Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I, Part 66

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1294


USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 66


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is a market difference between the varieties of the several races or types of peaches in their ability to withstand frost. Those of the Chinese type, such as the Waddell, Greensboro and others with large petals, are not near so readily destroyed by frost as those of the Crawford type, or those with small flowers. And in general the Chinese type is much better adapted to this section than the Persian, particularly those varieties of the Crawford type, which are strag- gling, open growers and inclined to be shy bearers." The nectarine (Amygdalus persica), a smooth-skinned variety of the peach, flour- ishes in several sections of the state and is cultivated for its delicious flavor.


With regard to pears, a report of the state board of agriculture and immigration says: "The only pears grown with profit are the varieties of the Oriental or sand pears. Of these we have the Le Conte. Garber, Golden Russet. Smith and Kieffer. The prevalence of blight prevents the culture of the European pears, hence little is done with them, but the sand pears offer by far the greatest resist- ance to this troublesome disease, and, although often fatal to them, with proper care little damage will result."


Several varieties of plums do well. Specimens of the Japanese persimmon sent north sold for 75 cents a dozen, and in some in- stances even higher. As this is a large, showy fruit, of excellent flavor, and stands shipping well, more attention is paid to it every year and it promises to become one of the popular horticultural products of the state. In the western part, near the Texas line, par- ticularly in the parishes of Sabine, Vernon and Calcasieu, grapes of good quality are grown, the principal varieties being the Con- cord, Champion, Moore's Early, Niagara and Eaton. Figs thrive well in all parts of the state and seldom fail to yield a full crop. In the southern parishes oranges are the principal fruit. (See Figs and Oranges.) Quinces, pomegranates, melons, chestnuts-in fact all kinds of fruits and nuts that can be grown anywhere in the same latitude-can be raised in Louisiana.


A nurseryman of Keithville says that more fruit trees were sold in the state during the month of March, 1908. than in the entire year of 1907, which is evidence that Louisiana will soon be prepared to take a higher place among the fruit growing states of the Union. The state has given encouragement to horticulture in various ways, not the least important of which was the appointment of a state entomologist for the purpose of studying the insects that prey upon the growing erops, trees and vines and recommending methods for their destruction. By the act of July 11, 1894, the introduction into the state of fruit trees, shrubs, slips, cuttings, etc., affected by in- fectious diseases was prohibited. Since the passage of that act all such plants must be examined by the state entomologist at the state agricultural experiment station. The penalty for violation of the law is a fine of from $5 to $100. at the judgment of the court, to which may be added imprisonment in jail from one day to three months. All money collected from fines under this law goes to the agricultural experiment station.


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A law also provides that all nurserymen in the state shall hold certificates from the state entomologist, showing that the nursery stock they offer for sale is in a healthy condition. Wilmon Newell, the state entomologist, in an address to the annual meeting of the horticultural society in Jan., 1906, said: "During the past year we inspected and granted certificates to 28 nurseries in Louisiana, and the fruit grower who now purchases stock from the Louisiana nurseries holding the certificate of the commission does so with the knowledge that he is getting stock as healthy as stock can be, so far as seriously injurious insects and diseases are concerned. In the course of this inspection work the San Jose scale was found in 13 nurseries, or upon the premises, and this has been exterminated by the nurserymen, under our direction. The commission, in its first year of nursery inspection, has prevented the dissemination of sufficient San Jose scale to infest thousands of orchard trees, for once the scale gets into an orchard, upon even one or two infested trees from the nursery, it spreads rapidly to the balance of the or- chard. * * Right here we have the explanation of why so many peach orchards have 'failed' in north and west Louisiana. This pest has been introduced with the young nursery stock when the orchard was planted, and the fruit growers, failing to recognize this minute, yet terribly destructive enemy, have seen their orchards die out at the time they should commence producing profitable crops. We are no longer going to allow this enemy to cripple our fruit industry in Louisiana, and prevent its attaining the com- mercial importance that it should. The crop pest commission is see- ing to it that the fruit growers get none but healthy trees and is ever ready to furnish information to all fruit growers regarding methods for controlling the pest in orchards."


A recent writer, in commenting on the state's natural advantages . for floriculture, says: "Louisiana's climate favors the growth of a great variety of native flowers, as well as the propagation of deli- cate plants of the cultivated type. Roses bloom in the open throughi- out the winter, and cape jasmines, japonicas, hibiscus and poinset- tias are common to every yard. Tea olives and magnolias perfume the air with their fragrance, and chrysanthemums, geraniums and phimbagos give brilliancy to the garden verdure. Palms of end- less variety ornament the private premises and public parks, vying in beauty with the moss-decked live oak shade trees. The attrac- tions of the landscape are further enhanced by a green carpet of the ever-present Bermuda grass, which makes a perfect turf." In the meetings of the horticultural society flowers command a good share of the discussions, some of the papers read before the society bear- ing such titles as "How to Grow Flowers in North Louisiana." "Roses and Cut Flowers." "Growing Flowers for Profit." and "The Importance of Floriculture Exhibits at Fairs." (See also Agricul- ture.)


Hortman, a village and station in the central part of Welter ' parish, is on the Louisiana & Arkansas R. R., 10 miles northwest . of Minden, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, ex-


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press office and telegraph station, and is the supply and shipping point for a large farming district.


Hosston, a post-village in the northeastern part of Caddo parish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 30 miles northwest of Shreveport, the parish seat. It has an express office and tele- graph station.


Houltonville, a post-hamlet of St. Tammany parish, is situated on the Ponchatalawa creek, 5 miles southwest of Covington, the parish seat and nearest railroad station.


Houma, the seat of justice of Terrebonne parish, is located on Bayou Terrebonne, in the northern part of the parish, and is the terminus of a branch of the Southern Pacific railroad, which con- nects with the main line at Schriever. The town was made the parish seat in 1834. It is in the center of a large sugar producing district, and large quantities of that commodity are shipped from the city every year. Next to sugar the principal articles of export are oysters and canned shrimp. In addition to the sugar and oyster industries, Houma has a bank, an ice factory, a fine public market. two newspapers, several fine mercantile establishments, and large lumber interests. The chief public buildings are the court-house, a high school, the market house and an opera house, the last named having been built by public subscription at a cost of $8.000. Public and private schools afford excellent educational facilities, and the principal religious denominations are represented by suitable houses of worship. The population in 1900 was 3,212, but since that time Houma's growth has been rapid, and the population now (1909) is probably 4,500.


Howard Association .- During the yellow fever epidemic of 1837, this association was organized by a number of young men of New Orleans, the object as stated being "to relieve the sick and destitute by some systematic effort." The original association numbered 29 active members, and the first officers were as follows: Virgil Boulle- met, president ; D. I. Ricardo, secretary ; G. Kursheedt, treasurer ; G. W. Shaw, H. W. Palfrey and J. O. Harris, finance committee. All members were to serve without pay and in a short time the asso- ciation had about 150 names enrolled. Most of these were young men, still in their minority, the president being only 17 years of age at the time of his election. In 1842 the association was granted a perpetual charter by the legislature of Louisiana. By this charter the active membership was limited to 30 persons, but the associa . tion was given power to add temporary assistants during epidemics. The organization was made so complete and its arrangements so perfect, that within one hour after the announcement of an epidemic the city could be supplied with temporary hospitals, emergency phy- sicians, nurses, etc. Early in the yellow fever epidemic of 1853 the association opened two convalescent hospitals and three orphan asy- lums. In the latter 241 little ones, left totally destitute by the death of their parents, were cared for until the worst was past. and after the epidemic the Howards found homes for these orphans where possible, by having them adopted by worthy families. The others


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were placed in regular orphan asylums, the association giving to such institutions the sum of $100 with each child thus admitted. The association also paid attention to the character of the food sup- ply sent into the city during the epidemic, the enforcement of sani- tary measures, the distribution of disinfectants, etc. It is worthy of note that from 1837 to 1854 not a member of the association died of yellow fever or cholera, though they were everywhere, facing every danger in the discharge of their duties. To them the palace and the hovel were alike. No place was too squalid, none too pesti- lential for them to enter, bringing relief to those stricken with dis- ease, thus winning the everlasting gratitude of hundreds of suf- ferers.


But it was in the great epidemic of 1878 that the Howards dis- tingnished themselves by their prompt and efficient action. At the beginning of the epidemic the membership was increased to 125, and within a week they had over 1.000 destitute cases under their care. All through the lower Mississippi valley the association was the chief channel of aid. On Aug. 16 it issued a call to the people of the country for assistance. The response was immediate and gener- ous from all parts of the nation. the past record of the association having inspired confidence in its methods and the trustworthiness of its members as individuals. One writer of that day referred to the association as "a time-honored body of good Samaritans." From Aug. 17 to Oct. 26 the Howards cared for over 21.000 cases in the city of New Orleans and the immediate vicinity. Impartial reports from other towns and cities in Louisiana added nearly 12,000 more, and up the Mississippi as far as Memphis. Tenn., they willingly extended a helping hand wherever it was possible. In addition to the aid given the sick, over 60.000 persons, mostly women and chil- dren, were supplied with the necessaries of life out of the bounty contributed to the association. The contributions in money amounted to nearly $400,000, and there were liberal donations of clothing, medicines, provisions, wines, etc., sent to the Howards for distribution. These supplies were transported free by the railroads, steamboats and express companies to all points where the quaran- tines did not interfere. Of the money received the Howards turned over $20.000 to the Peabody subsistence association, which under- took the care of the convalescents. In the dispensation of charity the association is wholly unsectarian, relieving all worthy applicants without regard to color, creed or nationality. Of the cases cared for in 1878 about one-fourth were negroes, and among the others were people from almost every nation of Europe, Mexico, Central America, Canada, South America and China. Of all the relief asso- ciations of the United States, whether organized for general or spe- cific purposes, none has been more effective in carrying out its de- signs, nor more deserving of public confidence and esteem than the Howard Association of New Orleans. (See also Yellow Fever.)


Howard Memorial Library .- (See Libraries.)


' Hudson, a post-village and station in the northern part of Winn


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parish, is on the Tremont & Gulf R. R., about 9 miles north of Winn- field, the parish seat. In 1900 it had a population of 50.


Hughes Spur, a post-village in the northwestern part of Bossier parish, is on the St. Louis Southwestern R. R., about 6 miles north of Benton.


Humbert, Gen. Jean Robert Marie, a distinguished soldier, was born at Bouvroy, France, in 1755, and was said to have been one of the handsomest men in France. He joined the army as a volunteer in 1791, served in Vendée, and rose to the rank of brigadier- general. In 1798 he commanded an expedition to Ireland and landed at Kil- lola, where he was overwhelmed and taken prisoner. After his re- lease he took part in the St. Domingo expedition, which also re- sulted in failure. About this time he lost the favor of Napoleon and came to America. For several years he taught school in New Orleans and when the War of 1812 came on he offered his services in defense of his adopted city and state. When Gen. Morgan was repulsed on the riglit bank of the Mississippi, Gen. Jackson ordered Humbert to cross the river and recover the lost ground. In giving this order Jackson said: "I expect you, general, to repulse the enemy, cost what it may." To this Humbert replied: "I will; you may rely on it." In the haste of the moment. Humbert neglected to have the order reduced to writing, and when he reached Mor- gan's lines there was some confusion, owing to a disinclination of some of the American officers to serve under a foreigner. Col. Shaumburgh says that Humbert grew "displeased and went off to Gov. Claiborne." In 1816 Gen. Humbert led an army of 1,000 men into Mexico to fight for the independence of that country, but, not- withstanding his bravery and skill as a commanding officer, the ex- pedition met with defeat, and the following year he returned to New Orleans, where he continued to reside until his death in 1823.


Humphreys, a village in the northern part of Terrebonne parish, is situated on the Black bavou about 10 miles west of Houma. the parish seat and most convenient railroad town. It has a money order postoffice and is a trading center for a large agricultural dis- trict.


Hunt, Carleton, soldier, educator and lawyer, was born in New Orleans, La .. Jan. 1, 1836. He graduated at Harvard college in 1856: received the degree of M. A. from the same institution in 1859, and the honorary degree of LL. B. from the law department of the University of Louisiana in 1858. He was admitted to the bar of Louisiana the same year: was elected a delegate to the con- vention of the Constitutional Union party which met at Baton Rouge, La., in 1860, and in April, 1861, he enlisted in the Confed- erate army as lieutenant in the Louisiana regiment of artillery. At the close of the war he was appointed administrator of the Uni- versity of Louisiana and a member of the committee to examine applicants for admission to the bar of the state. In 1869 he was appointed professor of admiralty and international law in the Uni- versity of Louisiana, and was later dean of the faculty for 10 years.


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He became doctor of laws in the same university in 1880; was elected to Congress in 1882 as a Democrat.


· Hunt, Randell, a prominent lawyer of Louisiana in the ante- bellum days, was a native of South Carolina, a son of Thomas and Louisa (Gaillard) Hunt, and a brother of William H. Hunt, who was secretary of the navy in President Garfield's cabinet. One of his maternal uncles, John Gaillard, was for 30 years a U. S. senator from South Carolina. and another, Theodore Gaillard, was one of the early judges of the U. S. circuit court and later a U. S. district judge in Louisiana. He served with distinction in the Louisiana legislature, and was recognized as one of the leaders of the Whig party until that organization was dissolved, when he became an ardent advocate of State Rights. In 1860-61 he was an enthusiastic supporter of the doctrine of secession. A little volume entitled "Sketches, by a Member of the New Orleans Bar," published by Ferguson & Crosby of New Orleans, in 1847, pays Mr. Hunt this tribute : "He is apparently some 40 years of age. His countenance is frank and open ; without being handsome, it is yet prepossessing. He is an accomplished man of the world, and very much of a gen- tleman."


Hunt, Theodore G., lawyer and member of Congress, was a native of South Carolina, and a son of Thomas and Louisa (Gaillard) Hunt. He received a liberal education; studied law, commenced practice in New Orleans, and was elected a representative from Louisiana to the 33d Congress as a Whig.


Hunt, William Henry, secretary of the navy, was born in Charles- ton, S. C., in 1824. He was a son of Thomas and Louisa (Gaillard) Hunt and a grandson of Robert Hunt, who was twice governor of the Bahama islands and a member of the king's council at Nassau, in the island of New Providence, when these colonies were posses- sions of the British. Thomas Hunt was a planter and well known lawyer of South Carolina. and a member of the state legislature. William Hunt received a good preparatory education and entered Yale college in 1839, but remained only 2 years, when his family moved to Louisiana and he went to New Orleans. In 1855 he was admitted to the bar and for 30 years practiced his profession in New Orleans. At one time he was professor in the New Orleans law school. During the Civil war he remained a stanch Union man and in 1876 governor Kellogg appointed him attorney-general of Louisiana to fill a vacancy. The same year the Republican party nominated him for the office and claimed that he had been elected. but the Democratic state administration was recognized by Presi- dent Hayes. Mr. Hunt went to Washington in 1877 to present the Republican side of the case to the president, and after returning to New Orleans he continued to practice law until he was appointed judge of the U. S. court of claims in May, 1878. When Justice Strong resigned from the bench of the U. S. supreme court in 1880 a movement was made by the lawyers of Louisiana to have the president appoint Mr. Hunt to fill the vacancy. In the last month of , his administration (Feb., 1881) President Hayes offered him the


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judgeship of the U. S. district court for the 5th district, but he de- clined the office. When president Garfield formed his new cabinet on March 5, 1881, Mr. Hunt became secretary of the navy. Upon the reorganization of the cabinet by president Arthur in April, 1882, he retired in favor of William E. Chandler, and the same year was appointed minister to Russia. He died in St. Petersburg, Feb. 27, 1884.


Hunter, a post-village in the southwestern part of De Soto parish, is about 3 miles east of Sabine river and 10 miles southwest of Mans- field, the parish seat. Logansport is the nearest railroad station.


Hurricanes .- In the early days of Louisiana hurricanes were more frequent and also more violent along the gulf coast than they have been in more recent years. In the article on Bienville mention is made of a storm that choked up the entrance to Mobile harbor with sand in the summer of 1717 and led to the removal of colonial head- quarters to Biloxi. La Harpe, in his Historical Journal, speaks of a violent hurricane that began on the morning of Sept. 11, 1722, and continued for three days, destroying a number of houses at Fort Louis, Biloxi and New Orleans, several vessels, and doing great damage to the crops. At New Orleans the church, the hospital and 30 houses were demolished. The effect of this storm was to dis- courage many of the colonists and they determined to leave New Orleans, but were finally persuaded by Bienville to remain and aid in rebuilding the town. The dissatisfaction growing out of the conditions which followed was partially responsible for the con- spiracy against Bienville that led to his being compelled to go to France in 1724 to answer charges. On Palm Sunday, 1737, New Orleans and vicinity were swept by a terrific hail-storm, the hail- stones being of unusual size. In 1745 a tornado passed over the lower part of Louisiana, doing great damage to the crops, especially the rice crop, which was almost completely destroyed. A famine was threatened as a result, but the settlements farther up the river came to the rescue with supplies and actual suffering was averted. Another historie storm occurred in the winter of 1772-3, in which an English schooner was driven bodily over Cat island by the force of the wind and waves. The hurricane of Aug. 18, 1779. destroyed several buildings in New Orleans and on the neighboring planta- tions, wrecked the fleet of vessels that Gov. Galvez was fitting out for the conquest of West Florida, killed a large number of cattle and a few people, and inflicted serious damage to the growing erops. During the two following years the fleets of Galvez were greatly damaged by storms on the gulf, but which did comparatively little injury on the land. In the 19th century several violent storms visited Louisiana, the most noted of which was that known as the "Last Island Storm" on Aug. 9. 1856. Last island was a slender crescent of land about 25 miles long and averaging less than a mile in width. It lay to the west of the mouth of the Mississippi and had for years been the summer residence of planters from the Atta- kapas and Lafourche districts. The storm arose during the night and by daylight every boat on the island had been broken to pieces


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and every building blown down. The rain descended in a deluge. the wind increased, and on the afternoon of the 9th the island was literally washed away. Of the 300 or more persons on the island at the time over two-thirds of them were never seen again. The remainder saved themselves by clinging to pieces of wreckage and were washed ashore. On Sept. 7; 1893, the town of Lockport in Lafourche parish was struck by a cyclone, which killed 8 people and injured a number of others. The town was nearly a complete wreck after the storm had passed. On Oct. I, of the same year. a hurricane was encountered by vessels from 25 to 50 miles out in the gulf, coming from the southwest. It moved so rapidly that in a few hours it struck the city of New Orleans. From the mouth of the Mississippi westward as far as Bayou Grand Caillou the com- try was devastated. At 7 o'clock in the evening the storm struck the oyster settlements at Bayou Cook and the Cheniere islands. Every house was blown to atoms and about 800 lives were lost. At Grand island was a summer resort directly in the path of the storm, but it escaped with slight injury when compared to other localities, though several houses were blown down and a few lives lost. The total loss of life was estimated at 2,500. Prompt assistance was sent to the survivors from New Orleans and other places. A com- plete record of hurricanes since the first settlement of Louisiana would doubtless disclose others of a violent character, but those above mentioned were the ones that wrought the most damage and have been deemed worthy of more than passing notice by historians.


Husser, a village in the eastern part of Tangipahoa parish, is situ- ated on Chappepeela creek. about 4 miles east of Jessica, the nearest railroad station, and 12 miles southeast of Amite, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice and in 1900 had a population of 100.


Hutchins, Thomas, geographer, was born at Monmouth, N. J., in the year 1730. and at the age of 16 years became an ensign in the British army. In 1763 he was at Fort Pitt, and the following year was assistant engineer in the expedition of Gen. Henry Bouquet in Ohio. "He then went to Louisiana, where he remained for some years, and was with the army in West Florida, receiving a commis- sion as captain. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war he was in London and refused to take up arms against the American colo- nies. In 1779 he was suspected of carrying on a secret corre- spondence with Benjamin Franklin, then in France, was arrested and kept in prison for six weeks, at the end of which time he was discharged. He then left England, and after a short stay in France. crossed the Atlantic to Charleston, S. C., where he joined the Conti- nental forces under Gen. Nathaniel Greene, with whom he served until the close of the war, receiving the title of "Geographer-Gen- eral." In 1784 he published his "Historical Narrative and Topo- graphical Description of Louisiana and West Florida." and held the title of geographer of the United States until his death at Pitts- burg. Pa., April 28. 1789.




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