USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 65
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Another epidemic of yellow fever occurred in 1854. and when the general assembly met at Baton Rouge on Feb. 15, 1855. the gov- ,ernor said in his message: "The general prevalence of that discase during two successive years, in the most malignant form, seems to authorize the conclusion that, supposing it to have been at any time
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of foreign origin, it has now assumed a fixed habitation within our borders." With regard to the public school system he declared : "Indeed, the system may be considered almost a failure, or rather it is not a system. It is the bewildering confusion of chaos." Not- withstanding this criticism the "system" prospered until the schools conducted under it were closed by the war. The swamp land board made a report to this legislature, showing that 650,000 acres of over- flowed lands had been reclaimed at a cost of $156,000. Every gov- ernor from the time of Claiborne had complained of the disorgan- · ized state of the militia, and Gov. Hebert was no exception to the rule. "It is the duty of Louisiana," said he, "a duty which she owes to her own self-preservation and to her sister states of the South, to cultivate the martial spirit of her people. Her position exposes her to the first assault of the enemy. She should be ready at all times to contribute her full share to the defense. She must be prepared to meet the responsibilities which the spirit of fanaticism at home may impose upon her, and which an attitude of firmness, with all the preparation to maintain it, may alone avert." The legislature to which this message was delivered, like its predecessors, char- tered a number of corporations ; regulated the mode of procedure in criminal prosecutions; and provided for the sale of 1,000,000 acres of the swamp lands granted by Congress. U. S. senator Pierre Soulé had resigned his seat in March, 1853, to become minister to Spain, and John Slidell had been elected to fill out the unexpired term. The legislature of 1855 elected Mr. Slidell to succeed him- self.
In the gubernatorial campaign of 1855 the Democrats nominated Robert C. Wickliffe. The Americans or Know Nothings and the Whigs united in the support of Charles Derbigny. The election resulted in the choice of Wickliffe, who received 22,952 votes to 19,755 for his opponent. Charles H. Mouton was elected lieutenant- governor, and again the Democratic party elected a majority of both houses of the general assembly. Gov. Hebert's administration terminated with the inauguration of his successor in Jan., 1856.
Hecker is a post-hamlet of Calcasieu parish.
Heflin, a village in the southern part of Webster parish, is a sta- tion on the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R., about 10 miles south of Minden, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice and tele- graph station, and supplies the southeastern part of the parish. In 1900 it had a population of 37.
Henderson, a post-hamlet in the extreme southeast corner of East Carroll parish, is situated on the Mississippi river, about 5 miles southeast of Stamboul, the nearest railroad station. It is a shipping point on the river for a large area and in 1900 had a population of 53.
Hennepin, Louis, missionary and explorer, was born at Ath, Belgium, about 1640. At an early age he entered the order of Recol- lets of St. Francis : spent several years in Italy ; was then employed by the order to solicit alms in various places : was ordered to Can- ada in 1673, and three years later founded a convent at Fort Fronte-
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nac. In 1678 he joined La Salle's expedition down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and in the spring of 1680 explored the Upper Mississippi, discovering and naming the Falls of St. Anthony. He then returned to Quebec and later to France, where his "Description de la Louisiane," etc., was published in 1684, and dedicated to Louis XIV. In 1697 a second work, entitled "New Discovery of a Vast Country Situated in America," was published and dedicated to William III. of England. This second work was about the same as the former, with the addition of a description of a voyage down the Mississippi, which has led to the claim that Hennepin discovered the mouth of the great river before it was discovered by La Salle. Sparks, in his "Life of La Salle," declares this portion of Hennepin's writings to be a fabrication, copied from Le Clerq's narrative. Shea. in his "Description of Louisiana," explains the matter by saying that the story of the voyage down the Mississippi was interpolated by the Dutch publishers without Hennepin's knowledge. Father Hennepin died in Holland about 1702.
Henry, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Vermilion par- ish, is about 4 miles southeast of Rosehill, the nearest railroad sta- tion, and 8 miles southeast of Abbeville, the parish seat. It is lo- cated in the rice district of southwestern Louisiana and in 1900 had a population of 75.
Herbert is a post-hamlet of Caldwell parish.
Hermitage, a money order post-village in the extreme northern part of West Baton Rouge parish, is on the west bank of the Missis- sippi river about 3 miles northeast of Glynn, the nearest railroad station. It is an old settlement and in 1900 reported a population of 210.
Hessmer, a post-village and station in the western part of Avoyelles parish, is on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navi- gation company, 4 miles west of Mansura, in a rich agricultural district, and has an express office, telegraph station, telephone facili- ties, and a good retail trade.
Hester, a post-village in the central part of St. James parish, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 4 miles east of Convent, the parish seat. It has an express office and telegraph station, and in 1900 had a population of 147.
Hibernians, Ancient Order of .- (See Catholic Societies.)
Hickory Valley, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Winn parish, is located on Bayou Buckoa, about 4 miles southeast .i Sikes, the nearest railroad station, and 15 miles northeast of Winn- field, the parish seat.
Hicks, a post-village in the northeastern part of Vernon pari-h. is about 15 miles northeast of Leesville, the parish seat. It is lo. cated in the lumber region, has sawmill interests, and in 1'(*) re- ported a population of 45.
Hico is a village near the northern boundary of Lincoln parish. 5 miles northwest of Dnbach, the nearest railroad station. and le miles northwest of Ruston, the parish seat. It has a money order
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postoffice, one free rural delivery route and in 1900 had a population of 50.
Higgins, Edward, soldier, was a lieutenant in the U. S. navy from 1836 to 1844. In 1848 he resigned from the service to take com- mand of an ocean steamer, and continued in the merchant marine until it was evident that there would be war between the North and South. In April, 1861, he left the steamship company to enter the service of the Confederate States as captain of the 1st La. ar- tillery, and served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Twiggs during the time that officer was in command at New Orleans. In Feb., 1862, Capt. Higgins received a commission as lieutenant-colonel in the 22nd La. and at the time of the attack upon New Orleans was in com- mand of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip. In Dec., 1862, he had command of the heavy batteries at Snyder's mill, and for his gallant conduct during the battle received special commendation from Gen. Pemberton. At the siege of Vicksburg he was in charge of the batteries of heavy artillery on the river front, and strengthened the works all along the river in every possible way. His manage- ment of these works was so satisfactory that his superiors gave special mention of him in their reports, after the fall of the city. He was exchanged soon after the capture of Vicksburg, was com- missioned brigadier-general on Oct. 29, 1863, and placed in command of the posts and batteries around Mobile. After the war he settled in Louisiana, where he resided until his death.
Highland, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of Tensas par- ish, is about 7 miles west of Goldman, the nearest railroad station, and 15 miles southwest of St. Joseph, the parish seat.
Highways .- (See Roads.)
Hill, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Winn parish, is about 2 miles southwest of Sikes Station, the nearest railroad town, and 12 miles northeast of Winnfield, the parish seat.
Hineston, a village in the western part of Rapides parish, is a sta- tion on the Woodworth & Louisiana Central R. R. about 25 miles southwest of Alexandria, the parish seat. It is a trading and ship- ping point of some importance, and in 1900 reported a population of 100.
Historical Society .- The Louisiana Historical society was first organized on Jan. 15. 1836, when Judge Henry A. Bullard was elected president and Louis Janin and a Mr. Harrison, secretaries. For want of proper encouragement the society soon fell into decav, but it was reorganized in June, 1846, by John Perkins, J. D. B. DeBow, Edmund Forstall, Charles Gayarre, Gen. Joseph Walker, Alfred Hennen and others. Judge François X. Martin was at that time elected president, but his death occurred in Dec., 1847, when Judge Bullard was again elected to the office, with John Perkins and J. D. B. DeBow, secretaries. The society was incorporated by act of the legislature, approved Jan. 16, 1860, several prominent citizens being named as the incorporators, among whom were J. J. Burke, Charles Gayarre, Henry W. Allen, A. B. Roman, Richard Taylor, J. B. Wilkinson and F. L. Claiborne. The object of the so-
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ciety was declared to be "the collecting and preserving of facts. documents, records and memorials relating to the natural, aborigi- nal and civil history of the state." and for the better preservation of the same a room in the state capitol was set apart for the use of the society. In the event of the dissolution of the society for any rea- son, the books, maps, manuscripts, etc., belonging to it were to be turned over to the state. thus virtually making the society a state institution. Charles Gayarre was elected president and served un- til 1888, though for some years the organization continued a state of comparative inactivity. On April 30, 1877, the act of Jan. 16, 1860, was amended and reenacted, the incorporators at that time being named as Charles Gavarré, F. T. Nicholls, Louis A. Wiltz, Robert M. Lusher, E. T. Merrick, W. W. Howe, George W. Cable. B. J. Sage, H. B. Magruder, William Walker, F. S. Richardson, Joseph A. Quintero, George A. Pike, Alexander Dimitry and J. D. Bruns of New Orleans; William B. Egan. F. C. Blanchard and F. J. Al- cocke of Caddo parish ; D. C. Montan and J. M. Williams of East Baton Rouge parish. The society at that time was removed to New Orleans and quartered in the rooms afterward occupied by the state library. It will soon have its domicile in the historic room at the cabildo, where occurred the transfer of Louisiana to the United States in 1803. Among the notable ceremonies conducted under the auspices of the society may be mentioned those on the occasion of President Mckinley's visit to New Orleans in May, 1901, and the celebration of the centennial of the acquisition of Louisiana in Dec., 1903. Since the year 1900 many important documents relating to the history of Louisiana have been copied in France at the ex- pense of the society.
The presidents of the society since 1860 have been Charles Gayarre, William W. Howe and Alcee Fortier. The last named was elected in Feb., 1894, and has held the office continuously ever since by repeated reelections. Miss Grace King and Prof. J. R. Ficklen have rendered valuable service as secretaries. The officers for the year 1908 were as follows: Alcée Fortier, president ; Charles T. Soniat, first vice-president : Gasper Cusachs, second vice-presi- dent ; Arthur T. Prescott, third vice-president; W. O. Hart, treas- urer; Charles G. Gill, recording secretary; Pierce Butler, corre- sponding secretary and librarian.
Hobart, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Ascension parish about 6 miles northeast of Bullion, the nearest railroad station, and some 15 miles north of Donaldsonville, the parish scat. The popu- lation was 50 in 1900.
Hobson, a post-hamlet in the central part of Union parish, is about 8 miles southeast of Farmerville, the parish seat and most con- venient railroad station.
Hodge, a village in the western part of Jackson parish, is at the junction of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, the Tremont & Gulf, the North Louisiana & Gulf railroads, about 12 miles south- west of Vernon, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice.
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express office and telegraph station, and is the shipping and supply town for that part of the parish.
Hohen Solms, a village in the western part of Ascension parish, is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi river, about 4 miles north of McCall, the nearest railroad station, and 6 miles northwest of Donaldsonville, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and telephone facilities, and in 1900 had a population of 120.
Holidays .- By the act of the state legislature, approved by the governor on June 3, 1904, the following days were declared to be legal holidays: Sunday of each week : Jan. 1, New Year's day ; Jan. 8, the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans; Mardi Gras day, in the parish of Orleans; Feb. 22, George Washington's birthday ; Good Friday: June 3, the birthday of Jefferson Davis, known as Confederate day : July 4, the anniversary of American independence ; the first Monday in September ( Labor day), in the parish of Orleans only; Nov. I, All Saints' day; general election day; Thanksgiving day as fixed by the proclamation of the president and governor ; Dec. 25, Christmas day ; and every Saturday afternoon in cities of 15,000 population and over. The act further provided that when Jan. 1 or 8, Feb. 22, June 3, July 4, Nov. 1, or Dec. 25 falls on Sun- day the next day shall be a legal holiday.
Holloway, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Rapides par- ish, is about 15 miles northeast of Alexandria, the parish seat, and 6 miles north of Kees, the nearest railroad station.
Holly, a post-village in the central part of De Soto parish, is a station on the Kansas City Southern R. R., about 7 miles north of Mansfield, the parish seat. It has an express office and telegraph station, and is the shipping and supply point of a large farming district.
Hollygrove, a post-hamlet of Franklin parish, is situated on a con- fluent of the Black river about 15 miles south of Winnsboro, the parish seat, and 2 miles west of Peck, the nearest railroad station.
Holmesville, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Union parish, is about 6 miles south of Farmerville, the parish seat and nearest railroad town.
Holsey, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Claiborne parish. is about 10 miles northeast of Homer, the parish seat and most con- venient railroad town.
Holt, a post-hamlet in the western part of Natchitoches parish, is some 7 miles west of Natchitoches, the parish seat and nearest railroad town.
Holton, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Tangipahoa parish, is about 10 miles east of Amite, the parish seat and most convenient railroad town.
Holum, a post-village of Caldwell parish, is situated in the south- ern part of Black creek, about 5 miles east of Kelly, the nearest railroad station. and 8 miles south of Columbia. the parish seat.
Holy Cross College .- This institution, located at Dauphine and Reynes streets, New Orleans, was opened in 1879, under the name
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of "St. Isidore's college," and was chartered by an act of the gen- eral assembly of the state of Louisiana, June 20, 1890. It is con- ducted by the members of the "Congregation of the Holy Cross." a community composed of priests and brothers who devote themselves to the education of young men and boys, preparing them for the learned professions and for commercial pursuits. New and more commodious buildings for the college were begun in 1895, and on Sept. 8, 1896, the main building of the new college was solemnly blessed by the Most Rev. Francis Janssens, D.D., archbishop of New Orleans, the name of the institution being at that time changed to "Holy Cross college" as being more in keeping with the original charter of the congregation. The buildings are situated on rising ground overlooking the Mississippi, and though centrally located within the city, are retired, and unsurpassed for health. The new main building is a fine structure, complete in all its appointments, while the beautiful and spacious grounds are shaded by fragrant magnolia and other trees. open to the refreshing breezes wafted from the river. The institution aims to give its students both a thorough and a practical education, and its regular courses com- prise classical, literary and commercial studies. The program of studies has been carefully graded, the various departments are in charge of experienced teachers, and great care is exercised at the college to train both the moral and mental faculties of the pupils and to mould their characters, a labor to which the members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross have dedicated their lives.
Home Institute .- This well known educational institution of New Orleans is an English and classical school for young ladies and chil- dren, and has had a highly prosperous career. Originally founded as a primary school by its present principal, Miss Sophie B. Wright, in Jan., 1882, it met with such gencrous support as to warrant the establishment of a high grade curriculum, and in 1889 the institute was chartered under the laws of the state, with power to award diplomas and to confer degrees. The school aims not only to edit- cate the brain, but also to mould character, and thus attain the high- est possible womanly development. In addition to the regular course, equivalent to the best high school grades, embracing work in Latin, French, German and Spanish, a thorough art course is oi- fered. This course includes a practical study of free hand drawing, painting and modeling, with lectures on composition and prospec- tive and artistic anatomy. Another important feature of the school is the normal course, where advanced work is offered for those who desire to teach. There is also a thorough business course. including bookkeeping, stenography and typewriting. Gymnastic exercises are an important daily requirement for all the students from which only a physician's certificate serves as an excuse. The school draws its pupils from a wide area, including most of the Southern states. Mexico, Central America and Cuba. An important factor in the success of the school is the personal contact. influence and associa- tion maintained between the teaching force and the student body.
Homeplace, a village of Plaquemines parish, is situated in the
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central part on the west bank of the Mississippi river, about 10 miles below Pointe a la Ilache, and is a station on the New Orleans, Fort Jackson & Grand Isle R. R. It has a money order postoffice and is the shipping and supply town for a fruit area of considerable extent. In 1900 it had a population of 70.
Homer, the capital and principal town of Claiborne parish, is lo- cated in the central part of the parish on the main line of the Louisiana & Northwest R. R., and it is the eastern terminus of the Shreveport & Northeastern R. R .. hence it is provided with ample transportation and shipping facilities. It was made the parish seat in 1849, after the courthouse at Athens was destroyed by fire, and was incorporated in 1850. In 1900 the population was 1,157, and in 1908 it was estimated at 1,500. Being situated in the center of a cotton growing district, it has a large compress, a cotton seed oil mill, and ships large quantities of cotton and oil every year. It also has a bank, two newspapers, large lumbering interests, a num- ber of good mercantile establishments, express and telegraph offices, and a money order postoffice from which several rural routes supply mail to the surrounding country.
Hoods Mills, a post-hamlet of Jackson parish, is situated in the eastern part about 4 miles northeast of Womack, the nearest rail- road station, and 12 miles southeast of Vernon, the parish seat.
Hope (R. R. name Fryeburg), a post-hamlet and station in the northwestern part of Bienville parish, is on the Louisiana & Arkan- sas R. R., 12 miles west of Arcadia, the parish seat.
Hopedale, a post-hamlet in the central part of St. Bernard parish, is 5 miles southeast of Shell Beach, the nearest railroad station, in a rich truck farming district that supplies the adjacent market of New Orleans with vegetables and fruits. In 1900 it had a population of 50.
Hope Villa, a village of Ascension parish. is situated on the Bayou Manchac near the northern boundary of the parish, about 6 miles northeast of Kleinpeter, the nearest railroad station. It has a money order postoffice and in 1900 had a population of 63.
Hornbeck, a town in the northwestern part of Vernon parish, is a station on the Kansas City Southern R. R., 15 miles northwest of Leesville, the parish seat. Originally this town was nothing but a sawmill site, but as the timber was cut, the adjacent country de- . veloped into a rich agricultural district and as Hornbeck was the terminus of a division of the railroad, it grew to be a village of some importance. Some 200 or 300 bales of cotton and several hundred car loads of lumber are handled each year. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph station, a number of mercantile establishments, and furnishes supplies to the northwestern part of the parish. The population in 1900 was 225.
Horticulture .- Literally, the word horticulture means the art of cultivating or managing gardens. In its broader sense it ineludes the cultivation of all sorts of fruits, flowers, vegetables and nursery stock. Horticulture, therefore. embraces as divisions pomology, or fruit culture; floriculture, or the raising of flowers and decorative
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plants ; gardening, or the cultivation of vegetables, and nursery cul- ture, or the production of fruit-bearing plants. It is only within comparatively recent years that scientific attention and concerted action have been given to horticulture in Louisiana. On March 21, 1874, the Louisiana legislature passed an act incorporating the Fruit Growers' association of the Gulf States, with a capital stock of $10,000-which might be increased to $20.000-and the member- ship fee was fixed at $10. By the act of March 12, 1878, the legis- lature appropriated the sum of $500 to the association "to promote the development of the horticultural and pomological resources of Louisiana, and to aid in defraying the expenses of public exhibitions of products." Through the labors of this association, and more re- cently of the Louisiana horticultural society, it has been shown that the soil of the state has a capacity for the production of a large variety of fruits.
The wild blackberries and dewberries of Louisiana grow as large and have as fine a flavor as the cultivated berries of the North. Strawberries can be raised with profit anywhere in the state. and as berries of all kinds ripen several weeks in advance of those grown in the Northern states they always command a good price in the mar- kets. Instances are reported where the value of the strawberry crop has reached $175 an acre, and it is a poor crop that does not bring the producer $100 an acre.
Of the larger fruits, apples of various kinds grow well, but some of them do not have the flavor of the same varieties produced in higher altitudes. For this reason the production of apples is con- fined to home consumption. Still there are in the state some fruit growers who contend that the fault is not in the soil nor climate. but in the selection of varieties, the methods of planting trees, and the care bestowed on orchards. They argue that with proper attention to these points the apple can be made a commercial success, and the results attained by some of them seem to justify their con- clusions. A bulletin of the state board of agriculture and immi- gration mentions the Red June, Shannon, Black Twig, Astrachan. Yates and some other varieties as adapted to the soil and climate of Louisiana.
Peach culture, especially in the northern and northwestern parts of the state and east of the Mississippi river, has been demonstrated to be a profitable undertaking. Dr. C. P. Munday of Keithville, a prominent member of the horticultural society, says: "Peaches grow here to unrivaled perfection. With well selected location, planted to commercial varieties, given attention and not neglect. with transportation facilities arranged for, and lastly care in market- ing, there is no question as to the success of commercial peach grow - ing in north Louisiana. The case has been proven. For home and local market uses no farmer can have excuse for being without a peach orchard-even one good tree will pay." Experiments with the different varieties, early and late, have demonstrated that the fruit growers of Louisiana can market peaches from the middle vi May to October. A report from one of the test farms says: "There
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