Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II, Part 80

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1326

USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 80

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).

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to New Orleans as a hostage, but soon after arriving there Hutch- ins was released on parole. Willing and his men then captured a small vessel at Manchac and went up the river, burning houses and devastating plantations. In the meantime Hutchins had returned home and circulated the report that Willing was making prepara- tions to return and plunder the district. He recruited a body of armed men and stationed them in ambush to await the return of the expedition. When Willing reached Natchez on his way up the river he sent a small boat to land, but it was fired upon by Hutch- ins' men and several were killed. During the excitement a number of people left their homes on the east side of the Mississippi and fled across the river into the Spanish possessions. Although the inhabitants of Louisiana were generally friendly to the American cause, they did not endorse Willing's course, and after his escapade the American influence at New Orleans was exerted more strongly in favor of Spain taking possession of West Florida. Willing next went to Mobile, where he tried to get up a demonstration in favor of the United States, but he was captured by the British and held for some time as a prisoner of war.

Wills .- (See Descent and Distribution of Property.)

Wilson, an incorporated town in the northwestern part of East Feliciana parish, is a station on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 7 miles northwest of Clinton, the parish seat. It has a bank, a money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the shipping point for the cotton district in which it is located. There are cotton gins, and other cotton industries in the town, good stores and several churches. The population was 470 in 1900.

Wiltz, Louis Alfred, who succeeded Francis T. Nicholls as gov- ernor of Louisiana in 1880, was born in the city of New Orleans, Jan. 21, 1843. Some of his paternal ancestors were among the first German settlers in Louisiana, and his mother was the daughter of a Spanish soldier who came to the colony with O'Reilly. Louis attended the public schools of his native city until he was about 15 years old, when he became a clerk in the mercantile establishment. When the Civil war began he enlisted in the New Orleans artillery and was soon afterward elected captain of Co. E, Chalmette regi- ment, which was stationed at Fort Jackson, where he was captured. After being exchanged he again entered the army and remained on active duty until the close of the war. when he resumed his com- mercial pursuits. He began his political career as a member of the parish committee, and was later elected a member of the state central committee of the Democratic party. In 1868 he was elected a member of the legislature. This was during the reconstruction era, the general assembly was full of corruption and intrigue. but Mr. Wiltz preserved an untarnished reputation, thereby winning the complete confidence of his constituents. In Nov., 1872. he was elected mayor of New Orleans. Two years later he was again elected to the general assembly, and when that body assembled in Jan., 1875, he was chosen speaker of the house. While serving in this capacity he protested against the invasion of the hall by

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Federal troops for the purpose of unseating Conservative or Demo- cratic members, but finally resigned the speakership under an ad- justment made by a committee of Congress. In 1876 he was elected lieutenant-governor on the ticket with Gov. Nicholls; was presi- dent of the constitutional convention in 1879; and on Dec. 8 of that year was elected the first governor of the state under the new constitution. His death occurred on Oct. 16, 1881.

Wiltz's Administration .- The inauguration of Gov. Wiltz took place on Jan. 14, 1880, and on the same day Samuel D. McEnery took the oath of office as lieutenant-governor. The constitution of 1879 changed the sessions of the general assembly from annual to biennial, and in his first message the new governor reminded the members that it became their duty to make provisions for the support of the state institutions for two years instead of one, as had been done heretofore. He recommended the repair of the old capitol building at Baton Rouge; measures for the sale or con- version of the property of the state in New Orleans, the former capital; the enactment of special laws relating to the liens of mechanics and other laborers, so that capital and labor would each receive adequate and equal protection under the law; the estab- lishment of a board of health, clothed with authority to combat epidemics and foreign diseases without destroying commerce; and the organization of a bureau of agriculture, part of the duties of which should be to encourage immigration. He also recommended the adoption of some method of capital punishment more humane than hanging, and made several wise suggestions relative to the finances of the state and the subject of public education.

The first action of the regular session of 1880 was the adoption of a concurrent resolution, asking the U. S. senate to admit Henry M. Spofford, who had been duly elected in April. 1877, and pro- testing against the recognition of William Pitt Kellogg, who had been elected about the same time by the Packard legislature, which was afterward denied recognition by the president of the United States.

Among the acts passed was one authorizing the governor to employ counsel for the state in an action brought by the State of New Hampshire in the supreme court of the United States under the provision of the Federal constitution authorizing the supreme court to settle controversies between states. In July, 1879, the general court of New Hampshire passed an act providing that any citizen of that state holding unpaid obligations of any other state might assign them to the state, giving security for costs, etc., and when so assigned the attorney-general of New Hampshire was directed to bring suit for the collection of the claims. In Jan., 1880, six coupons of interest on consolidated bonds of Louisiana, amount- ing to $210, were assigned to the State of New Hampshire. and the suit above referred to was instituted. An act similar to that of New Hampshire's had been passed by the legislature of New York in 1878, but it was vetoed by the governor, because it re- quired "the state to lay down its dignity, its honor, and its integrity

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as a sovereign state of the Union, and to become a collecting agent for speculators in state bonds." The act was again passed in 1880 and this time it was not vetoed. As soon as it became a law New York brought suit against Louisiana in the U. S. supreme court to enforce the collection of $1.050-interest on bonds issued in 1874. The cases were finally decided on March 5, 1883. In handing down his opinion Chief Justice Waite referred to the 11th amendment to the constitution and said: "The evident purpose of the amendment was to prohibit all suits against states by or for citi- zens of other states, or aliens, without the consent of the state to be sued, and in our opinion one state cannot create a controversy with another state within the meaning of that term as used in the judicial clauses of the constitution by assuming the prosecution of debts owing by other states to its citizens. Such being the case, we are satisfied that we are prohibited both by the letter and spirit of the constitution from entertaining these suits, and the bill in each of them is dismissed."

By the enforcement of strict quarantine regulations along the coast, and the observance of sanitary measures in the cities, the death rate was lower in 1880 than for any year since 1868. Con- siderable progress in railroad construction was made during the year, the erops were generally satisfactory, and notwithstanding strikes in various parts of the state (See Labor Troubles), the year closed with better prospects and a more hopeful spirit than any year since the war. The population of the state, according to the U. S. census, was 454,954 whites, 483,655 negroes, 1,337 Chinese, Japanese, etc .. a total of 939,946. These figures show an increase in population of 213,031 during the preceding decade. The adminis- tration of Gov. Wiltz was terminated by his death on Oct. 16, 1881, and the next day Lient .- Gov. McEnery succeeded to the office.

Windom (R. R. name Burke), a post-station in the southwestern part of St. Martin parish, is situated on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 5 miles southwest of St. Martinville, the parish seat, in the great sugar district. It has sugar mills, an express office and some local retail trade.

Winnfield, the capital of Winn parish, is located almost in the geographical center of the parish, and was made the seat of justice when the parish was established in 1852. A postoffice was estab- lished at that time. but during the Civil war mail service was sus- pended. The town was incorporated in 1855, and at the present time it is one of the most important railroad centers in northwestern Louisiana, as it has four railroad systems, viz. : the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, the Louisiana & Arkansas, the Tremont & Gulf. and the Lonisiana Railway & Navigation company, the lines of these four systems running in six different directions. In 1885 the Winnfield academy was established, but it has given way to the public high school. Fine beds of clay are found in the immediate vicinity, hence one of the principal manufacturing industries is that of briek and tile. Lumbering is also an important occupation. Winnfield has 2 banks, a money order postoffice, express, telegraph

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and telephone service, several fine mercantile establishments, and the press and professions are well represented, as are the various religious denominations and fraternal societies. The population in 1900 was 1,174, and the estimated population in 1908 was 2,500.

Winn Parish, established in 1851 during the administration of Gov. Joseph Walker, was created from the eastern part of Natchi- toches parish, and as first laid out included within its boundaries the western part of Grant parish. It is now bounded on the north by Bienville and Jackson parishes; on the east by Caldwell and Catahoula parishes ; on the south by Grant parish, and on the west by Natchitoches parish. As Winn was so long a part of Natchi- toches, its early history is that of the older parish. (See Natchi- toches Parish.) The first settlements were made along the Red river and the Saline before the country was surveyed. The parish was fully organized in 1852 and the first meeting of the police jury was held in a log building erected in 1851-52 for a courthouse. This building was replaced by a more modern building, in which the police jury and district court were held until 1868, when the build- ing and records were destroyed by fire. The courthouse and records were again destroyed by fire on Jan. 12, 1888, after which the present building was erected. The first newspaper published in the parish was the Southern Sentinel, issued Oct. 4, 1860, by J. L. Walker, as the champion of Douglas in this section of the state. The most important water courses are the Dugdemona river, which flows from northwest to southeast through the center of the parish ; Saline bayou and Clear lake on the western boundary; Bayou Buckoa, and Cedar, Big Iatt and Beech creeks. Water is abundant and of the best quality, throughout the parish, for cattle and domes- tic purposes. There are many mineral springs impregnated with salt, such as Pierce's lick, Drake's salt works on Saline bayou, Cedar lick near Winnfield. in the Kiescho creek bottoms, on Pen- darvis' prairie in the fork of the Dugdemona river, and Bayou Carter. The formation is chiefly pine hills, with some good uplands and alluvial land along the streams. The principal product is cotton, but diversified farming is practiced, corn, hay, oats, pota- toes, sorghum, sugar-cane and tobacco being grown to a consider- able extent. Such fruits and nuts as peaches, apples, pears, pecans, English walnuts, quinces and grapes are raised in abundance. Game and fish of all kinds abound in the forests and streams. Valuable deposits of salt, lignite, kaolin, gypsum, limestone, iron, fire and potter's clay exist, which only need to be opened and developed to prove. a source of great profit. About 5 miles from Winnfield, on the Natchitoches road is what is known as the "Marble Quarry." It is a variegated stone of the rock-lime variety, which when burned makes excellent lime and is of sufficient quantity to yield time for the whole state. Near the south line of the parish a marble has been found that takes a very fine polish. The asphalt lands south of Winnfield are extensive, and the product is considered equal in quality to the Swiss asphalt. Winnfield, the parish seat, and St. Maurice, an old settlement in the southwestern part of the parish,

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are the chief towns. Other towns and villages are Atlanta, Cold- water, Couley, Emden, Flatcreek, Gaar's Mills, Gansville, Hickory Valley, Hill, Hudson, Newport, Royal, Sills, Tannehill, Wheeling, Winona and Zion.

The following statistics concerning the industries, etc., of the parish, are taken from the U. S. census of 1900: number of farms, 1,587; acreage, 246,327; acres under cultivation, 54,327; value of land and improvements exclusive of buildings, $544.100; value of farm buildings, $225,580; value of live stock, $311,186; value of all products not fed to live stock. $427,488; number of manufactories, 17; capital invested, $51,425 ; wages paid, $10,080; total value of all products, $49,674. The population of the parish in 1900 consisted of 7,967 whites, 1,681 colored, a total of 9,648, an increase of 2,566 over the year 1890. The estimated population for 1908 was 10,300.

Winnsboro, the capital of Franklin parish, is situated in the central part on the line of the New Orleans & Northwestern R. R. The town was laid out on land owned by John W. Willis, soon after the parish was created in 1843, and the first courthouse, a one-story frame building, was completed in 1847. According to the census of 1900 the population of Winnsboro was 300, but Young's Louisiana Directory estimated it at 1,000 in 1908. The first newspaper was established in the town in 1860. Winnsboro has a bank, express and telegraph offices, a money order postoffice, some manufactures, general stores, etc. The public school system is good, and the churches and professions are well represented.

Winona, a village in the northern part of Winn parish, is a sta- tion on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R., 8 miles north of Winnfield. It has a money order postoffice and telegraph station, and is the shipping and supply town for a large lumbering district.

Wisner, a village in the southeastern part of Franklin parish, is situated on the New Orleans & Northwestern R. R., 14 miles south- east of Winnsboro, the parish seat. It has an international money order postoffice, telegraph and express offices, and is the shipping and trading town for a considerable district in the southeastern part of the parish.

Womack, a post-village of Jackson parish, is located 12 miles southeast of Vernon, the parish seat, at the junction of the Tremont & Gulf and the Wyatt & Donavan railroads, and is a trading center and shipping point for that section of the parish.

Women Colonists .- During the first few years following the establishment of Iberville's settlement at Biloxi the refining in- fluence of woman was not known in Louisiana. In 1704 one of the members of the French cabinet wrote to Bienville as follows: "His Majesty sent 20 girls, carefully selected, of industrious habits, skillful at work, of exemplary virtue and piety, and destined to be married to Canadian settlers of the same class, in order that the colony be established on a solid foundation."

The following year 23 girls, escorted by three priests and two nuns, came over from France "to be married to officers-not to gentlemen-but to discharged soldiers, farmers, mechanics, etc."

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These girls, like those of the previous year, were recommended for their virtue, piety, and respectability. In 1706 De Boisbriant, the commandant at Mobile, wanted to marry one of these girls, but was prevented from doing so by Bienville. This incident led the woman in charge of the "carefully selected and pious girls" to write a letter to the French ministry, in which she declared that Bienville did not possess the necessary qualifications to govern the country. In 1713 Commissary Duclos wrote to the ministry that the girls sent over were so ugly that it was almost impossible to persuade men to marry them ; that two had found husbands, but that it would be difficult to find husbands for the others. He expressed it as his opinion that what the men wanted was "less virtue and more beauty." This letter was supplemented by one from Gov. Cadillac in 1714, advising the sending over of "women of a higher order, qualified to marry officers and educated and refined colonists," but the records do not show that his suggestions were accepted.

Martin mentions the arrival of a company ship in Feb., 1721, with 80 girls from the Salpetriere, a house of correction in Paris, and 100 other passengers, and comments on this as follows: "It seems the late order of the council, prohibiting the transportation of vagabonds and convicts, was not considered as extending to women." This is the only mention of women of this character being sent to Louisiana during the period of colonization. In the , course of the same year 250 women arrived under the charge of the Chevalier d'Arensbourg. The famous "Casket Girls" (q. v.) came over early in 1728, and the last cargo of women sent over under the direction of the government was during the administra- tion of Gov. Vaudreuil, when 60 girls of good character arrived at New Orleans, "to be married to discharged soldiers." Though most of the early women colonists were of humble birth they were of good reputation, and under the environment of the New World they developed a different character, a stronger personality, and some of their descendants are among the most distinguished families of Louisiana. It may be added that many of the colonists came with their wives, who were highly respectable women.

Women's Clubs .- The state federation of women's clubs of Loni- siana was organized in 1899 and had in 1908 a membership of 31 clubs, of which 7 belong to the general federation. The total membership is over 700 women. The work furthered by the con- certed efforts of the club women is exhibited by the purpose for which the standing committees of the state federation are appointed, i. e., art, civies, club extension, education, forestry, household economies, industrial, legislative, membership, reciprocity and sani- tation. The president of the Louisiana federation in 1908 was Mrs. W. A. Wilkinson of Coushatta: the vice-presidents, Miss Marion Brown of New Orleans and Mrs. E. A. Lee of Jennings; the recording secretary Miss Morris of Natchitoches; the corre- sponding secretary, Mrs. Frances Shuttleworth of Shreveport; the

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treasurer, Mrs. J. B. Faley of Crowley ; and the anditor, Mrs. James Eddy of Lake Charles.

The New Orleans Woman's club was founded by Miss Elizabeth Bisland, who became famous through her race around the world. The club-house is delightfully located on Camp street near Margaret Place, and within its hospitable portals many charming social affairs take place, as well as meetings of more serious import. The Wo- man's club of New Orleans, as in most of the large cities of the country, is an important factor in almost every movement toward civic improvement. The educated and progressive club woman can always be relied upon to take prompt and efficient action in philan- thropic, educational and social affairs.

In many cases the name of the club is a key to the purpose of its existence. This will be noted in the following directory of the clubs of the state: Abbeville, the Woman's club; Baton Rouge, Philistoria club, Comenian club; Crowley, the Woman's club ; Coushatta, Oak Leaf club ; Homer, Minerva club, Civic League and Up-to-Date Fiction club ; Jennings, Woman's club, Mutual Benefit club, Woman's Literary club; Jeanerette, Clio club; Lake Arthur, Woman's Library association; Lake Charles, Enterprise club, Re- view club ; Lafayette, Woman's club ; Mansfield, Shakespeare ciub, the Civic League; New Orleans, the Woman's League, the Woman's club; Natchitoches, Lesche club : Ruston, the Pierian and Woman's Culture clubs ; Shreveport, the Civic League, the Mother's Union, the Era Civic association, the Authors' and Hypatia clubs, the Home Charitable association, the Polymnia club, and the Home for the Homeless. The Woman's National Rivers and Harbors con- gress was organized at Shreveport, La., June 29, 1908, having for its objects "the improvement of the inland waterways and harbors, the extension of our forests, and the conservation of our natural resources." The officers of this organization are as follows: Mrs. Hoyle Tomkies, Shreveport, president ; Mrs. Lydia Adams Williams, Washington, D. C., vice-president ; Mrs. Frances Shuttleworth, Shreveport, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. A. B. Avery, Shreve- port, recording secretary ; Mrs. John L. Matthews, Boston, Mass., auditor.

Woodburg, a post-hamlet of Calcasieu parish, situated on the east bank of the Sabine river, 6 miles southeast of Baylor, the nearest railroad town, and 30 miles northwest of Lake Charles, the parish seat.

Woodland, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of East Felici- ana parish, is situated on a confluent of the Amite river, about 8 miles northeast of Clinton, the parish seat and nearest railroad town.

Woodmen, a post-office in the northwestern part of Calcasieu parish, is not far from Hall City, which is the nearest railroad station.

Woodmen of the World .- Although this order was introduced ' into Louisiana at a comparatively recent date, it boasts the largest membership of any fraternal organization in the state. Camp No. I

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treasurer, Mrs. J. B. Faley of Crowley ; and the auditor, Mrs. James Eddy of Lake Charles.

The New Orleans Woman's club was founded by Miss Elizabeth Bisland, who became famous through her race around the world. The club-house is delightfully located on Camp street near Margaret Place, and within its hospitable portals many charming social affairs take place, as well as meetings of more serious import. The Wo- mian's club of New Orleans, as in most of the large cities of the country, is an important factor in almost every movement toward civic improvement. The educated and progressive club woman can always be relied upon to take prompt and efficient action in philan- thropic, educational and social affairs.

In many cases the name of the club is a key to the purpose of its existence. This will be noted in the following directory of the clubs of the state: Abbeville, the Woman's club; Baton Rouge, Philistoria club, Comenian club; Crowley, the Woman's club ; Coushatta, Oak Leaf club ; Homer. Minerva club, Civic League and Up-to-Date Fiction club ; Jennings, Woman's club, Mutual Benefit club, Woman's Literary club; Jeanerette, Clio club; Lake Arthur, Woman's Library association; Lake Charles, Enterprise club, Re- view club; Lafayette, Woman's club; Mansfield, Shakespeare club, the Civic League ; New Orleans, the Woman's League, the Woman's club; Natchitoches, Lesche club : Ruston, the Pierian and Woman's Culture clubs; Shreveport, the Civic League, the Mother's Union, the Era Civic association, the Authors' and Hypatia clubs, the Home Charitable association, the Polymnia club, and the Home for the Homeless. The Woman's National Rivers and Harbors con- gress was organized at Shreveport, La., June 29, 1908, having for its objects "the improvement of the inland waterways and harbors, the extension of our forests, and the conservation of our natural resources." The officers of this organization are as follows: Mrs. Hoyle Tomkies, Shreveport, president ; Mrs. Lydia Adams Williams, Washington, D. C., vice-president ; Mrs. Frances Shuttleworth, Shreveport, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. A. B. Avery, Shreve- port, recording secretary; Mrs. John L. Matthews, Boston, Mass., auditor.

Woodmen, a post-office in the northwestern part of Calcasieu parish, is not far from Hall City, which is the nearest railroad . station.

Woodmen of the World .- Although this order was introduced ' into Louisiana at a comparatively recent date, it boasts the largest membership of any fraternal organization in the state. Camp No. 1

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Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II, Part 80

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association Number of Pages: 1326

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1326