Williams, Gervais Baillio and Ed. A. Neal.  There
were 101 syndics and fifty-one captains of patrol appointed; at this time W.
J. Neal was sheriff and G. Labat, clerk.  In January, 1861, G.C. Wood was
coroner, Allen Lewis was a juror in April, S.D. Magee was jailer, and C.C.
Chaplin was elected district judge.

The Louisiana Democrat of June 25, 1862, point out that E. R. Biossat was
postmaster, H. M. Labat, Confederate war-tax collector, N. Davidson, president
of police jury, J. N. Rhorer, clerk and James Adkins, jailer.  Two substitutes
for persons subject to the conscription law were offered for $6,000.

There is no official record of the personnel or transactions of the jury until
1965, when new record books were opened, all the old ones having been
destroyed in the fire of May 13, 1864.  On June 5, 1865, Col. J. H. Coates, of
the Eleventh Illinois Infantry commanded at Rapides, with Capt. Boswick,
provost-marshal.  An order to all ex-Confederates and citizens to deliver up
their arms was issued June 5.  The official appointments were Michael Ryan,
district judge; J. H. Cunningham, district attorney; J. A. Newell, clerk; J.
R. Williams, sheriff; J. N. Rhorer, recorder, and J. C. Rogers, postmaster. 
Later L. D. Corley was commissioned assessor and the following named police
jurors were appointed: R. C. Hynson, Alexandria; G. M. Graham, Bayou Rapides;
A. C. Lewis, Plaisance; Thomas Woodard, Cotile; J. B. Reeves, Lamourie; H.
Carlin, Cheneyville; and William Thompson, Spring Hill.  On June 24 Col. W. S.
Mudgett, Eightieth United States Colored Infantry, commanded at Alexandria,
while Gen. Custer had five regiments of cavalry here.  J. E. Bailey was
assistant assessor, and G. E. Bovee, deputy collector of internal revenue
here.  In July the town hall was turned over to the civil authorities; Lieut.
Julius S. Clark and Second Lieut. A. V. Lovell, of the Eightieth Colored
Infantry were appointed provost of freedmen for Rapides and Avoyelles.  On
July 26 the jurors names above, except Graham, with C. V. Ledoux, of
Pineville:  P. Boggas of Rigolet; M. Paul Jr., of Calcasieu, and Allen Lewis,
of West's Ward, formed the jury.  R. C. Hynson, presided; Frank E. Forbes, was
clerk; John Clements, officer; E. R. Biossat, treasurer; R. W. Bringhurst,
surveyor, and H. S. Losee, attorney.  In September, 1865, Abner N. Ogden, Jr.,
was appointed commissioner to hear testimony in the matter of records
destroyed with the court-house in May, 1864.  In October, W.W. Whittington was
appointed district clerk, rice Newell, resigned; A. J. McCranie  was member of
the police jury at this time; W. B. Lewis was commissioned judge of the Ninth
District in January 1866, and A. N. Ogden, district attorney, vice Cunningham;
P. Conlin was deputy United States assessor in April 1866; A. J. Sypher was
appointed sheriff by Gen. Phil Sheridan in August, 1867, and in December,
William Morris was appointed assessor, vice P. H. Cavanaugh, resigned; J. R.
Andrews was tax collector, and in January, 1868, George W. Compton was
commissioned sheriff.

The police jury in January, 1868, comprised D. D. Arden, president; C. L.
Zimmerman, Allen Lewis, J. J. Myers, S. D. Williams, C. W. Boyce, J. H.
Ransdell, N. Villian; W. W. Whittington, Jr., was clerk.  In February, C. V.
Ledoux was appointed sheriff, vice Compton, who refused to take the test oath. 
In June, 1866, J. H. Ransdell was chosen president.  At this time the question
of building a court-house was presented.  In July, Messrs. Arden, Ransdell,
Zimmerman and S. D. Williams, with the new jurors- H. M. Labat, W. P. Glascow,
H. McKnight, H. B. Ferguson, A. Duffield, and K. M. Clark-qualified as jurors. 
J. A. Crawford, was appointed clerk; Lossee, attorney, and E. R. Biossat,
treasurer.  In August, a number of citizens were taken to New Orleans, charged
with crimes under the Civil Rights Bill.  In 1867, J. J. Myers was juror, vice
Duffield, deceased.  In February, 1869, C.W. Boyce presided with T. J. Gill,
C. L. Robinson, Moses Bowie, J. Fellows, C. M. Calvit, S. D. Williams, Jesse
Clifton, L. C. Sweat and J. W. Martin, councilmen.  The report on court-house
building was tendered by Thomas C. Manning, December 7, 1869, and he with J.
C. Wise, William Mills, Joseph Fellows and J. G. White were appointed a
building committee; a special tax levy of $10,000 was authorized.  The
proposal of Bouillot and Mills to erect the building for $19,900 was accepted
in May; but the opposition to giving the officials a chance to levy more taxes
delayed the work.  In June, 1870, the jury ordered an election on the question
of granting aid to the Back-Bone Railroad Company, and ordered all injunction
suits against the board of contractors in the matter of the court-house to be
defended.  The railroad aid ordinance was shortly after recalled on July 18,
by the jury.  J. R. Andrews then president, with Bennett, Moore, Robinson,
Randolph, Sweat, Walker and Bogan formed the board; R. P. Hunter, was
attorney, and W. J. Clavit, clerk.  In August the Supreme Court decided that
the jurors appointed in 1871 were entitled to hold office, and they with J. N.
Rhorer, president, assembled August 21, that year, Messrs. Bass, E. J.
Barrett, J. Clifton and J. Clements were members at this time.  J. M . Barrett
succeeded E. R. Biossat as treasurer, and J. Mulcahy was clerk.  In January,
1873, the jurors elected in November, 1872, took their places namely-J. A.
Williams, president, K. M. Clark, J. P. Snellings, A. B. C. Dean and James R.
Andrews; H. M. Labot, was chosen clerk; J. M. Barrett, treasurer, and W. W.
Whittington, attorney.

The police jurors, elected in November, 1874, were James R. Andrews, Messrs.
Dean, William, B. F. Lambright and J. H. Sorrell, each receiving 1,571 votes
against 1,218 recorded for J. W. Osborn, Snelling, Clifton, William Kelsoe and
Joseph Rhodes.  In December the returning board counted out the members elect. 
John Osborn was district judge in 1875; H. L. Daigre, parish judge; W.C.
McGimpsey, parish attorney; Levi Wells, district clerk; D. C. Paul, sheriff;
W. H. Simons, recorder, and M. Legras, assessor.  In February, 1876, J. H.
Ransdell was clerk, succeeding Wells.  W. J. Calvit was juror in November,
1876, and in January, 1877, he as president, with G.W. Bolton, J. A. Calhoun,
W.E. Smith and Thomas Woodward qualified.  J. W. Gordon was chosen clerk;
James Moore, treasurer; W. C. McGimpsey, attorney; W. M. Thompson, physician,
and W.E. Taylor, officer of the jury.  At this time 0parish scrip sold for 50
cents per $1.  In June, 1877, five additional jurors qualified under Act No.
57, namely; F. Seip, S. D. Williams, H. F. Long, B. C. Duke, and G. Labat. 
Mr. Seip was chosen president.

In January, 1879, the first freely elected jury since 1865 qualified; F. Seip
presided, with E. Weil, B. Mayer, J. A. Dixon, S. D. Williams, J. W. Moore, G.
W. Bolton, F. A. Blanchard, Isaac La Croix and C. J. Barstow Members.  M.
Rosenthal was elected treasurer.  In April, 1880, Benjamin Lewis, Gustavus
Labat, Joseph H. Hynson (president), F. A. Blanchard, A. Heyman, J. L.
Connella, J. A. Dixon, H. F. Long, R. Perkins and S. D. Williams were
commissioned jurors.  E. W. Haley, at one time editor of the Democrat, was
appointed governor's secretary, R. W. Bringhurst was commissioned surveyor, L.
C. Sanford appointed clerk and J. J. Neal officer.  James R. Hickman and J. Y.
Haythorn were jurors in November, 1881, and in January 1882, Maj. Seip took
the place of J. H. Hynson.  In July the names of J. W. Glass and George L.
Wilson appear as jurors.  In 1885 Messrs. Barstow, Blackwell, Griffin, James,
Lawrence, Randolph, Swann, Thornton, Weems and Thompson were members of the
jury;  J. R. Andrews, assessor and L. C. Sanford clerk.  The tax levy for
parish, bridge, judgment and school purposes, was placed at 10 mills.  The
jury, as organized July 2, 1888, comprise C. J. Barstow, president; C. M.
Carruth, W. P. Flower, W. A. Griffin, Joseph Lawrence, J. J. Swann, J. W.
Texada, Lewis Texada, E. V. Weems and B. H. Randolph, clerk.  Sanford and
Officer Grogan were re-elected.  S. Cullen was chosen treasurer and Dr. Casson
physician.  A. H. Butler was a member in 1889, vice Weems, and on Butler's
death William Polk was appointed.

Joseph S. Johnson who settled at Alexandria in 1805 was elected representative
to the first Territorial Legislature, where he sat until 1812, when he was
appointed district judge.  He took an active part against the English and
raised a regiment of defend New Orleans.  After the defeat of the British he
returned to Alexandria, and served as judge until 1821, when he was elected
congressman.  In 1823 he was elected United Stated senator, re-elected in 1825
and 1831.  On May 18, 1833, while en route to Natchitoches on the steamboat
"Lioness" a quantity of powder exploded wrecking the boat at the mouth of the
Bon Dieu, and causing the death of the senator. 

In the Constitutional Convention of 1812, R. Hall, Thomas F. Oliver and Levi
Wells represented Rapides.  William Dunbar represented the parish in the
Legislature of 1830-40.

In 1840 the election for representative was a tie between T. J. Wells and C.
H. Blanchard and was decided by the parish judge.  Rapides was represented in
convention of 1845 by R.C. Hynson, James T. Brent and Joseph Walker.

In 1850 Ralph Cushman, judge of the Thirteenth District; Charles S. Leckie,
Sheriff; James Stewart, coroner; M. R. Arial, clerk and Allen Tuck, recorder,
were holding office as the measure of their successes at the polls.  B. F.
Sibley  and I. P. Waddell were senatorial delegates, and A. J. Isaacs and W.W.
Whittington representative delegates in the convention of 1852.

The Rapides election of November, 1859, shows 892 votes for T.O. Moore, and
612 for T. J. Wells candidates for governor.  J. M. Landrum and M. A. Jones
received the respective vote for Congress; J. C. Wise, K. M. Clark and E. E.
Smart were elected representatives;  W. J. Neal, sheriff; G. Labat, clerk; C.
N. Hines, district attorney; J. J. Swann, Assessor, and G. C. Wood, coroner. 
Dr. S. A. Smith was subsequently elected senator.

In January, 1861, John K Elgee, Thomas C. Manning, W. W. Smart and Louis
Texada were elected delegates to the State convention. They received 771 votes
against 395 cast for their opponents.

It was this Elgee who reported form the committee on the adoption of the
Confederate flag, and he it was who was foremost in demanding the disruption
of the Union in that historical convention of January, 1861.

In the State convention on 1864 the representatives of Rapides were M.R.
Ariail, A. Cazabat, J. A. Newell and Thomas M. Wells, while in 1868 J. L
Barrett and George H. Kelsoe represented the parish.  In the convention of
1879 George W. Bolton an Robert E. Luckett were representative delegates.

Thomas O Moore, Of this parish, was governor from 1860 to 1864, except for
that period in 1862 when Brig. Gen. G.F. Shepley was military governor.  James
M. Wells, also of this parish, was acting governor from 1864 to 1866 and
governor from 1866 to 1868.

Charles W. Boyce was temporary president of the Senate in 1864.  Aristide
Barbin was secretary of the senate in 1858-59 and Henry B. Kelly, 1865-67. 
Robert A Hunter was elected State treasurer in 1855 and served until 1860. 
Louis Bordelon was elected auditor in 1850 and served until 1855.  Henry A
Bullard was appointed justice of the Supreme Court in 1832 and served until
1845/  William Dunbar served in 1852-53/ Cornelius Voorhies, 1854-59; A. N.
Ogden, 1854-55; Thomas C. Manning, 1863-64, 1873-80, 1882-86; Felix P. Poche(,
1880-90, and William P. Hyman, 1865-68.

The elections of November, 1865 show 409 votes for H.W. Allen and 258 for J.
M. Wells, candidates for governor; G. M. Graham received 276 and J. G. Pratt
265 for Congress; John Kelsoe, 419, 
A. D. Coco 314 and M. Ryan, 224, for senator, and J. T. Hatch, Henry Boyce and
E. T. Lewis were elected representatives.  Pardons were issued about this time
to Judge T. C. Manning, Chief Justice Merrick, Lewis Texada and Senator Semmes
by the President.

In May, 1866, W. L. Sanford was elected representative; J. F. Smith, district
attorney; J. R. Andrews, sheriff; John W. Hickman, district clerk; J. W.
Moore, recorder; J. M. Cavanaugh, assessor and G. C. Wood, coroner.

Maj. Willauer, superintendent of the Freedman's Bureau in  1866-67 resigned in
November 1867.

In May, 1868, the delegates to the New Orleans Convention, were A. J. Sypher,
A. F. Wild and William Gottschalk, all non-residents.  George Y. Kelsoe, Harry
Lott and W. Crawford (all colored), were representatives of the parish.  Judge
Ryan was elected member of Congress in November, 1868, defeating Newsham by a
large majority, but the latter was given the seat.

The elections of November, 1870, show 1,180 votes for James Ryan (D), and
1,890 for James McCleery (R), candidates for Congress;  1,310 votes for Henry
Lott, J. B. Lott and William Crawford (Col. Rep), and 1,163 for William a
Seay, D. C. Paul and G.W. Stafford (D.), for representatives; John Kelsoe
(D.), 1,702, and A. J. Whittier (R.), 1,306 for parish judge; John De Lacey
(R.) 1,906, and C. R. Haworth (D.) 1,150 for sheriff.  Judge Kelsoe was re-
elected, the only Democrat upon whom success attended.

In November, 1872, E. C. Davidson, Samuel Peters and J. Madison Wells ere
candidates for Congress; when the first received 1,928 votes, the second 976,
and the third 228 in this parish.  For the short term A. Boarman received
1,963 and Harry Lott (Col.), 1,161.  William A. Seay and John Osborn received
similar votes for district judge; M. J. Cunningham and N. A. Robinson, for
attorney; James G. White and George Y. Kelsoe, for senator; Louis Texada, J.
J. Swann and J. G. P. Hooe, defeated Joseph Conaughton (Col.), Henry Worthy
(Col.), and John Mayon (Col.) for representatives; Henry L. Daigre, defeated
C. B. Ledoux for parish judge; Sosthene A. Baillio, defeated William Hustmeyer
for district clerk; D. C. Paul, defeated De Lacey for sheriff; W. H. Simons,
defeated V.W. Porter for recorder; and Giles C. Wood, defeated W. H. Shadburn
for coroner, the votes being 1,960 (D.), and 1,158 (R.).  All who were not
elected were counted in, and all who were elected, counted out.

The election of 1874 show 1,546 votes for W. M. Levy, and 1,233 for George L.
Smith, candidates for Congress; George W. Stafford, James Jeffries and R. L.
Luckett were elected representatives; H. L. Daigre, parish judge; D. C. Paul,
sheriff, and Nelson Taylor, coroner.  United States troops were present at
every polling place.  All were counted out except Judge Diagre.

The election of 1876, show 1,625 votes for W. A. Strong, and 1,752 for E.
Honore, candidates for secretary of State; 1,454 for W. F. Blackman, and 1,876
for R. A. Hunter, district judge; 1,446 for E. G. Hunter and 1,888 for James
Andrews, district attorney; 1,584 for Louis Texada and 1,710 for G. Y. Kelsoe,
senator; 1,643 for K. M. Clark, James Jeffries and G.W. Stafford, and 1,833
for W. J. De Lacey (colored), E. J. Barrett and Baptiste Drew; 1,379 for W. W.
Whittington, and 1,935 for John Clements, parish judge; 1,620 for D.C. Paul,
and 1,696 for H. M. Robinson, sheriff; 1.293 for J. G. P. Hooe, and 1,856 for
J. H. Ransdell, clerk; 1,592 for Mires Rosenthal and 1,725 for V.W. Porter,
recorder; 1,510 for Isaac Roberts, and 1,720 for W. H. Shadburn, coroner.  In
September, 1876, George L Smith was declared congressman.  In 1878, J. B. Elam
was elected congressman; James C. Wise and James Jeffries were chosen
representatives; J. R. Thornton, parish judge, and I. C. Roberts, coroner.

In December, 1879, Will A. Strong received a majority vote for Secretary of
State; W. F. Blackman was elected judge of the district; Edwin G. Hunter,
attorney; R. L. Luckett, senator; James C. Wise and J. F. Hathaway,
representatives; D.C. Paul, sheriff; George O. Watts, clerk, and Dr. John
Casson coroner.

In January, 1880, the contest in the matter of the election of judge of the
Twelfth District was disposed of by the Supreme Court, Aristide Barbin being
declared entitled to the office, and W. F. Blackman not entitled thereto.

In November, 1880, Thomas C. Manning was appointed United States Senator, vice
Spofford, deceased, but for political reasons he denied his seat in the
senate.  Later he was appointed minister to Mexico.

The election of April, 1888, shows 4,656 Democratic and 625 Republican votes. 
W.F. Blackman and A. V. Coco were elected district judges, defeating E. N.
Cullom and H. L. Daigre.  James Andrews was elected district attorney; F Seip,
senator; S.F. Meeker and G.W. Bolton representatives; D. T. Stafford, sheriff,
George O. Watts, clerk and John Casson, coroner.

The vote cast in 1876 for governor, shows 1,649 for Nicholls (D.) and 1,279
for Packard (R.).  In 1879 the figures changed materially, Wiltz (D.)
receiving 1,941, and Beattie (R.), 899.  In 1884 there were 1,708 votes cast
for McEnery (D.) and 1,157 for Stevenson (R.).  While in 1888, Nicholls (D.)
received 4,687 and Warmoth (R.) 449.  The registered voters in April, 1888
numbered 7,309, 4,893 being Caucasians.  There were 653 white, and 2,180
colored voters, who could not write their name.

On June 13, 1868, a meeting of the bar of Rapides, presided over by Michael
Ryan, adopted resolutions on the death of Judge W. B. Lewis.  The signers were
M. Ryan, R. A. Hunter, E. C. Leckie, H. S. Losee, James G. White, J. W.
Hickman and W. W. Whittington.  Major Canfield died in February, 1867.  Judge
Osborn was appointed to succeed him.  In November, 1869, Judge Osborn opened
court with a negro grand jury, Larkin D. Corley, of Banks' Legislature fame,
being the only white member.  Judge Ryan protested against this iniquity, but
the judge, Osborn, decided in favor of the jury.  The white lawyers and
litigants left court in a body.  On the death of Parish Judge Kelsoe, H. L.
Daigre was appointed, and in the fall of 1872 sought election.  From January,
1868, to January,1875, there were fifty-seven murders in Rapides-forty negroes
and seventeen Caucasians.  Lynch law was first applied in this parish February
23,1877.  One Cage stole a horse of Major George O. Watts.  The owner gave
chase, came up with the thief on Gov. Moore's upper plantation. But instead of
surrendering, Cage wounded the Major and fled.   Next morning the people
started in pursuit, captured him at the Lodi sugar-house, and he was taken to
the jail.  That night the jailer, C. M. Calvit, was overpowered, and Cage
abducted and hanged below the town.

Sameul Travis or Samuel Fled, a colored man, was hanged July 8, 1881.  He
murdered A. J. Hanna, a merchant below Alexandria, October 20, 1879, was found
guilty in February, 1880, and the sentence was signed by the governor June
24,1881.  Nineteen years before, in 1862, a public execution took place here. 
A negro by the name of William Brooks was hung at Alexandria, May 2, 1884, for
the murder of his wife.  Quite a gathering witnessed the hanging, among them
being a number of negroes from Grant Parish.  As usual, Brooks professed to be
confident that he was going straight from the gallows to heaven.  He confessed
the crime for which he was hung.

The present bar comprises R. J. Bowman, James G. White, R. P. Hunter W. W.
Whittington Jr., James Andrews, H. L. Daigre, E. G. Hunter, J. P. Thornton,
J.C. Ryan, M.C. Moseley, J.F. Ariail, H. H. White, A. J. Camack, L. L. Hooe
and Louis J. Hakenyos.  C. L. Ransdell has served as deputy district clerk
since June, 1876.  In June, 1888, W. French was commissioned office deputy.

The Planters' Intelligencer, Vol. IX, No. 46, was issued at Alexandria
November 16, 1836 (thus pointing out its beginning late in 1827), by R. Smith. 
The annual subscription was $6.  At that time Edward C. Leckie was deputy
clerk; John H. Johnson, parish judge of Rapides; M. Walsh & Co. were merchants
at Alexandria; S. E. Gunning and W. T. Crain were merchants, but on the
latter's death, in 1836, Mackay & Amelung succeeded them; A. L. Barrow was
lumber dealer; S. S. Carew presided over the academy; R. C. Martin kept a
general store; the Carrolton Branch Bank was in existence at Hydropolis,
Avoyelles Parish; Francois Gaiennie was elector of the Whig and Gen. P. E.
Bossier on the Democratic tickets; E. H. Flint & Co. were dealers in wagons;
Sandford & Page, book dealers; E. K. English, grocers; Normand & Boult,
hardware dealers; M. Mahony, J. A. Crawford-Henry, R.C. Barry & Co merchant
tailors, J. L. Crain & R. A. Hunter had just ceased business; the office of
the discount and Deposit bank of the N. O. Gaslight & Banking Company was
presided over by Cashier W. R. Leckie; the Washington Tavern was kept by R. G.
Leckie; J. M. Gordon purchases Walsh & CO's stock in November and opened his
store; D. C. Goodwyn was deputy sheriff and itinerant Methodist preacher; J.
B. Scott, clerk of probate and L. M. Shepherd, auctioneer.  A few copies of
this ancient journal were found at Mr. Hynson's house, known as Kent
plantation.

Alexandria Gazette, Vol. V, No. 52, is dated January 12, 1833.  (Its was first
issued in January, 1828.)  R. Smith & J. D. McCoy were publishers; the act of
March 16, chartering the Alexandria & Cheneyville Railroad appears in this
issue.  Stephen Rosseau was then cashier of the Union Bank of Avoyelles;
Baldwin & Dunlap carried on the Rapides Academy; the stores of Slocum & Co.,
J. B. Calland, Anderson & David, The Eagle Hotel of S. E. Bell, the grocery of
Lowe & Co., the general store of M. Walshe, the dentistry office of S.
Edgerton at Culberson's hotel, and Mrs. E. B. Biscamp's millinery were well-
known institutions at this time.  Mrs. Cooper, a daughter of J. D. McCoy,
still residing on Bayou Boeuf, holds a few of the first copies of the gazette.

The Red River Republican was established in 1838 as the first Democratic organ
of Rapides.  Louis Zimm, who died in January, 1875, came here to take charge. 
In 1845, when the Western Democrat was founded, Zimm turned himself and his
journal over to the Whigs and continued to espouse the Whig platform until
1853, when he left Alexandria.  He died in January, 1875 Vol. XII, No. 26, of
the Republican is dated May 25, 1850.

The Red River Whig was established in 1839, by John H. Ransdell to combat the
teaching of Louis Zimm.  The editor became a local politician in later years,
and his name occurs often in the pages devoted to the transactions of the
police jury.  He died in November, 1869.

The Western Democrat, Vol. V, No. 50, was issued by Martin C. Smith. June 5,
1850.  At this time A. McNutt was police juror from Bayou Rapides and favored
the levee project.  L. Bailey presided over the jury; M.R. Ariail was district
clerk; William Grove's School, Rev. Elijah Guion's Female Academy , and Pine
Grove Academy or Digges' Academy of J. W. Ricks were in existence.  It was
issued first in June, 1845, by David Martin, a printer, a poet, scholar and
good judge of whiskey.  To him is credited the old song "Erin is my Home."  It
was edited in 1859-60 by E. W. Halsey and published by T. H. Bradley.  In 1864
E. R. Biossat purchased the office.  At this time A. B. Rachal, who has since
been connected with the paper entered the office.

The Pictorial Democrat, printed on wall paper, was issued April 8, 1863. 
Admiral Farragut was at the mouth of Red River at this time.  E. R. Biossat
was editor.

The first number of the Louisiana Democrat issued after the war is dated June,
14, 1865.  It was given up to military orders.  E. R. & E. A. Biossat were
proprietors of the Democrat up to the close of 1872.  In 1875 Mr. Rachal, who
entered the office in 1863, took the place of E. A Biossat as publisher.  In
October, 1880, James R. Waters became editor and Henry L. Biossat, publisher. 
Eugene R. Biossat, the veteran editor, died in January, 1881.  His mother, who
settled at Alexandria in 1817, died there in 1867.

In the fall of 1858 T. G. Compton, one time assistant editor of the Red River
American (C. E. Boyce's journal), established the Reporter at Alexandria.

The constitutional, Vol. I, No. 1, was issued at Alexandria August 4, 1860, by
C.W. Boyce and Benjamin Turner.

The Southern Sentinel, Vol. I, dated June 20, 1863, is printed on wall paper. 
The issue of September 26 of that year is also printed on a poor class of wall
paper, one page of closely printed matter telling the necessities of war
times.  T. G. Compton was editor, and the present Mayor Crawley foreman.  The
price was $ 8. per annum in Confederate, Louisiana or Rapides scrip only. 
William J. Neal was sheriff and J. A. Calvitt deputy.  A notice of the death
of many slaves engaged in the building of Fort De Russy is given, and an
advertisement for twenty negro men to work in the Seminary Hospital was
inserted by J. S. Fish, surgeon of Taylor Hospital.  The Democrat of this
period was also printed on wall paper.

The Rapides Tribune was issued October 3, 1868, by W. R. McLean.  On the 15th
of that month the office was demolished and the material cast into Red River. 
He purchased a new outfit and returned to Alexandria on November 15, when the
office was again destroyed.  McLean was stoned, Judge Osburn's dwellings was
damaged, and he and Parish Judge Barlow, both elected in April, 1868, on the
Republican ticket, were subjected to abuse; C. W. Boyce, formerly president
pro tem. Of the Senate, was beaten, and other citizens assaulted.

The Alexandria Gazette (new) was established in 1869.

The Caucasian was issued March 27, 1874, by G. W. Stafford, R. P. Hunter, and
W. F. Blackman.  On March 20, 1875, the valedictory appeared.  The journal as
its name denotes, was purely a white man's journal to its close.

We, The People, was established at Alexandria in 1879, Frank Connelly being
editor. This was a most aggressive newspaper, generally correct in its
denunciations, but so often erroneous in statement, that it was forced to
surrender to an older and more conservative paper.

The Daily Town Talk was established March 17, 1883, by E. H. McCormick and
Henarie M. Huie.  This was continued as a morning newspaper until January,
1885, when the daily issue ceased, and a tri-weekly issue was instituted.  In
January, 1886, the tri-weekly ceased, and the Weekly Town Talk (established in
December, 1884) was left to hold the field.  In 1888 Mr. Huie retired from the
firm, selling his interest to R. C. Jarreau and Miss Laura Huie.  They, with
Mr. McCormick, are the present owners of this journal.  The circulation in
1,300, and the office gives employment to six men.  The present office
building was erected in 1887-88/  Within it is the first steam printing outfit
introduced into Central Louisiana, and from this office the first eight-page
paper was issued in Central Louisiana.

The Headlight, of Boyce, Rapides, was established in 1887, by J. S. Van Ingen
and John W. Rhorer.  The rays from this journal did not flash across the
world, and even in Northern Rapides it failed to enlighten the people of their
duties toward the local newspaper.

The Alexandria Daily Times was issued in September, 1890, by the Times
Publishing Company.  Col. E. B. Wheelock, general agent of the Texas & Pacific
Railway, is president; Col. A. D. Battle, the veteran editor of Shreveport, is
editor-in-chief; Guy Armstrong, who graduated out to the Picayune's news
department, is city and news editor, and T. N. Miles is business manager.  The
office building was erected specially for publishing purposes.  The mechanics
employed on this building were all colored tradesmen of New Orleans,

The Vidette was issued in October, 1890, as the official journal of the
Farmer's Alliance.  Messrs. A. D. Lafargue and J. A. Tetts were the editors.

The number of white pupils enrolled in Rapides in 1877, was 507; in 1878,
1,093; in 1879,920; in 1880, 236; in 1881, 1073; in 1884, 997; in 1885, 1314;
on 1886, 1028; in 1887, 1314.  The colored enrollment for the same years was
351, 678, 555, 108, 458, 453, 598, 525 and 680.  In 1889 there were 3,887
white children of school age, and 4,605 colored children, while in 1890 the
respective numbers were 4,212 and 4,915.  The attendance, however, is very
limited.

The school board for 1890 comprises Jonas Rosenthal, president, N. L.
McGinnis, C. M. Shaw, T. S. Smith, Samuel Blum, James P Hickman, H. F. Long,
N. L. Hathorn and L. B. Baynard.  In July of this year the members considered
the Legislative act of 1890, which donated the building, known as the Charity
Hospital at Alexandria, to the State Board of Education for educational
purposes, and resolved that the State board should be petitioned to turn it
over to the parish board for similar purposes.

The Rapides Teacher's Association was organized in September, 1890, with John
W. Brill, president, M. P. Erwin, vice-president, and John P. McGee, secretary
.

The physicians who registered under the act of 1882, and placed their diplomas
on record, are named as follows: John Casson, Francis W. Marshall, John A.
Dunn, Stephen H. Rushing, David H. Tucker, Julius A. Johnson, William L. Van
Horn, James E. Keator, Hiram D. Cooper, Samuel F. Meeker, James A.
Cruikshanks, George E. French, Sameul T. Birdsong, Smith Gordon, Edward B.
Price, Charles T. Radcliffe, Jesse E. Collins, Americus Cockerille, Ralph
Kilpatrick, Henry F. Myers, Thomas W. Compton, James R. Coats, James T.
Phillips, Ira Bowman, Robert L. Luckett, James S. Fish, James T. Keator and
Allen Patrick.  Messrs. Gibson Myers, James H. So Relle and James H. Postron
registered as physicians of long practice.

The Rapides Agricultural Fair Association was incorporated June 28, 1873, was
incorporated June 28, 1873, with power to consolidate with the Rapides Jockey
Club.  There were forty-six members. Drs. R. L. Luckett, E. A. Cockerille,
with J. C. French, Julins Levin, M. Heyman, E. M. Wells, W. F. Blackman, W. W.
Whittington, Jr. and J. S. Butler were elected directors.

The first grange in the parish was organized in April, 1874, with J. H.
Hynson, T.S. Smith, J.W. Prescott, E.M. Wells, J. C. French, F. Seip, Joseph
Fellows, D.W Hynson, Mrs. Fannie M. Wells, Mrs. Kate Hynson, Miss Nellie
Fellows and Mrs. Clara Flowers, filling the respective offices.

The Rapides Parish Farmers' Union elected the following named officers in
July, 1887:  John J. Swann, president; Z. P. Squires, vice-president; D. B.
Hogan, treasurer; John A. Dixon, secretary; Linn Tanner, lecturer; P. A.
Swann, chaplain;--Harper, doorkeeper, and W. L. Tanner, sergeant-at-arms.

From the very beginning of settlement the people of Rapides have been
represented in war.  Away back in 1730 or 1731, the very few inhabitants fled
before the Indians to seek refuge at Natchitoches.  There the men entered the
ranks of St. Denys, and conquered the Indians.  On the western line, in after
years, they pushed forward their cotton fields to stay in advance of the
Mexican and so on up to 1815, when Sprigg, Hooper and others went down to New
Orleans to aid in defeating the British.  Only in 1870 did a widow of one of
the veterans of 1812 die here-Marcia, the widow of John Carnahan.  In the
Mexican War, R.A. Hunter was adjutant in Col. Marks' regiment, and other
citizens served in the ranks.  The Civil  War brought into the field every man
capable of bearing arms.  From April, 1861, to the surrender of Appomattox,
and indeed to a later period, Louisianians were in the field.  Even when the
superior officers of the Western Confederate Army agreed to surrender at
Shreveport, the measure was condemned by men, and many regiments declared
their resolution to fight until the last man fell.

In December, 1860, the Fulton Guards were organized at Alexandria with John
Kelsoe, captain; M. A. Grogan, first, and W. S. Ridge, second lieutenant; J. M
. Martin, R. C. Heatherwick, L. A. Cameron and J. W. Osburn, sergeants; B. J.
Hartiens, W. G. Lloyd, B. Bogan and William H. Rogers, corporals.  Col. Fulton
presided over the meeting to organize; James De Lahunty was secretary, and
Rosemond Legras, treasurer.  The Moore Guards, under Capt. Kelsoe, left for
the front in April, 1861.

The Rapides Minute Company was organized at Lamothe's Bridge December 12,
1860, with J. W. Texada, captain; A. M. Gordon and C. R. Hayworth,
lieutenants; J. c. Bledsoe, F. Gremillion and C. Innis, sergeants; R.
Crnikshank, F. M. Duffel, J. A. Fray and A. Vandegaer, corporals; Moses
Rosenthal, ensign and Dr. L. Magruder, surgeon.

The war meeting of April 23, 1861, was presided over by Gen. Montford Wells,
with C. N,. Hines, secretary.  Messrs. Ryan, Manning, Canfield and Kelsoe were
orators, and M. Walshe, H. Robertson, L. Texada, K. M. Clark and M. Ryan, the
members of a committee to procure quarters for men who come into town to
enlist.

Capt. S. A. Smith, M.D.,  organized a company in May, 1861.  James C. Wise, J.
W. Texada and Thomas C. Manning were lieutenants, R. S. Jackson, Dr. A. W.
Davis, W. K. Johnson and J. C. Grimes, sergeants; Neal Davidson, Jr., George
W. Stafford, Ben B. Burgess and B. Weiss, corporals, and A. Cazabat, ensign. 
This was the second company organized for the war in Rapides Parish, but
disbanding May 20, the greater number of members joined the Rapides
Invincibles.  

The Rapides Volunteers (Invincibles) organized May 21, 1861, with Lee
Crandall, captain; Henry Huie, A. W. Davis and W. K Johnson, lieutenants and
R. S. Jackson first sergeant.

The Alexandria Independent Cavalry was organized in January, 1801, with J. S.
Severns, captain; J. C. Wise and John Bogan, lieutenants.   In February the
title Southern Guards was given to the command.  The Moore Guard were
organized and Sergt. R. M. Kilpatrick was commissioned major of the Rapides
Regiment of Militia.

On May 25, 1861, a military company (The Home Guards) was organized with John
P. Eddleman, captain; G. A. Smith, J. T. Hewett and J. S. Duncan, lieutenants;
e. M. Calcote, J. A. Clifton, William Roberts and A. F. Jones, sergeant; 
Charles K. Oakes, H. Johnson, J. M. Lacy and F. M. Miller, corporals.  The
total strength was ninety-six.

The Cheneyville Riflemen, the third company organized in Rapides for the war,
elected the following named officers in June, 1861:  P. F. Keary, captain;
John Burgess, W. H. Oliver and John r. Murphy, lieutenants; and Samuel
Roberts, first sergeant.  The Cheneyville Home Guards and the riflemen were
presented with flags by the ladies of the town.

Kirby Smith writing from Alexandria, LA., to Richmond, April 25, 1863, says:
"The Federal Army under Gen. Banks is within one day's march of Alexandria. 
Gen. Taylor is falling back toward Natchitoches.  The Red River below
Alexandria will soon be in possession of the enemy."  Writing from Shreveport,
July 10, he refers to his arrangements with Maj.-Gen. Taylor to concentrate
the Louisiana troops opposite Vicksburg.

Gen. N. P. Banks reporting to Gen. Grant from Alexandria, May 12, 1863, says:
"We believe that a force of about 7,000 of the enemy has left Arkansas River
to join Kirby Smith at Shreveport, and intend to come down Grand Ecore, above
Natchitoches, where a strong position is being fortified.  There is
undoubtedly a Texan Column on the road to join them.  My advance is now sixty
miles above Alexandria.  The only course for me, failing to co-operate with
you, is to regain the Mississippi, and attack Port Hudson, or move against the
enemy at Shreveport.

The invasion of Red River Valley by the Federal troops under Banks is referred
to in the history of De Soto and other northern parishes.  At the close of
February, 1864, Mouton's brigade was at Alexandria, De Polignac's at Trinity,
Walker's division at Marksville, with eight heavy guns, two field pieces and a
section of Vincent's horse in and around the unfinished Fort De Russy;
Harrison's mounted regiment near Monroe.  On March 12, 1864, Adm. Porter's
nineteen gunboats entered the Red River and 10,000 Federals entered the
valley.  At Simmsport the troops debarked on the 13th; on the 14th under Gen.
A. J. Smith, they captured Fort De Russy, killing and wounding ten members of
the garrison, while the rifle pits below were taken by Federals from the
gunboat, under Phelps.  On March 15, 1864, Porter's advance boats appeared
below Alexandria, where one grounded on the falls and was burned.  Shortly
afterwards the general advance was made and transports and gunboats moved up
the river, keeping pace with the troops up the valley.  Banks going up was a
very different man from Banks going down.  His splendid army was beaten at
Mansfield and Pleasant Hill.  Since their passage going up the river had
fallen, and on getting back to the falls on their retreat it was found that
there was not sufficient water to admit the gunboats and transports, and there
was danger of capture by the Confederates in pursuit.  In this dilemma an
engineer connected with the fleet, by the name of Bailey, constructed a dam of
rocks and earth in the nature of a jetty at the lower falls, just above the
town of Alexandria, and on the opposite side of the river.  This confined the
waters and raised the river at that point sufficient to admit the passage of
the fleet, and thus saved it.  The burning of Alexandria on May 13, 1864, is
generally attributed to the Federals, but there are citizens there to-day who
relieve Gen. Banks of all responsibility and point to his great effort to save
the town.  There are others who claim that a few men of Gen. Smith's command
were the real incendiaries, while others maintain that the incendiaries were
native and burned with an object.  Whoever is guilty, the crime of destroying
twenty-three blocks or squares of a young city, was a most dastardly one.

Alexandria, is latitude 31 degrees 18' north and in longitude 15 degrees 22'
west, is located on the Red River, at the mouth of Bayou Rapides, eighty feet
above sea level.  In is distant from New Orleans 196 miles by railroad and 350
miles by river, and from Shreveport 130 miles by railroad and 350 miles by
river.  The population is 3,000.  The site is a beautiful one.  Though almost
level as a floor, its streets are never disagreeably muddy nor are there
standing pools of water to generate disease.  The soil is sandy and rapidly
absorbs rainfall.  Westward it is ten miles to hills and thence to the Sabine
River are magnificent pineries, while the soil is productive and adapted to
the raining of grain, vegetables and cotton.  Immediately opposite, or on the
right bank of the Red River, is the village of Pineville.  

Alexander Fulton, who platted Alexandria, was the first merchant.  He was
followed by John Casson.  In 1812 Martineau & Landreau open their store; then
the stores of L. Levesques, M. Labot and Antoine Biossat were established. 
The two latter came with Rochambeau and took part in the Revolution.  Isaac
McNutt, William Wilson, Charles T. Scott and J. H. Johnson were old-time
lawyers.

Hypolite Beauboeur, who died in September, 1879, came from France to
Alexandria in 1820 with letters to Commandant Archinard.  He entered the store
of Landreaux & Martin and later that of Laferiere Levesques, but afterward
became a planter and resided on his lands until his death.

Thomas H. Hooper came in 1810, was one of Capt. S. W. Gordan's company at New
Orleans in  1815, married the widow of Alexander Fulton a few years later, and
settled down in the Pine Hills.

Horatio S. Spriggs was here before the battle of New Orleans, but returned to
Alexandria after the battle and with Archie P. Williams and George Y. Kelsoe,
became the owners of great properties.  In 1828 he was elected general of the
militia.  F. R. Amsden, who in 1839 settled here and was assessor for ten
years, died in August, 1880.  William Mills, Known as "the old governor" died
in December, 1880.  Pleasant Hunter and family settled at Alexandria prior to
1820.  Robert A. Hunter, who was brought here in infancy, died in July, 1889,
after a residence of sixty-nine years.  In 1858 he was State treasured; twelve
years before this he was adjutant in Col. Mark's regiment (Mexican); was
United States marshal at the beginning of the war, and was among the first to
volunteer for service in the Confederate Army.  

Robert C. Hynson, who died October 4, 1875, settled at Alexandria in November,
1818, as clerk for Bryant & Martin, then the leading merchants.  In 1821 the
firm of Wright & Hynson was formed.  Maj. Wright was killed by James Bowie in
the "Sand Bar Fight" in 1827, and Hynson continued the business until its
settlement in 1828, when he took John B. Heno's place as cashier of the Bank
of Louisiana here.  On the removal of the bank from Alexandria, in 1846, the
deceased retired to Kent plantation.  The Alexandria Library Society was
chartered in 1824.

The Alexandria Amateur Thespean Society played "She Stoop to Conquer" November
17, 1836.  Messrs. Shepherd, Gordon, Brown, Mackay, Dr. Crawford, Curtis,
Brewer, Wilmoth, C. Leckie, Boniole, Boult, Bringhurst, Bryce and Wood being
the actors.

In May, 1853, David Martin was proprietor of the Western Democrat; L. F.
Parker was principal of the Boy's Institute in the Pine Woods; D. C. Goodwyn
was secretary  of the Rapides Lodge.  I. O. O. F., No. 35, with rooms in Judge
Arials' ice house; E. & J. C. Johnson and S. K. Johnson were druggist; E. R.
Biossat was proprietor of the Alexandria House; John Bogan of the Washington,
and A. M. Hollowell of the Missouri House; Charles H. Flower was captain and
J. C. Wise, sergeant of the cavalry company; Henry B. Kelly and Ralph Cushman
were candidates for district judge, with A. J. Isaacs and J. H. C. Barlow in
the field for district attorney.

R. Legras was mayor in June, 1860.  Relief Fire Company No. 1 and Hope Company
No. 2 were active organizations at this time.  In January, 1861, the
following-named councilmen were elected: M. R. Ariail, H. Robertson, R. C.
Hetherwick, W. B. Hyman and G. W. Barrett.  I. T. Jewett was treasured; John
Clements, constable, collector and wharfinger; C. W. Boyce, printer, and A.
Cazabat, secretary.  In August, 1865, Gov. Wells appointed John Frazer, mayor;
Jacob Irvin,* Jacob Walker,* Isaac Levy, E. B. Price* and E. R. Biossat,
councilmen.  In December H. S. Losee and Joseph Fellows were appointed
additional councilmen.  The names marked above thus * were elected in January,
1866, with John Bogan and James D. Osburn, councilmen, and H. S. Losee, mayor. 
In July, 1867, the first town tax since 1857 was levied.  It amounted only to
$1,600.  Engene R. Biossat was major at this time.  In January, 1867, he, with
Jacob Walker, W. O Daman, Joseph Fellows, Julius Levin and Edouard Weil formed
the council.  The elections of April, 1868, resulted in the return of Mayor
Biossat.  Joseph Fellows, W. S. Ridge, J. W. Osburn, Patrick Kelly and B.
Glatt were elected councilmen by 326 votes against 56 votes for the Republican
nominees.  On September 29, 1868, an act incorporation the town of Alexandria
and repealing all older acts were approved, under this act.  J. W. Osburn was
elected mayor; I. J. Howard, E. R. Biossat, Julius Levin, I. C. Miller and S.
J. Johnson, councilmen; John C. Rogers, treasurer, and W. J. Rogers,
controller, in January, 1869.  W. F. McLean was appointed mayor by Warmoth,
but refused to act until November 15, 1868, when the riot took place, and
scared him out of municipal life.  John M. Barrett was clerk in 1869-70.  In
January,1871, R. M. Kilpatrick was nominated for mayor; B. C. Duke, treasurer;
J. M. Barrett, controller; L. Gossens, with Messrs. Biossat, Levin, White and
Johnson, councilmen.  In January of this year the Stone Wall Hook and Ladder
Company was organized, and Thomas Crawley was fire marshal.  January, 1873, R.
L. Fox was chosen mayor and A. L Hilton, clerk.  Edouard Weil was elected
mayor in 1875, with B. C. Duke, treasurer; A. Hilton, controller; James
Bouillotte, E. R. Biossat, M. Rosenthal, M. Legras and W. W. Whittington, Jr.,
councilmen.  W.W. Whittington served as mayor for a short time.  Samuel
Fellows was chosen mayor in 1879, and A. B. Rachal, controller, with Louis
Gossens, E. R. Biossat, Jonas Rosenthal, Dennis Kelly and W. W. Whittington
councilmen.  James Andrews, Jr., was elected mayor in 1881, while N. L.
McGinnis and W. O. Damon, with three members of the old board, were elected
councilmen.

In 1882 the town charter was repealed and the city charter granted.  W. C.
McGimsey was mayor in November, of this year.  He was re-elected in January,
1883, with A. B. Rachal, comptroller, and B. C. Duke, treasurer.  H.S.
Gossens, J. J. Peterman, N.L. McGinnis, Jacob Irving and J. Rosenthal were
elected councilmen.  William Leckie was a member in August, vice Irving.  The
plankroad ordinance was considered at this time.  In January, 1885, Thomas
Crawley, was commissioned mayor; E. Weil, J. F. Garner, L. B. Baynard, D.
Kelly and J. Rosenthal, councilmen.  The mayor and J. Rosenthal were re-
elected in 1887, H. S. Gossens, E. J. Sullivan, N. L. McGinnis and Jacob
Irving being the new members.  In October of this year, the 5-mill tax in aid
of the Little Rock and Arkansas Railroad was adopted by 148 votes,
representing $228,099.  Joseph Fellows, Julius A. Johnson and R. W. Bringhurst
were elected councilmen in 1889.  H. M. Huie was chosen marshal and collector,
and G. M. Ratcliffe succeeded A. B. Rachal as secretary, who served for the
previous decade.  The present council comprises the three last councilmen
named, with Messrs. Gossens and Irving, Mayor Crawley, presiding.  In June,
1889, Judge Blackman held that the city was indebted to the Southern Artesian
Well Company, in the sum of $1,500.  Their contract was to sink an artesian
well, which would give a natural flow of at least 15,000 gallons per day, or a
pumping capacity of 30,000 gallons for the sum named, and this the company
carried out, but Mayor Crawley hesitated to sign city warrants authorized by
the council, hence the suit.  In the fall of 1890, Assessor Williams reported
that the total amount of assessments for this year were $48,818.20; last year
$42,250 showing an increase of $6,56820.  The taxes were this year $2,881.82;
last year $2,535.18, showing an increase of $1,355.64.  The amount derivable
from licenses for the year is $3,000; while the city taxes amount to $6,000.

T. G. Compton was postmaster in 1840-41; Louis Zimm, the printer, was
postmaster form 1845 to 1853; E. R. Biossat was postmaster in 1861.  In June,
1865, J. C. Rogers was recommended for postmaster; but in September, 1866,
when the office was reopened by the United States, and he retained the
position until appointed agent of the Freedman's Bureau for Winn Parish.  In
June, 1875, John De Lacey was commissioned master.  In 1880, Connelly was
appointed, but in January, 1881, De Lacey was reinstated. In 1880 E. J.
Barrett succeeded Col. Thomas P. French, as postmaster.

In 1818 John Casson donated to what was known in 1860 as District No. 4 a
square of land in the Casson Addition to the town of Alexandria.  Two years
later a large brick building was erected thereon, called the College of
Rapides, the State and individuals contributing moneys to the extent of
$20,000 toward its erection.  The building was a ruin in 1860.

The State Seminary was founded in 1855, on grants of land made by the State,
from 1806 to 1827, for seminary purposes.  This school was opened January 2,
1860, with Col. W. T. Sherman, superintendent.  In April, 1861, Col. Sherman
resigned his position as president of the college and Col. George W. Lay took
his place.  Sherman confessed, at Judge Ryan's house, that he could not reside
in a State which opposed the Union.  Col. Lay resigned in May, together with
Maj. F. W. Smith, leaving Profs. Vallas, Boyd and St. Ange in charge.  Later
Capt. Boggs was appointed superintendent; but, on June 30, that year, the
building was closed to students, and not reopened until April 1, 1862 when
Col. Williams E. M. Linfield took charge.  In April, 1863, Prof. William A.
Seay, succeeded Col. Linfield, but on the 23rd of that month the seminary was
closed, owing to the advance of the Federals under Banks.  During the session
of 1863 there were 112 cadets enrolled.  Rev. J. T. Bellier was professor of
ancient languages until his death, in 1869.  During the war the building was
gutted by fire, but early in 1865 was restored, and reopened October 2 that
year.  On October 20, 1869, the building was burned entailing a loss of
$135,000.  In later years the whole enterprise collapsed, but now an effort is
being made to have the seminary of some kindred State collegiate institute
back again.

The present Catholic schools of Alexandria are in charge of the Sisters of
Divine Providence, with Sister Mary Joseph, supervisor since September, 1887. 
The convent and school buildings commenced at that time were completed in
September, 1890.  The average attendance is 100. Sister M. Blandino is now
supervisor and principal.  

The storm of April, 1861, blew down the Alexandria market-house (just
completed), carried away part of the roof of the Ice-House Hotel, destroyed
the buildings known as Parkers' Institute (then converted into a clothing
factory by J.S. Calhoun.  The hail storm of April, 1870, destroyed many
windows in the city.)  The flood of May and June, 1866, swept over the levee
above Alexandria on May 30, and early next morning the embankment gave way. 
With the exception of twelve or thirteen houses, the whole town was flooded. 
The walls of Goodman's saloon, Herarie's and John Weil's stores; Irving's
brick house, opposite the town hall, and every brick building in the town
sustained damages of caved in, including the Ice-House Hotel, which lost ten
feet of its northwest corner in the current.  J. A. William's warehouse was
washed away, and the buildings of Sullivan and J. Walker were lowered.  One
June 29, 1867, the levee opposite the old court-house gave way, flooding the
town.  During the evening the crevasse was stopped, and by morning the waters
disappeared.  The overflows of 1884 and 1890 are referred to in the first part
of the history of Rapides.

The fire of May 13, 1864, was started by the troops in or about where Baur &
Weil's store now stands on Front Street.  Front Street was destroyed to the
point where the Morgan Railroad depot now stands and back from the river to
Fourth Street, or about twenty-three blocks.  The Catholic Church was saved by
Father Bellier, who stood guard until a prospect of safety appeared.

The explosion at Seip's saw-mill in February, 1870, resulted in the death of a
Scotsman named David Irving (engineer) and a negro fireman.  The fire of
March, 1874, destroyed the Peterman building.

The Alexandria fire of November, 1879, was the most destructive known since
its destruction by the Federals.  It originated in the oil room of Julius
Levin's grocery store, where a colored man was filling a kerosene lamp.  The
fire spread to Mrs. E. S. Hetherwick's dry-goods store, entailing a loss of
$18,000; Julius Levin's four buildings and stock amounted to about the same
sum; Fred Scheu's brick building was also destroyed and other building
damaged.  On October 15, 1880, the Legras building, Moses Aaron's store, the
Baptist Church and parsonage, the Grange store and Thomas Cokeley's house were
burned.

Judge Cushman, of Alexandria, who died of yellow fever September 17, 1855, was
the first victim of the disease at that point.  There were forty persons under
its influence at that time. But the type was not so malignant as is 1853. 
Fifteen deaths were reported prior to September 35.

In October, 1867, yellow fever attacked the Germans of Alexandria as it did in
1853, carrying off five persons in town prior to October 23.  The disease
visited the town in 1837, 1839, 1847, 1853 and 1855. From October 1 to
November 1, 1867, there were 140 cases of fever.

The first record of the Catholic Church of Alexandria is dated 1817, 100 years
after the church was established at Natchitoches and about 105 years  after
that of Pineville.  Father Anduze, of Natchitoches, appears to have been
resident priest at the time.  Form this period to 1834 or 1835, one of the
priests of the church at Natchitoches resided here at times and visited the
mission regularly.  In 1834-35 the present church building was erected, Father
D'Haurd being resident priest.  Rev. F. Van de Ville, S. J., subsequently
first bishop of Little Rock, Ark., was here in 1837.  Rev. Flavius Henri Rossi
was Cure( and Rev. J. Chambige, C. M. K. T., were here in 1838, followed by
Rev. Robert Doogan, C.C., in 1840.  In 1849 Rev. M. F. Mazzuchelli came.  In
1851 Rev. H. Figary was pastor and served the church solely until October,
1855, when Rev. L. Gergaud was appointed assistant priest.  During this year
the cure( and Pere Gergaud, as well as other priest, performed prodigious work
in  attending to yellow-fever sufferers.  The venerable T. P. Bellier came in
October, 1859, and in May, 1864, defended the church building, single-handed,
against the Federal Army.  Stranger than this, he succeeded.  Father T. B.
Avenard was appointed cure( in August, 1867.  He remained until his death, in
1883.  Rev. Jerome J. Bre(s was appointed assistant in 1882.  Rev. L. Menard
was here in March, 1883. In June, 1887, Father Menard was appointed assistant. 
Since that time Revs. J. J. Bre(s, R. Dumas and Rev. J. B. Limague have served
as assistant priests.  The Jesuits and other regular priest visit Alexandria
at intervals.  

The Church of the Sacred Heart, of Pineville, was dedicated September 29,
1878.  St. Aloysius at Fairmount, Grant Parish, was dedicated in March, 1878. 
St. Martin's Church, Kanomie, was dedicated on July 27, 1879.  It was
subsequently (in 1886) moved to Lecompte  and blessed by Bishop Durier on
October 6, of that year.  St. John's Church, Big Island, was dedicated on
April 5, 1880.  St. Peter's Church, Harrisonburg, was dedicated October, 15,
1882.  The congregation at Alexandria is about 500, and of the ecclesiastical
parish 1,200.

St. James Church (Protestant Episcopal), Alexandria, was organized May 5,
1844, and was attended by preachers from Natchitoches until 1846.  In
November, 1847, Rev. A. D. McCoy was appointed first rector, and under his
direction the society legally organized, with Dr. John P. Davidson, S. W.; Dr.
S. A. Smith, J. W.; S. W. Gordon, Dr. T. H. Maddox, M. Wells, Willis Bonner,
O. W. Nally, Carey H. Blanchard, John K. Elgee, J. Chambers, H. Machen and G.
Harris, vestrymen.  In April, 1849, the contract for manufacturing the brick
for the proposed house of worship, was sold to the Ariails, at $7 per
thousand; but the corner-stone was not placed until November 1, 1851, and the
building was not used until April 9, 1854, nor consecrated until June 13,
1854.  At this time there were thirty-seven whites and 165 negro communicants. 
In 1855 Revs. F. H. Holiman and N. C. Pridham preached here, a bell was
introduced this year.  In November, 1857, Rev. Caleb Dowe was appointed
rector, vice Rev. McCoy, and through his exertions the number of communicants
was increased to fifty-nine white and 274 colored.  In 1849, a silver
eucharistic service was purchased.  During the advance of the Federals, this
service was placed in charge of Father Bellier, of St. Francis Xavier's
Catholic Church, and during the second invasion in May, 1864, when the town
was burned, this silver service was hidden in the cistern at Dr. Davidson's
house.  The parish was reorganized, April 2, 1866, with Dr. George E. French,
S. W., and Dr. Diffenderfer, J. W.  In 1868 a meeting was held at the ice-
house to consider the question of building a church-house; in 1869 Mr. McCoy
was appointed rector; but was succeeded in 1870, by Rev. Spruille Burford.  In
October, 1871, the new church was completed, but on May 24, 1872, a tornado
swept it away.  The rector left the place in charge of Rev. A. N. Ogden, who
was chosen rector in April, 1873.  On May 25, 1874, the corner-stone of the
third building was placed, and the house was completed in October following. 
Rev. Herman C. Duncan was called as pastor in April, 1880, and in October,
1881, Rev. Ralph H. Prosser was appointed assistant, following in 1888 by Rev.
R. S. Stuart.  The building was consecrated May 27, 1883.  In April, 1881, the
Bishop Wilmer Memorial Chapel at Kanomie, where a church-house was build in
1879, was received into the parish the same year St. Philip's Mission at Lodi
was established, and in November, 1883, the beginning of All Souls Mission
Church of the Chaseland plantation, near Lecompte, were made.

St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church, Alexandria, was organized June, 1,
1873, where a Sunday school, composed of colored children, gathered under the
superintendency of John M. Barrett.  It was then known as St. James Mission. 
In August, 1883, St. Mark's Guild was organized.

The Methodist Episcopal Church South may be said to have been established here
early in the forties.  Philo M. Goodwyn was appointed Methodist preacher of
the Caddo Circuit in 1843, and served the church in this section of Louisiana
until superannuated in 1872.  He died November 15, 1882.  During the war the
old church building was destroyed, but a few years after peace was insured the
Methodists of this circuit erected a substantial house of worship, which
continued to use until September 7, 1890, when the new church building was
dedicated by Bishop C. B. Galloway, of Jackson, Miss., assisted by pastor,
Rev. B. F. White.

The Baptist Church of ante-bellum days is a memory at Alexandria.  Rev. W. A.
Robert was pastor of the church from its organization up to May, 1861, when he
resigned.

Welchton Baptist Church was constituted in August, 1890, with fifty-two
members, by E. O. Ware and Rev. J. T. Barrett.

Uncle Cupid Piper, an old colored preaches eighty-three years of age, who was
greatly respected by white and black in Grant and Rapides Parishes, died in
September, 1886.  He was the pastor of Loyal Hill Baptist Church on Bayou
Rapides, which had over 300 members.  His ability was superior to the average
colored preacher, as his morals and character were.  For two or three years
before his death he was totally deprived of sight, but continued to preach.

Columbian Lodge No. 23, A. F. & A. M. was charted in 1819, and continued work
up to 1849.  Even in 1828 when so many of the Masonic bodies passed out of
existence, old Columbian Lodge persevered.  Cheneyville Lodge, known as Hiram
No. 39 was chartered in 1828 and existed until 1849.  Alexandria Lodge No. 45
was chartered in 1836 and still holds its charter.  Oliver Lodge No. 93 was
chartered at Alexandria, in 1849, but ceased work in 1850.  Henderson Lodge
No. 108, of Cotile, existed from 1851 to 1862.  Murray Lodge 156 was chartered
at Alexandria in 1856, but surrendered charted in 1857.  Gordy Lodge of
Cheneyville, No. 142 was chartered in 1855, and is still a working body. 
Rapides Lodge 167, at Huddleston, existed from 1859 to 1881.  Fellowship 226,
chartered at Hinestown in 1873, is now located at Spring Creek and claims
fifty members.  Solomon Lodge No. 100, of Pineville, chartered as No. 200 in
1874, now claims fourteen members.

Summit Council No. 12 R. & S. M., was constituted March 18, 1889, with H. C.
Duncan, Thomas Clements, G. W. Bolton, Julius Levin, E. B. Pendleton, G. A.
Staples, J. M. Barrett, W. O. Damon, A. Pettengill, and A. Hilton, filling the
respective offices.

Keystone Chapter 44, R. A. M., held its first annual election in March, 1888. 
H. C. Duncan, G. W. Bolton, D. C. Paul, Joseph James, J. J. Ferguson, G. A.
Staples, A. Pettengill, Joseph T. Hatchy, Julius Levin, E. B. Pendleton and A.
Hilton, filling the respective offices.  In 1889 G. W. Bolton presided over
the chapter.

Alexandria Lodge No. 33 was instituted March 9, 1882, with a large membership. 
The success of this society has been phenomenal, its present strength being
about 100 member.

Endowment Rank, K. of P., was instituted September 7, 1882, by Dr. Scott, of
Shreveport, with J. M. Hetherwick, P.; C. A. Schnack, V. P.; T. M. Biossat,
Sec. And Treas.; R. C. Rogers, Chap.; Sol. Hess, G.; Jacob Geiger, I. G. and
Fred Scheu, Sent.

The A. L of H. was organized January 25, 1882, with the following named
officers in legion order:  Daniel Dupre, J. W. Gordon, A. P. Williams, F. S.
Flower, T. M. Biossat, Dr. Dupre, C. Goldenberg, G. H. Wilson, Jacob Geiger
and T. J. Severns.  The trustees were C. Goldenberg, C. Flower and J. Geiger. 
Messrs. Watt, Watson, Nasits, Blackman, Mathews and Hess were unofficial
charter members.

Rebecca Lodge No. 240, I. O. B. B., was organized in May, 1875, with E. Weil,
P.; Jonas Weil, V. P.; Moses Mayer, Sec.; Charles Goldenberg, F. S.; Moses
Rosenthal, Treas.; P. H. Oswald and Sol. Hess, Monitors; Julius Carpar, W.;
Henry Hayman, Guardian; A. Hayman, I. Jackson and B Hershman, Trustees.

The I. C. B. U. was organized in March, 1880, with L. V. Marye, P.; John P.
Grogan, V. P.; A. B. Rachal, Rec.; J. B. Rachal, F. S.; X. Ransdell, Marshal;
R. Thomassy, S. at A., and P. Kelly, Treasurer.

The K. of H. were organized at Alexandria in May, 1888, with  M. Bloom, Ben
Turner, H. W. S. Lund, J. F. Ariail, C. Greenwood, L. B. Baynard, A. Jarreau,
I Weil, L. Weinburg, L. C. Giffe and J. A. Johnston filling the offices.  The
trustees were S. Cullen, E. J. Hardtner and W. D. Smith.

In November, 1882, the New York Lumber Company commenced the erection of their
large saw-mill near the mouth of Bayou Rapides.  Owing to mismanagement, this
mill is now idle.

The Red River Oil Works date back to 1883, when a company incorporated, with
John C. Wickliffe, C. H. Teal, Henry A. Biossat, Henry A. Boyce, O. W. Watson,
John W. Miller and Frank A. Blanchard, directors.

On February 5, 1887, the first meeting to consider the erection of a compress
was held; M. C. Moseley presided, with E. H. McCormick, secretary.  A
committee was appointed to solicit subscription.  On June 27, 1887, a meeting,
presided over by J. A. Williams, with E. H. McCormick and H. L. Biossat,
secretaries, decided upon establishing a cotton press and warehouse at
Alexandria.  Next day this question was discussed, and the town council
decided to grant the company a site on Casson Street, and exemption form town
taxes for a decade.  On July 9, E. B. Wheelock advised the newspaper that the
company was organized, the capital subscribed and the press purchased.  To
this company the leading men of Alexandria, or of the county donated $7,500,
and the work of construction was entered upon.  The building, press, etc.,
were completed, and the first cotton compressed September 17, 1887.  The
capacity is sixty bales per hour.  In April. 1887, Julius Levin, L. V. Marye,
M. L. McGinnis, A. Pettingill, R. W. Bringhurst and G. W. Bolton were elected
directors.  Theus N. Miles has served as superintendent from the beginning.

The Bank of Louisiana was established here in the second decade of the
century, and, as related in other pages, transacted business up to 1946.  For
over forty years the town and district were without banking facilities, but
the Rapides Banking Company came to remedy this.  G. W. Bolton is president;
Charles Owen, cashier, and J. W. Bolton, assistant cashier.  The directors are
G.W. Bolton, Theus N. Miles, Benjamin Turner, E.B. Wheelock, Pearl Wright,
James Jeffries, John A. Williams, B. Ehrstein and H.W. S. Lund.

The new South Building & Loan Association of Alexandria, organized October 10,
1890, with the following directors:  S. Cullen, president; W. P. Flower, vice-
president; J. W. Bolton, secretary and treasurer; John C. Ryan, attorney; D.S.
Ferris, W. Polk, Jr., Col. G. W. Bolton, Gen. G. O. Watts, Col. Battle and T.
N. Miles.

The telegraph line between Alexandria and Minden was completed in April, 1876,
when the lessee and operator, Longford, took charge here.

The Alexandria Street Railroad Company was organized in June, 1881, with N. L.
McGinnis, William Hustmyre, Simon Cullen, Julius Levin, Jay S. Fish and W. F.
Blackman, directors.  Under the new order of affairs the street car system of
the city has been extended, and the close of the year 1890 saw it completed
from the depot to Second Street, and thence to the lower town.

The name of the Ice-House Hotel was changed to Exchange Hotel in January,
1872, by Maj. A.H. Mason and Capt. Hooe, who became proprietors that month. 
In 1876 T. Hochstein leased the house;  Messrs. French & Hynson subsequently
leased the house, and others followed.  J. F. Ariail is now proprietor, and D.
H. Mayo, manager.

Pineville is one of the oldest settlement in the State.  Here, about 1711,
when the church at Adayes was erected, a mission chapel was built, near where
is now the grave of Commandant Meullion in the old Catholic cemetery.  The
Spaniards then claimed Red River as the boundary, and, in this instance, laid
claim to church property across the river.

Old Manual, who died in September, 1870, was born a slave at Pineville, at the
house of Post Commander Emmannel Meuillon.  Judge William Miller married a
daughter of this commander and moved to Philadelphia in 1820.  Gen. Meuillon
and his wife, Jennette, who came in 1781, are buried in the Catholic cemetery
at Pineville.  Near by are the graves of John B. Heno, William F. Dent, George
Rich, John M. and Tabitha Jett, Auguste Baillio, John R. Mead and many other
pioneers are buried there.

Pineville in 1858 was a hamlet of fifty of sixty inhabitants.  Between 1830
and 1835 John David and R. Poussin established their stores there.  They came
from France and prospered here among the pines.  During the war the
Confederate forces destroyed the pine forest and built huts where giant trees
stood before.  After the surrender the place became the rendezvous for Federal
troops.  During the stay of the Federals a large number of business houses was
established.  Capt. B. Turner, a native of the town, is one of its early
merchants.  In 1878 he was a leader in the successful direction of the
Democracy.  In 1874 E. J. Barrett represented the parish and was prominent in
commercial circles here.  In 1879 he was postmaster.  G. W. Bolton referred to
in the general history, was also engaged in business.  W. A. Griffin, S.
Barrett, M. T. Dozier, E. J. Hardtner, J. W. Johnson, R. Aaron, A. Gueringer,
C. H. Dozier Patrick Barrett, L. T. Fitztum, W. H. Chapman, N. Laurence, A.
David, Maurice Aaron, N. Christian and L. Laurence were merchants here in
1879.  In 1880 the new store of Ben Turner was completed.

The fire of June 23, 1867, destroyed Mrs. Poussin's buildings.  The officers
and troops stationed here under Lieut.-Col. Bates, saved the other buildings
from the fire.  The fire of January 16, 1878, destroyed M. T. Dozier's two
stores and dwelling and Turner's Hall, the property of Ben Turner.

Above the town are the two forts, Buhlow and Randolph, erected in 1863-64. 
The National Cemetery is also located here.  In 1880 the sisters of Mercy
purchased a tract of six acres from, and were given two acres by E. J.
Barrett, near the church of the Sacred Heart for the purposed of erecting
school and convent buildings.  The church building was erected in 1878.

The English Protestant Episcopal Church (Mount Olive Chapel) was organized in
April, 1857, and the church-house completed June 29, 1859.  In 1856 Mrs. McCoy
and others organized a Sunday-school.  In 1861-64 Rev. Anthony Vilas, of the
seminary, assisted the regular preacher, except for that period in 1861-62
when the seminary was closed.  About 1864 some persons took possession of the
church and used it for school purposes until a vestry was organized and
claimed the property.  On September 1, 1873, the society organized as St.
Peter's Church and maintained an independent existence until April 19, 1880,
when it became part of St. James Parish.

The Baptist Church has a large membership at this point.  The churches of the
colored Methodist are numerous throughout the parish.

The Lutherans Benevolent Society of Pineville was organized October 18, 1878,
with H. J. Wright, president; H. Robinson, secretary and Mrs. Martha Taylor,
treasurer.

Solomon Lodge No. 221, A. P. & A. M., was organized at Pineville, in March,
1874, with G. W. Bolton, John L. Walker, Louis Abadie, C. H. Dozier, W. A.
Griffin, Rev. A. N. Ogden, T. D. Johnson, W. L. Morgan and E. J. Hardtner,
officials in order of rank.

The National Cemetery of Pineville was established in 1867, and Mr. Craft
appointed superintendent; he remained until Gerald Fitzgerald was appointed
superintendent in 1870, and he served until 1876, when J.W. Benshoof was
appointed.  He was followed by Frank Barrows, and he, in 1886, by Sergt. R. C.
Taylor, Eighteenth United States Infantry.  The total interments number 1,309,
up to October 1, including the bodies transferred from Mansfield, Pleasant
Hill, Tyler, Texas and other points where Federal soldiers fell.  The area,
ten acres, was formerly a part of the Poussin estate.

Pineville post-office was established in 1871, with E. J. Barrett, master.  He
was succeeded by A. David, and in 1890, Mrs. Ada Houston was commissioned.

The first election of municipal officers for Pineville, under the new charter,
was held May 6, 1878.  W. A. Griffin was elected mayor, N. Lawrence, G. W.
Bolton, E. J. Barrett, Louis Abadie, and W. H. Chapman, councilmen.  In May,
1880, Auguste Jarreau was elected mayor, G. W. Bolton, Ben Turner, Stephen
Barrett, E. J. Hardtner and J. W. Moffitt, councilmen.  Charles Stuckey
succeeded mayor Jarreau.  In May, 1886, Joseph Hoy was elected mayor, Ben.
Turner, R. Aaron, E. J. Hardtner, L. Abadie, and E. J. Barrett councilmen.  In
May, 1890, E. J. Barrett was chosen mayor, with Messrs. Bolton, Smith, Boyce,
Aaron and Turner, councilmen.

When the present postmaster settled at Boyce, the post-office was located at
Bertrand, two and one-half miles below, on the river.  Jordan Gibson was
master.  On the removal of the office to  Cotile Landing (now Boyce), M.
Boissat was appointed master.  He surrendered his commission, and the office
was established at the house of F. M. Amsden, four miles up Cotile Bayou, with
the owner in charge.  On Mr. Amsden's death his daughter took charge, and so
continued until R. R. Robinson was appointed.  W. H. Simons was appointed
master in 1833, and removed the office back to Cotile Landing.  On May 18,
1883, the office was named Boyce, in opposition to the sentiment of a
majority, but as the station was already called Boyce the postal authorities
coincided with the minority and hence the present name.  The change was
further justified by the fact that the pioneer family of that name settled
here and carried on their landage  plantation here.  Patrick Boyce was the
first merchant at Cotile Landing, and the Johnson store was established later. 
In 1866 H. A. Thompson established a store on the river front.  In 1874, he
established one on the Bayou Cotile, three miles distant from the present
town, and in 1888 re-established his house here.  Henry A. Boissat built the
mammoth store on the river front in 1876,m the same which was burned in 1882
or 1883.  A. E. Watson's store was commenced at Hoyville, in 1876 or 1877.  In
1882 J. W. Miller established his store here in the old Boyce building.  J. T.
Carnahan erected a storehouse some time later, and afterward purchased the
Boissat property.  William J. Neal, David A. Smith, Marion Shumate, Stetham &
Hichman, Alexander & Johnson, John McNeely, W. A. Holton, Kelsoe & Sandidge,
George E. Abat and ---Odom, came here subsequently.  In 1882 the town was
surveyed for Henry Boyce.  The shipment of cotton by rail and boat amounts to
about 3,000 bales annually.

The meeting to organize the council of Boyce under the charter of May 7, 1887,
was held June 14, when the officers elected June 11, qualified, namely, W. J.
Neal, mayor; J. D. Johnson, David A. Smith, Martin Shumate, Meridy N. Carnahan
and W. H. Simons, councilmen; R. M. Jones, clerk; J. A. Thomas, treasurer, and
E. H. Kelsoe, marshal.  Ordinances were adopted July 6, and in August
authority was given to build a calaboose.  J. W. Miller and J. T. Carnatro
were appointed councilmen in January, 1888, vice Shumate and M. N. Carnahan. 
In June, 1888, John L. Young, Leigh Alexander, James I. Davis, M. N. Carnahan
and W. A. Holton, with Mayor Neal, formed the council; W. H. Simons was
treasurer and J.S. Henderson, marshal.  In 1889, J. D. Johnson was elected
mayor, and R. M. Brian, E. H. Kelsoe and H. A. Thompson councilmen, vice
Young, Alexander and Davis, with Messrs. Miller and Holton holding over.  J.
H. Davison was appointed marshal, and the secretary and treasurer re-elected. 
During this year a t-mill tax for ten years was voted in favor of the K. C. L.
& G. R. R. Co.

In June, 1890, the mayor was re-elected with all the councilmen of 1889,
except H. A. Thompson, whose place was given to W. L Via.  On Mr. Kelsoe's
resignation in September, H. A. Thompson was appointed to fill vacancy.  The
secretary, treasurer and marshal were also re-elected.  The tax levy for 1890
approximate $800, but a surplus is generally recorded at the close of each
year.

Enterprise Lodge 3552, K. of H., was organized April 21, 1890, with the
following named members:  Joseph D. James, dictator; J. D. Johnson, P. D.; J.
E. Thomas, reporter; W. T. Newman, F. R.; George T. Neal, T.; F. H. Neal, F.
H. Dagley, J. M. Plummer, M. H. Lester, M. D. Weeks, M. F. Weeks, Dr. F. M.
Brian (Dr J. H. Wilkinson, deceased, $2,000 payable to his mother from
insurance in this lodge), S. W. Curtis, D. J. Hydrick, E. H. Kelsoe, J. T.
Sandidge, B. K. Hunter and R. A. Keys.  There are twenty-seven members.  The
lodge room is in the Thomas store building, but it is the purpose of the
Knights to build a hall this year.

St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church at Boyce was established December 9,
1883.  Services were held in the hotel until 1886, when the society got
permission to meet in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The English Protestant Episcopal Church at Cotile and Lamothe's dates back to
1871, when Protestant services were first held on the Bayou Rapides, and in
1877 St. Johns' Chapel was erected on the Castile Plantation.  In March, 1887,
services were discontinued there, and in April the chapel building was removed
to Lamothe's bridge, and services held therein on May 21, 1888.

Cheneyville in latitude 31( north and longitude 15( west, is one of the oldest
towns in Rapides.  It was chartered by Legislature in 1836.  In 1816 Benlah
Baptist Church was organized at this point with three members, being the
second Protestant or Baptist society in Louisiana, the first being that at
Calvary in Bayou Chicot in 1812.  In 1889 Eiverview Baptist Church was
organized here by Rev. E. O. Ware.  In the history of this parish, of
Alexandria City and of Avoyelles, references are made to the military and
civil history of this old town.  In 1855 Gordy Lodge, A. F. & A. M., was
established here succeeding Hiram Lodge, which surrendered in 1849 after
twenty-one years work.

Lecompte or Lecomte is another ancient town of which a good deal has been
written.  One of the first railroads constructed in the United States was that
from Alexandria to this point-a primitive road sixteen miles long.  In 1886
the Catholic Church building of Kanomie was moved to Lecompte.  Here also is
the Circuit Church of the Methodists, which, in connection with Boyce and
other circuit churches, claims 110 members.  In 1888 the Baptist society was
organized here by Rev. E. O. Ware.

Moorland is the name given to the railroad depot below Alexandria.  The store
of Weems & Hayes and the large brick building, known as the sugar mill, point
out the place as one of trade.  Here the true introduction to the sugar
plantations in made, for large fields of cane and several sugar mills tell the
traveler form the north that his in entering the richest sugar country in the
world.

The other post-office villages of the parish are Babb's Bridge, Bismarck,
Crane, Godwin Gum, Hinestown (where Fellowship Lodge 226, now 98, was
chartered in 1873), Halloway, Lamourie Bridge, Lena, Lloyd's Bridge (where H.
N. Frisbie was postmaster in 1866), Milder, Milford, Poland, Weil and
Welchton.  Some of these are of later origin and some are old, extending back
many years in the past, and all are surrounded by thrifty people and good
citizens.