USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 61
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The coast marshes in the southern part consist of blue clay, of
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comparatively recent date, upon which the alluvium brought down by modern floods has been deposited. In this section the formative process is still going on, the streams from the interior and the tides from the gulf adding slowly but surely to the deposits, and in many places, especially along the rivers and bayous, the land is already sufficiently elevated to be habitable. Above these marshes are the loams and calcareous silts brought down by streams, many of which no longer exist. during the earlier geologic periods. It is believed that this deposit was formerly in the nature of a slug- gish, shallow sea, running well up toward the parallel of 35º north latitude, after which a gradual elevation took place and this sea was transformed into a mighty river, extending from Bayou Macon on the west to Vicksburg on the east, draining all the region from the Rocky to the Appalachian mountains. The loams and silts were now more rapidly deposited and in this way the bluff lands of the state were formed. This bluff formation is distinctly notice- able along the western banks of Bayou Macon (the Bayou Macon Hills), and it follows this stream through the parishes of West Car- roll, Richland and Franklin, with traces still farther to the south- west. From Harrisonburg in Catahoula parish the bluffs may be traced by occasional outcrops through Rapides, Avoyelles, St. Lan- dry, Lafayette and St. Mary parishes. The hills in the vicinity of Grand Coteau, Opelousas, Carencro, and some other places, are the remains of these bluffs, and the "five islands" standing out of the sea marshes are remnants of this formation. The gradual dis- integration of these hills has formed the prairies about Jefferson, Mer Rouge, Holloway and Marksville, and the larger prairies in the southwestern part of the state.
North of the pine flats are beds of sand and gravel belonging to the stratified drift. which participates in the general southward dip of the formations of the state. This formation is found on the hill- tops of the state. below the blue clay of the Mississippi river, underlying the bluff strata, and overlying the salt beds of Avery island, which is its most southern exposure. It is more or less abundant throughout all the uplands in northern Louisiana.
Borings through the Quarternary, the most modern of the geo- logic periods, show the soils of the recent. beds of alluvium, the bluff formations of the second bottom, loam, clay and sand of the Port Hudson series, and the sand and gravel (drift) of the Lafayette formation. Continuing the investigations, the formations of the Tertiary era are found to be well represented in Louisiana, though they are generally concealed by the more recent Quarternary depos- its. In the Miocene series are found sand, clay and limestone; in the Oligocene beds are the Grand Gulf clay and sandstone and the Vicksburg clay and marl; beneath these beds are found the selen- itic and lignitie clays and marls of the Jackson stage, which occur at various places in the state; and the Eocene series, the oldest of the Tertiary era, are met with only in the deep oil wells of south- western Louisiana. where the drill proves their presence at depths ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 feet.
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In several places rocks of the Cretaceous era-the youngest of the Mesozoic age-crop out from under the overlying Tertiary and Quarternary clays and sands. The salt licks of northern Louisiana, the marble deposits near Winnfield, Winn parish, and the St. Landry limestone belong to the Cretaceous era. Concerning these rocks the bureau of agriculture and immigration in a recent report says: "So far as square miles are concerned, their outcrop- pings are insignificant, but their good quality of lime-making and building material, as well as their oil and salt-bearing properties in the extreme southern part of the state, renders them of the high- est economic value to the state."
About the close of the Cretaceous era the geological formations of the lower Mississippi valley were disturbed by movements of con- siderable magnitude. The Cretaceous deposits in Tennessee and Mississippi were lifted above the level, while in eastern Arkansas and farther north they were depressed to some distance below the Eocene tides. The Louisiana geological report for 1902 says: "In Louisiana we have reason to believe that the raising and depression of the Cretaceous beds were of a much more violent nature, that folds and faults were numerous and on a large scale, and that a great irregularity of surface features characterized the newly formed rocks."
In a commercial sense, the most important mineral or geological deposits in Louisiana are the marble and kainite beds in Winn par- ish, the lignite veins in the Dolet Hills of De Soto, the kaolin beds of Catahoula, the various deposits of good brick-making clay, the salt mines of Avery island, the sulphur beds of Calcasieu parish, lime- stone, and the oil found in different parts of the state. Poole says: "The marble underlies 1,000 acres, and is said by those who claim to know to be the largest marble formation in the world. All col- ors are found. The banded, variegated and yellow-lime onyx are very unique. The stone has been assayed both here and at Wash- ington, D. C. The crystal is very fine, and stone compact. It con- tains no iron, silica or sulphur. It is absolutely free from all ex- traneous matter. The kainite beds of Winn parish are situated 4 miles south of Winnfield. They are said to contain potash, soda, lime, salt and aluminum in combination. It is claimed to be a good fertilizer when combined with the lime burned from the marble."
Georgetown, a village in the northeastern part of Grant parish, is situated at the junction of the Louisiana & Arkansas and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern railroads, about 25 miles north- east of Colfax, the parish seat. It has a money order post office, express office, telegraph station. is located in the lumber region, and is the shipping and supply point for a considerable district.
Gheens, a post-hamlet in the central part of Lafourche parish, is about 5 miles northeast of Lockport, the nearest railroad station. It had a population of 50 in 1900.
Ghent, Treaty of .- (See Treaties.)
Gibsland, an incorporated town and station in the northern part of Bienville parish, at the junction of the Vicksburg, Shreveport &
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Pacific and the Louisiana & Northwest railroads. It was named in ₹ honor of its founder, one of the first residents of the parish. There are several manufacturing concerns, among which is a furniture factory, and its location on 2 lines of railroad makes it the shipping point for a large cotton and timber area. The Methodist church established the Gibsland collegiate institute here in 1888, and the 'college buildings were opened a year later. The town has a bank, a money order postoffice, telegraph and express office, and in 1900 had a population of 558.
Gibson, a village in the northwestern part of Terrebonne parish, is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R. about 12 miles west of Schriever. It has a money order postoffice, express office, tele- graph station and telephone, and in 1900 reported a population of 215.
Gibson, Randall Lee, soldier and U. S. senator, was born at Spring Hill, Ky., Sept. 10, 1832. His ancestors, the Gibsons and Mckinleys, came from Scotland early in the 18th century and set- tled in Virginia. His grandfather, Randall Gibson, after whom he was named, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and after the independence of the United States was established moved to Mis- sissippi, where he became one of the founders of Jefferson college. Senator Gibson passed his boyhood at Lexington, Ky., and on his father's plantation in the parish of Terrebonne, La. In 1853 he graduated at Yale college as the valedictorian of his class, then read law, and after receiving his diploma from the University of Louisi- ana traveled for some time in Europe. He then became a planter in Louisiana until the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861, when he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Moore. In March, 1861, he was made captain of the 1st La. artillery, and on Aug. 13 was commissioned colonel of the 13th La. infantry. Under his instruction the regiment soon became one of the best drilled and disciplined in the Confederate army. After Gen. Adams was wounded at Shiloh, Col. Gibson commanded the Louisiana brigade throughout the remainder of that historic battle. He distinguished himself at the battle of Perryville, Ky., commanded the brigade at Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, and on Jan. 11', 1864, was made brigadier-general. He fought through the Atlanta and Nashville campaigns with Gens. Johnston and Hood, and finished his military career by a gallant defense of Spanish Fort. After the war Gen. Gibson practiced law in New Orleans until elected to Congress. He was elected in 1872 to represent the 2nd district in the lower house of Congress, but the seat was successfully contested by Lionel A. Sheldon. Two years later he was elected and remained in the national house of representatives until chosen by the Louisiana legislature to succeed William Pitt Kellogg in the U. S. senate, his term beginning on March 4, 1883. At the close of his first term he was reelected, but did not live to complete his second term. his death occurring at Hot Springs, Ark., Dec. 15, 1892. Gen. Gibson did much to promote the cause of education in Louisiana. He served as administrator of the Howard memorial library : trustee
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of the Peabody fund: regent of the Smithsonian institute, and as president of the board of administrators of the Tulane university of Louisiana, an institution which his influence helped to establish.
Gilbert, a village in the southern part of Franklin parish, is situ- ated at the junction of the New Orleans & Northwestern and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern railroads, about 7 miles south of Winnsboro, the parish seat. It has a money order post- office, express office, telegraph station and telephone facilities, and in 1900 had a population of 100.
Gilead, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of East Feliciana parish, is near the Amite river and 8 miles southeast of Clinton, the parish seat.
Gilliam, a post-village in the northern part of Caddo parish, is situated about 5 miles west of the Red river on the Texas & Pacific R. R., and some 20 miles north of Shreveport, the parish seat. The population in 1900 was 64.
Gillis, a post-village of Calcasieu parish, is a station on the Lake Charles & Northern R. R., about 10 miles north of Lake Charles. The population in 1900 was 50.
Girard, a village in the northern part of Richland parish, is a station on the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R., 3 miles west of Rayville, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, ex- press office and telegraph station, and in 1900 had a population of 107.
Gladden, Adley H., soldier, was born in South Carolina. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he entered the army, was major of the Palmetto regiment of South Carolina at the battle of Churu- busco, and as a result of his gallant conduct on that day he be- came colonel of the regiment, which he led in many other battles of the war. After the close of the Mexican war he settled in Louisiana, and when the state seceded from the Union he joined the militia of his adopted state, going to Pensacola as colonel of the 1st La. regiment. On Sept. 30, 1861, he was commissioned brigadier-general and given command of a brigade, which he com- manded during the bombardment of the Confederate forts at Pen- sacola harbor. Gen. Bragg expressed his thanks to Gen. Gladden for his able support at the time, and later when he expressed a desire to form a brigade that should set the example for discipline and official excellence, he said: "I should desire Gen. Gladden to command them." In Jan., 1862, Gladden was transferred to Mobile and then to Corinth, where he commanded a brigade. At Shiloh he rendered gallant service and Gen. Beauregard describes his death as follows: "We early lost the services of the gallant Gladden, a man of soldierly aptitudes and experience, who, after a marked influence on his quarter of the field fell, mortally wounded." Struck by a cannon ball, he was carried from the field and soon afterward died.
Glade, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Catahoula parish, situated on the west bank of the Black river, about 10 miles south of Jonesville, the nearest railroad station.
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Gladis, a money order post-village in the northwest corner of Washington parish, is on the Bogue Chitto, about 3 miles north of Jones, the nearest railroad station. It is located in a truck farm- ing district, which supplies the northern markets with vegetables and berries, and in 1900 had a population of 50.
Glencoe, a village in the western part of St. Mary parish, is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 10 miles west of Franklin, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, some sugar industries, and in 1900 had a population of 150.
Glenella, a post-hamlet in the western part of Caldwell parish, situated on the Bayou Beaucoup, about 3 miles east of Hinton, the nearest railroad station, and 12 miles southwest of Columbia, the parish seat.
Glenmora, a village in the southwestern part of Rapides parish, is a station on the St. Louis, Watkins & Gulf R. R., 25 miles south- west of Alexandria, the parish seat. It has a money order post- office and telegraph station and in 1900 reported a population of 110.
Glenwild, is a post-hamlet of St. Mary parish.
Gloster, a village in the north-central part of DeSoto parish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R. It is located in the western pine district, has important lumber industries and is the shipping and supply point for a large district. It has a money order post- office, one free rural delivery route, an express office, telegraph sta- tion and telephone facilities, and in 1900 had a population of 121.
Glynn, a village in the southeastern part of Pointe Coupée parish, is on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 15 miles northwest of Baton Rouge. It has a money order postoffice, express office and tele- graph station, and is a shipping point of some importance.
Gold Dust, a post-village and station in the southwest corner of Avoyelles parish, is on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 6 miles southwest of Bunkie, the nearest banking town. It has an express office and telegraph station, and does some shipping.
Goldman, a post-village and station in the southern part of Tensas parish, is situated on the Mississippi river and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 8 miles southwest of St. Joseph, the parish seat. It has a telegraph station and in 1900 had a population of 70.
Goldonna, a village in the northeastern part of Natchitoches parish, is situated on Saline bayou and the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R., about 20 miles northeast of Natchitoches. the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph station and express office, and in 1900 reported a population of 100.
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Gonzales, a village in the central part of Ascension parish, is a station on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation com- pany, about 12 miles northeast of Donaldsonville, the parish seat. It is located in one of the richest agricultural districts along the Mississippi river, has several mercantile establishments, and is the shipping and supply town for the eastern part of the parish. It has a money order postoffice and in 1900 had a population of 130.
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Good Pine, a post-village and station in the western part of Catahoula parish, is a station on the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R., about 3 miles west of Jena.
Gordon, a post-village in the northern part of Claiborne parish, is near the Arkansas border, 6 miles east of Haynesville, the near- est railroad station, and about 12 miles north of Homer, the parish seat. It is the terminus of the Bernice & Northwestern R. R., and is the shipping and supply town for a large district in that part of the parish. In 1900 it had a population of 85.
Gorum, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Natchitoches parish, is a short distance north of the Red river and some + miles southeast of Chopin, the nearest railroad station.
Gottschalk, Louis M., a prominent musician of the ante-bellum days, was born in New Orleans, La., May 8, 1829, of German- Jewish lineage. At the age of 12 years he was sent to Paris, where he received instruction on the piano and in harmony from famous masters. When he had concluded his musical studies in 1845, so nearly perfect was his mastership of his favorite instrument that he was given the opportunity to appear at several concerts in Paris, and later he toured France, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. Upon his return to the French capital he published several compo- sitions, especially adapted to the pianoforte, which were exceed- ingly well received. In 1853 he returned to the United States. gave concerts at Boston, Philadelphia and New York, after which he made extensive tours through his native land and everywhere his renditions of his own compositions were highly praised. At frequent intervals he confined his efforts to the composition of salon-pieces among which were "Le Bamboula," "La Savane," "La Danse de Ombres" and the "Cradle Song," the last mentioned of which was undoubtedly the most notable of the series. Later he made visits to the West Indies, Mexico, Montevideo and Buenos Ayres, and finally settled in Rio Janeiro. While rendering a con- cert in the last named city in 1869, he was suddenly stricken with mortal illness. Most of the master's concerts were recitals of his own compositions, which in point of neatness, expression and originality, possessed a charm exclusively their own. They were largely founded on Louisiana plantation ditties, old creole songs and South American airs. The interpretation of the old masters received very little of his attention and he abhorred the idea of playing the pieces of living composers. He published several popular songs and left in an incomplete state several operas and symphonies.
Goudeau, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Avoyelles parish, is situated on a confluent of Bayou Rouge, about 5 miles northeast of Morrow, the nearest railroad station.
Governors .- As Louisiana has been ruled successively by France, Spain and the United States, the names of the governors under the different dominations will be found under the titles of French, Spanish and American governors.
Grace, a post-hamlet in the western part of Winn parish, is a sta-
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tion on the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R., about 10 miles west of Winfield, the parish seat. It has an express office and telegraph station, and is a trading center for the neighborhood.
Grahamville .- By an act of the legislature, approved March 22, 1822, Thomas Graham was authorized to lay off a town, to be called Grahamville, "at the confluence of the two branches of the Red river, called the River Cane and the Rigolet de Bon Dieu." This town, which does not appear on the maps of the present day, was located not far from the present city of Colfax, the seat of justice of Grant parish. History does not record whether the town was ever built, or if built how it disappeared.
Grambling, a post-village and station, is situated in the southern part of Lincoln parish, about 5 miles west of Ruston, the parish seat, and on the main line of the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pa- cific R. R.
Gramercy, a village in the southeastern part of St. James parish, is near the southern boundary on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., in one of the great sugar districts of the state. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph station and tele- phone facilities, and in 1900 had a population of 210.
Grand Bayou, a village in the western part of Red River parish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 8 miles northwest of Coushatta, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, ex- press office, telegraph station and telephone facilities, and is the shipping and supply town for a large area of the rich Red river valley.
Grand Cane, an incorporated town in the central part of De Soto parish, is on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 8 miles northwest of Mansfield, the parish seat. This name was given to an early settle- ment in here many years ago, as the site of the town was a dense canebrake, through which the first explorers had to cut their way. The country around is fertile farming land, though it forms the summit of a plateau, which is the divide between the Red and Sa- bine rivers. When the railroad was built in 1881, the little settle- ment became a flourishing business center. There are a number of beautiful homes in the town. a high school, Methodist, Presby- terian and Baptist churches. The principal industries are a grist mill, saw mill and cotton-gin and there are several good mercantile establishments. Grand Cane has a bank, a money order post- office, telegraph and express facilities and in 1900 the population was 385.
Grand Chenier, a money order post-village, in the southern part of Cameron parish. on the Mermenton river, about 5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 25 miles east of Cameron, the parish seat. It has extensive oyster industries and in 1900 had a population of 80.
Grand Coteau, an incorporated town in the southern part of St. Landry parish, is about 10 miles south of Opelousas, the parish seat, and 3 miles northeast of Sunset, the nearest railroad station. It is an old settlement, and was a thriving village before the rail-
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roads were built. It is the seat of Saint Charles Catholic college and the Sacred Heart academy, has several good mercantile estab- lishments and pretty homes, and is one of the largest and most thriving towns in the parish. The population in 1900 was 521.
Grand Ecore, a village of Natchitoches parish, is located upon the line of the Louisiana & Northwestern R. R., 2 miles south of Hagen and 5 miles north of the city of Natchitoches. It was in- corporated by act of the legislature on March 20, 1839, but the population in 1900 was only 50. A postoffice was formerly main- tained here, but upon the establishment of the rural free delivery system it was discontinued and the inhabitants now receive their mail from Natchitoches. After the battle of Mansfield, April S, 1864, the Federal army under Gen. Banks fell back to Grand Ecore, and several slight skirmishes occurred in the vicinity dur- ing the remainder of that month and in the early part of May.
Grand Isle, a money order post-village of Jefferson parish, situ- ated on the island of the same name on the gulf coast, about 30 miles west of Buras, the nearest railroad station. It is an old town and in 1900 had a population of 252. The oyster industry is the most important, though large quantities of terrapin and fish are caught and shipped to New Orleans and northern markets.
Grand Lake, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Cameron par- ish, is on the east shore of Calcasieu lake, about 16 miles south of Lake Charles. In 1900 it had a population of 51.
Grange Movement .- (See Farmers' Alliance.)
Grangeville, a post-village in the southwestern part of St. Helena parish, is situated near the Amite river, about 6 miles northwest of Pinegrove, the nearest railroad station. The population in 1900 was 95.
Grant, a post-village in the northeastern part of Calcasieu parish, is about 4 miles southeast of Sugartown, the nearest railroad sta- tion. The population in 1900 was 50.
Grant Parish, with an area of 700 square miles, was es- tablished March 4, 1869, during the reconstruction period, while . Henry Clay Warmoth was governor, and was named in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, then president of the United States. The south- ern part of Winn and the northern part of Rapides were taken to form the parish of Grant, which is bounded on the north by Winn parish ; on the east by Little river, which separates it from Cata- houla parish ; on the south by Rapides parish, and the Rigolet de Bon Dieu and the Red river form its western boundary separating it from Rapides and Natchitoches parishes. After the organization of the parish Colfax was made the seat of parochial government. During the first half of the 19th century great plantations were started in what is now Grant parish. Meredith Calhoun owned 1,000 slaves and lands with a river frontage of 7 miles. Other planters with large holdings were the Baldwins, opposite Cotile Landing, the Gillards. Layssards and Thomas and Peter Hick- man. The war changed all this, leaving no slaves to cultivate the land, and for years many hundreds of acres were uncultivated. In
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the past few years, the forests that have grown up since the war have been cut off to make way for the return of the great cotton fields. In 1873, during the reconstruction period. bands of preda- tory negroes rode through the parish, threatening murder and out- rage and firing into houses. (See Kellogg's Administration.)
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