Biographies: James Redden Sikes, 1926, Winn Parish, LA Submitted 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 ********************************************** From: September 17, 1926 Winn Parish Enterprise Man of Affairs in Winn Parish J. R. Sikes of Ward 7 for 30 Years Prominent in Winn Parish History Individual history determines sectional and national history thus written in the lives of her citizens is the history of Winn Parish. Of the many men whose private history has a bearing on the history of Winn Parish there have been none more instrumental in the stabilization of the government of our parish immediately following the reconstruction period and including the time than that of J. R. Sikes of Gaars Mill, ward seven. For thirty years he has given unstintingly of his time and talent that the rich traditions and the high principles set down by those men, his forefathers preceding him, might not perish, but live on forever, that all coming after might be benefitted. James Redden Sikes was born April 11th, 1866. His parents, John E. Sikes and Lucy A. Sikes, were then living in Jackson Parish near Ebenezer Church, and later moved into Winn Parish settling in ward three four miles north of the town of Sikes. He attended the one room school of his neighborhood, Fellowship School, which was in session from two to three months during each summer until at the age of eighteen he went seventy days, the longest period he was ever able to attend and this time his teacher was Uncle Bill Dark's father. Never in all his schooling did he go to anything but a one room school. His opportunities limited as they were never daunted him but he gradually moved on and upward having gained by these brief sessions the one lesson that all education should teach, character for real living. After completing the seventy days session of school he homesteaded a place near his father's home where he lived until twenty three years ago when he sold it and moved to his present home located in ward seven, eight miles east of Dodson in the Gaars Mill Community. Here he was engaged in the mercantile business for ten years and farming as a side line. After disposing of his stock of merchandise he then went in the farming business in earnest and now he has more than sixty acres in cultivation and is accredited with being one of the most successful farmers in the entire parish. In December 1885 Mr. Sikes and Miss Caroline J. Underwood were married. Of the eight children born to them four are living, Mrs. Lessie Hammons who resides at Gaars Mill, D. E. Sikes, Parish Superintendent of Education of Winnfield, Mrs. Maud Dark of Gaars Mill, and Miss Elzie Sikes who is at home with her parents. Mr. Sikes is a loyal and faithful member of the Baptist Church with his membership in the Harmony Grove Church near Gaars Mill. It was at the age of sixteen that he was converted and since that time has been active in religious work doing his duty as God pointed out to him and he saw it. He is a deacon in his church and is Superintendent of the Sunday School which office he has held for twenty five years. Mr. Sikes is a member of Kyiche Lodge No. 233 F. & A. M. and enjoys the distinction of having been elected to the office of Worshipful Master several times during the twenty-five years of his membership. He is clerk of the W. O. W. of that community which office he has held for a number of years. The political party known as the Populist came into existence soon after the civil war and had gained quite a following in Louisiana, especially in the northern section, the doctrines of which have since been adopted in some form by the national government and because of that fact Mr. Sikes said he had no apologies to make for the planks were found to be solid and of economic value. On the Populist ticket Mr. Sikes was elected to the Police Jury from ward three in 1896. The finances of the Parish were in direful straits and it seemed as if there were no hopes for its recovery. The script issued by parish officials sold for as little as twenty-five cents on the dollar and people were turning away from jury duty and other duties that government imposed because they could not afford to give their time for nothing. On becoming a member of that body of which he was elected president it was Mr. Sikes who conceived the idea of borrowing sufficient money to get the parish out of debt and put it on a paying bases. This one act of the police jury did more for the future development and prosperity of Winn Parish than any other one thing done in its history. The other members of the Police Jury were Tillet Porter, ward one, Chris Nelson, ward two, John Wasson, ward four, F. McCain, ward five, George Purvis, ward six, P. F. Smith, ward seven, and A. J. Franks, ward eight. There were no wards nine and ten until 1904 when nine was made from one and two and ten from eight, which act was done to break the strong line of the populist party in Winn so there would be an opportunity for a democrat to be elected on the Police Jury. The history of the parish is replete with such strokes as this from Mr. Sikes, always looking toward the progress and general prosperity of the parish. In discussing his part in parish affairs he explained, "Early in youth I became acquainted and associated with such men as Jim Wallace, R. L. Tannehill, Bob Milling, J. M. McCain, and a number of others and thru them I learned many things. Always my friends to whom I could go for advice and counsel and always I got their best. Even tho Jim Wallace and I were bitter political enemies I knew he was my personal friend and I have never let political differences affect in any way my personal friendship." In 1903 Mr. Sikes resigned as police juror from ward three and moved to ward seven. In 1909 he was called on to fill the unexpired term of J. B. Payne as member of the Parish School Board from ward seven and since that time has been a valued member of that body and the wisdom of his counsel has been felt in its deliberation many times. J. J. Mixon was superintendent during the first years of his membership on the school board, he served thru the entire administration of A. Leonard Allen as superintendent and also W. T. Norman and now his son Dennis E. Sikes holds that responsible position with distinction to himself and great credit to the father whose name he bears. In 1919 he was elected president of the school board which position he held until July of this year when he was succeeded by Mr. John Sowers. When asked what he considered the cause of our school progress in recent years Mr. Sikes immediately said, "when we left the district and adopted the parish wide system. We've gone from the one room school to the consolidated high school and we all know that concentration of effort and means eventually results in success." He explained further, "If, however, we are unable to get more revenues for our schools with the assessment going down each year I can seen no way out. Yet I have great faith in the people and I can't believe that they will see a backward trend. It is my opinion that our public schools will sooner or later be operated on a fifty-fifty basis by the state and parish with national assistance, something like the way our road system is being financed today. A just plan, I think, it will be." Primarily Mr. Sikes is interested in the schools of the parish and state but his interests reach into all phases of parish development. Active in the political life of Winn Parish for over thirty years places him in a position to know conditions and discuss issues arising from an unbiased viewpoint. "I have looked on politics from a personal standpoint of service, never aspiring higher than to serve my people to their best interests, and I believe I have been better able to serve in my humble way in the positions I have."