USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
Second in importance is the manufacture of lumber and timber
130
LOUISIANA
products. In this industry the number of establishments increased between 1890 and 1900 from 127 to 432; the number of persons employed from 3,311 to 10,171; the amount of capital invested from $5,714,313 to $20,093,104; and the total value of products from $5,745,194 to $17,408,513. The greater part of this increase is due to the extension of the railroads, improved methods of logging, and the utilization of the waste about the mills. New Orleans and Lake Charles are two of the greatest lumber, stave and shingle markets in the South.
The manufacture of cottonseed oil and cake holds third place in the list of Louisiana manufacturing industries. Between 1890 and 1900 the number of establishments increased from 7 to 24; the invested capital from $1,082,752 to $4,622,569; the number of em- ployees from 387 to 1,317 ; and the value of products from $1.573,626 to $7,026,452. Toward the close of the decade an oil refinery was started in New Orleans, from which port most of the products are distributed, the oil and cake being shipped to all parts of the world. The manufacture of fertilizers from by-products of the oil mills, mixed with other ingredients, has become an important feature of the manufacturing interests of the state.
Between 1890 and 1900 the number of concerns engaged in cleaning and polishing rice increased from 16 to 37; the invested capital from $1,033,700 to $1,818,144; the number of employees from 355 to 412; and the value of finished products from $4,009,901 to $5,736,451. Regarding the rice industry, the census report for 1900 says: "During the last year of the decade a great impetus was given the industry by the introduction of new methods of cultivating rice and the establishment of irrigating plants in the principal rice-producing section. Many farmers from the North- west have moved to the state and engaged in rice culture. At the time the census was taken in 1900 this development had barely commenced." As this is written nine years after that census report was made, it is impossible to give authentic figures relating to the development of the rice industry during that period. But it has been more rapid than before, and the census of 1910 will doubtless show a much greater increase than in any preceding decade.
Of the 4.350 manufacturing establishments reporting in 1900 there were 877 devoted to the four industries mentioned above. The remaining 3,473 concerns embraced a large variety of indus- tries, including 69 foundries and machine shops, several of which make a specialty of the manufacture of sugar machinery: 12 fac- tories for the manufacture of boots and shoes: 58 for brick and tile; 49 for carriages and wagons; 25 for men's clothing; 34 for ice ; 134 printing and publishing houses ; 69 flour and grist mills; 57 furniture factories ; 34 cigar factories, and 10 for the production of naval stores. Concerning the manufacture of cotton goods the census report for 1900 says. "The statistics can not be shown in detail. because there are only two establishments in the state, but it is beginning to assume importance. Several large cotton fac- tories are projected, or are in process of erection. Conditions in
-
131
LOUISIANA
Louisiana are favorable to the industry, and there are many small towns, along the great trunk-line railroads that traverse the state, where large cotton factories can be operated to advantage, employ- ing a portion of the local population, and using cotton grown within easy hauling distance."
This statement is corroborated and emphasized by a handbook published some years later by the state board of agriculture and immigration. This handbook says: "Of all the industries which Louisiana has which offer inducements, that of cotton manufac- turing offers supreme attractions. The advantages of location of a cotton factory anywhere in the state, on the scene of the produc- tion of raw material. is now a trite topic. Fifteen or twenty years ago New England contended that it was preposterous for the South to think of manufacturing any grade of goods from cotton. In a few years the South has practically driven the East out of all lines of coarser manufacture, and is now demonstrating that this promise was not overestimated. This subject is receiving a great deal of attention in Louisiana. It has been successfully tried in the Carolinas, and in Louisiana stock companies have already been formed for the erection of cotton factories. The induce- ments in this field are tremendous. There are many things which place Louisiana at the head of the cotton producing states, and especially as a field for the erection of factories. First, the cheap- ness of fuel, oil and coal; second, the cost and quality of labor; third, the abundance of raw material; fourth, the facilities for transportation, both by rail and water, and the opportunities for export trade, furnished by the great port of New Orleans. Free sites can be obtained in many of the smaller towns for the erec- tion of factories : cheap brick and lumber are always plentiful for the factory; cheap labor is abundant, and is always obtainable in Louisiana. Shreveport. Monroe and Clinton have cotton factories, and other cities are moving actively. New Orleans has had a number of successful mills, all turning out a good grade of goods, which have never failed to find a quick and ready market, and pay good dividends."
The five leading manufacturing cities of the state, in the order of their importance, according to the census of 1900, are New Orleans, Shreveport, Baton Rouge. Plaquemine and Gretna. The number of establishments in these five cities was 1.705; the number of people employed, 19.661. and total value of products, $71.069,557. more than 58 per cent of the state's entire manufactured products_
Many, the seat of justice and principal town of Sabine parish, is situated in the central part of the parish in the Bayou Lenann and the Kansas City Southern R. R., and was settled soon after the creation of the parish. On May 17, 1843. W. R. D. Speight, I. W. Eason, G. W. Thompson and S. S. Eason donated to the parish 40 acres of land. "adjoining the Peter Buvens land. begin- ning at the fork of the road east of Hosea Preslay's house and along the Speight road." for the site of the parish seat. The plat as surveyed in 1844 shows that the town had a public square and
132
LOUISIANA
eight streets. It was named after Col. Many, one of the popular officers then in command at Fort Jesup, which was an important military post when Many was still a timbering wilderness. The town was incorporated on March 10, 1853, and a jail built in 1859, but a store building was used for the parish offices until 1881, when a courthouse was built. Many was reincorporated in 1877. John Baldwin was the first man to locate on the site of Many. He built there at an early day a log house, which stood until 1880, and during his life was used as a hotel. The first store was a log structure, built by Baldwin soon after he completed his house, and after serving for a store for some years was turned into a cotton warehouse. - The first postmaster was John Baldwin, who was followed by R. H. Stoddard. Father Aubree was instrumental in having the church of St. John (Catholic) built in 1870 on lands donated for the purpose. The first denominational school was established in 1887. Today Many is a flourishing town, as it is the supply station for a large lumber district. It has 2 banks, a money order postoffice. express and telegraph offices, a number of good mercantile concerns, and in 1900 had a population of 354.
Marbois, François de Barbé, a French author and statesman gen- erally referred to by historians as Barbe Marbois, was born in 1745 in the old fortified city of Metz, 170 miles east of Paris on the river Moselle. He received a liberal education, and when he was about 35 years of age was made consul-general to the United States and charge-d'affaires. Some four years later Louis XVI sent him on an embassy to Vienna, and in 1795 he was elected to the council of elders, where he distinguished himself by his eloquence and wisdom. He was one of those deported to Guiana by the directory in Sept. 1797. but was recalled by Napoleon Bona- parte, who in 1801 made him director of finance or minister of the treasury. While holding this position he was delegated to negotiate with the American commissioners the treaty by which Louisiana was ceded to the United States. In 1805 he was dismissed from the treasury department, but in 1808 he became first president of the cour des comptes, or chamber of accounts, which office he con- tinued to hold until his death in 1837. He was also keeper of the seals and minister of justice in 1815-16, and in 1817 he received the title of marquis. He was the author of several works on morals, politics and history, the best known of which are "The Conspiracy of Arnold Against the United States," published in 1816, and the "History of Louisiana," published in 1828. (See also Louisiana Purchase.)
Marcel, a post-hamlet of Iberia parish, is situated in the central part, about 2 miles soutwest of Peebles, the nearest railroad sta- tion, and 8 miles southwest of New Iberia, the parish seat.
Marco, a post-village of Natchitoches parish, is situated on the Red river, near the southern boundary. 3 miles west of Colfax, the nearest railroad station. It is a landing on the river and a shipping point for a large area of the Red river valley. The population in 1900 was 100.
133
LOUISIANA
Mardi Gras .- This is the French name for what is known in the calendar of the English church as Shrove Tuesday, and literally translated means "Fat Tuesday." It applies directly to the festival held on the day immediately preceding Ash Wednesday, or the first day of Lent. and is most extensively celebrated in Rome and Paris. In the latter city it has long been the custom to lead in the procession a fat ox (bœuf gras, whence the name Mardi Gras), followed by a gorgeous car bearing a child representing the butchers' king. It was from Paris that New Orleans derived her Mardi Gras festivities, generally known in this country as "The Carnival," which dates back to 1827, when some young Creole gentlemen who had been attending school in Paris decided upon their return home to organize a street procession of maskers. Com- pared with the grand displays of later years, this first Mardi Gras was an insignificant affair. But the entertainment found favor with the people and was usually observed, each year on a grander scale than the preceding one, until New Orleans has become known throughout the United States and even in Europe as the "Carnival City."
In 1831 a Mobile organization known as the Cowbellions in- augurated in that city the reproduction of scenes from history, folk-lore, poetry, etc., in the form of tableaux drawn about the streets on richly decorated floats. The idea was adopted by New Orleans in 1839, when one of the principal features of the parade was a gigantic cock, some 6 or 8 feet in height, "riding in a carriage and delighting the crowds with his stentorian crows." Since that time more attention has been given to the spectacular portion of the pageants. At 9 o'clock p. m., Feb. 24, 1857, (Mardi Gras) there appeared on the streets a brilliant series of moving tableaux representing scenes designed from Milton's description of the in- fernal regions in his "Paradise Lost." Whence they came no one could tell, but after the carnival it was discovered that a society called the "Mystic Krewe," now known as the Mystic Krewe of Comus, was responsible for their presentation. The following year the Krewe presented tableaux from mythology; in 1859 the four English holidays-Twelfth Night, May-day, Midsummer Eve and Christmas formed the subjects of the tableaux: in 1860 the history of America from the discovery by Columbus to the Missouri Com- promise was given; and in 1861 the story of human life-Child- hood, Youth, Manhood and Old Age, followed by Death-consti- tuted the basis of the display. Then came the Civil war, which for a time put an end to the gayeties of Mardi Gras, but in 1866 Comus reappeared in a series of tableaux representing the Past, Present and Future. From that time until 1884, with the excep- tion of the years 1875, 1879 and 1883, annual street parades were given by the Mystic Krewe. From 1884 to 1890 the pageants were suspended for some reason, but since 1890 the Krewe has never failed to be on hand with some appropriate display.
In 1870 the Twelfth Night Revelers, another mystic organization. came into existence and gave annual entertainments until 1876,
.
134
LOUISIANA
then discontinued them until 1894, when the society was reorgan- ized. This society, as its name indicates, celebrates Jan. 6, the 12th night after Christmas, the principal feature of their festivities being a grand masquerade ball. A Tourist's Guide Book, published by the Picayune in 1900, says: "The ball is very interesting, reproducing all the old Creole customs and observances of Twelfth Night, such as cutting of the Twelfth Night or King's Cake, in which are hidden the gold and silver mystic beans. The one who gets the slice containing the gold beans becomes king or queen, as the case may be, and the finders of the silver beans become the royal attendants."
The year 1872 marked the first appearance of "Rex," who has made his annual visits since that time, and who has become recog- nized as the "King of the Carnival," his courtiers being appointed from among the best people of the city. He arrives from his sup- posed far distant realm on Monday preceding Mardi Gras, and the ceremony of his entry into the city is scarcely less imposing than the Mardi Gras pageant itself. Vessels of all descriptions, be- decked with pennants of variegated hues, descend the river to meet his yacht and escort the royal visitor to the landing in front of the city. As he disembarks he is welcomed by an artillery salute and the music of numerous bands. A grand procession is then formed and he is escorted to the city hall, where the mayor of New Orleans presents him with the keys of the city. Rex issnes his imperial decree, "Let joy be unconfined," and for the next 24 hours no king ever enjoyed greater privileges or had more loyal subjects.
Other societies are the Knights of Momus, which first appeared in 1872; the Krewe of Proteus, which made its first appearance on Mardi Gras eve in 1882 with a single tableau "The Dream of Egypt"; and the Krewe of Nerens, organized in 1895. The last named society in 1900 mounted its tableaux on trolley cars and illuminated them with beautiful electric effects. Each of these societies closes the festivities with a grand ball, admission to which is obtained only by invitation, the cards of admission being dis- tributed upon the recommendation of the members of the various organizations. Balls are also given by the Krewe of Consus, the Atlanteans, the Elves of Oberon, and the High Priest of Mithras during the carnival week, but they take no part in the Mardi Gras pageant proper. In 1898 the Phorty Phunny Phellows, a society organized some 25 years before, was revived and participated in the carnival. Some idea of the magnitude of the grand balls may be gained when it is known that Rex's ball has been frequently attended by as many as 30,000 people ..
No sooner has one carnival ended than the preparations for the next are commenced. New floats and costumes are designed; a "float den" is selected in some quiet place where the work is not likely to be observed: and although a large number of workmen of various kinds are necessary to construct these floats, the place is kept so well guarded that the public knows nothing of their
.
135
LOUISIANA
nature until they appear in the grand parade. The expense of a single display often runs up to $25,000 or $30,000, but this vast expense is defrayed by the members of the several societies above mentioned, and the exhibition when it comes off is absolutely free to the spectators. Thousands of people from all parts of the country visit New Orleans during carnival week, and he who has not seen "Rex" is behind the times.
Each society selects one of its members to exercise the royal prerogative of being king for a day, and this sovereign selects some woman to be his queen. After the presentation of the tableaux the coronation of the queen takes place, then follows the ball. "To be queen of one of these carnivals is an honor that clings to the recipient through smiles and tears in this quaint old city," and "Once queen, forever queen." has grown to be a carnival motto. Mardi Gras may be foolishness, but it is a harmless foolish- ness that drives dull care away for the time, lightens the sorrows that bow down the head of the unfortunate, heightens the pleasures of the young, and renews the youthfulness of the old. And as bitter memories never follow in its wake it is to be hoped that its ob- servance will never be abandoned.
Margaret .- Near the center of triangle bounded by Camp, Pry- tania and Clio streets, in the city of New Orleans, stands a marble statue of a woman clad in humble raiment, seated on an old- fashioned chair with her left arm about the shoulders of a little child, while upon the pedestal is the single word "Margaret." The original of this statue was the child of Irish immigrants who died of yellow fever in Baltimore, Md., soon after their arrival in this country, leaving their infant daughter an orphan in a strange land. A Welsh couple who came over on the same vessel adopted the little waif and brought her up as though she was their own child. Upon reaching womanhood Margaret married a young Irishman named Haughery, and, his health failing, they came to New Or- leans in the hope that the climate would prove beneficial. A little later, thinking a sea voyage might do him good, the husband went to Ireland and died there, leaving his wife in rather poor circum- stances. Margaret obtained a situation as laundress at the old St. Charles hotel. and from her meagre earnings saved enough to pur- chase two cows, with which she started a dairy on a small scale, delivering the milk to her customers herself.
At this time the sisters in charge of an orphan asylum were having some difficulty in raising sufficient funds to provide for the homeless children under their charge. Margaret offered her ser- vices and part of her earnings, her dairy was enlarged. and each day after delivering her milk she made the rounds of the hotels, begging the cold victuals that were left over, and often these "scraps" constituted the chief source of food supply for the orphans of the home. Notwithstanding her liberal and unselfish charity, Margaret prospered. A baker who owed her some money failed in business and she took possession of his shop, changing her occupation and furnishing bread to her customers instead of milk.
136
LOUISIANA
Day after day she sat at her shop door with a smile and a kind word for every one who gave her greeting, and few passed without a friendly word in return. In time she founded an infant asylum, which she called her "baby-house," and as long as she lived she gave liberally to the support of homeless children. Immediately after her death the movement to erect a monument to her memory was started. Funds were soon collected and the statue above men- tioned was the outcome. It represents her in the old, familiar attitude of sitting on her low chair at her shop door, clad in her customary calico dress with a little shawl drawn about her shoul- ders, and no more fitting pose could have been chosen. When the statue was dedicated some of the orphans that she had befriended pulled the cord that drew aside the veil and revealed the figure of "Margaret," the poor bread-woman, the unselfish philanthropist, to the assembled throng. The triangle is known as "Margaret Square," and long after her life's career is ended her statue stands to teach the lesson of charity to the world.
Margry, Pierre, historian and geographer, was born in Paris, France, Dec. S, 1818. He was educated at the College Charlemagne, graduating in 1838, and owing to reverses that had come to his father, was thrown upon his own resources immediately upon leav- ing school. After holding a clerkship in one of the government departments for about three months he began giving private les- sons in Latin, French and English, supplementing his income from this source by contributing articles to various periodicals. In 1836 he translated into French the speech made by Gen. Lewis Cass before the American Historical society at Washington, D. C., and when Cass, a few years later, went to Paris as United States. minister, he secured the services of Margry as a teacher of the French language. At the suggestion of Gen. Cass he turned his attention to historical geography, and as archivist of the navy he devoted 40 years of his life to research on "the influence of France in foreign lands," mainly in America. He published several works, his "Relations et Memoires" appearing in 1867, and in 1879 he began his great work, "Mémoires et Documents," comprising six large volumes, the first three of which are devoted to the work of La Salle: the fourth to the discovery of the Mississippi by Iber- ville : the fifth to the posts between the St. Lawrence river and the Gulf of Mexico; and the sixth to the explorations of the Missis- sippi, all of which were published under the acts of the United States Congress. In 1870 Margry was awarded the cross of the Legion of Honor, and in 1880 was retired on a pension. His death occurred on March 27, 1894. The Louisiana Historical society has three large quarto volumes of manuscripts relating to early Louisi- ana, which were collected for the society by Margry in 1849.
Marie, is a post-hamlet of Tangipahoa parish, but its location is not shown on the maps.
Marigny, Bernard, called also Marigny de Mandeville, was born in the city of New Orleans in 1785. He came of a distinguished family and was for a time quite wealthy. He was a delegate to
137
LOUISIANA
the first constitutional convention in 1811, and after the admission of Louisiana as a state was elected to the lower branch of the legis- lature .. When the British invasion was threatened in 1814, he was one of the committee of defense appointed by the house of repre- sentatives and took an active part in defending New Orleans against Pakenham's army, though he did not take up arms. When the legislature was closed on Dec. 28, 1814, and military sentinels placed to guard the halls, it was Marigny who rode to Jackson's headquarters to ascertain the reason for such action, and it was to him that Jackson said he had sent word to the governor to in- vestigate the rumor that the legislature was about to capitulate, and if true to "blow it up." Marigny condemned the arrest of Louallier and Judge Hall and voted against the bill to present a sword to Gen. Jackson. Although he voted against this measure he retained the friendship of Jackson, and when the latter visited New Orleans in 1828 he became the guest of Marigny. In 1822 Mr. Marigny was chosen president of the state senate; he was a delegate to the convention which formed and adopted the consti- tution of 1845; in 1848 published "Réflexions sur la Campagne du General André Jackson en Louisiane en 1814 et 1815," and in 1854, "Réflexions sur la Politique des Etats-Unis."
Maringouin, a village of Iberville parish, is situated on Bayou Grosse, which forms the northeastern boundary of the parish, and the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 25 miles northwest of Plaquemine, the parish seat. It has important lumber industries, a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the trading point for a large farming district. The population in 1900 was 125.
Marion, a village of Union parish, is a station on the Farmer- ville & Southern R. R., about 12 miles northeast of Farmerville. the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the railroad town for a considerable farm- ing district. Its population in 1900 was 150.
Mark, a river town in the southeastern part of West Baton Rouge parish, is about 3 miles east of St. Delphine, the nearest railroad station, and 8 miles south of Baton Rouge. It is a land- ing on the Mississippi, a shipping point for a cotton district, and in 1900. reported a population of 75.
Marksville, the parish seat of Avoyelles parish. is situated in the central part of the parish and is the terminus of a short branch of the Texas & Pacific R. R. system that connects with the main line at Mansura. The town was incorporated in 1843 and in 1900 had a population of 837. It has a bank, a money order postoffice, express and telegraph service, good schools and public buildings, churches of the leading religious denominations, large lumber and brick manufacturing interests, and is the commercial center for a large portion of the parish. as may be seen from Young's Louisi- ana Directory for 1909, which gives a list of 17 general stores, all of which seem to enjoy a good patronage. During Gen. Banks' campaign up the Red river in the spring of 1864 there was some sharp skirmishing in the vicinity of Marksville between his forces
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.