(Transcribed by Leora White, January 2007)

A THESIS

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY

OF

THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

AND

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE

IN

PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF ARTS  

BY

GRACE ULMER 

August, 1935

Abstract

 Economic and Social Developments of Calcasieu Parish,  

Louisiana, 1840-1912

(Note: This transcription was taken from the typescript made by Grace Ulmer and the printed version in The Louisiana Historical Quarterly, vol. 32, no. 3, July 1949. When there were discrepancies between the two versions, we chose the most correct as we knew it to be.)

            The history of Calcasieu began in the closing years of the eighteenth century when the disputed land between the Sabine and Rio Hondo (or Calcasieu) Rivers was under Spanish jurisdiction.  In 1806 United States and Spanish authorities, by agreement, neutralized this territory pending official settlement. During the ensuring fourteen years it filled up with desperadoes and a few settlers form the eastern states.  It had no government and was known generally as “No Man’s Land.” Practically the whole of this strip had been given out in Spanish grants, a fact that resulted later in innumerable conflicts between the Spanish and the United States claims.

            The parish takes its name from the river which was named for an Attakapas Indian chief, Katkosh Yok (Crying Eagle).  In 1840 the Louisiana legislature, upon the request of the settlers, created the parish of Calcasieu with the seat of government at Marion.  The area of the parish was 2,000,000 acres.  It is a combination of plains, prairies, pine hills and marshes.  The parish is covered by a network of tiny streams; they all flow into the Calcasieu, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. 

            Climate, soil and land have contributed to the agricultural success of the parish.  Diversified farming was carried on extensively, especially after the immigration of thrifty farmers from the North and laying of the first railroad in 1880.  Corn, cotton, sugar cane, potatoes, hay, vegetable, and fruits were produced, though by far the outstanding crop was rice.

            The early methods of travel were on horse-back over blazed trails or by boat on the streams.  The only real road of which Calcasieu could boast, in ante-bellum times, was the Old Spanish Trail.  It was complimentary to the wisdom of those old pioneers who blazed the original trail to observe how closely state engineers in modern times have followed this trail.  During the Civil War, the necessity of supplying soldiers with provisions and ammunition resulted in building a military road.  In 1887 the first public road was built, and by 1911 there were 117 miles of improved roads.

            Until the building of the Louisiana Western Railroad in 1880, now a link of the Southern Pacific, Calcasieu was without railroads. About ten years later the necessity for more transportation facilities was felt, and a period of somewhat extensive railroad construction was inaugurated (1893-1903).

Sixty percent of Calcasieu was pine forests, but it was not until 1880 that their value was recognized by northern lumbermen, who began to invest capital, and introduce modern methods of sawmilling.  With the development of lumber came the naval stores, producing turpentine, rosin, and pine oil which was a source of wealth of Calcasieu.

            Sulphur was found twelve miles from Lake Charles.  The first produced was in 1894, though little was done until 1900 when Mr. Frasch operated the mines. From this time production continually increased until 1905, when the center of the world Sulphur industry was changed from Sicily to Sulphur, Louisiana.  Another mineral of importance in Calcasieu was oil.  In the “Mamou” region near Jennings, oil was discovered in 1901; but by 1908 it was realized that this field was not promising.  The oil fields at Welsh also proved unsuccessful but at Vinton the oil situation in 1910 had a promising future with an output of 12,000 barrels a day.

            The parish had a mixed population consisting of Creoles, Acadians, Americans from half a dozen different states and a few Indians.  In 1840 2,057 people resided in Calcasieu but with the development in agriculture and the lumber industry and the coming of railroads, settlers came from everywhere to Calcasieu which had in  1910 a total population of 62,767.  With these developments also came the growth of towns; Lake Charles, Jennings, Welsh and DeRidder being among the largest.

            Social life in the parish changed with the times.  Log-rollings, preaching, with dinner on the ground, square dances, ice cream suppers gave way to Mardi Gras celebrations, church festivals, boating parties, gun clubs and balloon and airplane meetings.  Prior to the coming of John McNeese in 1861 education in Calcasieu had made very little progress; there were few teachers, small salaries and limited number of poorly equipped buildings.  But these were gradually replaced and by 1911 there were several state approved high schools with an average term of nine months, and elementary schools were showing the same development.   A library established at Lake Charles in 1901 reveals the fact that the people were eager for educational improvements.  Newspapers reflect the growth of a people in an educational way, for as early as 1855 the Calcasieu Press had been established to be followed by the Calcasieu Gazette (1858) Echo (1868) The Weekly American and Lake Charles Daily Press (1895), and the Lake Charles American Press (1910).

            The outstanding religious denominations were Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Lutheran.  They had a practical as well as a spiritual value for an orphanage was sponsored by the Baptists and St. Patrick’s sanitarium by the Catholics.

            Calcasieu seems to have been unusually blessed in natural resources and in the thrifty type of immigrant it drew into itself.  In agriculture, mining, lumbering, transportation and education it has taken its place in the front ranks among the parishes of Louisiana.

CHAPTER I
 

DESCRIPTION OF EARLY CALCASIEU

            As we see our beautiful towns, and note the squares of built-up houses, the factories, the mills, and the ceaseless hum of industry where the bulk of a busy population gains a livelihood, it is difficult to believe that less than a century ago these blooming prairies, grand old forests, and enchanting water courses were the possession of wandering savages and formed a part of a vast wilderness. (1)

            Here the immigrant pitched his tent and found a spot on the banks of the Calcasieu or near some lake of sparkling water, beneath the shade of the tall monarchs of the forests, the long-leaf pines, where the untamed children of nature had so long roamed unmolested, where the Indian engaged in the wild pleasure of his fancy. (2) Such was the beginning of Calcasieu Parish.

            The history of Calcasieu began in the closing years of the eighteenth century when the tract between the Rio Hondo and Sabine River, called for years the neutral strip, was under Spanish jurisdiction. (3)  The boundary between Spanish Texas and Louisiana was in dispute with the Calcasieu, or Rio Hondo, and the Sabine, representing the rival contentions of Spain and the United States.  In 1806 General Wilkinson and the Spanish General Herrena entered into an agreement which neutralized this territory, pending official settlement. This country soon filled up with desperadoes from the eastern states until it became a notorious refuge for outlaws, and for fourteen years this section had no effective government and was spoken of as “No Man’s Land.” (4)

       Early settlers sought the unoccupied lands, covered with magnificent forest, where they could build homes.  Many of them brought their families, and despite the lawlessness which prevailed in the neutral strip, they cast their lot here, and with a few primitive tools erected houses and cleared land for the cultivation of crops.  A few brought their slaves, but as a rule the pioneers were people of small means and had to depend on themselves for their labor.  Practically the entire neutral strip was given out in Spanish grants, but some were of doubtful legality. The Spaniards were very generously (sic) and gave lands to persons who had rendered military or other services to the king.  But these grants were not approved by the United States until after abundant proof of their legality had been furnished.  One method of  established (sic) a Spanish claim consisted of the claimant pulling grass or digging holes in the ground.  Many tracts of land included in these grants were occupied by settlers who built homes and reared families on them long before a valid title was established.  In the course of time many thousand acres reverted to the government and came into the possession of settlers under the homestead laws. (5)  A large number of these first immigrants settled on what was known as Rio Hondo lands, the original title to which was based on a Spanish grant.

            Some of the early settlers were Charles Sallier, for whom Lake Charles was named; Jacob Ryan; Reese Perkins, who settled on the east side of the river; others who settled on the west side of the river were Hiram Curs, Dempay Iles, and Elias Blount. (6)

            The earliest written account that we find is: “Rio Hondo Claims 280.”  The report is dated November 1, 1824, and was communicated to the senate January 31, 1825.  The claims were along the bayous from Natchitoches to Hackberry, but the date when they were settled is unknown. (7)

            Several questions were asked and answered concerning this land, among them being, “What were the limits of the late neutral territory as considered by the ancient authorities of Texas and Louisiana?”

            Answer of Samuel Davenport: “The neutral ground comprehended all the tract of country lying east of the Sabine River and west of Culeashue, Bayou Kisachey, the branch of the Red River from the Kesachey up to the mouth of Bayou Don Manuel, Lake Terre Noir and Aroya Honda south of the northeast boundary of the state of Louisiana.”

            Answer of Joseph Mora:  “I have no other knowledge of the neutral ground as to boundaries but from the Rio Hondo to Sabine River.”

            Answer of Gregoir Mora:  “In the year 1794 and 1795, I collected the titles of all the inhabitants who lived or had stock west of the Calcasieu River, of Bayou Kisachey or Bayou Manuel and Rio Hondo and South of Red River, which were at that time within the jurisdiction of Nacodoches and on the line of Providence of Louisiana.” (8)

            In these reports, it is interesting to note the various spellings of the name Calcasieu, Culkeshue, Culcashue, Quelqueshue, Culeashue, Calcashue.

            Rio Hondo lost its original Indian name and acquired that of Quelqueshue, which was later simplified to Calcasieu.  Tradition says that Calcasieu is also an Indian word meaning “deep river.” (9)  An authority on philology states that the river was named for an Attakapas Indian chief, Katkosh Yok (Crying Eagle), which was later given a French form. (10)  A questionable story relates that certain men assembled to change the name of Rio Hondo, reached an impasse, and finally a Frenchmen, who was tired of discussing the subject, suggested: “Oh, name it Quelquechose,” which means “anything” or “something” in French.  An unorthographic Irishman at the meeting wrote the name “Caleasieu.” (11)

            The name of Jean Lafitte, the famous smuggler, is closely connected with the early history of Calcasieu Parish, and forms one of its romantic pages.  There is not a river or lake in this section but has its thrilling story of mysterious visits of this sea rover. The river and its chain of lakes became Lafitte’s stronghold. His vessels sailed districts where, hid from the eye of the law, they discharged cargoes of jewels and Spanish gold.

            As these early settlers of Calcasieu were looking for places where political troubles were unknown, most of the selected claims lay some distance from the water’s edge.  However, one settler, Charles, settled on the shell bank where the first landing was made.  After obtaining this land from the Indians, he built a house which remained until 1841, when it was removed to its present site, and the Barbe house was erected in its stead.

            For several years nothing of interest happened to these settlers but one day a thrill of excitement was felt by Charles Sallier.  A strange Clipper-built schooner carrying an enormous spread of canvas and several brass cannon sailed up the river and dropped anchor in the lake.   Two men left the boat and went to Sallier’s house.  One of them, tall, dark and very distinguished looking, made arrangements for a daily supply of fresh meat and vegetables.  After their arrangements were made, the commander brought wines and candies to his boat.  These settlers enjoyed the hospitality of the captain. He entertained them frequently while his boat was at Shell Bank.  This was the first appearance of Jean Lafitte in Calcasieu; afterwards he became a great friend of the people, and as the years passed he would return at irregular intervals and remain for weeks, should the United States war vessels be patrolling the coast.  This pirate had many narrow escapes and suddenly set sail and was heard of no more in this locality.  The deep, silent Calcasieu and its tributaries hold the secrets of Lafitte. (12)

            When the first permanent Anglo-Saxon settler established a home west of the Calcasieu, the eight parishes comprising the seventh congressional district were known as St. Landry. The Parish seat was at Opelousas, and all the territory between the Sabine and Opelousas was either a wilderness or an open prairie.  There were many Indians, but they gave the settlers very little trouble.  There were known to be four villages - one just south of Sugartown, near the house of G. J. Young, one just north of the W. B. Wellborn home; one near the mouth of Anacco, and one on the Frazar farm at Merryville, just across the road from the present Merryville High School. (13)

            Of these settlers who came here to make their homes and who now have descendants in the parish, tradition says that Saddler Johnson was among the first.  Being a saddler by trade, he was called Saddler Johnson.  He built a shack on the bluff of Whiskey-Chitto Creek. (14)

            Tradition says that the first permanent Anglo-Saxon settlement west of Calcasieu River was made in the vicinity of Sugartown about 1825.  The next settlement was made in what is known as Big Woods settlement, by the Smarts, Perkins, Cowards, and others about 1832.

            This parish, like most of the others in southwest Louisiana, has a mixed population, consisting of Creoles, Acadians, Americans from half a dozen or more different states, and a few Indians. (15)  Among the Indians in the region, from an unknown origin, has sprung a race of people of mixed ancestry, known as Red Bones. (16)  They are generally believed to be a mixture of white, Indian, and Negro.  Martin “Pop” Ryan, a pioneer settler, told his niece, Annie Ryan, that Red Bones near his mill on Prien Lake never mingled with nor married Negroes.  He believed they were descendants of early Spanish and Indians of the Southwest.  Bristow Hutchins, another old settler, said their bones were blood-red instead of white after death, hence then the name. (17)

            These few settlers were spread over a large section of country and found it inconvenient, on account of long distance, roads and means of travel, to go to Opelousas, the parish seat, to attend court and to vote.  For these reasons they determined upon the formation of a parish of their own, and with this end in view submitted to the legislature an act to create a new parish to be called Calcasieu.  The act was adopted on March 24, 1840. Thus came into being the new parish of Calcasieu.

            Section 1 of the act reads as follows:  “That all territory in the Parish of St. Landry, within the following boundaries, to wit: commencing at the mouth of the River Mermentau, thence up said river to the mouth of Bayou Nez Pique, thence up said bayou to the mouth of Cedar Creek, thence due north to the dividing line between the Parishes of St. Landry and Rapides, thence along said line to the Sabine River, thence down the said  river to the mouth, thence along the sea coast to the place of beginning, shall form and constitute the parish of Calcasieu.” (18)

            The police jury members of the new parish met at the residence of Arsene LeBleu on August 24, 1840, for the purpose of considering local affairs of the new parish and to pass such laws, ordinances, and regulations as would be most expedient for the good order of Calcasieu.  James B. Wood was acting clerk, and the following were members of the police jury: (19)  First ward, David Simmons; second ward, Alexander Hebert; third ward, Michel Pithon; fourth ward, Henry Moss; fifth ward, Rees Perkins; sixth ward, Thomas Williams.

            The parish embraces a total area of nearly 2,000,000 acres; it is larger than either the state of Rhode Island or Delaware and larger than the Kingdom of Belgium. (20) 
           The surface of the parish is partly covered with open plains, with which makes good grazing pasture for cattle, as they are covered nearly the entire year with grasses.(21)  Early Calcasieu was known as the cattle country.  From the census reports of 1840, we see that it had 11,594 horses and mules, 13,577 cattle, 552 sheep and 5,564 swine. (22)

            Over two-thirds of this area is timber, mostly long-leaf yellow pine. (23)   The northwest part of the parish is pine flats and pine hills; the eastern half is upland and prairies; some marsh land  and cypress swamps are along the center of the southern boundary.(24) The following kinds of trees are found in Calcasieu: hickory, most of the oaks, two kinds of elms, ash, maple magnolia, sassafras, bay, wild peach, rosebud, dogwood, pine, poplar, chinquapin, elder, chinaberry, willow, sweet or red gum, black gum, black jack, sand jack, beach ironwood, persimmon, walnut, cherry, huckleberry, cypress, holly, sloe, and perhaps many others.(25)

            Although the soil is possibly not so fertile as that of some of Louisiana’s other parishes, with proper drainage and cultivation it can be made to produce almost any kind of crops. (26)  A complete analysis of the virgin prairie soil will show the value of the land; mechanical analysis: organic matter, 2.50 percent; gravel, 50.; coarse sand, 30; medium sand, 20, fine sand, 6.42; very fine sand, 33.36; silt, 50,40; clay, 6.002; total soluble salt, .54; combination calcium sulphate, 2,42; sodium chloride, 49.50; sodium carbonate, 3.11; potassium chloride, 3.11; calcium chloride, 1903; magnesium chloride, 32.53.  Fertilizer constituents are: humus, 6.29 percent; potash, .494; phosphoric acid, .158; nitrogen, .115. (sic) (27)   The dense woodlands have been transformed into fields for the cultivation of crops which will furnish food.  In the Census Report of 1840 the vast majority of workers were included under the general heading, agriculture. There were 534. (28)

The crops of greatest production were Indian corn, 16,670 bushels; potatoes, 6,387 bushels; rice 200 pounds; cotton gathered, 45,600 pounds; and sugar, 6,000 pounds.

Calcasieu is a delightful place in which to live.  It has the most even climate in the South, no winter blizzards nor long summers.  The Gulf breeze in winter makes the climate warm and in summer most refreshing.  The average temperature is from forty degrees to seventy degrees in winter, and eighty degrees to ninety-six in summer. (29) 
           The parish is covered by a network of tiny streams, all of which flow into the Calcasieu which empties into the Gulf of Mexico about fifty miles away.  The large streams have interesting names and memorialize some incident or family in early Calcasieu history.  Some of the principal streams are Calcasieu and Houston Rivers; Beckworth, Hickory, Whiskey-Chitto, Bundricks, Ten Miles, Six Miles, Barnes, Sugar and Dry Creeks; Bayoue Serpent, Schoupique, Dindle, Lacassine, and English.  All of these except the Lacassine flow into the Calcasieu, which furnishes an outlet to the Gulf of Mexico, flowing twelve miles west of the mouth of the Mermentau River into the sea by a mouth three hundred yards wide. (30)  The longest branch of the Calcasieu River rises in the parish of Natchitoches, in thirty-one degrees and thirty minutes north latitude, and very nearly south of the town of Natchitoches. Another short branch of the Calcasieu rises in the Prairie Llana Coucon and flows south about seventy-five miles and unites with the main stream in nearly a western direction from the Church of St. Landry in Opelousas.  A third branch rises thirty-one degrees north latitude, runs south thirty miles and falls into the west side of the main river twenty miles below the second branch.  These three branches make the Calcasieu River.  There is a peculiarity perceivable in this river that distinguishes it from any other in Louisiana, or perhaps in the world.  Its water with a very few exceptions enters from the right bank. (31)

Although the federal census had been taken in Louisiana since 1810, the first census that lists Calcasieu Parish as a single unit is in 1840.  This census placed the total population at 2,057 which included slaves.  There were 482 slaves, 226 free colored, and 1,349 with whites. (32)

The census report shows that only three men were listed as being employed in manufacturing, with only $650 capital invested. (33)  This proves that most of the manufacturing was done at home.  The women carried on the spinning and weaving, and the men the work such as tanning leather, making wagons, etc. (34) The pioneer stores were very few.  Census reports show that in 1840 Calcasieu had four retail, dry goods, grocery, and other stores. (35)  These were not filled with ready-made clothing, as we have today, but the necessities of life such as calico, flour, salt, etc.  In 1840 there were only two schools in the parish and the total number of twenty-eight pupils made up the attendance of both.   There were one hundred and fifty-one illiterates.  It is an indication of the quality of stock that peopled the area that there was only one person who could be listed under the heading of criminal or insane. (36)

The first record book opened in the parish was 1840, a very small book which contained all the transactions of the parish; only four deeds of land were listed.

The early homes in Calcasieu were constructed of pine logs.  An excellent example of this is the old Barritine home near the DeRidder highway, built about 1840, parts of which can be seen today.  It is built of round logs, notched at the ends to fit together, the spaces between being filled with mud and straw to keep out the wind and cold.  The chimney was made of mud.  An interesting feature was the “dog trot” through the center of the house, for the use of the dog in bad weather.  It also provided a very cool place for the family to sit in warm weather. (37)  This home is typical of the early ones built in this section.

There were no railroads in early Calcasieu: the chief trading posts were on the rivers.  A great many of these early settlers went to market only once a year, and returned with supplies for the home.  Schooners and ox teams were the only means of transportation.

Rich, undeveloped resources of American life lay in this great imperial Calcasieu, and it was the work of the settlers to hasten their development.