BAYOU SARA - THE TOWN AWD STREAM West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana File prepared for archives by D.N. Pardue Thanks to Mrs. Virginia Lobdell Jennings for giving us permission to post this file. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** . From the Louisiana Genealogical Register, March 1996. The Register is the quarterly publication of the Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Society. The LaGenWeb Archives thanks them for contributing this information. TIPS FOR SEARCHING RECORDS ON THE INTERNET Netscape & Ms Explorer users: If searching for a particular surname, locality or date while going through the records in the archives or anywhere....try these few steps: 1. Go to the top of the report you are searching. 2. Click on EDIT at the top of your screen. 3. Next click on FIND in the edit menu. 4. When the square pops up, enter what you are looking for in the FIND WHAT ___________blank. 5. Click on DIRECTION __DOWN. 6. And last click on FIND NEXT and continue to click on FIND NEXT until you reach the end of the report. This should highlight the item that you indicated in "find what" every place it appears in the report. You must continue to click on FIND NEXT till you reach the end of the report to see all of the locations of the item indicated. Virginia Lobdell Jennings In 1682 when LaSalle and his small hand of Frenchmen passed the bluff upon which St. Francisville, Louisiana is now located, he probably found the area that is below the town looking much as it does today. The bluff, no doubt, looked higher, the ascent steeper and the river bank at the foot of the cliff much narrower. Through the years, tons of sand and silt have been deposited, greatly extending the area where the ferry to Pointe Coupee now lands and where the willow trees grow profusely. This was not always the case for it was here that Bayou Sara, an important river port, developed. The beautiful Bayou Sara, from which the town acquired its name, emptied into the Mississippi River just below the high bluff. While Louisiana was under the dominance of France, a couple of grants were given to settlers along the bayou and a village and church was established across the river at Pointe Coupee. In 1763, when England gained control, the area was considered a choice location and the following people were issued grants of land to the north and south of the batture land below the bluff and along the bayou. William Wilton 200 acres in 1773 William Butler 100 acres in 1772 Alexander McIntosh 500 acres in 1768 William Escott 500 acres in 1772 Charles Stewart 1261 acres in 1773 Captain Graham 2000 acres in ____ Diggory Cock 500 acres in 1768 John Blommart 1000 acres in 1768 Peter Vanderweid 500 acres in ____ William William 1000 acres in 1778 Edward Crawfton 1000 acres in 1772 Conrad Vanderweid 1000 acres in 1768 Alexander Ledgerwood 600 acres in 1772 John Falconer 500 acres in 1772 Elias Dumford 600 acres in 1772 John Shortland 600 acres in 1772 Alexander Falconer 1000 acres in 1773 William Ogilvy 1100 acres in 1776 George Urquhart 887 acres in 1769 Thomas Bowker 1000 acres in 1768 Charles Clayton 1000 acres in 1772 Matthew McHenry 300 acres in 1768 Daniel Clark 1000 acres in 1768 1. Some of these grants of land were not put into cultivation during the required time and reverted to the crown. Others sold their land, while a few founded their American homes along the Bayou Sara. The bayou that empties its waters into the Mississippi has not always had such a musical name. On one early French map it was called "La Riviere de la Pucelle Juine" meaning "The river of the Jewish Virgin. Was this maiden named Sara? Another map gives it an offensive name "Baiouc a la Chaudepisse" meaning Bayou Gonorrhoea" and John Ross in 1765 called it by a shortened version "Bayou Clap."2. Miss Louise Butler in her delightful "History of West Feliciana Parish" says that the bayou got its name from an old woman who lived at the mouth of the stream.3. When the Spanish gained control of Louisiana in 1779 its name remained the same. However, the inhabitants of the Felicianas like to be remembered for their English heritage and today often refer to it as the Bayou Sara Creek. Spain realized the importance of colonizing the Felicianas and began issuing grants of land to numerous settlers along the river and to several along the bayou. These can be found in the American State Papers. John Mills and his brother, Gilbert, sons of Amos and Mary (Wright) Mills, arrived in the Felicianas prior to April 22, 1781 for on that day the Catholic Church at Pointe Coupee records Johns marriage to Perine Marionneau. The first years of this marriage were spent in Mississippi. John died prior to January 20, 1812 and Perine was deceased by August 31, 1815. They had five children: Mary Mills, Palaegh, Perine, Elizabeth and John, Jr.4. John Mills lost his sawmill at Natchez, Mississippi to high water about 1788, and while seeking another location to rebuild, he found and realized the potential importance of this point where cargo from flatboats needed to be transferred to smaller boats and taken up the Bayou Sara. On January 17, 1789, he purchased land at the mouth of the creek from William Wickoff and built his sawmill and trading post there. A small assortment of shanties sprang up around the mill and became a settlement that took its name from the bayou. For a short time the area was attached to the Natchez District and the census of 1792 lists the following as inhabitants of the Bayou Sara District. Apparently the village was not included in this census. Guillermo Brown Francisco Pausset Reuben Dunman Davis Ross Juan Green Roberts Stark Andres Here Jaime Ryan Abram Horton Juan Wall Juan 0'Oconnor Juan Welton 5. After opening his mill at Bayou Sara, John Mills acquired land on Alexander Creek that is now known as Rosedown Plantation. Mills farmed extensively and shipped his products from Bayou Sara. He was a native of Virginia but came south from New York where he left many relatives, there and in Pennsylvania, with whom he corresponded. Two letters that he wrote to his cousin, Gilbert Jackson, in New York City found their way back to Louisiana and are on file at the Louisiana State University Archives at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the letter written on May 19, 1807, from the mouth of the Bayou Sara he discusses the question of slavery in some detail, admitting that he has 25 slaves in the field. Feeling that he may have expressed himself too freely he says. "I must drop the curtain for the present. Mills then writes of other conditions in and around Bayou Sara: "In my last, I mentioned to you that I was fearful we should suffer much for the want of Indian Corn, or rather that we already were suffering but that we had plentiful supplies of flour, etc. This may seem a paradox to you, who are not in the habit of useing that kind of grain much. You must know, that Corn in this country is truly the staff of life. More than two thirds of the bread eaten in this country by the whites is made of that grain, it is almost the whole food of Thousands of Negroes, the facility in raiseing of it is such in this country, the lands new and fresh, that there is perhaps a greater consumption of that necessary grain, made here than in any other place on the Globe, in proportion to the number of people. Horses are fed all the year without measure, and that in great numbers, working Oxen, Hogs and poultry distroy great quantities, and what adds much to the general demand, is, the great numbers of Choctaw and other Indians, who is always amongst us, wandering from place to place, with their families. the want of Corn is such at this time, that the poqr creatures has all left us, and I suppose taken to the woods, to get something to eat. they kill our Cattle and Hogs rather than starve. People that can command cash, may supply themselves with any quantity of Flour at the most reasonable rate. The best Superfine sells now at our landing at 6 piastres the Barrel but flour wont answer to feed our working creatures, without which our next crop will likewise fail, and I assure you there is an alarming prospect as yet, owing to the want of food for working creatures, and a great drought that now prevails, and no appearance of rain, So that seed lies in the ground, and cannot come up, and what is up is dwindling to nothing, yet the advantages of the climate and soil, is such that if the season soon comes favourable we shall no doubt make plenty--we are particularly unfortunate with our Cotton Crop, A cut worm has been very troublesome. We have been oblige to plant already 2 and 3 times, the last planting cannot come up, owing to the want of moisture-- -It is fortunate for us that we can get supplies from the uper country. Those that have money need not want--you would be astonished I am sure, if you could spend one week at the Mouth of Bayou Sarah at this season of the year (altho you live in a commercial city) to see the vast quantity of produce that passes daily to New Orleans, which promisses to be one of the greatest commercial cities in the world--the increase of popilation(sic) consequently of produce in the upper country, is wonderful. Boats has been descending ever since the breaking up of the Ice, which begins in the more southerly regions first. And as the Rivers break up more northwardly, the Boats come on loaded with every kind of produce that the upper empire affords or that ingenuity can invent, Flour, corn meal, whiskey and Cider, Pork and Beef, live state fed Beaver, Venison and Mutton Hams, great quantities of bacon, Horses in great numbers, which fetches high prices, owing to the superior strength and figure--great quantities of butter, Lard, soap & Candles, and every thing else that the country affords, or that is wanted here. Many of us depends on this market for supplies particularly for such articles as we can buy, cheaper than we can make, you must know we are great calculators--that when the same labour that will make a Barrel of I. (Irish) Potatoes, in this country, can be so disposed off in making of Cotton, as to pay for 2 Barrels, brought to our door, from above. We prefer buying of these and so with every thing else, our country produces all these things with less labour than the upper country, but Cotton & Sugar is the most profitable, articles they cannot make. High up the different Rivers Cumberland makes some cotton of an inferior quality. I am in expectation every moment of the arrival of Maj.Dearth to this place, who may possibly be the bearer of this to you, but as I hear that Capt Don is in Town (New Orleans), I rather expect he will be the bearer---I propose Forwarding of this letter to him as soon as I can, not being certain whether the Mail will go home by Sea or by Land until I may see him--- I feel myself much obliged to your Lady for the concern she has for my welfare, she being fearful that I might join Burr, as you mention, I consider him and all those of his party as the vilest of men, and beleive that they merit severe punishment. I know not what your Laws will inflict on them, but an attempt of that kind in our Government, would be punished with death, or perpetual slavery at least. I hope I shall always keep clear of such company--You say in your Letter dated 18th January that for more than a Month, you have neither had Snow or Rain. This is astonishing to me, I did expect, from the severity of the Winter in this Country, that you would all be frozen to Death. Such a winter was never known or heard here, as the last the cold set in early. and lasted without interuption until very late. Constant frosts, we had a snow near 6 inches deep, which lay on the ground for several days, before it entirely disappeared--our Stock, cattle and horses, Sheep and Hogs suffered much. many died, and but little labour could be done by our, almost naked Negroes the whole winter--- As Bayou Sara grew so did a settlement on the hill. St. Francisville became a rather well defined, sophisticated community while Bayou Sara became a wild, rowdy, riverboat town. One of the early merchants was a Mr. John Ellis who, about 1804, was in business with Mr. Stewart. He later entered into a partnership called Ellis and Nolasco. 6. About 1808 Ambrose Smith acquired land at a point slightly north of Bayou Sara and laid out a village called New Valencia with lots measuring 60 feet by 150 feet deep along the river and bayou. He planned to build wharves and warehouses as John Mills was so successfully doing. The village project failed, however, while Bayou Sara continued to grow.7. In 1810 when West Florida sought to gain its independence from Spain, the men of the Felicianas played an important part. Captain Jedediah Smith and Captain Llewellyn Griffith organized two companies of men from the Bayou Sara area. Captain Griffith's recruits were called "The Mounted Rangers" or "Volunteer Company of Mounted Riflemen" Captain Smith's company was called "Troop of Horse". Mr. Stanley Arthur refers to them together as "The Bayou Sara Horse" 8. Mr. Powell Casey gives their date of service from October 28, 1814 to March 24, 1815. They arrived in New Orleans November 4, 1814, where the two units from the Felicianas were used for outpost duty and reconnaissance. There were 77 men in Griffith's Company and 49 in Smith's, nine of whom died during the tour of duty. g. Captain Llewellyn Griffith's Company of Mounted Riflemen October 29, 1814 - March 24, 1815 Griffith, Llewellyn, Captain Harris, Edmund, Cpt. Adams, William E. Corporal John, servant Atkins, James Johnson, Jones, Sgt. Blackburn, Alexander S. Kabeen, William Blackburn, Gabriel, 1st Sgt. Kirkland, Samuel, died Brashears, John 11/17/1814 Browning, Isaac Kirkland, William, Cpt. Carnes, John, Cpt. Kirkland, William D. Carney, John Lee, William Carney, John G. Lloyd, Henry Cason, John Lloyd, Samuel Chaney, James B. Montjoy, John, Sgt. Chaney, George Morgan, Abel Chancy, James J. Moss, Elisha B., Sgt. Chancy, John Mulky, David Chancy, William I. Mulky, Joseph Chancy, Baley Myers, David Clarke, Samuel Owens, Robert Cooney, John Price, Richard 0. Cyrus, servant Reams, Jesse Dortche, Thomas Reams, William Dearmond, David F Rents, John Dearmond, Thomas F Richardson, Amos Dearmond, William Richardson,Elias Diggs, James Richardson, Enoch Everett, Charles Richardson, Jesse Foster, Isaac Scott, James Freeland, George Scott, Robert, Sgt. Freeland, Isaac Scott, Thomas Freeland, James Self, Jacob E. Garnhart, Jacob Sims, Benjamin Gayle, William R., 2nd Lt. Sims, William Gordon, John Stewart, William, 1st Lt. Hammer, Thomas Tabor, John Harrel, Hezekiah Thrower, Jeremiah Harrel, Jacob Waltman, Philip Harrell, James Whitaker, John Harrell, Levi Wilson, Abner Harrell, Lewis Vaughan, George H. Harrell, Samaud Captain Jedediah Smith's Feliciana Troop of Horse September 28, 1814 - March 24, 1815 Smith, Jedediah, Captain McClellan, Walter, 1st lt. Flower, James, 2nd Lt. Carter, Parsons, Cornet Sergeants: Carpenter, James Combs, John P Gillespie, John F Johnson, Charles G Johnson, John Scurlock, Thomas M. Smith, Benjamin Corporals: Bradford, Leonard Davis, Green ~. Woodruff, Clark Young, Joseph Privates: Boone, John Boon, John H. Bradford, Jas. M. Bradford, David Bridgers, Wm. Brown, Preston Brashear, Nathan Brunson, Daniel Browning, P Betts(is), Richard, Jr Carpenter, James Carney, Thomas Crawford, Alexr. Crooks, John Davis, Gideon Dortch, David Fair, James Finley, Jas. L. Horn, Moses Kemper, R. Kemper, Samuel McMicken, Cbs. McDermott, Thos. Miller, John O'Neal, Edmund O'Neal, John Peck, Patrick Sample, Moses Shaw, Jones Smith, Josephus Stewart, David B. Scott, Richard Stubblefield Sullavan, Jas. Williams, James Williams, William Servants: Christophe Nat Simon 10. In 1818 J. G. Flugel, a visitor from Germany,made a trip down the Mississippi to New Orleans. While in the city, he was hired as a salesman by Mr. Ellis for Ellis and Nolasco, a mercantile firm at Bayou Sara. Mr. Flugel kept a journal of his trip and the following notes, mentioning Bayou Sara, have been abstracted from his record: April 7, 1817 - After dinner I met Ellis, a German. I asked him whether he had any business that I might do for him. He suggested that I go on board his barge and receive the cargo. I will go with him to Bayou Sara. It will cost me nothing. This good offer I accept. In the evening I met Hotz (Dietrich Holl). He tells me that those articles of merchandise have to be sold and that Ellis needed a person to whom he might entrust them and that is was probable that he might use me for that purpose. April 9 - After dinner I went on board the barge 'Eliza'. Agreeable to Ellis' offer, I found a very comfortable cabin, but found it impossible to sleep owing to the fleas. The barge seems to be filled with them. April 11 - At noon Ellis told me that his partner had come from Bayou Sara and wished me to go there and look after his business during his absence. If I felt so inclined he stated he would pay my passage immediately. The salary he would fix upon my arrival. This news is agreeable--but the face of his partner James Nolasco, is not so agreeable.11 April 15 - Today at 9 o'clock we start for Bayou Sara. The steamboat on which I write these lines is so elegantly finished. I find among the passengers, about 50 in number, chiefly Kentuckians and the rest creoles (French) inhabitants of the coast. Mr. A.R.Gale is the captain. The fare up stream to Bayou Sara, 173 miles is $19. The freight he receives for Bayou Sara is paid at the rate of 30 cents per square foot, and so for a barrel measuring five square feet, $1.50, and for heavy articles such as iron, lead, etc. 75 cents per cwt. April 18 - This evening we reached Bayou Sara. The place of my destination, but I feel so indifferent about it that I do not go ashore tonight. April 19 - I have my effects moved to shore. Fine weather. Some more boats from Tennessee arrive. In the afternoon about twenty boatmen took a man, who had stolen $2.00, put him in a cart and pulled him about the streets crying: 'Who stole the money?' Alexander- What else they did with him I know not. They talked of ducking him. I soon closed the door to avoid being a witness of their mean and cruel acts. April 30 - Fine weather. Several boats arrived from Russelville, Kentucky. and yesterday several from Dayton. May 2 - This morning I went to St. Francisville to pay Mr. Holt a visit. On the way home I went with him (Holt) to see two buffaloes, the first live ones I have seen. A Philadelphian brought them from the head of White River and intends taking them to Philadelphia. They looked fatigued. May 4 - At 7 o'clock this morning the steamboat 'Washington' passed. Last year the boiler of this boat blew up near Marietta, doing great damage (7 men died at Cincinnati) Just as I turned in the direction of the front door I perceived 1-1/2 miles up stream a large white cloud, which seemed to me something unusual. It rose distinctly, as the blue horizon and the color of the Mississippi contrasted with the white cloud. About 1-1/2 hours later, Mr Stirling, a merchant from St. Francisville, crossed the river, with several doctors to give relief to the distressed. I understand that the cylinder of the steamboat 'Constitution' burst, scalding a number of passengers. They had to draw her by means of ropes to the shore. There was a continual crossing of the river all day to see the distressed. Eleven people are dangerously scalded. Two of them were deprived of their senses. It is said that the Captain challenged the 'Washington to a race. A few minutes after he had challenged her the destruction took place. This evening eight of the sufferers were dead. James Nolasco came this morning from Sandy Creek. May 5 - Eleven persons are dead. A good many persons are going to their burial. Among the dead are three Masons. I would like to do them the honor, but my position here will prevent me from doing so. June 3 - Steamboat 'Vesuvius' came in at 11 o'clock. The engineer tells me that nearly all the houses at Natchez are closed on account of the yellow fever. June 4 - Channon, the young man who discharged the cargo from the keelboat, died this morning, it is generally believed from yellow fever brought from Orleans. June 10 - I again received goods at the warehouse. Francisco engaged Pierre (the fisherman) for $15 per month. An Italian, a nephew of the rich Barthold in Orleans came. He told me of his voyage to England. June 11 - I have the strongest intention of returning to Europe. Unless I can set up an establishment with Ellis I intend going to New Orleans in a short time.13 Mr. Flugel was dismayed over the punishment and cruel treatment that he saw given to wrong doers in New Orleans and in Bayou Sara, and to the life style of some of the people in southern Louisiana. He returned to Germany in 1818 and became American consulate at Leipzig, an office that he held until his death in 1855. In 1830 the legislature granted Stephen Vanwickle and his heirs the privilege of operating a ferry across the Mississippi from Bayou Sara to Pointe Coupee for ten years. It was to be in operation by January 1833 and could be propelled by steam or horse power. The ferry should be able to accommodate two four-wheel carriages, six horses and a cabin capable of transporting twelve passengers. Compensation provided for the crossing was: For every loaded wagon & team $1.50 For every empty wagon $1.00 For every loaded cart 1.00 For every empty cart .37 1/2 For every gig & horse 1.00 For every four wheel carriage & two horses 2.00 For every man & horse .75 For every single foot passenger .25 For every head of horned cattle .37 1/2 For every head of sheep or hogs .18 3/4 For every mule & horse without a rider .25 (14) Among a number of businesses in the busy thriving port was Dobbs and Keasbey, 1828-1831 and that of John McVea who arrived in Louisiana in the early 1820's. He opened a store in Bayou Sara, saved his money and returned to Ireland for his family. John McVea came back in 1830 with his wife, Ellen Burroughs, born 1802 and son John born November 4, 1820. Squire McVea died in June 1831 leaving an infant son, Charles, born in March 1831, a son John and his wife Ellen who later married Mr. John Kernan of Clinton, Louisiana. An inventory of his estate was made that listed accounts owed "the General Merchandising firm of John McVea and Robert Caskaden." List of Accounts & July 1831 Name Year Due Amount Winny C. Williams 1828 1.50 Anthony Doherty, Sen. 1828 12.50 Matthew J Neely 1828 .38 David Bradford 1828 .38 Arnaud Seauvis 1829 19.79 Jeramiah Bryant 1827 1.13 Charles Johnson, Jr. 1829 15.75 Jno. Swift 1830 41.88 Thos. D. Stokes 1829 46.40 Gilbert Vance 1828 12.89 R ?__ Hullin 1830 1.18 William McKean 1828 12.18 Henry Nicholson 1829 16.50 Mary Freeland 1829 .13 Henry P. Dater 1828 48.38 Isaac A. Smith 1829 3.51 Sam'l W. Foreman 1827 13.45 John Panton 1830 11.25 Thomas W. Chinn 1829 1.25 Caleb Higginbotham 1829 28.88 Francis Higginbotham 1829 8.19 Chichester Chinn 1827 11.19 E.W. Levert 1829 3.00 Micajah Courtney 1828 16.00 Hugh McCavana 1829 2.17 Mr.Duhey (Pointe Coupee) 1829 2.00 Allen Horsey 1829 4.50 Benoni Dickey 1828 44.60 Sam'l Clark 1829 1.50 Sam'l Davis 1827 13.69 Charles Poydras 1829 40.13 William Bennett 1827 32.13 James Loflin Jackson Committee 1828 100.00 Robert Whittaker 1827 18.57 William H. Barrow 1828 11.50 S. Allain (Pointe Coupee) 1829 8.40 William Laroler(?) 1828 34.93 J 0. Williams 1828 13.25 Jno. L. Lobdell 1828 20.38 Thos. W. West 1828 17.13 W.C. Callenders 1828 1.25 Owen J. Parker 1828 5.19 J Gondraw(?) 1829 8.50 E. Remondet 1839 3.00 Mrs. E. Bridges 1830 36.00 Mrs. Mary Rucker 1828 29.14 Robt. P. Weston 1827 16.00 Thos. H. Hutson .25 Irv. P. Given 1828 1.75 J. Weems 1829 8.70 James Rambo 1828 9.00 Craven Cash 1828 8.95 Irv. Milligan 1827 42.45 William Ingram 1828 19.13 A. M. Davis 1829 1.50 Charles S. Cram 1828 3.00 George R. Dugan 1828 3.00 J. S. R. Guay 1828 .75 Amos Webb 1828 8.00 Amos Richardson 1828 17.69 Rob't Fluker 1828 10.00 Jas. B. Nail 1828 10.64 J. Chamberlain 1828 .25 William Anderson (Calidonea Springs) 1828 58.99 Mr. Hopkins Dunns (barkeper) 1829 4.50 Jno. A. Hoyer 1829 6.24 S. Sanders 1828 1.88 Nelson Wyse 1827 4.50 A ? Breed 1.25 Wade H. Richardson 1829 19.50 Frances Marks 1829 1.27 John C. Williams 1829-30 54.63 P. Raggi1lio 1828 10.91 Matthew Williams 1828 10.50 Arch. Hanson 1828 1.94 Patrick Browning 1827 1.94 Rich. G. Wooton 1827 12.25 Elijah Ferguson 1827 11.82 Elijah Clark 1829 51.20 Robert Russell 1827 13.47 Sam'l Scott 1829 5.00 Moses Lambert 1828 7.38 Irv. B. Horton 1828 12.75 Joseph Builder 1829 11.95 Daniel Tumbult 1828 1.25 Rich. Seeds 1828 129.91 Ammon Burr 1828 29.94 Peter Doherty 1828 31.38 Mr. DeBlanc 1827 .50 Walton Boon 1828 18.50 Peter McKenyis(?) 1829 2.91 Heirs of Elizabeth Harrison 1828 14.00 Beni Collins 1827 1.75 Irv. Pharrs 1827 5.00 John C. Jacobs 1827 .94 L. Finley 1828 18.36 Patrick Murphy 1828 3.00 Beni Toggard 1828 .13 Patrick Murphy 1828 3.00 Thos. J. Chancy 1828 4.06 Robert Camapbell 1829 1.00 L. Millandon 1831 536.89 Eugene Magee 1828 6.00 Benj. H. House 1829 .40 Jno. Swift assumes the balance due on Battis Hammers acc't. 1829 15.11 Connor McGinnis 1829 32.12 W. Babcock 1828 .50 Jas. R. Dupree 1829 .25 William Young 1828 39.25 Andrew Nixon 1828 11.50 Steam Boat Coosa 1829 77.37 William Morgan 1828 25.23 Sam. McKneely 1828 15.00 Joseph Samples 1829 120.09 Francois P. Rouis 1829 2.00 Ebinezer Harrel 1829 5.12 Jno. C. Morris 1830 111.60 Jas. Reed 1829 9.50 Hugh B. Maxwill 1829 113.22 Hunstock Lingstark & Co. 1828 7.50 Elisha Singletan 1829 4.00 Henry P Dater 1829 20.00 Irv. McDermot 1829 33.78 Anthony McDermot 1829 139.61 Fluker & Foulds 1829 27.78 Jane Percy 1829 25.17 A(?) N. Dunn 1829 William J Day 1829 John Hogan & Co. 1829 2893.14 Irv. McBrusty 1830 77.62 Rob't McCausland 1830 25.75 Emily Bridges 1830 104.29 Names on New Ledger 1831 Mrs. Emily Bridges 1831 53.12 John Swift 1831 Mrs. Ann McDermott 1831 22.24 Maxwell & Hudson 1831 9.75 Cader Rubey 1831 11.50 John McDermott 1831 13.55 Wm. C Hamilton 1831 12.00 John Rose 1831 20.50 Isaac A. Smith 1831 2.50 Irv B. Dawson 1831 26.00 John C. Morris 1831 112.40 A. C. Cooper 1831 8.00 Ezebud(?) Woodruff 1831 1.25 Irv. D. McDonald 1831 19.00 Francis Marks 1831 1.75 Est. of Rich. Patcliff 1831 7.00 Thomas Butler 1831 20.75 Benjamin Milton 1831 19.38 Lee Hardesty 1831 10.00 R. Cantes 1831 5.04 John Collins 1831 28.25 George Matthews 1831 4.76 Thos. Baily 1831 .88 E.C. Skillman 1831 16.38 Isaac Johnson 1831 8.30 John Austin 1831 3.75 Quarles 1831 11.00 Walter Tumbull 1831 31.88 Cato West 1831 .45 Annias Dunbar 1831 18.30 William Fort 1831 14.50 Benjamin Collins 1831 51.00 William H. Barrow 1831 8.40 John Stevenson 1831 15.00 Jas. H. Coulter 1831 20.59 Jacob Winn 1831 14.50 Store at St. Francisville 1831 69.00 George Jontes 1831 3.71 Murdock McQueen 1831 6.79 William C. Wade 1831 3.63 William Leake & Co. 1831 3.50 John L. Lobdell 1831 1.75 Est. of Ann R. Johnson 1831 9.00 Rich. Hearly 1831 11.00 Thimothy Corcoran 1831 5.00 Bennet J. Barrow 1831 2.75 Wm. Bent. Barrow 1831 2.25 Jas. J. Weims 1831 8.00 Norman the Barber 1831 1.00 H. Perry 1831 1.25 P.0. Conners 1831 .75 Buriel Loyde 1831 2.75 Cyrus Ratcliff 1831 6.61 Henry Bains 1831 25.00 16 The Louisiana State Legislature granted an act of incorporation to the town in 1842 and Bayou Sara became a gateway to West Feliciana just as Port Hudson at Thompson Creek was the port of entry for East Feliciana. The grant reads in part as follows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana That all that tract or portion of land situated in the parish of West Feliciana, on the east bank of the Mississippi River laid off and divided into squares, lots and streets, as embraced and designated in the figurative map or plan of the town of Bayou Sara, formerly called New Valentia shall continue to be designated and known as the town of Bayou Sara, and that all the white male inhabitants of said town are hereby declared to be a body corporate On May 1,1847 the charter was repealed (18) and for almost three years the rowdy port operated unincorporated. The town was granted a new charter on March 14, 1850. Beginning on the east side of Bayou Sara at its mouth, running along said side of said Bayou to junction with Fountain Bayou, thence running along the east side of Fountain Bayou to its intersection with Salsers Bayou at or near the residence of B. Bertus, including said residence and all on the south side of said Salsers bayou until it joins a line to be run from Mississippi River, a due N course, starting from a cottonwood tree standing on the east bank of the Mississippi River, about one hundred and sixty yards below the residence of Edwin Leet, and terminating at the point designated on Salsers Bayou hereby created and made a corporation, the name and style of Bayou Sara. On the first Monday of April each year between the hours of 10 o~clock and 4 P. M. qualified voters shall elect a mayor and five councilmen.19 The earliest mayors of Bayou Sara are not known but Mrs. Stephen Dart of St. Francisville, Louisiana has abstracted the following from the Oath Books of West Feliciana Parish: James A. Marks 13 Jan 1862 John P Mumford 24 Jul 1868 John P Mumford 6 Apr 1869 E.W. Whiteman 10 Apr 1873 H.S. Welton 11 May 1874 John F. Irvine -- Jul 1874 Matthew Reilly 12 Mar 1875 B.T. White 8 Dec 1875 E.W. Whiteman 21 Apr 1876 L. Vresinsky 6 Nov 1876 1876-1906 apparently no mayor took an oath of office John F Irvin Jun 1876 George Baier Apr 1911 George Baier Jun 1912 J.H. Logan Feb 1913 J.H. Logan Apr 1914 Henry Kaufman Jun 1919 Henry Kaufman May 1920 Henry Kaufman Apr 1921 The True Democrat of July 25, 1896 lists John F. Irvine as mayor saying "he has been mayor for the past 15 years except for an interval of two years when F.M. Mumford consented to serve. The transient town was visited periodically by the dreaded diseases of cholera and yellow fever. In 1827 the "Ariel" a Natchez, Mississippi newspaper reported: "Bayou Sara is suffering much by the black vomit, which proves very fatal" 20 The September 21, 1844 edition of the Woodville Republic said: "The yellow fever was said to have made its appearance at Bayou Sara. Mr. C. M. Stewart, formerly of Woodville died last week at Bayou Sara."21 Existing records do not show the names of the doctors in Bayou Sara, but in 1850 there were fourteen listed in West Feliciana Parish. Several of these were probably in Bayou Sara where there were 523 inhabitants. Dr Fredric Harty Dr. C. V Nash Dr. William M. Dalton Dr. James R. Grey Dr William T. Cox Dr. J. B. Bourgeat Dr. N. C. Palmer, also 1830 Dr. D. B. Gorham Dr. Joseph D. Smith Dr Thomas Linton Dr J. W. Dickerson Dr. C. J. Taylor Dr- Thomas Johnson Dr G. H. Schofield 22 Ms. Donna Burge has abstracted several advertisements from the Pointe Coupee Democrat of June 26, 1860 that give some idea of the varied business at the busy port. There was at least one dentist in Bayou Sara in 1860 for his advertisement appeared in the Pointe Coupee Democrat for June 23, of that year; "D. L. and D. Stocking, Dentists; D. L. Stocking is located at Bayou Sara and D. Stocking at the residence of P. N. Moore, Pointe Coupee" As early as 1830 William Ball had a drugstore and on June 8 he advertised: "William Ball, Apothecary and druggist, front of Bayou Sara landing. Orders from Physicians and planters are carefully attended to at the shortest notice" ~22 ---"G. B. and F. Enochs, dealers in mausoleums, tombs, monuments, head and foot stones at Baton Rouge and Bayou Sara " 24; "L.T. Maddux, coach making and repairs."25; "Szabo, merchant tailor, Bayou Sara in the new house between Charles Hoffmans, Esq's home and the new livery stables of J. H. Honsaw on Principal St."26 In 1989 Ms. Adams published "Trades and Professions in the Florida Parishes" that includes on page seventy the names of merchants from the Dun and Bradstreet Directory of l~76 who were doing business in Bayou Sara. Bayou Sara & Woodville Telegraph Co. Bockel, C., General Store & Saddler Bryant1 A.B., Saloon Deckler A., Saloon Fischer, M. & A., Dry Goods & Groc. Gastrell, A.T., Hardware, Stoves, etc. Goldman, M., "See D. Rosen" Gondran, Jules A., General Store Henshaw, J.H., Livery Irvine1 John F., Commissions, etc. Jacobs, Henry & Bro., General store Lewis, S.N., General Store Mageal, William H., Painter Mann, A., General Store Mann, Moses, General Store Martinez, no first name given, Confectioners, etc. Martinez, I., Grocer Martinez, Raphael, Cigar Mfg. Mumford, F.M., Drugs Picard & Weil, General Store Reech, M., Builder Reech & Carmouche, Carpenters Rettig, D., Baker & Grover Rosen, D., General Store Scott, Henrietta, Hotel Szabo, A., Mer tailor Vrensinsky, Louis, Shoemaker Weber Mrs. E., General Store Weil, L., General Store Whitiman, E.W., Receiving, Forwdg. & Steam Boat Agent Apparently there was little interest in religious instruction at Bayou Sara during its early days. The Spanish, however, sent Father Constantio Meckenna to the tiny settlement in 1806 to administer to the English-speaking Catholics, but he died a year later. Father Francis Leman visited the village from time to time and priests from St. Francis of Pointe Coupee, St. Mary Catholic Church of Natchez and St. Joseph's in Baton Rouge also held services in members homes. They also united couples in marriage, baptized the children and interred the deceased. Records of these ceremonies are sometime found in the archives of the participating priest's home church. "In 1840 Catholic services were held in the upper floor of the old market house and after it was burned by the Yankees, in private houses or the courthouse. "27 For many years the Catholics from across the river brought their deceased members to the high bluff for burial, but not until 1871 was a church organized on the hill. Gen. P. T. G. Beauregard drew the plans for the church and construction began that year. The congregation was very small and it was not until 1893 that sufficient funds were available for its completion. 28 The Felicianas were occupied by those of predominately Protestant persuasion. As early as 1807 Lorenza Dow is said to have visited the area and later Barnabas Pipkins held services in the Felicianas. The Rev. James Ronaldson, a Baptist minister, opened a school and church in St. Francisville in 1818 and in 1820, at the invitation of Rev. Ronaldson, Rev. Benjamin Chase, a Presbyterian minister took over the school and he administered to those of that faith. 29 The Episcopal church was chartered in 1829. The people of Bayou Sara, in all probability, walked up the hill if they desired to attend services. Not until 1844 was there a church in Bayou Sara, At that time the Methodists built a house of worship on Sun Street with Daniel Dealy and J.H. Muse holding services. The first minister was Rev. John B. Edins. However, no act of incorporation by the State Legislature was found for that year. The church escaped bombardment by the Yankees but suffered from high water each spring. Finally in 1896, after a devastating fire and flood, the heavy timbers from the church were sold and the lumber that could be salvaged was used to build a new church in St. Francisville. In 1946, the edge of the bluff upon which the building was located had receded alarmingly and the beautiful little church was moved to its present location. The original bell still calls its members to service. The following is a list of preachers that served the church from 1844-1896: Daniel Dealy, J.H. Muse 1844 John Eddins 1845 Philo Goodwin 1846 Charles Mapes, Williams Hines 1847 Anthony T. Simmons 1848-1849 Benjamin Jones 1850 to be supplied 1851-1852 John A.B. Jones 1853 Joseph D. Newsom 1854 Calvin McGuffee 1855 Joseph D. Newsom 1856-1857 Thomas Brown 1858-1859 Robert Downer 1860 Samuel Sweeny 1861 to be supplied 1862 P.A. Johnston 1863 no mention 1864-1865 E.R. Strickland 1866-1867 J.L. Forsyth 1868 C.R. Goodfrey 1869 no mention 1870 R.D. Norsworthy 1871-1873 D.C. Langford 1874 Calvin Watkins 1875 Curtis D. Cecil 1876-1879 Richard F Flowers 1880 Ruffin T. David 1881-1885 Harrison Bradford 1886-1887 David Bradford 1888-1889 T.R. Brown, J.T. Leggett 1890-1891 J.R. Whittington 1892 R.S. Gale, D.S. Enochs 1894 I.A. Luster 1894 F.D. Van Valkenburt 1895 J.P Harvey 1896 30 Mr. J.W. Dorr, a newspaperman from New Orleans visited Bayou Sara during 1860 and on May 9th that year, he wrote the best of description we have of the town. If St. Francisville is stronger on the ornamental, Bayou Sara is out of sight ahead of her on the practical, for she does all the business and a great deal of business is done, too. It is a thriving and bustling place, and contains some of the most extensive and heavily stocked stores in Louisiana, outside of New Orleans and there are few in New Orleans even which can surpass in value of stock, the concern of Meyers, Hoffman and Co., dry goods dealers and direct importers. The principal merchants of the place are Whiteman Bros., F. V. Leake & Co., Hatch & Irvine, and Parr and Winter -- receiving, forwarding and general commission merchants and dealers in groceries and western produce. C. E. Tooraen and A. Levy & Co., dry goods and general merchandise R. Barton, books, stationery and periodical depot. There are also a variety of smaller but apparently prosperous establishments, restaurants, bar-rooms, etc., and all the other aspects of a small city. A prominent object in the town, occupying a very handsome building is Robinson Mumford's Bank of Exchange and Deposit. W. T. Mumford, teller China Grove Hotel is the principal house of entertainment, there being, besides smaller establishments, a very large and comfortably arranged wharfboat which, however is not doing a very prosperous business, the majority of citizens being opposed to its location there. There is a Methodist Church in Bayou Sara, Rev. Thomas Donner, pastor. Among the other prominent business interests of Bayou Sara is horse dealing, it being the great horse market for the surrounding country. Large droves of horses are brought here for sale from Kentucky and elsewhere. Messers Henshaw and Haile have very extensive stables and do a great deal in horse flesh. Bayou Sara is the river terminus of the West Feliciana Railroad. The depot stands upon the levee in the lower part of the town, having been moved from the upper part above Bayou Sara, a troublesome and unnavigable estuary which could not be permanently bridged, save at great cost. A good steam ferryboat plies across the river to Pointe Coupee and ought to be a paying institution, for passengers are charged fifty cents each for the luxury of riding over on it, and two dollars if they have a horse and buggy. Bayou Sara has a post office. There is one paper published in the parish, The Bayou Sara Ledger, an able and well known journal, edited and conducted by Jas. R. Marks who is mayor of the town of Bayou Sara.31 Shortly after Dorr's visit to the river port, a raging fire destroyed nearly all the buildings in the main part of town. The residents were rebuilding when the Civil War began. A great deal of men, produce and war materials were moved through Bayou Sara until St. Francisville and Bayou Sara came under siege, and both towns were badly damaged. During the battle a young Lieutenant, on one of the Union gunboats, was badly wounded. His dying wish was to have a Masonic funeral. There was a lodge in St. Francisville and one of their members who remained in the town was reached. A truce was arranged, and the young man~s body was taken up the hill and interred in Grace Episcopal Cemetery. At the end of the service, his comrades returned to the ship and firing began again. Bayou Sara never regained its position as a leading port after the war. A series of crop failures caused by bad weather and the boll weevils brought bad times and many of the businesses, depending upon the prosperity of the farmer, closed their doors. Mrs. Beula Watts Smith was six years old when she began going to Bayou Sara from their plantation, Solitude. Fortunately she recorded her memories that were published in 1976 called "Then and Now" The following description of the latter days of Bayou Sara have been abstracted from her booklet. I was told that before my recollection Bayou Sara was in its earliest days a notorious river town. Ladies did not dare go on the street in daytime unescorted and never after dark. Barrooms were plentiful. Max Mann and Ben Mann each had a barroom. Henry Martin, George and Ellis Massey, Henry Kaufman, John Levy and John Irvin all had barrooms. Most of them had gambling tables. No wonder there were so many drunken brawls and killings. Five men were killed in one evening, three white men and two negroes including Willie and George Rucker, Bob Brannon and Clint Briggs. Two were killed in a freek shooting. Everyone carried pistols as men today carry wallets or cigarettes. But as I remembered Bayou Sara, it had quieted down to a very nice and pretty town.32 There was a lovely hotel managed by Mrs. Burton right near the river front. She had two sons, Wilson and Oren. Later Mrs. Curtain took over management of the hotel. Joe Mayer also had a hotel. John F. Irvin had a beautiful two story home, wife and two daughters, Frances and Theresa. There were no schools in Bayou Sara. John F. Irvine (Johnnie as he was called) had a big saw mill... there were two saw mills.... one was called 'The Black Cat'...... there was a fish market owned by Jack Fields and his wife Elsie. There was a restaurant in connection where excellent fish dinners were served. About once a year a giant show boat, Bryant's Floating Palace, docked at Bayou Sarah and presented nightly shows with its orchestra. A calliope announced its arrival. You could hear its organ-like whstle for miles around. 33 Bayou Sara held a parish fair once a year. There was always a display in the booths of jams, jellies, preserves, pickles, cakes, pies and canned vegetables. The canned vegetables were in glass jars as were all the canned foods. Prizes were given for the most excellent pieced quilts and embroidered linen were also on display. There was a big pavillion on the fair grounds where there was dancing all day and early evenings. Music was furnished by several bands during the week--Bud Scott from Natchez, Mississippi, Claiburn Williams from Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and Toot Johnson. There was also a baseball field. Once a year Ringling Brothers Circus came to Bayou Sara. We went from school to watch them unload. Of course, school closed for the day of the circus. 34 Joe Stern and Abe Stern had a stable in Bayou Sara where they sold horses, mules and buggies they also sold harness, saddles and equipment for the farmer, adjoining this was a grocery store and dry goods combined. This store and stable were located at the foot of the Hill from St. Francisville. Across the street from Stern~s store was the express office managed by George Plettinger. Mr. Plettinger and his wife, fondly known as 'Miss Anna', lived with their five children. Mr Harris also had a store near Stern's store where he sold ladies apparel, men's clothing and groceries. There was also a railroad station where the old Accomodation' oan from Woodville, Mississippi, to Slaughter, Louisiana. This railroad was just below the hill from St. Francisville. 35 Mr. Fred Hochenedel was born in Clinton, Louisiana on February 10, 1872. In 1892 he went to work for the firm of John F Irvin and Son at Bayou Sara, and in 1904 married Miss Betty Mullin of St. Francisville. Mr Hochenedel who later moved to Baton Rouge related some of his memories of the town as it was when he moved there at age 20. Bayou Sara at that time was a bustling business center sprawling along the bluff below St. Francisville. The business life "as in Bayou Sara, the social life in St. Francisville. In those days Bayou Sara was a center of activity for the area. The Texas and Pacific Railroad hadn't come in yet and the Louisiana and Arkansas line wasn't completed and the river was the means of transporting goods. The riverboats brought merchandise from St. Louis upriver and New Orleans downriver to Irvin & Son's large warehouse. Merchants came by horse and buggy and with large wagons drawn by yokes of oxen, four or five to a wagon, to pick up goods for resale in their communities. There followed a few years of peace and prosperity... then in 1913 the warnings of high water and the struggle to get as much as possible out of their home or into the attic and the river took Bayou Sara. Mrs. Hochenedel says: 'The water come into our house over the transom. We had plenty of warning, we got everything out and were in no danger personally, but I never went back to that house.' 36 Mrs. Beula Watts vividly recalls the flood that left Sara a ghost town: The rainy season began in the early spring of 1912. The melting ice and snow from the north began to swell the river. The Mississippi River began to rise and flood the low land. The levee which protected the town became threatened. Rains and winds caused alarm. The citizens of Bayou Sara worked day and night in the rain, filling sand bags to bank the levee in weakening places. School boys worked with them. Sand boils began to appear Citizens of Bayou Sara were ordered to move livestock and possessions to higher lands. The rains had stopped, but the winds were high. As I have mentioned the school was in St. Francisville. On May 2, 1912, before classes had started, whistles began blowing,and bells began tolling. We knew what had happened! School was dismissed, and we pupils ran to Catholic Hill to see the water rushing in, swallowing the town of Bayou Sara. The roar of onrushing water could be heard for miles. The crevasse was 187 feet wide. The next day nothing but the tops of houses was visible. Most of the houses were swept away by the strong current of rushing water, and debris floated in the water.37 The once rich merchants moved away and were rolled up the hill to St. Francisville. Other homes and stores were deserted and rapidly fell into decay. Only a couple of brick buildings and the railroad station that remained. There were two trains that passed through Port Hudson in the early twenties and the families in that area often took the train to Bayou Sara. Shopping was done up the hill. There was no Catholic church in Port Hudson and those of that faith attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel in St. Francisville. When Ruth Rice Lee attended the confirmation service of her sister, about 1925, they went by train and she and her family stayed at a small brick hotel that was near the station in Bayou Sara. The children even went by train from Port Hudson for their catechism classes, returning home on the afternoon train. In 1926 the State Legislature removed the charter of incorporation from Bayou Sara and in a short while the little ghost town became a wilderness of willows. Mrs. Stephen Dart has a wonderful description of the history of Bayou Sara when she says: "In two hundred years, Bayou Sara has come full cycle. Once again as we view it today, the river bank looks very much as it did long ago when LaSalle passed by with his group of Indians and French explorers and the once important port is now just a memory." ENDNOTES 1. Welton, William map drawer in 1777 for Gov Chester- Copy from Department of Army, Lower Mississippi Valley, Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 2. Arthur, Stanley C. "The Story of the West Florida Rebellion~~, Publisher, The St. Francisville Democrat, 1935, p. 6. 3. Butler Louise, 9'West Feliciana, a Glimpse of its History'1 Pub., Louisiana Historical Quarterly by the society, Vol. 7, p. 90. 4. Jennings, Virginia L. "The Plains and The People", Land & Land Pub., 3rd Edition 1989, Additional Mills Genealogy on pp. 308-315. 5. Arthur, Stanley C., "The Story of the West Florida Rebellion" Pub. The St. Francisville Democrat, 1935, p. 16. 6. Flugel, J.G. "A Voyage Down the Mississippi in 1817" Edited by Felix Flugel, Professor at University of California. Pub. Louisiana Historical Quarterly, June 1925, Vol. 7, No. 3, p. 431. 7 Arthur, Stanley C., "The Story of the West Florida Rebellion", Published by St. Francisville Democrat, 1935, p. 21. 8. Ibid. p. 102. 9. Casey, Powell A., "Louisiana in the War of 1812" Published 1963 Baton Rouge, La. pp. 21-22. 10. Ibid. p. lxxi - lxxiiii. 11. Flugel, J.G. "A Voyage Down the Mississippi in 1817- Published by Louisiana Historical Quarterly, June 1925, Vol. 7 p. 431. 12. Ibid. p. 438. 13. Ibid. p. 439. 14. Act of The 10th Louisiana State Legislature at its Extra Session 1830, Louisiana State University Archives, Baton Rouge, La., p. 34. 15. Jennings, Virginia L. "The Plains and the People" 1989 Published by Land and Land, Baton Rouge,LA. pp. 305-306. 17- Act No. 41 passed at the second session of the Louisiana State Legislature's 15th legislature1 Louisiana State University Archives. Listed in published acts for 1841, p. 90. 18. Act No. 208 of second session of 1st Legislature in New Orleans. 19. Act No. 109, Third Legislative Session meeting in Baton Rouge January 21, 1850. 20. Adams, Donna Burge, "Fires, Feuds, and Floods" Pub. Baton Rouge, La. 1989, p. 28. 21. Ibid., p. 28. 22. Johnson, Donald W., "1850 West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana Census" Published at Zachary, La., 1976. 23. Adams, Donna Burge, "Trades and Professions", Baton Rouge, La. Vol. I, p. 20. (Current address: PO Box 520, Livingston, La. 70754). 24. Ibid. p. 36. 25. Ibid. p. 36. 26. Ibid. p. 13. 27 Butler, Louise, "West Feliciana and a Glimpse of its History" Louisiana Historical Quarterly, Vol. 7- No. 1, p. 90, Pub. February 1925. 28. West Feliciana Parish Historical Society, Booklet published for Audubon Pilgrimage, 1979. 29. Jennings, Virginia L. "The Reverend Benjamin Chase, D.M. Minister Extraordinaire", 1987, The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest, Austin Theological Seminary, Austin, TX. p. 2. 30. Harper, Robert Henry, D. D., '~Louisiana Methodism" Published by Kaufmann Press, Inc., Washington, D.C. 1949, p. 73 and Cain Archives, Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi. First mentioned in journal for the Mississippi Annual Conference in December 1844. It was in the Baton Rouge District, Clinton District 1846 and Natchez District in 1847 31. Dorr- J.W., "A Tourist Description of Louisiana, 1860" Edited by Walter Prichard, Louisiana Historical Quarterly, Vol. 21, pp. 1134-1136. 32. Watts, Beula Smith, "Bayou Sara 1900-1975 Then and Now.'~ Published by Claitor's Publishing Co., P.O. Box 3333, Baton Rouge, La. 70821, p. 4. 36. Hochenedel, Fred. State Times and Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, La Interview. He gives 1913 as the date of the flood. It was probably 1912 as given by Mrs. Watts. 37 Watts, Beula Smith, '9Bayou Sara 1900-1975 Then and Now" Claitor's Publishing Co., P.O. Box 3333, Baton Rouge, La. 70821, p. 15. We are indebted to Mr Bob Claitor for permission to use the map of Bayou Sara by Mr. William B. Smith. It should be consulted for other recollections about Bayou Sara, Solitude Plantation and St. Francisville. 38. Lee, Ruth Rice, Interview with Mrs. Lee of Baton Rouge, La. at Port Hudson, some ten miles south of Bayou Sara. She was raised Geese swam on Bayou Sara's main street, boats lay moored along the board walk-ways, and business went on as usual during this flood, also possibly in the spring of 1892. From the book (The MissisSipppl Steamboat Era In Historical Photographs. Natchez to New Orleans 187O~1920Th, by Joan W. Gandy and Thomas H. Gandy. Published by Dover Publications, Inc., 180 Varick 5t., New York, NY. 27