Bossier Parish Libraries History Center

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

A Civil War Christmas

A sketch of John Milton Scanland that appeared in the Sunday News in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. Dec. 30, 1894.

John Milton Scanland was the brother of William Henry Scanland, the proprietor and editor of the Bossier Banner from 1859 until his death in 1916. Like his brother, John Scanland was a newspaperman his entire life except for his time as a soldier in the Civil War. The following article, “My Christmas as a Soldier,” appeared in The Bossier Banner on Dec. 27, 1900.

The Bossier Banner - July 6, 1939.

“At the beginning of the war between the States I enlisted in the first battalion that left my State for the front. Christmas day found our command defending a fortification, and as the provision trains could not catch up through danger of capture, my first Christmas in the army was a fast, broken only by a little boiled rice and a ration of whisky – about half a glass.

“That night I was detailed as one of the guards. My post was about fifty yards from the breastworks, and on the bank of Warwick river, a shallow stream perhaps twenty yards wide. It was the duty of the sentinels to fire upon the enemy if they attempted to cross the stream. The firing of the gun would alarm camp, and thus prepare the battalion for defense. The wind was cold and cutting. Sleet continued to fall, and the night was as dark as moonless skies and a forest of trees could make it. I was required to stand in one position during the two hours duty, so as to be concealed from the enemy, and the better to observe his movements by watching a particular point. It was also safer for myself, for he would likely shoot at a moving object.

“I had been on duty perhaps an hour, the bright barrel of a gun concealed under my oil-cloth. I stood behind a cluster of bushes, which reached to my shoulders, giving me a view of the creek, only obstructed by the blackness of night. I could only see the open space of the river, and an occasional white ripple of water, where the current was disturbed by something jumping into the river. The noise was about like that made by some one wading across, and I naturally concluded that the enemy were crossing either by wading, or in small boats.

“Every few moments I heard a plunge, and the thick brush on the opposite bank looked like a body of soldiers in line. I could see the waters moving. Surely the enemy were crossing! It was my duty to alarm my 500 sleeping comrades, or else they would be captured, together with the fort – the key to our strategic position on the peninsula. I realized that the alarm would be my death, as the enemy would fire at the flash of my gun, for when a surprise night attack is frustrated the attacking party makes sure of the pickets. I also recollected that a false alarm would bring upon me not only the censure of the ‘officer of the day,’ but that my comrades would never cease jeering at me for shooting at nothing. I stood at ‘aim,’ and as I saw what I thought were soldiers in a boat about midway in the stream, I put my almost frozen finger to the trigger, and was almost in the act of firing, when a couple of musk-rats – for such they were – began to fight and chatter. I then breathed much freer, and my heart which had almost stood still, began to beat regularly.

“No one who has not faced death or imagined himself in that desperate position, can imagine one’s thoughts at such a trying moment.”

To learn more about John Milton Scanland, the Scanland family, or Bossier Parish’s involvement in the Civil War, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

By: Amy Robertson

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Made in Plain Dealing Car

Unidentified men in an unidentified auto garage that is most likely in Plain Dealing.
Bryce Turnley Collection: 1997.062.098
If you recognize the place or any of the men please contact the History Center 318.746.7717

Did you know that in 1919, a Plain Dealing citizen and business owner built a car? The following article titled “Made in Plain Dealing” appeared in The Bossier Banner on Dec. 18, 1919, with a description of the vehicle.

Advertisement for Jame's Garage in Plain Dealing.
The Bossier Banner, April 24, 1919.

“The James Garage has been trying out this week the first automobile ever turned out by a Plain Dealing manufacturer. The parts are all new, and none of them were made in Plain Dealing, but it is a James Garage Plain Dealing car, for there never was before any such car assembled anywhere.

“The trial trip yesterday showed the new car to be fast and a good climber. It is lighter than a Ford but carries twice as large a gasoline tank (of 20 gallon capacity) and may be operated on less gasoline per mile and, Mr. James believes, makes the mile in less time.

“All four wheels are the same size, and thus a 20 per cent saving on tires is made. The car is low-topped, light and gets over heavy roads in good shape. It is a self-starter and carries electric lights fore and aft.

“Mr. James says his car costs less than any of the low-cost automobiles, and can be made and sold at a good profit for less than the other cars are sold for. He thinks his car is better, too, in all respects.

“Anyway, here is hoping that a Plain Dealing automobile factory will turn out many hundreds of such cars during the years to come.”

A few months later, another article about the Plain Dealing car appeared in The Bossier Banner on Mar. 11, 1920, also titled “Made in Plain Dealing.” This article gives the following update on this locally made car.

“Mr. J. H. James made the trip to and from Shreveport Tuesday in his automobile made by himself in his own garage in this place. The “made in Plain dealing car” made the trip without a balk or accident over roads (lying between this place and Benton) that most prudent people have lately hesitated to try to travel. They are most awful roads and only a good car and a skillful driver can negotiate them under present wet weather conditions.

“That the Plain Dealing car made the trip proves two things: It is a good, stout, well-behaving car; and Mr. James knows how to drive.”

Unfortunately, the hope of having an automobile manufacturing company in Plain Dealing never came to pass. It appears that this was the only car built by John H. James in Plain Dealing. In 1921, James moved to El Dorado, Ark. where he became the manager of a lumber yard.

If anyone reading this article knows anything about this car, or if you know someone that might, the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center would love to hear from you. It would be truly amazing to see photographs of this car and to be able to add them to our collection to share with our patrons. As always, visit the History Center, at 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City, for all your Bossier Parish history needs.

By: Amy Robertson

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Bossier Parish in the 1850s

Newspapers are an excellent source for local, national, and global news. Even as early as 1894, The Bossier Banner was printing articles that provided a glimpse into the past here in Bossier Parish. The following excerpts are from an article, “Bossier in the Fifties,” that appeared in The Bossier Banner on Dec. 13, 1894.

“The Bossier Times was the first newspaper published in this parish. It was printed in the Court House at Bellevue for several months; removed to an office south of Mrs. Lowry's residence, and finally to a building erected for the Times a few months before its suspension, and since 1859 known as the Banner office. W.C. Mitchell and Edward A. Lowry were the editors and proprietors of the Times, and the first issue appeared on Saturday, September 17, 1857. — On April 24, 1858, Mitchell sold his interest to Mr. Robert J. Looney, and the paper was issued by Looney & Lowry, until Aug. 6, 1858, when Mr. Looney disposed of his interest to Mr. Lowry. In the next month, Sept. 3, 1858,

Lowry sold the Times to his original partner, Mitchell, who continued the Times until June 17, 1859, when it was suspended. In a transfer sale, Messrs. A.A. Abney, T.M. & B.F. Fort became owners of the Times material.

“From the files of the Times of 1857-8 the following early history of the parish is gleaned:

“The first quarterly meeting for 1858 was held by Rev. S.S. Scott at Walker’s chapel in January.

“Jan. 4, 1858, the Police Jury met, the following members being present: C.C. Bates, ward 1; Wm. Arick, ward 2; A.M. Rogers, ward 3; W.A. Kelly, ward 4; James Ford, ward 5; E.L. Strange, ward 6. James Ford was President, Wm. H. Hill clerk and stray master, B.F. Fort Parish Treasurer, and R.J. Looney counsellor.

“Cyrus W. Field sailed from New York for England on January 4, 1858, for the purpose of making arrangements for ‘laying the Atlantic telegraph in the spring.’

“Losses by fire in the United States during the year 1857, $16,000,000.

“February 1, 1858, ‘Cottage Grove Seminary, six miles south of Collinsburg,’ commenced its second session. Mrs. Louisa M. Ricks was Principal, Mrs. Louisa M. Doles Matron, Zach. Doles agent, and Joshua J. Lewis, D.A. Childers and D.E. Dickson, trustees.

“Lewis F. Steele, Sheriff and Tax Collector, advertised that he would visit officially the following places during March, 1858: Pemberton’s store, Collinsburg, Rocky Mount, Gamble’s store, Sligh’s Mill, Mrs. Deck’s, Bellevue, Fillmore, Doyle’s precinct and Philip Mays.

“May 28, 1858, Dr. Levi H. Fisher advertised that he had permanently located in Bellevue.

“On June 28, 1858, section 16, township 20, range 11, was sold at public auction for benefit of school fund.

“Rev. Moses S. McDonald died June 5, 1858. He was an ordained Baptist minister, and moved from Mississippi to Louisiana in 1841. He was a member of Cypress Lodge, then located at Collinsburg, and the resolutions of respect published are signed by G.W. Sentell, Jas. T. Turnley and N.A. Cooper.

“At a Democratic convention held at Natchitoches on Sept. 13, 1858, T.T. Land was nominated for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The election was held October 4, and out of a voting population of 909 in Bossier, only 247 votes were polled. Land received 161 and John Ray, Know Nothing candidate, 86. Land received a majority in the District of 470.

“In December a market house was built in Bellevue.

To access the past through old newspapers, whether your researching local, national, or global history or family history, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson