USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 3
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Allen's Administration .- At the time Gov. Allen entered upon the duties of his office the Federal army was in possession of the city of New Orleans and the adjacent country. He therefore estab- lished his seat of government at Shreveport, where his administra- tion began on Jan. 25, 1864. In his message to the legislature the
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. next day he said: "Start the hammer and the loom. Let the fur- . nace smoke and the anvil ring. Stimulate capitalists to embark in these industrial pursuits at home; for while the blockade stands you cannot get such articles as you now need so much, unless you make them yourselves. If one half of the capital that has been sent to foreign lands, in running the blockade, had been invested in manufactories at home, our country would be this day in a far better condition. I, therefore, finally recommend that you establish a mining and manufacturing bureau (to which may be attached a laboratory for preparing indigenous medicines), and place at its head men of intelligence, of energy, of undoubted honesty. This is a great undertaking : but we are a great people, and should be equal to any emergency. On the field we are the equals of any in the world. Let us learn a lesson from the enemy and profit by their example. They manufacture everything at home. It is not too late for us to begin. We have immense resources. We can save the currency and the country. We will. It rests with you to say it shall be done."
On March 4, 1864, another civil government was established, for that portion' of the state within the Federal lines, with Michael Hahn as governor. While this government (See Hahn's Adminis- tration) was wrangling over political questions, and adopting meas- ures that in some instances amounted to persecution against the Confederates, Allen's administration, which extended to three-fourths of the state, was trying in every possible way to ameliorate the condition of the people. Gov. Allen established state stores, fac- tories, etc .; a state dispensary to furnish pure medicines at cost ; provided for the payment of the cotton tax to the Confederate gov- ernment in kind ; opened trade with Texas and Mexico, whereby cotton was exchanged for clothing. medicines and other necessities ; and distributed cotton cards among the women of the state that they might be able to produce homespun clothing for the families. He was tireless in his efforts to relieve the wants of the people. and was always on the alert in the protection of their rights. Inside the Federal lines martial law prevailed and the writ of habeas corpus had been suspended. This had not been done by Gen. Smith, but occasional conflicts arose between the civil and military authorities. and in these cases the governor used all his skill and energy to avert any encroachment on civil rights. By the exercise of power that was almost dictatorial he suppressed the traffic in intoxicating liquors, his success in this direction being unprecedented, and many a dollar that would have been spent to satisfy some poor man's appetite for drink was made to serve a better purpose. In Dec .. 1864, the governor wrote to Gen. Smith, earnestly protesting against the proposed destruction of cotton in sections of the state liable to Federal invasion. He insisted that if it was right to destroy the cotton belonging to an individual citizen to keep it from falling into the hands of the enemy. it was equally right to destroy all individual property that the enemy could use. He thought that the cotton might be judiciously left as an inducement for the enemy to
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make an incursion into Confederate territory, as that was supposed to have been the chief incentive to Gen. Banks in his raid up the Red river, "a diversion of the Federal forces," said he, "that con- tributed immensely to our great success in the now closing campaign of 1864. A similar Federal diversion in 1865 would be cheaply bought at the cost of every bale of cotton west of the Mississippi." This letter was the means of saving a large quantity of cotton.
The spring of 1865 witnessed the close of the long and disastrous war. Gen. Smith surrendered to the Federal authorities on May 26, and Gov. Allen determined to go to Mexico. One June 2 he published his farewell address to the people of Louisiana-an address full of pathos and expressions of love for his fellow- countrymen, as the following extracts show: "I have thought it my duty to address you a few words in parting from you, perhaps forever. My administration as governor of Louisiana closes this day. The war is over, the contest is ended, the soldiers are dis- banded and gone to their homes, and now there is in Louisiana no opposition whatever to the constitution and laws of the United States. Until order shall be established. and society with all its safeguards fully restored. I would advise that you form your- selves into companies and squads for the purpose of protecting your families from outrage and insult, and your property from spoliation. A few bad men can do much mischief and destroy much property. Within a short while the United States authorities will no doubt send an armed force to any part of the state where you may require it, for your protection.
"My countrymen, we have for four long years waged a war which we deemed to be just in the sight of high heaven. We have not been the best, the wisest, nor the bravest people of the world, but we have suffered more and borne our sufferings with greater fortitude than any people on the face of God's green earth. Now let us show to the world that. as we have fought like men, like inen we can make peace. Let there be no acts of violence, no heart -- burnings, no intemperate language, but with manly dignity submit to the inevitable course of events. * * * Let us not talk of "despair, nor whine about our misfortunes, but with strong arms and stout hearts adapt ourselves to the circumstances which sur- round us.
"If my voice could be heard and heeded at Washington I would say, 'Spare this distracted land, oh, spare this afflicted people. In the name of bleeding humanity, they have suffered enongh!' But, my countrymen. this cannot be. I am one of the proscribed-I must go into exile. I have stood by you, fought for you, and stayed with you up to the very last moment. and now I leave you with a heavy heart. The high trust with which you have honored me is this day returned. I leave the office of governor with clean hands, and with the conscious pride of having done my duty. All the officers of state, and all the employees in its various departments, have rendered their final accounts, made full and complete state- ments. I thank them for their uniform kindness to me and their
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patriotic devotion to the several duties assigned them. These ac- counts are in the hands of Col. John M. Sandidge. I invite the closest scrutiny, not only of these papers, but of all my acts as governor of Lonisiana.
"I go into exile not as did the ancient Romans, to lead back foreign armies against my native land, but rather to avoid persecu- tion and the crown of martyrdom. I go to seek repose for my shattered limbs. It is my prayer to God. that this country may be blessed with permanent peace, and that real prosperity, general happiness, and lasting contentment may unite all who have elected to live under the flag of a common country. If possible, forget the past. Look forward to the future. Act with candor and discre- tion, and you will live to bless him who, in parting, gives you this last advice."
Allentown, a village in the southeastern part of Bossier parish, is on the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R., about 20 miles by rail east of Shreveport. It is a money order postoffice and has a population of about 500.
Alma, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of St. Tammany parish, near the Tchefuncte river, is about 4 miles northwest of Folsom, the nearest railroad station.
Almadane, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Vernon parish, near the Sabine river, is about 17 miles southwest of Neame, the nearest railroad station. It is a trading center for a large agri- cultural district and in 1900 reported a population of 53.
Almonester, Don Andres, who in the days of Spanish supremacy in Louisiana held the offices of royal notary and alferez real, was one of the most public-spirited men in New Orleans. He was born at Mayrena, Andalusia, about 1723 and came to Louisiana soon after that province was ceded to Spain. In 1770 the government reservations on either side of the plaza were granted to the city of New Orleans, with the understanding that the ground rents should be a source of perpetual revenue. Almonester leased the reserva- tions, tore down the old barracks and in their place put up two rows of stores, which for a long time formed the principal retail district of the city. After the great fire of March 21, 1788, which destroyed, among many other buildings, the Spanish school house, he gave the free use of a room that the school might continue. Among his other benefactions were the new charity hospital, to replace the one blown down by the hurricane of 1779; the chapel of the Ursulines; the St. Louis cathedral, which took the place of the parish church that was destroyed by the fire above mentioned ; and the cabildo (q. v.), for which he was repaid. the total cost of these structures being in the neighborhood of $200,000. He died at New Orleans on April 26, 1796, and was buried in the cathedral which he had founded. He was the father of Madame de Pontalba, who built the buildings on both sides of Jackson Square, known as the "Pontalba buildings."
Aloha, a village in the western part of Grant parish, is on the Red river, about 7 miles northwest of Colfax. the parish seat. It
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has a money order postoffice, an express office, and is situated at the junction of two branches of the Louisiana Railway & Naviga- tion company's lines.
Alpha, a post-village in the extreme southeast corner of Red River parish, is the terminus of a branch of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company that connects with the main line of that system at Grappe's Bluff. The population in 1900 was 52.
Alsatia, a village in the southeastern part of East Carroll parish, is near the Mississippi river. It is a money order postoffice and a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R.
Alto, a village of Richland parish, is situated on the Boeuf river, about 10 miles southwest of Rayville, the parish seat, and + miles northwest of Mangham, the nearest railroad station. It is a money order postoffice and has a population of about 250.
Alton, a village and station in the southeastern part of St. Tam- many parish, is on the New Orleans & Northeastern R. R. It has a money order postoffice.
Ama, a village of St. Charles parish, on the Mississippi river, about 1 mile north of Sellers, the nearest railroad station. It has a money order postoffice, some mercantile interests, and a popu- lation of about 170.
Amelia (R. R. name Boeuf), a village in the extreme eastern part of St. Mary parish, is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 8 miles east of Morgan City. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, and a population of about 200.
American Governors .- Following is a list of those who have held the office of governor under the American domination : William C. C. Claiborne, governor of the Territory of Orleans, 1804-12; William C. C. Claiborne. governor of the State of Louisiana, 1812-16; Jacques Villeré, 1816-20; Thomas B. Robertson, 1820-24 (resigned) ; Henry S. Thibodaux, one month of unexpired term of Robertson ; Henry Johnson, 1824-28; Pierre Derbigny, 1828-29 (died in office) ; Armand Beauvais, Oct. 7. 1829, to Jan. 14, 1830, and Jacques Dupré, Jan .. 1830, to Jan., 1831, (unexpired term of Derbigny) ; Andre Bienvenu Roman, 1831-35; Edward D. White, 1835-39; Andre Bienvenu Roman, 1839-43; Alexandre Mouton, 1843-46; Isaac Johnson, 1846-50; Joseph M. Walker, 1850-53; Paul O. Hébert, 1853-56; Robert C. Wickliffe, 1856-60; Thomas O. Moore, 1860-64: George F. Shepley, 1862-64 (appointed by the Federals as military governor) ; Henry W. Allen, 1864-65 (elected as a Confederate) ; Michael Hahn, 1864-65 (elected as a Federal, Feb. 22, 1864, served to March 4, 1865) ; J. Madison Wells, 1865-67 (removed by Gen. Sheridan) ; Benjamin F. Flanders, 1867 (ap- pointed when Wells was removed and served until Jan., 1868) ; Joshua Baker, 1868 (appointed by Gen. Hancock to succeed Flan- ders and served until June. 1868) ; Henry C. Warmoth, 1868-73; John McEnery (de jure), 1873-77 : William P. Kellogg (de facto), 1873-77; Francis T. Nicholls, 1877-80: Louis A. Wiltz, 1880-81 (died in office) ; Samuel D. McEnery, 1881-88 (succeeded Wiltz as lieutenant-governor, elected in 1884) ; Francis T. Nicholls, 1888-92;
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Murphy J. Foster, 1892-1900; William W. Heard, 1900-04; Newton C. Blanchard, 1904-08; Jared Y. Sanders, 1908 -.
Amesville, a village of Jefferson parish, is located on the right bank of the Mississippi river about 9 miles above New Orleans. It is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., has a money order post- office, an express office, and in 1900 reported a population of 300.
Amiens, Treaty of .- (See Treaties. )
Amite, the seat of justice of Tangipahoa parish, is situated on the main line of the Illinois Central R. R., a little west of the Tangi- pahoa river, in the west-central part of the parish. The town grew up after the railroad was built and was incorporated, but this charter was annulled and a new one granted in 1876. When Tangi- pahoa parish was created in 1869, Amite was chosen for the parish seat. For some years court was held in the upper story of a business block; the present court house was completed in 1884. Amite is an important station on the Illinois Central R. R., and is a shipping point of considerable importance for lumber and small fruits. In the early spring strawberries and garden vegetables are shipped by car-load lots. There are several manufacturing estab- lishments in the town. the gin factory is one of the largest in the state, giving employment to several hundred men. Amite has good public schools and the Amite City seminary, which provides for the higher education of the children. The Protestant denominations are represented by the Baptist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches while the Catholics have a fine church. Amite has two banks and is the banking point for a considerable district of pine land in the northern and western part of the parish. There are telegraph, express and telephone offices in the town and in 1900 it had a population of 1,547 inhabitants.
Anabel is a post-hamlet in the southern part of Ouachita parish, on Cypress creek, a tributary of the Onachita river, and about 6 miles south of Lapine, the nearest railroad station.
Anchor, a village in the eastern part of Pointe Coupée parish, is on the Mississippi river, and about 2 miles east of St. Clair, the nearest railroad town. It has a money order postoffice and a population of about 250.
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Anderson, Thomas C., politician, was somewhat active during the reconstruction days. In 1868 he was appointed a member of the returning board and served until 1872, when he was nominated for state senator, which rendered him ineligible to act as a return- ing officer. He was reappointed on the board in 1873, and on Jan. 28, 1878, was brought to trial for uttering forged and counterfeit returns from Vernon parish in the election of Nov. 7, 1876. On Feb. 1. after the trial had proceeded for four days, he applied to Justice Bradley of the U. S. supreme court for a writ of "habeas corpus cum causa" to remove the case from the state court to the U. S. circuit court, but the application was denied. The trial then proceeded and the jury, after a short absence from the court room, returned a verdict of guilty, but recommended the defendant to the clemeney of the court. Anderson was sentenced to two years' im-
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prisonment in the penitentiary, but the state supreme court subse- quently set aside the verdict-"not because the act charged was not committed, but because, when committed, it constituted no crime known to the laws of the United States." He does not appear to have figured to any great extent in Louisiana affairs after this event.
Andrepont, a post-hamlet of St. Landry parish, is about 12 miles northwest of Opelousas, the parish scat, with which it is connected by telephone.
Andrew, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Vermilion parish, is about 5 miles northeast of Kaplan, the nearest railroad station.
Angie, a village in the northeastern part of Washington parish, is a station on the main line of the New Orleans Great Northern R. R., and about 4 miles west of the Pearl river. It has a money order postoffice, express service, and in 1900 reported a population of 42.
Angola, a village in the extreme northwestern part of West Feliciana parish, is on the Mississippi river, has a money order postoffice, and is a station on the main line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company.
Ansley, a post-town and station in the northwestern part of Jackson parish, is on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., about 5 miles north of Quitman. It has an express office and telephone service, and some retail stores.
Antioch, a post-hamlet in the east-central part of Claiborne parish, is about 8 miles southwest of Summerfield, the nearest railroad station.
Antiquities .- (See Archaeology.)
Antoine, Pere .- (See Sedella, Antonio.)
Antonio, a post-hamlet and station in the east-central part of Grant parish, is a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & South- ern R. R., about 20 miles north of Alexandria.
Antrim, a village in the northwestern part of Bossier parish, is situated at the junction of the St. Louis Southwestern and the Red River & Rocky Mountain railroads, about 15 miles north of Benton and 5 miles cast of the Red River. It has a money order postoffice and is a trading center for a considerable cotton district. Its population is about 500.
April, a post-hamlet in the extreme northwest corner of Cal- casieu parish, is about 3 miles east of the Sabine river and 6 miles north of Neale, the nearest railroad town.
Arabi, a village in the extreme northwestern part of St. Bernard parish, is located on the left bank of the Mississippi river, some 8 or 9 miles below New Orleans. It has an international money order postoffice and is a station on the Louisiana Southern R. R.
Arbitration, State Board of .- On July 12, 1894, the general assem- bly passed an act authorizing the governor to appoint five compe- tent persons-two of whom should be employers, two employees, and the fifth to be appointed upon the recommendation of the other four-to serve as a state board of arbitration for the adjust-
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ment of disputes between employers and laborers. Two members of the board were to be appointed for 2 years ; two for 3 years, and . one for 4 years, and the governor was given power to fill vacancies. The act provided that any employer of 20 or more persons, or the employees of any individual, firm or corporation, might apply to the board for an adjudication of differences, in which case the board was required to visit the locality, hear statements, make inquiries, advise the parties to the controversy what to do, and to render a written decision in all cases. The board was also required to publish the time and place of hearing complaints, and was given power to summon witnesses or to order an examination of books and papers, so far as the same might relate to the points in dispute.
It was further provided in the act that, whenever any strike or lockout occurred or was imminent, the mayor of the city or judge of the parish district court should at once notify the board of arbitration, which should endeavor to effect an amicable settle- ment of the questions at issue. Members of the board were to draw compensation at the rate of $5 a day and actual expenses for the time actively employed in the adjustment of labor troubles, and the board was required to report to the governor biennially. During the years succeeding the passage of this act the services of the board were frequently called into requisition, and in a majority of such cases their decisions were accepted by the employer and the employees at variance.
With some slight modifications, this law was still in force in July, 1908, when the relations between the steamship agents on one side and the screwmen, stevedores and longshoremen on the other be- came somewhat strained. On July 6, while the general assembly was in session at Baton Rouge, a conference of the steamship agents and the several labor organizations above mentioned was held in that city, and an agreement was reached for the appoint- ment of a permanent state board of arbitration. Accordingly, on the 16th Gov. Sanders appointed W. B. Thompson, president of the New Orleans cotton exhange, and E. H. Kohnke, a flour mer- chant, to represent the employers, and Rufus M. Ruiz of the long- shoremen and H. D. French of the brotherhood of railway con- duetors on the part of organized labor. The next day these four men met and agreed without dissent upon H. G. Hester, secretary of the cotton exchange, as the fifth member of the board. (See Labor Troubles.)
Arbor Day .- The general assembly of 1904 created a department of forestry, and the act directed parish school boards to provide for teaching forestry in the public schools by textbooks or lectures, or both, and also to provide for an "arbor day," when trees should be planted on the school grounds. etc. The act. however, failed to name the day on which these ceremonies should be observed. and the state board of education, in Nov., 1905, designated the second Friday in the month of January of each year as "Arbor Day." on which day "those in charge of the public schools and institutions of learning under state control, or state patronage, shall give infor-
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mation to pupils and students on the subject of forestry, its value and interest to the state, and encourage the planting of forest trees and the protection of song birds."
Arbroth, a village in the northern part of West Baton Rouge parish, is situated on the Mississippi river, about a mile east of the railroad station of the same name. It has a money order postoffice and a reported population of 225 in 1900.
Arcadia, the seat of government of Bienville parish, is situ- ated in the northeastern part of the parish on the main line of the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R. Before the railroad was built, Arcadia was only a small village on the stage coach route between Monroe and El Paso, but after the railroad was completed in 1884 it began to grow rapidly, and in 1892, the parish seat was removed from Sparta and located here. It draws a large trade from the surrounding rich farming district, being located on one of the most fertile highlands in Louisiana. A postoffice was established here in 1866; in 1883 a seminary was established under the title . of the Arcadia E. A. S. Male college; three years later the Arcadia Male and Female college was founded; in 1890 the Arcadia State bank was organized, and its officers have endeavored to build up the interests of the town. Arcadia has a money order postoffice, express office and telegraph facilities and now has a population of about 1,000.
Archaeology .- The word archaeology is derived from two Greek words, "archaios," from the beginning, and "logos," a discourse. A recent writer on the subject says: "The name is now very gen- erally given to the study which was formerly known as that of 'antiquities.' The term is well enough understood, although its meaning is not at all definitely fixed. In its widest sense, it includes the knowledge of the origin, language, religion, laws, institutions, literature, science, arts, manners, customs-everything, in a word, that can be learned of the ancient life and being of a people. *
* * In its narrower but perhaps more popular signification, Archeology is understood to mean the discovery, preservation, collection, arrangement, authentication, publication, description. interpretation, or elucidation of the materials from which a knowl- edge of the ancient condition of a country is to be attained."
The archaeologist makes his investigations by the study of fossil remains, ruins, monuments, inscriptions, etc .; by written manu- seripts (palæography) ; and by printed books (bibliography). The world was old before the archaeological history of Louisiana began to be written. Consequently there have been found in the state but few relics of sufficient importance to command the serious attention of the antiquary. Mention is made in the article on Geological Survey of the paper read before the American Philosophical society in 1832, relating to the bones of a lizard-like animal found in the Tertiary formation of Louisiana. Such bones of extinct animals have been found at various points in the state, but none of them date back to an earlier geologic period than the upper Tertiary era. Bones of the mastodon giganteus, an animal which survived to a
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