P. K. Abel ; Winn Parish, LA b. 1867 Contributed by Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Perry Kees Abel Son of John Morris Abel, well known in the earlier years of Winn Parish, who was a mechanic by trade, but who also held many positions of trust in Winnfield and Winn Parish. He was born and reared in Itawambia County, Miss. He was twice married, but the mother of our subject was Elizabeth Rebecca Smith. They were married in Winn Parish in 1866. Both died in Winnfield, father October 31, 1896; mother April 21, 1904. Perry was born in Winnfield August 14, 1867, where he has lived all his life. His father was a well informed man and taught his children many things and Perry was educated in the common schools of the parish and the High School of Montgomery. November 26, 1902, he married Miss Florence C. Whatley. They have three children and a beautiful and well ordered home. Mr. Abel is the efficient clerk of the Fifth Judicial District Court, and is an obliging and efficient officer. There are very few if any better. He is a member of the M. E. Church South; also he is a Mason, Knight of Pythias, Oddfellow, and Woodman of the World. He has succeeded well and a goodly assessment is enrolled to his credit, and he is amiable in character and has many friends. Mr. Abel thinks good roads in this country are feasible and necessary and with them intensive farming can be made a great success, and that the outlook for both schools and churches is the very best. He is a smooth, even tempered, industrious citizen, and says his motto is,Luke 11:9, also Matt. 6:33. (Note: Mr. P. K. Abel was one of the most respected men ever to have lived in Winn Parish, LA. He was a prominent religious leader in the Methodist Church, and served in some capacity in the Winn Parish Courthouse for at least 60 years. The above article was copied from The Guardian newspaper, Volume XXVII, No. 8-9, published September-October, 1907 at Winnfield, LA. which was on file at the Watson Memorial Library, Cammie Henry Archives, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA. and submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, LA.) Perry Kees Abel: From another source. Perry Kees Abel was born at Winnfield, Louisiana, August 14, 1867, when Winnfield's population was less than fifty people. He was the son of John Morris and Elizabeth Rebecca Abel. His mother was the widow of Dr. James Williams at the time of her marriage to Mr. Abel, and the mother of Dr. William H. Williams, who died in 1919. John Morris Abel was born in Ittawambia County, Mississippi, and his first wife at Lawrence County, Mississippi, and the married at Winn Parish. Mr. John M. Abel went forth from Mississippi as a gallant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and he served virtually the entire conflict, having changed allegiance to the Union about midway through the war, deciding that it was best for all involved that the Union be preserved. He came to Winnfield shortly after the war and engaged in the blacksmith trade and farming. He was truly one of the most influential citizens of the parish at the time of his death. He served thirty years as justice of the peace and about the same amount of time as deputy parish clerk. He also served on the Winn Parish Police Jury and Winn Parish School Board. As justice of the peace, he presided over the inquest of the West-Kimbrel Clan members who were slain at Atlanta in the early 1870s by vigilantes. Mr. Abel was a Mason, serving over twenty-five years as secretary. He and his wife were zealous church members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He died at age sixty-one, on October 30, 1896 and his widow died in 1904, also aged sixty-one. Joseph Abel, father of John M., grandfather of Perry K., was born on Christmas Day, 1801, in Tennessee, and died July 4, 1882. He was a blacksmith by trade, and traveled to Alabama, Texas, and finally settled at Winnfield, where he was an organizer of the Methodist Church, serving as Sunday school superintendent. Perry Kees Abel was the eldest son of John Morris and Elizabeth Rebecca Abel. His brother, Solomon Morgan, became executive land man for the Tremont Lumber Company at Rochelle, Louisiana. Sister Helen married E. W. Teddlie, and following his death, married R. W. Belden. Susan married Henry James, and Theodosia married J. J. Mixon. Perry was educated in the area schools and began teaching for $ 25 per month. He later attended high school at Montgomery then commanded $ 40 per month for teaching in Winn, Grant and Rapides parishes. After his teaching career, he worked as salesman and bookkeeper in the store of G. P. Long, then for Morris Bernstein. He was elected parish clerk, defeating the incumbent by twelve votes. The same opponent ran the following election and Mr. Abel defeated him by 144 votes. He also served as a school board member and represented Winn Parish at the State Constitutional Convention. Mr. Abel served as master of the Eastern Star Masonic Lodge and was also a Royal Arch Mason, Woodman of the World, and Knight of Pythias. He was eleven years of age when he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and served as steward, chairman of the church board, and superintendent of Sunday School. He was a member of the board of the Methodist Children's Home at Ruston, and served on the state board of the Methodist Church. On November 26, 1902, he married Florence C. Whatley, daughter of Elisha Whatley, of Union County, Arkansas. Their children were John Dale, Mary Elizabeth, Mildred, and Paul. (Source: Chambers' "History of Louisiana", 1925. Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, La.)