Vernon Parish History , Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Chere Lee
Date: September 2, 2015

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Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish was created in April 1871. It was carved out of Sabine,
Natchitoches and Rapides Parishes. Most of the people in the new parish
had formerly been in Sabine Parish. A Mr. Smart was surveying the line
between Vernon and Sabine, it was told on him that he made several jags 
in the line to cut out families who were his political enemies.

The first sheriff of Vernon Parish was John I. Kirk, he was the son of
Isaiah and Jane Smart Kirk. The Kirks ran a mill on Anacoco creek just
south of the present town of Anacoco. It was spelled L'Anacoco in the
early days and their address was Kirk Mill, L'Anacoco, Prairie, 
Louisiana. John Kirk was later elected to a term in the house of 
representatives to represent Vernon Parish. The wife of John Kirk was
Mary Jane Sandel. 

Isaiah Kirk built his first mill on Anacoco Creek in 1849, it was torn
down to build a larger and better one in 1858. Mr. Kirk was a native
of Cayuga County Sterling township, New York State. During the 19th 
century the New York Kirks were involved in grist and saw milling and
to some extent in the manufacture of heavy agricultural machinery. The
Kirks were well educated, Presbyterians of Scottish extraction. Isaiah
Kirk moved from New York to Mississippi and then on to Western
Louisiana. 

Mr. Kirk had made a trip to New York City in 1848 to secure equipment
for his mill and also household furniture. These items were shipped to 
New Orleans, then by tseam boat up the Red to Alexandria. The steam boat
caught on fire after reaching Alexandria and burned down to the water
line. All the machinery and household goods were lost. His wife, Jane
Smart Kirk complained to her death in 1918 that the second set of 
furniture was not as good as the first set. The furniture she complained 
about was solid walnut. The mill equipment and furniture was hauked from 
Alexandria by oxen over an Old Indian trail. The Kirk's place on Anacoco
was a pretentious home for the frontier. The large dining room was 
wainscoted up to four feet and from there up imported French wallpaper. 
From the walls hung brass and crystal chandelier. Dances were sometimes 
held in the large dining room. Amos A. Kirk was a fiddler and although 
blind played for the parties and dances and had a mirthful personality. 
The yard was planted with flowers and shrubs from Mr. Kirk's home in 
upstate New York. They had a lilac bush which was rare in Louisiana.