Coushatta, the seat of justice, stands on the eastern bank of Red River , in Latitude 32 degrees north, and Longitude 16 degrees 15' west. It is an incorporated town of 564 inhabitants, and the market town for one of the richest agricultural districts of Louisiana. The location was formerly known as Coushatta Chute, near Springville. Coushatta Point, near by, was the site of the Jones store and warehouse, which was destroyed in April, 1864, by Gen. Banks' raiders. In 1866 Julius and Mark Lisso erected a building for trading purposes here, and controlled trade until the place was selected as the parish seat, in 1871. Twenty years ago the river swept along the eastern bank; now the channel is on the other side.
In 1871 there were the following buildings: T. W. Abney's three cottages, on Carroll Street; William Upshaw's dwelling, Abney & Love's Coushatta Hotel, conducted by William Herring (William Powell in 1872); Charles N. Prudhomme's store, opposite E. P. Pauvert's cheap store; adjoining Prudhomme's , G. W. Cawthorn's livery; then R. M. Searcy's house. On Front Street, were J. M Brown's saloon, the Citizen office, in Abney & Love's two-story building; the stores of Abney & Co., W. W. Upshaw, O. P. Gahagan and Mrs. E. A. Carroll, the office of the Coushatta Times, Fry's saloon, the post-office, then kept by Julius Snead and Lisso & Bro.'s store. On Abney Street Capt. T. E. Paxton and A. D. Self resided, while across the street J. M. McLemore's office building was in course of construction, and the residence of J. W. Armistead; Miss Fannie Picken's school was then in existence. In 1871 Prudhomme's store was burned, but was rebuilt in 1872. In February, 1872, a church and lodge building was erected near Treadwell's store. The steam gin in that vicinity was burned some time before.
The act to incorporate the town of Coushatta was approved April 22, 1872, and in 1874 Representative De Weese introduced a bill to exempt town property from the parish tax. George A. King was the first mayor. In February, 1876, d. H. Hayes was mayor; P. A. Lee, secretary; John R. Carr, marshal; Messrs. Bullock, Broughton, Gahagan and Bosley, councilmen. In 1879 Samuel Lisso was clerk. In 1880 J. d. Patton was mayor, and H.R. Jones, clerk. In 1881, J. M. Brown was mayor and J. F. Stephens, secretary, succeeding H. R. Jones and J. H Scheen, respectively. J. J. Stanfill is the last mayor elect.
The Coushatta fire of February 5, 1874, destroyed Abney & Love's store, the T. L. Terry store and J. M. Brown's saloon. The dwellings of J. W. Armistead, George Beausoliel and John Burk were saved. In 1880 the Stanfill house was destroyed, and since that time a few small fires mark the history of the settlement.
James McAllister was postmaster at Springville after the war. Later the office was closely identified with the court-house, M. L. Pickens and J. T. Yates, masters, and in 1875 Harrison, the tax collector, was master. D. H. Hayes, J. R. Hayes and Dr. Winder have held this office. Samuel Lisso was postmaster up to 1878; was succeeded in September, 1880, by Capt. T. B. Shelby. J. R. McGoldrick was commissioned postmaster in 1881 to succeed Capt. Shelby.
The Baptist Church of Coushatta dates to 1850, when J. E. Paxton organized a society her near Coushatta Chute. In 1852 this church left the Saline Association and united with the Red River Association. About this time a house of worship was erected on United States land. In 1860-61 a Methodist preacher named Read settled here, and learning that the Baptists had no legal claim to the land, he placed his family in the house and defied the disappointed Baptists. In 1861 Elder Kirtley settled at Springville, one and one-half miles from Coushatta, and took charge of the academy. In the school building the members worshiped for some time as visitors, but in 1864 the church bought the building. In 1865 Kirtley moved to Ringgold, and not until 1869 did a preacher appear in the person of John Barron. Afterward G. W. Singleton, a member, was ordained preacher, and he followed by J. W. Carswell.
The Baptist Church building commenced in August, 1880, and in September the Baptist society at Spring Hill entered on the work of building. In the fall of 1880 Contractor Zoder finished the building at Coushatta.
The Coushatta Male and Female Academy was chartered in September, 1880, with Julius Lisso, president; J. M. Brown. J. H. Scheen, H. S. Bosley, T. L. Terry, W. W. Wardlaw and James F. Pierson, trustees; Ben. Wolfson, secretary and G. W. Cawthon, treasurer. The capitol stock was placed at $20,000. Prof. L. L. Upton was principal and Mrs. Upton assistant principal of the high school, then conducted on the first flood of the Masonic building. June 2, 1890, the following trustees were elected: Robert Stothart, D. M. Giddens, Paul Lisso, L. W. Stephens and J. M. T. Elliott. The board was organized by electing Robert Stothart, president; D. H. Hayes, secretary, and L. E. Scheen, treasurer. Mr. Fisher is principal.
The telegraph line between Coushatta and Minden was completed June 29, 1875, and the first despatch sent to Buchanan & Davis, Minden, by Ben. Wolfson and E. W. Rawle. July 27 the line was completed to Natchitoches.