Birthdays, Biographies: Sellinger R. Wyatt, 1945, 1946, 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: December 7, 1945 and December 20, 1946 Winnfield News-American Article No. 1 "Uncle Sellinger" Wyatt To Celebrate 100th Birthday, Dec. 16 at Wyatt Home Confederate Veteran and Oldest Master Mason in State Sellinger R. Wyatt, who is the oldest resident of Jackson Parish and one of the nine remaining Confederate veterans in Louisiana, will celebrate his 100th birthday on Sunday, December 16, when members of his family will entertain at open house in his honor at the family home in Wyatt. "Uncle Sellinger" as he is affectionately known to a wide circle of friends in Winn and Jackson Parishes, and in fact all north Louisiana, was born on the old Veal place near Weston, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, in 1854 (1845). He has lived all his life in this section , where he has owned and successfully operated a farm. Until recent months he has taken an active part in the management of his farm and now considers fishing and hunting his chief forms of recreation. His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of North Louisiana. He was nearly sixteen years of age when the Civil War began, and while still in school, he enlisted when he reached his seventeenth birthday and went to Shreveport via wagon accommodations and then was sent to Camp DeSoto. He served three years in the Civil War with Colonel Clark's regiment with Lt. Col. McCrutchen. In speaking of his combat service, Uncle Sellinger says his major battle was at Mansfield, adding that he participated in several skirmishes and coming out with only two minor injuries. He was stationed at Natchitoches when the war ended. Members of the Masonic Lodge of Jonesboro will attend the centennial celebration on December 16, at 2:30 in the afternoon and pay tribute to "Uncle Sellinger" as the oldest living Master Mason in Louisiana. In recognition of his Masonic seniority he was presented the Valle Peck Medal several years ago by the Louisiana Grand Lodge. His membership in the Masonic fraternity dates back to April 20, 1872 when he was initiated into the Lafayette Lodge at Clear Springs, La. He has remained in good standing since that time. The other eight surviving veterans of Louisiana have been extended an invitation to visit him on his birthday. These veterans are Burrel Mario, Elizabeth; John Mize, Gonzales; August F. Saucier, Lake Charles; S. T. Seagraves, Jennings; William D. Townsend, Urania; Alfred T. Fuller, Dubach; Stephen Dupre, Alexandria; and W. R. Turner, Leesville. His many friends throughout the state are cordially invited to attend the birthday celebration at his home in Wyatt, Sunday, December 16 in the afternoon hours between two and five. Article No. 2 Sellinger Wyatt Has 101st Birthday Monday, Dec. 16 Sellinger Wyatt, one of the few surviving Confederate soldiers in Louisiana, celebrated his 101st birthday, Dec. 16, at his home at Wyatt near Winnfield. He is the oldest Master Mason in Louisiana. A native of Jackson Parish, Mr. Wyatt has lived at his present homestead since the Civil War. His grandfather was one of the pioneers in that section, who traded goods with the Indians for his land. The centenarian was a soldier of Colonel Clark's regiment during the war. He became a Master Mason almost 75 years ago and several years ago was awarded the Valle Peck medal by the Louisiana Grand Lodge. Living a rugged outdoor life until the past five years, "Uncle Sellinger" as he is known throughout central Louisiana, never missed going on a camp hunt during deer season. Until he was 90 he could outride men many years his junior through the woods. Years ago he was regarded as the greatest bear, panther, and wolf hunter in that section of the state, and was an expert rifle shot. His skill was almost legendary, old time friends relate that he could dash through the woods at a mad gallop and, with his horse going full speed, from his saddle shoot and kill any size game from a squirrel to a black bear.