Tensas Parish, Louisiana
History
Submitted by Frances Faitt, March 2002
Extracted from the Tensas Gazette of February 17, 1993

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REMINISCENE by Myles Smith

  Most of the older readers of the Tensas Gazette will fondly 
remember Mr. Ben Young, prominent attorney in our parish for 
many years. Also to be remembered was Mr. S. C. "Charlie" Young, 
who was a nephew of Mr. Ben.

  Recently Mrs. E.L. Widner, daughter of Mr. S. C. Young returned 
to Tensas for a visit with relatives and left with your describing 
some interesting material about one of our pioneer families. We 
will quote from portions of this information so graciously furnished 
by Mrs. Widner. The frame building referred to in her narration is 
the old Davidson office building or former post office recently 
restored as the Turkey Festival Headquarters here in St. Joseph.

  Who was Louis L. Young?, the restorers wondered as they looked 
over the small frame building which had been moved a few blocks to 
Main Street in St. Joseph in preparation for the 150th Centennial 
Celebration. On one of the front windows was scratched the name 
"Louis L. Young, 1880". My sister-in-law, Melba Fulton, called me, 
asking if I knew anything about him. My answer was, "of course, he 
was my grandfather".

  "Louis" picture sat on the mantle in my grandmother's bedroom at 
Pecano Plantation all the years that I can recall. She often told 
me about the handsome man who had been her husband and my grand-
father. That picture was always compelling to me, and I often stared 
at it. Not only me (sic) grandmother but my great-aunt Lomie, told 
me about what a fine person he was. They spoke about his intelligence, 
his kindness, courage and other sterling qualities.

  Born October 18, 1865, Louis was the first of two sons born to 
Judge Samuel Charles Young and his wife, Blanche LeSassier Young, 
who was a french lady from south Louisiana. Benjamin Farrar Young 
was born to the couple two years later. He was a well known attorney 
in Tensas Parish.

  Louis was fifteen years old when he scratched his name on his 
father's office building. One wonders if Judge Young disciplined the 
young man for this deed. He later graduated from the United States 
Naval Academy at Annapolis, and then attended the University of 
Virginia Medical School. Upon completion of his studies he served 
as a physician on the ship U.S.S. Multnomah.

  In our possession are six-letters written to his family  at  St.  
Joseph  during  the  period 1883-1892. These letters were saved by 
his brother, our uncle Ben Young, and were passed down to our Aunt 
(Dolly Blanche Harelson), who was Louis Young's daughter.

  My sister Lomie and I value these letters, and through them feel 
we almost know the grandfather we were never fortunate to know in 
reality. Excerpts from these letters, give insight into the character 
and personality of this man. The letters were written to his parents, 
"your affectionate son" or "brother," as the case may be.

  NOTE from your writer-we omit the letters but will continue with 
more of Mrs. Widner's comments:

  There are no more letters, but there is in my possession a newspaper 
article dated October 18, 1893, at which time Louis and Fannie Rumble 
Smythe were married at Wavertree Plantation. After the wedding and 
reception they took a riverboat at Goldman's landing. They went to 
Chicago to see the World's Fair and then direct to Sitka, Alaska for 
a year, returning home to Wavertree Plantation before the birth of 
their first child. A son, Samuel Charles Young (my father) was born 
in 1894 at Wavertree Plantation. Two daughters were born to them, 
Rebecca in 1896 and Blanche in 1898.

  Between April and August, 1898 the United States was engaged in 
the Spanish American War. During this conflict Louis was in the 
water for a long period. Allegedly, as a result of this he contracted 
tuberculosis. He was sent to the southwest in hopes the dry climate 
would be helpful. He died in Denver, Colorado at the age of thirty-five.

  In one of his letters he wrote that he hoped to go to Honolulu and 
"we may go to Samoa" and "I would be overjoyed to go to the East." He 
did go to Japan and brought back many exquisitely beautiful gifts, 
which are still cherished in our family today.

  Written by Katherine Young Widner.