Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-03-26

and "vlllege,' (now Jackson par
ish,) east. Bnt that Winter, or
next year, Mr.-Allcn, Daniel
Moore, VIM. Grydcr. Newton Drew,
and others. settled in the country
about "Flat Lick" Small Creck,)
subsequently, called ALIENS Settle.
mpnt" Post office. They were AEON
followed by others, whose families
are still here.
The country was beautiful, pleas.
ant. healthy; no under. bush as now.
The Summer grass grew tall and as /
fine as conld be wished; wild Se .
and peas were plenty in the valleys, /
and high corn waved npon the
banks of every little stream. Ticks
and snakes were plenty, hut mos |
Quitoes were not heard. Game were
never more plentiful and astOnish'
ingly tame. The black bear, deer,
wild turkeys, land in Winter) water.
fowls, were plenty, hanted and kill
cd at will. and were almost the only
means of support. until domestic
animals were procured. The Amer.
lean panther, black wolves, Wild
cats, foxes and raccoons, were very
plentiful, also troublesome to stock.
/ Offers, and some beavers, were
found. and hunted for their fnrs.
Bnt not n mink nor weaSle was
ever seen in North Louisiana until
since the war in 1865. The black
raven. then so plentiful, is no more
seen; and the Ivory.bill wood cock
has ceased his raids upon the dead
trees of the newly. made farm.
Mocking.hirds were never heard nm
I'll long after the settlement of the
country; fish were plentiful, and
uuails increase,i; q bale of 40 pound
cotton to the acre. and thirty bush.
els of corn to the acre, was common.
PHYSICIANS were not known, as the
country was too healthy tn need
practitioner.
In ,hc Fall of 1918. John Mnrrrll
lost one of his little boys, which was
the first burial among the civilized.
On March 10Th, 1919. his son Isaac
Murrell, was born, which WAS the
. first birth, also. in Natchitochrs
t parish. north of Camptc. The old
est grave yard in the Territory is at
: John Murrelrs old plantation, and
I the first burial there was Fred. WI
!. lire. ST.. about lS22.
I The first country school was
I Taught by James Ashbnrnrr Comfy;
aud the first trading establishment
I or store belonged to Hopkins, and
: was kept by Fashier, who sold ou
t and ran of with his employers
+ money. in about 1923. Choctav
y Indians were plenty and very friend
=. lv. The first Church was hnilt by
the Baptist. near Flat Lick; but The
q houses OF Newt. Drew AZ Overton
r John Murrel's at his plantation
Il WIN. Gryders, near Dykes mills
Il Mr.. Nelson's, near Athens, and Pete
Franks, near Brushy Valley, were
:, used rs Churches, long before AN
Is were bniit. believe JAS. BrinS"t
+ was the first Pastor, and Arthn
II Mcfarland, who lives M Athens
\. was his successor.
ii known, until about 1S26, when i
< McCrady built gin house am
Is press. at his store, ~ Flat Eicl
h. Soon after this, another WAS hun
4 by Russell Jones, ST.; and ihir
10 hy john Murrrll. II we could mo-
see our original gins, they wonl
of appear odd, indeed. The gin saw
Nv plates were forged ont in bIacl
Is, smith shop; also, the CRATES. cyll'
ders, etc; the teeth were cut u
ID 'shop.made7 machinery, and put
is. the cylinders in halfcircles. ] snl
he pose bale a day was about all OF
III, could gin. The press had Nv
cy screws, and, operating, had to
ed turned round. then pass to the OF
Is, er screws aud turned half round
ITS using the same screws and par
is. oxen.
nd Previous to the creation OF Cit
I'll. borne out of this portion OF Natct
toches parish, marriages were new
mt celebrated in the country, owing
I'M the Inconvenience of obtaining
rd. cense, Parties desireing to MARI
he simply obtained the services OF
ms minister. procured horses, siru'
nd out upon tue first path that j.
~. across the Arkansas territorial IN
ed for there were no pnbllc roa
hi and no other conveyahces. On
nto irving at the first convenient log
~. dismountlng, til. party halted, I
az couple joined HANDS, the mlnlst
fol. read the marriage ceremony, sign
at, q certificate of the facts, and ~
fe. hem on their return home r4uiciI
ION Tho sptflpmputs being about tWet