davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-13
FRIENDS OF KAISER"
Methodist Preacher in Washington
DcnOunccs LaFollette in Sermon.

Senator La Toilette land his pacifist
colleagues in congress- as friends of
the kaiser" Rev. d. H. Martin. pastor
of Wesley NJ. Z. church declared
them unfit to hold seats il congress-
the pastors sermon was On The
Friends of the Kaiser in America"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-13
SNAP SHOTS
AT HOME NEWS

The Blessed Damosel-
OF fighting the II. e. of l.,
There now Is little need.
Because the Kansas damosel
Is canning tumbleweedi
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-13
New York, Aug. H.

New York stock Market.
FURNISHED by the Topeka Board of Trade
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24

Bayeu sara Lodge No 50. Independ
eut order Of Odd Fellows has occupied
au important place In frateraal and
civic affairs of 81 Fraaeisvtlle and
Bayou Saradnriug the fofty,three years
OF its existence. The teachings and
principles Of Odd Fellowship have been
strictly adhered to. bat even beyond
this the local branch OF the order has
made it's impress upon tho affairs of
the community particularly Ia social
life and the different charities which
are part aud parcel Of q small town
This lodge made a very modest be.
ginning bul SIX men signing the char.
ter roll They we're. Peter Fischer.
Jacob F. Meyer, Lazard We'll. Adam
DcckIer Bernard searcy. aud Jacob
Michel.
While none 81 the charter members
survives, there ara number of those
who have maintained continuous mem
bership for twenty-five years or longer
and are entitled To the distinction Of
veterans Ia the order They are T ".
Raynham. 80 years. J. r. Davidson "a
years, Chas Weydert a years George
Baief, ~ years I'D Jemey Is years.
VIM Town. Is years. 4, W. Ard, Is
years Rudolf Yunkes. - years.
This lodge enjoys the distinction of
having furnished two Grand Masters,
the late A filleret aud Dr 4. r Barrow
each having attained that henor Both
represented the Grand Lodge Of Louis,
lana In the Sovereign Grand Lodge
and both served on the Board Of Man.
ayers OF the Home, at Crowley
Local Odd Fellows have kept
watchtul eye over the treasury, and
have conserved their resources. Not.
wilhstandtRg the fact that no worthy
appeal for help has gone unanswered,
they provided for the preyefbIal rainy
day They own their own brick lodge
building In Bayou Sara, have loaned
$500 on real estate. have small
amount of stock In tho Mutual Build
Ing 4 Loan Association, and have q
cash balance In the bank OF over $500.
Their cash reserve was greatly i'm.
paired In the failure OF the FeIiciana
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24

be Vas LEFT 8H orphan without single
relative h mother, brother aud two
sisters having bean stricken IN the
yellow fever epidemic 81 1853 at ST
francisSille while cn route ta OuaChta
parish 1has al ten years he was com
PEELED to shift for himself
lie presently came back to this
parish and lived here until the opening
of hustIJliHs between the states, when
he went 10 natoh Rouge and enlisted
rs priHatw la the tsatun Rouge Fenct.
bles, afterwards officially known as
Go II Eth ftcgt. la Volunteers lie
Was tn much of the hardest fighting Of
the var, being In Jackson corps at
The North rH Army Of Virginia He was
at Go'tysbHrg and happily lived to
return To- the scene of this conflict upon
the occasion of It's fifticth anniversary
l.tfi HaunIsss and without friends
at the surrender at APPROXIMATION Mr.
nrtaHt set t1 work and Ia the course of
twO years returned TO ~ FraueisytEie,
where be Sill resides he vas mar.
rIed OCfub r i5. 1865. tu Miss Josephine
C. Tcmpri Nr md Mrs. Rriant have
three dauEh Mr. divide Leonard,
Mfe George Rritlg and Mrs 4 =
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
Bayou Sara Lodge No. SO
INDEPENDENT ORDER or ODD FELLOWS

Bank a Trust 60. their losses in thai
concern appearing 10 date In excess
of Siipp. though this may b" slight,
reduced During It's existence tbIs
lodge has expended s6.33255 for rclieI
Of It's members
During the fortYthrpr years of rs
existence this lodge has had only ltl
initiates lis present membership is A.
+ Deaths. transfers 90 other lodges gN
pulsious and suspensions account for
the other ss Allowing for the number
of deaths and transfers which must
have taken place la this nearly half q
century il will be- seen that the loss OF
members by way Of the back door hag
been comparatively small, probably 0u
account OF the close surveillance nn
the front door.
The present officers are ] n Bell.
\ g.. J A. Ard, Y O., 6 l.. Pletiineor
secretary. ! Il Matthews. treasurer.
II ] Daniel H. :. \ g.. H. c Bras,
seauX. t. 8 n g.. Il. Yunkes. warden
r. G spohn. conductor. =. c. Cobb.
II = y. Jas. Roth. L. 4 4, joe Rosen-
thai l. e., A. + Barrow, chaplain,
u ". Levy. Il. =. '. e., 7. ] Ard.
l. :. Y. G.
The complete roster follows d. 7.
Adams, 4 " Ard, } 4. Ard. T, J, Ard,
NJ Alexander. Chas Argue, Geo Baef,
T. NJ iiriau, A f Barrow. ] N Bell,
Il { BfasseauN, Fred Rauman, Arthur
Busehel II Clack. ] II CIack Jr.
ikc CHtfcf. = & Cobb. II ! Daniel
j Il Davidson. G e Delsnagef, 4. NJ
FishbuTn. Chas Gottlab. rs GRADER
= o Hamilton FL Jemepson, Il. "
Leake. y W levy, Il Matthews,
ben Mann. Chris Metz. g. l. Plettingor
c. r. Pace, T " Raynham, Joe N
Rosenthal, las Roth, Geo Stern, + e.
spohn. n spllmau, Mex Smith, VIM.
Town, Chas Weydert, Geo. Wilcox
Chas. Whitaker. Rudolf Yunkes. Max
sehaeffer Past Grands, %. Past Grand
Master |
Many Of THESE names may appear
unfamiliar 10 some OF our readers. but
In this az In other local fraternlties,
many OF those who remove TO other
localities leave their lodge membership
behind as a sort of anchor 10 bind
them 30 West Felieiana
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
J. +. Butler

james Butlrr youngest sou Of
fudge Thomas and Mrs Mary Fort
butler is a scion of one of the oldest
families In the parish, bat ignoring
planting as the only landed business
has gone into ali active industry for
himself The fact that Mfr Butler II
making success speaks yell for his
business aeumcn and also for an ia
lHsiry faf which West FeIieiaHa Parish
Is peculiarly adapted For more than
tvo years Mr. Butler has been engaged
In the dairy business his place being
known az West Rdg, Dairy His
pioneer work vas veil directed. aud
he Is nov enjoy Ing some Of the traits
OF his Industry
West Ridge IL a thirtrcoa dairy and
the herd Is composed OF hlgbgrada
Jerseys which are found we'll suited 80
dairy needs Ia this section Daily
shipments Of sweet milk, averaging
titE gallons, are made 20 New Orleans
The dairy buildings ara constructed
along modern lines and are kept in a
sanitary condition nj all times They
are visited At intervals by an inspector
from the State BOARD Of Health aud
have never failed TO pass muster All
floors ere made OF concrete and are
washed daily from water furnished by
the daIrys plant The gasoline engine
forms a part Of the equipment Of this
dairy. furnishing power for pumping
water grinding feed and cutting en-.
sllaEp for the ieh-tnp silo Feed used
m the dairy Ia grown on the 2goacre
tract on which the dairy stands. Mr.
Butler states thai bis silo will contain
enough feed to last thirty COWS for six
months EusilaEe and lespedeaa hay
are fed regularly but when il Is de-
sired to use a more concentrated food,
corn meal and ground velvet beans
are used
II more Of our young men we're TO
follow MIR Buffers example aud start
Ia business at home Instead of rushing
off after the elusive lands Of promise
they would come nearer realizing their
dreams ~ well as helping to build up
one OF the fairest sections OF the South
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24

Joseph advised the king that the
thing to do during the seven years OF
plenty was tn provide for the seven
lean years sure 10 follow Just as In
old Egypt plenty Ras followed by
scarcity Ro can We look for its FepetI
ton here The man who realizes this
Will utilize the abundance caused by
the present good prices for farm
products by putting himself Ia shape
the better t0 Withstand che lean years.
The onecrop system has been tried
faithfully aud found wanting just when
things are most needed SO the wise
man Will not let the present high price
Of cotton wean him from planting a
diversity of crops not only the coming
year but always He who does this
perssstently is the always prosperous
farmer she plunger In any one crop
IN the man who one year Ia upon the
heights and the next at the bottom Of
the abyss The Progressive Farmer
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
I. II. LawraSOn

/ Another young West FeIiclanian sho
has chosen to remain on hts native
heath instead Of giving some other
community the benefit of his progress.
sIgo spirii Is Thomas Butler LaRFason.
son OF Judge aud Mrs S. Nice lawra.
son. Mr. l.awrason, after taking an
agricultural course at the Louisiana
State University took charge 81 Glover
I'm plantation The old family home,
and Is doing nicely IN general farming.
trucking aud dalryine
Nr LaWraFoH II operating q thirty
COW dairy aud finds the shipping Of
milk TO New Orleans u profitable iH.
duairy Ills herd is composed of high.
grade Jerseys aud hr Is taking steps 20
enlarge Il 20 double the present mum
Der Of COWS A f1y-top oyorgrouud sllo
forms a part Of the equipment Of this
dairy So we'll pleased Is Mr. Iawrssou
With eHsilago as a dairy feed that he
is Row putting Ia a much larger under.
ground silo Besides cnsilage. sweet
potatoes turnips, Icspedeza and pea
vine hay, ootton.seod meal and ground
velvet and soy beans are used for feed
ia this dairy
Poland China and Berkshire hogs are
raised on Glover flill In summer they
are kept oB bermuda pasture and are
topped of for the market with corn.
sweet potatoes and soy beans
Mr. Lawrason realizes the folly Of
Southern planters ~ having to import
their Work stock aud has started In on
raising his own mules
Mr. LaWrasoHs farming operations
are carried on In a thoroughly business,
like manner and hts early years LEA this
line give every promise that his career
Viii be- successful He Is itnhued With
the spirit Of progress aud every move
for the public good meets with his
hearty cooperation and assistance. His
career as farmer is good endorse
menl Of scientific agricultural methods
as he puts into practice the theories
Of the most advanced students OF
agronomy
West Feiiciana would be- much better
of If more of her young men would go
TO work at home as Butler Iawrason
has done.
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
A SECOND HEAVEN.

\ visitor .a H.aseg Has being shown
aruaud bg saint Potter After he had
made q circuit and admired the streets
Of gold and tha singing birds. and the
beautiful flowers and Wis about TO 20
oat tho gate again. he Noticed a group
Of men ever in the corner tied together
looking very dlscausolate.
WHY Hho are those men over
there he asked Saint Peter IN sur.
prise
oh said Saint Peter. those
Those are West FclIcianians.
Bat what are thcy chained TAP for9"
asked the visitor
w have to keep them tied us, E"
said Saint Peter. If We didn't. they'd
all ga right back
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
4. B. Rriant

st fraucisylIlr is oue Of the few
towns that ha- 9 Confederate Veteran
for mayor II was nut tbc fact that
be- was an old soldier which led The
people of ~ FfaHrlsgiie To- honor
\. u BraHt but rather for the reason
that hr had lod au exemplary life In
the tonu and parish for 8 Ions term of
years during which time be has been
aligned nifh every movement tending
70 'hr tsff.rmnnt OF ciHic conditions.
Mayor HrtaHts record as citizen
prove ,o#olp=5Hrlf ti5af the average
selimyda maH does sell be the making.
for he Is e snrmadr man tie was
born At N.Juka Ala April 1 1872
His father died when the suu was but
soften years Of pgc. Al the age oi ten
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
Max Dampf

Max nampf Of Laurel Hill Is one Of
the parishs WIdraNake. progressive
business men, with a broad view of
life which makes him a valued member
Of society Naturally Of a retiring dis.
position II takes close acquaintance 20
bring many of his better Characters.
ties to yieN, though friend aud stranger
alike are treated with the utmost
courtcgy ard an may depend upon 70.
cclvng a square deal
Mr. Dampf WIS born la Nordsletlen.
NHrtombrrg. Germany iH The BLACK
Forest ue came TO America when a
small bay and lived for two years n
Ohio Tho lart thirty three years he
has spent ia Wilkinson County. Miss,
and ~ Laurel iiIli f.a tie is engaged
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24

In the mercantile business, and keeps
a stock of goods much better than that
found In The average country store. lie
ts not q calamily.hoNler and frankly
saws that If hls next years business
proves as good as last years he will
be- satisfied
Mr. DaHBf married early Ia life aud
he and Mrs Dampf have reared a
family OF three children. Jake. the
eldest. and only son. has gone into
business for himself at Brothers Sta.
ton and bids fair To follow in the foot.
steps Of his father
Mr. Dampf is public spirited aud al.
ways willing 10 do his share Ia promoG.
ing anything for the good Of the people.
He is a director la the Bank OF Com.
merce and a member Of the Board Of
supervisors Of Election
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
HISTORY OF THE WEST FELCIANA RAILROAD
FIRST IN LOUISIANA THIRD IN THE UNITED STATES

+ West FrIiclaua is Justly proud Of the
fact that within her borders, the third
oldest railroad possibly the second, In
/ the United States, vas operated, the
building of the road being eoiucldeutal
with that of The Baltimore a Ohio, and
THE Charleston 4 Hamburg railroads.
! regarded as the pioneers in railroad
making in the New World 4 letter
. signed "pubIIus" suggesting the build
T ing ct Il road between 81 FraHeisville
/ La. aud Woodyllc. Miss. vas publish.
/ I'd Ia the Wooay lie Republican Of Sep,
I tamhrr 3d. 1927 The identify of Pub
+ Illus was never dtyulgcd. but evidently
( his suggestion and arguments therefor
/ took root. for March 90 Of the following
year at a public meeting IN Noodgille
+ "Nessfs. & {. brandon, John l0or
Edward McGeheo Peter Randolph VII
Tam Halle, James l.. Trask and {. T.
Hall aprn appointed as Il committee
to ASK the President Of the United
STATES 70 have aa engineer visit this
section e. make q survey OF the best
route between WuptYltic and the near
est shipping point to the Mississippi
River
Shortly after oH May 3. 1880, meet
iug vas held at 81. t'rauciseille with
the same object In view, and at which
Ia committee was appointed to inquire
INTO the matter This committee did
not report until the close of the year,
when u mass meeting WIS held at the
court house 81 FraHclsyille. on the
first Monday IN December, Ar a result
of the meeting the West feltciaua Rail
road was incorporated by the Louis,
lana Legislature, March %, 1891 Books
OF subscription we're opened In Wood.
vile. May n, 1891. under the super,
vision of Judga Edward MoGehcc, and
si5,nau we're subscribed on the first
day, the capital stock being si5oeeo
At this stage there vas not lacking
the voice of the kuoeker, sIgntug him
self In public print Clinton" whose
identity happily fer his name aud fame
II not knosn Ills plga that ito a..
tempt q work. the completion OF which
would bankrupt a state In his opiR-
ion "a Wild scheme" sounds strangely
like the objections io internal improve,
meuls made at the present day,
Difficulties Of Railroad Building,
Says j :. MeGehpc In his biography
uf hts grandfather. Judge Edward Me
Gehee. building a railroad AT that
time Vas not the comparatively easy
work II is at the present, and. though
the road was only twenty FIVE miles
long, 1t took q great many years Ia its
construction. and eventually cost in
the neiRhborhood Of s25.oop per mile.
Some persons positively refused to
ALLOW II to pass through their plauta.
rions 40 all, and the laws regarding
had uol been 40 definitely
fixed as al present,
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24

{ through the ceiling also Such accidents
quite frequently happened, but for,u-
nateiy there II no record Of any damage
In this Way "a passengers. though there
were many narrow escapes"
Railways al that time did not fence
In the right.of'Way which. ran through
fields and pastures promiscuousiy The
danger 10 cattle and train as we'll was
overcome by an invention OF Judge
ACGehee. who was the FIRST 10 dig pit
from one side Of the road.bed 10 the
other, at the intersection Of the fences.
which pits we're FIRST called eow.pits
aud afterwards cattle guards. being
still IN use
When Read Was Completed
+ The year Of the completion Of the
road TO NoodvilIe is given Ia Memoirs
Of Mississippi as 1887 but Mr.. ] =
McGehee iH the afofe mentioned bi-
ography states that his researches lead
( him 10 believe that il reached It's final
terminus IN tSit or tSi2. lie says
Tho road was begun from Bayou
Sara. where mate rial arrived by river
As soou as tt vas constructed eight
miles oul 10 Resale. the homestead Of
Nj Robert II Barrow, a depot was
located ut that point and trains put Ia
operation They were run 10 that point
for some years. construction. IN the
meantime, being continued 10 Laurel
fiIli As soon as completed 10 the latter
point. the terminal depot vas moved
thither and II vas some years later
before trains we're able to ran TO
NoodgiIle
An act Of the Mississippi legislature
approved December g. 1888. authorizes
the commencing Of the railroad In
Mississippi within one year. t0 be com.
pieted within four years from date
An act approved February "a. 1895,
extends the time " completion 10
April |. 1899
No other act granting a further eX,
tension is recorded, from which II may
be Inferred that the road was completed
by the latter date but the recollection
Of older citizens is 20 the effect that
the road vas not completed until the
forties.
Modern History az Read
During the war the railroad vas par.
TALLY destroyed and practically aban.
doned and. In order to rehabiltate Il
afterwards. Il was necessary TO nego,
tiate a loan Of siid.6o0 This was ad.
vanced by Judge Metiehee. who took
FIRST mortgage bonds. which were only
iiquidated when the road was finally
sold In 1855 "a the Waco a. Mississippi
Valley Railroad Company, for a slight
excess over the bonded debt Mr. ]
Rurruss McGebce had been president
Of the road for twenty years. prior 60
the sale II Is stated that diiigeut
search VAS made for eyery stakeholder
and all who could be- found were paid
their pro rata Afterwards the road
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
FAvoRITE SONS

7 4 glance through these columns viii
show many of the names. and some Of
the faces OF The West Felicianians who
have met with the significant approval
Of their folloN,clllacus when following
4 farUpt lines e ondeayor Rul In
politics three men stand out pFeeml
neutly as having received repeated
favor at the ballot box First of these
Ia priority from length Of service is the
Hon, Jos l. Golsan He came 10 ~.
Francisyille. young lawyer from Ala
hama In the fan of 1871 Very shortly
after he vas elected magistrate, later,
IN 1882 60 Bli the uueSpired term Of
the tate ilr I " Rall a. representative
60 the lower house Of the General
Assembly serving two years BE did
not stand for reelrciion hut for district
attorney instead. In 1854
West Fclciana and rolnfa Coupee,
nj that time composed Judicial dls-
triet Later the Felieiauas were united
tn one dlatrIci. aud by q tarIt agree
mcpt suggested by q sense Of fair play,
East and West Fellciaua have the
privilege Of Furnishing the district ai
torney ard tho district Judge. alter
pgtaly Nr Gotsau bacamu Judge IN
1890 IH the wears since then. West
Frlieiaua has never failed except ln
one instance 10 Uauo him as her choice
for either district attorney or district
Judge The colo exception was when
Robf g Wfcklinr another beloved son.
defeated lndE Gulsan as district AZ
tomsy Ilo retired from office during
this fouryrar period bat Vas elected
Judge for the onsuiuR term he is uow
district attorney
Next tn length Of service is Dr ". Il.
Taylor. who has been parish coroner
since 1884 nearly always without oppo.
sition, hut In any case, receiving a
large majority Br Taylor haf aIso
given long service as president of the
parish and town boards Of health
Hon John n Clack. present sheriff
Of The parish has served continuously
since 1872 II may b. said that hr aud
The True Democrat viii celebrate l0.
Ratbor q quarter century Of public
service DisIinclyrlr r. man uf aUa
for the people b. has enjoyed their
confidence as cScmpliHea not only lu
his repeated return to office. despite
the rivalry of candidates yeunE per
sonally popular and much stronger
physically bat H the sense Of security
and content felt BIS the entire popula
ton during his continuous administra.
tion. Mr. Claek IL physically n6Tm
but he has never failed In clean. etIoc.
tive service No court house In Louis
lana is as Free Of the faint Of arrogance
and bossism, as is the one a. 81 Fran
due 10 the fairness and good
feeling Of this fine man sheriff John
II Ciaek
The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24

AS laHd-holasrs frequently owned
from two 20 three thousand acres Ia q
single body and wete rs powerful as
the faasial harous OF the Middle ages
they could efiectualty block an enter
prise OF this kind almost indefinitely
Il vas, however. finally pushed to
completion Judge Edward McGehee
though not by profession a lawyer
represented 1t In whole or In part In
these contentious
a tew years after the railroad had
been partly constructed a rupture oc
Cured between the railroad coHtrae
tors and the railroad company who
we're then locating a bank at Wood
vile. Mississippi A very considerable
amount Of work had been done upon
the railroad The contractors finally
abandoned their contract for alleged
violation OF the part Of the railroad
company laying their claim for damage
loss al profits. and aFrearages Of pay.
meuts for work done, at $350ooo
The ease was some years ia court
before it vas tried at a special term OF
the district court for the parish OF
West FelicIana Ca March 5. lsi5.
the ease vas called With the railroad
and banking company represented by
Major Joseph johnson aud Judge Ed.
ward MeGehce, The trial lasted some
four months and the testimony covered
about one thousand pages At the con
clusion Of the trial the jury returned a
verdict reducing the plaintiffs demand
from $500 oep to six and quarter
cents in other words, a picayune.
u coin Of such small worth and esteem
in those days that the adjective plea
yunish Is stu used by i.ouIstanians
as a synonym for righteousness, and
Il don't care a picayune' II still heard
occasionally as aa expression of com.
pleee Indifference.
Methods Of RaElroaa CONSTRUCTION,
The methods OF railroad building
spre naturally crude at first When
the West Felicana Railroad was first
pat Ia operation. the rails consisted Of
parallel wooden beams about six Inches
square, laid lengthwlsp across ties four
or tiyc feet apart On the parallel
beams we're lald bars cut out wedge
shaped SO that the point would fit into
the Y ot the next rail They were
fastened to the parallel beams by nails
driven through them directly down
from the top. the head OF the nails
fitting into the countersinks Ia the iron
OF course the pounding OF the
wheels ever these rails drove the nails
on through the Fat iron, and quite FIRE.
Quently, as one wheel passed over 4
joint. IL would curl up the end OF the
rail 80 that II would strike the next
" heel above the center and. the
length OF the bar being fifteen or six,
teen feet. II would be- driven up through
the floor If the ear and sometimes