Biography - W. B. Boggs

W. B. BOGGS is the efficient mayor of Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish, La., but was born in Benton County, Ala., October 8, 1854, a son of Samuel J. and Lucinda E. (Barnett) Boggs, who came from Alabama to Bossier Parish, in 1857, locating in Ward 4, where the father has since resided, his wife having died soon after coming here. W. B. Boggs was educated at Red Land, in this parish, where there was a good local school, and when twenty-one years of age he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, entering the employ of J. J. Swindle, with whom he has since been associated, a partnership being formed in 1878. They continued at that point until 1884, when Mr. Boggs formed a partnership with S. H. Cochran, their establishment being at Red Land, but in 1888 he again became connected with Mr. Swindle, their drug establishment being one of the ﬁnest at Plain Dealing, and in his business career he has always been successful. From 1878 till 1888 he was a member of the police jury from Ward 4, Bossier Parish, and was president of that body in 1880, and clerk in 1882. In 1886 he was a candidate for representative, and later made the race for State senator. From 1884 to 1888 he was a member of the school board and of the Journal Club of the House of Representatives, but since the last election he has been mayor of Plain Dealing. In 1888 his friends once more wished him to make the race for representative, and, as before, he lacked only a few votes of election. He has always taken a deep interest in the political affairs of the day as one of the leaders, and has at all times voted and worked for the success of the Democratic party. He became a notary public in 1882, and was postmaster of Red Land from 1879 until recently, when he handed in his resignation, the same not yet having been accepted. November 18, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss E. Estella Swindle, a daughter of J. J. Swindle, of this parish, and to them three children have been born: Mattie E., John S. and W. B., Jr. Mr. Boggs is a Mason, and in 1883 and 1887 represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. He is also a K. of P. and has held all the offices in the Grand Lodge from inner guard to grand vice chancellor, with the exception of grand keeper of the record and seals and grand master of the exchequer, and is now a member of the Farmers’ Alliance. Mr. Boggs’ father has been a very successful farmer, and is now ﬁfty-seven years of age. After the death of the mother of W. B., the father married again, and in religious faith is a Missionary Baptist. He is also a Mason and a K. of P., and has represented the K. of P. lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State. He served in a Louisiana regiment during the Rebellion, and was in a number of battles.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, pages 128-129.