1839 - 1844 Police Jury Minutes of Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Dr. Max H. Williams, 3/13/2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= ================================================================================= 1839 - 1844 Police Jury Minutes of Union Parish Louisiana ================================================================================= ================================================================================= UNION PARISH (LOUISIANA) POLICE JURY MINUTES First Book (May 15, 1839-June 3, 1844) Abstracted and Edited by Max Harrison Williams ================================================================================= ================================================================================= ABSTRACTS FROM THE UNION PARISH LOUISIANA POLICE JURY MINUTES, BOOK 1, 1839 - 1844 ================================================================================= ================================================================================= May 15, 1839 Session ================================================================================= ================================================================================= Pursuant to an order by Judge JOHN TAYLOR, members-elect of the Union Parish Police Jury met at the house of WILLIAM WILKERSON, at the mouth of the Corney Bayou, and presented their certificates of election, the result of a special election held on May 13. [The site of Wilkerson's house is now under the waters of Lake D'Arbonne. Before the inundation of the site, it could be reached by travelling about a quarter of a mile down a dirt road to a pen oak flat at the extreme west end of Bayou Street in Farmerville. In years past, that site was known as Fork Ferry, a name derived from the ferry operations at the confluence, or fork, of Bayous D'Arbonne and Corney. Wilkerson is not on the Census of 1840; it is not known whether he was omitted from the census or perhaps had migrated or died. By the mid-1840's, the German (perhaps Jarman) family ran the ferry at that point.] Members elected to seats on the first Police Jury were the following: Ward 1--JOHN N. FARMER. Election held at the house of SUSAN FARMER. W. W. FARMER, Justice of Peace, signed the certificate. [Susan was the mother of John N. and W. W. Farmer. A daughter of William Wood, she first married Daniel McCowen (also McCown or McGowen), and they had a son, James, before Daniel presumably died. Then, she married Mills Farmer on February 13, 1812, and, besides John and William, they had six other children: Sarah E., Leah, Rachel, Benjamin F., Shephard M., and Isabella. Mills died before 1840, and Susan died October 21, 1843, leaving a considerable estate in slaves and real property.] Ward 2--JEPTHA COLVIN. Election held at JOHN STOW's. JEPTHA COLVIN signed certificate. Ward 3--PHILIP FEAZEL. JEPTHA COLVIN signed certificate. Ward 4--MATTHEW WOOD. [No other information.] Ward 5--NEEDHAM M. BRYAN. DANIEL PAYNE and NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, "Managers," signed certificate. Ward 6--BRIDGES HOWARD. JOHN H. GUICE and DAVID G. STEWART, "Commissioners," signed certificate. Ward 7--D. P. A. COOK. Justice of Peace W. UNDERWOOD signed certificate. On the first motion of the Police Jury, members elected MATTHEW WOOD president pro tempore and THOMAS VAN HOOK clerk of the first session. A following motion elected WOOD president of the Police Jury and authorized him to hold elections from among the Police Jury members for additional parish offices. WILLIAM C. CARR was appointed tax collector (subject to $700 bond), THOMAS J. GREER, constable, and THOMAS J. SEAL, constable. MATTHEW WOOD authorized to purchase three books for the parish records. Members voted to meet at 9:00 a.m. the following morning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 17, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meeting at the house of WILLIAM WILKERSON, members elected THOMAS VAN HOOK clerk of the Police Jury. MATTHEW WOOD appointed to enter a quarter section of land for a "seat of justice," with his expenses to be reimbursed. [Apparently discussion concerning the location of the parish seat lasted all day, as no other item of business was conducted.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 18, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meeting at the house of WILLIAM WILKERSON, members voted to locate a "seat of justice" on "public land" on the east half of the southwest quarter and the west half of southeast quarter of Section 30, Township 21, and Range 1 East. Seat of government to be called Farmerville. [The parish seat was obviously named for the Farmer family. However, since John N. Farmer and his older brother W. W. Farmer were only young men, it was doubtlessly named for their father Mills Farmer, an original settler, a veteran of the War of 1812, and a respected elder in the Baptist church who died not long before the parish was created. ] Next session to be held on the first Monday of June at 10:00 a.m. at the house of "Col." MATTHEW WOOD. [Again, it appears that the topic of a parish seat and what to call that seat occupied all of the day's business.] [Before the June session, Matthew Wood travelled to the land office in Monroe and bought 160 acres from the U. S. Government. The purchase, Entry #5276, was recorded on May 28, 1839 in the East Entry Book on Page 41. He paid $1.25 per acre, or a total of $200.00, for W1/2 of SE1/4 & E1/2 of SW1/4 of Section 30, Township 21, North Range 1 East. Since Wood was reimbursed $201.17, the unaccounted-for $1.17 was probably for expenses involved in the purchase.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 3, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were MATTHEW WOOD, JEPTHA COLVIN, PHILIP FEAZLE, JOHN N. FARMER, NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, BRIDGES HOWARD, and D. P. A. COOK. The following overseers of roads appointed: ** MICHAEL O'NEIL--Calhoun Road, commencing at the east bank of Bayou Choudrant and ending at A. B. ROBERT's, working the hands [either slaves or adult male members of households] of W. W. FARMER, JOHN SMITH, and B. F. CASON. ** JOHN HUEY--Claiborne Road, beginning a half mile west of the house of the late FERDINAND STOW and running west to the Claiborne Parish line, working all hands formerly under ALEXANDER WAFER. ** WILLIAM O'NEIL--Claiborne Road, from ABRAM B. ROBERT's to a half mile west of the house of the late FERDINAND STOW, having the same hands as under former overseer JAMES ROAN. ** JOHN PIPES--Arkansas Road, commencing at the south branch of the Choudrant and running to the "24 Mile tree," having the hands of JOHN HONEYCUTT, S. FARMER, AARON GREER, JOHN ROGERS, J. ROGERS, D. ACREE, H. H. IMPSON, J. IMPSON, S. W. IMPSON, R. W. IMPSON, N. KOONCE, A. HONEYCUTT, S. J. WILLHITE, P. WILLHITE, and JOHN HARRIS. ** GEORGE FEAZLE--Monroe Road, from the ferry on the D'Arbonne to the 24 Mile Tree, having "all hands subject to his order that was subject to the former overseer." THOMAS J. GREER, DAVID WARD, and JAMES ROAN appointed assessors for the year 1839. JAMES ROAN appointed constable. THOMAS J. GREER and THOMAS J. WILHITE appointed "Captains of Patrol" for Ward 1. [Known as the militia in other states, patrols in Union Parish mainly served to control the movements of slaves. Only slaves with passes written by their masters could travel parish roads, trails, and waterways. Those caught without such passes were considered runaways and were subject to punishment.] WILLIAM HAM, WILLIAM PARKER, ELISHA PARKER, JAMES FULLER, JOHN HANNA, JOHN RALEY, MOSES EVANS, and THOMAS BIBB appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the parish seat at Farmerville to the Ouachita River, ending at a point within two miles of Bayou Bartholomew. POWATAN BOATRIGHT, JAMES RAMSEY, ALLEN CARR, WILLIAM AUSTIN, JOHN RABUN, and WILLIAM C. CARR appointed commissioners "to review" and lay out a road from Farmerville "to intersect the Arkansas Road at the most convenient point, thence along said road or trace to Little Cypress Creek" and also to lay out a road from Farmerville to the ferry at the mouth of the Corney. WILLIAM HAM appointed Captain of Patrol for Wards 4 and 5. All the men in those wards subject to militia duty to serve under HAM. Estray, or stray, laws consisting of 15 provisions passed. [These take up approximately 3 pages of text, indicating the importance of ownership of straying livestock during that period of open range.] A lawful seal of the court authorized to be made from "any peace [piece] of United States coin." JOHN FEAZLE, BENJAMIN HARRISON, W. C. CARR, J. N. FARMER, and WILEY UNDERWOOD appointed public school commissioners. ROBERT VAN HOOK appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 6. H. C. BARTLETT, A. JONES, D. P. A. COOK, THOMAS HALL, THOMAS NORSWORTHY, LEWIS REPPOND, JAMES OLIVE, and MICAJAH BONE appointed commissioners to lay out a road from Meridian Creek to within one mile of Bayou Bartholomew on the Ouachita River. THOMAS W. JOHNSON appointed constable. WILLIAM WILKERSON given license for one year to operate a public ferry for crossing the D'Arbonne at the mouth of the Corney. Allowed to charge $1 for wagons with 4 wheels, $.50 for wagons with 2 wheels, and $.25 for a person with his or her horse, 12.5 cents for an individual on foot or a horse or mule alone, and 6.25 cents for all other animals. "Subscrib-ers for the building of the flat," however, were exempt from those charges." [It appears that several members of the Police Jury were the "subscribers."] At the end of the year, WILKERSON required to turn over the boat to any person authorized by the Police Jury to operate it. Police Jurors to meet Friday, June 14 at the county seat "for the purpose of laying out the Town of Farmerville." Qualified members of the Police Jury to survey the site into lots. Sale of town lots to take place on July 15. The clerk to advertise the sale in the Ouachita Standard [a newspaper in Monroe]. Jury to meet on Monday, July 15 at 10 o'clock. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 15, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were MATTHEW WOOD, PHILIP FEAZLE, JOHN N. FARMER, NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, BRIDGES HOWARD, JAMES ROAN, and D. P. A. COOK. JAMES ROAN presented a certificate of election for Ward 2, resulting from a previous election in which ROAN received 10 votes and ELIAS WHEAT, 3 votes. Election certificate signed by JEPTHA COLVIN. A 300 square foot "Public Square" in the middle of the town with sides oriented north-south and east-west approved. Streets and lots to be marked off from the town square accordingly. Plat of the courthouse square and 228 town lots shown on pages 14-15. Streets marked out as Bayou and Jackson, to the north of the town square, Water and Charter to the south, Main and Lafayette to the west, and Washington and East to the east. Blocks were 100 square feet. [A five-block area lying between Main and Washington Streets, and including the town square, can no longer be seen on the plat due to wear and tape.] Town lots to be sold on credit, with 10 per cent interest to accrue on the unpaid balance from January 1, 1840. The first payment of one-third of the amount due January 1, 1840 and the remaining two-thirds, January 1, 1841. Titles to be granted by the President of the Police Jury when the entire amount paid. Persons who bought lots on July 15, 1839: North of the town square: WILKS RAMSEY (2 lots), JAMES H. SEAL (2), JAMES B. SLAWSON (2), N. M. BRYAN (2), and B. HARRISON (4). South of the town square: JAMES RAMSEY (1 lot), D. P. A. COOK (4), M. HANNA (1), JOHN H. GUICE (2), M. STUART (1), D. H. DYSEN (1), and THOMAS VAN HOOK (2). East of the town square: THOMPSON WOOD (2 lots), DAVID WARD (2), J. BUTLER (1), D. P. A. COOK (1), B. HARRISON (1), THOS. W. JOHNSON (2), BENJ. F. ROARK (1), and DANIEL COLVIN (2). West of the town square: ISAAC ROBERTS (1 lot), PHILIP FEAZLE (1), THOMAS J. SEAL (1), JOHN RALEY (3), N. M. BRYAN (1), M. WOOD (3), and JAMES H. STEVENS (1). Lots in other areas: M. STUART (3 lots), ISAAC ROBERTS (1), ROBERT HANNA (2), ALLEN CARR (2), WILLIS WOOD (2), MATTHEW WOOD (6), JOHN H. GUICE (2), SAMUEL MOSES (3), THOS. VAN HOOK (2), D. P. A. COOK (1), RANSOM SEAL (4), and J . M. TURNER (6). [A second plat of the streets, town square, and lots are shown on pages 18-19; however, the numbers of the lots do not coincide with those of the first plat.] The next session scheduled for "tomorrow" at 9:00 o'clock at the house of MATTHEW WOOD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 17, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Apparently the previous session lasted two days, without the clerk's noting that fact in the records.] Meeting at the house of MATTHEW WOOD, members present were MATTHEW WOOD, NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, BRIDGES HOWARD, and JAMES ROAN. [In addition to his position as president, Matthew Wood continued to serve as Police Jury member from Ward 4.] MATTHEW WOOD appointed overseer of road from his residence to Monroe, down to the "first beach [beech] branch" on that road. MARTIN POWEL appointed overseer of road leading from MATTHEW WOOD's, commencing with the upper beech branch, to PARKER's Landing on the Ouachita River, using the hands of THOMAS BIBB, THOMAS HANNA, ROBERT HANNA, Mr. BOYD, Mr. EUBANKS, JOHN PARKER, J. CABRO?, FRANCISCO CAUTER, and SOL? CAUTER. M. THOS. BIBB, THOS. VAN HOOK, JOHN RALEY, JOHN H. GUICE, THOMAS J. SEAL, and JOHN TAYLOR appointed commissioners to lay out a road from Farmerville to JOHN RALEY's. MATTHEW WOOD, N. M. BRYAN, DANIEL PAYNE, and WILLIAM HAM appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to the ferry on the D'Arbonne at the mouth of the Corney. THOS. VAN HOOK, W. C. CARR, POWATAN BOATRIGHT, W. AUSTIN, JAMES RAMSEY, ALLEN CARR, JOSEPH RAGAN, and JOHN RABUN to lay out a road from M. WOOD's to meet the Arkansas Road at Long Branch. JAMES HALL appointed overseer of road leading from Bayou Bartholomew to Farmerville, as far as the DeLoutre, having the hands of MOSES EVANS, ELISHA PARKER, WM. PARKER, BENJ. ROARK, GEORGE ROARK, HARDY MACOM, THOS. W. JOHNSON, JESSE FRISBY, WM. BRADSHAW, PETER J. HARVEY, JAMES HARVEY, and J. N.? RALEY. JAMES R. GUICE, ELIJAH HUGES, DANIEL H. DYSEN, JOHN H. GUICE, HENRY MOORE, WM. KIMBALL, and THOS. W. JOHNSON appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew to Farmerville by way of GUICE and FAUGHT's (FAULK?) Mill. MATTHEW WOOD to be reimbursed from parish funds for the amount that he paid for public land for the town of Farmerville, any expenses incurred, and ten per cent interest on cash outlay from the date of the expenditures. Also to be paid $21 for 21 days spent at the "Parish Site," $45 for digging well on town square, and $6 for providing well "kirbing" [curbing], water bucket, rope, and water trough. MATTHEW WOOD entered in the records that he was donating $50 of the above amount to the parish treasury. P. Jones authorized to establish and operate a ferry at the "public crossing" on Bayou DeLoutre. Rates were the same as those established for WILLIAM WILKERSON. W. C. CARR authorized 7.5 per cent of moneys collected for the year 1838. Sheriff required to attend all meetings of the Police Jury. Public ferry authorized to be established and operated at the point where the Farmerville Road "Strikes" the Ouachita River, near the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew. [Conditions were the same as in the previous two cases. No person mentioned as licensee.] DANIEL PAYNE, with MATTHEW WOOD and NEEDHAM M. BRYAN as securities, posted $5,000 bond as parish treasurer. Bond dated July 16, 1839. Next session to meet on Monday, July 29 in Farmerville. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 29, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were MATTHEW WOOD, NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, J. N. FARMER, PHILIP FEAZLE, B. HOWARD, and D. P. A. COOK. Commissioners THOMAS M. BIBB, MOSES EVANS, JOHN RALEY, WM. HAM, ELISHA PARKER, and WILLIAM PARKER reported on the laying out of road from Farmerville to the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew by way of the "Summer Houses," crossing the DeLoutre near P. JONES's, and passing by JOHN RALEY's, DAVID WARD's, and WILLIAM HAM's to Farmerville. Report certified by MATTHEW WOOD. Commissioners WILLIAM HAM, THOMAS J. SEAL, JOHN RALEY, THOMAS M. BIBB, THOS. VAN HOOK, and N. M. BRYAN reported on the marking out of a road from JOHN RALEY's to Farmerville. Report certified by MATTHEW WOOD. Commissioners A. M. JONES, THOMAS NORSWORTHY, JAMES OLIVE, D. P. A. COOK, MICAJAH BOONE, and LEWIS REPPOND reported on a road that they had marked out from Meridian Creek to the Ouachita River. The road began a quarter mile below the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew and passed by the northeast side of the plantations of JONES, UNDERWOOD, and Mrs. GRIFFIN, then to within four miles of the state line, stopping in Township 22, Range 1 East, and Section 22. Report certified by W. UNDERWOOD. Commissioners W. C. CARR, JAMES RAMSEY, P. BOATRIGHT, JOHN RABUN, JOSEPH RAGAN, and ALLEN CARR reported on the two roads they were charged to mark out: (1) from Farmerville to House Trough Creek and (2) from Farmerville to the ferry on the D'Arbonne at the mouth of the Corney. Certified by MATTHEW WOOD. Commissioners JOHN H. GUICE, JAMES R. GUICE, WM. H. MOORE, THOS. W. JOHNSON, WM. C. KIMBALL, and D. H. DYSEN reported the marking of a road beginning at JAMES HALL's, following the road "above HARVEY's field" to the lane between HARVEY and FAUGHT, through that lane to the mill, then to the ford on the DeLoutre, "thence on the dividing Ridge" to DAVID WARD's, where it intersects the river road. Certified by MATTHEW WOOD. Road overseers appointed as follows: ** HENRY C. BARTLET--From the Ouachita River to where the new road "strikes" UNDERWOOD's road about two miles below BONE's, having all hands along that road at his disposition. ** ROBERT VAN HOOK--From where the new road strikes UNDERWOOD's to Township 23, Range 1 East, Section 22, working the hands of NORSWORTHY, HARRISON, UNDERWOOD, JONES, COOK, S. WILLIAMS, and D. STUART. ** RANSOM SEALE--To P. JONES's ferry on the DeLoutre on the road going from Farmerville to the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew [does not mention which side of the DeLoutre], having the use of the hands of DANIEL PAYNE, N. M. BRYAN, WILLIAM HAM, BARTLETT POWEL, FOSTER H. DUNCAN, NELLAN RALEY, C. RALEY, and J. V. BUTLER. ** JOHN H. GUICE--On road leading from JAMES HALL's, passing by GUICE's Mill, and intersecting the Bayou Bartholomew Road at DAVID WARD's, having the hands of E. HUGHES, D. [perhaps J.] HUGHES, D. H. DYSEN, D. STUART, W. NORSWORTHY, TRYON H. MOORE, and R. GIBSON. ** SAMUEL MOSES--That part of the road commencing at the crossroads between ALLEN CARR and CLEATON CARR and going to the D'Arbonne Ferry at the mouth of the Corney by way of Farmerville, using the hands of JOHN TAYLOR, J. RAGAN, THOS RABUN, W. RABUN, FRANCES RABUN, R. LEE, ROBERT LEE, and JOHN RABUN. ** WILKS RAMSEY--That part of the road commencing at the crossroad between ALLEN CARR and CLETON CARR to Horse Trough Creek, having the hands of W. AUSTIN, J. AUSTIN, JAMES BOATRIGHT, D. RAMSEY WM. DEAN, ALLEN CARR, and W. C. CARR. The boundary between Wards 6 and 7 established at the line between Townships 21 and 22, from Bayou DeLoutre to the Ouachita River. MARTIN POWELL, overseer of the road from Beech Creek to PARKER's Landing, allowed one hand subject to his orders "for the purpose of warning the ballance of the hands to work on Said road." BRIDGES HOWARD, NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, DANIEL PAYNE, THOS. J. SEAL, DAVID WARD, and W. C. CARR appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Rocky Creek to JOHN PARKER's Landing. Next meeting to be the first Monday of September at 10 o'clock. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 2, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were MATTHEW WOOD, BRIDGES HOWARD, N. M. BRYAN, J. N. FARMER, PHILIP FEAZLE, JAS. ROANE, and D. P. A. COOK. P. J. HARVEY appointed "Administrator" of the public school, replacing JOHN N. FARMER, who had resigned. On the road leading from the Ouachita River to Meridian Creek , the part between W. UNDERWOOD and Meridian Creek to be "Demolished." D. STEWART, J. M. TURNER, D. G. STEWART, B. HARRISON, D. P. A. COOK, JAS. OLIVE, and J. R. GUICE commissioned to mark out a road from D. P. A. COOK's to intersect the road between UNDERWOOD and M. BOONE. "Each and every " member of the Police Jury appointed "Syndic" of the roads in his respective ward. [Syndic derives from Greek and was a French and an old English term that refers to a minor government official, such as a justice of the peace.] Plan adopted for a parish courthouse and a gaol, or jail. [The very detailed plans cover two pages.] The contractor required to deliver the finished courthouse by January 1, 1841 or else forfeit his bond. A parish tax equal to the state tax levied for the year 1839. The overseer, JOHN PIPES, and hands responsible for the Arkansas Road from Bayou Choudrant to "the mile tree opposite JOHN HONEYCUTT's" instructed also to keep up the bridge over the bayou. WM. C. CARR allowed 6 cents a foot for "Diging in the Public Well" in Farmerville. WM. C. CARR appointed tax collector for 1839 and allowed five per cent of the amount to be collected. ROBERT VAN HOOK released from his responsibilities as road overseer. [Apparently Robert Van Hook moved out of the parish, as he is not found on the Census of 1840.] THOMAS NORSWORTHY, DAVID STEWART, BENJ. HARRISON, HENRY MORE, DAVID WARD, WILEY NOSWORTHY, DANIEL PAYNE, and N. M. BRYAN appointed commissioners to review and examine a road laid out from DAVID WARD's and intersecting the Bayou Bartholomew Road at J. HALL's, particularly the part that passes through P. J. HARVEY's land, and report to the Police Jury. The Police Jury and the parish and district courts to meet in the house of WM. C. CARR in the town of Farmerville. A committee composed of THOMAS VAN HOOK, N. M. BRYAN, and MATTHEW WOOD appointed to draft a stray law for the parish. One hundred dollars authorized for the support of DANIEL STRICKLAND. PHILIP FEAZLE, THOMAS VAN HOOK, and MATTHEW WOOD appointed commissioners to take bids for the construction of a courthouse and a jail on the first Monday in November. Next meeting to be held in Farmerville on the first Monday of April at 10 o'clock. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 4, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Apparently the Police Jury members considered another meeting necessary before the next April session] Members present were M. WOOD, N. M. BRYAN, D. P. A. COOK, J. N. FARMER, B. HOWARD, P. FEAZLE, and JAS ROAN. FOSTER DUNCAN to replace RANSOM SEAL as road overseer, occasioned by Seal's moving out of the parish. [According to Dr. Tim Hudson, a descendant of the Seale family, Ransom and his family returned to their old home in Perry County, Alabama.] Lot Number 59 in Farmerville expropriated for a site for the jail. [According to the list of lots sold in July, this lot had not been bought; thus, it still belonged to the Police Jury.] Remaining town lots to be sold on November 4 and 5. The terms of credit to be the same as for the lots sold in July. JOHN N. FARMER appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road, beginning at the south bank of the Choudrant Bayou and continuing to the "19 mile tree" opposite JOHN HONEYCUTT's. [Choudrant is variously spelled Shudre, Shuder, etc.] VAN SWEARINGEN appointed road overseer in place of ROBERT VAN HOOK. Plans for the parish courthouse altered to make the outside walls brick instead of wood. Buyers of town lots on November 4, 1839: T. L. SIMPSON (16 lots), W. M. CALCOTE (2), M. WOOD (7), D. P. A. COOK (4), J. CLINGFAST (2), JAMES RAMSEY (1), J. N. FARMER (3), W. W. FARMER (3), JOSIAH HOLT (3), P. FEAZLE (2), THOS. VAN HOOK (1), MATTHEW WOOD and P. FEAZLE (1), JOHN FEAZLE (2), W. C. EUBANKS (2), D. PAYNE (2), J. B. SLAWSON (2), JAS. DAVIS (2), WILLIS AUSTIN (2), J. M. TURNER (2), W. C. TATE (2), THOS. IMPSON (2), K.? HARVEY (2), and N. M. BRYAN (4). Courthouse and jail "bid off" at $2,980.00 Next meeting "tomorrow" at 9 o'clock. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 5, 1839 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were M. WOOD, N. M. BRYAN, JOHN N. FARMER, PHILIP FEAZLE, D. P. A. COOK, B. HOWARD, and JAS ROAN. THOS. VAN HOOK, W. C. CARR, JOHN RABUN, DANIEL PAYNE, ALLEN CARR, and WM. HAM appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to the lower end of the bluff on Bayou D'Arbonne. WM. CARR to be the overseer, having all hands in Farmerville "subject to road duty." The jail required to be completed by six months from this date; the courthouse, by January 1, 1841. One fourth of the contract price to be paid on March 1, 1840 and the balance, on January 1, 1841. After January 1, 1841, any unpaid balance would draw interest at the rate of 10 per cent. The builder to give bond, with approved security, to complete the buildings according to the approved plans. Plans for the courthouse and jail repeated on pages 35 and 36. ROBERT COOK declared the successful bidder for the courthouse, at $2,200.00, and the jail, $780, a total of $2,980. Plat of town lots on pages 38-39, this one showing the courthouse and other blocks between Main and Washington Streets. [No motion for adjournment made and no date set for the next meeting.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 1, 1840 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commissioners for the building of the courthouse and jail, MATTHEW WOOD, PHILIP FEAZLE, and THOS. VAN HOOK, met to make a partial payment to the contractor. [Commissioners signed a note to themselves for money borrowed from W. C. CARR, obviously to pay the contractor. The note read: "Gent[,] please to pay W. C. CARR the amount of fifteen Hundred Dollars in Parish Bonds Due on 1st day of January Eighteen Hundred and forty one and this My order Shall be your receipt for the Same[.] this 1st day of January 1840."] ROBERT COOK signed receipt for $745 as part payment for building the courthouse and jail. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 6, 1849 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [The entries for this session were made by Deputy Clerk R. C. Lee. There was no previous mention of the Jury's hiring a deputy clerk.] Members present were MATTHEW WOOD, N. M. BRYAN, J. N. FARMER, B. HOWARD, P. FEAZLE, and JAMES ROAN. Commissioners and overseers of roads appointed as follows: ELISHA PARKER appointed overseer in place of J. HOLLAND to work the road from JONES's Ferry "to where the said road entrances the upper settlement road," working all hands formerly subject to the order of J. HALL. W. J.? DEES appointed overseer of road leading from M. WOOD's to PARKER's Landing, replacing former overseer MARTIN POWELL. NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, DANIEL PAYNE, A. W. HANNA, THOMAS BIBB, WILLIAM COOPER, WILLIS WOOD, and DAVID WARD appointed commissioners to lay out a "direct" route from Farmerville to JOHN PARKER's, on the Ouachita River, or "to intersect the road now leading from Farmerville to the river at the most convenient place." DAVID STEWART, SR., WILEY NORSWORTHY, REDDICK BRUTON, JAMES RAMSEY, and JOHN RALEY appointed commissioners to select a place to build a bridge across the DeLoutre between BRIDGES HOWARD's and JAMES RAMSEY's. A plan and cost estimate to be submitted by the first Monday in June. THOMAS NORSWORTHY, DAVID STEWART, SR., BENJAMIN HARRISON, HENRY MOORE, DAVID WARD, WILEY NORSWORTHY, DANIEL PAYNE, and N. M. BRYAN appointed commissioners to review the road from DAVID WARD's and intersecting the Bayou Barftholonmew Road at J. HALL's, paying special attention to the part passing through P. J. HARVEY's land, "this ordernance [sic] being Pased [sic] September term 1839." MATTHEW WOOD certified that the report had been accepted by him. [From the wording of this entry, either HARVEY or someone else had complained about the part of the road that went through HARVEY's plantation.] AARON GREER, W. W. FARMER, WILLIAM WILHITE, PHILIP FEAZLE, and J. N. FARMER appointed to select a site on the Choudrant Bayou for a bridge and to present a plan and cost estimate for the bridge. The Clerk of the Police Jury to provide a copy of all lots sold and notes collected for the Treasurer. The President of the Police Jury to turn over to the Treasurer all sums collected "as soon as by him collected." Lots to be sold the first Monday in May. Beginning at the perimeter of lots already sold, larger lots of one acre to be sold. Then, in successive rings outward, lots of two, three, four, and finally five acres to be sold. The parish divided into three electoral districts: No. 1, south of the D'Arbonne and north of the Choudrant; No. 2, north of the D'Arbonne and south of the Loutre; and No. 3, north of the Loutre and south of the Arkansas line. Election sites for the first district to be at JEPTHA COLVIN's the first day, at GEORGE FEAZLE's, the second day, and at JOHN HONEYCUTT's the third day; second district, at W. C. EUBANK's the first day and in Farmerville on the second and third days; third district, at ELISHA PARKER's the first day and the following two days at the "School house near DAVID STEWART's." Stray laws, containing four and a half pages of text, presented. Next meeting to be first Monday in June. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 1, 1840 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were MATTHEW WOOD, PHILIP FEAZLE, N. M. BRYAN, JNO. N. FARMER, JAS. ROAN, and B. HOWARD. THOMAS VAN HOOK reelected Clerk of the Police Jury for a twelve month period. NEEDHAM M. BRYAN elected President of the Police Jury for a twelve month term. BRYAN appointed a committee composed of MATTHEW WOOD, BRIDGES HOWARD, and J. N. FARMER to examine the treasurer's books and report back to the Jury. DANIEL PAYNE reappointed treasurer of the parish for a twelve month period. The cutting and defacing of oak, hickory, and gum trees under eighteen inches made punishable by a $20 fine for each tree cut or defaced. The contractor for the courthouse and jail could, however, cut any trees that impeded the construction of those buildings. Parish treasurer authorized to "make a demand" to the tax collector for taxes collected for 1838 and 1839. Should those funds not be forthcoming, the treasurer authorized to collect them. Treasurer requested to obtain from the Sheriff of Ouachita Parish a list of 1838 taxes "given to the Parish by the Legislature of 1838." President of the Police Jury authorized to hire someone to clear brush and logs from the courthouse square and burn them. Person to be paid by a draft given by the President and countersigned by the Clerk. P. FEAZLE, W. WILLHITE, DANDRIGE ACREE, JOHN FEAZLE, and AARON GREER appointed commissioners to let out a bid for building a bridge across the Choudrant and receive the bridge upon completion. The committee appointed to look into the collection of taxes reported that it had recieved from W. C. CARR, tax collector, the amount of $319.50 and had paid out $318.81. [W. C. Carr had a residence near Farmerville; thus, during the day's session, the committee members apparently visited him to settle the tax accounts.] Sales of lots reported to be $8,476, of which $2,980 allocated for the construction of the courthouse and jail. JOHN TAYLOR, auctioneer of the town lots, authorized 1% of the $8,476 that the lots had brought for his services. WILEY UNDERWOOD, THOS. NORSWORTHY, MATTHEW WOOD, JOHN TAYLOR, and DAVID STEWART appointed commissioners to let out a bid for the construction of a bridge over the DeLoutre between the houses of L. HAYES and J. R. GREER, as reported upon earlier by JAMES RAMSEY, DAVID STEWART, JOHN RALEY, and B. P. BRUTON. MATTHEW WOOD appointed overseer of the road from his house to the first beech branch on the road to PARKER's Landing. JAMES H. SEAL appointed overseer of work on the streets of Farmerville. Subject to his orders were the hands of McFARLAND, CARMICHAEL, DAVIS, TATE, AND J. CLINGFAST and any other residents, whether "Slave or freemen." To work the four streets bordering the town square for 150 yards from the corner of the square. Streets were to be 50 feet wide. CHARLES ABSENT appointed overseer of road from WILEY UNDERWOOD's to Bayou Bartholomew as far as VAN HOOK's in place of THOMAS VAN HOOK. JOHN BUTLER appointed overseer of the road from W. UNDERWOOD's to the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew as far as H. C. BARTLETT's. JOHN STOW, JOHN FEAZLE, JOHN HONEYCUTT, COLUMBUS DUTTON, WILLIAM MAY, and W. W. FARMER appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the D'Arbonne Ferry to intersect "Some where near JEPTHA COLVIN's" the road from Monroe to the Claiborne Parish line. ELISHA PARKER appointed overseer of the road from JONES's Ferry to where it intersects the "upper Settlement Road" in place of J. HALL. H. CARTER, RODNEY GUICE, D. STEWART, DAVID STEWART, THOS. NORSWORTHY, R. BRUTON, and THOMPSON WOOD appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Section 28 Township 23 to intersect the road leading from the Ouachita to W. UNDERWOOD's, near Section 6 Township 22 East. ROBERT HONEYCUTT appointed overseer of the part of the Arkansas Road leading from the mouth of the Corney to Monroe, from the south bank of the Choudrant to the 24-mile tree. JESSE CARRYWAY appointed overseer on that part of the Claiborne Road beginning at the west bank of Bayou Choudrant to W. A. O'NEIL's house. JOHN PIPES, JR. appointed overseer in place of WM. A. O'NEIL and JAMES KOONCE in place of JOHN HENRY on the Claiborne Road. DAVID STEWART allowed an additional $25 to last year's appropriation for taking care of D. STRICKLAND. DAVID STEWART allowed $150 for the support of DANIEL STRICKLAND. Ferry operations at the mouth of the Corney to be sold to the highest bidder and the rates reduced by half. W. J. A. HAYES appointed overseer in place of MARTIN POWELL of the road from M. WOODS to PARKER's Landing. JOEL MIXON, JOHN HONEYCUTT, WM. SLATER, JOHN FEAZLE, JOHN SMITH, and THOS. GREER appointed commissioners to mark out (departing from the road leading from Farmerville to Monroe) a road at or near PHILIP FEAZLE's and running to MIXON's Bridge on the Choudrant. PRESLEY JONES authorized to operate a ferry "where he now has a public ferry" on the DeLoutre on the road from Farmerville to the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew. JOEL HART appointed overseer of the road from the D'Arbonne Ferry to the 24 Mile Tree. To have former hands as well as those of JOHN HARRIS and TOMAS (TREEASTER?). Commissioners appointed to superintend all state and national elections for a one year period: District 1, A. B. ROBERTS, JOHN FEAZLE, and ALEXANDER WAFER; District 2, MATTHEW WOOD, CAMPBELL LASSITER, and DANIEL PAYNE; and District 3, WILEY UNDERWOOD, THOS. NORSWORTHY, and B. HOWARD. BARTLETT POWELL appointed overseer on the portion of the road from Farmerville to PRESLEY JONES's ferry on the Loutre, working the hands of A. STANCIL, F. H. DUNCAN, DANIEL PAYNE, W. J. PAYNE, WM. HAM, J. MILLSTED, E. WARD, R. GIBSON, NELAND RALEY, CHARLES RALEY, PRESLEY JONES, PLAIR? E. BIBB, J. E. PAYNE, and NEEDHAM BRYAN. MATTHEW WOOD, former President of the Police Jury, required to turn over to the current president "all the Monies, notes or funds belonging to the Parish." The president should give WOOD a receipt and WOOD to give a receipt to the Police Jury clerk "for the amount of notes taken by him for lots." J. D. COOPER appointed constable. Clerk required to provide all Justices of the Peace copies of the stray laws. Next meeting scheduled for the first Monday in September. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 7, 1840 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were N. M. BRYAN, MATTHEW WOOD, P. FEAZLE, and D. P. A. COOK. MATTHEW WOOD and D. P. A. COOK served as a committee to examine the election certificate of JOEL MIXON for Ward 2. MIXON was declared duly elected. The committee appointed to look into the financial operations of the parish under Ex-President of the Police Jury MATTHEW WOOD reported that the first and second sales of lots brought $5,505, out of which "Col. WOOD" paid $2,245 to ROBERT COOK. The amount of $3,249 and 87 and 2/3 cents returned by WOOD, making WOOD owe the parish treasury $10 and 12 and 1/3 cents. The report approved by THOS. VAN HOOK, J. MIXON, and P. FEAZLE. NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, President of the Police Jury, signed a statement that the parish had received from MATTHEW WOOD the amount of $2,070 in promissory notes. List of buyers of lots on November 3-4 were HARDY CARTER (2 lots), AUS. HONEYCUTT (1), PETER GREENLEE (2), A. CLARKSTON (1), JOHN PRUETT (4), and SILVESTER CARTER (2). The value of the sales was $385. JOHN STOW, JOHN FEAZLE, WM. PIPES, SOL FEAZLE, and W. W. FARMER reported on marking out a road from the Claiborne Road passing by the houses of STOW, WAS. DUTTON, Mrs. STERLING, SOL FEAZLE, JOHN FEAZLE, GEORGE FEAZLE, M. FEAZLE, Mrs. AUSTIN, J. HONEYCUTT, and JOHN HARRIS. JOHN FEAZLE and GEORGE FEAZLE to be paid $20 each for damages to their property. WM. MAY noted that although he had not participated in the activity, he approved the report. PHILIP FEAZLE, seconded by D. P. A. COOK, moved that parish tax collector be authorized 5% of the amount collected. MATTHEW WOOD and JOEL MIXON voted against it; PHILIP FEAZLE, D. P. A. COOK, and N. M. BRYAN, for it. Motion carried. [This is the first instance of the clerk's recording the result of the votes of the Police Jury members. Afterward, it was done only a few more times in the first book of minutes.] P. J. HARVEY appointed parish tax collecter. JAMES RAMSEY, W. B. RAMSEY, H. CARTER, JAMES OLIVE, S. J. HANLEY, W. C. CARR, and D. P. A. COOK appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville, running near JAMES RAMSEY's, crossing the DeLoutre "at or near the old ford," and intersecting the Arkansas trace at Township 23 Range 1 East Section 17. W. UNDERWOOD, J. ODOM, LEWIS LANIER, D. P. A. COOK, B. HARRISON, T. NORSWORTHY, and W. NORSWORTHY appointed commissioners to mark out a road beginning at the road "on the hill North West of Rocky Creek," running northwestwardly to Widow GRIFFIN's, then intersecting with the road marked to the Arkansas line. The parish tax for 1840 to be 75% of the state tax. John Ferguson to be reimbursed the three dollars that he had paid for parish taxes and to be exonerated from future parish taxes. [This was doubtlessly because of Ferguson's age. On the Census of 1840, he is between 70-80 years old. He had lived in the Union Parish area for at least ten years before then.] Road "leading by JOHN H. GUICE's mill" discontinued. D. H. DYSON appointed constable for Ward 6. W. C. CARR authorized to give approved notes that he held on other persons to the parish treasurer to go toward his debt for lots bought in Farmerville. [In those days, specie was often scarce; therefore, people wrote notes, or I. O. U.'s, instead of paying in money. Those notes circulated from hand to hand in the same manner as paper money. However, sometimes the issuer died, went broke, or the note diminished in value for other reasons, making the notes doubtful or worthless.] W. C. EUBANKS allowed to put gates across the public road that ran through his place until the first Monday of November, provided the gates be kept unlocked for passersby. W. C. CARR's notes [from other persons] for $130 approved on his debt for town lots. JAMES McCOWIN appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 1. [McCowin was a half-brother to John N. Farmer and W. W. Farmer from their mother's first marriage.] J. D. COOPER and S. S. MOSES appointed Captains of Patrol for Wards 4 and 5, respectively. JOHN SWEARINGEN and ELISHA WEBB appointed Captains of Patrol for Wards 6 and 7, respectively. JOHN SHAW and J. MIXON appointed Captains of Patrol in their respective neighborhoods in Ward 2. Rail fences required to be six feet high, with lower rails placed at a half foot and three feet from the ground "so that Small Stock Cannot pass between the rails." JAS. DEAN, JAS. RAMSEY, W. B. RAMSEY, WM. C. CARR, JOHN TAYLOR S. S. MOSES, and S. J. HANLY appointed to plan a route from M. WOOD's, intersecting the road from Farmerville to D. P. A. COOK's between W. C. CARR's and JAS. RAMSEY's. Z. B. DAVIS appointed overseer of the road from "Colvin's Settlement" to the ferry on the D'Arbonne at the mouth of the Corney, working the part from the Caney Branch to where it connects with the part of the Arkansas Road leading to Monroe. To have the hands of COLUMBUS DUTTON, J. STERLING, J. STERLING, MRS. STERLING, S. C. DAVIS, JOHN STERLING, WM. PIPES, J. FEAZLE, and WASHINGTON DUTTON. The last three-fourth's mile of the new road to the ferry below the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew and the new ferry itself to be discontinued, reverting to the old ferry at the mouth of the bayou. DANIEL PAYNE, WM. HAM, N. M. BRYAN, WM. COOPER, WILLIS WOOD, and THOMAS BIBB appointed commissioners to mark out from the road from Farmerville to JOHN PARKER's a road to intersect near W. C. EUBANK's. JOHN STOW appointed overseer of the road intersecting the one from JEPTHA COLVIN's to Farmerville, south of the D'Arbonne, having the hands of G. B. DANIELS, JOHN STOW, and J. W. HART. A. B. ROBERTS, AARON GREER, J. MIXON, JOHN FEAZLE, WM. SLATER, THOS. GREER, and JOHN SMITH appointed commissioners to mark out a road from MIXON's Bridge on Choudrant Bayou, intersecting the Farmerville-Monroe Road at or near P. FEAZLE's. JOHN BUTLER appointed overseer on the road from the Ouachita River to W. UNDERWOOD's, having under his direction the hands of ROB WEBB, ELISHA WEBB, MOSES EVANS, MARTIN, J. J. HALL, H. C. BARTLETT, S. W. DAVIS, WM. MONTGOMERY, WM. A. DARBY, WM. HAMILTON, J. STEWART, VINCENT REPPOND, A. M. JONES, and THOS. M. LAND. M. WOOD, THOMPSON WOOD, BARTLETT POWELL, T. H. DUNCAN, JOHN TAYLOR, ALLEN STANCIL, and JAS. RAMSEY appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the DeLoutre bridge to Farmerville; JAMES R. GUICE, J. H. GUICE, D. STEWART, Sr., DAVID G. STEWART, B. HARRISON, THOS. NORSWORTHY, WILEY NORSWORTHY, JOHN ODOM, and L. K. THOMAS appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the same bridge to the mouth of Bayou Bartholmew on the Ouachita River. Unsold lots in Farmerville to be put up for sale on the first Monday and Tuesday of November. To be advertised in the Monroe Olive Branch. J. E. JONES appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to Horse Trough Creek, the portion from the crossroad between W. C. CARR and ALLEN CARR to said creek. CAMPBELL LASSITER appointed overseer of the road from the D'Arbonne to the crossroad between W. C. CARR and ALLEN CARR, having the use of the hands of S. S. MOSES, JOHN RABUN, JOSIAH DEAN, S. J. HANDLEY, THOS. RABUN, and "all others in those bounds." Clerk of the Police Jury authorized to relinquish the Treasurer's bond for 1839. [This indicates that the treasurer had accounted for all the year's taxes and his report approved.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 2, 1840 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOEL MIXON elected President pro tempore of the Police Jury. [Although elected only president pro tem, Mixon signs the entries as "President." The records do not show his having been elected President.] WM. PLAIR appointed overseer on the portion of the road from Farmerville to Bayou Bartholomew that lies between the DeLoutre and the intersection with UNDERWOOD's road. JOHN W. PASSO? appointed constable. Road laid out by H. CARTER, R. GUICE, D. STEWART, DAVID G. STEWART, R. BRUTON, and THOMP. WOOD accepted. [The location of the road not stated.] Road laid out by JAMES RAMSEY, W. B. RAMSEY, JAS. OLIVE, S. J. HANDLY, H. CARTER, and D. P. A. COOK accepted. R. B. BRUTON appointed overseer of the road running from Township 23 Section 28 and intersecting UNDERWOOD's road at Township 22 East Section 6, having at his disposition the hands of G. W. DUTTON, JOHN CHRISTMAN, LEWIS LANIER, L. K. THOMAS, B. HARRISON, S. WILLIAMS, and THOS. BEATY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 3, 1840 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lots north of the town square, each containing 100 square feet, to be sold. WILKS RAMSEY appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to the DeLoutre near JAMES RAMSEY's, assisted by the hands of D. P. A. COOK, JAMES OLIVE, HARDY CARTER, PETER PRUETT, S. J. HANDLY, JAMES RAMSEY, and S. S. MOSES. JOEL MIXON, WM. SLATER, A. B. ROBERTS, JOHN SMITH, THOS. J. GREER, and JOHN FEAZLE appointed commissioners to lay out a road from MIXON's Bridge to intersect the road leading from the mouth of the Corney to Monroe. P. BANKS allowed $50 for expenses in nursing and burying GEORGE McCOWEN. D. P. A. COOK, S. J. HANDLY, H. CARTER, JAS. RAMSEY, JAS. OLIVE, and WILKS RAMSEY reported that they had marked out a road from Farmerville to the DeLoutre near JAS. RAMSEY's. Clerk instructed to keep a special book for recording marks and brands of cattle and other livestock. JOEL MIXON appointed overseer of the road from MIXON's Bridge, near his residence and intersecting the public road near P. FEAZLE's gin, having the hands of JOSIAH GREER, WESLY GREER, LEVY GREER, Mrs. S. FARMER, JOHN STERLING, and JOHN DAVIS. RICHARD BOYD authorized to cut out the road marked near his residence, intersecting the public road near P. FEAZLE's gin, having the hands of JOSIAH GREER, WESLY GREER, LEVY GREER, Mrs. S. FARMER, and JOHN STERLING. ROBERT COOK, with securities GEORGE JESSUP and H. HOLMS, made bond for $10,780 to MATTHEW WOOD, PHILIP FEAZLE and THOMAS VAN HOOK, commissioners, for building courthouse and jail. Witnessed by A. A. ROLAND. [The bond is dated December, 1840, and at the bottom marked "Canceled." The day is not stated. Obviously this entry was recorded out of place.] DANIEL PAYNE and his security, NEEDHAM BRYAN, made a bond of $5,000 for PAYNE's position as parish treasurer. Accepted by N. M. BRYAN, PHILIP FEAZLE, J. MIXON, D. P. A. COOK, and M. WOOD. [Bryan signed as "President of the Police Jury." The bond is dated September 8, 1840. Like the entry above, this entry is out of place.] KINDREE J. HARVEY, with security N. M. BRYAN, gave a bond of $800 as collector of the parish taxes for 1840. Signed by KINDREE J. HARVEY, N. M. BRYAN, and M. HENDRICK and accepted by N. M. BRYAN, PHILIP FEAZLE, J. MIXON, D. P. A. COOK, and MATTHEW WOOD. [The bond was dated November 8, 1840, and the acceptance was dated September 8!] MATTHEW WOOD, with JOHN TAYLOR as his security, gave a bond of $800 on September 7 for keeping the bridge across the DeLoutre in good repair for five years. MATTHEW WOOD and JOHN TAYLOR signed the bond, along with witnesses W. UNDERWOOD and DAVID STEWART. [Later entries indicate that Wood had built the bridge. Thus, the bond was to ensure that the bridge was soundly constructed. David Stewart signed the bond with an X.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 7, 1840 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were J. MIXON, M. WOOD, B. HOWARD, J. N. FARMER, and P. FEAZLE. PHILIP FEAZLE elected President pro tem of the Police Jury, "to fill the vacancy occasioned by N. M. BRYAN." Road leading from the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew to the intersection with UNDERWOOD's road, as well as the ferry operating on the Ouachita River at the end of that road, discontinued. JAMES KELLAM authorized to operate a new ferry "across" the river at UNDERWOOD's Landing. [This location would have been in Ouachita Parish.] The killing of deer only for the skins and "leaving the flesh in the woods" subject to a fine of $5 per each deer killed. JAMES R. GUICE, ALVIN W. McCORMACK, JOHN H. GUICE, THOMAS NORSWORTHY, WILEY NORSWORTHY, ELISHA PARKER, and JEREMIAH V. BUTLER appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the bridge on the DeLoutre to the new ferry on the Ouachita River or to intersect an already existing road to that point. Ferry on the DeLoutre known as JONES's Ferry to be contracted out. Commissioners of elections to be paid $2 per day. JAMES H. SEAL appointed assessor for the year 1841. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 8, 1840 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. LASSITER authorized by commissioners $10 "for Making and Carrying the returns of the Elections July 9th 1840." Signed by W. UNDERWOOD, B. HOWARD, T. NORSWORTHY, A. WAFER, MATTHEW WOOD, DANIEL PAYNE, and CAMPBELL LASSITER. Clerk instructed to make a copy of the "Tax List for the State as assessed for the Parish of Union" for 1840 and give the list to the tax collector. Clerk to receive $5 for his efforts. BARTLETT POWELL appointed overseer of the road from the DeLoutre Bridge to Farmerville, having the hands of ALLEN STANCIL, Mr. ELLIS, E. OWENS, and WM. H. MOSES. DAVID WARD appointed as overseer of the road from the same bridge to Bayou Bartholomew, using the same hands. Previous order reiterated for Mrs. FARMER and AARON GREER to submit their hands to the oversight of RICHARD BOYD on the road from the Choudrant Bayou to Farmerville and of ROBERT HONEYCUTT on the road from Monroe to Farmerville. Ten dollars approved for payment to the Ouachita Standard for advertising town lots. JOEL HART reappointed overseer of road from D'Arbonne Ferry towards Monroe, working down to the 24-Mile Tree. To have the hands of WILLIS AUSTIN, JAMES AUSTIN, JOHN STERLING, J. SMITH, THOMAS HANNA, THOS. TREVATHAN, and AUGUSTUS REPPOND?. Plans for the courthouse altered to make the roof square [that is, a hip roof instead of a roof with two gables], with contract to be amended to pay for the change. Contractor given an extension of time to February 1, 1841 "and no Longer." A payment schedule for the clerk's services approved. Commissioners ALLEN STANCIL, THOMPSON WOOD, BARTLETT POWELL, MATTHEW WOOD, and JOHN TAYLOR submitted their report concerning the marking out of a road from the DeLoutre Bridge to Farmerville. The report signed by MATTHEW WOOD and JOHN TAYLOR. RICHARD BOYD, overseer of the road from P. FEAZLE's to MIXON's Bridge, given the hands of W. C. DAVIS and J. A. G. DAVIS. The hands of Mrs. FARMER not subject to his order. Z. B. DAVIS appointed overseer of the road to Claiborne Parish, using the hands of JOHN FEAZLE, MICHAEL FEAZLE, GEORGE FEAZLE, W. H. HAUGH, SAMUEL HAUGH, W. POPE, G. W. DUTTON, C. DUTTON, JAMES STERLING, Mrs. STERLING, and DAVIS. Livestock law amended to include horses. W. C. CARR to be paid $100 for the use of his house in holding court and meetings of the Police Jury. THOMAS VAN HOOK allowed to buy the unsold land in Square Number 9 "to the first holler [hollow] west" at $10 per 100 square feet, or per block. THOMAS VAN HOOK submitted the tax list for 1840, which had been requested previously. Next meeting to be the first Monday of April, 1841. WILLIS AUSTIN paid $20 on February 22, 1841 and received a title to Lots # 303 and 304 from NEEDHAM M. BRYAN, "President of the Police Jury." [There is no mention of Bryan's having been elected President of the Police Jury to replace President pro tem Philip Feazle.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Explanation for June 7, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [There is no clue in the records about why the April meeting that had been scheduled and the May meeting had not taken place; however, the explanation probably lies in a confrontation between two prominent planters, Matthew Wood and Peter J. Harvey. Although knowledge of that incident comes from local tradition instead of pure fact, later events do indicate that there was indeed a serious disturbance between the two that led to Wood's migration to Texas. The oft-told story of the Woods-Harvey episode follows. Apparently tension between Matthew Wood and Peter Harvey had been developing throughout most of 1840. During Wood's presidency of the Police Jury, Harvey had complained about a new road that had been marked out near his place, and Wood had taken the side of the road commissioners against Harvey. Moreover, when Wood had difficulty accounting for money that he had collected for the sale of town lots, undoubtedly Harvey had been among those who had questioned Wood's integrity. The final rupture in their relationship, however, seems to have centered upon the national election of 1840. In that election, Benjamin Harrison ran for president on the Whig ticket, while Martin Van Buren represented an early version of the Democrats. Although Harrison had been born in Virginia into an aristocratic family, he had lived most of his adult life in Ohio. Despite his patrician background, Harrison identified with the farmers and frontiersmen, donning a coonskin cap, which came to symbolize his campaign. The Whigs cleverly portrayed Harrison as a man who, although born in humble circumstances, had done well in life. In contrast, Van Buren, running for a second term of office, appeared to be an insensitive politician who catered to businessmen and the Northeastern establishment. Disadvantaged by a depression and panic that continued to grip the nation, Van Buren lost the election to Harrison. Harrison's victory was shortlived, however, as he died a month after the inauguration. Whigs in the rural South went into mourning for their deceased leader, wearing black armbands on their coats. Matthew Wood, one of the election commissioners for the parish's second electoral district, was a staunch Whig. Peter Harvey was a fervent Democrat. Shortly after Harrison's death, the story goes, Wood and Harvey casually met each other on the street in Farmerville. Wood, a black armband around his coat sleeve, is supposed to have greeted Harvey, and Harvey is said to have refused to return the salutation, remarking that he would not speak to anyone who mourned such a scoundrel as Harrison. Angered by the remark, Wood drew his pistol and shot Harvey at close range. A button on Harvey's coat is said to have caused the bullet to deflect, causing only a flesh wound. Harvey wrested the pistol from Wood and beat him with it, until bystanders intervened to stop the fight. At that moment, Willis Wood, Matthew's son, arrived, put his father on his horse, and took him home. A few months later, Matthew and his wife left Union Parish for Texas, probably persuaded by his sons-in-law John Taylor and William Carr, who, in their positions as judge and sheriff, respectively, had been placed in very compromising positions. Wood never stood trial for his assault on Harvey. In addition, there is no evidence in the parish archives that Wood ever accounted completely for the money that he owed the parish treasury. The Wood-Harvey confrontation apparently further polarized Wood's supporters and detractors, causing such dissention among the Police Jury members that several of them probably resigned. As a result, a new election for all members of the Jury was held ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 7, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Judge JOHN TAYLOR opened this session of the Police Jury and declared the following members duly elected for a two year term from this date: Ward 1, DANDRIDGE ACREE, certified by Justice of Peace JOHN FEAZLE; Ward 2, JOEL MIXON, certified by JEPTHA COLVIN; Ward 3, WILLIAM PIPES, certified by W. H. CULBERTSON and COLUMBUS DUTTON; Ward 4, POWATAN BOATRIGHT, certified by B. C. LASSITER and JOSIAH DEAN; Ward 5, W. J. H. DEES, certified by Justice of Peace W. C. EUBANKS; Ward 6, LEWIS LANIER [no certification given]; and Ward 7, WILEY UNDERWOOD [no certification given]. JOEL MIXON elected President of the Police Jury and JAMES M. TURNER, Clerk, by the members of the Jury, to serve one year terms. Members determined that in the future the terms of the jurors would be staggered. To begin that process, LANIER, ACREE, UNDERWOOD, and MIXON would serve two years; DEES, PIPES, and BOATRIGHT, one year. Road petitioned by J. H. GUICE in behalf of W. P. NORSWORTHY, ELISHA PARKER, A. W. McCORMACK, B. HOWARD, and J. R. GUICE rejected. The ex-clerk instructed to hand over all "papers and Books belonging to the Police Jury or relating to said parish." MOSES EVANS appointed overseer of the road from the DeLoutre to the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew, working that road from the ferry to the "Sumerhouses." AVERY BREED, B. C. DAVIS, JOHN ODOM, WALTER MORGAN, J. N. POWELL, EVANS JONES, J. C. McNEAL, J. GREEN, and SAMUEL J. LARKIN appointed commissioners to lay out a road from the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew to the Arkansas line, "on the east side of the Dividing ridge between the washitaw [Ouachita] and bayou Deluter [DeLoutre] on a Direction of Champana [Champagnolle] in Arkansas." [At that time, Champagnolle, now only a sparsely-populated community, was a thriving town and the county seat of Union County.] G. W. DUTTON appointed overseer of the road from the D'Arbonne Ferry to the Colvin settlement as far as Caney Branch, working the hands of M. FEAZLE, W. H. HUFF, SAMUEL HOUGH, S. C. DAVIS, J. A. G. DAVIS, JOHN STERLING, R. STERLING, JOSEPH STERLING, C. DUTTON, W. H. CULBERTSON, W. LAWRENCE, Z. B. DAVIS, and W. PIPES. HANSFORD DEAN appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to Arkansas as far as ALLEN CARR's crossroad. ROBERT L. DICK appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from ALLEN CARR's to Horse Trough Creek. Ward 3's boundaries adjusted by adding the area between the D'Arbonne and the fork of Bayou Corney westward to the Claiborne Parish line. PHILIP FEAZLE appointed overseer on the Farmerville-Monroe Road from the D'Arbonne Ferry to the 24 Mile Tree, working the hands of JOHN SMITH, P. FEAZLE, WILLIS JONES, FERGUSON, AUSTIN, GEORGE FEAZLE, JOHN FEAZLE, LEWIS FEAZLE, and AARON FEAZLE. MALCOLM McFARLAND appointed overseer of the streets of Farmerville. JOHN B. DEES appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing on the Ouachita, the part from W. J. H. DEES's to the landing. S. S. MOSES, JAMES RAMSEY, W. RAMSEY, JOHN TAYLOR, ASA CHADDICK, JAMES OLIVE, A. GREEN, and J. DEAN appointed commissioners to mark out a road from JAMES RAMSEY's ford on the DeLoutre to the Arkansas line, intersecting the line at COOK's old road leading to SCARBOROUGH's Landing on the Ouachita River. JOHN PARKER granted a license for one year to operate a ferry on the Ouachita. P. FEAZLE, W. FARMER, W. WILHITE, JOHN ROGERS, RICHARD BOYD, LEWIS COX, WM. McNORTON (McNAUGHTON?), and B. J. FORD appointed to review a possible route from P. FEAZLE's to MIXON's Bridge and also from FEAZLE's to where the Claiborne Road crosses the Choudrant Bayou. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 8, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were J. MIXON, W. UNDERWOOD, L. LANIER, D. ACREE, W. PIPES, P. BOATRIGHT, and W. J. H. DEES. WILLIAM B. COOPER appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to JONES's Ferry, directing the hands of W. HAM, DANIEL PAYNE, THOS. J. SEAL, W. B. COOPER, BYNUM COOPER, NELAND RALEY, J. H. CARROLL, N. M. BRYAN, JOHN COOPER, W. J. PAYNE, HAYES?, SAMUEL MONTGOMERY, and MANING SCOTT. [Added at the bottom of the entry are the names ELI OWENS, R. OWENS, and H. MOORE, who also are probably supposed to contribute hands to work on the road.] Commissioners for general elections appointed as follows: District 1, JOHN N. FARMER, W. H. CULBERTSON, and ELIAS WHEAT; District 2, W. C. EUBANKS, N. M. BRYAN, and G. W. MAGEE; District 3, RICHARD BASS, JOHN HILL, and JAMES A. HARVEY. Operation of the ferry at the mouth of the Corney to be let to the highest bidder on June 17. Rates approved for parish ferries. AUSTIN HONEYCUTT appointed overseer of the road leading from the Choudrant Bridge to the 24 Mile Tree, having under him the hands of JOHN HONEYCUTT, SUSANNAH FARMER, A. HONEYCUTT, WM. WILHITE, P. WILHITE, J. F. IMPSON, H. IMPSON, THOS. IMPSON, W. HONEYCUTT, R. HONEYCUTT, JAS. McCOWEN, N. FARMER, D. ACREE, and H. O. McKENNY. JOHN MAY appointed Captain of Patrol [The ward not indicated, but it was Ward 2.]. W. GIBSON appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 6. JAMES H. SEAL appointed Captain of Patrol for Farmerville and Ward 4. CHARLES ABSENT appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 7. G. W. DUTTON appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 3. J. N. FARMER appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 1. JNO. W. POPE appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 5. THOMPSON WOOD appointed overseer of the road from the DeLoutre Bridge, intersecting the road from Farmerville to Bayou Bartholomew, with jurisdiction over the hands of M. WOOD, ALLEN STANCIL, JAMES HALL, JOHN HALL, W. HALL, Mrs. HALL, T. H. DUNCAN, B. POWELL, and GIBBONS. HANSFORD DEAN appointed overseer on the road from the D'Arbonne Ferry to the crossroad between ALLEN CARR and W. C. CARR, having the hands of W. C. CARR, ALLEN CARR, CAMPBELL LASSITER, JAMES PILES, BENJAMIN STURDIVANT, W. R. VALENTINE, WILLIAM RABUN, THOMAS RABUN, WM. DODD, WM. WEBSTER, WILLIAM DEAN, JOHN DEAN, R. C. LEE, and DENNIS BURCH. JOHN SMITH, THOS. BRANTLY, JOHN COOK, JESSE BRANTLY, J. W. CHRISMAN, DAVID STEWART, JOHN BOYLES, R. P. BRUTON, and JEREMIAH SCOTT appointed commissioners to mark out a road from D. P. A. COOK's to intersect UNDERWOOD's road at HAND's Creek. JOHN RAMSEY appointed overseer of the road from PARKER's Landing to M. WOOD's, the portion from W. J. H. DEES's to the road that forks from the Farmerville Road, working the hands of JAMES SLAWSON, GEORGE MAGEE, THOMAS BIBB "& Son," FREEMAN HOBBS, MICHAEL AULDS, HENDERSON, JOHN STODART (STURDIVANT?), ELISHA WARD, JACOB MAGEE, MARTIN HENDRICK, WADKINS, RACHEL (ROCHELLE?), WOOLEY?, WILLIS WOOD, GRAMMONT CABRO, and HARRIS. JAMES PIPES, Sr. appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from A. B. ROBERT's residence to the west of Mr. METHVINS. RICHARD BOYD appointed overseer of the road running from PHILIP FEAZLE's southward by MIXON's to the first creek on the road south of Mr. McNORTON's. To have all hands of the former overseer, including those of JOHN DAVIS's son BERRY. GILBERT H. O'NEAL appointed overseer on the Claiborne Road from the Choudrant Bridge to A. B. ROBERT's, having the hands of MICHAEL O'NEAL, W. W. FARMER, WILLIAM SMITH, Mrs? BRADBURY HUGHEY, A. B. ROBERTS, and WM. CASON (now living at MICHAEL O'NEAL's). G. B. DANIEL appointed overseer of that part of the Claiborne Road that passes near JOHN STOW's, having the hands of MICHAEL JOHNSON, MADISON SMITH, and PHILIP PIPES's son "if 15 years of age." JOHN GOOLSBY appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from west of the Cypress Slough to the Claiborne line. JOHN HUEY, Sr. appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from the Cypress Slough eastward. JOHN W. POPE appointed constable. JAMES H. CARSON appointed Justice of the Peace. JOHN FEAZLE, THOS. VAN HOOK, N. BRYAN, W. W. FARMER, and JOHN HILL appointed administrators of the public schools for a term of two years. Union Male and Female Academy authorized public land in any part of the parish to construct its building. J. M. TURNER, W. UNDERWOOD, and DANDRIDGE ACREE appointed to "examine and Settle with the ex president [Matthew Wood] and make a report in writing of the same." W. J. H. DEES, LEWIS LANIER, and WILLIAM PIPES appointed to examine the "assets" of the parish treasurer and report to the Jury. W. UNDERWOOD, DANDRIDGE ACREE, and JAMES M. TURNER reported to the Jury that the ex-president had given them notes "on accounts" of $2,574.48 and 3/4 cents. W. J. H. DEES, LEWIS LANIER, and WILLIAM PIPES reported that the treasurer had turned over to them $1,230.40 and receipts worth $1,229.56, causing the parish to owe the treasurer $.84. S. J. HANDLEY appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to RAMSEY's Ford on the DeLoutre, with authority over the hands of JOHN TAYLOR, THOS. GRIFFIN, Mr. BATES, S. S. MOSES, B. L. HANDLEY, JAMES CARTER, W. B. RAMSEY, and CHARLES H. RAILEY. Parish Treasurer DANIEL PAYNE's bond returned upon his having settled his account and resigned his position. BENJAMIN HARRISON, L. K. THOMAS, RUBIN EDWARDS, JOHN HILL, WALTER MORGAN, THOS. NORSWORTHY, DAVID G. STEWART, and C. TRYON appointed commissioners to lay out a road from the Bayou DeLoutre Bridge to intersect UNDERWOOD's road. J. MIXON appointed overseer of that part of the road from MIXON's Bridge to near Mr. McNORTON's, having his hands and those of THOMAS J. GREER. N. M. BRYAN appointed parish treasurer for the year 1841, with a commission of 5% of the money received and paid out. JAMES H. SEAL allowed $100 for digging up 84 stumps, "rolling, piling, and burning" logs, and filling up a large hole on the public square. Paid $75 on account. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 12, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were JOEL MIXON, WILEY UNDERWOOD, LEWIS LANIER, W. J. H. DEES, P. BOATRIGHT, DANDRIDGE ACREE, and WILLIAM PIPES. Sheriff W. C. CARR required to attend the Police Jury meetings, as they were "frequently Disturbed by officious and disinterested persons" whose conduct was not "in accordance with the laws and general Customs of our State." CARR allowed $2 a day for preventing "any person or persons intruding upon this body by Loud words or medling with business in which they are not Directly concerned." A president pro tempore to be appointed by the Police Jury whenever the president of the jury wants to bring up a matter on his own or vote on a measure. JEREMIAH SCOTT, DAVID STEWART, THOMAS BRANTLY, JESSE BRANTLY, JOHN W. BOYLES, and R. P. BRUTON appointed commissioners to mark out a road from D. P. A. COOK's to the UNDERWOOD road "without favour or affection[,] hatred or malice and to the greatest [ease] and convenience of the Inhabitance [sic] generaly." Oaths of commissioners taken by Justice of Peace B. HOWARD on July 5, 1841. [Apparently this committee was appointed outside of the regular session by the president on July 5; the commissioners made their report during the regular session.] DAVID STEWART, R. P. BRUTON, THOMAS BRANTLY, J. SCOTT, JESSE BRANTLY, and JOHN W. BOYLES reported on their task as road commissioners. J. M. TURNER allowed $5 for repairing the jail. MICHAEL O'NEAL, JOHN SMITH, W. W. FARMER, JOHN N. FARMER, PHILLIP FEAZLE, GEORGE FEAZLE, WILLIAM PIPES and THOMAS J. GREER appointed commissioners to mark out the nearest route on the Claiborne Road "where the negro Dick was Hanged" to intersect the Monroe Road at or near PHILLIP FEAZLE's. S. J. LARKIN, AVERY BREED, JETSON GREEN, J. M. POWELL, JOHN ODOM, and WALTER MORGAN submitted a report dated June 30, 1841 concerning their marking out a road from the mouth of Bayou Bartholo-mew to the Arkansas line. Justice of Peace B. HOWARD certified that members had taken an oath to carry out their duties "without favour or affections hatred or mallice and to the greatest ease and advantage of the inhabitance." RICHARD BOYD, BURWELL J. FORD, PHILLIP FEAZLE, W. W. FARMER, W. WILLHITE, JOHN ROGERS, and LEWIS COX reported on a road that they had marked out from PHILLIP FEAZLE's to MIXON's Bridge and from FEAZLE's to the upper Choudrant. JOHN EDWARDS appointed overseer of the road from the Bayou DeLoutre Bridge to its intersection with the Arkansas Road, having the use of his own hands and those of RUBIN EDWARDS, ALVIN McCORMAC, WILLIAM BRADSHAW, JOHN FAUGHT (FAULK), JAMES R. GUICE, DANIEL M. DISON, BENJ. HARRISON, SAMUEL HARRISON, DAVID LANIER, THOS. NORSWORTHY, ESEX BRASHER, JOHN H. GUICE, ------ HUGHS, ------ HUGHS, ELCARRY? BELAME (BELLAMY?), ------ SWAZEY, WILLIAM CALVERT, DAVID HARRIS, RICHARD KELLY, JAS. B. SLAWSON, and JAMES RAGAN. B. HARRISON, JOHN HILL, LIBERTY K. THOMAS, REUBEN EDWARDS, CLIFFORD TRYON, and DAVID G. STEWART reported on their marking out a road from the DeLoutre Bridge to UNDERWOOD's road. A public ferry previously established at JAMES KELLAM's store on the Ouachita River to be continued. S. S. MOSES, JOHN TAYLOR, WILKS RAMSEY, JOSIAH DEAN, ASA CHADWICK, and JAMES RAMSEY reported on the marking out of a road from RAMSEY's Ford on the DeLoutre to the Arkansas state line. Certified by Justice of Peace J. H. CARSON. THOMAS J. SEAL and JOHN V. BUTLER nominated by Police Jury members for constable, resulting in the election of SEAL. COLUMBUS DUTTON appointed constable. J. GREEN appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from GREEN's place to the state line, having at his disposition the hands of SAMUEL J. LARKIN, THOMAS M. SMITH, A. A. ERELL?, EVAN JONES, ANDREW J. JONES, JAMES McNEAL, LEVI JORDAN, and MALOY KIMBALL. LEWIS LANIER appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from UNDERWOOD's old road to where it crosses HAND Creek, having the hands of BENJ. E. DAVIS, LEWIS LANIER, JOHN ODOM, MICHAEL ODOM, MICHAEL DALY, DAVID BRIGGS, JAMES BRIGGS, V. REPPOND, and LAURENCE, LEWIS REPPOND's son. [Lack of punctuation on the part of the clerk makes it unclear whether it is Laurence Lewis Reppond, V. Reppond's son, or perhaps Laurence, Lewis Reppond's son. The clerk spells the surname Rippo.] SAMUEL FARRAR appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from the south side of the HAND Creek Bridge to the GREEN place, having the hands of CHARLES ABSCENT, JOHN MORGAN, JOHN SMITH, C. SMITH, JOSEPH SMITH, JOHN C. KELLEY, SAMUEL FARRAR, JAMES MORGAN, JOHN KELLEY, JOHN HILL, JOSEPH TERRY, W. UNDERWOOD, JOEL UNDERWOOD, JEMISON ODOM, JAMES M. POWELL, LEWIS M. POWELL, RICHARD BASS, GEORGE W. WHITE, and Mrs. WHITE. F. L. GIBSON appointed overseer of the road from the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew "to where UNDERWOOD's old road crosses," having the hands of AVERY BREED, WM. NORMAN, C. L. NORMAN, C. Y. NORMAN, F. L. GIBSON, JAMES HALL, MARTIN (HALL?), HENRY BARTLETT, JOSIAH ALLEN, A. M. JONES, ------ GRAVES, ------ RICHARDSON, AUGUSTUS DAVIS, A. C. McAFEE, and PETER CULPER (COOPER?). Fees set for the ferry on the DeLoutre, known as JONES Ferry. The owner or proprietor required to provide "a good and suitable Ferry Boat and attend punctually to all calls." WILLIAM MONTGOMERY appointed overseer of the road "leaving the Arkansaw road east of the Sumer Cite [summer site]" to JAMES KELLAM's store, working the hands of JAMES KELLAM, B. A. JONES, and MICAJAH BONE. Hands not reporting for road duty or their owners to report their excuses for being absent within 5 days or be subject to a penalty. D. P. A. COOK appointed overseer on the road from his house to Cane Creek, having his hands and those of ------ BEATY and JOHN P. BEATY. JAMES OLIVE appointed overseer of the Farmerville Road [the part is not indicated], having his hands and the hands of PETER PRUETT, A. GREEN, M. CHADWICK, PETER GREENLEE, P. STEAD (STEED?), CHANDLER, ------ GREEN, JR., D. CARTER, S. CARTER, M. CARTER, and JOHN PRUETT. JOHN CHRISTMAN appointed overseer on COOK's Road, from the place it intersects UNDERWOOD's old road to Cane Creek, working the hands of DAVID STEWART, THOS. J. STEWART, SAMUEL WILLIAMS, WILLIAM TISDALE, JOSEPH TISDALE, THOS. BRANTLEY, JESSE BRANTLEY, G. DURDEN, and ------ BRASIER. JAMES ROAN to be allowed $8.25 for himself and his sons as witnesses for the parish in a case of assault and battery "by a negro who called himself henry on the body of James Roane on the tenth day of November 1839." Parish Treasurer N. M. BRYAN authorized to determine what books and stationary required and to purchase them. The courthouse plans altered to make two rooms in the "garret," or attic, and reduce the number of rooms on the second floor from six to four. JOEL MIXON allowed $3.50 for attendance at court as a witness in the case of the state vs. a negro who committed an assault on JAMES ROANE and also $3.50 in the case of the State vs. JOHN SMITH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 6, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were JOEL MIXON, W. UNDERWOOD, D. ACREE, W. PIPES, P. BOATRIGHT, and W. J. H. DEES. Overseers of roads must henceforth establish mile markers and put up an "index" at each fork " to indicate the direction of the road. Each overseer to receive a copy of the ordinance concerning the measuring of miles on the public roads. REASON POWELL appointed overseer of the road from PARKER's Landing to the Rockey Creek, having the hands of JOHN PARKER, BENJAMIN PARKER, WILLIAM BURTON, WILLIAM LUCAS, GEORGE HOLLAND, ALEX HAMILTON, and AMBROSE CARDOSO. Hands to be exempt from work on the upper part of the road, which is overseen by J. B. DEES. BYNUM COOPER, DANIEL PAYNE, WILLIAM B. COOPER, N. M. BRYAN, WILLIAM J. PAYNE, WILLIS WOOD, and THOS. VAN HOOK appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to intersect the one from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing somewhere near W. J. DEES's. W. H. HOUGH appointed constable. Land granted by the Police Jury to the trustees of the Male and Female Academy, "as Located by Said Trustees." S. S. MOSES, CAMPBELL LASSITER, ALLEN CARR, MOSES PIERSON, JAMES E. JONES, JOHN RABUN, and PETER O. PRICE appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Horse Trough Creek to the Arkansas line. PEREGREN BANKS granted $50 as custodian of Widow IMPSON, "Who is entirely unable to make a support by her individual Labour." PHILIP FEAZLE and WILLIAM PIPES appointed guardians of Mrs. IMPSON. Road overseers authorized to straighten any part of their roads, provided the new part is within 20 poles of the old road. WILLIAM CULVERHOUSE appointed parish physician for one year to attend prisoners in need of medical attention. JAMES M. TURNER appointed surveyor to lay out lots in Farmerville. To mark the boundaries with posts set a foot and a half into the ground and standing one foot above the ground. One hundred lots in Farmerville to be sold at the highest bidder on the fourth Monday of September. S. S. MOSES appointed tax collector for the year 1841. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 7, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were JOEL MIXON, W. UNDERWOOD, D. ACREE, W. PIPES, P. BOATRIGHT, and W. J. H. DEES. Members of the Police Jury "shall have the privilege to speak without interruption from other members untill he may git through his Subject provided it does not exceed 20 minutes and that no abusive Language Shall be used by one member toward another member & that each member Rise on his feet When he speaks on any subject...." Violators subject to a $5 fine. W. UNDERWOOD elected president pro tempore. W. W. FARMER appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road to AARON GREER's, working his hands and those of THOS. GREER, REDDEN MIXON, WESTLEY MIXON, and J. MIXON. THOMAS GREER, JOHN SMITH, GEORGE FEAZLE, MICHAEL O'NEAL, WILLIAM PIPES, W. W. FARMER, and PHILLIP FEAZLE reported on a route beginning at PHILLIP FEAZLE's, "pursuing" the MIXON road south "to where GREER's Mill trace intersects it," along that trace "to within a mile or so of the mill," to the right to GREER's field, then down a trail past W. W. FARMER's, Mr. HUEY's, Mrs. ALEXANDER's, Mrs. HUEY's, and JOHN SMITH's, where it intersects the Claiborne Road. Commissioners authorized on August 20 to mark out the road as described. AARON GREER appointed overseer of the road leading from his house to PHILLIP FEAZLE's, working the hands of WESTLEY GREER, W. GREER, G. BRUNSON?, ------ McNORTON, ------ FORD, LEWIS COX, RICHARD BOYD, MOORE HANDLEY, and BERRY DAVIS. JOEL MIXON's overseership found by the Jury to be "entirely illegal and void." Wards to be known as Magistrate Districts, and every magistrate's [juror's] jurisdiction to be confined to his respective district. [Despite this measure, the designation "magistrate district" did not catch on, and there is no further mention of it in the Police Jury records.] The parish treasurer authorized to demand from the tax collector the balance of the taxes for 1840 and to file suit against the collector if the money not turned over within 10 days. NEEDHAM M. BRYAN authorized to bring suit to collect outstanding notes and bonds. To receive an attorney's fee for his actions and to "git ade [aid] if necessary to attend to critical cases." Road from MIXON's Bridge, "known as the MIXON Road," to be rescinded and the one marked out by commissioners accepted instead. RANSOM SEALE given deeds on July 26, 1841 for his purchase of lots #34, 25, 33, and 26, "fronting on Washington and Bayou Street & running back to East Street." [This entry was made outside of the regular session.] DAVID WARD given deeds on July 26, 1841 for the purchase of lots #36 and 45, east of the public square. Next meeting scheduled for the fourth Monday in September at 10 o'clock. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 27, 1841 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were JOEL MIXON, W. UNDERWOOD, LEWIS LANIER, D. ACREE, W. PIPES, W. J. H. DEES, and P. BOATRIGHT. JAMES OLIVE reappointed overseer of the Farmerville-Arkansas Road, from RAMSEY's Ford on the DeLoutre to the Arkansas line. WILLIAM CULVERHOUSE, N. M. BRYAN, THOS. VAN HOOK, J. H. CARSON, J. TAYLOR, DANIEL PAYNE, and WM. HAM appointed to locate a half acre of public land for a "public burying ground" and also a half acre for "erecting an episcopal Methodist Church." MARTIN HENDRICK appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to JONES' Ferry on the DeLoutre, "commencing at the fork a half mile above JACOB MAGEE's to said JONES Ferry," having the use of his hands and those of J. N. RALEY, ELI OWENS, and JOHN RACHEL (ROCHELLE). N. M. BRYAN, W. J. PAYNE, WM. B. COOPER, DANIEL PAYNE, WILLIS WOOD, and A. B. COOPER appointed commissioners to lay out a route commencing at the southeast corner of the public square and intersecting the road now leading from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing, within 500 yards of W. C. EUBANK's house. ROBERT COOK authorized one dollar a day for 30 days' work on the public square. [This entry is dated simply June, 1841 and is signed byM. W. CALLICOATTE, whose position and authority are unclear.] JOHN TAYLOR, Parish Judge, certified that he had sold lots #380, 381, and 379 to W. CULVERHOUSE, lot #382 to FRANCIS MULDOON, and lot #386 to J. P. KIRKPATRICK for $20 each. JOEL MIXON, President of the Police Jury, certified that he had given deeds to the following individuals: ** MICHAEL STEWART, for lots on Water, Lafayette, and Washington Streets (September 27, 1841). ** WILKS RAMSEY, for lots # 3 and 9, fronting on Main St. and Jackson St., respectively (September 28, 1841). ** JOHN FEAZLE, for two lots in Farmerville (November 2, 1841). ** THOMPSON WOOD, for two lots (November 3, 1841). ** W. C. TEUTE?, for lots # 168 and 173 (November 3, 1841). ** J. CLINGFOST, for lots # 53, 54, 55, and 56 (February 7, 1842). ** DANIEL PAYNE, for lots # 290 and 291 (May 5, 1842) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 6, 1842 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [There is no indication why there were no meetings from September, 1841 to June, 1842. ] Members present were JOEL MIXON, LEWIS LANIER, DANDRIDGE ACREE, and WILEY UNDERWOOD. WILLIAM PIPES presented a certificate, signed by JOHN FEAZLE, "Esq.," that he had been duly elected as a member of the Police Jury for Ward 3. ["Esq." is an abbreviation for "Esquire," a term used in those days to indicate that the person held some type of official position, for example, justice of the peace.] J. E. JONES presented a certificate, signed by REUBEN ELLIS and CAMPBELL LASSITER, election commissioners, that JONES had been elected Police Jury member from Ward 4. W. J. H. DEES presented a certificate, signed by W. C. EUBANKS, "Esq.," that he had been elected on May 9, 1842 a member of the Police Jury from Ward 5. WILEY UNDERWOOD elected President of the Police Jury. W. C. EUBANKS elected clerk of the Police Jury. ZEPHANIAH DAVIS, FRANKLIN L. GIBSON, JESSE BRANTLEY, and WILLIAM M. LAURENCE appointed constables. JAMES H. SEALE appointed tax assessor. Z. B. DAVIS appointed to keep order during the Police Jury sessions. To receive $2 for each day's attendance. JOHN COULTER appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 2. ELI HEART appointed overseer of the road departing from the Claiborne Road "near Mr. COLVIN's," running by Mr. STOW's as far as the creek, then on to the twelve mile post. To have hands formerly apportioned and also those of Mr. HENRY. KINDRED J. HARVEY appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from the middle of the Choudrant Bridge to the crossroad east of ROBERTS' place. JOHN MAY appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from near MR. MEPHVIN's to the middle of the bridge on Cypress Slough. BENJ. MAY appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from the middle of the bridge on the Cypress Slough to the parish line, near Mr. HANCOCK's. Public ferries to be let out to bid annually at the fall term of the district court. WILLIAM WILHITE appointed overseer on the Farmerville-Monroe Road from the Choudrant Bridge to JOHN HONEYCUTT's, working the hands of JOHN IMPSON, SAML. RESEY?, THOS. IMPSON, JOHN GOLSON, WILLIAM HONEYCUTT, HOBS?, DANIEL ACREE, and PHILAMON WILHITE. WILLIAM BROWN appointed overseer of the Monroe-Farmerville Raod from JOHN HONEYCUTT's to JOHN SMITH's, having the hands of JOHN HONEYCUTT, Mrs. FARMER, JOHN FARMER, JAMES McCOWEN, and BENJAMIN FARMER. WILLIAM H. CULBERTSON, JEPTHA COLVIN, and JOHN FEAZLE, Esq. appointed commissioners of General Elections "at the Precinct at JEPTHA COLVIN's on the 1st day, GEORGE FEAZLE's old place, 2nd day, and at JOHN HONEYCUTT's on the 3rd day." JOHN HILL, JAMES M. POWELL, LEWIS REPPO[nd], WILLIAM BRIGGS, P. R.? TRAYLOR, CHARLES ABSENT, JAMES M. TRAYLOR, RICHARD BASS, and WILEY UNDERWOOD, Esq. appointed commis-sioners to mark out a road from the northeast corner of UNDERWOOD's plantation to the Ouachita River " or the most convenient point on the Bachelon Peer?." [This undoubtedly refers to Bayous Bachelor and Pierre that empty into the Ouachita River.] DAVID STEWART authorized $150 for taking care of an "indigent afflicted Man by the name of Daniel Strickland" for the last twelve months. WILLIAM AUSTIN, R. LEE, H. RULE, F. BRAZIL, L. NEELY, W. A. CLOWER, B. STURDEVANT?, and JOHN REGGIN appointed commissioners to lay out a road from Horse Trough Creek running northwest to the Arkansas line at or near HENRY RULE's. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 7, 1842 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were WILEY UNDERWOOD, DANDRIDGE ACREE, W. J. H. DEES, J. E. JONES, WILLIAM PIPES, and LEWIS LANIER. JAMES ROAN appointed overseer on the Claiborne Road from the crossroad east of A. B. ROBERTS' to WILLIAM O'NEAL's, having the hands of THOS. J. GREER, WILLIAM O'NEAL, JONATHAN O'NEAL, JAMES WHEAT, WILLIAM SLATER, and "the Sons of ELIAS WHEAT, Esq." MICHAEL O'NEAL appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 1. LEWIS MARKHAM appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from Mr. O'NEAL's to the "Place of Division" [parish line] near Rev. Mr. MEPHVIN's. J. BUTLER appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to Bayou Bartholomew beginning at the Ten Mile Creek and ending at the Arkansas Road, having the hands of ROBERT WEBB and all others west of BUTLER's place. To clear the road of stumps and make the road sixteen feet wide. JOHN FALK appointed overseer of the road from Bayou DeLoutre to the Ten Mile Creek, having his hands and those of WILLIAM PARKER, P. J. HARVEY, ELISHA PARKER, WILEY NORSWORTHY, JESSE FRISBY, HOWARD ROBERTSON, and B. ROWARK. To clear a road sixteen feet wide and remove all stumps. WILLIAM EDWARDS appointed overseer on the road from the DeLoutre Bridge to where it intersects the Arkansas Road, working the hands of JOHN H. GREER, REUBEN EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS, BRUTON, JAMES H. GUICE, A. McCORMAC, and WINCE (WINDES?). T. REED WILLIAMS appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from HAND Creek to J. GREEN's, having his own and the hands of W. UNDERWOOD, THOMAS MARKHAM, JAMES MARKHAM, SAML. FARRAR, JOHN E. KELLY, JOEL UNDERWOOD, Mrs. WHITE, GEORGE WHITE, T. TRAYLOR, RICHARD BASS, and JIMESON ODOM. C. T. BARTON appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from J. GREEN's to the state line, working the hands of J. GREEN, SAML. J. SENKIN (LARKIN?), JAMES COLE, DANIEL PUCKETT, THOS. M. SMITH, PURTHE?, JAMES McNEAL, LEVI JORDAN, McCOY, EVAN JONES, and WILLIAM BRADSHAW. THOS. BRANTLEY appointed overseer of the COOK Road from where it intersects the Arkansas Road to Big Cane Creek, having the hands of JOHN ODOM, JOSEPH SMITH, CLAIBORNE SMITH, DAVID STEWART, BENJAMIN HARRISON, JAMES RAGAN, L. K. THOMAS, J. STEWART, DANIEL DYSON, JOHN CHRISTMAN, and GEORGE CHRISTMAN. BENJAMIN E. DAVIS made overseer of the Arkansas Road from the Six Mile Post to HAND Creek, having the hands of LEWIS LANIER, KELLEY, CALVIN KNIGHT, M. ODOM, HILLIARD, A. BREED, and R. T. LOVE. THOS. HAND appointed overseer of the road from A. M. JONES' Landing to the Six Mile Post on the Arkansas Road, having the hands of Mr. BONE, MONTGOMERY, A. DAVIS, LAURENCE, NORMAN, GIPSON, THOMPSON, HENRY BARTLETT, and ALLEN. JAMES H. SEALE, MALCOM McFARLAND, JACOB CLINGFOST, THOS. VAN HOOK, CAMPBELL LASSITER, and J. E. JONES appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the eastern side of Farmerville, leading north and intersecting with the road to JAMES RAMSEY's. JAMES ROAN and ZEPHANIA B. DAVIS appointed "Syndics to review and examine the roads. . . south of the D'Arbonne" and report to the Police Jury. Public roads categorized in three "grades." The narrowest grade to be 15 feet wide with stumps no more than eight inches from the ground. Second grade roads to be 16 feet wide and stumps no taller than six inches from the ground. All parish roads designated third grade except the Claiborne Road and the Arkansas Road, which were second grade. CAMPBELL LASSITER appointed overseer of the road from the D'Arbonne to Farmerville and from Farmerville to the crossroad at ALLEN CARR's and W. C. CARR's, working the hands of M. W. CALICUT, F. MILLER, Mr. MULLINS, G. A. DAVIS, A. CARR, J. DEAN, W. C. CARR, GEO. R. RABUN, CURTIS DODD, J. A. LEE, C. LEE, ALLEN STANCIL, JOHN STOW, S. S. MOSES, JAMES H. SEAL, M. McFARLAND, JAMES TURNER, W. LAURENCE, P. MAY, JOHN DAVIS, and JOHN INMAN. C. NORMAN appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 6. SAMUEL R. FARRAR appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 7. D. P. A. COOK appointed overseer of the COOK Road from Big Cane Creek to COOK's house. D. S. WEBSTER appointed overseer from the crossroads to Horse Trough Creek. JAMES MANNING appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 4. WESTLEY HUGHES appointed overseer of the road commencing at the D'Arbonne Ferry to the Twelve Mile Tree, directing the hands of WILLIAM CULBERTSON, MICHAEL? GILL, WILLIAM LAURENCE, C. DUTTON, Mrs. STERLING, WILLIAM PIPES, G. W. DUTTON, A. C. McAFEE, MICHAEL FEAZLE, and JOHN FEAZLE. PHILIP FEAZLE allowed to alter the road going by his gin house by turning it southward past his "new ground" to intersect the Claiborne Road. A. BREED, J. GREEN, and A. M. JONES appointed "Syndics" of the Arkansas Road with instructions to report to the Police Jury. DAVID STEWART, JESSE BRANTLY, and GEORGE CHRISTMAN appointed syndics of the COOK road. Bounties of $4 each paid for killing wolves and panthers upon certification by two credible witnesses. JOHN H. GUICE authorized $25 "for Keeping a Pauper" at his residence. JOHN SMITH appointed overseer of the Monroe Road from his residence "toward the D'Arbonne to the forks of the Road leading toward Claiborne," having the hands of BERRY DAVIS, DAVID SIMS, JOSIAH INMAN, and THOS. CASON. JOSEPH GREER appointed overseer of the road from his house to where the Claiborne Road and the Monroe Road intersect near Philip FEAZLE's, directing "AARON GREER's two boys" and BURREL FORD?, HENRY McNORTON, GEORGE BRUNSON, JOHN BRUNSON, and LEWIS COX. WESLEY GREER appointed overseer of that part of the road leading from the Claiborne Road and intersecting the Monroe Road at PHILIP FEAZLE's, commencing near JOSEPH GREER's, working the hands Mr. BRAD?, "living at the Widow HENRY's," A. HONEYCUTT, JOHN ROGERS, and WILLIAM FARMER. HENRY P. ANDERSON appointed overseer on a new road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing, the part that begins in Farmerville and intersects with the old road, working the hands of W. B. COOPER, A. B. COOPER, WILLIS WOOD, JACOB CLINGFOST, N. M. BRYAN, MILES? (or MANNING?) SCOTT, DANIEL PAYNE, ELLIS PAYNE, WILLIAM HENDERSON, and MATTHEW GALGHER. To make the road fifteen feet wide. THOMAS J. SEAL, JOHN B. DEES, and JOHN RAMSEY appointed syndics to examine and report to the "Grand Jury" on the entire road from Farmerville to PARKER's LANDING. WILLIAM HAM appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to JONES' Ferry, having the labor of the hands of REUBEN HAM, WILLIAM J. PAYNE, THOS. J. SEAL, SAMUEL MONTGOMERY, ELI OWEN, D. OWEN, MARTIN HENDRICK, CHARLES RALEY, JOHN BRISCO, N. RALEY, WILLIAM DEGRAFFEREED, SAMUEL FUNDERBURK, J. L.? B. ROCHELL, A. WHITE, Dr.? GRIFFIN, PETER PRUETT, GEORGE CROFT, JOHN ATWELL, JACOB CLINGFOST, J. M. CARMICHAEL, F. CULDRON (COULTON?), M. McMAY?, VAN HOOK, and D. H. HARRIS. SAMUEL GRIFFIN appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing, commencing at W. J. H. DEES's spring to the Rocky Creek Bridge, having all hands formerly under JOHN B. DEES. E. M. AULDS appointed overseer of the road leading from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing, commencing at W. J. H. DEES's spring to the fork that leads to JONES' Ferry on the DeLoutre, having the hands of ELISHA WARD, SHURAD? AULDS, ELI AULDS, THOS. M. BIBB, MILTON BIBB, J. V. BUTLER, ADCOCK, and JOHN RAMSEY. WILLIAM BRUTON appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing, from the landing to Rocky Creek. AVERY BREED, BENJAMIN E. DAVIS, and RICHARD BASS appointed election commissioners for Ward 6. JAMES M. TURNER, Parish Surveyor, allowed $352.76 for surveying the town of Farmerville and the grounds for the Male and Female Academy. Each overseer allowed one hand to summon the other hands for road work, for which that hand would be exempt for one day's work. C. DUTTON appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 3. N. M. BRYAN, Parish Treasurer, certified that JAMES M. TURNER, W. C. CARR, JAMES H. SEAL, and W. C. EUBANKS had paid off the final notes for lots that they had purchased in Farmerville. FOSTER H. DUNCAN appointed overseer on the road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing, from the point where a road departs for the DeLoutre Bridge to that bridge. To have the hands of WILLIAM HALL, JAMES HALL, JOHN HALL, Mr. MANNING, WILLIAM DUNCAN, J. TAYLOR, and Mr. RIGBY. W. UNDERWOOD, President of the Police Jury, certified that the parish owed M. W. CALICUTT $7 for hauling lumber "for the frame of the Steeple of the Courthouse" and planks from the D'Arbonne Bayou for "Sawing Stuff for ladder for same." WILKS RAMSEY appointed overseer of the road leading from Farmerville to Arkansas by way of JAMES RAMSEY's, commencing at Dr. CULVERHOUSE's and going to the DeLoutre, having the use of the hands of S. RAMSEY, D. RAMSEY, HUMPHREY RAMSEY, R. ELLIS, CANADY (KENNEDY?), THOMAS GRIFFIN, Mr. BURY (BERRY) MAN (MANN), MR. WASSON, ------ NORRIS, ROBERT J. BLACK'S sons, and IVAN WHELSON?. JACOB CLINGFOST appointed commissioner of the public buildings in place of Col. MATTHEW WOOD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 8, 1842 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were WILEY UNDERWOOD, DANDRIDGE ACREE, W. J. H. DEES, J. E. JONES, WILLIAM PIPES, JOEL MIXON, and LEWIS LANIER. WILSON C. EUBANKS, DAVID WARD, and JOHN B. DEES appointed "Managers" of the approaching election for governor, U. S. Congress, and state senators and representatives. BENJAMIN HARRISON, DAVID WARD, and JOHN RALEY appointed to examine and report on the bridge across the DeLoutre built by Col. MATTHEW WOOD. PHILIP MAY appointed parish attorney and special agent to prosecute or defend all suits. N. M. BRYAN, parish treasurer, notified that PHILIP MAY appointed special agent and instructed to turn over to MAY all documents pertaining to bonds and other notes. JAMES M. TURNER, former parish clerk, required to turn over all documents pertaining to bonds, etc. to current parish clerk, WILSON C. EUBANKS. JOHN FALK authorized to operate the ferry across the DeLoutre at what used to be known as JONES Ferry. [Ferry charges also approved.] A tax of 50% of the state tax levied on businesses selling liquor, and licenses also required. ROBERT COOK authorized $30 from the "first monies collected" for the purpose of COOK's completing the courthouse. N. M. BRYAN's bond returned for his position as parish treasurer. Treasurer presented receipts showing that he had paid out $3,145.26 and 2/3 cents and had received only $2,801.72, leaving a balance owing the treasurer of $343.54. Certified correct by W. J. H. DEES, WILLIAM PIPES, J. E. JONES, LEWIS LANIER, AND JOEL MIXON. N. M. BRYAN appointed treasurer for the term of one year, upon giving bond for $1,000. THOS. VAN HOOK appointed to examine the sale of public lots and report to the Police Jury during the next session on the buyers who had not given proper promissory notes or other security for their purchases. As many as 50 lots to be sold Saturday, July 9 at public auction. Those northwest of the public square to be sold for at least $20 and those southwest, $10. Terms for payment were for one year with approved security. JAMES H. SEAL took the oath as tax assessor for the parish. [Dated June 13, 1842.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Index to the Acts of the Police Jury, June Term, 1842, with corresponding numbers [This covers two and a quarter pages in the records, pp. 137-139.] ACT NO. NATURE OF THE ACT Appropriations 17 D. STEWART "for Keeping an Old afflicted Man." 46 JOHN H. GUICE "for funeral Expenses of a stranger." 57 JAMES M. TURNER "for services rendered the Parish." 65 M. W. CALICOTT "for services rendered the Parish." 75 R. COOK "for purposes therein specified." Captains of Patrol 8 JOHN COULTEN, south of Bayou D'Arbonne. 21 MICHAEL O'NEAL, south of the D'Arbonne. 35 C. NORMAN, east of Bayou DeLoutre. 36 SAMUEL B. FARRAR, east of the DeLoutre. 39 JAMES MANNING, "in the fork." 59 C. DUTTON, south of the D'Arbonne. Commissioners 16 To mark out public roads. 18 To mark out public roads. 31 To mark out public roads. 66 JACOB CLINGFOST, public buildings. 69 Examination of the DeLoutre Bridge. Constables 1 ZEPHENIAH DAVIS. 2 W. G. KELLY. 3 FRANKLIN L. GIBSON. 4 JESSE BRANTLEY. 5 WILLIAM M. LAURENCE. Commissioners of Elections 15 South of Bayou D'Arbonne. 56 East of the DeLoutre. 68 In the fork. Clerk, Police Jury 70 Required to give up certain papers. 71 Required to notify Parish Treasurer of appointment of attorney. Public Ferries 13 Leasing out; Jurors exempt from ferriage. 72 Across the DeLoutre at "JONES old place." Public Lots 79 THOS. VAN HOOK, Esq. to examine sales. 80 Sales on July 9. Overseers of Roads 9 ELI HEARD. 10 KINDRED J. HARVEY. 11 JOHN MAY. 12 BENJAMIN MAY. 14 WILLIAM WILHITE and WILLIAM BROWN. 20 JAMES ROAN. 23 J. BUTLER. 24 JOHN FALK. 25 WILLIAM EDWARDS. 26 T. REED WILLIAMS. 27 C. T. BARTON. 28 THOS. BRANTLEY. 29 BENJAMIN E. DAVIS. 30 THOS. HAND. 34 CAMPBELL LASSITER. 37 P. D. A. [sic] COOK. 38 Y. O. L. WEBSTER. 40 WESLEY HUGHS. 47 JOHN SMITH. 48 JOSEPH GREER. 49 WESLEY GREER. 50 HENRY P. ANDERSON. 52 WILLIAM HAM. 53 SAMUEL GRIFFIN. 54 E. M. AULDS. 55 WILLIAM BURTON. 64 FOSTER H. DUNCAN. 67 WILKS RAMSEY. 22 LEVI MARCUM. Public Roads 33 Grades of public roads. 41 Road changed by PHILIP FEAZLE. 58 Overseers of roads allowed "warners." Miscellaneous 74 Rates to be paid by retailers. 45 Premium for killing wolves. Syndics of Roads 43 East of Bayou DeLoutre. 44 East of the DeLoutre. 51 In the fork. 32 South of Bayou D'Arbonne. 42 East of Bayou DeLoutre. Treasury 60 Receipt to JAMES M. TURNER. 61 Receipt to W. C. CARR. 62 Receipt to JAMES H. SEALE. 63 Receipt to W. C. EUBANKS. 76 Treasuerer's old bond made null and void. 77 Examination of the treasury. 78 N. M. BRYAN appointed treasurer. 70 PHILIP MAY, Esq. appointed agent and attorney for the Parish. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 9, 1842 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were DANDRIDGE ACREE, JOEL MIXON, J. E. JONES, W. J. H. DEES, and WILLIAM PIPES. In the absence of the President of the Police Jury, J. E. JONES elected president pro tempore on a motion by JOEL MIXON, Esq. JOHN HILL appointed overseer of the "Planters Landing Road," working the hands of JAMES M. POWELL, LEWIS M. POWELL, JOSEPH TRAYLOR, Dr. A. TRAYLOR, JAMES M. TRAYLOR, CHARLES ABSCENT, "two young BRIGGSes," DALEY?, and VASSANE (VINCENT) REPPO[nd] "and son." Roads in the fork of the D'Arbonne and DeLoutre changed from second grade to third grade. JAMES A. HARVEY appointed overseer on the road from JONES Ferry to Bayou Bartholomew, taking the place of JOHN FAULK. JOHN HILL, J. M. POWELL, JAS. M. TRAYLOR, WM. BRIGGS, RICHARD BASS, and CHAS. ABSENT took an oath that they had marked out a road from W. UNDERWOOD's plantation to Bachelor Pier [Pierre] Bayou. JOHN HILL, J. M. POWELL, WILLIAM BRIGGS, CHARLES ABSENT, JAS. M. TRAYLOR, AND RICHARD BASS certified that they had marked out a road "of great public utility." Caravans, circuses, "Sleight of hand," and other entertainment "exhibiting the same for money" to be taxed. [Rates for the various activities given.] Ward 8 created. [Boundaries given on page 143.] T. REED WILLIAMS "allowed the privilege" of altering the Arkansas Road near his place as long as the road was not removed more than 50 yards from the present location. JOHN TAYLOR given 15 days to repair the bridge across the DeLoutre or be penalized by forfeiting a bond that he had placed as security for MATTHEW WOOD. ABNER GREEN, HARDY CARTER, JAMES OLIVE, JAMES RAMSEY, M. McCORMACK, WILKS RAMSEY, and THOS. RABUN appointed commissioners to mark out a road from RAMSEY's to the Arkansas line. WILSON C. EUBANKS authorized to make an index of all the proceedings of the Police Jury since the creation of the parish "particularly pointing to any ordinances or other matters passed by said body for which services shall be entitled to a reasonable compensation." W. C. CARR to be paid $24 for services rendered in "official attendance on elections:" labor, $18; 3/4 dozen locks for boxes, $3; repairing jail door, $3. JAMES M. TURNER certified that he had surveyed a lot in front of the Male and Female Academy at the corner of Union Street for the use of the Methodist E. P. Chruch at the request of W. CULVERHOUSE. [Dated March 15, 1842] J. E. JONES confirmed that the above plot to be given to the Methodist E. P. Church "agreeable to a previous ordinance for the purpose of building a house." Road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing to be altered to depart from the old road near W. C. EUBANK's and run between JOHN PARKER's and the heirs of GABRIEL GOULET, with WILLIAM BRUTON, overseer of road, to be notified. The next monies collected for the parish to be used to pay the contractor for building the courthouse and jail, as soon as those two buildings finished and received by the public building commissioners. WILLIAM BILBO appointed constable. Commissioners to inspect the DeLoutre bridge built by MATTHEW WOOD reported that the bridge was "unsafe either for waggons or horses" and recommended that it be immediately repaired." Signed by JOHN RALEY and DAVID WARD. N. M. BRYAN, parish treasurer, reported that the following notes are due the parish: THOS. IMPSON $20.00 BENJAMIN HARRISON $22.60 JOHN RALEY and DAVID WARD $66.66 M. HENDRICK $43.33 & 1/3 cents M. HENDRICK $21.62 & 1/2 cents MULDOON and CROFT $10.00 CALICOTTE $68.00 S. and H. CARTER $20.50 S. and H. CARTER $20.50 H. CARTER and PRUETT $40.50 H. CARTER and PRUETT $40.50 Mr. JERMAN (JARMAN or GERMAN?) $50.00 $627.60 The public land selected by commissioners for the graveyard to be surveyed. Any person cultivating a farm "of any description" to erect fences around the crops. JAMES H. SEALE authorized payment for expenses in determining taxable land in the parish belonging to non-residents. A summary presented to the Police Jury of the sale of lots in Farmerville from 1839 to the present (1842), showing amounts received and balances owed. [This entry covers four pages, 149-152. The editor has listed below only the "unliquidated accounts," which show the names of individuals.] ** First sale--THOS. VAN HOOK, W. C. CARR for VAN HOOK, CLINGFOST for R J. ROBERTS, M. WOOD, THOS. W. JOHNSON, VAN HOOK and CARR for JOHN HONEYCUTT. Total of $771. ** Second sale--M. WOOD, T. VAN HOOK, D. PAYNE, and N. M. BRYAN. Total of $279.50. ** Third Sale--AUSTIN HONEYCUTT, PETER GREEN, Sr. and A. C. CARSTON. Total of $122. ** Private sales made to THOS. VAN HOOK and JAMES H. SEALE. Total of $120. Reported that income from the sale of lots, taxes, ferries, and other income amounted to only $825, against expenditures of $1,437.27. Therefore, a deficit of $612.27. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 5, 1842 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were WILEY UNDERWOOD, JOEL MIXON, WILLOUGHBY J. H. DEES, DANDRIDGE ACREE, LEWIS LANIER, WILLIAM PIPES, and J. E. JONES. THOMAS VAN HOOK presented a certificate of election as Police Juror for Ward 8 and was duly seated. Election certificate certified by CAMPBELL LASSITER and E. B. WHISON (WHITSON), "Commissioners." VINCENT REPPOND, EVANS JONES, LEVI JOURDAN, JAMES C. McNEAL, JOHN TRAYLOR, JOSIAH C. TRAYLOR, and WILLIAM C. BRIGGS appointed commissioners to mark out a road from the mouth of Bayou Bachlapear [Bachelor Pierre] northwestwardly to SMITH's neighborhood and on to the Arkansas line. Signed by W. UNDERWOOD, "President, Police Jury." FOSTER H. DUNCAN to work the portion of the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road from the DeLoutre Bridge to Farmerville; WILLIAM HAM to work from the bridge to PARKER's Landing. BURRELL FORD appointed overseer on that part of the road from AARON GREER's to where it intersects the Monroe Road at PHILIP FEAZLE's, working the hands of HUGHEY, McNORTON, GEORGE BRUNSON, JOHN BRUNSON, and AARON GREER's "two Boys." ["Boys" probably indicates slaves; normally, children of inhabitants named in the Police Jury records are referred to as "sons."] Inspectors and syndics of public roads exempt from two days of road work for their services. ALLEN CARR and RICHARD LEE appointed inspectors, or syndics, for all roads north and west of Farmerville. WILLIAM AUSTIN, RICHARD LEE, H. RULE, W. A. CLOUD, B. STURDIVANT, and JOHN RIGGIN reported that they had laid out a road from Horse Trough Creek to the Arkansas line, near H. RULE's. THOMAS VAN HOOK authorized to sell town lots in Farmerville. [Prices are stipulated and Van Hook required to ensure that notes for purchases be backed by ample security.] Instructions for road to run to a location between JOHN PARKER and the heirs of GABRIEL GOULET rescinded. Instead, WILLIAM BURTON, overseer, required to run the road from Rocky Creek to PARKER's Landing between "the firm of HILLIARD and SIMPSON" and the heirs of GABRIEL GOULET. HARDY CARTER, JAMES OLIVE, D. P. A. COOK, SCOTT, and PRUETT appointed commissioners to lay out a road from COOK's Road to the Arkansas line. Parish tax for 1842 to be 62.5% of the state tax. A new "police presinct [sic]" to be established at W. A. CLOUD's, and elections to be held at his residence. An index of 11 acts for this session entered by THOMAS VAN HOOK, Esq. [The few names given in the index have already been covered in the text; thus, I have not included the index.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 7, 1842 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were WILEY UNDERWOOD, DANDRIDGE ACREE, JOEL MIXON, LEWIS LANIER, W. J. H. DEES, WILLIAM PIPES, and THOS. VAN HOOK. Ward 7 divided into two wards. The resulting new one to be Ward 9. JOHN FEAZLE, MICHAEL FEAZLE, WILLIAM H. CULBERTSON, WILLIAM M. GILL, ISAAC C. MAYS, WILLIAM E. FULLER, and COLUMBUS DUTTON appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to the mouth of Ten Mile Creek, in the fork of the D'Arbonne and Corni. WILLIAM BURTON, W. C. EUBANKS, W. J. H. DEES, JOHN RAMSEY, and E. M. AULDS appointed commissioners to let bids for and receive a bridge over Bayou Blanc Pain. Appropriated $50 for the construction. ["Pain blanc" means "white bread" in French. The term may refer to Bayou Bachelor Pierre. If not, the location of Blanc Pain is no longer known.] SIMEON MOORE appointed overseer in place of KINDRED HARVEY on the Claiborne Road from the Choudrant Bridge to the crossroads east of ROBERTS' place on Big Spring. JOHN STOW appointed overseer to replace ELI HART on the D'Arbonne-Claiborne Road from the 12 Mile Post to where the road intersects the Claiborne Road. FREDRICK BRAZIL appointed overseer of road from Horse Trough Creek to the Arkansas line. W. M. LAURENCE appointed tax collector for 1842 and authorized 5% of the funds collected after posting a bond of $1,500. Parish Treasurer instructed to demand funds collected by the tax collector for 1841, and if the funds not forthcoming within 10 days, to bring suit against the collector. Previous order to run the road between the heirs of GABRIEL GOULET and the firm of HILLIARD and SIMPSON revoked. Now to run between HILLIARD & SIMPSON and LUCAS. Parish attorney instructed to bring suit against JOHN TAYLOR, Parish Judge, requiring him to hold court in the town of Farmerville. [This entry refers to compliance with an "Act to compel the Parish Judge to hold his Office in said Town;" however, there is no previous reference to such an act in the Police Jury Minutes.] Ordinance Number 30 of the June Term, 1841 repealed. W. CALICOTT, ALLEN CARR, and ROBERT LASSITER to replace THOS. VAN HOOK, JAS. H. SEALE, and MALCOM McFARLAND. Previous parish tax rate repealed. Instead, the tax for parish purposes to be 50% of the state tax. In addition, to be a 15% tax for public schools. Both taxes to be collected by the parish tax collector. A 12 item index of the measures passed in this session found on Page 163. [The index is not given, since all items are covered in the above narrative.] The next meeting scheduled for the first Monday of June, 1843. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 5, 1843 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were W. H. DEES, WM. PIPES, and J. E. JONES. DANDRIDGE ACREE, JOHN SMITH, AVERY BREED, and DAVID COLVIN presented their certificates of election and took their seats on the Jury. [Their respective wards are not indicated.] The following officers elected: THOMAS VAN HOOK, President of the Police Jury; JAMES E. JONES , president pro tempore; ENOCH B. WHITSON, clerk; and WM. W. FARMER, tax assessor. Clerk prohibited from keeping the Police Jury records out of the town of Farmerville for more than 15 days under a penalty of $10 per offense. However, he could appoint an agent in the town to keep the records for him. JAMES H. SEALE given a one-year appointment "to Keep good Order and attend on the Police Jury." To be paid $2 for each day attended. DAVID STEWART authorized $24.50 (at the rate of $150 per year) for maintaining DANIEL STRICKLAND and $5 for providing a coffin and $5 for burial expenses for STRICKLAND. Expenses sworn to be correct by STEWART [who signed with an X] and certified by Justice of Peace AVERY BREED. The following overseers of roads appointed: ** JEPTHA COLVIN and JOHN COLVIN--Claiborne Road, from the Claiborne Parish line to C. METHVIN's house. ** Z. B. DAVIS--Claiborne Road, from METHVIN's to the "Cross Roads at or near the former residence of A. B. ROBERTS." ** REDDIN MIXON--From the crossroads to the Choudrant Bridge. ** JOHN STOW--Farmerville Road, from the Claiborne Road to the 12 Mile Post. Petition concerning road from Farmerville to the Ouachita River approved: 1) To mark out a new direct route from where the new road intersects the old one, near W. C. EUBANKS, on to KILLAM's and JONES' Landing on the Ouachita; and 2) to discontinue that part of the road from JONES' old ferry on the DeLoutre to where it intersects the Farmerville Road near G. H. FITZGERALD's blacksmith shop. JOHN TRAYLOR, JAMES C. McNEIL, LEVI JORDAN, WM. BRIGGS, JOS. C. TRAYLOR, and VINCENT REPPOND reported on a route laid out from the mouth of Bayou Bachelor Peer [Pierre] through SMITH's neighborhood to the Arkansas line. JOSIAH C. TRAYLOR appointed overseer of the road described above, being entitled to the hands of JAMES McNEIL, LEVI JORDAN, THOMAS M. SMITH, SAMUEL TRAYLOR, THOS. GENSLAND?, EVANS JONES, JOHN TRAYLOR, SARAH TRAYLOR, C. W. GARRET, THOS. GARRET, NEEDHAM RAIFORD, VINCENT REPPOND, and EUGENE REPPOND. PHILOMON WILHITE appointed overseer of the road from JOHN HONEYCUTT's to the Choudrant Bridge, working the hands of WM. WILHITE, JOHN F. IMPSON, JAS. IMPSON, JNO. PERKINS, D. ACREE, THOS. WALDEN, and WM. HONEYCUTT. JOHN N. FARMER appointed overseer on the road from JOHN HONEYCUTT's to PHILIP FEAZLE's, having at his disposition the hands of JOHN HONEYCUTT, Mrs. FARMER, PRIOR WILHITE, BANKS, Mr. DAVIS?, PHILIP FEAZLE, and JOHN SMITH "& son." JAMES C. MANNING appointed overseer of the road leading from Farmerville to the DeLoutre Bridge, working the hands of CHARLES ROSS, ALLEN STANCIL, BENJ. ROBINSON, PEYTON L. KENNEDY, WM. C. HALL, JOHN HALL, JAMES HALL, L. H. DUNCAN, J. M. CARMICHAEL, C. POWELL, J. TAYLOR, SAM'L FUNDERBURK, R. ELLIS, A. McCORMICK, and JESSE HARDY. H. P. ANDERSON appointed overseer of the road from the old road leading from D. WARD's to WOOD's and ANDERSON's plantation to where it intersects the old road at W. C. EUBANKS, having the hands of WILLIAM ALLEN, THOS. GRIFFIN, and JOHN B. DEES. B. H. JONES, JAMES KILLAM, THOS. NORSWORTHY, W. C. EUBANKS, W. J. H. DEES, THOS. HAND, and THOS. I. GRIFFIN appointed commissioners 1) to lay out a road from the intersection of the old road and the new one from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing along the most direct route to JONES' and KILLAM's Landing and 2) to select a suitable place for a ferry on the DeLoutre. JOHN W. POPE appointed overseer on the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road in place of SAM'L GRIFFIN. AMBROSE CARDOS[O] appointed to replace WILLIAM BURTON as overseer on part of the road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing. WM. B. COOPER appointed overseer on the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road from where it crosses the road from H. P. ANDERSON's to D. WARD's to Farmerville, directing the hands of DANIEL PAYNE, N. M. BRYAN, and JACOB CLINGFOST, Sr. and son. WM. J. PAYNE appointed overseer of the portion of the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road last overseen by WILLIAM HAM. MARTIN HENDRICK appointed to replace E. M. AULDS on a portion of the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road. In addition to the hands formerly under AULDS, also to have the hands of L. D. OWENS and WM. DEGRAFFINREED. LEWIS REPPOND, Dr. JOHN TRAYLOR, C. W. GARRETT, J. C. TRAYLOR, JAS. M. POWELL, P. B. TRAYLOR, RICHARD BASS, JOHN HILL, and J. M. TRAYLOR appointed commissioners to mark out a road leaving the Arkansas Road at UNDERWOOD's and continuing to "a certain mound" on the Ouachita River above the mouth of Bayou Bachelor Peer [Pierre]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 6, 1843 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were J. E. JONES, DANDRIDGE ACREE, WM. PIPES, W. J. H. DEES, DAVID COLVIN, JOHN SMITH, and AVERY BREED. THOMAS M. HAND reappointed overseer of the part of the road from A. M. JONES' Landing to Arkansas, that which he had previously overseen. R. K. LOVE appointed overseer of the part of the road from JONES' Landing to Arkansas previously overseen by B. E. DAVIS. L. K. THOMAS appointed overseer on the road from the mouth of Bayou Bartholomew to D. P. A. COOK's, beginning at the place where the COOK Road intersects the Arkansas Road, near Mr. LONG's, to Big Cane Creek, working the hands of JOHN ODOM, JOSEPH W. SMITH, CLAIBORNE M. SMITH, SAM'L SMITH, SAM'L B. FARRAR, MOSES W. BLEDSOE, BENJ. HARRISON, DAVID STEWART, THOS. STEWART, JESSE BRANTLY, and THOS. BRANTLEY. P. B. TRAYLOR appointed overseer of the part of the Arkansas Road overseen by T. R. WILLIAMS last year, directing the hands of JAMES LONG, BENJAMIN LONG, J. C. KELLY, VANCE and sons, BENJAMIN SIMS, WM. L. BOND, HARDIMAN POOL, PHILIPS, WM. GLAWSON, JOHN GLAWSON, RICHARD BASS, Mrs. WHITE, and G. W. WHITE. EDWARD WINES (WINDES?) appointed overseer of the road beginning at the DeLoutre Bridge and working to the Arkansas Road, near UNDERWOOD's, having the hands of SAM'L P. WINES, REUBEN EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS, JAMES EDWARDS, MILLER EDWARDS, ROBT. WINES, OLIVER WINES, JOHN H. GUICE, W. H. AKLES, RODNEY GUICE, THOMAS IVY, C. B. HANDLY, and WILLIAM IVY. LEWIS P. SEALS appointed overseer in place of C. T. BARTON on the Arkansas Road. COLUMBUS DUTTON, WM. H. CULBERTSON, and JOHN N. FARMER appointed commissioners to hold and superintend General Elections in District 1, south of the D'Arbonne, "Embracing the Precincts at J. COLVIN's, GEORGE FEAZLE's old residence, and JOHN HONEYCUTT's." A. J. C. GOODGINE (GOOGHUM, GOODGAME, or GOODWIN?) appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 2. JOHN W. HENDRICK appointed overseer of the road from ALLEN CARR's creek to Horse Trough Creek, working the hands of THOS. RABUN, W. RABUN, J. L. LEE, MORRISON, and MOON, in addition to those formerly under the direction of Y. O. L. WEBSTER. WM. H. CULBERTSON appointed overseer of the road from the D'Arbonne Ferry to the Twelve Mile Post on the Minden Road, working the hands of W. E. FULLER, L. J. FULLER, J. C. MAYES, H. F. STINSON, JOEL HART, JESSE GLASGO, M. M. GILL, Mrs. STERLING, JOHN STERLING, McLAUGHLIN, M. FEAZLE, C. DUTTON, G. W. DUTTON, and WM. PIPES. AUSTIN HONEYCUTT appointed overseer of the Claiborne Road from near JOHN SMITH's to AARON GREER's, having the hands of IRVIN BRADY, H. HAYS, JOHN ROGERS, and JOSHUA BARNES. HUGH McNORTON appointed overseer on the road from AARON GREER's "running in the direction of Farmerville to the Point intersecting the Minden Road at the four Mile Post," working the hands of AARON GREER and sons, J. BRUNSON, B. FORD, Mr. CULP, B. DAVIS, and WM. TAYLOR. Ward 9 altered. DANIEL PAYNE, MALCOM McFARLAND, WM. CULVERHOUSE, JOSIAH DEAN, W. C. CARR, THOS. VAN HOOK, and JAMES H. CARSON appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to near Dr. WM. CULVERHOUSE's, intersecting one of the old roads near CAMPBELL LASSITER's. THOS. VAN HOOK authorized to sell for the parish any town lots whose buyers had not paid for them "after giving public notice." Hawkers and peddlers required to buy a license at $10 per year. Previous measure paying a bounty for wolf and panther "Scalps" rescinded. JOHN B. DEES and JOHN RAMSEY reappointed syndics for the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road. W. J. PAYNE, W. J. H. DEES, and W. C. HALL appointed election commissioners for the "Farmerville District." JOHN HUEY and WASHINGTON BRADY appointed Captains of Patrol for Ward 2. LEWIS LANIER, JOHN HILL, and JOHN TRAYLOR appointed election commissioners in the district "East of the Bayou D Louter [sic]." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 7, 1843 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were J. E. JONES, JOHN SMITH, AVERY BREED, DAVID COLVIN, WM. PIPES, and DANDRIDGE ACREE. W. J. H. DEES, DAVID COLVIN, and AVERY BREED appointed to examine the condition of the parish treasury and report immediately to the Jury. A fourth election district created, beginning at the mouth of Horse Trough Creek on the Corni, up the Corni to the DeLoutre and on to the Arkansas line, then west to the Claiborne Parish line, south on the line to the D'Arbonne, then east on the D'Arbonne to the mouth of the Corni. THOS. T. RATLIFF, WM. A. CLOUD, and FREDERICK BRAZILE appointed commissioners of [election] District 4. Clerk instructed to return S. S. MOSES' bond as collector of taxes for non-residents for 1841. Police Jury received his "Certificate of $429.50 of non Residents." DANIEL PAYNE, W. C. CARR, FIELDING MILLER, N. M. BRYAN, and MARION M. BAYEMORE appointed administrators of public schools for a two year term. JAMES M. TURNER authorized $10 for surveying the town of Farmerville in 1842 and providing a copy of the plat to the General Land Office. Elections for Ward 6 to be held in the future at JAMES HILLIARD's house. Committee reporting on the condition of the parish treasury recommended returning ex-Treasurer N. M. BRYAN's bond and paying him $305.23 due him. BRYAN had received into the treasury $1,632.76 and had paid out $1,937.99. Signed by W. J. H. DEES, D. COLVIN, and AVERY BREED. The sheriff and the "Collector of Tax fees on Suits" [the two are the same person] instructed to pay to the parish treasurer and account for monies collected or face charges. Signed by DAVID COLVIN and AVERY BREED. A. B. COOPER appointed treasurer. The east end of Charter Street, from East Street to the town limits, to be discontinued. THOS. VAN HOOK authorized to sell that parcel of land, provided it not be sold for less than $10. All ex-officers, whether elected or appointed, to deliver all records promptly to their successors in office. PRIOR WILLHITE appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 1. The clerk authorized to notify Parish Judge JOHN TAYLOR that his office in the courthouse was ready and that he was required to move into it. Captains of Patrol appointed: WM. F. BOND for Ward 7; W. Y. HUGHES, Ward 3; JAMES L. HAND, Ward 6; WM. J. PAYNE, Ward 8; CHARLES H. RALEY, Ward 4. Next meeting scheduled for the second Monday in July. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 10, 1843 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Records indicate that this was the first time that the Police Jury met at the Court House.] Members present were THOS. VAN HOOK, J. E. JONES, WM. PIPES, DAVID COLVIN, DANDRIDGE ACREE, and JOHN SMITH. [Van Hook signed during this session as President of the Police Jury. There is no mention in the records of Jones' resigning or Van Hook's being elected.] DAVID COLVIN appointed temporary clerk due to the illness of the regular clerk. DAVID COLVIN, J. E. JONES, and JOHN SMITH appointed a standing committee to review claims. JOHN HILL, P. B. TRAYLOR, J. M. POWELL, RICHARD BASS, JAS. C. TRAYLOR, and JAS. M. TRAYLOR reported on a road that they had laid out from W. UNDERWOOD's plantation to "a certain mound on the Washita River." Commissioners' report certified by Justice of Peace BENJAMIN HARRISON. Above road, to be known as Mound Road, made a third grade one by the Jury. THOMAS NORSWORTHY appointed overseer of the new road from Farmerville to PARKER's, having the hands of JAMES HALL, CLEMANCE (CLEMENTS), ROBERT WEBB, JAMESON ODOM, J. J. BUTLER, DAVID TROUSDALE, R. T. ATKINS, RICHARD ADKINS, and JOHN BROWN. A plat of Farmerville recorded on pp. 188-189. Sessions to begin at 9 o'clock [instead of 10 o'clock] on the first day. Jury members to prepare, if possible, and read on the first day of the session "all ordinances, resolutions, & Petitions." Clerk instructed to keep a record of all claims approved by the Police Jury that had to be paid. Treasurer required to keep a ledger with two columns, sums received and sums paid out, and the purposes, and present his financial report to the Jury on the first day of the June term. Clerk required to keep a list of the "Jury certificates made out & certified by Him" and present the list to the Jury on the first day of the June session. Sheriff, or any other officer authorized to collect non-regular taxes, to record all sums of money collected and submit the report on the first day of the Jury's meeting. Tax collector to collect taxes on suits instituted in the parish "& Probate Courts" when the plaintiffs reside in the parish and report on them to the Jury. Tax on plaintiffs who reside outside the parish also authorized unless bonds are made in favor of Union Parish for the estimated amounts to be collected. S. S. MOSES appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to the ford on Bayou DeLoutre near JAMES RAMSEY's, having the hands of REDIN BRYANT, WILLIAM DEAN, JOHN DEAN, RICHARD LEE, SIMPS RAMSEY, DAVID RAMSEY, WILKS RAMSEY, S. J. HANDLY, B. L. HANDLY, JOHN MATTHEWS, ALEXANDER TAYLOR, and T. ARMSTRONG. D. P. A. COOK, ASA CHADICK, THOS. NEELY, W. W. WASSON, JAMES H. McBROOM, JOHN NEELY, BELA COOK, and SAMUEL McCORMICK appointed commissioners to lay out a road from "tick fork Creek" to the Arkansas line "at the TATUM Road." Clerk of the Police Jury to give written notices to JOHN N. FARMER that he is required to work on the Monroe road to the junction of the Minden Road and HUGH McNORTON is to work on the Harrisonburg Road, stopping at PHILIP FEAZLE's. Justice of Peace W. C. EUBANKS notarized a road report made by JAMES KILLAM, W. J. H. DEES, THOS. M. HAND, THOS. J. GRIFFIN, THOS. NORSWORTHY, and B. H. JONES concerning a new road from Farmerville to KILLAM's and JONES' Landing via EUBANKS'. JAMES M. TRAYLOR appointed overseer of the Mound Road "to where it intersects the river road," having the hands of CHARLES ABSENT, J. M. POWELL, C. M. POWELL, JOHN HILL, WM. BELL, DAVID B. BRIGGS, JAMES BRIGGS, HANSFORD DEAN, and JAMES KIRKPATRICK. J. E. PAYNE authorized to be paid as witness in the case Parish vs. GUICE. W. C. EUBANKS to be paid $14.38 for fees as clerk during 1842. DANL M. HARRIS appointed to take the place of CAMPBELL LASSITER as overseer on the Farmerville-Arkansas Road as well as the road from Farmerville to the D'Arbonne Ferry, having the hands of the former overseer "Except" WM. RABUN, THOS. RABUN, A. LEE, Mr. MOON, MORRISON, and HUMBLE?. To cut out a new road from near Mr. CALICOATE's to intersect the RAMSEY Road, "about three quarters of a mile from the public Square in the Town of Farmerville." JOHN HILL, P. B. TRAYLOR, B. E. DAVIS, and LEWIS LANIER appointed commissioners to examine the condition of the DeLoutre Bridge and report on it. PHILIP MAY to be paid to draft suitable "Estray" laws. Next meeting set for the first Monday of September, 1843. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- September 4, 1843 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were THOS. VAN HOOK, DANDRIDGE ACREE, DAVID COLVIN, WM. PIPES, J. E. JONES, AVERY BREED, JOHN SMITH, and W. J. H. DEES. REDDIN MIXON appointed parish constable. JAMES H. SEALE authorized $3.75 for providing a ticket [voting] box and a small lock. JOHN W. POPE appointed overseer on the road from DEES's Spring to Rocky Creek and required to plant [mile] posts of "good and durable timber;" AMBROSE CARDOS[O], overseer from Rocky Creek to PARKER's Landing. The part of the river road from WM. McNEIL's to the Arkansas line to be discontinued. SOLOMON FEAZLE, W. E. FULLER, LOUIS HENDERSON, J. C. MAYES, JOEL HART, ELI HART, and GEORGE FEAZLE appointed commissioners to lay out a direct route from Farmerville to Mr. LONG's "settlement" in Claiborne Parish, to intersect the Claiborne line at the corner between Sections 6 and 7, Township 21, Range 3 West. W. C. FULLER, E. C. MAYES, JOEL HUNT, ELI HART, JOHN FEAZLE, MICHAEL FEAZLE, and JOHN CULBERTSON appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to Ten Mile Creek on the north fork of the D'Arbonne. HENRY RULE appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from Horse Trough Creek to the Arkansas line. Clerk instructed to provide every justice of the peace with copies of the estray law passed during this session. [The twenty-seven provisions of the estray laws take up four and a half pages, pp. 198-203.] The Minden Road to be altered to begin south of G. W. DUTTON's. PHILIP MAY authorized $10 for drafting the estray laws. JAMES H. SEALE appointed to collect both parish and state taxes for 1843. Parish tax for 1843 to be 50% of the state tax. E. B. WHITSON authorized $40 for clerk's fees for 1843. JOHN TAYLOR, security for MATTHEW WOOD, to be notified that the bridge on the DeLoutre is in an unsafe condition. If bridge "is not put in good repair" within twenty days of notification, the parish attorney is to initiate a suit against the bond. N. M. BRYAN appointed parish attorney. JOHN N. FARMER authorized $30 for making out an assessment roll. N. M. BRYAN, parish attorney, instructed to look into the ferry operations on the Ouachita River to determine whether Ouachita Parish or any individual has interferred with Union Parish's rights to run the ferry. D. P. A. COOK, BELA COOK, COLMAN W. GARRETT, MARK MEEKS, WM. MEEKS, DAVID RAMSEY, and SIMPS RAMSEY appointed commissioners to lay out a road from "tick fork Creek" to the Arkansas line, intersecting the Tatum Road. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 4, 1843 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were THOMAS VAN HOOK, J. E. JONES, W. J. H. DEES, WM. PIPES, and JOHN SMITH. D. P. A. COOK presented a certificate signed by Acting Justice of Peace BRIDGES HOWARD showing COOK to be the elected Juror from Ward 9, and he took his seat on the Jury. Absent members were AVERY BREED, DANDRIDGE ACREE, and DAVID COLVIN. THOS. VAN HOOK reported a total of $388 from the sale of lots in Farmerville to the following individuals: ** MALCOM McFARLAND (6 lots) at $60 ** N. M. BRYAN (8 lots and fractions) at $183 ** JOHN P. McFARLAND (6 lots) at $50 ** WM. PIPES (4 lots) at $40 ** FRANCIS MULDOON (1 lot) at $15 ** THOS. VAN HOOK (4 lots) at $40 LEWIS P. SEALES, ABNER GREEN, JEREMIAH SCOTT, W. W. WASSON, ASA CHADICK, BELA COOK, and D. P. A. COOK appointed commissioners to mark out two roads: 1) from D. P. A. COOK's to the Arkansas Road; and 2) from PORTER's place on the Arkansas Road by ABNER GREEN's to the Arkansas line. Road overseers required to provide a list of all hands under their supervision to the Police Jury. N. M. BRYAN, D. T. HENDERSON, JAMES H. CARSON, and THOS. VAN HOOK appointed commissioners to survey the remaining land of the parish seat into lots and "promote the sale" of those lots. THOS. VAN HOOK and JAMES H. CARSON authorized to sell the lots "to the best advantage for the Parish." THOS. VAN HOOK authorized to let out a bid to raise the "Guerder" [girders] and second floor of the courthouse to put in "a solid basement" that would support the columns. [As basements were not called basements in those days but cellars and as plans for the courthouse did not include a cellar, this obviously refers to the ground flooring. In a separate entry, the bottom floor was supposed to be bricked.] JOEL HART appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to the Ten Mile Creek in the fork of Bayous D'Arbonne and Cornie, supervising the hands of WM. E. FULLER, JESSE GLAZE, J. C. MAYS, H. G. STINSON, L. S. B. J. FULLER, GREEN FULLER, THOS. FULLER, ELIJAH MILLER, ELI HART, LEWIS ANDERSON, SOLOMON FEAZLE, JAMES AUSTIN, WILLIS AUSTIN, FERGUSON AUSTIN, WM. CORNIT, JESSE HENDERSON, and JAMES BOATRIGHT. W. W. WASSON appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from the DeLoutre Bridge to CARTER's place, working the hands of those living along that road as well as those of JOHN HONEYCUTT, "below" the bridge. P. MAY, parish attorney, allowed $45 for services. JOHN TAYLOR authorized $40.25 for accounts presented. ALEXANDER M. DEES, W. B. DAVIS, and THOS. M. HAND appointed constables. BENJAMIN STURDIVANT appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from Horse Trough Creek to the Arkansas line. Next meeting to be first Monday of next June. [The following nine entries were on various dates on pages 213-216, which apparently had been left blank for that purpose.] Police Jury Clerk E. B. WHITSON certified that THOS. VAN HOOK had given deeds to JOHN N. FARMER for lots in Farmerville that FARMER had purchased. [Dated July 24, 1843] N. M. BRYAN, parish treasurer, certified that JOHN N. FARMER had paid for the lots that FARMER purchased in Farmerville. [June 6, 1843] E. B. WHITSON certified that J. E. JONES, president pro tempore, had executed deeds for lots purchased by S. S. MOSES. [June 6, 1843] N. M. BRYAN certified that S. S. MOSES had paid for lots that MOSES had purchased. [September 26, 1842. This is obviously an error, and the date should be 1843, for Bryan is referring to the same lots certified above.] E. B. WHITSON certified that J. E. JONES, president pro tem, had given deeds to MARTIN HENDRICK for lots that HENDRICK had purchased. [June 6, 1843] N. M. BRYAN certified that MARTIN HENDRICK had paid for lots that HENDRICK had purchased. [No date.] E. B. WHITSON certified that THOS. VAN HOOK, "special agent," had given deeds to JOHN P. McFARLAND for purchases of lots by McFARLAND. [May 27, 1844] N. M. BRYAN certified that AUSTIN HONEYCUTT had paid the treasury for lots purchased. [June 6, 1843] A. B. COOPER, with securities JAMES H. SEALE, WM. CULVERHOUSE, and WM. B. COOPER, posted bond as parish treasurer. Accepted by J. E. JONES, president pro tem, and Jury members AVERY BREED, WM. PIPES, JOHN SMITH, DAVID COLVIN, and DANDRIDGE ACREE. [Dated June 7, 1843. Daniel Payne and N. M. Bryan also sign with the securities.] Persons who received drafts on the parish treasury from June, 1843 to June 1, 1844: DAVID STEWART, W. C. CARR, J. M. TURNER, N. M. BRYAN, W. C. EUBANK, DAVID COLVIN, W. J. H. DEES, J. E. JONES, J. E. PAYNE, J. H. SEALE, P. MAY, E. B. WHITSON, J. N. FARMER, WM. PIPES, JNO. SMITH, JOHN TAYLOR, W. H. CULBERTSON, and D. ACREE (p. 216). Indexes for the June and July sessions, 1843, found on pages 217-220. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 3, 1844 Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were THOS. VAN HOOK, DANDRIDGE ACREE, AVERY BREED, and DAVID COLVIN. P. BOATRIGHT, JAMES M. TURNER, and JOHN FEAZLE presented certificates of election for seats on the Jury. After an examination of the certificates and their approval by D. ACREE and A. BREED, appointed as a committee for that purpose, the new members were sworn in. The following officers elected: THOS. VAN HOOK, president [this was a second term]; BENJAMIN R. HARRISON, clerk; and S. H. EASTERLING, assessor for 1844. MICHAEL FEAZLE appointed overseer of the Farmerville-Monroe Road from the intersection of the Minden Road to DUTY's Creek, having the hands of JOHN FEAZLE, PHILIP FEAZLE, JOHN SMITH, BERRY DAVIS, and SIMPSON DAVIS. THOMAS WILLHITE appointed overseer of the Farmerville-Monroe Road beginning at DUTY's Creek and working to the Choudrant Bridge, having the hands of PHILOMEN WILLHITE, J. N. FARMER, A. HONEYCUTT, JOHN HONEYCUTT, JOHN ROGERS, JAMES McGOWIN, THOMAS WALDIN, and THOMAS IMPSON. JOHN HILL appointed overseer of the Mound Road from where it leaves Arkansas to where it intersects the river road, working his hands and those of LEROY F. FINDLEY, JOHN STEELE, J. M. POWELL, L. M. POWELL, SAMUEL PERTELL, CHARLES ABSCENT, DAVID B. BRIGGS, JAMES BRIGGS, HANSFORD DEAN, and JAMES KIRKPATRICK. DANDRIDGE ACREE, WM. HAM, D. PAYNE, Dr. J. H. WILLSON, HENRY ANDERSON, WILLIAM COOPER, WILLIAM WILLHITE, and J. F. IMPSON appointed commissioners to mark out a road from near the Choudrant Bridge, by way of WRIGHT's`Bluff on the D'Arbonne, to intersect with the road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing at or near Horse Pen Creek. JOSIAH M. TRAYLOR appointed overseer of the river road, having the hands of PINKNEY ODOM, JAMES McNEIL, LEVI JORDAN, T. M. SMITH, SAMUEL TRAYLOR, THOMAS GUSLING, JOHN TRAYLOR, SARAH TRAYLOR, VINCENT RIPPO(ND), JOHN GLAWSON, SATTERWHITE, JAMES M. TRAYLOR, B. B. BARTON, JOS. C. TRAYLOR, and MILLBURN. A road known as the MIXON Road, previously discontinued, is reestablished. H. P. ANDERSON appointed overseer on a part of the new road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing from ANDERSON's to DAVID WARD's, then on to where it intersects the old road near W. C. EUBANK's, working the hands of J. H. WILLSON, W. O. JONES, WILLIAM ALLEN, and JOHN DEES. WILLIAM B. COOPER appointed overseer of the new road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing from Farmerville to the crossroad leading from H. P. ANDERSON's to DAVID WARD's, working the hands of DANIEL PAYNE, M. SCOTT, N. M. BRYAN, SMITH, WILLIAM COOPER, Mr. COOK, T. J. GRIFFIN, LUKE SMITH, and Dr. HENDERSON. IRVIN BRADY appointed overseer on the Farmerville-Monroe Road by way of GREER's Mill from P. FEAZLE's to the Claiborne Road, having the hands of LEVI GREER, WILLIAM GREER, THOMAS GREER, WILLIAM GARVIS, WESTLEY GREER, JOSHUA BARNES, JAMES BRUNSON, and AARON ARMSTRONG. E. M. AULDS appointed overseer of the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing road, from the fork in the road at FITZGERALD's to W. J. H. DEES's spring, working the hands of WILLIAM D. GRIFFIN, FITZGERALD, TURNER, BRIGHT, HOBBS, HENDRICK, WARD, and RAMSEY. THOMAS BRANTLEY appointed overseer of that part of the COOK Road from the creek between DAVID STEWART's and B. HARRISON's to Cane Creek, directing the hands of MARSHALL MASTERSON, Mr. GRAVES, HYRAM COOPER, DIXON COOPER, SPENCER EVANS, and DANIEL DYSON. ISAIAH T. HENDERSON appointed parish physician for one year. JOHN ODOM appointed overseer on the COOK Road from the Arkansas Road to the creek between DAVID STEWART and B. HARRISON, having the hands of CLAIBORNE SMITH, SAMUEL SMITH, JOHN SMITH, S. B. FARRAR, JAMES KING, L. K. THOMAS, B. HARRISON, JAMES REGAN, B. R. HARRISON, D. PUCKETT, and T. J. STEWART. JOHN MAY and JOHN HUEY appointed overseers on the Claiborne Road from the Claiborne Parish line to near the residence of COTTON MITHVIN. JOHN STOW appointed overseer on the Minden Road from the Twelve Mile Post to its intersection with the Claiborne Road. JAMES ROANE appointed overseer on the Claiborne Road from near C. MITHVIN's to the crossroads at the former residence of A. A. ROBERTS. REDDIN MIXON appointed overseer on the Claiborne Road from the crossroads to the Choudrant Bridge. A. J. FREEMAN appointed constable. JOHN G. HILL appointed overseer on the road from the DeLoutre Bridge to BOND's store, working the hands of S. P. WINDES, EDWARD WINDES, OLIVER WINDES, ROBERT WINDES, REUBEN EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS, JAMES EDWARDS, MILLER EDWARDS, THOMAS IVY, J. J. GUICE, S. B. HENDLEY, J. R. GUICE, and JESSE BRANTLEY. ELI OWENS appointed overseer on the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road from the forks of the road leading to the DeLoutre Bridge to the fork at FITZGERALD's, having the hands of H. DUNCAN, W. DUNCAN, J. N. CARMICHAEL, BASS, EVENS, S. FUNDERBURK, CARTER, DAVID WARD, WILLIAM HAM, and W. PAYNE. A. BREED, J. FEAZLE, P. BOATRIGHT, D. COLVIN, and THOMAS VAN HOOK appointed to examine the treasurer's books. F. M. ARMSTRONG, JOHN B. DEES, JOHN RAMSEY, MARTIN HENDRICK, E. M. AULDS, JOHN RAILY, AMBROSE CARDOSO, and WILLIAM LUCAS appointed commissioners to mark out a road beginning at the Ouachita River between PARKER's Landing and the mouth of the DeLoutre and intersecting the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road, "avoiding as much as possible the overflow of the Cooley." [Cooley refers to a drain, or, in French, "coulee."] OBEDIAH SMITH appointed overseer on the MIXON Road from the Ten Mile Post on the road south of PHILIP FEAZLE's to the creek south of McNORTON's, having the hands of JEPTHA DRING, OBEDIAH ROBERTSON, W. D. WATTSON, R. J. FORD, HUYE (HUEY) McNORTON, JOHN TOLLAS, BENJAMIN PENDHARVIS?, and ELIAS TAYLOR. JOEL MIXON appointed overseer of the road from the creek south of McNORTON's to MIXON's Bridge over the Choudrant, directing the hands of WISTERN MIXON, A. PLITON?, and WILLIAM WESTBURY. A road cut out by J. W. POPE adopted as part of the public road from Farmerville to PARKER's Landing. C. J. MARTIN appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from the Six Mile Post to Hand Creek, having the hands of B. E. DAVIS, L. LANIER, R. K. LOVE, W. NORSWORTHY, MARTIN YATES, E. PARKER, JOHN ARNER?, and S. PARKER. JAMES KILLAM appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from the Ouachita River to the Six Mile Post, directing the hands of AVERY BREED, D. B. TROUSDALE, JOHN TROUSDALE, THOMAS NORSWORTHY, WILLIS NORSWORTHY, J. J. BUTLER, and R. C. WEBB. RICHARD BASS appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from Hand Creek to J. GREEN's, working the hands of P. B. TRAYLOR and "all other hands that may have come into said boundary." JAMES COLE appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from J. GREEN's to the Arkansas line, working the same hands that formerly worked under SEALE. JOHN FEAZLE, JOHN HUEY, JR., and JOEL MIXON appointed election commissioners for the First District. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 4, 1844, Session ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Members present were THOS. VAN HOOK, A. BREED, D. COLVIN, D. ACREE, J. M. TURNER, P. BOATRIGHT, and JOHN FEAZLE. MALCOM McFARLAND, ALEXANDER TAYLOR, and H. P. ANDERSON appointed election commissioners for one year for the Farmerville District. JACOB CLINGFOST, JOHN MATTHEWS, and ALLEN BRAZIL appointed election commissioners for District Four for a general election for president and vice president, members of Congress, Governor of Louisiana, and state representatives. JEREMIAH V. BUTLER appointed constable. MARTIN HENDRICK appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 5. AVERY BREED, C. T. BARTON, and JOSIAH C. TRAYLOR appointed election commissioners "in the district East of the Bayou DeLoutre." WILLIAM H. CULBERTSON appointed overseer of the road from the D'Arbonne Ferry at the mouth of the Corney to the Minden Road, straightening that road "through the Bayou swamp," having the hands of WILLIAM MOORE, JAMES COULTER, WILLIAM PIPES, Mrs. STERLING, C. DUTTON, HUGHS, and Mr. GILL. A. T. FULLER appointed overseer of the road leading from the mouth of the Corney to the Ten Mile Creek, working the hands of JOEL HEART, ELIAS HART, GREEN FULLER, BENJAMIN FULLER, A. T. FULLER, J. C. MAIZE [MAYS], ROBERT MAIZE [MAYS], Mr. NEWMAN, F. STINSON, JOHN GLAZE, JESSE GLAZE, and CHARLES LAWRENCE. In an election by members of the Police Jury for parish treasurer, A. B. COOPER and E. B. WHITSON received an equal number of votes. The president cast a deciding vote for WHITSON. D. ACREE, P. BOATRIGHT, and JAMES M. TURNER appointed a committee "to investigate certain accounts accepted by the Honorable JOHN TAYLOR, Parish Judge, for the education of indigent Children." GEORGE FEAZLE, PHILIP HODGE, WILLIAM AUSTIN, MICHAEL FEAZLE, JOEL HART, BENJAMIN FULLER, GREEN FULLER, and PHILIP FEAZLE appointed commissioners to mark out a road from Farmerville to LONG's settlement on the Claiborne line. JOHN H. GUICE allowed $50 for boarding and tending a pauper, RICHMOND ADKINS, for three months. E. B. WHITSON to be paid balance due for his service as parish clerk for 1843. WILKS RAMSEY appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to SCARBOROUGH's Landing, Union County, Arkansas, beginning at the forks of the road a half mile north of Dr. CULVERHOUSE's to the "run of the Bayou DeLoutre," having the hands of SIMPSON RAMSEY, HUMPHREY RAMSEY, GEORGE RAMSEY, WILLIAM APPLEWHITE, S. J. HANDLEY, L. B. HANDLEY, S. S. MOSES, JOSEPH SWEARINGEN, R. WELCH, R. BRYANT, ALLEN STANCIL, JOHN HONEYCUTT, and W. B. RAMSEY. ALEXANDER TAYLOR appointed overseer of a new public road departing the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road between DAVID WARD's and Mr. FITZGERALD's, running by Judge TAYLOR's and WILLIS WOOD's to CARR's neighborhood, and intersecting near JOSIAH DEAN's the Arkansas Road between W. C. CARR's and ALLEN CARR's plantations. To have the hands of WILLIS WOOD, Mr. HARDY, JOHN TAYLOR's [slaves] "Ellick and Joe," and all others in said bounds. ROBT LASSITER appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from the D'Arbonne Ferry by way of Farmerville to CARR's Creek, having the hands of A. B. COOPER, JOSEPH DEANE, WILLIAM RICHARDS, C. LASSITER, Mr. MORRISON, W. C. CARR, G. H. DAVIS, THOMAS MILLS, W. G. STOCKS, CHARLES RAYLEY, Mrs. GEE, JOHN GERMAN, JOHN BASSON, WILLIAM RAYBURN, and THOMAS RAYBURN. REUBEN ELLIS appointed overseer of the road from Farmerville to the DeLoutre Bridge, working the hands of JAMES C. MANNING, JERRY DUNCAN, PEYTON S. KENNEDY, JAMES E. LEE, ROBERT McGAWSON? [or Robert McGaw's son], JAMES McBRIDE, JAMES RUSSEL, W. C. HALL, and JOHN TAYLOR (all hands "except Ellick and Joe.") [There is no indication as to the meaning of the following entry recorded at the top of page 236; however, it appears to be an old 1840 entry concerning payments made to those individuals for goods or services. Entries were often made on blank pages farther in the book that later fell into a future date.] "N. M. BRYAN paid up to Sept. term, 1840. Dec. 8--J. MIXON paid up to this day $14; M. WOOD paid up this Term $12; B. HOWARD paid 11 days up to this Term $22." S. J. HANDLEY's stock mark, or brand, recorded directly under the above entry and dated January 17, 1844. JOHN ATWELL authorized "to keep a grogshop and retail spirituous Liquors in the Town of Farmerville." SAMUEL S. MOSES appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 8. TRAVIS FLIN appointed constable. SAMUEL HOUGH appointed Captain of patrol for Ward 4. JACOB CLINGFOST appointed overseer of the Arkansas Road from Ten Mile Creek to the state line. JOHN W. KENDRICK, J. E. JONES, SAMUEL McCORMICK, JOHN MATTHEWS, R. L. DICK, RALPH JONES, and THOMAS NEELY appointed commissioners to mark out the "nearest and best route" leaving the Arkansas Road at or near CARR's Creek and running to the Arkansas line near Mr. WILLIAMS's. BRYANT AUSTIN appointed overseer of the road from CARR's Creek to Horse Trough Creek toward Arkansas, having the hands of the former overseer, except WILLIAM RAYBURN, THOMAS RAYBURN, and JOHN MATTHEWS. WILLIAM A. CLOUD appointed overseer on the Arkansas Road from Horse Trough Creek to Ten Mile Creek, having the hands of JOHN MATTHEWS and all others living between those two creeks. W. C. EUBANKS allowed $4 for paper that he provided during the time he was clerk. F. DAVIS appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 1. EDWIN WINDES appointed Captain of Patrol for Ward 7. President of the Police Jury THOMAS VAN HOOK authorized to buy a new record book for the use of the Jury proceedings. JOHN B. DEES, F. M. ARMSTRONG, JOHN RAILY, M. M. BASMORE, J. W. POPE, E. M. AULDS, and MARTIN HENDRICK appointed commis-sioners to mark out a road from Turkey Bluff, "at the Landing on the D'Arbonne now used as a shipping place" to the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road, passing through SAMUEL GRIFFIN's plantation. Griffin "shall have the privilege of crossing the road with his fence provided he shall keep gates on each side sufficient for a waggon to pass through at any time." THOMAS VAN HOOK given full power "to examine and settle" with N. M. BRYAN from June, 1840 to the present time. The $2 per day fee paid election commissioners to be repealed, paying those individuals nothing for their services. The sum of $300 appropriated for the use of public schools. Ward 10 created, covering the territory within the fork of Bayous D'Arbonne and Corney and extending to the Claiborne Parish line. "A list of Vouchers furnished by the Treasurer for a settlement" [p. 242]: Person Purpose Date WILLIAM AUSTIN 3 panthers @ $4 ? N. M. BRYAN Pres.'s draft ? DAVID WARD Killing 1 wolf ? A. BREED Jury claim May 1842 J. W. POPE Jury claim May 1843 WILLIAM AUSTIN Jury claim Nov 1843 M. E. AULDS Jury claim May 1843 JAMES C. McNEIL Jury claim May 1842 REDDEN BRYANT Jury claim May 1843 ALLEN STANCIL Jury claim Nov 1841 E. HUGHS Jury claim May 1841 J. HUEY Jury claim May 1843 C. C. McDONALD Jury claim May 1841 WM. PIPES Jury claim May 1840 G. W. McGEE Jury claim May 1841 H. DEANE Jury claim May 1841 D. ACREE Jury claim Nov 1842 WM. AUSTIN Jury claim Nov 1842 WM. PARKER Jury claim Nov 1840 J. CLINGFOST Jury claim May 1840 VINCENT REPPOND Jury claim Nov 1841 E. M. AULDS Jury claim Nov 1841 JOHN SMITH Jury claim Nov 1841 JESSE FRISBY Jury claim Nov 1840 W. C. EUBANK Jury claim Nov 1842 JOEL HART Jury claim Nov 1842 S. M. HATHORN Jury claim May 1841 W. C. EUBANK Jury claim May 1843 F. BRAZIL Jury claim Nov 1842 WM. H. CULBERTSON Jury claim Nov 1842 J. CLINGFOST ? May 1843 J. G. HILL ? May 1843 JAMES WHEAT ? May 1843 J. J. HALL ? Nov 1840 J. M. TURNER Ordinance granting ? W. C. EUBANK Parish draft ? J. H. SEALE Parish draft ? W. C. HALL Parish due bill ? JOHN B. DEES Jury claim Nov 1842 JOHN B. DEES Note Nov 1842 [Index for 1839 found on pp. 243-245. Those have been covered in the above entries.] AVERY BREED, P. BOATRIGHT, DAVID COLVIN, JOHN FEAZLE, and THOS. VAN HOOK reported on the condition of the treasury. The collector of the school fund tax ordered to turn over money collected to the Treasurer of the Administrators of Public School Funds, obtaining a receipt. E. B. WHITSON allowed $1 for purchasing an Estray Book. Sheriff required "to keep the shutters of the windows of the Court House shut as to prevent the rain from blowing in and injuring the building." A. LUCAS appointed overseer of the Farmerville-PARKER's Landing Road from Rocky Creek to PARKER's Landing. JAMES ROANE, JOEL MIXON, and Major HINDS appointed commissioners to work with counterparts of Ouachita Parish to build a new bridge across the Choudrant Bayou. A long entry describes the coordination between the two parishes in building the new Choudrant Bridge. President of the Police Jury Thomas Van Hook required to furnish the Jury with paper and draw a draft on the treasury for the cost. Next meeting approved for the fourth Monday in July. [Index of the June, 1844 term found on pp. 247-248. All entries have been covered.] E. B. WHITSON's bond for treasurer for 1844, with securities JOHN A. BAYLISS and ISAIAH T. HENDERSON and witnesses W. C. EUBANK and D. B. RAMSEY, recorded on the last page of the book (p. 249). Bond approved by Police Jurors DAVID COLVIN, POWHATAN BOATRIGHT, JAS. M. TURNER, AVERY BREED, JOHN FEAZLE, and B. D. ACREE and certified by President of the Police Jury THOS. VAN HOOK. [This is the end of the first Police Jury Minutes book.] ###################################################################################################