USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 54
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
443
LOUISIANA
short time before his death his Alma Mater honored him with the degree of LL. D.
. Shepley's Administration .- Gov. Shepley's appointment as mili- tary governor of Louisiana bore the date of June 10, 1862. Soon after receiving his authority from the Federeal government he began the work of reviving or creating courts for the administra- tion of justice. In a few instances judges holding commissions from the state took the oath of allegiance and were permitted to resume their judicial functions, but in most cases new judges were appointed. A provost court had been established by Gen. Butler, with power to decide only such questions as related to the military, but the governor gave to this court jurisdiction in all criminal cases. On Oct. 20, 1862, President Lincoln issued an order for the establishment of a provisional court, to have unlimited power and jurisdiction, and appointed Charles A. Pea- body, of New York, judge, with power to appoint all other officers. This court went into operation in Jan., 1863, and in April the state supreme court was reorganized, with Peabody as chief justice. Toward the end of August the provost court was discontinued and in November the 1st district court of the parish of Orleans-a court of general criminal jurisdiction-was opened. Judge Hiestand presiding, and parish courts were established in several of the parishes.
In Feb., 1863, the question of reorganizing the state government came before the Union associations of New Orleans. The plan finally adopted was based upon the theory that the state constitui- tion had been rendered inoperative by the secession of the state. It contemplated, Ist. a civil reorganization by loyal citizens of the state, without the interference of the military power, unless the same should be necessary for protection ; 2nd, the appointment of someone in each parish of the state within the Federal lines to register the names of those entitled to vote, each voter to take a prescribed oath as to his qualifications; 3rd, as soon as a suffi- cient number of voters were thus registered the governor should order an election of delegates to a convention to make a new con- stitution ; and 4th, upon the adoption of the constitution by the people an election of state officers should be ordered. In May this movement culminated in the appointment of a committee, con- sisting of 5 members from each of the Union associations of New Orleans and the adjoining parish of Jefferson, and known as the "Free State General Committee," with Thomas J. Durant as chair- man and James Graham as secretary. The plan was laid before Gov. Shepley, who gave it his approval and agreed to carry out the work of registering the voters. He appointed Mr. Durant attorney-general and commissioner of registration, with power to appoint registering officers in the several parishes, but before the work had procceded far the country parishes were occupied by the Confederate forces, leaving only New Orleans and its imme- diate environs in the hands of the Federals. This suspended for a time all registration, and before it could be resumed another party
444
LOUISIANA
came into prominence-a party claiming that the constitution had not been destroyed by the secession of the state, but had been only suspended. In June a meeting of planters appointed E. E. Mathiot, Bradish Johnston and Thomas Cottman a committee to go to Washington, present this view to President Lincoln, and request him to order an election of state officers on the first Monday in November under the old constitution. The president gave the committee a hearing, but refused to issue a proclamation ordering the election.
In October B. F. Flanders returned from Washington and re- ported that the president had "complained that the work was too slow," and that he would "modify his previous opinion and, so great was the need for immediate action, he would recognize and sustain a state government organized by any part of the population under Federal control." This gave an impetus to the party in favor of the old constitution, and on Oct. 27 an address, signed by W. P. Pugh, president, and E. Ames, vice-president, of the "Executive Central Committee of Louisiana," appeared in the New Orleans papers. The address advocated an immediate election of state officers and the Free State Committee was invited to cooper- ate in a movement for that purpose, but the latter declined and no general election was held in response to the address. The Free State Committee hurried forward the registration and con- ferred with Gov. Shepley with a view to having him call an elec- tion on Jan. 25. 1864, for delegates to a constitutional convention. On Nov. 5 a meeting of the free colored men of New Orleans sent a petition to the military governor, asking that they be registered as voters, but their prayer was not granted.
In the meantime Gen. Banks had superseded Gen. Butler in command of the Department of the Gulf. He took the view of the party which held that the constitution had only been sus- pended, and on Jan. 11, 1864, ordered an election of state officers on Feb. 22. Although this action of the general was severely criticized by the Free State men, they nominated Benjamin F. Flanders for governor and entered the race against the Old Con- stitutional party, whose candidate was Michael Hahn. There was also an independent candidate. John Q. A. Fellows, whose plat- form was "The constitution and the Union, with the preservation of the rights of all inviolate." Hahn was elected by a large majority, and was inaugurated on March 4, 1864. The popula- tion within the Federal lines was 233,185; outside those lines. 575,617. This outside population, by far the larger part of the people of the state, had held an election in Nov., 1863, at which Henry W. Allen was chosen governor. B. W. Pearce, lieutenant- governor, and representatives to the Confederate Congress at Rich- mond were also elected.
Sheridan, a post-hamlet in the central part of Washington parish. is about 10 miles southeast of Franklinton, the parish seat and nearest railroad station.
Sheridan, George Augustus, soldier and politician, was born at
·
445
LOUISIANA
Millbury, Mass., Feb. 22. 1842. He received his early education in the public schools of his native town and prepared for admis- sion to Yale college; was in Chicago when the Civil war broke ont and enlisted in the first regiment that offered. the 88th Illinois infantry, as a private, but was rapidly promoted to captain. He saw considerable service until he was wounded at Chickamauga, when he was forced to leave the army. Soon after the close of the war he removed to Louisiana, where he became a prominent member of the Republican party and was appointed adjutant- general of the state. In 1872 he was elected congressman-at-large from Louisiana as a Republican, but did not take his seat, as the election was contested by P. B. S. Pinchback. The contest was finally settled in favor of Sheridan. He became a national figure when he undertook to reply to Robert Ingersoll's attacks on Christianity, in his "Answer to Ingersoll." He was appointed recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia in 1877.
Sheridan, Philip H., soldier. was born at Albany, N. Y., March 6, 1831, but while he was yet in his infancy his parents removed to Somerset, Ohio. In 1848 he was appointed to a cadetship in the U. S. military academy, where he would have graduated in 1852 had he not been suspended. He graduated the following year, however, was assigned to the Ist infantry and remained on duty with that regiment until 1861 at various places in the West. In May, 1861, he was commissioned captain and served in the quar- termaster and commissary departments in Missouri until April, 1862, when he was appointed colonel of the 2nd Michigan cavalry. The following June he was placed in command of a brigade and in the campaign against Gen. Price in Missouri he rose to the rank of brigadier-general. He distinguished himself at Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge and in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, receiving a commission as major-general after the battle of Mur- treesboro. The story of his famous ride at the battle of Cedar creek. Va., has been graphically told in verse by Thomas Buchanan Read. In March, 1867, Gen. Sheridan was assigned to the com- mand of the 5th military district, consisting of Louisiana and Texas, under the reconstruction act. (See Reconstruction.) On Aug. 17, 1867, he was relieved of the command of the district by President Johnson, who transferred him to the Department of the Missouri, much to the relief of the people of Louisiana. He was a great favorite with Gen. Grant, and when the latter was inaugu- rated president in 1869 he appointed Sheridan lieutenant-general. About the beginning of 1875 Grant sent Gen. Sheridan on a trip south to investigate the conditions there, with instructions to assume command if he deemed it necessary. On Jan. 4, 1875. he assumed command of the Department of the Gulf, and on the same day sent a telegram to the secretary of war declaring the existence in Louisiana "of a spirit of defiance to all lawful author- ity." the "all lawful authority" being the administration of Kel- logg, the usurper. The next day he sent another telegram, urging Congress to pass a bill declaring the people of Louisiana banditti.
-
446
LOUISIANA
so that they could be tried by a military commission. On the 6th he sent a third telegram, in which he said: "The city is very quiet today. Some of the banditti made idle threats last night that they would assassinate me, because I dared to say the truth. 1 am not afraid, and will not be stopped from informing the govern- ment that there are localities in this department where the very air has been impregnated with assassination for some years." Some of these ridiculous telegrams were answered by an "Appeal to the American People," which was signed by many of the lead- ing citizens of the city, among them Archbishop Perché, Bishop Wilmer, Rabbi Gutheim and Bishop Keener. denouncing "these charges as unmerited, unfounded and erroneous, and can have no other effect than that of serving the interests of corrupt politi- cians, who are at this moment making extreme efforts to perpetuate their power over the State of Louisiana." (See also Returning Boards.) It seems, though, that the president placed more de- pendence in the statements of Gen. Sheridan than in those of so many eminent clergymen of various sects, for the power of the Federal administration was still exerted to the utmost to uphold that of Kellogg. As a cavalry commander Sheridan was a dash- ing officer, but as commander of a military district, or as an investi- gator during the dark days of reconstruction, he was despotic, prejudiced and extremely unjust. Gen. Sheridan died at Nonquitt, Mass., Aug. 5, 1888.
Sherwood, a postoffice in the northeastern part of Catahoula parish, situated on a confluent of the Black river, about 16 miles west of Florence. the nearest railroad station, and 8 miles north- west of Harrisonburg. the parish seat.
Shiloe, an extinct town of Union parish, was incorporated on March 18, 1858. Today it is not to be found upon the map.
Shongaloo, a money order post-village of Webster parish, is situated near the northeastern boundary on Indian bayou, about 10 miles west of Haynesville, the nearest railroad station, and in 1900 had a population of 85.
Shreveport, the capital of Caddo parish, is situated on the west bank of the Red river. in the southeastern part of the parish. It was started as a town in 1835, when a large force of raft removers had their headquarters at the place. Capt. Henry H. Shreve was the man appointed to carry on the work of removing the raft. and when the few settlers organized they called themselves the "Shreve Town Company" in honor of Capt. Shreve. Three years later the town of Shreveport organized. received its charter and elected its first mayor. There were but a handful of pioneers in the town at this time, but it was a good place to land a boat, and became a trading post, settlers began to come in and by the out- break of the Civil war it had attained a population of 3.000. Dur- ing the war Shreveport became a military post, and until the close of hostilities was the Confederate capital of the state. (See Allen's Administration.) Large plantations had grown up in the vicinity of the town before the war, but most of them had been abandoned
417
LOUISIANA
during the conflict. With the establishment of peace the fields were again white with cotton. The city is located in one of the most fertile valleys of the state, and is the center of a large stretch of country with great possibilities. Within easy reach are fine hardwoods, several thousand square miles of longleaf pine. the richest cotton, corn, and forage lands to be found anywhere. During the first 30 years of the city's life the growth was slow, as the census report of 1870 shows an increase of only 1,700 over that of 1860. In 1880 the population had increased to 8,000. The active growth of the city began when railroads penetrated this region. In 1869 the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R. was built, and was soon followed by the Texas & Pacific, Houston East & West and other lines. Up to 1856 the Red river was the only channel of trade and communication between Shreveport and New Orleans, and Shreveport, being located at the head of navigation for large boats, handled nearly all the traffic of northern Texas, southwestern Arkansas and the southern Indian Territory. With the advent of the railroads much of this trade was lost, but with the growth of the country and the products of the Red river valley, the river traffic has revived. Shreveport now has 7 trunk lines-the Kansas City Southern, the Texas & Pacific, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, the Houston & Shreveport, the Cotton Belt, the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific, the Louisiana Railway & Navi- gation company-with 11 diverging lines. The Red river is navi- gable all the year from New Orleans to Shreveport and most of the year from Shreveport to Denison, Texas. It has become the third inland cotton market in the United States. Cotton receipts often reach as high as 315,000 bales in one year. In proportion to its population, Shreveport is one of the largest wholesale dis- tributing points in the country. It has + banks-2 national and 2 state-it is one of the largest lumber shipping points on the river and in the state; has + cotton compresses, one of which is the largest in the world; 1 cotton mill; 3 cotton oil mills, and manu- facturing concerns of all kinds are rapidly increasing. There is one of the best iron works in the south located at Shreveport, several galvanized iron works, 2 saddle and harness factories, over 20 woodworking factories, a fertilizer factory, 3 brick fac- tories, railroad shops, boot and shoe factories, and many other con- cerns that supply not only the city itself, but the territory within a radius of nearly 200 miles. The public improvements consist of well paved streets, 2 telephone systems, electric light, gas, water, sewerage and fire systems. The electric street railway system con- sists of 4 lines aggregating 13 miles. Natural gas is furnished throughout the city and is the cheapest fuel for the manufacturer. There is a very complete public school system, with 6 public graded schools, a high school with an industrial department for both girls and boys. The state fair grounds are located on the outskirts of the city. The courthouse, recently built at a cost of $100,000, is one of the finest in Louisiana, and is soon to be fol- lowed by a fine city hall. One of the handsomest buildings in the
448
LOUISIANA
city is the Federal building, pressed brick and terra cotta. There is a fine opera house, charity hospital. the Shreveport sanatarium, market building, 3 modern hotels, while nearly all denominations represented in the cosmopolitan population of the city have splen- did church edifices. The Progressive League of Shreveport is an organization formed for the purpose of promoting and assisting the establishment of manufacturing and commercial enterprises in the city and has done much for its development. The U. S. census for 1900 gave the city a population of 16,013, and the estimated population for 1908 was 25,000.
Shuteston, a post-hamlet in the southwestern part of St. Landry parish, is situated on Plaquemine bayou, about 3 miles west of Sunset, the nearest railroad town, and about 10 miles south of Opelousas, the parish seat. Its population in 1900 was 45.
Sibley, Henry Hopkins, soldier, was born at Natchitoches, La., May 25, 1816. He was appointed to West Point, where he gradu- ated in 1838 and was commissioned second-lieutenant in the 2nd dragoons. He took part in the Florida war and received a com- mission as first-lieutenant in 1840. He served against the Indians in other parts of the country and on various frontier posts: was recruiting officer at the beginning of the Mexican war ; was present at the siege of Vera Cruz, and was brevetted major for gallant conduct. He served in all the succeeding battles of the war and at its close returned to frontier duty among the Indians. On May 13, 1861, he received his commission as major in the 1st dragoons, but resigned the same day to enter the service of the Confederate States. Three days later he was commissioned colonel in the Confederate army, and on June 17 was promoted to briga- dier-general and placed in charge of the department of New Mex- ico. He went into Texas and raised a brigade of over 2,000 men, with which he marched into New Mexico. His design was to take possession of this country for the Confederate States, but he found himself in a barren country, without supplies, with hostile forces gathering in the front and rear, and he retreated to the Rio Grande and afterward to San Antonio, Texas. During the rest of the war his services were confined to the Trans-Mississippi depart- ment. At the close of the war he went abroad and served as general of artillery in the Egyptian army from 1869 to 1874. After returning to the United States he delivered lectures on Egypt. He died at Fredericksburg, Va .. Aug. 23, 1886.
Sicily Island (R. R. name Florence), a village in the northeastern part of Catahoula parish, is a station on the New Orleans & North- western R. R., about 12 miles northeast of Harrisonburg. It is near the place where the French almost annihilated the tribe of Natchez Indians after the massacre at Fort Rosalie, and is one of the oldest settlements in this section of the state. It now has a money order postoffice, a large retail trade, and in 1900 reported . a population of 110.
Sigler, a money order post-town in the southeastern part of
449
LOUISIANA
Vernon parish, is situated on Brushy creek, 6 miles cast of Slab- town, the nearest railroad station.
Sikes, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Winn parish, is a short distance west of Sikes station, the nearest railroad town, and about 15 miles northeast of Winnfield, the parish seat.
Silliman Collegiate Institute .- This is an old and famous girls' school, which had its beginning as a joint-stock company, char- tered by the State of Louisiana in 1852. The Presbytery of Louisi- ana first became interested in the institute in 1856, when William Silliman donated it 102 shares, or a majority of the stock. The joint control lasted 10 years, when financial reverses compelled the sale of the institute to Mr. Silliman, who donated the entire interest to the presbytery in 1866 and the same year endowed the institute with a fund of $20,000, the interest of which was to be used for female education under the management of the presby- tery's local board of trustees. This fund together with the Dickin- son fund and some other donations created an endowment of over $35,000. The school has since had a prosperous career under the control of the presbytery, the immediate interests of the institu- tion being managed by a local board appointed every 2 years by the presbytery. Says Dr. Fay: "The influence of this institution for good has been great. Its benefits reach out along the line of every denomination : for, the exclusive ownership of the property belongs to the presbytery, it has been conducted in the spirit and design of its donor, to offer education to the daughters of the land under Christian but not sectarian teaching." The school is located in the suburbs of Clinton, the parish seat of East Feliciana parish, 120 miles north of New Orleans, and 100 miles south of Vicksburg. Its buildings, erected at an original cost of $30,000, are of brick, large, well ventilated and of handsome appearance. The grounds embrace 10 acres, embellished with a fine growth of beech and magnolia trees. The curriculum is broad and of high standard, designed to give a breadth of culture beyond the usual routine of schools for women: The various schools or sub-departments em- brace the following courses of study : English language and litera- ture, Latin, French and German, history, mathematics, natural science, mental and moral science, music, drawing and painting, stenography, typewriting and bookkeeping.
The first president of the institute was the Rev. H. Mosely, and. the present incumbent is the Rev. F. W. Lewis.
Sills, a postoffice in the central part of Winn parish, is located about a mile east of Ringwood, the nearest railroad station, and 6 miles northeast of Winnfield, the parish seat.
Simmesport, a town in the eastern part of Avoyelles parish, is on the Atchafalava river and is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R. It is one of the shipping towns of the eastern part of the parish, has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and large quantities of cotton are exported from Simmesport every year. The population in 1900 was 103.
Simmons, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Calcasieu
-
450
LOUISIANA
parish, situated on a branch of the Calcasieu river, 9 miles west of Canton, the nearest railroad town, and about 27 miles northeast of Lake Charles, the parish seat.
Simms, a village in the southern part of Grant parish, is a sta- tion on the St. Louis. Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 12 miles northeast of Alexandria. It is the trading point for a large district in the southern part of the parish, has a money order post- office, telegraph and express offices, and in 1900 had a population of 53.
Simpson, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Vernon parish. is about 6 miles southwest of Edwards, the nearest railroad town.
Simsboro, one of the largest towns in Lincoln parish, is situated on the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R., 9 miles west of Ruston, the parish seat. in the timber belt east of the Red river, and is the trading center for a large lumbering and agricultural district. It has a bank, a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and in 1900 reported a population of 248.
Singer, a town in the northwestern part of Calcasieu parish, is on the Kansas City Southern R. R., and is a comparatively new town which has grown up since the railroad was built. It is about 28 miles northwest of Lake Charles, the parish seat, and handles more piling than any other 3 towns in this great pine region. There are several large sawmills near the town that furnish a large amount of finished lumber. It is the shipping point for a large tract of lumbering and farming country that produces some cotton, hogs and other farm products. It has a money order post- office, telegraph and express offices, a good retail trade, and in 1900 had a population of 70.
Sinope, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Caldwell parish, is on the west bank of the Ouachita river about 2 miles west of River- ton, the nearest railroad town, and about 8 miles north of Columbia, the parish seat. It had a population of 46 in 1900.
Six Mile, a post-hamlet in the southern part of Vernon parish, is situated on a branch of the Calcasieu river, about 10 miles east of Leesville, the parish seat and nearest railroad station.
Slabtown, a post-village in the southeastern part of Vernon parish, is a station on the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe R. R. in the great long leaf pine forest east of the Sabine river. It has large sawmills and other lumber industries, and its population in 1900 was 54.
Slaughter, one of the newer towns of East Feliciana parish, is located near the southern boundary at the junction of two branches of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R. It received its name in memory of the owners of the land upon which the town grew up after the railroad was built, and was incorporated in 1888. It has a money order postoffice, a bank, telegraph and express offices, several good mercantile establishments, and is the center of trade for the southwestern part of the parish. The population was 250 in 1900.
Slavery .- The enslavement of one race or tribe by another dates
451
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.