Tensas Parish Louisiana History
Submitted to the USGENWEB Archives Project by 
Fran Faitt AUG 2001

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History of Waterproof
The Tensas Gazette, Wednesday, February 10, 1993
140th Year-6th Issue

Reminiscene 
     By Myles Smith

   To continue with the Tensas story as compiled by 
Miss Rose Guice, we delve into the early history of 
Waterproof;
   The name Waterproof is truly a misnomer and has 
been the subject of many jests in time of overflows, 
because on several occasions water has reached a 
depth of from two to three feet over the entire town. 
Abner Smalley, one of the earliest citizens of 
Waterproof, gave a reason for its unusual name in one 
of his favorite stories.

   He was standing one day, high and dry, on a strip 
of land, surrounded as far as the eye could see by 
water, while waiting for a steamboat to land for its 
usual refueling of cordwood. As the boat landed, the 
jovial Captain, surveying the scene, called out "Well, 
Abner, I see you are waterproof". Pleased with this 
greeting, Mr. Smalley gave the name "Waterproof to 
many acres of land which he had acquired.

   This, of course, was before the time of the levee
system and the spot on which Mr. Smalley stood was 
said to have been the highest point of land on the 
west side of the Mississippi between Memphis and New 
Orleans.
   Supposition of the early citizens places the first
settlement of Waterproof at 1830 or earlier. Pioneers 
coming down the river on flatboats or coming from the 
north and east by covered wagon,stopped on their way 
to Texas by the old Texas Road Trail.
   Tired of their long journey and attracted by the rich 
fertility of the soil, they made homes here - some 
engaging in agricultural pursuits and others in trading. 
The father of R. D. Shelly was one who came by boat from 
Kentucky with the idea of going through to Texas. On 
reaching Waterproof he found a rather enterprising 
little village, and, influenced by his uncle, Abner 
Smalley, made this his home. Years later Mr. Shelly and 
Mr. Smalley were engaged in making saddle-trees for the 
Confederate Army, an occupation which was brought to a 
close by the Federal Fleet.
   Upon the death of Mr. Shlly, his wife, Mrs. M. Shelly, 
opened a small store several miles from town and this is 
conceded to have been the oldest mercantile business in
Tensas Parish.

   The names McAllister, McCullough, Goidman, Miller, 
Drake, Hunter, Stewart, Kempe, Gorton, Wailes, Seddon, 
Andrews, Shelton, Marron, Hays, Wise, Goldberg, Moore 
and Marks are closely associated with the town in the 
earlier years.

   Waterproof is rather rich in early history, and 
some of its inhabitants were closely connected with the 
Confederacy. Major Howell, brother of Mrs. Jefferson 
Davis, lived here practically all of his life and was 
buried near the town. Mrs. Kempe, whose family owned 
almost all the land from Waterproof to Saint Joseph, 
was a cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

   It is known that Gen. Zachary Taylor resided on a 
plantation two miles east of Waterproof, and it was 
here that he was making his home when notified of his 
election as head of the nation. The large felt sombrero, 
worn by him during the Mexican War, was for many years 
in the possession of the Smythe family of "Wavertree" 
Plantation, having been given to their grandfather, 
Elam Bowman, - lifelong friend of General Taylor.

   The Waterproof of that time about 2 and one-half 
miles South of the present site is now well out into 
the Mississippi River. Since the caving banks made 
moving imperative, the town was moved to the James 
Miller property, just outside the present levee.
   Again in 1880 the old river went on a rampage, and 
this time the town reached its present location on the 
McAllister property, owned by the ancestors of Mrs. 
Hallie McAllister Rhodes, who now lives with her family.

   As has been mentioned before Tensas is one of the most 
fertile parishes in the State of Louisiana, and it may be 
classed as being equal or perhaps superior to land in the 
heart of the Mississippi Delta.
   The people here derive their living from agriculture 
and much progress has been made within the past two 
decades. At one time large plantations were operated on a 
share basis.

   In the early 1930's there was an influx of white people 
coming from the poor hills of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkan-
sas. They brought ideas and some new types of implements. 
Realizing the productivity of the soil of this wonderful 
delta parish, they were soon producing a bale and a half of 
cotton to the acre with enough corn to feed their livestock 
12 months in the year.

   That was the beginning of the migration of the colored 
people who travelled both west and north. Again there was a 
fear that there could be little production of cotton - but 
not so.
   Probably in some later publication of this column in the 
Gazette we may again gather some of the interesting history 
contained in the writings of Miss Rose Guice.