Towns & Cities: Atlanta, LA, 1927, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483


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From: November 24, 1927 Winn Parish Enterprise

Atlanta High-Spot News

Published Monthly by Pupils of Atlanta High School

The Settlement of Atlanta

by Alton Collier

In order to build up the farming interests of Louisiana, the Legislature
passed an Act in 1858 which was the Homestead Act.  Many people came from the
East to settle and cultivate the rich soils of Louisiana.

The people from Alabama, Georgia and other eastern states came over to
Louisiana to make this their home and cultivate the rich soil.  In the fall of
1860 the Colliers sold their property in Georgia and equipped with wagons and
money, made their way to this state.  Coming over they had many hardships
while on the road.  There were 37 covered wagons in the Company that set out
from Georgia.  Some dropped out at Natchez, Mississippi and on through the
boundary line of Texas.  There were several of these people, brothers and
sisters, which made their settlement at this point.  They named their
settlement after Atlanta, Georgia, the largest city in their native state.

About a year before their arrival there was about five other families living
around here - Jack Ferguson, Ma Barr, Aaron Lockhart, Aaron Killingsworth,
William Drewett, and Ablile Deen.

About 1861 the first store was built by Dr. Thomas Collier and a year later a
small mill was erected by Dr. Collier, which cut small timber and ground the
grain.

They then organized churches and school and made Atlanta one of the most
attractive villages of that day.

In 1869 or 1870 a group of men went to New Orleans asking the Legislature for
an appropriation of $2,000 for the building of a school, which was granted.

In later years the post office and other stores were built.  In 1903, the
railroad was put through.  This was an incentive to move the town down near
the railroad.

In 1905 Germain and Boyd, of Saginaw, Michigan, bought or leased nearly all
the timberland and erected a million dollar mill here.  Many new families
moved in and the mill was the third largest in the state.  After 21 years of
successful work, the mill cut out.

Most of the people connected with the mill sought employment, which left our
town very small.

But the oil industry is now being opened up and we're all hoping for a bright
future in oil.