Cotton Valley History

Founding Settlers in North Webster Par., Louisiana
Submitted by: Pat Foster-King

"Little is known of the first settlers of Cotton Valley. among the earliest was one, Thomas ?(not certain to his name), who built a small hut on the brink of the hill where it dipped into Dorcheat. The clearing around the hut was small, and it was thought that he was a hunter or trapper rather than a farmer. But, there were abundant bits of pottery and chinaware of superior quality, which remained for many years.

"Other settlers were Defranzs, Durdens, and Lanes, who built small huts and stayed for a whiule, but made no showing as to any intention of permanency. Little is known about them or where they went.

Christian Wallerson, a private in the Third Battalion of Louisiana Volunteers during the War with Mexico, was rewarded for his service with title to the land where Cotton Valley now stands by President Millard Fillmore.

Records show that Wallerson sold the land to Ferdinand Lee.

This part of Webster Parish was, at that time, in Bossier Parish. A search of records in the courthouse in Benton, Bossier Parish, shows that Lee had also bought up a dozen or more such warrants, or certificates of title, to more than 2,3000 acres in and around present day Cotton Valley.

Records kept by the Lee family show that they moved from Barbour County, Alabam, in 1851, for the purpose of engaging in planting cotton. It is stated a tower was erected, overlooking the rich farm land, so that the overseer could observe the condition of the crops and the hands. His remarks that the fields looked like a valley of cotton, led to the name Cotton Valley for the Lee plantation.

the Lee family remained here for seven years, selling their land to Edwin W. Hodges for $15,000. The Lee family then moved further west on Red River on Long Prairie, Walnut Hill, Lafayette County, Arkansas where Ferdinand Lee died in 1874.

In 1858, Edmund William Hodges Sr. brought his wife, Mary McGowen Hodges, his father, Matthew Hodges, eight children together with seventy-five slaves to Louisiana from Georgia, and settled at Cotton Valley. although there is no trace of the first Hodges' home, it is said to have been a ten-room house with covered porch and balcony. There were twelve children born to this couple, eight of whom lived to maturity. These were: Edmond W. Jr., Floyd C., Alexander S., Catherine (Mrs. Samuel A. Monzingo), Emily J. (Mrs. Edward N. Martin), Juliette, and Joel G.

Edwin Hodges also operated a general store as early as 1858. The U.S. mail was delivered there at intervals from one to four times a month. The first mail route seemed to be from Shreveport by way of Belleview to Cotton Valley. The post office was named Cotton Valley then.

Hodges also gained prominence in his arbitration of local grievances and disagreements.

The "Bossier Banner", July 14, 1866, had the following funeral notice: "Funeral services will be preached for Mrs. Mary Hodges, the late consort of Mr. Edmund W. Hodges, at Friendship Church near the residence of Mr. Hodges, the first Sunday in August."

On August 3, 1867, the "Bossier Banner", Bellevue, Louisiana, had the following article: "At the close of the Civil War, we looked around for the fond and familiar faces of our numerous friends, but oh! how few were to be sdeen. Many, ver many, had been covered up.
'With the mattock and the spade.'
and now, another has gone to his last resting place.

FIRST TO CALL IT COTTON VALLEY
Benton, La.

COTTON VALLEY--The name of this town has always been taken for granted, but just who first gave it this hame has recently been cleared up to some extent.

R. A. Flaherty, one of this town's oldest inhabitants, now 82, has an abstract of title that covers a portion of the town, which goes back to the time the U. S. Government, through President Millard Fillmore, hgave title to Christian Wallesen or Wallerson in 1851. Wallerson had been a private in the Third Battalion of Louisiana Volunteers in the War With Mexico, and was being rewarded with title to the land.

Records show that Wallerson sold that land to Ferdinand Lee.

This part of Webster Parish was at the time in Bossier Parish. A search of recofs in the courthouse in Benton, that parish, show that Lee had also bought up a dozen or more such warrants of certificates of title to more than 2,300 acres in and around this town. They named thier home Cotten Valley.

Records kept by the Lee family show tht they moved from Barbour County, Alabama, in 1851 for the purpose of engaging in planting cotton. It is stated a tower was erected over (looking) the rich farm land so that the overseer could observe the condition of the crops.

The Lee family remained here for seven years, selling their land to Edward W. Hodges for $15,000, which now consisted of 2,3000 acres. The Lee family then moved further west on Red River on Long Prairie in Lafayette County, Arkansas, where Ferdinand Lee died in 1874.

JOHN A. MANRY
Plain Dealing, La. 71064