St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-12-02
CONVICTION YEARS AGO.
(By J. M. Tate.)

A grand old man of St. Tammany
parish was Alfred Hennen, who
bought a large tract Of pine wood
land and built his famous Retreat"
A home for his family and summer
resort, when from his arduous law
duties in the city of New Orleans,
he could come and snuff the pure
air. Having some eight or ten
slaves. he cleared away the pines
and beautiful oaks took their place.
Fields were fenced in and cultivated
by the negroes. BY the commence
ment of the Civil war the negroes nao
increased to over 100. AS the land
was poor they did not make enough
to feed and clothe themselves.
This made the Retreat" an exren-
sive luxury. But Mr.. Hennen loved
his old home and did not care Tor
the expense. Mr.. Hennen served on
Gen. Jaclson's staff at the battle OF
New Orleans. He was a pioneer OF
Professionalism and one of the found
ers of the FIRST Presbyterian Church
on Lafayette Square, and served as
elder in that church till his death
in 1870.
Mr.. Hcnnen had five cons and
eight daughters. Four Of the
daughters are still living. Mrs. j.
A. Morris and Mrs. Eva Hennen are
two of the daughters now living.
Dawson Hennen, one of the sons,
| was the author of Digest OF the
| laws of the State of Louisiana. D.
In Hennen was q highly reputed
| lawyer Of this State and practised
law with his father.
| Sylvester Larned had entered his
senior year at Princeton University
| and was about to take tho highest
hcnors there when he was snatched
away by death in 1855. His class
mates to attest their love for him
erected a monument to his memory
He attended Mr. Halls school in Gov
ington in 1852, where he won the
esteem of all.
| After Mr.. Hennen's death Mrs
Hennen, seeing she was not able tt
keep up the Retreat" decided II
Jointly to Mr.. and Mrs. John A
Morris. Mr.. Morris spent grea,
deal of money improving the place
A park of miles in extent was fenced
in English deer, pheasants and othe1
game introduced. A casino ant
various cottages were built. Thu
The place was made attractive b,
many house parties in The winter
1t was kept as game preserve un
til Mr.. Morris death in 1895. Mrs
Morris and sons still own the prop
erty, but within a few years law
less ele rent in the shape of poacher
has come in and the terrible TRACED.
of Mr. Jordan's murder, the good
iinoffensive game keeper who wa
killed in the most cowardly manner
has SO disguised Mr.. Alfred H. Nor
ris that he has never returned to tn
Retreat" since, now over two years
The fences are now down and tn
game preserve thing of tho past.
There is not in our country NOR
noted family. Most of them livfnl
to a ripe old age. Mrs. Dawson liv
ed to be about 80 and Mrs. Hennel
near the same.
/ remember just after the clos
Of the Civil war Mr.. Hennen was at
tending court in Covington, accom-
panied by his wife and mother-in
law, Mrs. Dawson. AS was thei
custom when in Covington the
; would call to see my grandmothel
| Mrs. Cathrine Mcneil. Mrs. HcIne
! asked my grandr" other how old sh
was, she replied SO. Mrs. Henne
remarked, "jus. 10 years older tina
my mother" Mrs. Dawson, wit
aer usual wit replied, ooh dear, this
) would make me S3. am only 81
!, 50 my dear"