The Duprees of Red River Parish 179

The Dupree family left France in the late 1500's because of religious persecution. These Hugenots, as they were called, settled in Cornwall, England, and in Ireland. Here they were not happier, nor safer, from harassment by their neighbors, and indeed, by their Catholic cousins. Thousands joined them in fleeing to America, and in 1699 Samuel Bayley Dupree arrived at Jamestown, Virginia. Three of his brothers and other family members came a few years later. Samuel and his wife lived in Amelia County, Virginia, but moved into Chowan County, North Carolina. They reared a large family whose descendants gradually moved into Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. One of these descendants was John Dupree, of Wilkinson County, Georgia.

The Dupree name was brought to Red River Parish by the Reverend John Dupree, who was born in 1806 in Burk County, Georgia, was ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1842 at Big Sandy, Wilkinson County, Georgia, and who served that church for eighteen years. During this period, he organized and helped develop many churches in Georgia, from Baldwin County to Ware County. He married Mary Ann Taylor from Laurens County, Georgia, on January 3, 1828. Their nine children were as follows:

Nancy Dupree who married John Bishop.

Martha Dupree who married Henry Wilcox

Ann Dupree who married Billy Breedlove.

APolly Dupree who married Alexander Rawls.

Daniel Ivy Dupree who married Susan Hogan.

Sarah Dupree who married Billy Cannon.

Missouria Dupree who married Jim Upshaw.

Stewart Dupree and Newton Dupree were the two youngest sons; they were never married. Stewart and Newton Dupree and a brother-in-law, Billy Cannon, enlisted in the Confederate Army at Natchitoches, as Red River Parish was part of Natchitoches Parish then. While in the Army near Delhi, Louisiana, the three had measles and died in 1861 during the Civil War.

In the latter part of 1860, John Dupree moved to Northwest Louisiana, and settled about eight miles Northeast of the present town of Coushatta, between Grand Bayou and Black Lake, in what is now Red River Parish. This was very wild country and there was not a single Baptist church in a space of one hundred miles. He bought land for fifty cents per acre and some of that original land is owned by his descendants today.

According to an article entitled "A Parallel After One Hundred Thirteen Years" in the November 1, 1972 issue of the Baptist Message, "after coming to Louisiana, he began at once, as a preacher, to administer to the spiritual needs of the few people in that section of the country; he was instrumental in organizing Liberty Baptist Church soon after his arrival and was its pastor for several years.

Shortly after his arrival to Louisiana, Dupree was appointed a missionary by the Baptist State Convention of Louisiana under the Red River Association. A great portion of his labor at this time was all missionary work with no adequate support.

As a missionary, his field of service was in the Black Lake, Grand Bayou, and Lake Bistineau territory. The results of his work in this section was the organization of Ebinezar Church, north of the present town of Ashland, in the.lower edge of Bienville Parish, eventually west to the Methvin Community, organized Bethel Church in Red River Parish, then on northwest to Spring Hill Community and organized a church there, and on northeast into Webster Parish and organized Bistineau Church, about three miles west of the present town of Heflin; then crossing Lake Bistineau at Port Boliver he went up the west side of the Gum Springs Community and organized Gum Springs Church and also McIntyre Church.

All in all, he organized approximately sixteen churches in Louisiana and would travel from two to three thousand miles on horseback and preach two to three hundred sermons each year. Through a part of this period he served as many as twelve churches and preaching stations.

It was in 1881 that Reverend Dupree's period of serrvice closed in Louisiana. His wife preceded him in death and is buried at the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, Red River parish. He then went back to Georgia and died in his native land and is buried near :he line of Lauren and Wilkinson Counties, about seenty-five miles from Milan, Georgia.

John Dupree looked forward to that 'Crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, ;hall give to all them that love His appearing.' Paxton said in his book 'It is to such men as he that we are Indebted today for our great Baptist organization of the south:

At the Martin Crossroads of Highway 155 and Highway 507 stands a Louisiana Historical Marker commemorating the life of a pioneer itinerant preacher, Reverend John Dupree. It was set up by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in recent years as a result of research by Vernon Dupree, a descendant.

It reads:

"REVEREND JOHN DUPREE" 1806-1899

Pioneer Baptist preacher and missionary. He organized many churches in Georgia as well as sixteen east of Red River, where his labors began in 1862. Traveled great distances on horseback. Baptized hundreds of converts."

Daniel Ivy Dupree, the only living son of John and Mary Ann Taylor Dupree, was born in 1833, and traveled to Louisiana from Georgia with his father, and settled in the same area of Red River Parish. He married Susan Frances Hogan in Macon, Georgia, and both are buried in the Clear Springs Cemetery, near Martin.

Their children were as follows:

Artimacy Amanda (Missie) Dupree who married William Loftin; Martha Ellen (Ellie) Dupree who married Fan Teer; Mary Louvinia (Lou) Dupree who married Sim Teer; Johnnie Dupree (died in infancy); Cornelia Louisiana Bonaparte (Nelia) Dupree who married Oliver Jones, then Andy Long; Henrietta Benjamin (Bennie) Dupree who married Henry Cole; Laura Jane (Jamie) Dupree who married Marshal Hunter; Johnnie David (Buddie) Dupree who married Lucy Anglin; Daniel^. Webster (Webbie) Dupree who married Josey Cole; William Daniel (Willie) Dupree who married Eunice Ross, then Annie Gahagan; Susan Frances (Susie) Dupree who married Copeland Elliott; Daniel by Dupree, Jr. who married Gertrude Virginia On.

Daniel Ivy Dupree entered the Confederate Army on September 22, 1862, in Delhi, Louisiana, as a private, Company B, 11th Battalion of the Louisiana Infantry.` His base was near Mansfield. He was in the medical corps; and because of the training he received while in the service, when he returned home all of his.friends began calling him Dr. Dupree. They would send for him to prescribe treatment for their sick, since there were few doctors then men or women. He practiced medicine until his death in 1899.

His method of travel was in a two wheel cart called a jumper and it was reported that he had such a fine horse to pull his jumper that no one was able to pass him on the road..

Daniel Ivy Dupree, Jr., the youngest son of Dr. Daniel Ivy and Susan Frances Hogan Dupree, married Gertrude Virginia Orr on December 22, 1898. Their children are listed below.

Valery Orr Dupree married to Charley Sledge; Ivy Clayton Dupree married to Helen Dodd; Rowland Emery Dupree (died at birth); Daniel Trevelyn (Bill) Dupree married to Mary Ellen Pike; Susan Travis Dupree (twin of Bill, died, at birth); Reual Collier Dupree married to Susie Ellen Fair; Media Elsie Dupree married to Willie Clinton Raley; Mercer Brittain Dupree married to Ida Nona Adkins; John Alton Dupree married to Gertrude Tolbert Bamburg; Mary Virginia Dupree married to Curtis Dennis Latour; Agatha Dupree married to Milton Stephen McGee; Ivy Virginia Dupree married to P. Clark Pouncy; Daniel Ivy Dupree, III married to Dorothy Adcock; Roy Dupree.

The youngest son of Mr. & Mrs. Ivy Dupree, Roy, gave his life in service during World War II on a training mission in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The plane crashed and burned on the 14th day of July in 1945. He was 19 years 4 months 3 days old.

These are the fourth generation of Duprees to have lived in Red River Parish.

At this date, June, 1987, all of the other children of Daniel Ivy, Jr. and Gertrude Virginia On Dupree are still living except Ivy Clayton, Daniel Trevelyn (Bill), Media Elsie, and Mary Virginia. There are third generation descendants of this generation of the Dupree family, scattered throughout the United States and in some foreign countries, however, many still reside within five miles of the site of the original home of Rev. John Dupree.

Fifth generation Duprees are as follows: Children of Valery On Dupree and Charley Sledge: .,‑

,-Truett, deceased; Dorothy V., deceased; Collie Brittain; Jimmy Ray; Yvonne.

Children of Ivy Clayton and Helen Dodd Dupree:

Helen Louise, Emily Virginia, Ivy Clayton, Jr. Children of Daniel Trevelyn (Bill) and Mary Ellen Pike Dupree:

Daniel Roy.

Children of Reual Collier and Susie Ellen Fair Dupree:

Reual Collier, Jr., Deceased; Daniel Edward. Children of Media Elsie Dupree and Willie Clinton Raley:

Frances Faye.

Children of Mercer Brittain and Ida Nona Adkins Dupree:

Kathleen Elworth; Sue Ann; Mercer Brittain, Jr.; Bennie Ivanee; Nita Joy; Lela True; Melvin Daniel; Donald Roy; Ivy Benjamin; Terry Wayne; David Glen; Nona Beth; Randall Britt.

Children of John Alton and Gertrude Bamburg Dupree.

John Alton, Jr.; Roy Samuel.

Children of Mary Virginia Dupree and Curtis Dennis Latour:

Mary Virginia, deceased; Curtis Dennis, Jr.; Mary Ann; John Stevens.

Children of Agatha Dupree and Milton Stephen McGee:

Milton Stephen, Jr.

Children of Ivy Virginia Dupree and Clark Pouncey:

Mary Jo; Penny Louise.

Children of Daniel Ivy, Jr. and Dorothy Adcock Dupree:

Linda; Cindy; Suzan.

Sixth and seventh generations of this lineage of the Dupree family are numerous and widespread geographically. However, this brief historical look at the Duprees clearly shows the intermingling of many other pioneer names with the Dupree name. These include such well known Red River Parish families as the Rawls, Cannons, Breedloves, Upshaws, Loftins, Jones, Longs, Teers, Coles, Hunters, Anglins, Rosses, Gahagans, Elliotts, Orrs, Sledges, Raleys, Fairs, Adkins, Bamburgs, Adcocks, and McGees.

Much more could be added to this historical account about the families of Daniel Webster, John Daniel, and William Daniel Dupree. However, this writer is not knowledgeable of the history of these families and must leave that account to someone else.

Submitted by Daniel E Dupree

Dr. Daniel Ivy Dupree 180

Dr. Daniel Ivy Dupree son of Rev. John and Mary Ann Taylor Dupree, m. Susan Hogan. Their daughter Laura ane, b. 30 Jan. 1863 d. 1 Jan., 1951, m. William Marshall Hunter, born 20 Feb. 1859, died 22 Apr. 1935, son of William (Billy) and Margaret Tranquilla Lindsey Hunter. Marshall and Laura Jane had the following children: William Orie, b. 29 Jan. 1881, d. 20 May, 1942, Dr. Walter Benjamin, b. 13 Mar. 1882, d. 12 April, 1960; Uriah Hogan, b. 23 July 1883, d. 31 May 1968; Ivey Tilden, b. 7 Sept., 1886, d. 12 Oct., 1962; Oliver Bona art, b. 10, Dec., 1889, d. 16 May, 1968; Everett

Edison, b. 8 Mar., 1892, d. 16 Mar. 1985; Surry Dupree

b. 19 Feb. 1896, d. 26 Nov., 1972; Marshall Ezra, b. 27 Jan., 1898, d. 9 Feb., 1984; Ida Mae, b. 8 Oct., 1879; Osie Lee, b. 8 Jan., 1885; Quretta, b. 3 Feb., 1888; Susie Mae, b 25 May 1984; Laura Jane, b 5 Sept. 1899. Oliver Bonapart Hunter, b. 10 Dec., 1889, d. 16 May, 1968, m.

, 1906. Lavada A. Breedlove, b. 26 Feb., 1886, d. 16 May, 1968. Oliver and Lavada children were Ida Mae, Irma Clementine; Cecil; Oliver True; Susie Mae; O. B., Jr.; and Alice Maurine. Ida Mae m. Laine Lamon Fair and they had one son, Jerry Lamon, who m. Patricia Ann DeMoss, and they had three children; Connie Ann, Steven Laine, and Amy Elizabeth. Irma m. Calvin Hoover Loe and had one daughter, Linda Carol who m. Carl Thompkins and had two children, Edmond Buckley and Heather Lynn. Cecil m. John Marby Dawkins and two children, one son, John Hunter, who m. Carol Davis and had four children; Stephanie Ann; John Carl; Angela and David; one daughter Donna Glynn, m. Dennis Hargrove, and had two children;

Dennis Greg, and Denise. Oliver True m. Theo J. Williams and had one son Wayne A. who m. 1st time Frances Clinton and had a daughter, Susan Lynn, who m. Sam Liggins, Wayne m. 2nd Claudette Bumpas, and had two children, Julie Lynn and John David. Wayne is now married to Lela Jean Hough Jones. Susie Mae m. Edwin Carl Harrel, and they had a son, William Marshall, 1951-1971, Sue in. 2nd John Tom Hutto. 0. B., Jr., m. Carrie Mae Collum and they had a daughter Gloria Janet. Alice Maureen m. John Frank Dry, Jr. Their children John F., III, m. Sharon A. Maloney and they had a son Michael Hunter Dry; Dennis Craig; Stephanie Dianne, m. Michael R. Mapes and had a son Christopher Michael Mapes. Stephanie in. 2nd Michael John Flannery, M.D., and their children are Ian John; Melissa Nicole; Forest Mark and Garrett S.

Ann Dupree dau. of Rev. John and Mary Ann Taylor Dupree in. Billy Breedlove. Their son Alford m. Margaret Pickett.

Alford and Margaret's children beside Lavada were Omie M.; m. a Brown; Cora in. a Harvey; Lathie in. a Long; Idalia m. a Beard; Inez m. a Corley; Mag• gie m. a Upshaw; Fannie; Della m. a Loftin; Belva m. a Corley; John and Albert.

Submitted by Sue Hutto

David Vernon Dupree tai

David Vernon Dupree was born 14 December 1910 in Coushatta, Louisiana to William Daniel and Annie Gahagan Dupree. He married Eulava Othella Sledge 1 June 1939 in Alexandria, Louisiana. She was born 28 October 1915 to William D. and Ada Dixon Sledge. Children born included Euverne, Verlyn, and Donelle. Euverne Dupree married Edwin Barry Bennett on 3 September 1966 and they had a daughter, Robyn Renai Bennett born 30 December 1968 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Both Euveme and her husband were killed in an automobile wreck on 7 June 1970. Their daughter has been reared by her maternal grandparents. Robyn is now in the 12th grade at University High School in Baton Rouge. Verlyn Dupree was born February 13 in Baton Rouge. She married Tom J. Schueler on 10 April 1979. Donelle Dupree was born 22 July 1958 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Submitted by Mrs. M. L. Delany

The W. W. Loftin Family 345

William Washington Loftin was the son of William Dothan Loftin, who was born November 19, 1825 and died December 24, 1900, and Lytha Ann Quincy Smith Loftin, born February 6, 1826 and died September 18, 1864. They are buried inHolley Springs Cemetery.

The book, The New Louisiana by John D. Kloaen says there were two settlers, W. D. Loftin and W. A. Martin living in the area of what is now the Martin community at least thirty years before the establishment of Red River Parish in 1871. Mr. W. H. Morgan found that W. D. Loftin and probably W. A. Martin came to this territory before 1850 from Alabama. The Loftins came from Eufaula, Alabama.

According to these records, William W. Loftin was born here (in what later became Red River Parish) on September 28, 1853. He was one of the older of several children, some of whom were Finnetta Ann Missouri, Nancy Melinda, John Henry, Joel, Saphrinia, and Jim. There was another son. After his mother died, his father married Sarah Ann Elliott and had six daughters and one son. They were Lou, Winnie, Lusetta, Ellen, Rose, Elizabeth, and Thomas.

William grew up in the Martin Community and married Artimacy Amanda Dupree. She was the daughter of Dr. Daniel Dupree, who lived from.. 1; e to August 3, 1899, and Susan F. Dupree, who was born January 8, 1837 and died July 9, 1909. They are buried in the Clear Springs Cemetery.

The W. W. Loftins had ten children. 1. Griffin Loftin married Ida Huckabay; their children are: Clivie, Curtis, William Morgan, Grady, Churchill, Aurelia, Everell, Marion and Sybil. He is buried in Clear Springs Cemetery. 2. Cecil Loftin married Floyd Jones; their children are: Worth, Amanda, Iola, Norma, Aswell, Melton, Hazel, Claude, Mercer Mae, Turner and Sidney Allen. She is buried in Clear Springs Cemetery. 3. William I. Loftin married Minnie Ola McDowell; their children are Lillian and Eula Lee. He is buried in Holley Springs Cemetery. 4. Cornelious Loftin married Dicier McCain; their children are Bloyce and Kenthal C. (two died in infancy). He is buried in Delhi, Louisiana. 5. Ruth Loftin married William Brewer; their children are: Viva, Helen, Johnny, Harold, Mary V., L nurde_lClinton, Leland, and Emma Ruth. She is buried in Centuries Park, Shreveport, Louisiana. 6. Zebedee Loftin married Amy Adcock; their children are: Rodney, Lois and Exton. He is buried in New Iberia Cemetery. 7. Susan Loftin married Otis Bogan; their children are Henrietta and Jack Durwood (two died in infancy). She is buried in Clear Springs Cemetery. 8. Clyde Loftin married Clara King and they had one child, Catherine. He is buried in Clear Springs Cemetery. 9. Orren Loftin married Beulah Lee Nevils; their children are Truman (died at about age three) and Reginald. Orren is buried in Springville Cemetery. 10. Robert Thurmon Loftin married Bessie McMills; they had one child, Robert T. Loftin, Jr.

The Rev. A. C. Cargill wrote to me that he remembered the Loftins as a quiet, reserved couple who enjoyed their family and the activities of the community. They were of good Christian faith and a nearby church was needed. The Liberty Church which they attended was several miles away. The Rev. John Dupree led the organization to build a closer church. In the Liberty Church Record for third Sabbath in June 189Z a record was made of letters granted to twenty-one brothers and sisters to organize a new Baptist Church at Clear Springs.

W. W. Loftin donated land for the church and cemetery, and a very good frame church building was erected in 1897 or 1898. A school was already there, so the church and school were once the heart of the busiest part of the community and on the most used road. The building stood till after 1971, when it was replaced by a new brick chapel. Services are not held regularly, but it is used for funerals and memorials. It has the original homemade pews from the old church. William Morgan told me the lumber was probably from William Loftin 's place and may have been sawed at his mill.

Among the charter members of Clear Springs were found the names: Adkins, Teer, Morgan, Detro, Dupree, Cole, Jowers, Mobley, Loftin and Miller.

With his limited education, W. W. Loftin was able to acquire more than fifteen hundred acres of land, so he was one of the largest land owners and farmers in the community. This land provided virgin pine and hardwood which furnished plenty of the finest qual^. ity of lumber. This very likely prompted "Mr. Bill", as he was commonly called to have a small mill. It was crude and did not finish lumber. Cotton and corn were the main crops, so he had a gin and gristmill. He ginned his cotton and some for neighbors, and ground corn into meal for family and friends.

Most of their food was produced at home. They had hogs for meat and lard, cows for milk, butter and meat, chickens for eggs and cane for syrup. They grew garden vegetables and several varieties of fruit, which they preserved or dried. Some of the staples were brought by the barrel, as flour and sugar. Coffee was brought in one hundred pound sacks. Wild hogs. turkeys, deer, and other wild creatures were plentiful. Much of the work was carried on by the family, though there were always several hired hands. The children were taught to work and shared many responsibilities. They got up early and did some of the chores before breakfast, which was served before daylight. They fed the mules, horses and hogs. Some learned to milk and that was done early. They were ready to go to the gin. field or whatever, a little after daylight. Fences had to be built and wood sawed and split for heating and cooking. The girls cooked, sewed, knitted, milked, churned, and learned to take care of the house and helped with the smaller children.

The only schooling the older children had was at the two-room Clear Springs School. They went during the summer after the crops were laid by and in the late fall and winter after the crops were gathered. Again, Rev. Cargill wrote how he remembered and enjoyed going to school there and how he and a great. uncle of mine, Buddy Dupree, ran footraces. They also played other games and had school programs.

My daddy, William, was the third child of the Loftin family. As he and his older brother and sister grew up, they shared many experiences. He was quite

a prankster, and told me some of the things that hap-. -• pened. When he was too young to do much or any work, he burned two or three bales of cotton. He had been cautioned about playing with matches and told how quickly the cotton would ignite and burn. To him that sounded like mighty fast work and made him want kisee, so he lighted the cotton and quickly put it out. fie tried it again and let it burn a little more. He kept repeating it, letting it burn more and more until it did away and he was unable to extinguish the fire. The cotton was in a pen in the field to await being carried to the gin, so he didn't burn a house.

The barrel of sugar was kept locked in a smokehouse that was not completely floored. He and his three brothers decided it would be fun to steal the sugar, so they went to the back of the house and dug a tunnel under the wall. They put Uncle Zeb, the smallest, through the tunnel. He ate all he wanted and handed out plenty to them. Then they filled the tunnel and placed planks over the fresh dirt so it would not be so noticeable.

Hickory and oak trees grew around the house and each of the four boys claimed one as his own. If one climbed the wrong tree, the others threw hickory nuts at him to make him come down.

They worked hard and once Grandpa promised to give a quarter to all who picked four hundred founds of cotton that day. He said he and a Negro were the only ones who picked it. I said, "You worked that hard for a quarter?" He said, "Well, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have been paid anything:'

Grandpa never used tobacco in any form and tied to keep his boys from using it. He was really hard on them when they did. They all slipped around and smoked. An old man, he called Uncle Phill Collins, had store nearby, but wouldn't sell them tobacco; they quickly learned to send a Negro to buy it.

Once he sent Papa to saddle his horse and Uncle Comelious went, too. They took their time and smoked a cigarette. When Papa came in, he asked if he had smoked and he said, "no, sir." When Uncle Cornelious came in, he asked him who helped him smoke the cigarette and he said, "Bill". So they were both punished.

It wasn't all work and no play. They all had horses which they rode to church, town and other activities. The girls had sidesaddles and rode, too. From Church, they often went home with each other for dinner. Several young people went to the same house and often pitched dollars on horseshoes in the afternoon. They gathered and played music, sang and danced, too. There were no radios or televisions, but they enjoyed life and shared many good times.

I think the reason Uncle Cornelious and Papa were partial to each other was because they were nearer the same age. They shared the same work, fun, punishment, and other experiences.

My Grandmother, Mrs. Loftin, died July 23, 1899 leaving all ten children as survivors. She was the first one to be buried in the Clear Springs Cemetery. Her father, Dr. Daniel Dupree, was the second, nearly two weeks later.

Grandpa later married Mrs. Maggie Adcock. She and her deceased husband had taken a little orphan girl, Carrie Kenney, to raise. He thus acquired his eleventh child. Some years later, they left the Clear Springs Community and moved to Squirrel Point Plantation on Red River. "Miss Mag" lived only a short time after they moved, but Carrie lived with the family until she married. The children all got along and always loved and thought of her as a sister.

Later Grandpa married Miss Belle Huckabay, who was the Grandma I knew and loved. They had three sons born on Squirrel Point. 1. Delphin Loftin married Lettie Moore. They did not have children. He is deceased and was cremated in San Jose, California. 2. Theron Loftin married Jimmie Harris; they had two sons: William Glover and Franklin. He is buried in Delhi, Louisiana. 3. James Lester Loftin married Ruth Fletcher. They had two children, Margaret Faye and James L., Jr. (Bud). James Lester is buried in Delhi, Louisiana.

The three younger boys of the older set and the three half-brothers attended Coushatta High School, where Clyde finished in the first graduating class in 1912, in what is now the Elementary School. He later received his B. A. Degree from Louisiana State University. Robert graduated from Coushatta, Tyler Business College and Soulee Business College in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In 1916, W. W. Loftin sold most of his land in Red River Parish and moved to Delhi, Louisiana, where he bought land and continued to farm. Delphin, Theron and jimmy graduated from Central High School, Delhi, Louisiana. Delphin graduated from Centenary College. The younger children had many more advantages and conveniences than the older children due to inventions and progress in general.

When he (W W. Loftin) was past eighty, he cleaned out his trunk and threw away many old letters, papers, records, notes, etc. Grandma asked him why he was doing it, and he said he had not been able to collect on some of the notes he signed, and he didn't want them to cause trouble after he was gone. He died November 2, 1935 and is buried in Clear Springs Cemetery. Grandma continued to live in Delhi until she died several years later. She is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Red River Parish.

W. W. Loftin accumulated quite a bit of property as the result of hard work, many sacrifices and good management. He gave each child eighty acres and left some to be divided. He has one surviving son, Robert T., who lives in Coushatta. None of the children acquired great wealth, but all were upright respected citizens of the communities in which they lived. They had inherited more than wealth, a great heritage.

The picture was made at his death and all children were living except Aunt Cecil Jones.

Submitted by Lillian L. Stephens

Joel Lamar (Chip) Loftin 31,

Joel Lamar (Chip) Loftin married Mary Belva Harvey. They had three children: Lola Mae, Opal and Joe Lane Loftin. Lola Mae Loftin married Eddie Millet and they had one daughter, Janice who married James E. Thompson. Opal Loftin married Mitchell Kolowaj• tis. Their daughter, Mary Kolowajtis married Harry Bamburg and their children are Holley and Trey Bane burg. Joe Lane Loftin married Charlotte Cannon and they had five children: Miranda, Lydia, Melissa, Lelah and Carrie.

Submitted by Lola Mae Miller.

John Griffin Loftin Family

My father, John Griffin Loftin, was the oldest of eleven children born to the union of William Washington Loftin and Amanda Artizr iy Dupree Loftin. Following the death of Grandmother, my Grandfather was married to Margaret (Maggie) Adcock. Mrs. Adcock had a foster daughter, Carrie Kinny, who was welcomed and accepted by my Grandfather's children as a foster sister. Grandmother Maggie died within two years after she was married to Grandfather. After her death, "Sister Carrie" remained in the home of Grandfather Loftin. Later Grandfather was married to Belle Huckaby. From this union my father was blessed with three half brothers.

I have been told that my father met my mother at the dedication ceremony of the newly built Clear Springs Baptist Church. According to my Uncle Cleve Huckaby, who related the story to me, "from that day on, Sister Ida never had eyes for anyone but Griffin." They were married on January 15, 1899. For the first few months after they were married they lived on "the river" on my Grandfather Loftin's plantation. My mother, being from the "hills"; was not happy with plantation life. Due to her unhappiness and the poor health of her mother they rented a log cabin from Mr.

Bill Kennington in the eastern part of Red River Parish near the home of her father and mother, Morgan Pinckney Columbus Huckaby and Martha Elizabeth Turnbow Huckaby. On January 2, 1901, they bought adjoining property from J. W. Cargill. My father, with the help of his brother-in-law, Glendon T. Huckaby remodeled the house that was on the property. Here they raised their family of seven sons and two daughters. All reached maturity with the exception of William Morgan who was accidentally burned to the extent that he died within a few days.

My oldest brother was born in 1900. I was the youngest of the nine and was born in 1917. The years in between were lean years. My mother was kept busy tending babies, cooking, washing and ironing, and keeping the house. In our area, hired help for the house was unheard of. Papa took over the task of nursing the sick in the family. For one whole year he devoted most of his time to nursing my sister back to health from a bout with polio. My brothers took over the farming activities.

Ours was a close knit family, and we were brought up in happy surroundings. Most of us were at home during the depression years. Some of my oldest brothers had lost their jobs and moved back home with their families. We certainly were not rich, but we were more fortunate than a lot of our neighbors. Therefore, many times we had one, two, or more to share our "Tom Puckett" gravy, dry peas, shrivelled potatoes, biscuits and cornbread. No one was ever turned away.

In addition to our father being nurse to his own family he was also looked up by many of the neighbors as their nurse, counselor, guardian, and friend. As one of his Masonic brothers put it, "He knew no ends to the trail which led to the relief of suffering of his fellow men.^"

Due to the lack of a school in the immediate area my father and Uncle Cleve Fluckaby built Chrystal Springs School on his property. Uncle Cleve was the teacher. When my two oldest brothers finished all the schooling they could get in our Community, they had to board in Coushatta to finish school. A high school was built at Martin, so Churchill and Everal rode horseback to Martin to graduate. By the time Marion and I were ready a high school had been built at Methvin, which we attended and from which we received our high school diplomas. Aurelia and Grads had opted not to finish high school.

Of the nine children, four pursued sorne educa^. tion beyond high school. Clyvey attended LSU for a time, but was not able to complete his education because of lack of funds. He retired from Swepco after many years service.

Churchill worked at various jobs to pay for his tuition to Draughons Business College. He chose the field of Finance for his vocation. When he died in 197'S. he and his family owned Friendly Finance in Monroe

Marion received his B. A. Degree in 1936 from Louisiana State Normal, his M. A. in 1941 from LSL and his Ph.D. in sociology from Vanderbilt in 1952. He chose the field of Education for his vocation. In 19S5. he retired from his post of Vice President of Graduate Studies and Research at Mississippi State University

Sybil earned her B. S. Degree from Louisiana Normal in Commerce and Social Studies. In addition to being a housewife and mother, she retired from the Department of Agriculture after 27 years service.

Aurelia had married when she was fifteen years of age so she has spent her years as wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and Great-great^. Grandmother.

Both Grady and Everal chose not to further their education. Until his retirement, Grady held a responsible job with Skelly Oil Company. Everal was employed by Swepco until his retirement.

The children of John Griffin Loftin and Ida Estella Huckaby Loftin included: 1) Clyvey Cecil Loftin, born January 17, 1900, married Leslie Adams; 2) William Morgan Loftin, born April 2, 1902, died January 25, 1905; 3) Curtis Jennings Loftin, born April 17, 1903, died August 8, 1929, married Thurla Gaines and had one child, Curtis Dwayne Loftin; 4) Grady Betrand Loftin, born June 8, 1905, married Ruby Rosalie Isabell, and had five children (Curtis, Griffin, Mary Joe, Jerry and Richard); 5) John Churchill Loftin, born September]. 1906, died October 17, 1978, married Elizabeth Cudd, and had four children (John Griffin, Elizabeth Cudd. Lillian Ida, and William McDonald); 6) Chloe Aurelia Loftin, born January 19, 1908, married Alonzo Vernon Morgan, and had four children (Vernon Cleveland, Max, Donna Glen and Marian Lane); 7) Joseph Everal (Runt) Loftin, born September 18, 1907, died October 13, 1983, married Osalie Rawls, and had three children (Betty Jean, Margaret and Doris); 8) Marion Theo Lot^. tin, born September 10, 1915; and 9) Urath Sybil Lot tin, born November 28, 1917, married Walter Woodard Jackson, and had one child, Sylvia Anne.

Submitted by Sybil Loftin Jackson

Dr. Marion T. "Red" Loftin

In December, the Mississippi State University academic team lost through retirement its biggest senior - 6' 2¹/2", 200-pound Marion T. "Red" Loftin.

During 36 years at the university, Loftin performed at a number of positions and carried the ball many times. As it was, his personal stature - more than his physical - served him and the university's game plan well during a period that saw MSU become a comprehensive university and its research program lead all others in the state in terms of dollars received.

He first was an assistant professor of sociology, then associate, then full professor, then head of the sociology department, associate dean of the Graduate School, dean of the Graduate School and, finally, from 1979 until the end of last year, vice president for graduate studies and research.

"I have really seen graduate studies and research expand at this university," Loftin said with pride shortly before stepping down.

Indeed he has.

He had been on campus four years when the first doctoral program was established in agronomy in 1952. Today, there are 25 terminal degree programs. When he joined the Graduate School as associate dean in 1965, enrollment there was about 700. Today, it is 1,700.

To those who know him, even as a casual friend, this soft-spoken man with twinkling blue eyes is usually referred to by his nickname, a sobriquet he attracted for his once-distictive carrot-colored hari. Even as a child in native Red River parish, La., he was called “Red.”

Loftin, whose hair today has made the graceful, though not quite complete, transition to gray, was born, literally, at the end of a cotton farm road near Methvin, just south of Shreveport. After graduating from Nethvin High School, he enrolled at what is now Northwest Louisiana State University at Natchitoches.

“My degree (in 1935) was in English and social studies and my plan was to be a teacher,” he said.

Returning to his high school alma mater, he taught English and history until 1940, when he enrolled at Louisiana State University to seek a master’s degree in sociology. Thoug he still had a desire to teach. Loftin had decide that a college or university was the best place to do so. He received his master’s in June of 1941.

Drafted into the Army just prior to Pearl Harbor, Loftin served in the Wouth Pacific throughout the global conflict. After the war, he re-entered LSU to work towarda doctorate in sociology.

Loftin’s long tenure, to be sure, has permitted the university’s research program to enjoy a stability of leadership and a sense of confidence to quickly adapt to ever-changing forces.

Article by Sammy McDavid:

Reprinted from MSU Alumnus with persmission

William Dothan Loftin 349

349.1 William Dothan Loftin and his wife, Sarah Ann Elliott.

William Dothan Loftin (1825-1900) was discharged from the U.S. Army June 28, 1848. He volunteered for the War with Mexico; the war was popular with Southerners. Company D, First Battallion Regiment of Alabama Volunteers under General Lomax welcomed the young recruit. He served almost a year. His papers state that he was born in Dale County, Alabama, twenty-two years old, five feet, eight inches tall, of fair complexion, and by occupation a farmer. During his time in Mexico he contracted measles. Along with other sick men, he marched sixty miles from Vera Cruz to Cordoba, then to Orizara. From this illness, he had a slight lung infection. He was granted a small pension in later years, and his wife Anne was granted a widow's pension for the remainder of her life.

When the soldier left the troop carrier in Mobile, he felt tempted to join some of the caravans headed west, piling household goods on the ground and waiting to board ships. It is thought that he had been to Louisiana previously with some cousins who went to Minden. At any rate, he went home to Skipperville and his family. He had three brothers: Robert Lewis, Charles Madison, and John. The two older brothers married and settled near their father and mother, William and Nancy Loftin. John was considered lost during the Civil War, but turned up several years later to visit William Dothan in Louisiana. He was much crippled and unable to work. Two sisters were Finetta Elizabeth and Rachal Dorcas. Finetta married Philip Arthur; Rachal married Thomas Arthur. These two families came to Louisiana and settled between Ringgold and Sparta, about 1850. William Loftin, the father, came to Alabama when land was opened for settlement in Dale County. He became the first probate judge of the county and taught school. All of his children were literate.

The Colonial Records of North Carolina indicate that Leonard Loftin, b. 1654, came from Pennsylvania to Chowan County, North Carolina, in 1688. After the death of his wife, he moved near the Swiss settlement of New Bern. He was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1711 and of St. Paul's Vestry, 1711-1716. In 1720, he paid tithes (taxes).on eighty acres of land. His son Cornelius paid tithes on two hundred acres. Leonard died that same year and is buried at Edenton, North Carolina. Leonard and sons Cornelius and Shadrack left detailed wills. Very important in the wills were the "sain beeches" on the Neuse River, evidently "sand beaches" where cargo could be unloaded. Terminology describing the boundaries of the properties is very romantic: Half-moon swamp, Half-moon road, Horsepen Branch, Panter Island, Strawberry Swamp, Dr. Maule's run.

The oldest homeplace was Jerico, built near Kingston in 1756, a provision of Leonard's will for his son William Benoni, “… if my son Cornelius Loftin and my son Leonard Loftin do purchase a certain parcel of land known by ye name of Little John's and ye said land make over…: Cornelius and Benoni are listed as foot Loftin, whose hair today has made the graceful, though not quite complete, transition to gray, was born, literally, at the end of a cotton farm road near Methvin, just south of Shreveport. After graduating from Methvin High School, he enrolled at what is now Northwest Louisiana State University at Natchitoches.

"My degree (in 1935) was in English and social studies and my plan was to be a teacher," he said.

Returning to his high school alma mater, he taught English and history until 1940, when he enrolled at Louisiana State University to seek a master's degree in sociology. Though he still had a desire to teach. Loftin had decided that a college or university was the best place to do so. He received his master's in June of 1941.

Drafted into the Army just prior to Pearl Harbor, Loftin served in the South Pacific throughout the global conflict. After the war, he re-entered LSU to work toward a doctorate in sociology.

Loftins long tenure, to be sure, has permitted the university's research program to enjoy a stability of leadership and a sense of confidence to quickly adapt to ever-changing forces.

Article by Sammy McDavid; Reprinted from MSU Alumnus with permission

soldiers in Craven County, 1751. Several generations of large families grew up at Jerico. Of William Benoni's children, one son was named Elkanah. Elkanah had a son, named Elkanah also. This son died in 1776, leaving his children in the household of the senior Elkanah. Of these sons, William Benoni, was the grandfather of William Dothan Loftin. It entered his soldier's mind to ask his father to accompany him for a visit to North Carolina, where he could meet many cousins.

But William Dothan did not go to North Carolina. In January of 1849, he married Litha Ann Quincy Smith and set his eyes again toward Louisiana and the West. 1111850, with a young baby, James Madison, they joined a caravan for Mobile. On the steamer Sallie Robinson they came up Red River to Black Lake and on through lake Bistineau to Minden to join other Loftins: Joel Jackson Loftin, William Taylor Loftin, who later returned to Georgia to live, lverson_Conee Loftin, and Eli Milton Loftin, who later moved to Grand Cane wad_. Logansport. In Minden William Dothan worked for the husband of another cousin, a man named Colbert. He was given a grant to 160 acres on Black Lake in Natchitoches Parish and began to clear land for a cabin. This is the Loftin homestead in Red River Parish.

When the lake was too low for steamers in the summer, he hauled drayage on the Campti-Sparta road. Quincy was not eager to leave the relatives in Minden, but before the second son was born, she was in her new home. His name was Joel lafayette, b. May 1, 1851. He was followed by a third son, William Washington, b. September 28, 1853. Missouri Ann Finetta was born October 14, 1855. The family and the property were growing. According to land records, WilliamDothan bought 165 acres for fifty cents an acre in November of 1855. In January 1860, he bought 83 more acres for fifty cents an acre. Prior to that purchase, Nancy Malinda was born May 18, 1857. They enjoyed the bountiful subsistance style of living of that era and were able to sell an overflow of honey, eggs, wild fruit and game, firewood and the use of the oxen to the traffic on the lake.

The War Between the States brought suffering to this family as it did to thousands of others. A new baby, Henry, was weak and did not survive his eighth year. The 1860 census gives the neighbors: John Morley, Isaac Elliot, Edward Dikes, Philip Collins, Solomon Chandler, Samuel Smith, Simon Holland, James Blackwell, J. W. McCasland, F. C. Taylor. As the war continued, the young men of these families joined the Minden Blues and left for war.

One of Isaac Elliot's sons died of measles at Camp Delhi. Another, J.M.T. "Jim" Elliot was captured with "The Queen of the West" Confederate steamer. Later he was paroled in 1863. William Dothan, over thirtyfive and with a large family, did not enlist until rumors of the Red River Campaign reached the lake. He had spent weeks away from home, driving horses and mules, perhaps to the battle of Corinth or to relieve the seige of Vicksburg. On November 11, 1863, William Dothan enlisted at Natchitoches as a private in Co.K, Consolidated Cresent Reg't., to Louisiana Infantry. One of his neighbors, John Thomas, served as a teamster in Company K. Two days after his enlistment, Saphronia Ann Quincy was born. The date was November 13, 1863.

By order of Major Caufield, William Dothan was detailed as a provost guard at Alexandria on February 14, 1864. It is not known how he spent the remainder of his time in the army. Surely he was near home. On September 18, 1864, Litha Ann Quincy died of pneumonia. Two of her friends were with her, Frankie Harris and Sarah Woodard. In 1865, the most helpful and nearest neighbor died: Winifred Elliot. Two households were without mothers. Many other households were without father and sons who did not return from the battlefield. John and Mary Ann Dupree lost two sons and three sons-in-law. Isaac married Mrs. Julian Sibley of Springville. William Dothan married Sarah Anne Elliot, one of Isaac's daughters. Elder John Dupree performed both the ceremonies.

Slowly the country recovered from the war. Lumbering began to boom again, the boys found work i logging and merchants moved their stores to Lake Village, which was closer to the Loftin farm. Lake Village boasted streets, a school, lodge, and doctor's office. After 1871 Red River Parish was formed and Coushatta became a seat of government. Lake Village merchants moved to Coushatta. William Dothan began a weekly routine - going to Coushatta for mail and news. Black Lake was far from Reconstruction, but things were exciting when Sheridan came riding through, stirring up the dust and scaring everybody out of town into the swamp. The army bought some horses from the farmers and played baseball with the locals. Baseball was the favorite game of the Loftin men. The local team called themselves the Hard Knocks.

During these years, a home was built better suited for the growing family. Years later, in 1906, Ellen wrote to her cousin Sallie in Alabama: "Cousin Sallie, you ask me about my home. We still live in the big house."

A strong link with Sparta and Ringgold was the New Providence Primitive Baptist Church. Established in 1850, this church was a tie to the old church in Alabama, Morgan Baptist Church. Rachal and Dorcas lived near Providence and attended the church until they moved on to Texas. The North Louisiana Association of Primitive Baptists continued to grow and at one time had a membership of seventeen churches. One of these was the Loftin Creek Primitive Baptist Church, established in 1882. It was built just across the creek from the big house. William D. Loftin, "Texas Billy" Thomas, Jim Jones, Sam Jones, Billy Huckaby, Jim Sledge, Grant Grayson, Henry Mobley, Joe Swanner, Ogg Webb, Joseph Huggins, R. S. Gardner, and W. S. Huckaby were leading members of the congregation. One preacher, Elder Jim White of Castor, was a great favorite. He preached for two hours, wiping his face with a red bandana and stamping the floor. Ogg Webb would hold up his big railroad watch and say, "I am sitting on a nail." This was the signal for the barbecue to begin. The church was the center of social activity for the large family. William Dothan spent much time going to conventions at other churches as a delegate.

A common expression in the family was, "We are a road full of folks, with some left at home." As the older children married and had children of their own, indeed the big house was always full.

James Madison, ^"Jim" m. Sarepta Elliot. Children: Benoni, m. Ola Martin; Henry Clarence, m. Ada Chandler; Emily Louella, m. Louis Raley; William Isaac, m. Lizzie Raley; Alice Delania, m. Lem Womack. Twins followed: Malinda m. Eli Adkins; Leonard m. Alma Gardner. Quincy an. Keet Fletcher.

Joel Lafayette married Elizabeth I!enp(ry Thomas, whom he met at New Providence. He died in 1893 of pneumonia. Their children were: Willis, who married Ardella Breedlove; Henry Clay, married to Roberta Rawls; Joseph Orie, married Minnie Cummings; Mary Edith, married Zack Underwood; Ira married Ethel Fletcher; and Joel Lamar, married Belva Harvey.

William Washington married Artimacy Amanda Dupree. Their offspring were: John Griffin, married Ida luckabay; Cornelia Cecil m. to Floyd Jones; William Ivy m. Minie McDowell; Francis Cornelius m. McCain; Edward Zebedee m. Amy Adcock; Ruth Zenobia m.

Will Brewer; Suzannah Artimacy m. Otis Bogan; RogerClyde m. Clara King; Reginald Oren m. Beulah Lee Nevels; Robert Thurman m. Bessie Mills. A later marriage to Laura Belle Huckabay produced three children: Alver Delphin Theron Franklin, and James Lester m. to Ruth Fletcher. William Washington moved to Delhi to become a cotton farmer.

Nancy Malinda Loftin also died young. She married Jim Sledge of Ringgold. Their children: William Dothan, Ben, Jessie, Collin (died young) and Charlie lived in the household of William Dothan and Annie until they were old enough to ^"work out". This might mean 10-12 years of age.

Missouri Ann Finetta m. Ogg Webb. Children who grew to adulthood were: Richard "Dick" Thomas, m. Essie Lee Hicks; Allen Tior, m. Minnie Rainwater; and Lela Alma, m. Walter M. Smith.

Sophronia Ann Quincy loftin m. Lennon W. Morgan. The children were Mary, who married Webb Pickett; Tommie who married Jim Giddings; and Maylon, who married Mabel Deaton. Maylon's twin, Ellen, married Roy Gibson; Nettie married John Booker; Nealie married Rufus Deaton; Shirley did not many; Zula married Cole Martin; Lennon married Ola.

The children of the second marriage to Sarah Ann Elliot, born in Jefferson County, South Carolina, daughter of Isaac Elliot and Winifred Rogers, were Mary Lousetta, Thomas Dothan, "Winnie" Winifred Ann Rachal, Telithy Rose Anna, "Lou" Lurany Dorcas, Thursey Ellen, Sarah Ann Elizabeth "Lizzie". The first and last, both boys, died in infancy.

Mary Lousetta m. Jeff Morgan. The children were Jeffy, William, Philip, Thelma, Ola, Laurie, Alvin, Ella Mae and Ara.

Thomas Dothan an. Kate Fowler. Children were: Frank, Posey, Ernest, Chloe, Carrie, Millie Delia; Ruby and Labrilia.

Winnie m. Tom Kennington. He had a son by a previous marriage, Louis. Their children were: Nancy, Lou, and Ellen.

Telithy Rose Ann m. Jessie Woodard. The children were: Clarise, Ophelia, Lizzie, Douglas, and Elsie.

Lurany Dorcas m. John Moreland. The children were: John Elvis and Lucille. Thursy Ellen an. George Huckabay. Children: Bertrand, Grover, Mattie, George, and Annie Lou. Sarah Ann Elizabeth, the youngest, was born Feb. 18, 1893. She m. Joe McWilliams. Children: Elwood, Irene, Neal, Azalee, Lorraine, Clevie Callen, and Joseph Vivian.

William D. more and more joined his neighbors in the affairs of the parish. His brother-in-law, J.M.T. Elliot, was sheriff for three terms. He went to the meeting of the Farmers' Union and the political rallies for Bryan and Sewell. Phil Collins, a neighbor with a small store and a deep water well, was a Federal Election Commissioner. The store was a good place to go on election day to "see who voted Republican." The expected mail from his family rarely came. He had lost all ties with his brothers. He did not know that his brother Robert Louis had died in October, 1900.

On Dec. 10, 1900, the seventy-five year old man made his usual trip to Coushatta. The wagon hit a stump, throwing him out and breaking his left leg. Dr. Edgerton came from Coushatta to set the bone. The patient made a contraption with which to pull up in bed and seemed to be recovering, but died suddenly on Dec. 24. Dr. Edgerton's report said death was due more to heart failure than to the injury. Indeed, he had noticed a frail body and weak heart on the previous trip. The patient had weighed only 120 lbs. for ten or more years past, constantly taking patent medicines for his lung ailment.

Annie Loftin survived her husband by 33 years. Her granddaughter Irene characterized her as "small, very quiet and shy, never putting herself forward." She left a description of life on the farm the year her husband died. "We cultivated last year, 1900, about fortyfive acres. We raised nine bales of cotton and about one hundred bushels of corn and about twenty bushels of potatoes. The market price of cotton was from $.07 to $.09 per pound, brought about three hundred and twenty-five dollars. We sold no corn; did not raise enough to do the farm this year, but its marketprice is $.50 a bushel. Potatoes worth $.25 a bushel is the only kind of crop raised on the farm. I will receive little income from the farm this year, will be about for 2 or 3 bales of cotton and 50 or 75 bushesl of corn:' H. J. Fowler, Justice of Peace, and L. W. Stephens, W. W. Loftin signed this affidavit on May 6, 1901.

The first Loftin family is buried in Holley Springs Cemetery. The Loftin family Bible has been treasured by the Ray Braswell family.

Material for this article provided by: Elder Hoyt Smith
on the Pritnitive Baptist Church; The Creasy
Genealogy of the Loftin Family; Copies of Loftin
papers in the National Archives, acquired by Mrs.
Margaret Loftin; DAR Genealogy by Mrs. Faye Grim‑
mer of Enterprise, Ala. Loftin papers in The Colonial
Records of North Carolina acquired by Alto Loftin
Jackson of Clio, Alabama; Interviews with relatives -
Henry Loftin, Irene Holley, Sybil Jackson, and Ellen
Huckabay. Compiled by Leola Hunter Loftin.

William Henry Loftin 350

William Henry Loftin is the third son of Henry Clay Loftin and Roberta Rawls Loftin. This couple reared four sons, L. J., Merce, Bill, and Philip. They lived and farmed over seventy years on their land in Martin. They have only recently died, she at age eightyseven, he at age ninety-eight. Henry Loftin loved all sports, and he passed this enthusiasm on to his sons. Baseball was the favorite. Many games were played in the community pastures, and on the school grounds. The most hated of all chores was milking cows.

After finishing high school, Bill was introduced to Normal College by his basketball coach, Wilmer Jackson. He and his cousin, Milton McGee, were soon students and playing varsity basketball. Knowing Coach Lee Prather greatly influenced Bill as a coach and public school teacher.

With a degree in Agriculture-Science, he started a career at Coushatta High School. Three years later he was inducted into the army and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was issued the clothes of a Jack Pershing in the Phillipines. Lacing those long boots took time. There were mules and horses in the corral. But changes came. The address changed to: Sgt. ETO, 6th Cavalry Recon. Sq. Mechanized, known as "Patton's Household Troops" under Colonel Fickett.

Discharged in 1947, he and his wife headed for LSU, earning degrees in vocational agriculture and library science. Thus began a long career as teacher, coach, and principal at Martin High School. They lived among the parents and friends of the school and consider the community a great place to rear a family. Their children are: Faye, William Charles, Richard, Nell, and John. They were students at Martin and attended church at Liberty, where their father is a deacon and serves as treasurer. Richard is the only one living in the parish.

During the summers, the family went to the University of Arkansas, where Bill earned a master's degree in Educational Administration. They spent enjoyable week-ends in the parks and scenic areas near the university. Arriving back home late one August night, with the washing machine in tow in a little trailer, Bill said, "I would not trade the whole state of Arkansas for this spot!"

In 1967 Coach Loftin was appointed assistant superintendent under Superintendent A. L. Sigler, a person whom he much admired. The following year, he was appointed Superintendent of Red River Parish Schools, where he served until he retired at age 65, in 1977. His wife retired at the same time. They now divide their time between fishing in Sibley Lake, gardening at home, traveling, playing with the eight grandchildren, and watching sports on TV. Happiness is having friends - former co-workers, students, relatives, and new people, to share retirement.

Submitted by Leola Loftin

William Ivy (Will) Loftin Family 351

Will Loftin was the third child of the ten children of William Washington and Artimacy (Missy) Dupree Lofton. He was born March 12, 1882 at the family home in the Clear Springs Community. He grew up on the farm consisting of several hundred acres. Cotton and corn were the principal crops, though oats, sugar cane and sorghum were grown along with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Since the acreage was large, they had lots of virgin timber which they cut into logs and hauled to their sawmill to be sawed into lumber. They also had a gin and gristmill which he helped operate. The pastures and farming land were fenced with rails which they split from pine trees. There were many other chores which he shared with family and hired hands. Besides farming there were horses, mules, hogs, and a large herd of cows to be cared for.

He attended school at the two-room Clear Springs School which his daddy helped build on land he had donated for a church and cemetery as well. They were not graded as today, but he received a fair learning. He was especially good with figures and was always able to help me solve the problems in Nicholson's Arithmetic and later helped Eula Lee shingle most of the houses in East Point.

At an early age, he moved to Squirrel Point Plantation, which his father owned on Red River. He farmed there several years before he married Minnie 01a McDowell. She was born February 28, 1886, the oldest of nine children of Robert Rufus and Margaret Holley McDowell. Being the oldest of a large family, she had many responsibilities. She did housework, milking, cooking, sewing, knitting and made quilts. She also knew how to spin thread and weave cloth. She was born, reared and attended school in the Holley Springs Community where her Grandfather Holley had given land for the school, church and cemetery. She did not finish high school, but helped us. She especially liked geography and history.

After they married February 7, 1904, they lived on and farmed land belonging to his father for two years before they moved to the Carroll Creek Community. I was born there June 28, 1906. They operated a small farm raising cotton as the money crop. He also had cows and worked in timber.

My sister, Eula Lee, was born December 30, 1913 and we moved from Red River Parish to Ninock in Bossier Parish in 1915. He overlooked Ninock Plantation eleven years. At that time it was a lively place during the summer. Besides the farming it was a Summer Resort where people came to relax, fish and swim. Mr. and Mrs. Marston, the owners, lived there and had a store and post office by their house on the lake. An old man, Uncle Bob Owen, kept them. There was also a pavilion where a band played for the dances. A swimming pool with diving boards was fenced and floored in the lake. There were six double cabins and boats to rent. One day Papa helped save a girl who was drowning. tie and a boy jumped in about the same time and pulled her out.

People did come practically every day during the summer and more on weekends. They came mostly by train and a Negro, named Leroy, met the train in a one horse cart to take their luggage, but the people walked the short distance.

There were no good roads or motels then. During the winter, people sometimes got stuck and spent the night with us. In the summer they just stopped and asked to stay. Once seven people stayed two or three days while their car was broken down. My parents always kept and fed them and never charged any of them.

During the winter our car stayed parked and our only transportation was by horse or train. There were four passenger trains daily. One went north and one south morning and night. When I was in the fourth grade, I rode the train to school in Coushatta. The train served as a school bus. I got on at Ninock, several at Crichton, more at Lenzbnrg and three or four at Carroll.

Twenty or more children rode the train daily. We all had ticket books bought at the depot in Crichton, which cost five dollars and lasted twenty days. The conductor tore the ticket out each day.

One year I rode a horse to a little school on the Page Plantation, which was about two miles the way we had to go. The mud was so deep the horses would get wet and muddy, so in the afternoon we rode through a bayou to wash them off. We then rode up the railroad to keep them clean.

We started to school at East Point when I was in the sixth grade and Eula Lee, my sister, was in the first. The first school bus to ever run to East Point School started that year and went for us three weeks. Our end of the road was not graveled, so when it rained they couldn't go. We then rode the train two years. During the winter, we never got home before dark and most times eight or nine o'clock. The latest we ever got home was one o'clock in the morning. We often sat in the depot without a light, but had heat by putting coal in a heater. There were two rooms to the depot and Negro men would gather at night in the other side to visit, laugh and talk. We were never afraid when they were there as we felt protected, and we really were. Papa always met us with a lantern light and he often carried Eula Lee. We lived around two hundred yards from the depot.

One year we walked a mile to meet a bus that went to the parish line as we lived a mile in Bossier Parish. The next three years we went in our car, just Eula Lee and I. There was still a short distance at Desarc where there was no gravel so we often stuck during rainy weather. If we stuck, we dug out, if we had a flat, we fixed it and went on to school. I finally finished in the first graduating class of the East Point High School on May 18, 1925. I then attended Louisiana State Normal College, now Northwestern State University and received my B. A. Degree in 1928. Not to have had to pay for my education I had a hard time getting it, but my parents were determined. I know they spent many hours worrying about us as we sat in the depot at night. I included these hardships to show the advantages children have today. Too, we carried our lunch in a bag and didn't suffer from it. The nearest church was six miles away. Services were held once a month and we attended when we could.

During that time about forty Negro families lived on Ninock. My family got up about 4:30 to 5 o'clock every morning. Papa soon rang the big plantation bell so everybody could hear and know it was time to get up. The lot man fed the mules early. Soon after daylight, they met at the barn to begin the day's work. They worked from sunup to sundown. In the winter we ate two meals by a light, but during the summer he rode by about five o'clock and ate supper. He rode his horse thousands of miles I'm sure, as he rode over all the place, which consisted of about two thousand acres, each day when the weather permitted.

Ninock, like most plantations at that time, had its own gin to gin just the cotton raised there. I think that was between four and six hundred bales. It was all produced by mules and plows and hand picked. The

first tractor the place had was bought about 1922-23 while he managed the place.

Some of the families rented, some worked on halves and some by the day. Before Christmas every year Mr. Marston and his daughter, Miss Frances, would come from Shreveport and settle for the year. Papa worked by the month but was paid once a year.

Every Saturday or every other Saturday afternoon my parents issued rations from a commissary. The rations were meal, flour, sugar, green coffee to be parched, lard which came in a big wooden barrel, dry salt meat, rice, syrup, salt, soda, baking powder, soap, snuff, tobacco and coal oil. This was also pay day for the week's work. I began to help when I^,was quite young. I cut the tobacco with the tobacco cutter and handed out the small items. Later I helped by weighing some things in advance. When I was older, I posted his books. I was careful to copy each item correctly and checked the figures to be sure they were correct. I was seven years older than Eula Lee so helped more.

We were invited to, and attended, the weddings on the place. They married on the porch and we stood in the yard. We never stayed for the reception but were always sent some of the wedding cake. We also went to the baptizings.

Mamma was a nice hand to sew and made most of our clothes. In the fall she made us about seven new dresses each for school. She also made nice quits, which she quilted. She was also a good cook and we always had good food and plenty of it. We ate lots of beef as one was killed every week during the summer. She raised lots of fryers and we always had chickens, eggs, milk, butter and a big garden of vegetables. Several hogs were killed each winter and we had hams, sausage and bacon. She preserved and dried fruits and vegetables.

Luberta Moss, a colored woman, milked for us twice a day. She also milked two of our cows for herself. In that way she got milk for her family. She taught me to milk and would let me help her, which I liked to do

at first. It didn't last long, I got tired and quit. I think she later taught Eula Lee how to milk too.

Papa had many responsibilities. Besides the preparation, planting, harvesting, ginning, labor, paying off and every upkeep of the place, he was responsible for the welfare of all the families. He saw that they had medical care when needed. He sometimes carried them food from our house. He always gave them a beef for the nineteenth of June which they observed. He replaced labor or a family when needed, but very few moves were made. Most all the families he fould there were still there when he left. He had no trouble during the eleven years he managed the place and they all thought a lot of "Mr. Will" and "Miss Minnie" as they were called.

We moved to East Point in 1926 and Eula Lee had a much easier time going to high school. She graduated in 1930 and attended Louisiana Tech two years before transferring to Northwestern State University. She received her B. A. Degree in 1935.

When we moved to East Point, there was no gas for heating and cooking. Papa and some other men living there bought and paid for the first gas line to be laid from Crichton. The gas company then put in meters and sold the gas.

He drove a school bus for several years and had the first bus to the school that had glass windows. Prior to then and long afterwards the buses had canvas curtains. Mr. Joe Woodward, a carpenter, built the body.

He also bought and sold cows and often helped people by letting them milk one of his cows. Mrs. R. H. (Miss Sug.) Moore told me many times how he helped her. She said when one cow quit giving milk, he would take her another as long as he lived. Mrs. Abbie McLelland told me he started a tradition by send^. ing her a dressed hog one Christmas. From then on she got one every year. The neighbors always felt free to call him if needed. I never knew them to have a fuss or feud with family or neighbor.

Church services were being held in the school auditorium when Rev. P. B. McCullen came as the pastor. He held a Revival and plans were soon made to build a new Methodist Church. Pledges and donations were made, but more funds were needed. Several men, including Papa signed a bank note for a loan and the Church was built in 1929. We were all charter members. Even then we didn't have services every Sunday, but twice a month.

My parents enjoyed the activities of the school and community. Mamma belonged to a very active P.T.A. of the school and helped in the fund raising drives. She once helped raise a mile of dimes some of which were used to landscape the schoolyard. They attended the programs, rallies, track meets and ballgames. They always went to the State Fair and circus. He liked to hunt and they both enjoyed fishing.

Mamma died June 1, 1930. Papa continued to live in East Point and married Miss Emily Smith in September 1932. She was born January 22, 1881, the daughter of John A. Smith, who was an early settler of the parish. I don't know who her mother was, but her stepmother was Alice T. Smith. They only had a few years together before Papa died April 8, 1938. He and Mamma are buried in Holley Springs Cemetery. Miss Emily moved to Coushatta after his death, and lived there until she died February 9, 1952. She is buried in Armistead Chapel Cemetery.

Eula Lee married Walter Malone Brown, son of
1. Ernest Brown and Susie Mae Hunter, whose families
were prominent early settlers. They had two children.
1. Mena Claire born May 1, 1935 grew up in
Coushatta, graduated from Coushatta High School and
a business college. She married C. J. (Scrap) Smith May
8,1954 and they live in Morgan City, La. They have five
children. Steven Ashley, born March 28, 1955,
graduated from Martin High School, married Cindy
Ray Presson and lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Cynthia Brown, born April 20, 1957, graduated from
Fairview Alpha High School, married Phillip McLaren

and they have two daughters: Tonni Lisa, born January 14, 1984 and Cassie Breann, born April 13, 1985. They live in Red River Parish. Lisa Charlene born February

2, 1960, attended Nicholls State University two years before transferring to Northwestern State University where she is now a Junior. Jonna Claire, born November 27, 1962, married Greg Dupree and they live in Martin. They have one son, Greggory Colt, born April 16, 1983. Charlie J., born February 18, 1967, lives in Oklahoma City.

2. Stanley Malone Brown born January 17, 1942, graduated from Coushatta High School in 1959. He attended Baylor University, Texas A&M and Northeast University. He married Linda Cecilia and had one son, Stanley Malone, Jr., born January, 1968.

Eula Lee taught in Martin High School, Coushatta High and Coushatta Elementary from 1938-1960 when they moved to Morgan City, La. She taught in M. E. Norman Elementary School there until she died December 21, 1966. She is buried in Springville Cemetery.

I married Sam Henry Stephens August 8, 1934. His parents were Samuel N. Stephens and Ollie Jane Allums, who were some of the very early settlers of the parish. Sam had one son Reed Smith born July 11, 1927 by a previous marriage. Reed graduated from East Point High School in 1944 and McNeese State University in 1954. He taught and coached in Oberlin High School and McNeese. He was Director of State School Transportation four years and with Calcasieu Sheriff's Department when he died March 18, 1974. He married Anna Guillott and they are buried in Highland Memory Gardens, Lake Charles. They had no children.

We had two children:

1. William Loftin (Bill) born November 14, 1941. He graduated from Coushatta High School in 1959 and attended McNeese State. He married Roberta Lucy July

3, 1965 and they had one son, William Shane, born

2, I taught from 1928-1970, a total of thirty-nine and one half years before retiring in 1970. I taught in East Point, Coushatta High and Coushatta Elementary. For fifteen years I substituted some each year in Riverdale Academy at East Point.

3, Sam died October 4, 1979 and is buried in Springville Cemetery. Since then I have lived alone in East Point.

4, I know Eula Lee would share my wonderful memories of our parents who left us a great heritage of love, honesty and integrity. They were noble people.