The Coushatta Times was established early in 1871, by William H. Scanland, of the Bossier Banner, and published by him until December, of that year, when H. A. Perryman became owner. In May, 1872, he retired, and M. L. Pickens and others carried on this journal almost to its close. In January, 1874 W. A. Le Seuer took charge, and conducted it until August, 1874.
The Coushatta Citizen was issued December 9, 1871, by W. H. Scanland, who carried it on until 1874, when J. L. Denson took charge. L. W. Cannery & Co. purchased the office in 1874, and in March, 1875, J. P. Clarkson became owner.
The Red River Watchman was issued August 22, 1874, at Coushatta, by W. A. Le Seuer, with W. O. Pickens, local editor. This paper was issued seven days before the Coushatta riots, and was instrumental in ridding the parish of the vilest set of cut-throats sent into Louisiana to rob a people.
The common-school system is still in its infancy here. The old Springville Academy and the private schools at Coushatta and other points, afforded so many opportunities for acquiring an education, that the free schools were principally utilized by colored children.
The enrollment of white pupils in Red River Parish for the years 1878 to 1887, inclusive, was 317, 375, 243, 309, 546, 274, 507, 458, 542 and 575. In the same years the colored enrollment was 446, 442, 270, 403, 434, 499, 387, 507, 493 and 472. In 1890 Assessor W. H. Wamsley placed the number of white children between nine and eighteen years of age at 1,209, and colored children at 2,776.
The physicians of the parish, who registered up to the close of 1889, under the act of 1882, are Walter E. Hawkins, a graduate of Mobile College, in 1883; Ed. F. Beall of Louisiana University, in 1883, and Thomas L. Terry, of Louisville College, in 1888.
As an organized division of the State, Red River was unknown in 1861-65, so that whatever military history pertains to it, is given in the sketches of the neighboring parishes. As early as 1840 W. D. Lofton and W. A. Martin, Mexican War veterans, were residents of this parish. Many of the survivors of the Civil War reside here, among them a few who were the first of the battle fields of Virginia and last under arms when the last regiment of Confederate soldiers was paroled.