PIONEER HISTORY

From a communication in the Franklin Sun, signed "Senex," we extract the following interesting information concerning the early history of a portion of North Louisiana:

In 1843, fresh from the classic shades of Alma Mater, I made my first acquaintance with the primitive region that has since developed into Franklin parish. At that time it bore the soft Indian name Catahoula, from the Indian Okatahoula, Silver Water, whether from the bright waves of the beautiful Ouachita, or the more placid waters of Catahoula Lake, I never knew. Glancing back, over the intervening years, I pause to note the many changes they have wrought.

The country then was an almost unbroken wilderness, with here and there a log cabin and a little field. A cluster of small farms at Oakley, known as the "Lower Settlement," and another, at Osborn's, called the "Upper Settlement," comprised nearly all the inhabitants of the eastern portion. "Hope Estate," then as now, was pre-eminently the largest place in the parish; the Brannin place, I think, ranking next. Westward, Boeuff Prairie had made, somewhat, more rapid strides towards civilization, while the intervening region was still a primeval forrest (sic), rarely visited except by the hunter in search of bear, deer, and other game. Where our parish seat now stands was a favorite camping ground for bear hunters. Soon after this, however, a tide of emigration set in bringing in a more enterprising class of people. New places were opened and a new life developed. The original settlers dying out or moving away and driven back by the advancing tide.

Soon a successful effort was made to erect a new parish; the boundaries were defined; the parish seat selected, and called by the euphonious name of Winnsboro, much to my disgust, for John Winn was a leading Democrat, and I a staunch Whig. The new parish was organized with Judge E.K. Wilson, as district judge; J.W. Willis, sheriff, and M.S. Osborn as parish judge. The first year court was held in Boeuff Prairie, C.E. Ramage and Allen Bonner, as resident lawyers, both young practitioners at the time, and afterwards thoroughly identified with the parish. In due course of time Winnsboro was laid out, a temporary courthouse erected; hotel and stores followed, but its growth was slow.

Source: The Ouachita Telegraph, Friday, July 11, 1879 Page 2, Column 1, History: 1843 History Franklin Parish, LA.
Contributed 2021 Sep 27 by Lora Peppers loradpeppers@hotmail.com