The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-09-24
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST

We shall offer no apology for these '
brief and imperfect recollectlons OF
characters who were prominent IN
social and public life, in this com
munitv. the most of whom had pass
ed from the stage of action before
the present generation were born
Such "reminiscences, however in
complete, may enable their few sur
wing contemporaries to recall some
things worthy of remembrance, and
which it will afford US pleasure to
perpetuate, so far as it is possible, in
the columns Of newspaper. Our
object, in the main, is to awaken the
slumbering memories Of the past,
and to revive some recollections OF
men and things, which, in their time,
were prominent.
More than eighty years ago, there
lived, on Bayou Rapides, near La
mothe's Bridge, on the right des
cending bank, farmer of the old
Virginia type, whose thrift and sue
cess in diversified agriculture might
, stand, even in this day of progress,
as model. Notwithstanding the
almost unappreciable improvements
e in the implements and appliances Of
e modern agriculture, 1t is a lamenta'
4 BILE fact that the farmer in those
: primitive times, enjoyed, in a great
. err degree, perhaps, than the planter
: of the present day, those comforts
T. and accessories which render rural
8 life so charming and attractive
k. This old farmer raised his own ap-
e. pies and made his own cider; al
e though he grew his own coffee, he
}. yet managed to make sugar and mo-
~ lasses. Indigo and cotton formed
10 part of his harvests; he raised wheat,
9 and milled his grain into -four; his
ID peaches yielded the finest brandy;
10 his spindles and his looms the best
;, of cottonades. At the present day
no who pretends to do the like--with
y, the same soil, the same climate, ano
r. the same seasons?
- There are few now living who viii
no be able to recognize in this brle
- mention, Levi Wells, the ancesto
- from whom is descended posterlty
ho direct and collateral, which numbers
ma the largest voting list in the Parish
~ Ennemond Meulllon, an old Frenc
nd settler, occupied prominent pos
nd ton in the early days of this Parish
He was an official under the Frenc
ID regime in Louisiana;-his seal, wit
NO crest and motto, should be in th
Tho hands of some of his descendants,
mt this time.
no Judge William Miller married
do daughter of NJ. Meullion; the Juds
inn settled as a planter in this Paris
his plantation being the place kno"
> if as the "Brown Beatty" place, TO
49, miles from Alexandria. About Il
- year 1920 he removed to Philad'
nd phia, where be remained for mar
49, years; finally he went to Cincinns
49, some of his family still living
MIC that place.
oil Though not among the earle
CO. settlers of the country, Anthony G
oil Wit merits q passing notice. frt
him have descended most of tho
~, who bear that name among US. |
w Gle Anthony, as he was familia
and called by his intimate acquaintanc
nor was jolly old soul, ready at d
,o;o ment's notice, for any emergency,
. ~, hesitated not to accept fight o.
,ors foot race, just as the offer might
ond made. With this jovial, rollicki
- - disposition, was it strange to find
- sociated rotations deep and stro'
uass Certainly not-and this fact mi
49, have allowed to slumber undistur
/ ,, in the grave with him, but that
-o., mention serves to point a moral
49,, the history of the man. After ye
,sh;n of indulgence in this suicidal fo
skea he suddenly resolved to taste the
ar ebriating draught no more. "Boy
aated said he one day, when invited
,,;on press the tempting cup to his
.;.h ~ am done, I'll never touch ano'
49,. drop" Father Matthew had NJ
.ho;u been heard of--temperance socie
, were in conabulo, and with no o.
49,, force than his own iron will, he
umphed. Hercules had throt
the lion, and the moral monster
at his feet as dead as monume
NF f.Y g RI