1914 Biography - Uriah Millsaps

Millsaps, Uriah, for many years a prominent figure in the commercial life of Monroe, was born in Mississippi July 22, 1847. He came to Union parish, La., when a young boy and lived there until 18 years old, obtaining his early education there and attending the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, which, at the request of his father, he left to enter business. In 1868 he moved to Trenton, La., and began the general mercantile business with Mr. Flournoy, which he continued until 1885. In that year he removed to West Monroe and established a general mercantile business, which grew to large proportions, his trading extending to sections of Ouachita Union, Lincoln and Jackson parishes. While building up a large and prosperous business he took an active interest in many other enterprises. He became vice-president of the Ouachita National bank under its first charter, and on the death of its first and former president, he became president and remained in that office until its expiration. He organized the Central Savings Bank & Trust Co., and was elected president, in which capacity he remained until his death. He also held large interest in the Monroe Hardware Co., Ltd., Standard Warehouse and Compress Co., Ouachita cotton mills, Millsaps & Co., Ltd., the Whitney Central National bank of New Orleans, and other institutions. He also owned extensive planting interests at Crew Lake. At one time he was parish superintendent of education and took great interest in the subject of good roads. He was one of the originators of the movement to build steel bridges over all the streams throughout the parish. In 1896, when the drought destroyed all the crops in Lincoln and portions of Jackson, Union and Ouachita parishes, Mr. Millsaps distributed supplies furnished by the state, in a way that gave the greatest possible relief. He was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, Stonewall Lodge No. 8. Nov. 4, 1873, Mr. Millsaps married Miss Mary A. Lockett of Paducah, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Millsaps were the parents of 7 children, as follow: Edmonia L., now Mrs. George Weaks; Lillie Heath, deceased; Thomas Benton, Louise Getty, deceased, wife of P. A. Atkins; Ruth Allison, now Mrs. W. C. Youngblood; Herbert Uriah, of West Monroe; Mary Aldina, now Mrs. P. M. Atkins. For some time Mr. Millsaps had been in declining health, when his death occurred March 14, 1914. Having been long and conspicuously identified with the material and moral interest of Ouachita parish, his departure left a distinct gap in the community which is not easy filled.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 552-553.