Pioneers: Mackie Family, 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 ********************************************** Taken from undated file at the Winn Parish Library, Winnfield, LA. Winn Parish File Mackie Family Thomas, b. 1760, William Mackie, b. 1762, Thomas Mackie, b. 1788, Dennis Mackie, b. 1809, brothers, engineers and surveyors, sons of William, born in Jackson Co., Georgia, history compiled from old family records. William Mackie, 1782 was employed under the free trade act to make a survey of the rivers and waterways in the Louisiana Territory (Spanish Possessions). In 1795 he moved to Louisiana near Natchitoches and with the aid of his sons, Thomas and Dennis, played a prominent part in the platting and surveying of Louisiana in the early days, such as establishing the western boundary lines and assisting in the surveying and establishing the northern and eastern lines. After the death of William, the sons surveyed the boundaries of Parishes and townsites in Southern Louisiana. Upon the death of Thomas, Dennis continued to follow surveying. Copies of notations taken from Dennis Mackie's old records as follows: Catahoula Parish North boundary made May 10, 1810 William Mackie, Surveyor Chain men, Edward Meeks, J. Lovelace; Ax men, O. J. Morgan, E. Kirkland. Claiborne Parish survey started May 1, 1828. Boundary lines and townsite. Thomas Mackie, Surveyor. Chain men, Sam Russell, John Mursell Caldwell Parish survey started May , 1838. Thomas & Dennis Mackie, surveyors. Chain men, Dan Humphrey, Riley Baker; Ax men, T. Noble, Jacob Humble Jackson Parish, Vernon townsite survey made June, 1845. D. Mackie, Surveyor P. Wyatt Bienville Parish, North and west boundary surveyed November, 1848. Dennis Mackie, Surveyor. Chain men, John McMahan, H. J. Overton; Ax men, Bill Crow, Charles Rutter Sparta townsite surveyed, Feb. 1849. Dennis Mackie H. J. Overton Winn Parish, August, 1850. I suggested that the new Parish be named for Col. Walter O. Winn. Agreed to by A. Drake, Emanuel & Joe Walker. Joe Walker requested that I survey boundaries as soon as possible. October, 1851 Winn boundary line survey completed, Dennis Mackie, Surveyor. Chain men, A. Drake, Bill Cloud, Royce Wall; Ax men, Antoine Bordeaux, S. Dean State House, Baton Rouge, La., Jan. 28, 1852. Request by Joe Walker to check survey of corporate limits of Bayou Sayre, Homer, Minden, Shreveport, Trininty, and Vernon. Mt. Lebanon, May, 1853. W. W. Farmer ordered a re-survey of the town limits of Mt. Lebanon, Bienville Parish. June, 1853, Mt. Lebanon re-survey completed. Dennis Mackie & Dennis Stone, Surveyors. April, 1854, survey of townsite of Winnfield, Louisiana completed. Dennis Mackie & Dennis M. Stone, S. L. Morris. August, 1871, survey of eastern and southern boundaries completed. Dennis Mackie & Dennis Stone. Chain men, Antoine Layssard, Ben Gillards; Ax men, Andrew Hickman, Peter Loosilda Lincon (Lincoln) Parish Feb. 1873 (agreement) Survey of Vienna townsite. Jeptha Colvin proposed that Parish be named for John B. Lincoln, lawyer, seconded by Judge Roan and A. Pipes. I so entered it on plat. D. Mackie & D. M. Stone, Surveyors. Chain men, H. H. Howard, A. Pipes, Jr.; Ax men, James Huey, S. W. Standifer Dennis Mackie was born in Jackson Co., Georgia, September 20, 1809. died Nov. 11th, 1887. Married Matilda Kilgour September 19th, 1833. Raised one adopted daughter, Nancy. History of the Mackie surveying instruments purchased from factory at Troy, N. Y. in 1809. One of the largest and finest manufactured at that time, OE in the compass the magnetic needle is balanced on a 1/2 c. diamond. This set was used in surveying and re-checking the state boundary and in surveying and checking a large number of the Parishes and town sites of the State. Upon retirement of D. Mackie at 77 years of age, he left the set in trust with his nephew, D. M. Stone (Dennis Mackie Stone), until his (D. M. Stone's) sons, Thomas S. and D. T. became of age, at which time it was to revert to them jointly. The father, D. M. Stone, used the set until his death, at which time I, Thomas S. Stone, purchased my brother, Dennis Talmadge's one-half interest in set. Thomas S. Stone, 1840 Upperline St. New Orleans, Louisiana. Note copied from old book. See J. L. Walker about his publication in Southern Sentinel of October 4th, 1860. I do not agree with him on the Dougla Article. I believe Bill Strong wrote this. D. Mackie. Dennis Mackie is listed as Past Master in 1874 of Star Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M. chartered Feb. 12th, 1858 (Eastern Star Masonic Lodge No. 151 F. & A. M., Winnfield, LA) Dr. Will Radescich might be able to verify some of this. Mrs. F. (In agreement with the late, great Winn Parish historian Harley Bozeman, there is evidence to affirm that Dennis Mackie was the "Father of Winn Parish." It is said that Mackie was a shrewd, though decent business man, in that he would go around to the rural areas of the large parishes and convince the residents that they lived too far from their courhthouses, or parish seats, and that if enough of them would petition their legislator, they could form a new parish and live conveniently close to their parish seat of govenrment. He was then hired to do the survey and was usually paid in land. Mr. Mackie did in fact serve as Worshipful Master of the Eastern Star Masonic Lodge No. 151, Free & Accepted Masons, Winnfield, LA. He was also related to the Radescich and Stone families, pioneers of Winn. I believe the Dennis M. Stone, mentioned in the above information was his nephew, Dennis Mackie Stone, and I also believe that Dennis Mackie Stone was the son of Bathsheba Stone. And Mr. Will Radescich, a retired civil engineer, surveyor, and relative of Dennis Mackie resides in Winnfield, LA and I visited with him regarding this article which was found in the Winn Parish Library, today, as he was at the Library upon its discovery by my esteemed colleague, Mrs. Peggy Beaubouef. It was her idea, and a good one that this information be posted in the Winn Parish Gen-Web Archives. In the event any of the Mackie relatives read this I request that they contact me as I have long desired to speak to them regarding Mr. Mackie's records, which we at the Winn Parish Museum would like to copy and place in the museum. Greggory E. Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA)