USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 63
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The legislature was as implacable as the governor with regard to the Confederates. On Oct. 12 a resolution was introduced in the state senate instructing the attorney-general and the several dis- trict attorneys to begin criminal proceedings against certain per- sons for perjury and treason, or either. The persons named in this order were Thomas O. Moore, Henry M. Hyams, T. J. Semmes, E. W. Moise, John Slidell, Judah P. Benjamin; all members of the legislature that voted in Dec., 1860, for the act calling the conven- tion to pass the secession ordinance ; and all members of the con- vention "who voted for or signed the said act of secession, by which the state has been prostrated and ruined ; also all judges of the supreme and inferior courts, the public officers of the state, cities, corporations and parishes, who have not now renounced their treasonable acts and returned to their loyalty." All the per- sons included in this order were barred from receiving any benefit from the general amnesty, and the attorney-general and district attorneys, in case of failure to institute proceedings as directed, were to forfeit their offices.
Although the civil government of the state had been reorganized and a new constitution put into effect, military rule still prevailed to a large extent and the powers of the civil authorities were quite limited. The provisional court established by President Lincoln's order of Oct. 20, 1862, and which began operations during Shep- ley's administration. was still in existence. The validity of the pro- ceedings of this tribunal was questioned both before and after the state government was reorganized, but it continued to be the court of last resort. In May. 1864, Gen. S. A. Hurlbut succeeded Gen. Banks in command of the Department of the Gulf, and on Dec. 27, "upon the official report of the attorney-general of the State of Louisiana, that the ordinary courts of justice are insufficient
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to punish the offenders named by him, and in consideration that the state government and courts of Louisiana owe their present ex- istence to military authority," he ordered certain persons to be brought for trial before the military commission then in session in New Orleans. The legislature above referred to was sustained by bayonets, and not having any opposition it proceeded to enact laws that in time of peace would have condemned the members to po- litical oblivion. They repealed all the state laws relating to the manner of choosing presidential electors and by joint ballot of the two houses selected 7 electors to represent the state in the electoral college. Charles Smith and R. King Cutler were elected U. S. senators in the places of Judah P. Benjamin and John Slidell, who had resigned their seats in that body when Louisiana seceded. Smith took the place of Benjamin, whose term expired on March 4, 1865, and the legislature elected Gov. Hahn for the full term to succeed Smith. To accept the seat in the U. S. senate, the governor resigned on March 4, 1865, and Lieut .- Gov. J. Madison Wells suc- ceeded to the office. This brought the administration of Gov. Hahn to an end. During the year that he had held the office he had really been governor over a small portion of the state only, Gov. Allen at Shreveport administering the affairs of the state out- side the Federal lines. (See Allen, Henry W.)
Hahnville, the parish seat of St. Charles parish, was founded in 1872 by ex-Gov. Michael Hahn, who laid out the town on his sugar plantation and on Feb. 15, 1873, he issued the first number of the St. Charles Herald, which paper he continued to publish until his death in 1886. The town is located in the northern part of the parish on the line of the Texas & Pacific R. R., and in 1900 had a population of 447. According to Young's Directory for 1909 Hahn- ville has 8 general stores, a large sugar mill, and some minor in- dustries. Being located in a rich agricultural disrict it is the principal trading point for a considerable population, but as it is only about 25 miles from New Orleans it is not probable that Hahnville will ever become an important commercial center.
Haile, a post-village in the eastern part of Union parish, is about 4 miles west of the Ouachita river on the Little Rock & Monroe R. R., and 15 miles east of Farmerville, the parish seat.
Hall is a post-hamlet of Livingston parislı.
Hall, Dominick Augustine, jurist, was a native of South Caro- lina, where he was born in 1765. He began the practice of law in that state in 1786, but subsequently removed to the Territory of Orleans, where he followed his profession until 1809, when he was appointed territorial district judge. When Louisiana was admitted into the Union in 1812 he was chosen one of the supreme judges of the new state, but soon resigned this office to become U. S. dis- trict judge, which position he held until his death. While the city of New Orleans was under martial law in Jan., 1815, he granted a writ of habeas corpus for the release of Louis Louallier, and for this he was arrested by order of Gen. Jackson. After the order proclaiming martial law was revoked Judge Hall fined Jackson
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$1,000 for contempt of court. (See Jackson, Andrew). Judge Hall died in New Orleans on Dec. 12, 1820.
Hamburg is a post-hamlet in the northern part of Calcasieu parish. Sugartown is the nearest railroad station.
Hamlin, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Sabine parish. is situated near the Bayou St. Michael, 5 miles northeast of Noble, the nearest railroad station, and 14 miles northwest of Many, the parish seat.
Hammond, an incorporated town in the southern part of Tangi- pahoa parish. is situated at the junction of the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railroads, about 15 miles south of Amite. the parish seat, in the great long leaf yellow pine district, east of the Mississippi river, a large part of which is still virgin forest. The surrounding country, of which Hammond is the shipping and supply point, is developing into a fine stock and dairy district as the timber is ent. Excellent train service is af- forded by the Illinois Central road and the shipping facilities are equally good to the great markets of the north and to New Orleans. The town is in the famous "Ozone Belt," of the South, and is de- veloping into one of the best known of the southern winter re- sorts. It has three hotels, fine schools, beautiful churches, electric lights and is installing one of the best waterworks and sewerage systems in the South. There are fine artesian wells that supply the town with pure water, and the mineral water is bottled and ex- ported for medicinal purposes. The principal industries are saw- mills, planing mills, brickyards and wood-working factories. It has an international money order postoffice, express offices, tele- graph and telephone facilities, two banks and numerous mercantile establishments. Its population in 1900 was 1,511, and in 1908 it was estimated at 3,000.
Hanna, a post-village in the southwestern part of Red river parish, is situated on the Red river, and is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 5 miles south of Coushatta, the parish seat.
Happy Jack, a post-village in the central part of Plaquemines parish, is on the west bank of the Mississippi river, and the New Orleans, Fort Jackson & Grand Iste R. R., about 6 miles below Pointe a la Hache. the parish seat. It is in a district of orange groves and does considerable business. The population in 1900 was 72.
Hardie, a post-village in the northern part of Caldwell parish, is about 5 miles northwest of Corey, the nearest railroad station, and 12 miles northwest of Columbia, the parish seat.
Hardshell, a post-village in the northern part of Vernon parish, is about 9 miles northeast of Orangeville, the nearest railroad sta- tion, and 10 miles northeast of Leesville, the parish seat.
Hard Times Landing, a small settlement in the eastern part of Tensas parish. is on the west bank of the Mississippi river, almost opposite and about 6 miles distant from Grand Gulf, Miss., and about 15 miles above St. Joseph, the parish seat. In the spring of 1863 this landing came into considerable prominence as being the
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place where Gen. Grant massed his forces for the beginning of the Vicksburg campaign.
Hargis, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Grant parish, is about 3 miles southeast of Verda, the nearest railroad station and 15 miles northwest of Colfax, the parish seat.
Harmanson, John H., lawyer and planter, was born at Norfolk, Va., in Jan., 1803. After pursuing classical studies he graduated at Jefferson college in Mississippi, studied law and practiced in Louisiana, where he became interested in planting. In 1844 he was a state senator, and was elected a representative from Louisiana to the 31st Congress as a Democrat, serving until his death, which occurred at New Orleans on Oct. 25, 1850.
Harpe, Bénard De La, a French officer of distinction, arrived in the Bay of Mobile in Aug., 1718, to settle a colony on the Red river, bringing with him 60 people for his concession. Though he spent only a few years in the young colony of Louisiana, returning to France in 1723, he has contributed largely to the general knowledge of this early period through his manuscript journal of the first establishment of the French in Louisiana, down to 1722. (A translation of this valuable manuscript is found .in Vol. III, Historical Collections of Louisiana, 1851). He arrived at Natchi- toches before the close of the year 1718, and built a fort there. He also explored at this time large portions of Texas, and extended his discoveries to the Arkansas, where he visited an Indian village- "of 3 miles in extent, containing upwards of 4,000 persons." He- likewise constructed Fort St. Louis de Carlorette (q. v.) on north latitude 33 deg. 55 min., as a sign of the jurisdiction of France, and concluded various alliances with the Indian tribes. He was later commissioned by the Western Company, Ang. 10, 1721, to make another attempt to establish a permanent settlement on Bay St. Bernard, and sailed thither with a well equipped expedition,. which took formal possession of the region in the name of France .. The Indians again proved hostile, however, and La Harpe did not deem it prudent to attempt an establishment. Later in the year - Bienville appointed him to the command of an expedition to the . Arkansas river to find out whether it was navigable as far as the . Indian nations he had discovered in 1719. He set out in December . with a detachment of 18 soldiers and provisions for 45 days, and! ascended the Arkansas for a distance of 350 miles, but on account: of sickness among his men, the hostility of the Indians, and his feeble force, he was unable to make a settlement. He returned to Biloxi on May 25, 1722, having narrowly escaped a surprise by a Chickasaw war party. The services of La Harpe established the. claim of France to the extensive region drained by the Upper Red river and the Arkansas, and largely tended to balk the Spanish in their efforts to form settlements within that country. That his ef- forts were appreciated by Gov. Bienville is evidenced by a certifi- cate issued by the latter, dated Biloxi, July 1, 1720, and couched in the most complimentary language.
Harris is a post-hamlet of Natchitoches parish.
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Harris, John S., U. S. senator from Louisiana, was born in Trux- ton, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1825. He received a good education ; moved with family to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1846, and then to Concordia parish, La. In 1863 he became a planter, was elected to the Louisi- ana constitutional convention in 1867, to the state senate in 1868, and to the U. S. senate from Louisiana as a Republican. He served in the U. S. senate from July 17, 1868, to March 3, 1871.
Harrisonburg, the parish seat of Catahoula parish, is located in the eastern part of the parish on the right bank of the Ouachita river, which is the only channel of transportation, as the town is without a railroad, Florence, about 10 miles east on the New Or- leans & Northwestern. being the nearest railway station. The first white man to settle on the present site of Harrisonburg was Jacob Simmons. The place was designated as the parish seat when the parish was organized and the first courthouse was erected in 1808. Three years later the land was acquired by preemption by John Hamberlin, who subsequently sold it to John Harrison, and in 1818 the latter employed Edward Dorsey to survey and make a plat of the town site, and it was from Mr. Harrison that the town derived its name. Prior to the Civil war Harrisonburg was a busy little town. During hostilities the Confederates built Fort Beau- regard on the hill overlooking the town, and this place was several times attacked by the Federals, with the result that during the bombardments the town was set on fire and a large portion of it destroyed. The Harrisonburg of the present day has recovered some of this old ante-bellum prestige. It has a money order post- office, several general stores, a newspaper, and is an important shipping point and trading center for a large section of the parish. The population in 1900 was 303.
Hart, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Vernon parish, is about 3 miles south of Orangeville, the nearest railroad station, and 6 miles northwest of Leesville. the parish seat.
Harvells Mills, a postoffice in the western part of St. Helena parish, is about 6 miles southwest of Greensburg, the parish seat. and most convenient railroad station. In 1900 it had a population of 45.
Harvey, a village in the northern part of Jefferson parish, is on the west bank of the Mississippi river, about 6 miles above New Orleans, and is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph station and tele- phone facilities, several mercantile establishments, and in 1900 had a population of 300.
Hatcher, a post-hamlet in the northwest corner of Sabine parish, is situated on a branch of Bear creek, about 5 miles southwest of Benson, the nearest railroad station. It is located in the western long leaf yellow pine district and has important lumber interests.
Haughton, an incorporated town of Bossier parish, about 14 miles east of Shreveport, is on the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R. It is the shipping and supply town of the eastern part of the parish. has a money order postoffice, telegraph station, express office, tele-
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phone facilities, several business houses, two saw mills, one of which has a planing mill in connection, a grist mill, cotton-gin, chair factory and a hotel. In 1900 it had a population of 194.
Hawthorn, a post-village in the central part of Vernon parish, is on the Kansas City Southern R. R., about 4 miles northwest of Leesville, the parish seat. It has lumber industries and in 1900 had a population of 150.
Hayes, a village in the southeastern part of Calcasieu parish, is on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 20 miles southeast of Lake Charles, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph station and telephone facilities, and is a trading and shipping point for the neighborhood.
Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 19th president of the United States, was born at Delaware, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1822, a son of Rutherford and Sophia (Birchard) Hayes, the former of Scotch and the latter of English ancestry. In 1842 he graduated at Kenyon college, Gam- bier, Ohio, entered the Harvard law school the following year, and graduated there in 1845. He began practice at Lower San- dusky, Ohio, but in 1849 removed to Cincinnati. Prior to the formation of the Republican party he was a Whig, but when the new party was organized he became one of its stanchest sup- porters. In 1858 he was elected city solicitor of Cincinnati, but was defeated for reelection in April, 1861. On May 23, of that year, he accepted a commission as major of the 23d Ohio infantry, and by successive promotions attained the rank of brigadier-general. At the election of 1864 he was chosen to represent his district in the lower house of Congress, and in June, 1865, resigned his com- mission in the army. As a member of the house he voted with his party on all matters touching the reconstruction of the Southern states; favored negro suffrage, and gave a hearty support to the movement for the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. In 1867 he was elected governor of Ohio, defeating Allen G. Thur- man; was reelected in 1869 over George H. Pendleton : was de- feated by William Allen for Congress in 1872; and on the 7th ballot in the Republican national convention of 1876 was nominated for the presidency. The result of the election was not decided until March 2, 1877, when he was declared to be the successful candi- date. (See Electoral Commission.) On Nov. 17, 1876, he wrote a letter to John Sherman, then in New Orleans, in which he said: "You feel, I am sure, as I do, about this whole business. A fair election would have given us about 40 electoral votes at the South, at least that many. But we are not to allow our friends to defeat one outrage by another. There must be nothing curved on our part. Let Mr. Tilden have the place by violence, intimidation and fraud, rather than undertake to prevent it by means that will not bear the severest scrutiny." Notwithstanding this expression of high moral sentiment. Mr. Hayes accepted the presidency at the hands of a commission, which, "by means that will not bear the severest scrutiny" declared he had a majority of one vote in the electoral college, and on March 5, the 4th being on Sunday, he was
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inaugurated. In his inaugural address he announced it as his in- tention to put forth his "best efforts in behalf of a civil policy which will forever wipe out in any political affairs the color line and the distinction between the North and the South, to the end that we may have not merely a united North or South, but a united country." One of his first official acts was to withdraw the Federal troops from South Carolina and Louisiana, and to recog- nize the administrations elected by the people in those states. Con- cerning this movement he said in his message to Congress on Dec. 3, 1877: "The results that have followed are indeed significant and encouraging. All apprehension of danger from remitting those states to local self-governments is dispelled, and a most salutary change in the minds of the people has begun and is in progress in every part of that section of the country once the theater of unhappy civil strife, substituting for suspicion, distrust and aver- sion, concord, friendship and patriotic attachment to the Union. * * * There has been a general reestablishment of order, and of the orderly administration of justice. Instances of remaining law- lessness have become of rare occurrence: political turmoil and turbulence have disappeared : useful industries have been resumed : public credit in the Southern states has been greatly strengthened ; and the encouraging benefits of a revival of commerce between the sections of the country, lately embroiled in civil war, are fully en- joyed." Though there has always been some doubt as to the le- gality of Mr. Hayes' title to the presidency, his conciliatory policy toward the State of Louisiana has entitled him to the gratitude of her people, and they have not forgotten that he was the first presi- dent after the great Civil war to make an honest and patriotic effort to restore good feeling between the North and the South. Mr. Hayes died on Jan. 17, 1893.
Haynesville, a town of Claiborne parish, was incorporated on March 18, 1861. It is situated in the northwest corner, about 15 miles from Homer, the parish seat, and is a station on the Louisiana & Northwest R. R. It has a money order postoffice with 2 free rural delivery routes, a bank, express office, telegraph station. telephone facilities, several good mercantile establishments and is a good business town. In 1900 it had a population of 200.
Hays, Harry T., soldier, entered the Confederate service as colonel of the 7th Louisiana infantry, one of the finest regiments of the state. He took part in the battle of Manassas: in the Shen- andoah Valley campaign of 1862, and at Port Republic was wounded. This prevented his taking part in the Seven Days' bat- tles. On July 25. 1862, while still absent on account of his wound. Col. Hays was commissioned brigadier-general. taking the brigade formerly commanded by Gen. Richard Taylor. At the battle of Sharpsburg his brigade was in the thickest part of the battle, and at Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville. Gettysburg and other battles. Gen. Hays exhibited great bravery and valor. Winder tells how his charge won the day at Gettysburg: "Hays moved his command for- ward in gallant style with a cheer," and from the first battle in
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which he took part, down to that terrible struggle in the Wilder- ness, in the spring of 1864, the name of Gen. Hays is mentioned with flattering frequency in the reports of the various commanders. On May 9, 1864, he was severely wounded at Spottsylvania Court House, but had sufficiently recovered by fall to attend to getting together all the absentees from the commands east of the Mis- sissippi. On May 10, 1865, he was appointed major-general in the army of the Confederate States, but at this time the Confederacy had ceased to exist anywhere except in the Trans-Mississippi de- partment, where he then was, but on May 26, 1865, this depart- ment also gave up the fight and the war was ended. After the close of the war Gen. Hays lived in New Orleans. In 1867 he was elected sheriff of Orleans parish, but considerable influence was brought to bear and Gen. Mower removed him from office. He died in New Orleans, La .. Aug. 21, 1876.
Head of Island, a money order post-village in the southwestern part of Livingston parish, is situated on the Amite river, about 12 miles east of Gonzales, the nearest railroad station. In 1900 it had a population of 91.
Health, State Board of .- The first mention of a board of health, in the acts of the general assembly of the State of Louisiana, was an act approved March 17. 1818, which established a board of health and health officers. "to prevent the introduction of malig- nant, pestilential and infectious diseases into the city of New Or- leans." This act provided for a consulting physician and quaran- tine master to quarantine vessels from foreign ports ; also for quar- antine of infectious diseases in the city. The state government was authorized to advance a loan of $10,000 to the board of health, to carry out the quarantine regulations. All pilots were required to report diseases on ships to the board; this act was repealed on March 6, 1819. The legislature enacted a second, "code of public health" on Feb. 17, 1821, the mayor of New Orleans to be ex- officio president of this board; the city council to choose 5 alder- men, and the governor. with the advice and consent of the senate, was to appoint 7 inhabitants of New Orleans to act with those chosen by the council, on the board. They were to serve without compensation, though the secretary was to receive $800.00 a year for his services. The act gave the board the power to purchase 10 acres of land on the Mississippi river near Fort St. Philip for a quarantine station, and licenses were to be issued to dealers to sup- ply the station with the necessary provisions. The officers at the station were the resident physician, health officer and steward. It was the duty of the health officer to board all incoming vessels and compel the sailing masters or captains to declare under oath all cases of sickness. All vessels that could not show a clean bill of health were to be detained not less than 15 days at the station. Shipmasters violating this law forfeited $500 to the board of health, or were subject to 6 months in jail. The first health officers for the city of New Orleans were provided for in the same act and con- sisted of 7 wardens, whose duty it was to inspect houses, yards,
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boats, etc., and who might arrest and take to the quarantine ground such persons as the board might direct. All keepers of inns, tav- erns and boarding houses were required to report, on blanks fur- nished by the mayor, the names of all guests and boarders. A failure to make this report subjected the keeper to a fine of $100, and a false report subjected him to a fine of $500. If a guest fell sick the case was to be reported to the board of health within 12 hours. All the physicians of the city were required to report all fever cases between May 1 and Nov. 1, and the sextons of ceme- teries were to report all burials. Failure to do this rendered the physician or sexton subject to a fine. In 1877 a new law was passed which provided for a state board of health, to consist of 9 members, 4 to be appointed by the governor of the state and 5 elected by the city council of New Orleans. They were given power to make rules for vaccination in New Orleans, and call upon the police to enforce these rules; to establish quarantine sta- tions upon any of the approaches to New Orleans, and the presi- dent of the board was to keep a register of vital statistics. All the power the board had under the existing laws was retained. In 1878 Shreveport and Baton Rouge were made sanitary districts: the officers in these districts were appointed by the governor and the mayors of the respective cities, and had duties very similar to those of New Orleans, such as power to condemn unsafe buildings, make quarantine rules, and keep a register of vital statistics. In 1882 a supplementary law was passed, giving the board charge of the slaughter houses that supplied the city of New Orleans with . food. Incorporated towns were authorized to establish local boards of health, with power to pass ordinances for the repression of in- fectious or contagious diseases and to regulate the water supply, drainage and ventilation of buildings. No other acts regarding pub- lic health were passed until a new state board of health was created by an act of July, 1898. This board consisted of 7 physi- cians, appointed by the governor, to hold for seven years, their terms expiring different years. The board was to have exclusive jurisdiction over maritime quarantine of the state- and to prepare sanitary codes and to inspect and carry out the laws in force re- garding the adulterations of food. Parish and city boards of health were to be created to act under the direction of the state board of health. This same act provided that the municipal board of New Orleans was to make the sanitary regulations for the slaughter houses of St. Bernard parish and the city of New Orleans. An act of 1902 provided that the state board of health should meet every 3 months, the members to receive $10 a dav and traveling expenses of 5 cents a mile. In addition to the exclusive control of maritime quarantine. the board was given supervision of land quarantine. New parish boards of health, to consist of 3 persons selected by the police jury and 5 appointed by the municipal au- thorities, were created to act in conjunction with the state board in matters affecting the whole state.
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