The present village of Oakland is an old established community of Union Parish. Its name until after the Civil War was Union Cross Roads, and was said to have been named by Reverend George Everett, one of the first settlers. In the early days, both ante-bellum and post-bellum, the community was the center of culture. … Continue reading Oakland Region Proves Fertile For Rearing Governors
The establishment of schools and churches were among the first acts of the early settlers of this parish after they had carved their homes from the forests. Firm believers in worship and education, records show that they looked to the construction and provision of these institutes almost as soon as the logs of their cabins … Continue reading Schools, Churches Early Concerned First Immigrants
We think there is some record in existence that will show that this church site was first measured off in 1820 or possibly 1825.
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Edwards' Service Station, dealers in Magnolia Petroleum Company's products, offers one of the best complete automobile service stations in this section. Beginning operation in 1938, the business has been well received here and made many improvements. Today, they offer a complete lubrication with the finest products being used. They are dealers … Continue reading Edward’s Station Dealers in Mobiloil
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Preceded by several academies here, including the Union Male and Female Academy and the Farmerville Institute, the present day Farmerville High School was not organized until 1908 when a brick building was completed in 1909. E. E. Keebler was the first principal with the faculty including Miss Bertha Cobb and Mrs. … Continue reading Farmerville High School Organized In Early 1900’s
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Green and Smith Commission Agents opened their livestock auction sales here early this year. The business is conducted on a service to the seller business, no charge being made for handling an animal that is not sold. Five per cent commission is charged on every animal sold. The auctions are held … Continue reading Livestock Auctions Held Every Friday
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 One of Union Parish's oldest preachers, the Rev. S. R. Nolan of Antioch community, recently celebrated 58 years of preaching in Union Parish. This unusual record was achieved by Rev. Nolan on the fourth Saturday in August. He began his preaching career on the fourth Saturday in August, 1881, when he … Continue reading S. R. Nolan Has Preached 58 Years in Union Parish
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Parish Jail Construction Was Given Much Consideration; Was Referred to As "Goal" At the meeting of the parish police jury on September 2, 1839, at the home of William C. Carr, the body voted approval for the first parish court house. The plans as adopted called for the building to be … Continue reading First Court House Ordered Built At Police Jury Meet Sept., 1839
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Settled in 1778, Linville, named after that first settler "Linville", was a close ally of Ouachita City in that town's bustling days of 50 years ago. Linville, who had first cleared land there, built a store a short time later, after more settlers had come in, and started what might be … Continue reading Linville First Had School in ’81 After Work of Citizens
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 It is difficult to ascertain the history of old Liberty church, near Linville, which is said to be the oldest church in Union Parish. From the information secured by those who know, the records were burned many years ago and these records contained the writings of the founders of the church. … Continue reading Liberty Church History Traced Back 102 Years
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Body's Proceedings of First Meetings Show How Parish Started Nothing can tell the history of a parish better than the records of that parish's governing body the police jury. Fortunate is Union Parish in having an almost continuous record of the minutes of its police jury from the time of the … Continue reading Police Jury Records Tell Of Progress
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The first school in Bernice was housed in a vacant house, located near the center of the firsts block east of the railroad, where Seba Booles now resides. Miss Callie Jones was the first teacher. A year or so after this, a school house was built. It was a frame building … Continue reading Bernice Schools Were First Held In Vacant House
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 In the late 80's the first indication of the present day school system in Downsville made it s appearance with the erection of a building east of the Baptist church. This building was an eight-room two-story structure and the second story was used as an auditorium and lodge hall. Early teachers … Continue reading School Building in Downsville Started in Late 1880’s
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The Green and Rabun ServiceStation, dealers in Pan-Am gasoline and products, located on the court square in Farmerville is one of the most attractive service stations in this area. They offer a modern efficient service to their patrons including guaranteed lubrication. They handle the finest in oil and accessories. Their road … Continue reading Pan-Am Products Handled Locally
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Louisiana and the City of New Orleans gave to the South the name of DIXIE -- and today the whole Southland in the eyes of persons the world over is Dixie. It all began way back in 1833, a half dozen years before Farmerville and Union Parish were born. In that … Continue reading Louisiana French Money Gave The South the Name of “Dixie”
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Was in the War of 1812; Died in Tenn. James Roane, one of the very first tax assessors and for a long time prominent in the early history of Union Parish, was born in North Carolina on December 15, 1794. He moved to Tennessee when he was eight years old and … Continue reading James Roan Was One Of the First Parish Assessors
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The Meridian Baptist Church was organized October 1, 1856, however the church did not elect any officers until the first Sunday in March 1857, with the Rev. J. P. Everett named as its first pastor. J. W. Hopkins was elected as the first clerk and John Anders, deacon. Other deacons were … Continue reading Meridian Church Founded in 1856
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Like the majority of the other Union Parish settlement, Downsville was settled in the early 1840's by immigrants from Alabama and Georgia. This community is in the south-eastern part of Union Parish near the Lincoln Parish line. In 1850 Philoman Willhite settled there, but other families had settled there as early … Continue reading Downsville Got Her Name From General Downs
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 It you truly be said that Concord Church, near Marion, like many other churches in Union Parish, can be listed among the oldest. This church is 98 years old, being organized in 1841, and was founded by Alabama and Georgia pioneers in a small log house which remained there for many … Continue reading Concord Church Founded in 1841
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The start of the present Sanders Variety Store began in 1909 when George D. Sanders opened a store in the building now occupied by the Farmerville Mercantile Company. In the early '20's the store moved to its present location and Mr. Sanders operated a general merchandise store until his death in … Continue reading Sanders Opened Store Here in 1909
Walter HitesmanThe GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Interesting Story About Steamboat Days Here Is Told By Old-Timer The heyday of the steamboat era in Farmerville, the day when cotton ruled and the Bayous D'Arbonne and Cornie flowed southward with river steamers riding upon their crests, the days when a constant commerce of cotton streamed through Farmerville on … Continue reading Steamboat Days Here
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The Farmerville 5 and 10c store which is owned and operated by D. J. Kemp, is the only store of its kind in this vicinity and offers a complete stock of merchandise. Mr. Kemp bought the business from Duke Selig, Jr. in January 1938. It had been in operation for about … Continue reading Kemps 5-10c Store Has Complete Line
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 In the extreme western part of Union Parish, near the Claiborne Parish line, stands Bethel Church, organized in 1840 by a group of Missionary Baptists. The question is still unsettled as to whether this is the oldest church in Union Parish, many believing that it is positively the oldest. The following … Continue reading Bethel Church Is Nearing The Century Mark
The Gazette October 5, 1939 The Green Motor Co. handlers of Chevrolet, owned and operated by J. Y. Green, has been in operation in Farmerville since 1934. Mr. Green himself has been a Chevrolet dealer since 1921, moving here from Junction City. They offer a complete line of Chevrolet parts and accessories. They are equipped … Continue reading Green Dealer in Chevrolet Since ’34
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The Farmerville Ice Company is indeed a home industry for it offers employment for a number of Farmerville citizens. The plant is operated by O. O. Cummings. The company, a long established business, manufactures its own ice with a modern, clean efficient plant. They use the most modern ice making machinery. … Continue reading Local Ice Company Modern Business
$59 for a Limited Time Ancestry DNA is an autosomal DNA test and will provide an ethnicity breakdown. It will also show relative matches to anyone in the database whom shares DNA with you. All of your family lines will be represented. It doesn’t matter about the gender. Everyone receives approximately 50% of their DNA … Continue reading Ancestry DNA: Genetic Testing ON SALE $59
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Soon after the Town of Farmerville was created and laid off, the first parish police jury called for a public sale of lands inside the limits of the townsite. This sale, held on November 4, 1839, was termed a success, and the following are a number of the buyers of those … Continue reading Sale of Town Lots Held on Nov. 4, 1839
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Shiloh Church, among the oldest in the parish was constructed in 1849 with ten persons as charter members. Those first members, W. C. Heard and wife, Sarah Heard, Lewis Fuller and wife, Sarah Fuller, John Miller and wife, Magarette Miller, and Eli Terry, chose as their first pastor, Elder Richard Fuller. … Continue reading Shiloh Church Among Oldest In Union Parish
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 Thomas Van Hook, one of the founders of the parish and Town of Farmerville, has left much to the present day. Perhaps one of the most interesting things he left is a letter written concerning the death of Lieut-Gov W. W. Farmer. Van Hook was serving in the legislature at the … Continue reading Van Hook Was On House Committee To Remove Farmer
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 The coming of a railroad through the western part of the parish at the turn of the century accounted for the establishment of Lillie. Although there was one settler living at the present site of the town in 1899 names Frank Farrar, the credit for the founding of the community goes … Continue reading Railroad Causes Establishment of Lillie Community
