The Winham Family

Henderson Winham, foreground, and his brother Ben are shown in their Plain Dealing dry goods store in 1946.

In July of 1987, Mr. Henderson Winham, a 75 year old native and life-long resident of Plain Dealing compiled a history of the Winham Family. Derived from aged newspaper clippings, family Bible records, conversations with other family members and stories that were related to him by his grandmother, Elmina Smith Winham, the history begins with the departure in the fall of 1845 of 236 souls from Houston County, Georgia. After a long and arduous journey, the party arrived in Minden on Christmas Day where they were met by a leading merchant of Minden, John Chafee. A sumptuous Christmas dinner was enjoyed before the families proceeded on to Bellevue, then Sugar Hill the next day.

Each family left the party to settle in different parts of North Bossier Parish, with Reverend Allen Winham and his family settling near Rocky Mount. A year later he founded the Caney Creek Baptist Church, believed to be the first Baptist church in North Louisiana. Reverend Winham was also instrumental in the founding of Salem Baptist Church and Red River Baptist Church.

Recalling his grandmother Elmina with great fondness, Winham related how he prepared black gum toothbrushes for her to enjoy her dips of snuff. “… to enjoy a dip of snuff, one needs a black gum toothbrush. The way to fashion such a toothbrush is to cut a twig from a black gum tree about 3 inches long and the thickness of a kitchen match, peel the bark back 1 inch from the larger end, and then chew the end until it becomes a soft mop. Then thoroughly moisten that mop, dip it deep into that can of exotic powder, and bring it out laden with the same. Place it in the mouth, run it all around the gums; then anchor it in the back of the jaw and sit back and rock – That is pure pleasure.” As his grandmother was toothless, Winham prided himself on preparing the toothbrushes for her.

In his childhood Winham first attended the New Brushy School, and then later attended the Alden Bridge School. The original Brushy School and Church were located west of the present Sunflower Church on Highway 3 in Bossier Parish. Brother Holliday, minister of the Plain Dealing Methodist Church, was often invited to preach at the Brushy Church. He was known to readily pack his Bible and his nightshirt and spend Saturday nights with the Winhams so that he could preach at Brushy on Sunday.

Both of Winham’s parents were hard-working and God-fearing. His father was recognized as a mediator in the community to whom people frequently went for advice and help in resolving problems. A.B. and Lilla Mae Winham had 12 children, 10 of whom grew to adulthood. In this memoir Henderson Winham relates particular memories of all of them.

Winham devotes the final pages of his memoir to his own recollections of growing up in North Bossier Parish. By age 12 he had become the family chauffeur, even attempting to teach his mother to drive the 1924 T Model Ford Touring Car that his father purchased. “My mother had an earnest desire to learn to drive – she never accomplished it. I would drive out into the open pasture and turn the wheel over to her. She went about it in a very determined way, but while she was looking down trying to decide the pedal on which to place her foot, the car invariably got out of control. Some candid camera shots of her facial expressions at such times would be quite entertaining. Though Mamma could do many things, and do them well, she never mastered the Model T, and sorrowfully abandoned the attempt.”

This is a poignant memoir that reflects the lives of a North Bossier family in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. To read more about them and other Bossier families, visit the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center.

Plain Dealing history

An article titled "Plain Dealing — Yesterday — To-Day" appeared in the June 9, 1932 issue of The Plain Dealing Progress. The article is unsigned, but was possibly written by Rupert Peyton.

In 1888 the Cotton Belt Railroad was laid in Plain Dealing and a depot was erected. The sign for the depot bore the name “Guernshein.” Shortly after, the name was changed to Plain Dealing to perpetuate the name of the 5,000 acre plantation which covered the area where Plain Dealing was located. In the same year, lots for the town site were sold, bringing a total of $12,000. B.W. Boggs was elected Plain Dealing’s first mayor when the town was incorporated in 1890. Fire destroyed the town twice, once in 1903 and again in 1906.

Early Plain Dealing merchants and some of their businesses includedthe following: S.J. Zeigler, a general merchandise store; John J. Swindle, a drug firm; mercantile firms of Nattin & Campbell and Cavett & Doles (where the post office was located); S.J. Cochran; E.F. Kirtley and Kelly Brothers. Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Smith operated the first hotel, and the wife of Mr. Grisdale, the first railroad section foreman, operated a section rooming house.

Along with the railroad, the first school was established in 1888. The Plain Dealing Academy had an enrollment of 56 students. Classes were held in a frame building that, by 1932, had been replaced by two brick buildings with an enrollment of 700 pupils.

Plain Dealing’s first bank was founded in 1906. P.B. Holt was the editor of the first newspaper, The Plain Dealer. The first church was a Methodist church founded in 1888, with a Baptist church following closely. By 1932, a Presbyterian Church was cooperating in the spiritual development of Plain Dealing.

The 1200 residents of Plain Dealing in 1932 numbered among their businesses: the mercantile firms of W.W. Oglesby and W.H. Martin; three drug companies; The Jewell Café and The Home Bakery and Café; A.W. Heifner Hardware Company; S.J. Caldwell Motor Company; three filling stations; offices of Southern Cities Distributing Company; Southwestern Gas and Electric Company; Bell Hotel; one recreational parlor; two tailor shops; one newspaper plant; one ice plant; two gins; one wholesale house and telephone exchange. Typical village roads had been transformed into model streets including gravel and paving.

Early doctors of Plain Dealing included Dr. Davis, Dr. W.J. Baird, Dr. Blackman, Dr. W.F. Bell and Dr. T.N. Keoun.

In 1932, the oldest citizens of Plain Dealing in terms of continuous residence were Mrs. Roy Bolinger who moved to Plain Dealing with her parents when she was three years old, and W.E. Swindle who moved to Plain Dealing when he was a small boy. Next in line for the honor of oldest resident was Mrs. Mollie Banks Gray who moved to Plain Dealing in 1897.

For histories of other Bossier Parish towns and villages, visit the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center.

Cypress Masonic Lodge

In the late 1950s, C.K. Wright dedicated a short publication to past brethren of Cypress Lodge No. 89. A copy of the publication tells the history of the lodge that was organized in 1849 in Benton, Louisiana.

Cypress Lodge No. 89 was the first Masonic Lodge established in Bossier Parish. When the charter for the lodge was issued in 1850, twenty-three men were members.

On June 3, 1850 James Blair Gilmer donated a one-acre lot in Collinsburg to Cypress Lodge of A.Y. Masons and the Sons of Temperance. Lodge minutes do not record that a building was ever erected on this property, so the title reverted to Gilmer, a pioneer settler of Bossier Parish.

Some of the events that are recorded in the minutes of the early lodge were the death of worthy brother Henry Clay, for whom a motion was carried appropriating ten dollars to erect a suitable monument over his remains; the annual return to the Grand Lodge on January 31, 1863 could not be forwarded by the secretary because the Grand Lodge Hall was in the hands of Union soldiers; and on February 20, 1864 the minutes noted that the Grand Lodge was still in the hands of the enemy and no communication could be established.

Minutes for September 7, 1867 noted that a motion was carried to change the meeting place of the lodge to Quality Hill in the upper story of Doles and Lambright’s store, and on October 1, 1867 a committee was appointed to make arrangements with Brother Lambright to rent that room. Even though a subsequent communication from the Grand Lodge authorized the removal of the lodge to Quality Hill, no action was ever taken. On April 4, 1868 permission was granted to move the lodge to Benton and on July 4, 1868 the Deputy District Grand Master was contacted for permission to move. Permission was given and the first meeting was held in Benton on August 29, 1868.

A site for the construction of a lodge building was acquired on April 12, 1876, and the new hall, the first home owned by the lodge itself, was completed on June 23, 1877. The lodge prospered between 1877 and 1884 but, because of a sharp decline in attendance from 1884 to 1887, the charter was forfeited on February 16, 1887. When a new charter was granted on February 12, 1890 meetings were held in a building used jointly by the Woodmen of the World, the public school, and the lodge. That building was ultimately replaced by the former location of the Benton Branch of the Bossier Parish Library. Sometime between 1890 and 1901 the lodge occupied a building located adjacent to the 1958 site. When a fire destroyed that building, communication was held in the lodge of the Knights of Pythias in Alden Bridge while a new building was being constructed. The 1958 site was acquired in 1901. From 1902 through 1952 the new building was used until a windstorm damaged it so badly that it was demolished.

The cornerstone to a new building was laid on April 11, 1953. The dedication was held on August 23, 1953. Five years later, in 1958, the funds for the final payment on the mortgage were paid. Besides being the oldest lodge in Bossier Parish, Cypress Lodge is presently the 22nd oldest active lodge in the state of Louisiana.

For more about Cypress Lodge #89 and other Bossier Parish history, visit the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center.

Early Christmases in Northwest Louisiana

EARLY CHRISTMASES IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA


The archives of the Historical Center hold numerous accounts of what Christmas was like in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Bossier Parish. Before the 1880s Christmas decorations were usually garlands of native Northwest Louisiana trees such as cedar, pine and holly. By the 1880s, however, many church, school and home parties featured a tree that was supported in a large jar of wet sand or by two cross pieces of heavy wood.

Christmas Eve was the traditional time for tree trimming. Individual wires held candles on tree branches, with homemade ornaments and natural items from the outdoors being the other decorations. Popcorn and whole cranberries were strung to make garlands. Sweet gum balls and pine cones were dusted with flour paste or covered with foil to add sparkle to the tree. The December 25, 1866 diary of one Northwest Louisiana homemaker told “Yesterday all busy preparing the Christmas tree and cooking for the children. We had it well filled, or hung, with beautiful presents, not one was forgotten.” On December 25, 1882 L. T. Sanders wrote in his journal “We went up early to Mary’s early, and Ibis and I went to Redland and helped all day to dress the Christmas tree, etc. That night a large crowd gathered. We had a nice tree and plenty of supper. Santa Claus distributed the presents. We had an essay on home by Mr. J. Swindle. Our children received several presents, mostly from us.”

Other Christmas decorations might include kissing bells that were made from a raw potato wrapped with wire to form a hanger. Then fresh greens and mistletoe were inserted to cover the potato and a red ribbon attached underneath. Spanish moss, magnolia leaves, ivy and fern, holly and nandina berries were used to make wreaths and garlands to be hung on doors and columns.

The tradition of Santa Claus and hanging stockings for him to fill was an established custom in this area by the 1850s. In the December 23, 1880 issue of The Bossier Banner the editor remembered how boys had envied girls their long stockings at Christmastime when he was young. In homes where stockings were not hung, Santa would fill boxes or baskets with nuts, fruit, candy and perhaps a toy or book for the children. In its December 20, 1883 issue The Bossier Banner reported that Santa Claus was at Dr. W. J. Mobley’s store in Bellevue.

Historical Center archives contain numerous other references to Santa Claus and Christmas presents. In a December 1863 letter to his wife Mattie, Thomas Fort wrote “I bought some candy and picans for Santa Claus today.” In his journal entry for December 25, 1876 L. T. Sanders documented “Gave Lee an axe as a Christmas gift as a reward for his advance in his studies and industry. He has been through the 1st Reader 3 times and is only 6 years old. He seems to appreciate the gift very much.” Three years later Sanders’ Christmas Day entry was “The children got some ‘Santa Claus.’ Jannie got a china doll. Lee had bought himself a hat. I gave Charlie one and Lee and Hattie a book, each of them. I love to encourage them to study. Lee had worked and made the money that he paid for his hat.” In 1880 and 1881respectively, Sanders wrote in his journals “… the children got apples and candy. Leon got a ball & Jannie a pair of vases;” “The children only got some candy.”

In 1987 Clare M. Nelson researched Christmas customs in Northwest Louisiana 1850-1880. In her study she noted that following a night of dancing that rarely ended before midnight, Christmas morning brought early visits from friends and family who enjoyed the eggnog offered by hosts and hostesses.

Ms. Nelson also related that the main Christmas meal was served at mid-day. It included the usual fare of meat, vegetables, relishes, chow-chow, cucumber pickles and pickled peaches. Cornbread and beaten biscuits were eaten with butter churned at home. Oysters were a special Christmas treat, often brought as a gift to the hostess. Desserts would include cakes, puddings and pies. As an example of the ingenuity of these pioneers, “vinegar pie” would be made when no fruit was available or affordable. Such pies were said to have tasted remarkably like lemon pie. Because of their extravagant price of ten cents each, coconuts were a special Christmas present. After the milk had been drained from the coconut and the meat grated for a cake, even the shell was carefully saved and used as a dipper bowl or an ornament for the house.

Whatever your decorations and gifts and whatever is on your Christmas dinner menu this 2011 Christmas, all of us at the Historical Center wish you the happiest Christmas ever!

Open House on December 9th

Our Holiday Open House is next Friday! Join us on the 9th from 1 - 3 at the History Center for refreshments, live music by Allen Smith, and lots of holiday cheer. View our exhibit about Christmas stamps, read Christmas and New Year's cards from the 1940s, and see beautiful handmade ornaments. Everything is free!