The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-05-30
SHREVEPORT FoRTY-NINE YEARS AGO.


In looking over the files OF the "Caddo
Gazette, Junior" of forty mine years ago,
the recollections of Shreveport OF those
DAYS seems like dream. At that time the
town had about $500 inhabitants, and there
are very few of these now living. Even
the bows of those days have grown Old and
gray, and but few of them remain. From
the files of this little paper, aided by our
memory, we see in the dim past the little
town of Shreveport, and in recalling the
faces of those days, we are reminded OF
the swift flight of time-of events SO long
ago, yet so near, apparently.
The sCaddo Gazette, Junior which
brings up the past, and the recollection OF
faces that are no more on earth, is small
sheet not quite half the size OF one page OF
the g Bossier Banner" It was printed in
the 'Caddo Gazette" office, by W. Il.
Scanland (present editor of the "Bossier
Banner") and J. M. Scanland (now OF Los
Angeles, California; who were at that time
apprentices in the Gazette - office. The
work was done at odd hours, after the
regular work of the day was finished. The
first issue appeared on February 81, 1853,
and the last number was issued on August
Is, 1853 These few numbers contain
much interesting history of Shreveport at
that time.
The "Gazette" office was upstairs in a
two-story brick building on the south side
of Texas Street, near the levee.
At that time there was only two other
papers in Shreveport, the "Gazette and
the South Western" The" Democrat, !"
printed by DR.. Matthew Estes, had recently
suspended, and the ''Caddo News" edited
by Leon D. Marks, had also stopped pub
ication
The Office of the "South- Western !" was
on the southwestern corner of Texas and
Edwards Streets, in one-story frame
building. 1t was printed every Wednesday
by L. billiard, and his sons, William and
Thomas billiard. The office of the "Dem-
ocrat" was few doors above, on the same
side of the street. It's former Office was
upstairs, over the cigar store of A. Engle,
two doors east of the northeast corner OF
Texas and Market Streets.
The office of the "Caddo News" was in
one STORY brick house on the north side
of Texas Street, about midway between
Market and Edwards Streets. The re-
mainder of the block extending to Market
was vacant The "Caddo News" was
edited by Leon D. Marks, one of the most
talented lawyers of Shreveport, assisted
by John d. Ashton. 1t was started during
the campaign of 1856 as regular Demo-
cratic organ, and supported Buchanan and
Breckenridge for President and Vice Pres
ident. Mr.. Marks was elected Second
Lieutenant of the Shreveport Grays,'
which left that city on April Is, 1861
Later, he became Colonel of the 10Th Lou
isiana Regiment, and was wounded al
Vicksburg, from the effects of which he
died. Samuel F. Marks, an uncle of l.
D. Marks, was the Democratic nominee fol
State Auditor in 1866. He was elected anc
served during the administration of Gov
Wickliffe. In 1861 he was elected Colone
of the 18th Louisiana, regiment that dis.
tinguished itself for gallantry when Grant
was repulsed at Belmont.
Mr.. Enoch Mason, one of the earliest
typos of Shreveport, was connected with
the Democrat from its earliest days
and was also an editorial writer on tina
paper. Later, he became connected with
the "South- WESTERN as editorial writer
A few years before the beginning OF thu
war, he laid down the editorial quill, ane
took the position of Captain of the mag
nificent Red River steamer, ."Lucy P
.Holcombe." The boat took it's name from
Miss Holcombe, the belle of Marshall
Taxas. Captain Mason entered the Con
federate service, and became colonel of ,
Louisiana Regiment of Infantry. He wa
a brother law of Col. J. B. Gilmore
who opened a gun-smith store on Texa.
Street. and became Colonel of the famous
Third Louisiana Regiment.
The 'sCaddo Gazette, Junior" prosperet
for six months, was we'll received by tn,
people, and had good advertising patron
age.
At this time, forty nine years ago, Their,
were but few brick buildings in Shreveport
The buildings on both sides of Texas
Street, with few exceptions, were frame
and there were large vacant spaces between
some of these. At the junction of Texas
and Market Streets on the north side anf