1914 Biography - William J. McBride

McBride, William J., sheriff of Jackson parish.--This well-known citizen was born in London, Ky., Aug. 15, 1865; a son of Jesse E. and Lucinda (Hatcher) McBride. His ancestors were originally from Tennessee, and came to Mississippi in the colonial days. His grandfather moved from Mississippi to Louisiana in 1856, and settled in Jackson parish, where he remained until his death in 1905, being 85 years of age. He was a member of the constitutional convention in 1898, and was well known as a splendid citizen and a man who took a deep interest in the welfare of his state. The sheriff's father was a veteran of the Civil war, and served in a company of Louisiana volunteers, organized at Vernon, then the parish seat of Jackson parish. After Appomattox, he was paroled in ''Old Kaintuck,'' and it was here that he married, and remained from 1863 until Dec., 1869. He then removed to Jackson parish, La., and being a farmer by trade, he resumed his old occupation, and he and his wife are still living happily on the old plantation. In 1882 he was a member of the police jury, and also at one time served on the school board. Of the children, there are, the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest; John T., of Weston, La, and James L., of Jackson parish, both engaged in farming; Anna, the deceased wife of William B. Stewart, and mother of 9 children, who died in 1912; Charles F., assistant cashier and bookkeeper of the Jackson parish bank; Stephen D., farming in Jackson parish, and Jesse D., of Dayton, N. M., editor of the Dayton Informer, also postmaster of that city. The sheriff received his early education in the parish school, and in a little private school in the locality. After completing his schooling he worked on a farm until his marriage, when he went into business for himself, and continued to farm very successfully until 1892. He then went into the mercantile business in Weston, where he remained for some time. His establishment was destroyed by fire in 1901, but Mr. McBride moved to Jonesboro, where he succeeded in reestablishing his business. His worth was soon recognized, and in 1906 he assumed the management of the Farmers Union and Cotton Warehouse, and in this capacity served for 4 years. In 1907 he became a candidate for sheriff; was elected June 10, 1908, and has continued in this incumbency ever since. Mr. McBride is the owner of a small plantation in Jackson parish, a stockholder of the Jonesboro National bank, an Odd Fellow and Woodman of the World, of Jonesboro. He is well known for his energy and fearless performance of his duty, and is one of the most popular citizens of his community. He was married July 6, 1886, to Sallie L. Watts, of Lincoln parish, a daughter of Hope and Martha (Mills) Watts, both of Georgia. Her family lived in Lincoln parish until the father's death in 1875, when they moved to Jackson parish. Her mother died in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are the parents of 6 children: Martha Loula, Mary Iva, wife of M. Resenger, of Gandy, La., a mill foreman for the Wyatt Lumber Co.; Will L., Walter E., of Ruston, La., Zelina and Roland W., who are at home.

Extracted 2020 Oct 29 by Norma Hass, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, Volume 3, pages 542-543.