Old River Hill - Scroggins Cemetery

This cemetery has the name on the gate in small letters, OLD RIVER HILL CEMETERY, although some older residents refer to it as the SCROGGINS Cemetery. It is located on the west bank of Old River, and must be approached from the west if traveling by automobile. In earlier days, when the boats were the mode of transportation, it most certainly was approched from the east. This cemetery has, although very rarely, been referred to as the old St.Ann's Cemetery; the present day St. Ann's Church and the adjacent St. Ann's Cemetery are on the east side of the river in this same vicinity, on very flat land. It is possible that this hilly location was selected because of flooding, and indeed may have been connected with the St. Ann's Old River Church, at an earlier date.

The oldest marked graves are those of Jean Bte. Armani and Pierre Chellette. Armani's grave is marked with an iron cross inscribed in French. Barely legible, the indicated death date appears to be October 1851. The grave of Pierre Chellette, - 16 Nov 1851, a large slab topped vault, is inscribed in French, with the following line clearly visible: Decede le 16 Novembre 1851. For 147 years, Pierre Chellette's remains have rested on this gentle hillside, along the west bank of Old River, Natchitoches Parish, LA. For 147 years, faithful souls have cared for this memorial spot: a simple, beautiful place of rest.

Location: Five miles south of I-49 and LA Hwy 6 intersection, take Exit 132, turn east onto LA Hwy 478, then south immediately after clearing the overpass 2-10 mile; continue about one quarter mile, then turn right onto LaCaze Road gravel road. Continue on this road for about 2 miles, and cemetery is on the left side of road. The road dead-ends at Old River a few hundred yards on. This cemetery has the name on the gate in small letters, OLD RIVER HILL CEMETERY, although some older residents refer to it as the SCROGGINS Cemetery.

Cataloged by Mrs. E. LaCaze, J. Jacoby-Liles and friends, April 1998.

ARMANI, JEAN BTE. -Died Oct 1851, Ci Repose. Jean Bte. Armani, Pere. Decedee le 9 Octobre 1851 Age de 72 ans.

ARMOND, FELIX 8 Sep 1890 - 31 Mar 1968

ARMOND, KATHERINE V. 9 Jan 1892 - 11 Feb 1978

BOULEY, CLAIMANTINE 19 Nov 1857 - 12 Jan 1916, wife of Peter Bouley

BUARD, ALEX C., Mr. 23 Mar 1909 - 16 Nov 1982

BUARD, BRIAN EARL 1 May, 1972 - 9 Feb 1994

BUARD, ETHEL J. 18 May 1916 - 28 Sep 1996

BUARD, JOE 6 June 1896 - 28 June 1989

CHELLETTE, PIERRE - 16 Nov 1851, Decede le 16 Novembre 1851

CHELLETTE, ETENNIE B. 26 Dec 1813 - 23 Feb 1887, Double vault: Azelie Frederic Chellette

CHELLETTE, AZELIE FREDERICK 6 Aug 1819 - Nov 1893, Double vault: Etennie B. Chellette

DESADIER, PETE 12 Dec 1890 - 16 Apr 1935

DESADIER, EFFIE 8 Jan 1885 - 18 Feb 1973

DESADIER, FELIX 14 July 1894 - 11 Nov 1960, LA Pvt 28th Inf Div. WW I P. H.

DESADIER, LEONA P. 6 Mar 1906 - 11 Nov 1995 Aged 89

DESADIER, JOHNNIE 17 Apr 1935 - 2 Feb 1937

DESADIER, MARY LOUISE Born-died 6 Oct 1922

DESADIER, SAMMUAL 6 July 1928 - 13 July 1928

DESADIER, ROBERT LYNN 23 Dec 1936 - 27 Feb 1937

FREDERICKS, LEONCE 18 Dec 1856 - 3 Nov 1931

FREDERICKS, J. EARNEST 6 Sep 1906 - 18 Sep 1916

FREDERICKS, PAMELLA RACHAL10 Sep 1883 - 18 Mar 1914

FREDERICKS, JOSEPH V. 6 May 1905 - 13 Sep 1905

FREDERICKS, JOSEPH V. 28 Nov 1879 - 1 Apr 1914

HALL, AUGUSTINE B. 8 Sep 1938 - 23 Dec 1961, LA Pvt Co F 399 Inf 100INF Div

HANSEN, PETER I. 1874 - 1935

LACAZE, ARTEMISE 31 July 1907 - 12 Sep 1907

LACAZE, CATHERINE 1878 - 1968, Double stone: Charlie LaCaze

LACAZE, CHARLIE 1874 - 1941, Double stone: Catherine LaCaze

LACAZE, CHARLIE 20 May 1833 - 19 Dec 1914

LACAZE, EDNA D. 14 June 1889 - 21 Aug 1970

LACAZE, FELIX 16 May 1887 - 27 Aug 1968

LACAZE, HARRIET 23 Aug 1916 - 6 Mar 1919

LACAZE, JACK 16 July 1899 - 16 July 1899

LACAZE, MORREAN 25 Jan 1840 - 20 May 1880, Confederate 3 years in war, from 1853 to 1855; married Jan 25 1857 with Ophelia Roy, not one hour of trouble.

LACAZE, OPHELIA ROY 5 June 1844 - 15 July 1888, Double vault with Morrean LaCaze; see inscription by his listing.

LACAZE, WILLIAM 'Bill' 16 Oct 1917 - 23 July 1988

POSSOIT, VALSIN, Sr. no dates

POSSOIT, VALSIN, Jr. 1874 - 1914

POSSOIT, EVEREACE 20 Aug 1881 - 14 Aug 1967 Papa, Double stone: Zemie Rachal Possoit

POSSOIT, ZEMIE RACHAL 11 Sep 1883 - 30 Jan 1969 Mama, Double stone: Evereace Possoit

RACHAL, ANNA LONEY 11 Jan 1930 - 8 Aug 1934

RACHAL, ADLICE M. 18 Feb 1858 - 1 Feb 1936

RACHAL, BEAUFORD 2 Dec 1892 - 13 Apr 1957, LA Wagoner 162 Inf 41 Div WW I

RACHAL, COLEMAN 2 Nov 1887 - 18 Mar 1924

RACHAL, EARL V. 23 Oct 1903 - 18 Feb 1938

RACHAL, EDGAR 13 Oct 1887 - 27 Dec 1950

RACHAL, EDGAR, Jr. 10 Nov 1938 - 15 Nov 1938

RACHAL, EVARISTE 27 Mar 1873 - 10 Jan 1926

RACHAL, EMILY 10 June 1881 - 2 June 1958

RACHAL, G. V. 14 Apr 1874 - 15 Apr 1931

RACHAL, MATTHEW 26 Aug 1904 - 5 Jan 1983, Double stone: Margaret Smith Rachal

RACHAL, MARGARET SMITH 16 Feb 1919 - 5 Nov 1991

RACHAL, REMI JULIEN, Sr. 9 Jan 1855 - 1 Oct 1921

RACHAL, ROSA 28 Dec 1895 - 30 June 1956

RACHAL, SEVARAN 2 Feb 1904 - 9 Dec 1991

RACHAL, VALCO 1900 - 1992

ROY, CELEMNTINE No dates

ROY, EUNICE B. 1899 - 1918

ROY, JAMES Born - died 1922

ROY, LEON 1 May 1854 - 16 Mar 1936

ROY, MARIE 17 Jan 1853 - 12 Jan 1890

RUSSELL, COLON 24 May 1902 - 17 Jan 1966, Double stone: Ernestine Russell

RUSSELL, ERNESTINE 29 June 1913 -

RUSSELL, LYNWOOD 18 Apr 1938 - 25 Dec 1959, Son of Colon Russell

RUSSELL, MAXINE 8 Mar 1934 - 4 Dec 1935

SCROGGINS, ADA Miss 15 Mar 1887 - 23 Mar 1963

SCROGGINS, ADELINE 28 Sep 1878 - 12 Oct 1965

SCROGGINS, AMANDA C. 11 Apr 1856 - 19 Sep 1947, Double stone: William M. Scroggins

SCROGGINS, CORA V. 25 Jan 1890 - 27 Apr 1972 Mother

SCROGGINS, FELIX 16 Nov 1870 - 8 Sep 1934

SCROGGINS, J. L. 19 Aug 1890 - 23 Sep 1893

SCROGGINS, JOSEPH H. 21 oCT 1904 - 24 July 1996

SCROGGINS, LOUIS W. 12 Aug 1888 - 11 Aug 1986 Father, PFC US ARMY WW I, Double stone: Cora V. Scroggins

SCROGGINS, ODALIE No dates

SCROGGINS, UREY S. 5 Oct 1912 - 21 May 1918

SCROGGINS, WILLIAM M. 5 Nov 1854 - 24 Mar 1934, Double stone: Amanda C. Scroggins

SCHELETTE, ADELINE SCROGGINS 28 Sep 1878 - 12 Oct 1965, Double stone: Felix Schelette

SCHELETTE, FELIX 16 Nov 1870 - 8 Sep 1934, Double stone: Adeline Scroggins Schellette

SCHELETTE, FELIX 2 Dec 1913 - 2 Dec 1913

SCHELLETTE, ALAN 4 Dec 1907 - 19 Aug 1910

SCHELLETTE, AVELINI 31 Aug 1899 - 4 Sep 1904

SCHELLETTE, FLORENCE 17 Mar 1889 - 1 Nov 1903

SCHELLETTE, ISAC No dates

SMITH, CHARLES 20 July 1906 - 28 July 1906

SMITH, CHARLES F. 2 Feb 1873 - 8 June 1958 Father, Stone adjacent to Marie Ellen Smith

SMITH, DRUE 10 Jan 1917 - 16 July 1918

SMITH, MARIE ELLEN 29 Mar 1886 - 14 July 1979 Mother, Stone adjacent to Charles F. Smith

VASCOCU, ________ 1854 - 1931

VASCOCU, ANNIE No dates

VASCOCU, BILL Died 1944

VASCOCU, BOB No dates

VASCOCU, CATHERINE No dates Mother

VASCOCU, C. HARMON 1 Aug 1880 - No death date

VASCOCU, CHRISTOF 31 July 1954 - 13 Apr 1981

VASCOCU, JOHN No dates

VASCOCU, M. E. Jan ____ - Sep ___

VASCOCU, GILBERT 10 Sep 1855 - 4 Jan 1921

VASCOCU, GILBERT L., Jr. Born - died 4 Sep 1903

VASCOCU, MARY ALICEBRAZZELL 1 Sep 1862 - 28 Nov 1898, wife of C. Vascocu

VASCOCU, ROSALINE C. 20 Jan 1866 - 4 Sep 1903, Same plot as Gilbert and Gilbert L. Vascocu, Jr.

VASCOCUE, EMMA MARCELLETE 4 Mar 1860 - 20 Nov 1896, wife of S.W. Gilcrease

VARNADO, SHELTON A. 26 May 1905 - 6 Nov 1936 Dad

WARE, MARIE EDWINA 17 Oct 1885 - 21 Sep 1906

WARE, WILLIAM H. 1851 - Jan 1900

Unmarked graves

There are several obvious graves, unmarked and unlabeled; sources indicate possible burial in this cemetery for the following persons for whom no marked spot was found:

Bouley, Peter

LaCaze, Pete

Rachal, Caan

Rachal, Joe

Rachal, Oxalene

Monroe's Child

Auntie

Grandma B_____

A partially legible stone appears to read as follows: T T H E H, Born Dec. 21, 1907, Died Dec. 29, 19??.

An iron cross of old French design is inscribed in Latin; so rusty only a few individual letters are legible.