History of Winn Parish, Louisiana 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 ********************************************** This parish is bounded on the west by Saline Bayou, Saline Lake, and Red River; on the south by the north line of Grant Parish, on the east by Little River, and north by the southern lines of Jackson and Bienville Parishes. The greater part of Winn is a long-leaf pine forest, containing a great quantity of excellent timber. The lands roll heavily, and partake of a hilly character. There are many flats here, marked by salt springs, such as Price's Lick, Drake's Salt Works on Saline Bayou, Cedar Lick near Winnfield, the Kyiche Creek bottoms, Pendarvis' Prairie in the fork of Dugdemona River, and Bayou Castor and other places. Of the total area, 970 square miles, the long-leaf pine country covers 850 square miles, the oak uplands 90 square miles, and prairie patches 30 square miles. In 1879 there were 22, 548 acres in cultivation, of which 7,379 acres were in cotton, 8,588 acres in corn, 250 acres in sweet potatoes, 41 acres in sugar cane, and 4 acres in rice. There were 3,002 bales of cotton produced, averaging 585 pounds of seed cotton, or 195 pounds of cotton lint. The cotton grows from four to six feet in height. W. T. Jones, of Winnfield, states that fresh land will yield about 1,000 pounds of seed cotton per acre, and after fifteen years will still continue to yield 800 pounds per acre. The pine lands present an area of great trees, capable of supplying all the mills of the country for some years, or a large number of extensive mills in their midst for a quarter of a century. Within five miles of Winnfield, near the old Mathis house on the Natchitoches Road is what is known as the Marble Quarry. It is a beautiful variegated stone of the lime-rock variety, and, when burned, makes an excellent white lime. The quarry was developed by Samuel L. Houston. The rock is found here in sufficient quantity to yield lime for the whole state. In the Coochee Hills, near the south line, a marble is found which takes fine polish. The asphalt lands, south of Winnfield, are extensive and the mineral is said to be as good as the Swiss asphalt. Along the bayous, Saline and Dugdemona, are the salt springs, some of which were developed before and during the war. The Drake well, artesian, was drilled at least forty years ago, and Drake established his saw and grist mills there. He also cleaned out Saline Bayou and shipped salt and lumber to the Red River and thence to market. The silver mine, near Winnfield, the property of William H. Jack, is said to be rich in ore. In 1881, William H. Boult discovered in Section 19, Township 11, Range 3, near the lime kiln of war days, a large cave. John Matthews, the owner of the land, states that before the mouth of this cave lowered in 1871, the heaviest rock would be removed therefrom during the night. The population in 1880 was 5, 846 or 4,797 white and 1, 049 colored. In 1870, there were 4,044 whites and 909 colored, and in 1860, 5,481 whites and 1, 354 slaves and 41 free colored, or a total of 6,176. The population in 1889, according to assessor's statistics, was 8,387 while in 1890 the United States census enumerators found only 7,082 in habitants. The parish is well watered by the tributaries of Little River, flowing southeast, namely Beaucoup Bayou, Caney Creek, Dugdemona, meandering through the northeast half of the parish, Big Iatt and other streams in the southwest quarter flowing into Iatt Lake, and several small streams flowing into Saline Bayou and lake. The bayous bounding the parish on the east and west are navigable streams, except during the seasons of low water. When Bienville and St. Denis returned to the Fort of Biloxi they found that the country through which they intended to travel was under water, so that they turned to the village of the Ouachitas. Here they learned that the greater number of the tribe had gone to Natchitoches carrying salt to the Coroa Indians of the Yazoo. After this visit the troubles with the Choctaws and other Indians began, the tribes became movable bodies of men, women, and children and camp followers. The earliest settlements in this division of Louisiana were made on Red River and on the Saline, years before the country was surveyed, as told in the history of Natchitoches and Rapides. The Indians of the Pascagoula and Choctaw tribes as well as bands of Tunicas and other resident savages, found pleasant and profitable hunting grounds along the rivers an on the highlands of this parish until the jingle of the surveyor's chain signaled the approach of what is termed civilization. Toward the close of the third decade of this century a new race appeared, and within a period, not exceeding twenty years, spread their claims over the greater area of productive lands, drove out the Indian and the animals which he hunted simultaneously, and won complete control of the territory of the Dugdemona. The section of Winn in the Natchitoches Land District, as established in 1838, comprised all from Township 9 north, Range 4 west, up to Township 13 north, Range 5 west, and in the Ouachita Land District from Township 10 north, Range 1 east, to Township 13 north, in that range, with Township 11, in Range 2 east, and Townships 10 to 13, in Range 1, west; Townships 10, 11, 12, and 13, in Range 2 west, and the same townships in Range 3 west. The early land buyers in eastern Winn (part of Ouachita and New Orleans Land District) were: John Cooper, T. F. Smith, John A. Roberts, T. J. Farnell (killed during the war), Daniel Boyett, John G. Whitehead, Menan Monk, James Crawford, Jack S. Hewett, George C. Couch, A. J. Nelson, J. L. W. Brittain, T. J. Haddock, Thomas Davis (murdered during the war by bushwackers, Adam Tyrone, Allen McCarty, Joseph Peters (Samuel Herring and John Tyrone entered lands in 1840), R. D. Wall, Isaac George, Christian and Adam Riser (Christian Riser was killed about 1864), W. Lee (1850), Charles W. Bullock (1841), B. J. Boyett (killed about 1861), Allen Jenkins (1840), Jacob Riser (1839), Joseph West, William and James Kelly, Reddick Blake, S. N. West, James Rentz, Richard Cole (1840), Charles Peters, Leroy Harvey, Squire E. Hart, Henry and D. G. King, Jacob E. Willis, Lemuel Bullock (1840), Willis and Pleasant Smith, W. A. Griffin, Thomas W. Ramsey, Matthew Devoe, George Starks (killed during the war), George H. Woodruff, D. A. Mills, Wade A. Wright, D. M. Wharton, James T. Gilmore (died during the war), George W. Harvey, Matthew Devore, Edwin Holley, Egbert H. DeLoach, (came in 1836), Zatter Johnson, Joseph Williams), John Cockerham, William Caves, James A. Carroll, Jesse F. Gulledge, Harbin Smith, Edmund Price, Absalom and Alex Wall, Bryant Smith, Thomas and James Richardson, Martin Smith, William T. Beall, J. M. Lang, William T. Bell, S. I. Collins, C. N. Mercer, Marshall Jones, Sr., Hugh W. Holmes, J. L. McGinty, George W. Dyess (killed at Mansfield), Joshua P. Willis, James M. Thornton, Joseph B. Adams (ex-sheriff succeeded in 1887), Henry Rolen, Willis McCarty, Shadrack Emmons, Lemuel Alford, J. H. Beavers, T. James, William Caves, J. L. Clark, John R. Bradley, George M. Sowers, George Bohanon, Zack Boyd, J. E. Lucas, Dan Southern, William Hatten, R. Tatum, Ben Thompson, Elisha W. Sims, Wilson Thomas, B. G. Adams, A. J. Perkins, L. L. Thomas, Jacob Shelton (killed by John Dove in 1870(I believe this date to be in error), Ed Eagles, Hollon Miller, Bryan Bailey, C. E. Slocumb, James Arrington, James P. Swindle, Adoniram Lyons, Thomas D. Milling (an old merchant of Winnfield), James Durham, William Applewhite, William T. Mathis, George W. Gray, Q. A. Hargis, John Rayborn, Leander Walker, H. M. and Nathan Bolton, Spencer Wyatt, E. P. Martin, Darling P. Morris, J. T. Teagle, M. G. Jackson, Richard B. Williams, D. Williamson, James Brock, C. G. Campbell, Andrew J. Kelly, John H. Bilbs, Jacob Langston, A. D. Reeks, Reuben Drake (owner of Salt Works), Samuel Earnest, T. A. Jourdan, Dr. I. B. Payne, Luca Radescich, D. M. Tannehill, Pleasant Mulligan, J. M. Smith, F. Shumake, A. J. Welton (Melton?), T. L. Terry, George Starks, J. J. Hearn, J. E. Tison, G. W. Horn, W. M. McDonald, Atwood Violett, John T. Murrell, James R. Bevill, Dave Peoples, J. C. Compton, Jesse Womack, G. J. L. Brown, William Crump, William Holten, L. M. Hatten, Elisha Pepper, Albert Churchill, J. D. Denegre, Michael J. Gaar, J. S. Dickenson, I. Parker, Christian Lewis, E. P. Foster, E. Pruett, Thomas Johns, W. Wilson, Ben, John, and William Albright, S. M. Shillings, S. S. Stevens, Mason Jones, R. A. Key, W. Pennywell, J. McGee, B. McMillan, B. F. Smith, T. S. Collier, J. B. Lemoine, T. F. Swafford, J. G. Teagle, A. C. Banks, W. J. Teddlie, D. J. Warner, J. D. Buttell, Syl. G. Milam, Elisha Walker, James W. Holston, R. L. Stovall, David Caldwell, David Hagler, William Stone, John O. Morris, Alphonso Stinson (representative in the 70s), Goodrich Terrill, A. C. Davis, J. M. Wasson, John Welch, T. Moffitt, Samuel L. Dean, J. T. Milam, A. E. Hardee, Joseph Soss (1839), and Christian Lewis. In 1838 the first land entries were made in the eastern (Natchitoches District) townships of the parish. The first buyers in Township 9, Range 4, were Robert H. Rogers, J. R. Brady (1850), J. T. Hickman (1851), Benjamin F. Butler and T. S. Woodward (1855). In 1840 Benjamin Metoyer entered lands in Township 9, Range 5; Joseph Thompson, Jared J. Brady, Willis B. Neal, T. G. McCracken, Onezireme Rachal, Lemuel McGee, William Prothro, Wolcott A. Strong, Lorenzo DeSoto, William H. Strong, Charles Noyret, John Waddell, Jean B. Prudhomme (1839), Edward Hughson, A. J. Upshaw, J. S. Hooter, Major Lyon, R. L. Eubank, Diana Spencer, Haynes Waddell (1839), Richard W. Hertzog (1839), Ambroise Lecompte (1839), James Harper (1840). Township 10, Range 6: Ambroise Sompayrac (1839), Peter McDaniel (1841), McCally Franks (1840), Samuel Hobart (1839), William O'Neil, James Ratcliff, William Miles, J. W. W. Durbin (1859), J. A. Rains, James Irvin (1857), Pernoce Radescich, William Carter, Allen Cockerham, H. W. Shows, Solomon Aswell, Franklin Kelly, Everett Bates, J. B. Lowe, James L. Williams, Josiah H. Lacey, Marshall Frazier (1838), J. J. Liles, William Cloud, Elizabeth Brantley, William E. Tanner, Allen P. Morris, Abbott Mixon, J. A. Roberson, Cassa McCarty, Conrad Starks, Abram Brady, William Barnes, W. I. Kidd, C. B. Parsons, J. J. Green, G. W. Harville, Robert Underwood, J. G. Elliott, Wiseman Box, J. M. Hodges, William Ross, William Hogan, Zachius Lard, Joseph Hadden, Noah Cloud, A. K. Haynie, John Babers, and G. D. Clifton. Winn Parish was established under legislative authority in 1851, and organized in 1852. The first meeting of the police jury was held in a log building erected for courthouse purposes in 1851-1852. Subsequently a more pretentious house was erected, and in it the sessions of the police jury and district court were held until 1868, when fire destroyed both building and records. Another public building was erected, but the same fate awaited it, for, on January 12, 1888, this house and the records of twenty years were destroyed. E. W. Edwards, the first clerk, served from 1852-1856, when John A. Dixon succeeded him. John L. Walker followed and in 1865 was re-commissioned, with R. B. Williams, recorder, and John C. Brown, Sheriff. R. D. Wall was assessor from 1852 to the beginning of the war; R. C. Jones in 1866-1867, and W. Shoemaker in 1868. Messrs. Simms, C. Riser, M. Jones and Stovall were among the early members of the police jury. R. B. Williams was parish treasurer up to 1870. James M. McCain filled the position of district clerk for a short time, and in April, 1868, R. C. Jones was commissioned. The last named has filled that position down to the present time. In 1870 he also held the position of treasurer until succeeded by J. T. Wallace. W. A. Little, R. E. Milling, and J. C. Roberts have served as treasurers in the order named, and in 1888 J. M. Jennings was appointed. A. C. Banks followed W. Shoemaker as assessor. S. M. Brian was then chosen, then G. L. Stinson, next R. L. Jackson, who was succeeded by the present assessor, J. T. Wallace. In 1879 R. L. Tannehill was elected sheriff, and D. Dunn recorder. The sheriff was re-elected in 1878. J. M. Jones was chosen representative; J. F. Kelly, senator, and W. J. Wilson, parish judge. The oldest record of the police jury in existence is dated October 4, 1880. S. M. Smith was then president; J. G. Whitehead, W. B. Everett, F. M. McCain, J. W. Jones, J. T. Wallace, and John Stinson, jurors, and J. T. Wallace, clerk. In 1881, J. J. Peters and Jacob Rowe were members. Among old claims granted were those of J. J. Peters (1876), W. D. Smith (1879), and A. W. Pearre (1876), for services as police jurors. R. C. Jones was treasurer in 1881. In 1882 W. J. Sowers represented Ward 3, and J. T. Wallace was treasurer. During the fall of 1883 the small-pox extended into this parish. Dr. J. F. Kelly was appointed executive officer of the board of health; quarantine was established and $ 100 granted for the relief of sufferers from the epidemic. W. A. Little was treasurer in 1883-1884. S. M. Smith, J. M. Jones, J. G. Whitehead, W. J. Sowers, F. M. McCain, Jacob Rowe, and J. J. Peters were jurors in 1884, and W. H. Morris succeeded John Stinson later that year, with S. M. Smith, J. I. Holmes, J. M. Jones, W. A. Strong, J. W. Jones, J. R. Bird, and J. D. Williams. In 1878 the total assessment was $ 238, 821 and in 1883, $ 472, 475. In January, 1885, J. L. Durham was a member of the jury. The present police jury comprises Edward Eagles (president), J. M. Peters, R. D. Wall, I. Porter, A. J. Franks, J. G. Till, W. Y. McCain, and John Stinson; Henry Bernstein is clerk. The parish tax levy is 4 mills, and the state levy, 6 mills. John Womack was the first representative from Winn Parish; J. William Walker (1859) was elected before the war. David Pierson was delegate from Winn to the convention of January, 1861, and he voted against secession, and W. H. Hough represented Winn, Catahoula, and Caldwell in the Senate. Messrs. Waddell, Dr. D. C. Fouts, Alphonse Stinson, W. A. Strong, George A. Kelly (1876), J. M. Jones and J. M. McCain, who was elected in 1888. George A. Kelly served as senator for some time, until succeeded by Senator Boatner. In 1 860 this parish recorded 354 votes for Breckinridge, 260 for Bell, and 240 for Douglas. The vote for governor in 1876 was as follows: Francis T. Nichols (D), 556, S. B. Packard (R), 78; in 1879, Louis A. Wiltz (D), 720, Taylor Beattie (R), 2; in 1884, S. D. McEnery (D) 812, John A. Stevenson (R) 12; (18??) Francis T. Nichols, (D), 1196, Henry C. Warmoth (R) 83. The voters registered in April, 1888, numbered 1,375. Of this number, 1,194 were Caucasians. Of the Caucasians, there 338, and of the Africans, 146, that could not write their names. The first lawyers of Winn were David Pierson, Daniel Kelly, and _____ Beldon, who settled in the parish prior to the war. Afterward came William Roberts, who resided in the parish for a few years. S. M. Brian, W. A. Little, and M. F. Machen settled here before the days of reconstruction vanished. In later years R. E. Milling and J. C. Roberts became members of the local bar. Crockett Jones studied law at Winnfield and Natchitoches, but has not yet been admitted to the bar. A few heavy criminal cases have been tried here, but the criminal calendar is generally light in the number and character of cases brought before the courts. The era of the West Gang was a dramatic one in many respects. In 1868 (this date is very questionable, in fact, I believe I have proof to the contrary) the murders and robberies by this gang became so numerous, that the people were driven to take coercive measures. W. J. Wilson, who lived in the Atlanta neighborhood, suspected West and others of being engaged in some mysterious work, and this suspicion led to positive belief in the criminal character of the men. Early in 1898 (?) the arrest of the Dean family, by the self-appointed officers of the gang, raised a storm of indignation. The people from Atlanta turned out under J. A. Maybin (Mayben), to effect the capture of the desperadoes; while men from Winnfield and other points marched toward the West settlement, under their leaders. John A. West, Grosvenor Thompson, (Lec) Ingram, and four of their comrades were shot down; Laws Kimball (Kimbrel) escaped, but was afterward hanged in Texas (the demise of Jackson Lawson Kimbrel as stated here is in doubt), while Bill Kimbrel was killed by General McLaughlin (the killing of Bill Kimbrel occurred prior to the mass roundup of the West-Kimbrel Clan). Frame and Gilchrist were considered members of this robber gang, but their end can not be ascertained. (Gilcrease was gunned down sitting next to his pregnant wife; it is believed Frame was killed in the round-up.) It is said that some leading citizens of Natchitoches were interested in the success of West and his comrades, and an expedition was planned to abduct them from the town, and give them a trial before the people's court in the pine woods. Wiser counsels prevailed and the people were content with the dispersal or death of the robbers. The first newspaper published in Winn Parish, was the Southern Sentinel, issued October 4, 1860, by J. L. Walker, as the champion of Douglas in this section of the state. The large vote polled for the Sentinel's nominee in the parish points out what could be accomplished to avert war, were the moderate men of both parties to join hands. After the campaign this paper ceased publication. The Southern Sentinel (second) was issued September 29, 1883, by B. W. Ashwood, at Winnfield. The paper was to be issued on the 22d, but owing to the non-arrival of press and material, the first paper was not printed until the 29th. On January 25, 1884, R. E. Milling and W. A. Strong were editors, with Mr. Milling, S. M. Brian, J. B. Willis, B. W. Ashwood, T. J. James, R. L. Jackson, A. L. Jones, Dr. J. F. Kelly, R. L. Tannehill, J. M. Williamson and W. A. Strong, members of the Winnfield Publishing Company, owners. In March, 1884, S. M. Brian was editor. J. T. Wallace took charge in March, 1885, and was succeeded in January, 1887, by C. K. Jones. The Winn Parish Democrat was established in December, 1887, by J. T. Wallace and C. M. Bevill. O. T. Bird purchased Mr. Bevill's interest in July, 1888, and in December, 1889, E. A. Mathis succeeded Mr. Bird. J. T. Wallace was editor until September 26, 1890, when the office was purchased by H. L. Brian, and the last number of the Democrat issued. The Winn Parish Comrade was issued October 3, 1890, by Hardy L. Brian, who continued the volume and issue number of the Democrat. The Comrade is devoted to the interest of the Farmer's Union in this parish. Company C (Winn Rifles), Third Louisiana Infantry, was mustered into the Confederate service with the regiment in May, 1861, with David Pierson, captain (promoted to lieutenant-colonel) (the high rank listed her for Mr. Pierson may not be correct); Asa Emanuel, first lieutenant; W. C. Lurry, second lieutenant; W. Strother, second junior lieutenant; N. M. Middlebrook, first sergeant; A. W. McCain, second sergeant; W. H. Alford, third sergeant; and J. Copeland, fourth sergeant. McCain was killed at Iuka, September 19, 1862, and Alford at Elk Horn, March 7, 1862, while First Sergeant Middlebrook was wounded at Oak Hills and at Vicksburg, bur recovering was elected captain May, 8, 1862, and W. T. Fagan, second lieutenant. The deaths among members of this company, reported up to the close of 1865, are given as follows: A. W. McCain and W. H. Alford, already referred to; W. Bulger, died at Camp McCullock, Ark., in July, 1861; J. Sholars, J. Crew, and H. Bonnet, in August, 1861; B. Cockerham, George Dunn, John Teagle, W. Collum, at Fort Smith, in June, 1861; H. M Crew, killed at Iuka September 19, 1862; W. A. Hallamon, killed at Vicksburg; B. F. Philpot, killed at Iuka; G. W. Philpot, died at Mount Vernon, Mo.; W. R. Smith and T. J. Teddlie were killed at Vicksburg. Capt. J. C. Dixon's company of Twelfth Louisiana Infantry was organized in the fall of 1861. Capt. Dixon was promoted major. Capt. Cooper's Company F of Twenty-seventh Louisiana Infantry, Capt. William Stovall, Dr. Wesley Cockerham and John Watson were lieutenants; George A. Kelly, John Albright, Wade E. Wright and William Price, sergeants; Capt. Cooper was major at surrender, and William Stovall, captain. The company was mustered in 1862 at New Orleans, 100 strong, but owing to losses at Vicksburg and other places only forty men reported after the fall of Vicksburg. In the Twenty-eighth Louisiana Infantry were three companies from Winn. Company E was commanded in May, 1862, by J. T. Lewis, who was killed at Mansfield in 1864, and J. W. Barnes took his place. G. W. Dyess (died) was first (succeeded by J. W. Robertson), Jesse Gulledge (succeeded by R. C. Jones) and Joel G. Gulledge (succeeded by D. M. Stone), lieutenants. The strength at organization was ninety, of whom little over thirty returned after the war. Capt. Bradford's company of the Twenty-eighth was partly raised in this parish. Company K was organized in May, 1862, with William Walker, captain, promoted to colonel; Darling Morris was subsequently captain; James Walker, Austin Banks, and Edwards, lieutenants. The company suffered severely, so that of the original company about twenty-five men returned. This company served on the "Diana" gunboat, where many members were killed. Company G was commanded by Capt. David Hardy with Lieutenants Sharp, Joseph Robins, and Charles Fitz. There were several desertions from Companies E and K to the Union ranks. The public school system of this parish is similar to that of neighboring divisions of the state-very primitive. The white pupils enrolled in Winn Parish in 1877 numbered 281; in 1878, 452; in 1879, 887; in 1880, 290; in 1882, 598; in 1884, 930; in 1885, 778; and in 1887, 1,094. In 1877 there were sixty colored pupils enrolled; in 1878, 52; in 1879, 117; in 1880, 44; in 1884, 46; in 1885, 139; in 1887, 44. A slight increase marks the three past years, while a shortening of the terms of school is also noticed. A few private schools exist in the parish. The school board of Winn in February, 1886, comprised J. J. Dickerson, president; J. M. Abel, secretary; C. P. Mathis, W. H. Morris, A. L. Jones, and J. L. Durham, members; S. M. Brian, R. E. Milling, and J. T. Wallace were appointed an examining committee. The present school board comprises James Smith, J. R. Till, J. W. Wasson, D. H. Shumate, C. A. Neal, and a few of the old members. The physicians of Grant (apparent misprint) Parish who registered under the act of 1882, were Thomas O. Harrison, St. Maurice; Charles A. Neal, Atlanta; John H. Morris, Newport; Neal J. Little, Atlanta; Joel G. Gulledge, Flat Creek, removed; John W. Robertson, Gaar's Mill; John McDonald, Gansville; John W. Shumaker, Flat Creek; Drury D. White, Hickory Valley; Spencer McDaniel Smith, Winnfield; Albert G. Satcher, Bermuda; David B. Williams, Flat Creek; Robert F. Morgan, Atlanta; Thomas W. Mask, Winnfield. The physicians, with diplomas, who registered under the same act are named as follows: Francis N. Brian, University of Louisiana, 1884; John F. Kelly, New Orleans School of Medicine, 1867; Charles S. Smith, Louisville Medical College, 1885; Charles K. Wilcox, University of Louisiana, 1875; Samuel S. Godfrey, Louisville Medical College, 1885; David H. Caldwell, Memphis Medical College, 1887; John S. McBride, Louisville Medical College, 1886; Wesley B. Mask, Hospital Medical College, Memphis, 1888; Thomas J. Milam, Hospital Medical College, Memphis, 1889. Agriculturr Associations found a permanent home in Winn Parish early in the seventies. The Grange, then established here, has been carried down to the present time. Silver Steel Grange of Gansville, was organized in 1874, and is still in existence. The old grange at Gaar's Mill joined the modern Alliance. So strong was the Winnfield representation in the state during the year 1883, that the State Grange met at Gaar's Mill in 1883, and at St. Maurice in 1884. The Winn Parish Farmer's Union was chartered November 28, 1888, the directors being R. L. Tannehill, W. A. Smith, S. R. Newsom, J. H. Crawford, H. C. Mixon, H. L. Brian, and J. B. Wood. This is now a powerful organization, politically and commercially. Winnfield is contemporary with the parish; for here the seat of justice was established, when the parish was organized. The town is in the midst of one of the greatest pine forests of the continent; but immediately surrounding it are some good plantations, while tributary to it are a few large and prosperous agricultural sections. The oldest institution of the parish is Eastern Star Lodge , No. 151, F. & A. M. This lodge was chartered February 12, 1858, and among its charter members were men who were prominent in the civil and military history of the parish. William Walker, Asa Emanuel, G. W. Hicks, C. B. Parsons, William Luckey, J. W. Stovall, E. W. Edwards, Samuel Earnest, Benjamin Ussery, Philip Bernstein, John A. Mathis, James Brock and Joseph I. Green. This lodge now claims fifty-two members, and owns half of the Kelly building, in the upper part of which is the Masonic hall. The past-masters are named as follows: William Walker, 1860; John A. Dixon, 1861, 1871; W. J. Edwards, 1862; J. L. Bridges, 1863; J. R. Bevill, 1864-1870; Joshua P. Cook, 1872; S. M. Brian, 1873, 1875-1881; Dennis Mackie, 1874; S. M. Smith, 1882; W. E. Little, 1885; R. E. Milling, 1886; and Joseph Smith, 1887. J. T. Wallace, elected in 1888 is now master. Temperance, literary and social organizations have sprung up and disappeared, leaving Eastern Star Lodge in possession of the field. The post office dates back to the beginning of the town. During the war, postal service was partially suspended, but in September, 1886 ( no doubt an error, should be 1868) the United States reopened the office with Absalom Wade in charge. The Winnfield Male and Female school, was presided over in 1885, with Professor E. Davies, principal; Mrs. E. Davies, assistant teacher, and Mrs. Ida Milling, department of music. The trustees are Dr. J. F. Kelly, president; W. A. Little, secretary; W. J. Sowers, R. L. Tannehill, and S. M. Brian. This school gave place to the public school three years ago, when W. A. Neighbors was appointed teacher and presided until W. T. Brian was appointed in 1890. Miss Smith taught a short term of school here. In October, 1885, Shiloh Baptist church at Yankee Springs School House (called so on account of the murder of Lt. Butts, by the West gang) was constituted with eight members by C. V. Terrall. In July, 1884, the W. C. T. U. was organized, with Mrs. M. E. Bevill, president; Mrs. R. C. Jones, and Mrs. W. C. Little, vice-presidents; Miss Helen Kelly and Miss Kate Jennings, secretaries, and Miss Maggie Kelly, treasurer. This organization ceased work after a short time. Early in the last decade Robert E. Milling established his grist-mill and cotton gin. In the fall of 1883 R. C. Tannehill purchased this industry and made additions thereto. St. Maurice, at the confluence of Saline Bayou and Red River, is one of the old settlements of the parish. A post office was established here in 1859 with D. H. Boult, Sr., master (a post office was established here before 1859); Mr.McClarren followed, then R. Walker, and next Isaac Kellum, who was master in 1873-1874. J. M Hickson (Hickman?) held the office in 1875; Mrs. Simms held the office for some time, C. L. Boult followed in 1883, and held the office until H. T. Carr was appointed in 1886. Mr. Carr served until E. J. Gamble was commissioned in 1886. The land on which St. Maurice stand was entered by the Prothros in 1837 and shortly after, William Prothro erected the old store-house, owned now by Mr. Gamble, and used as a freight house. The land were subsequently purchased by Carroll and Boult. About 1868 Carroll became sole owner, and sold to H. M. Prothro, but regaining possession sold to the New York Lumber Company in 1882-1883. The improvements made by this company in the Saline and the prospect of St. Maurice becoming the great depot, saw mill town, and supply point, for the pineries, caused a boom here in 1883. The great enterprises of the company did not succeed, but the great pineries still offer great rewards to judicious lumbermen. Newport in the northeast corner, Flat Creek, near the eastern line; Beech Creek, Prairie Home, and Tunica in the southeastern townships; Carthage and Talanta on the Montgomery Road, Pine Ridge in the northwestern corner, Gaar's Mills and Hickory Valley in the center of the north half of the parish, Phillips and Couley are small centers of settlement. At Beech Crek, Atlanta, and Mount Zion are private schools, each claiming a fair attendance, while at or near the other villages the common school is found. The Atlanta Male and Female Institute was established in 1870, the state granting $ 5,000 to erect buildings. In 1884, the sum of $ 1,000 was granted to repair the buildings. Professor George was the first teacher. In 1886-1888 A. M. Wailes presided, followed in 1888 by H. L. Brian, who established a graded system. In September, 1889, Professor Joseph Paul, the present principal, took charge. There were 150 children enrolled, but in September, 1890, the school opened with fifty pupils. Mrs. M. C. Thrasher was assistant, succeeded by P. K. Abel. J. T. Drewett is president and Dr. Neal, secretary. Mount Zion Male and Female College, near the south line of the parish, is under the patronage of the Protestant Methodist Church. C. C. Harris is president of the board of trustees. Beech Creek Academy, near Flat Creek post office is conducted by R. J. Wilson. The proposed route of the Houston Central & Arkansas Railroad is on the eastern, and that of the Louisiana Northern Railroad on the western side of the parish. The construction of the two roads named will change the whole parish from a pastoral one to a great manufacturing center, as millions of feet of the finest pine await the lumberman and the manufacturer. (The above appeared in "Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana", published by The Southern Publishing Company, Nashville & Chicago, in 1890. Several biographies of Winn Parish people also appear in the same story, but those biographies will be presented in the LA. Gen-Web Archives individually. Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, La.)