James J. Stanfill: Coushatta, Red River Parish, LA
Contributed for the LA GenWeb Archives by Carol Crowell Hurley, Jan 1998.

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JAMES J. STANFILL
The Planter's Hotel in Coushatta was owned in the late 1800's by James J.
Stanfill who was born in Thomas County, Georgia, on March 5, 1850. He was the
younger of two children born to I.J. and Martha Browning Stanfill, both of
whom were native Georgians.  I.J. was born in 1823 and Martha in 1825, he
expired in 1866 in Thomas County, Georgia, and she in Leon County, Florida in
1855.  James J. was taken from Florida by his parents in early childhood and
remained in that state untile he was twenty years of age.

From Florida he came to Louisiana, residing first in Carroll Parish. In 1878
he became a resident of Coushatta and purchased the Abney residence.  Through
his management, he was able to amass some 800 acres of fine land. In 1880 the
Stanfill home burned and was replaced in 1882 when he opened the Planter's
Hotel.  The establishment became a popular oasis for the weary travelers
passing through this area. It was always said that Mr. Stanfill was courteous
and obliging to his guests and that his terms were reasonable.

In 1880 Mrs. Mary E. McCord, who was born in Arkansas on June 12, 1847,
became his wife and to them three children were born - Mattie in 1882, Thomas
in 1885 and James in 1887.  Mrs. McCord was the daughter of I.C. and Charity
Chipman Ainsworth, both natives of Mississippi.

Mattie, born in 1882, married Fred Ashley Wilson Jr. who was born September
4, 1879, and who died on May 16, 1956.  To this union were born six children
and they are as follows: 1. James Stanfill who lived to be eight years of
age, 2. Fred Ashley III who was twenty one years of age when he died, 3.
Thomas William (TOM BILL) who married first Lona Moore and by whom he had two
children a) Tom and b) John.  He then married Natalie Barnes. 4. Elizabeth
who married Lionel A. Hooper and by whom she had two children a) Ashley and
b) Martha.  5. Lillian who married William F. Woods Jr. and by who she had
William F. Woods,III and Gale Polk,  6. Martha who married W.L. "Skrub"
MANGHAM Jr. and by who she had Carol, James Wilson and Robert Fields Mangham.

James J. Stanfill died on January 6, 1913, almost one year following the

death of Mary on January 25, 1912.  Both are buried in the Springville
Cemetery.  The PLANTERS EMPORIUM HOTEL stands today in Coushatta 
on Carroll Street next to the old Bank of Coushatta near the Red River.  
It survived the fire of 1918, one of the few buildings in that area to do so. 
At present it serves as an establishment for specialty shops.
submitted by Martha W. Mangham.............................
Note: Mary E. Ainsworth was married to Andrew J. MCCORD and also Dr. Tinius
WALL.  I am researching all of these surnames. Email: Bunnie4059@aol.com

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