Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-11-07


Judge S. L. Elan, after whom the
craft was named, was born on Little Riv-
er, in Catahoula parish, and was present
at the marriage of the father and mother
of Captains w NJ, II. NJ. and E. q.
Carter. Before the Civil War he went
to the schools on Little River and was
opposed to secession, but in Febru-
airy, 1862, Joined the Confederate Army
at the age of is years; was member of
the Catahoula Battalion, which was dis
banded, and the company then became
part OF the Thirty-first Louisiana Regi-
ment. He served in this regiment until
the end OF the war and was discharged nj
Alexandria, La, where he was on detail
service; the regiment was near Mansfield.
La, at the time. During the time the
command was at Jackson, Miss, he was
detailed on the passenger trains between
Jackson and Brookhaven to see that all
passengers had permission of the govern
ment to travel, and performed this SER
vice for some time. When the regiment
was at Vicksburg, General Pember;on re-
quested General Stevenson, commander
OF the Vicksburg army, to get 200 men
OF his command to volunteer TO go-on
what was called cofton-clad gunboat by
fitting up steamboat.
The Mary L. Keene, which was in the
New Orleans and Vicksburg trade before
the war, was made such boat and the
200 men, he being one of them, were
shipped on the Keene. They we're on her
in the Yazoo River for some time under
Captain Brown and went up the river
to Fort Pemberton, which extended from
this river to the Tallahatchie River. in
which the Federal gunboats were near
the fort, but there was no fighting by the
boats. There being no further service for
the Keene, the 200 men were sent back
to their commands. After this he was in
the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Port
Gibson and Big Black and IN the siege
OF Vicksburg, where the Confederate
Army surrendered, was paroled and
ordered to go into patrol camp at Enter
prise, Miss. There were only three of
the company who obeyed the order, the
captain, the first lieutenant and he. The
balance went to their homes after General
Grant discharged the my outside Of his
lines. After they arrived the trio were
fnrloughed and he went to Livingston.
Ala, TO visit his uncle. Col. ]. c. GiHes-
pie, where he stayed for two months and
then went to his home in Catahoula par
ish. After the war he was on the river
for about fourteen months, and his broth /
er-in-law, Judge W. b. Spencer, advised
him to quit the river and prepare him.
self for the study of law, which he did
by going to Centenary College After he
left the college he began the study of the
Louisiana law at Natchez. Miss under
Judge Spencer. During his stay at Nat
chez he was deputy clerk OF the Concor-
dia courts, and from Natchez he went to
the Law School in New Orleans. He was
under the tutorship Of Judge John b.
Cotton, graduated at the first session in /
in 1870 and then located at Winnsboro.
La, where he married Miss A. G. Haw-
thorne, daughter of Col, A. Hawthorne,
and was district attorney for the courts
Of Franklin parish. He resided at Winns-
Doro for three years, then moved 10 Har-
risonburg, La, where he lived for ten
years. While residing at Harrisonburg he
was member Of the Constitutional Con-
Sention of 1879, as the representative Of
Jatahoula parish, and was the district
Judge OF the Seventh District Court
or four years. He moved to st. Joseph,
Ia, and remained there three years, and
rom there came to Natchez, Miss, where
ne has since resided, having law Office
n Vidalia, La, and has constantly prac-
iced law since his graduation, except the
line he was judge Of the court.
Judge Elan, who is taking great deal
u interest in his namesake. is expected
o conn. down from his home to make
he maiden trip ON her.