USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 75
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Congress appointed a committee to investigate the affair. Three members of the committee made a report to the effect that the whole matter was a quarrel between Republican factions, in which many of the Federal officials were prominent actors, some on one side and some on the other. The Democratic leaders also took part sometimes in alliance with one faction, sometimes with the other. according to their interest. A minority report by Mr. Spear and Mr. Archer stated that the political rascals and adventurers in Louisiana had quarreled among themselves; that the committee was powerless to relieve the people of the state; and that they would relieve themselves by a fair and honest election. The fol- lowing statements from this minority report show the conditions prevailing in Louisiana at that time:
"A series of infamous laws had been passed, placing imperial powers in the governor's hands, which he had used with a reckless disregard of the interests of the people and with the double pur- pose of enriching himself and his friends, and of perpetuating his control of the state. * * * Under the law, elections were a farce. The governor appointed the registrars, and through them returned his friends to the legislature and defeated his enemies. In several cases persons held seats in the house from parishes in which they had never resided and in which they were absolutely unknown. In one case a friend of the governor was elected in a private room in a New Orleans hotel, at midnight, to represent a parish 100 miles away. In 1868 the debts and liabilities
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of the state were $14,000,000, and in 1871, three years later, they were $41,000,000. No bill that the governor favors can fail, and none that he opposes can pass. * * The world has rarely known a legislative body so rank with ignorance and corruption. There is no direct evidence that the governor ever received a bribe for approving or vetoing a bill, and he states with emphasis that he has never been corruptly influenced in his official action. He has been governor four years, at an annual salary of $8,000, and he testified that he made far more than $100,000 the first year, and he is now estimated to be worth from $500,000 to $1.000,000."
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The political campaign of 1872 was full of interest and excite- ment. A reform party was organized early in the year, and a convention "of the people of the whole state" was called to meet in New Orleans on June 4. The Democratic state convention met on April 18, but adjourned to June 3, without making any nomina- tions. On April 30 the Packard faction of the Republicans met in convention, adopted resolutions commending the president and his policy, and denounced Warmoth as "the corrupt chief execu- tive, etc." The governor and some 500 others, calling themselves "Liberal Republicans," issned an address censuring President Grant's administration, and urging the people to send delegates to the Cincinnati convention. This caused the Pinchback crowd to desert the governor's standard, and after some friction a fusion was formed with Packard and the following ticket nominated: For governor, William Pitt Kellogg ; lieutenant-governor, C. C. Antoine ; secretary of state, P. G. Deslondes; auditor, Charles Clinton ; at- torney-general, A. P. Field; superintendent of education, W. G. Brown; congressman at large, P. B. S. Pinchback. On this ticket Antoine, Deslondes, Brown and Pinchback were negroes. In August the Democrats, Reformers, and Liberal Republicans formed a fusion, and agreed on the following nominations: For governor, John McEnery ; lieutenant-governor, Davidson B. Penn ; auditor, James Graham ; secretary of state, Samuel Armistead; attorney- general, Horatio N. Ogden : superintendent of education, R. M. Lusher.
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At the election on Nov. 4, the Greeley and Brown electors re- .ceived 66,467 votes, and the Grant and Wilson ticket. 59,975. A Republican returning board certified that the Grant electors re- ceived 71,63 and the Greeley electors 57,029. The same board declared Kellogg elected by a majority of 18.861, though the returns showed the election of the entire McEnery ticket by majorities ranging from 6,000 to 7,000. (Sce Returning Boards.) The dis- pute over the counting of the vote led to the impeachment of Gov. Warmoth "for high crimes and misdemeanors," and pending his trial he was suspended from office. Pinchback, though not the legal lieutenant-governor, assumed the duties of governor, not- withstanding an order from Judge Elmore of the 8th district court forbidding him to do so. A committee of 45 citizens went to Washington to lay the matter before the president, but they were coldly received, and informed that he had already decided to recog-
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nize the Pinchback government. Warmoth still claimed to be governor, as his term did not expire until the second Tuesday in Jan., 1873. He denied the legality of the legislature that suspended him, and refused to appear before the court to answer the impeach- ment charges. Thus matters continued until Jan. 14, 1873, when Kellogg was inaugurated.
Warner, a post-hamlet in the central part of Washington parish, is situated on a confluent of the Bogue Chitto, 5 miles southeast of Franklinton, the parish seat and nearest railroad town.
,Warner, Beverly Ellison, author and Protestant Episcopal clergy- man, was born at Jersey City, N. J., Oct. 14, 1855, a son of James and Anna (Carscallen) Warner. He was educated at Princeton and Trinity colleges and the Berkeley Divinity school, and in 1879 was ordained to the clergy. In 1886 he received the degree of A. M. from Trinity college, and in 1896 the degree of D. D. from the University of the South. In 1893 he became a resident of New Orleans, as rector of Trinity church, and during the ensuing winter he delivered a series of lectures on the study of history as shown in the works of Shakespeare, which were afterward published in book form under the title of "English History in Shakespeare's Plays." Mr. Warner is also the author of a book of sermons en- titled "The Facts and the Faith," and a novel named "Troubled Waters, A Problem of Today." dealing with the labor question. He has lectured for university extension, has written on economic and literary subjects, and is one of the board of administrators of Tulane university. He was prominent in 1905 in the successful fight made in New Orleans against yellow fever, and has been a very useful citizen of the city.
Warnerton, a post-station in the northern part of Washington parish, is situated at the junction of the Kentwood & Eastern and the New Orleans Great Northern railroads, about 10 miles north of Franklinton, the parish seat. It is a shipping point for a lumber- ing and fruit raising district.
Wasey, a post-station in the western part of Calcasieu parish, is on the Kansas City Southern R. R., about 20 miles northwest of Lake Charles, the parish seat, and is the shipping point and supply town for a lumber district.
Washington, one of the oldest towns in St. Landry parish, was incorporated by an act of the state legislature on March 31. 1835. It is located in the central part of the parish. on the Cortableau bayou, at the head of steam navigation, and on the Southern Pacific R. R., 6 miles north of Opelousas, the parish seat. It has cotton and cottonseed oil industries, a bank, an international money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, good mercantile estab- lishments, and is the shipping and commercial town for a consider- able district of fine farming land, many thousand bales of cotton being exported from Washington each year. The population in 1900 was 1,197.
Washington Monument .- This monument, located at Washing- ton, D. C., was erected in honor of Gen. George Washington, the
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hero of the Revolution and the first president of the United States. The idea of erecting such a monument originated with the Wash- ington National Monument association. The corner-stone was laid in 1848, and the work was continued under the auspices of the association, Robert Mills having charge of the actual construction, until 1877, when it stopped. The unfinished monument was then transferred to the national government, which completed the struc- ture in 1884, the work being under the supervision of Lieut .- Col. T. L. Casey, of the U. S. engineers. The monument is one of the tallest in the world, the total height being 555 feet, 5 inches. It is built of Maryland marble, is 70 feet square at the base, and the foundation covers more than 16,000 square feet. The monument association expended about $300,000 during the time it had control, and the total cost to the Federal government was $1,187,710.31. Shortly after the corner-stone was laid the association invited the several states to contribute each a stone, bearing a suitable inscrip- tion, to be placed in the monument in such positions that the in- scriptions could be easily read by visitors. On March 21, 1850, the Louisiana legislature made an appropriation of $500 for this purpose, and authorized the governor to procure and have trans- mitted to Washington a block of stone-the product of Louisiana -with the inscription: "The State of Louisiana, ever faithful to the Constitution and the Union." The purpose of the bill was carried out, and this was Louisiana's offering to the obelisk that commemorates the patriotic deeds of the "Father of his Country."
Washington Parish was established in 1819, during the adminis- tration of Gov. Jacques Villere, when the large parish of St. Tam- many was divided and the northern half erected as Washington. It was named in honor of George Washington; is one of the "Florida parishes"; is situated in the northeastern corner of the lower section of the state, and as first laid out embraced within its limits a part of Tangipahoa parish. As now constituted it has an area of 668 square miles, and is bounded on the north and east by the State of Mississippi : on the south by St. Tammany parish, and on the west by Tangipahoa parish, from which it is separated by the Tehefuncte river. Settlements were made in the parish during the opening years of the 19th century, while this section was still ruled by Spain. The greater part of the settlers took up their land as "head right" claims, on "land script" issued by the Spanish government. Some of the first families that located in this manner were Abner, Thomas and Benjamin Beckham, who came in 1807: William Brumfield came 2 years later, and in 1810 was followed by Ezekiel Brumfield. Amos, Benjamin and John Richardson also came in 1809-10; Jonathan McGehee and John Simmons took up land under the new government in 1812. After the West Baton Rouge revolution more Americans began to im- migrate to this section from the older and more thickly populated states north and east, being attracted by the mild climate and valuable pine lands. A few of these families were the Blacks, Blackwells. Ellises. Erwins, Gormans, Lawrences, Jameses, Slo-
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cums, and Warners. When the new parish was organized in 1819, John Beckham gave 30 acres of land where the town of Franklin- ton now stands for the parish seat and courthouse. In 1821 the police jury ordered the sale of all the lots that had been platted, except the center square, which was reserved for the courthouse, and the building erected then was used until 1858, when a second was built, which has recently been replaced by an elegant brick structure, equipped with the most modern fittings and improve- ments. Washington parish is situated in the finest part of the long leaf pine district east of the Mississippi river and is developing rapidly, as the population increased one-third in the decade from 1890 to 1900. Of its manufactured products, lumber alone amounts to more than $1,000.000 a year, and the agricultural products are steadily increasing. Little of the extensive pine areas have been cut as yet, hence lumbering will be one of the important industries for years to come. Large sums have been invested by the different lumber companies in sawmills and railroads, and the ease with which lumber can be exported has made these investments profit- able. The formation of the parish is pine hills, pine flats, and some alluvial land along the eastern border. It is drained by the Pearl river on the east. the Tchefuncte on the west, and by the Bogue Chitto and many small creeks through the central portion: Wash- ington parish has an altitude of between 100 and 200 feet above sea level, which makes the climate dry, and with its numerous springs, artesian wells and sandy soil, it is one of the healthiest spots in the famous "Ozone Belt." The soil is a sandy loam underlaid with clay, which responds quickly to fertilizers, and as it is rolling and hilly in parts, the drainage is excellent. Cotton is the largest agricultural product, but almost anything will grow. and hay, oats, corn, potatoes, tobacco, sorghum, and all kinds of garden vegetables are raised. Peaches, pears, plums, apples, quinces and pomegranates and the smaller varieties of fruits have proved perfectly adapted to this locality. As the timber is cleared off stock raising and dairying are increasing and promise to be important industries. In the north, along the line of the Kent- wood & Eastern R. R., truck farms are springing up, where early tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, strawberries, etc., are raised in large quantities and shipped to St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, and other northern markets. Up to 1906, Washington parish had no railroad except the Kentwood & Eastern, which crosses the western boundary at Jones and runs east and southeast to Popc- ville, and for many years the farmers had to take all their produce to stations, often many miles away, by team. In 1906 the New Orleans & Great Northern R. R. was built through the eastern part of the parish, and a branch of the same runs through the southern and central portions through Franklinton to Tylertown. in Mississippi, so that now nearly every portion of the parish is within easy reach of some railroad station. There are no large towns in the parish, Franklinton, the parish seat, being the most important. Other growing towns and villages are Angic, Babing-
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ton, Brockdale. Bogalusa, Gladis, McDougall, Mount Herman, Ophelia, Pasman. Richardson, Sheridan, Sunny Hill, Varnardo, Warnerton and Zona. The following statistics are taken from the U. S. census for 1900: number of farms in the parish, 1,442; acreage, 224,540; acres improved, 48,775; value of land and im- provements exclusive of buildings, $570,550; value of farm build- ings, $302,600; value of live stock, $328,768; total value of all products not fed to live stock, $579,555; number of manufacturing establishments, 27 : capital invested, $69,729; wages paid, $14.323 ; cost of materials used, $16,388; total value of products, $50,722. The population of the parish in 1900 consisted of 6,846 whites, 2,776 colored, a total of 9,622, an increase of 2,928 during the preceding decade. The estimated population for 1908 was over 11,000.
Water Proof, one of the largest and most important towns of Tensas parish, was incorporated by an act of the state legislature on March 14, 1859. It is situated on the west bank of the Missis- sippi river, 10 miles southwest of St. Joseph, the parish seat, and is a station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R. It has a bank, a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the trading and shipping point for a large area. The population in 1900 was 298.
Water Valley (R. R. name Naples), a post-village in the eastern part of Avoyelles parish, is a station on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company, about 20 miles southeast of Marks- ville, the parish seat.
Watkins, John Thomas, representative in Congress from the 4th district of Louisiana, is a native of the Pelican State, having been born at Minden, Webster parish, La., Jan. 15, 1854. His elementary education was acquired in the public schools of his native town, after which he entered Cumberland university at Lebanon, Tenn., where he pursued his studies for three years, but was prevented from graduating by a serious illness, which came to him only six weeks before the time he would have received his degree. Although he failed to receive the coveted diploma, the faculty of the institu- tion gave him a certificate for faithful attendance and proficiency in his studies, and he was elected valedictorian of his society. Upou recovering his health he took up the study of law, and in July. 1878, he was admitted to the bar. He soon won a reputation as an able and conscientious attorney: was elected district judge in 1892; was reelected in 1896 and again in 1900; was elected to the 59th Congress as a Democrat in 1904, and has been reelected to each succeeding Congress up to 1908.
Watson, a post-village in the northwestern part of Livingston parish, is about 18 miles northwest of Springville, the parish seat. and 5 miles north of Denham Springs, which is the most convenient railroad station. It is a trading center for an agricultural neighbor- hood, and in 1900 reported a population of 32.
Waverly, a post-town in the northwestern part of Madison par- ish, is a station on the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R ..
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about 13 miles west of Tallulah, the parish seat. It is the shipping and supply town for that section of the parish, has a money order postoffice and express office. and in 1900 reported a population of 50.
Waxia, a postoffice in the eastern part of St. Landry parish, is about 5 miles south of Palmetto, the nearest railroad station and 12 miles northeast of Opelousas, the parish seat.
Wayside, a post-station in the northeast corner of West Feliciana parish, is 5 miles west of Norwood, the nearest railroad town, and about 15 miles northeast of St. Francisville, the parish seat.
Webster Parish, established in 1871 while Henry Clay Warmoth was governor, was named in honor of Daniel Webster. It was created from the three older parishes of Bossier, Claiborne and Bienville ; is situated in the northwestern part of the state, and is bounded on the north by Arkansas; on the east by Claiborne and Bienville parishes; on the south by Bienville parish, and on the west by Bossier parish. The first settlements in Webster parish were made before Louisiana became a state. Isaac Alden, who settled 8 miles east of Minden in 1811, was one of the first to take up land. Richard Fields, a half-breed, located near Ger- mantown about the same time, and these two men are supposed to have been the only white inhabitants of this wilderness up to the spring of 1818, when the Murrells, Wards, and several other families arrived. They first took up land along the water courses, but on account of high water were forced to remove to higher ground. Small settlements were made during the winter of 1818-19, at Small Creek by the Allen family, and Dan Moore and William Gryder located in the same vicinity soon after. This locality became known as the "Allen Settlement." and a postoffice was established there as early as 1827, with John Murrell as post- master. Jesse Sikes settled at Sikes Ferry in 1816 and built a substantial honse there in 1820. A gunsmith named Deck took up land near Minden in 1822 and was followed by Adam L. Stewart, but the town site remained practically wilderness until 1837, when Charles H. Veeder, of Schenectady. N. Y., opened a store there. It is said that the first white child born north of Campti was Isaac Murrell, and the first school in this section was taught by James A. Conley. It was not until 1826 that a large crop of cotton was raised in the parish. In that year J. McCrady raised and gathered one of the largest cotton crops raised up to that date on his plantation at Flat Lick. He had a store there and the same year he built a gin-house and cotton press. Russell Jones built the second and John Murrell the third. Thus the great cotton industry of the parish was started. When Webster parish was established, Feb. 27, 1871. Minden was chosen as the parish seat, and the parish court was organized there April 4. 1871. and presided over by S. G. Mckenzie ; the first district court was held Nov. 6. 1871, by Judge I. B. Watkins. The first police jury was organized in 1871 at the town hall, which was subsequently burned. D. B. Doyle and Dr. G. L. Wise were members of this jury, and John Warren, clerk. All the records of the early period have disappeared and the earliest
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record preserved is dated Jan. 12, 1874. The Minden Iris, published at Minden in 1848, was the first newspaper issued in what is now known as Webster parish. The next was the Minden Herald, issued in Jan., 1855, and edited by Jasper Blackburn. The principal water courses are the Dorcheat, Indian and Bodcau bayous, Crow's and Honey creeks. Part of Lake Bistineau lies within the southern boundary of the parish. Webster has an area of 615 square miles. mostly "good upland" and alluvial land along the bayou bottoms. Between the bayous a level tract extends north from Lake Bistinean to the Arkansas line. The soil is light on the uplands, but produces good crops with reasonable fertilization, while the alluvial land is exceedingly productive. Cotton is the great export crop, but corn, hay, oats, sorghum, sugar-cane, potatoes and tobacco are all grown. Peaches, pears, apples, plums, grapes, quinces, and all kinds of garden vegetables are raised for the Shreveport market. The live stock industry is important, cattle, sheep and hogs all being raised in large numbers by the farmers. A large part of the parish is covered with valuable timber, such as oak, hickory, gum, beech, holly, elm, poplar, walnut and maple. Salt deposits exist in the southwestern part of the parish near Lake Bistineau, and beds of potter's clay, fire-clay, lignite and marl exist, which will become valuable when opened up and developed. Minden, the parish seat. is the most important town. Other towns and villages are Cotton Valley, Dorcheat, Doyline, Dubberly, Heflin, Hortman, Lanesville, Leton, Ogilvie, Sarepta, Shongaloo, Springhill and Yellow Pine. The Louisiana & Arkansas R. R. traverses the entire parish from north to south, connecting with the Shreveport & Northeastern at Minden, and with the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific at Sibley Station, the northern terminus of the Sibley, Lake Bistineau & Southern. All the products of the parish are thus brought in close touch with the markets. The following statistics concerning the parish are taken from the U. S. census for 1900: number of farms, 2,136; acreage, 221,210; acres improved, 93,829; value of land and improvements exclusive of buildings, $641,940: value of farm build- ings, $294,860: value of live stock. $318,650; total value of all products not fed to live stock, $663,749: number of manufacturing establishments. 31 : capital invested, $263,912; wages paid, $64,469: cost of materials used, $304,156: total value of products, $434,613. The population of the parish in 1900 was 6.863 whites, 8,262 colored. a total of 15.125, an increase of 2.659 over the year 1890. The estimated population for 1908 was 16,700.
Weeks, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Iberia parish. the terminuis of a branch of the Southern Pacific R. R., that con- nects with the main line at Baldwin.
Weil, a post-town in the northern part of Rapides parish. is situated on Bayou Boeuf, about 5 miles northwest of Alexandria. the parish seat. and 3 miles south of Rapides, the nearest railroad station. It had a population of 70 in 1900.
Weiss, a post-hamlet of Livingston parish, is situated near the
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northern boundary. 3 miles east of the Amite river and 7 miles east of Pride, the nearest railroad station.
Welchton (R. R. name Latanier), a village in the eastern part of Rapides parish, is a station on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company, 10 miles southeast of Alexandria, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the shipping and supply town for a large area of the rich Red river valley farming lands. The population in 1900 was 62.
Welcome, a money order post-town in the northwestern part of St. James parish, is situated on the west bank of the Mississippi river, about 5 miles above Convent, the parish seat. It is a landing point on the river from which sugar and other farm produce are shipped by water to New Orleans. Winchester is the railroad station. The population of Welcome in 1900 was 640.
Wells, James Madison, governor of Louisiana 1865-67, was a native of that state, though he was reared in the State of Ken- tucky and at Washington, D. C. Upon reaching his majority he returned to Louisiana, where he became a planter. In 1840 he was elected sheriff of his parish, and in 1864 was chosen lieutenant- governor on the ticket with Michael Hahn. When Gov. Hahn resigned on March 4, 1865, he succeeded to the office of governor, and the following November was elected for a full term. He was removed from office in June. 1867, by Gen. Sheridan, but was ap- pointed surveyor of the port of New Orleans by President Grant, and also held this office under President Hayes, having been chair- man of the returning board in 1876, which counted the electoral vote of the state for Hayes and Wheeler.
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