Erin AntleyAugust 9, 2013 Within the gates of the Spearsville cemetery lies the grave of John Wadell Cherry. Born 05/13/1845 and murdered in front of his own farm on 04/16/1884 by father and son, Perry and William Melton. The Melton’s apparently had a verbal argument on the morning of April 16. Cherry, a former Rebel … Continue reading The Murder of John Wadell Cherry
Gene Barron
Dr. Varner Edward Dudley
Written by Gene Barron On June 20, 1900, Edward Varner and Emily Caroline Boles Dudley bought 120 acres of land from S. J. Berry Abbett in Sec. 16 just south of Spearsville. Edward was the son of William and Rachel Varner Ewing Dudley. Edward and Emily had eight children, Susan R., Ida E., Sarah Frances, … Continue reading Dr. Varner Edward Dudley
Bootlegging in Spearsville
On January 16, 1920, Prohibition went into effect throughout the United States. Many in the Spearsville area began to rely on what became know as bootlegging for a living. The name derived from the practice, adopted by the distillers of the illegal hooch, of stuffing a bottle into their boots for easy access when a … Continue reading Bootlegging in Spearsville
Farmerville Bank Robbery
On September 22, 1930, Hunt Boyd Watson (alias Jimmie Yarrell alias B. B. Gathright alias Hunt Ward), A.P. Burton (alias George Clark Edwards), and Mike Eskew casually walked into the Farmerville Bank, unmasked, and forced William Wesley Porter, cashier, and Mrs. Edward Everett, the bank president’s wife, to throw up their hands. Eskew, standing lookout … Continue reading Farmerville Bank Robbery
Dr. Charles Sidney McDonald
Dr. Charles Sidney McDonald Dr. Charles Sidney McDonald and his wife, Martha "Mattie" Nicklas McDonald, the daughter of Joseph and Dorathy Hayes Nicklas, came to Spearsville in 1905. They lived in a home about a quarter mile south of the stores of Spearsville on the old McDonald home place. (Located where the Drusey Mae Senn … Continue reading Dr. Charles Sidney McDonald
The Summit Lumber Company
Randolph, Union Parish, Louisiana Although construction of the first railroad into northeastern Louisiana from Vicksburg to Monroe was completed in January 1861, the iron horse tracks by-passed Union Parish until 1898. The rail line was first laid from the north down to to Junction City (the northwestern corner of the parish). Union Parish saw mill … Continue reading The Summit Lumber Company
Ike Futch – Professional Baseball Player
Written by W. Gene Barron Ike Futch Professional Baseball Player Ike Jerry Futch was born on January 31, 1941, the fifth of nine children, six boys and three girls, born to Joe Reed “Bouy” and Martha Marie Smith Futch. Most of his brothers were named after New York Yankee greats. All nine children were … Continue reading Ike Futch – Professional Baseball Player
A Shootout on the Streets of Bernice
Written by Gene Barron On April 20, 1908 Sheriff John W. Taylor and his Chief Deputy, James M. Underwood were called to Bernice in response to a shootout. The shooting occurred when Charles J. Morton, along with his wife, Anna, and their son, Charles Hester Morton, stepped from the coach of the northbound Rock Island … Continue reading A Shootout on the Streets of Bernice
Historian Recounts Old Family Feud
Written by Gene Barron James Taylor Spencer (21 Jan 1861 – 3 Oct 1915) and his friend, John Dean were attacked late Sunday afternoon, October 3, 1915. Spencer was shot and killed and Dean seriously wounded and Jesse Randall Pinchard (24 Oct 1859 – 24 May 1934) was arrested and charged with the shooting. Spencer … Continue reading Historian Recounts Old Family Feud
Shiloh to Canaan 
You must be logged in to post a comment.