Biographies: Andrew Jackson Gwin, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: May 6, 1932 Winnfield News-American

Passing in Review This Week We Have Andrew J. Gwin (by R. W. Oglesby)

Mr. Gwin came to Winnfield from Minden about 1907 and put up a brick making
plant.  Before engaging in this enterprise he had been a building contractor
and saw the possibilities of a brick plant in Winnfield.  The clay proved to
be of excellent variety and the business expanded and grew into an institution
that for twenty five years made and sold brick all over this country.  Mr.
Gwin was so good and kind to his men that they never thought of leaving him
and became a part of the plant just as the machinery was a part of it.  He was
tall, angular, and quiet.  He remained silent until it was necessary to speak
and when he did speak his words were short and to the point and carried
conviction.

In his young days he was wild and reckless and bad to fight.  The man never
lived of whom he was afraid to combat in fisticuff.  His fists were the only
weapons he ever used and when the fight was over, it was over so far as he was
concerned.  He told us once at Sunday School that after he became religious,
it was hard for him to curb his temper and not fly off the handle; that a
little old dried up painter while working for him did something that called
for a gentle reprimand, and, without saying a word, the little man descended
the ladder, walked up to Mr. Gwin and struck him across both eyes with the
paint brush.  "You know," said Mr. Gwin, "I didn't do a thing to him." 
Knowing his courage as I did, I whispered to Joe Heard and said, "Joe, you
know why Mr. Gwin didn't mop up with that little fellow, it was because he was
blind."  I was only joking and knew full well that what he had said was the
absolute truth.  His favorite Bible quotation was, "Perfect love casteth out
all fear," and if ever a man had that Mr. Gwin did.  His love for his fellow
man was fervent and unfailing.  The brickyard negroes always went to him when
they got into trouble knowing that they would receive help.  The most of them
stayed in his debt from one month to another.  Two of them got into a fight at
the brickyard and Mr. Gwin rushing in to separate them was struck by a bullet
in the forehead, but unfortunately (fortunately?) it was of small calibre and
ranged around the skull and came out on the back of his head.  I don't think
he even went to bed from the wound.

Although attentive to business he enjoyed hunting and fishing.  In addition to
his other accomplishments, he was a genius with tools.  He could make anything
he wanted to out of wood.  No one could make a better gunstock than he.  He
took great pride in his home and was always doing something to make it more
beautiful, even as his home life was beautiful.

He was the leading member and chief contributor to the Methodist Church.  In
the building of the new church he gave more of his money and time than any one
else.   One of the overhead steel beams in the church sprang in the center. 
It looked as if it would have to be taken out and another put in, but Mr. Gwin
and J. M. Lagrone worked out a system of trusses that has held it in place to
this day.  His chief delight was in the law of the Lord and in the law he did
meditate both day and night.  In his going the town of Winnfield suffered a
great loss.  He loved Winnfield and everybody loved him and had the utmost
respect for him.  In his quiet way, he impressed everyone with whom he came in
contact.  Although not frivolous, he enjoyed a good joke and laughed heartily. 
A short time before he passed away someone had told him about Dr. Kelly
turning his car over in front of Mrs. Tracy's house on the Georgetown Road. 
He called for help and Mrs. Tracy came hopping out in response to his call and
Dr. Kelly said, "Help me out of here, for I'm afraid it will get on fire and
burn me up."  Mrs. Tracy seeing the lights burning said, "It's a fire already,
Dr. Kelly."  That was all the help he needed.  With one mighty effort he
extricated himself only to find that it was a false alarm.  Mr. Gwin would
tell that and bubble over with mirth.

I have never known a nobler, truer or better man than Andrew Jackson Gwin.  I
know of no higher compliment that I can bear to his memory.  "Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this
is the whole duty of man."  So it was with him.