P.K. Abel's History of Winnfield, 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 the August 16, 1946 Winnfield News-American P. K. Abel Grew With Winnfield Oldtimer Recalls Town's History by Betty Lynn Harrell "With regard to the town's history and development from its earliest days until now, Winnfield has had a steay, not a spasmodic growth since its beginning and has great future possibilities for development and expansion," says P. K. Abel, one of Winnfield's oldest citizens, who celebrated his 79th birthday Wednesday. Born August 14, 1867, Mr. Abel was reared in Winnfield and has been a witness to the town's growth-its first settlements, incorporation, hardships, and now its present day post-war development. Regarded as one of the town's most respected and beloved personages, he now holds the office of deputy registrar of voters in the parish courthouse and clerk of the Winn Parish Police Jury. As a young man, Perry K. Abel and his familyl resided on what is now Otho Long's property between Winnfield and Jerusalem (now about where New Jerusalem Church is located). At that time, Winnfield's population consisted of approximately 12 families, among them the Abels, Bevills, Cooks, and Kellys. According to Mr. Abel, "Old Winnfield" covered 160 acres and was bounded on the north by North Street, on the south by the L & A tracks, on the east by Laurel Street and on the west by West Boundary Street. This presents quite a contrast to the town boundaries of today, which extend as far as Gorhamtown (now known as Joyce) on the east and Laurel Heights on the west. "Way back in the early days," said Mr. Abel, "the business district was composed of a two story wooden courthouse, a mercantile establishment (home furniture store now), a drug store, a saloon (site of present Fitz-Faith Clinic), a dry goods store (Pearl Martin's garage), and two law offices a block south of the courthouse where Judge Dan Kelly and Morgan Bryan practiced." There was only one church then on what is now the Methodist lot, and both Methodists and Baptists attended services there. Mr. Abel received his education in the Winnfield and Montgomery schools. "The first school that I can remember," he said, "was a one-room log structure, 40 by 60 feet, with a 10-foot shed on each side and a large 'stick and dirt' chimneys at each end." The building was situated on the site of the present day high school. About 50 students were enrolled in classes. One feature of classroom work that Mr. Abel remembered in particular was the daily Bible reading requred by "Parson" McGinty, who taught the students at that time. Teachers who followed Mr. McGinty were Zacharias C. Wright, one time recorder of Winn, Theopholis H. Dulaney, George A. Kelly, and James T. Wallace. Three Courthouses Burn Mr. Abel recalls that the first parish courthouse was destroyed by fire about 1868 and a second fire in 1886 destroyed all parish records. A brick building was erected in 1891, and still a third fire destroyed this edifice in 1917. Nineteen-hundred and twenty-one saw the completion of the courthouse which still stands today. Mr. Abel has been in the courthouse almost continuously silnce 1900. He was clerk of court from 1900 to 1920 and has held the office of the deputy registrar of voters since its creation in 1922. In 1921 he represented the parish at the state constitutional convention. He received the vows of membership into the Methodist Church in September, 1878 and has gained a widespread reputation among Methodists as being the church's oldest member. The Rev. C. R. Godfrey was pastor when he joined the church. During the period between 1878 and 1946 he has served as Sunday school superintendent, steward, trustee, member of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, member of the Board of Missions, Board of Church Extension, Board of Temperance and many othes. He is also a charter member of the Louisiana Methodist orphanage and was a member of its board for 25 years. Growth of Railroads Winnfield began its growth with the appearance of the railroad. The Arkansas Southern was first among the railways to enter the town during the period from 1900 to 1912, and succeeding it were the Tremont and Gulf lines. The first run of the Arkansas Southern locomotive was quite an important event in the town, and in celebration of this occasion, a barbeque, complete with speeches and all the "trimmings", was held. People for miles around came to see the "iron monster" pass through. According to Mr. Abel, the singing schools were an enlivening part of summertime and a much-looked-forward to feature of rural life. These schools usually lasted two weeks, and the members of the community and their children sang, "courted", and, as Mr. Abel put it, "had a high-heeled time." Many amusing incidents, interesting personalities and "tall tales" came out of this era, and Winnfield had its share of them. Mr. Abel recalls Dr. John F. Kelly, Winnfield's "Scattergood" of those days, who couldusually be found in his comfortable chair on the front gallery of his drug store (where Peterson's grocery is now located) (where in 1998 Bobby Creel's Electric is). "He always had a finger on the pulse of all the happenings in the community, ready to give advice, to perscribe for the ills of his patients and to dispense with the necessary remedies for their relief. The doctor knew his people. As soon as a farmer reached the town's boundary line, he could tell you who the farmer was, the name of the horse or mule he was riding and by the time the farmer had tied his "critter" to the hitching rail, the doctor had bantered him for a horse swap." Mr. Abel tells another story about a monkey named Sam who belonged to J. Matt Williamson, operator of the local saloon. "Sam was one of the main attractions of the saloon," relates Mr. Abel, "and he furnished a great deal of amusement for the populace, particularly for the younger members of the community, and plenty of misery for those who got too near the cage. One of the natives now living who can testify to the latter is Judge W. Mason Simmons, justice of the peace in the seventh ward, who has not and will carry to his resting place a very 'deep impression' of Sam's pearly teeth on his wrist. If you don't believe it, just ask the judge!" When a young man, Mr. Abel worked in a store owned by George Long for three years and was employed as a bookkeeper by Morris Bernstein from 1897 to 1900. Today in addition to his work as a deputy registrar of voters and clerk of the Winn Parish Police Jury, he owns and operates an abstract company. This week, as Mr. Abel celebrates his 79th birthday, and almost a half-century of continuous public service, he views the future of Winnfield with optimism, seeing rapid growth and prosperity for both the town and the entire parish. (Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA.)