Friend Lemon Maxwell -- Madison Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Geneva Williams et al

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FRIEND LEMON MAXWELL, president of the Maxwell-Yerger company of Mound, La., reputed to be the largest cotton planter in the world, and one of the most successful businessmen in Louisiana, was born on a farm in Sullivan county, Ind., in the year 1839. He is a son of John Maxwell, a grandson of Richard Maxwell, and a lineal or direct descendent of Thompson Maxwell, who was a ranger in the French and Indian war (1758-63); one of Boston's famous "tea party" in December 1773; fought at Bunker Hill, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general before the close of the Revolution. Thompson Maxwell came of distinguished Scotch peerage. The first form of the name was Maccuswell, meaning Maccus' well or pool, but through a series of transitions it in time became "Maxwell," the present form. There is a tradition that Maccus was the son of Aniaf, king of Northumbria, 940 A. D., and that some of his descendants were among those who retired into Scotland when England was submitted to William the Conqueror in 1066. Members of the Maxwell family have distinguished themselves in the history of both Great Britain and America. A John Maxwell was a Chevy Chase in 1388, and another John Maxwell fought at Flodden, Sept. 9, 1513. Eustace Maxwell, in the time of Edward I, won renown by his heroic defense of Caerlaverock in 1640. Macaulay tells how Thomas Maxwell commanded the rear-guard and "held the bridge" at the battle of Athlone in 1691. Sir John Grenfell Maxwell was military governor of Pretoria. Capt. David Maxwell won the king's and queen's medals by his service in South Africa. Richard Ponsonby Maxwell was secretary of the British plenipotentiaries at The Hague peace conference in 1899. James Maxwell, the "Poet of Paisley," lived in the early part of the 18th century, and others of the family achieved distinction in the world of letters. James Clerk Maxwell, born in 1831, was a pioneer in electrical research. Several of the name were among the immigrants to America in the early part of the 18th century, and hugh Maxwell, a brother of Thompson, was a the battle of Bunker Hill. At the close of the Revolutionary war he held a commission as lieutenant-colonel in the Continental army. In Heitman's "Officers of the American Revolution" may be found a list of several Maxwells who won fame and glory in that historic conflict. John Maxwell, the father of the subject of this sketch, belonged to an old Virginia family that settled in Indiana about 1830. He married Mary Polk, also of Virginia ancestry and a first cousin of President James K. Polk.

Friend Lemon Maxwell received his education in the schools of his native state and lived with his parents until the breaking out of the Civil war. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted at Gosport, Ind., as a private in Company C, 59th Indiana volunteer infantry, commanded by Col. Jesse I. Alexander, and was subsequently promoted for gallantry to second sergeant. With his regiment he took part in the reduction of New Madrid; the capture of Island No. 10 and Tiptonville, Tenn.; was in the siege and capture of Corinth, Miss.; the campaign down the Illinois Central railroad; was with Grant at Vicksburg; participated in the military operations about Chattanooga, including battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and was in the Atlanta campaign of 1864. On the famous march to the sea he was in command of his company and took part in all the battles and skirmishes of that campaign in which his regiment was engaged. Still in command of his company he moved with Sherman's victorious army up through the Carolinas and was in the last battle at or near Goldsboro, N. C. He was there promoted to first lieutenant and took command of Company H, continuing to command that company until July 25, 1865, when his regiment was mustered out and he returned to his home in Indiana. As soon as his health would permit after the close of the war, he came to Louisiana, where he became a planter on a small scale, without any capital except his great energy, perseverance and faith in the country. Each year from this humble beginning has found him stronger financially, until now his plantation contains nearly 17,000 acres, and he has greater faith than ever in the possibilities of the swamp section of Louisiana. Mr. Maxwell is recognized throughout the entire South as an authority on the subject of raising and handling cotton. He was instrumental in forming the first levee board in north Louisiana, of which he was president for over twelve years, serving the entire time without one cent of remuneration. Likewise he was one of the first men to see the importance of an organization among planters; was the president of the cotton growers' first association, and has always been active in trying to bring the cotton planters together in a strong association for their mutual benefit and protection. He is prominently connected with some of the largest business concerns of the South, the interests of which have been materially advanced through his wise counsel and almost unerring judgment. Mr. Maxwell could have had almost any office within the gift of the people of his district had he given his consent, but he would never accept any political position whatever, his private business interests being so extensive that he could afford to make the sacrifice.

In 1874 Mr. Maxwell married Mrs. Alma (Taft) Everard, daughter of Rufus Taft of Montpelier, Vt., and a second cousin of President William H. Taft. To this union were born two children. Flora Alma, born Aug. 26, 1875, is now the wife of John J. Potts of Monroe, La., a son of Judge William Potts and one of the most prominent lawyers in Louisiana, where his father's name is universally recognized as one of the greatest jurists Louisiana has ever produced. Edna [sic] Pearl, the second daughter, born July 1, 1878, was in March, 1900, married to George Sizer Yerger, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Maxwell-Yerger company. The Yergers are of Dutch descent, George Yerger (or Yager) having come from Holland at an early day and settled at Hagerstown, Md., where the family was rated among the aristocrats in that famous Dutch settlement. Michael Yerger, the great-grandfather of George S., removed to Lebanon, Tenn., about 1800 and married a Miss Shall, a member of one of the first families of Tennessee of that day, and to this union was born ten sons and a daughter. When Michael Yerger died his eldest son, George S., was but fifteen years of age and it fell to his lot to care for and educate his younger brothers and sister. He did his work so well that eight of the sons became distinguished lawyers and the others were among the leading merchants of the South, with wholesale houses at St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Vicksburg and New Orleans. That George S. Yerger, the grandfather of the present George S., became a judge of the Tennessee supreme court; Edwin and Orvinn were circuit judges in Tennessee; William, the sixth son, was a supreme judge of Mississippi; Jacob, Shall and Edwin were circuit judges in that state, and the daughter became the wife of Judge Finley, at one time a member of Congress from Florida. Mr. Yerger's father, George Scott Yerger, was the youngest of several brothers who were all officers in the Confederate army. He ran away from home at the age of fourteen years, entered the army as a private, but was rapidly promoted for his bravery and executive ability to captain and at the close of the war was on the staff of Gen. Wirt Adams. He married a daughter of Dr. Sizer, the prominent and fearless antisecessionist of Mississippi, and died of yellow fever while acting as a voluntary nurse in the epidemic of 1878. Mr. Yerger served through the Spanish-American war as captain and adjutant of the 1st Mississippi volunteer infantry, and is now one of the most successful merchants, planters and capitalists of the lower Mississippi valley, being the secretary, treasurer and manager of the Maxwell-Yerger company as above stated.

Some years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Maxwell married Matilda Routh Bowie, daughter of Capt. Allen T. Bowie, who made an enviable record as a Confederate soldier. He is a great-grandson of Oden T. Bowie, who was for three terms governor of Maryland. The fruit of this union is a daughter, Routh Maxwell, who was born about the time of her father's seventieth birthday. Although Mr. Maxwell has passed his three score years and ten, he is a man to command more than passing notice. Over six feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, with a soldierly bearing, he is a "man among men."

From Tallulah Madison Journal August 18, 1999

Col. Friend Lemon Maxwell came with the conquerors, he liked what he saw, and when the 
conflict was over, he returned to spend the rest of his life in Madison Parish.

General Grant brought his army to our country on his jaunt to conquer Vicksburg. Col. 
Maxwell led his regiment, the 59th Indiana Infantry in battle and subsequently received 
the brevet rank of Colonel.

This invasion of Madison Parish Introduced the young Yankee soldier to the low-lying lands 
across the Mississippi River in Madison and Tensas Parishes and he vowed to return.

A native of Sullivan County, Indiana, Col Maxwell was born October 31, 1839, son of John 
Maxwell and Polly (Polk) Maxwell. The Maxwell family settled in Sullivan County, Indiana 
about the close of the war of 1812, having migrated from Kentucky. It has been said that 
no family was more prominent in the early history of Sullivan County than the Maxwells.

He first purchased land in Tensas Parish. He lost all this property from three successive 
floods, and then moved to Madison Parish, and made another start. He never lost faith in 
the possibilities of investment in these lands and eventually acquired and developed 
extensive plantation holdings in the Mound community.

In 1898, he served as a member of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention and served in 
that body with distinction. His presence was always sought in local and state agricultural 
meetings in which his sage experience and success would lend the light of assistance to others.

He was the first President of the Levee Board of North Louisiana, which is now the Fifth 
district Levee Board. His personal efforts gave definite advancement to the policy of flood 
control and consequent improvement of land value and farming conditions general

Col. Maxwell was President of the Madison Parish Police Jury at the time of his death. At 
all times during his career, he exercised a profound influence in the progressive improvement 
of rural life, and was one of the strongest supporters of those working for the betterment 
of the farmers.

Colonel Maxwell first married, Alma Taft Everard, who died in 1901. She was a daughter of 
Judge Rufus Taft of Barre, Vermont. Judge Taft came from a distinguished American family 
and was a cousin of William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States and later 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

This couple was the parents of two daughters. Flora Maxwell who married John H. Potts, 
prominent lawyer of Monroe, La. and Ednah Pearl Maxwell, who married George Sizer Yerger, 
Sr., prominent planter of Mound, La. Ednah Maxwell Yerger lived her entire life In Madison 
Parish and was loved by all who knew her She was affectionately referred to as "Mom" Yerger.
 
The stately two-story house that is visible from I20 at the Mound exit was built by her 
husband and they raised their family there. The home is still owned by members of the family.

After his wife died, Col Maxwell again married, this time to Mathilda Routh Bowie, daughter 
of Captain Allen Thomas Bowie and Mathilda (Routh) Bowie of Natchez, Mississippi. The Bowies 
were a very prominent antebellum family of Tensas Parish and Natchez. A part of the Bowie 
lands were situated just across the river from Davis Island (which at that time was a part 
of Mississippi with the river running close to the Louisiana bank around the Island.) This 
prominent family also had a very famous relative, Jim Bowie.

From this union were born three daughters, Routh Maxwell, who married John Paul Arbuthnot 
of Canton, Mississippi, Dorothy Maxwell, who married Edgar C. Woodyear, prominent planter 
of Mound Louisiana, and Miss Alma Maxwell of Tallulah.

All of these citizens and their children listed here are no longer with us, but their 
descendants living in the immediate area are very numerous.

Two of these daughters married local men and remained in Madison Parish until their deaths. 
They raised their large families at Mound with many of the descendants still living in the 
same place. Many have migrated to Tallulah.

Ednah and George Yerger were parents of six sons, Maxwell Yerger, George Sizer Yerger, Jr. 
Andrew Learned Yerger, Edward Maxwell Yerger, William Yerger and Rufus Taft Yerger. Both 
Ednah and George Yerger lived and died in Madison Parish leaving a legacy through six sons.

Dorothy and E. C. "Blue" Woodyear were parents of four daughters and one son: Susan Ingram, 
Dorothy Anne Millikin, Emily Neumann, Mary Woodyear Gallent and Carneal Woodyear.

In the death of Colonel Friend L. Maxwell, on August 16, 1915, at the age of 76 years, 
Madison Parish and the State of Louisiana lost one of their most valuable citizens.