The Infamous of East Carroll Parish Visitors

WILLIAM CLARKE QUANTRILL
Born on July 31, 1837, in Ohio, to Thomas Henry and Caroline Cornelia (Clarke) Quantrill, the boy displayed his cruel tendencies even as a child. Purportedly, this bad seed would shoot pigs through the ears just to hear them squeal, nail snakes to trees, and tie cats’ tails together for the pure joy of watching them claw each other to death. C. S. A. guerrilla. After a year, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he was again a schoolteacher from 1859 to 1860. It appears that after being a schoolteacher for several years, he travelled to Utah in 1858 with an army wagon train and there made his living as a gambler, using the alias of Charles Hart.
But his past and predisposition soon caught up with him and, wanted for murder and horse theft, Quantrill fled to Missouri in late 1860.The gang stayed around Carroll Parish, off and on for several years because of it's isolation and it's vast swamp lands, and because the Younger Brothers hung out sometimes with their relatives that lived in the Delhi area.
The climax of Quantrill's guerilla career came on August 21, 1863, when he led a force of 450 raiders into Lawrence, Kansas, killing 183 men and boys, dragging some from their homes to murder them in front of their families, and set the torch to much of the city.
Quantrill eventually ended up in Kentucky where he was killed in a Union ambush in 1865 at the age of 27.

YOUNGER BROTHERS: Cole, James, Robert, and John
Younger Brothers
The Youngers visited their sister on the Eddins place south of the Bayou Macon Church. Their sister, Mary Josephine "Josie" Younger was married Captain Jarrettte, on May 8, 1860, in MO., [John Jarrette (or Jarrett or Jarett) born ~1836 in Kentucky] Jarrette's pre-war occupation was a carpenter.

THOMAS COLEMAN YOUNGER
"I left Missouri soon after Judy's raid for Louisiana, spending three months with Capt. J. C. Lea on what was known as the Widow Amos' farm on Fortune fork, Tensas parish. We then rented the Bass farm on Lake Providence, in Carroll parish, where I stayed until 1867, when chills and fever drove me north to Missouri. . At the time of the Richmond and Savannah, Mo., bank robberies, in which, according to newspapers and sensationalists, I was largely concerned, I was living on the Bass plantation, three miles below Lake Providence, in Louisiana. Capt. J. C. and Frank Lea, of Roswell, N. M., and Tom Lea, of Independence, Mo., were living in the same house with me, any one of whom will vouch for the truth of my statement that I was not anywhere near either of these towns at the time of the robberies in question, but was with them at the plantation referred to above."
(Below is some exerpts from Cole Younger's book, concerning the Carroll Parish area)
"About the last of December, 1873, I arrived in Carroll parish, Louisiana. I stayed there until the 8th of February, 1874. Brother and I stayed at Wm. Dickerson's, near Floyd. During the time the Shreveport stage and the Hot Springs stage were robbed; also the Gad's Hill robbery."(From Cole Younger's book)
At the time of the Richmond and Savannah, Mo., bank robberies, in which, according to newspapers and sensationalists, I was largely concerned, I was living on the Bass plantation, three miles below Lake Providence, in Louisiana. Capt. J. C. and Frank Lea, of Roswell, N. M., and Tom Lea, of Independence, Mo., were living in the same house with me, any one of whom will vouch for the truth of my statement that I was not anywhere near either of these towns at the time of the robberies in question, but was with them at the plantation referred to above. Furthermore, right here I want to state, and I will take my oath solemnly that what I say is the truth, and nothing but the truth, notwithstanding all the accusations that have been made against me, I never, in all my life, had anything whatever to do with robbing any bank in the state of Missouri. I could prove that I was not in the towns where banks were robbed in Missouri, at the time that the raids took place, and in many instances that I was thousands of miles away.
After the war the Quantrell Gang stayed around for several years. Carroll Parish citizen Bill Griffin accompanied Cole Younger to Oak Ridge one day in the early 1870's. The hitched their horses to the hitching post a short distance from a general merchandise store, and as he approaced the store, one of the four men sitting on the porch said, "That is a fine hore you have there." Cole answered , "None better anywhere, if so, I would have it." Another man said, "I will challenge that. I have a horse thay can outrun your horse any day!" Cole accepted the challenge and a bet was made in the amount of $200, all Cole Younger had. Judges were found and the race took place; Cole's horse won by a small margin." (story out of "Between the Rivers", McKoin)

ROBERT EWING YOUNGER
Born December 1853 in Missouri. Too young to have been an active war participant. Sentenced to life in prison for the Northfield robbery and murders. Died of consumption in prison in Stillwater, Minnesota September 16, 1889.

JAMES HARDIN YOUNGER
James was born January 15, 1848 in Missouri, joined Quantrill's guerrillas late in the war, captured with Quantrill in Kentucky and sent to Alton prison as a POW, paroled from there. Was deputy sheriff of Dallas Co., Texas 1870-71. Sentenced to life in prison for the Northfield robbery and murders. The 1900 census listed him as "farmer". James killed himself in St. Paul, Minnesota October 19, 1902, not long after being paroled from prison.

JOHN YOUNGER
Born 1851 in Missouri. At age 15 killed a man in January 1866 in self-defense. Early in 1870 lynched and badly hurt by a posse seeking information about Cole. Indicted for murder in Texas in January 1871 for killing a deputy sheriff who was attempting to arrest him. Killed by Pinkerton agents March 16, 1874.

Frank & Jesse James
They became fugitives from the law at an early age before the Civil War. Their mother's farm had been mortgaged to the local bank and the family was having a difficult time in meeting payments. An agent wanted the right-of-way across the farm and was trying to get Mrs. James and the boys to agree. They refused, and the bank foreclosed, but the boys trying to defend they property when Frank was shot in the leg. The family being infuriated by the invasion of their rights, swore revenge on everyone involved, and in one way or another their oath was carried out.
Floyd, La. believes that much credit goes to the guerrillas and the Home Guard. It seems that the James Brothers & Younger Brothers had a stake in the territory, Jesse owning a home in Floyd, and the brothers are said to have a sister that lived near Delhi, La..

ALEXANDER FRANKLIN JAMES
was born January 10, 1843 in Missouri. He was a step-son of a doctor turned farmer by the name of Reuben Samuel. "Frank was a shy man but very talented in telling children stories about bank and train robbers. There were those who believed he was telling of his experiences in disguise." (from "Between the Rivers", by McKoin) Frank James was treated by Dr. Vinson once for a gunshot would and both brothers for malaria.
Frank was one of of Quantill's guerillas. He married Annie Ralston in June 1874. (Buel says Sept. 1875 in Jackson County). One son, Robert Franklin James born February 6, 1878. Frank, Sr., died on February 18, 1915.

JESSE WOODSON JAMES was born on September 27, 1847. "Jesse was a good dancer and very popular amoung the ladies. He was courteous and had good manners at all times around the ladies: but, always danced with his pistols on his person." (from "Between the Rivers", by McKoin)
Jesse joined Quantrill late in 1863 (after the Lawrence raid). Badly wounded in the right chest in 1865 while attempting to surrender to the Federals (the injury played a factor in both his potential participation in some robberies, as well as identifying him later). He was living under the name of Howard in Missouri. He married Zee Mimms April 24, 1874. Two surviving children, Jesse Edwards James and Mary (Zee and Jesse had twins who did not survive infancy, ~1878). Killed in his home by a member of the family, Robert Ford, to receive the $5,000 reward, dead or alive, on April 3, 1882.

Business Owners of Northeast Louisiana

Chapman's Drug Store was owned and operated by Mr. Chapman.

Morano, Hugo
by Maude Van Fossen
(from an article in the East Carroll Delta News, June 25, 1981)
Hugo's Restaurant opened July 1, 1956. After Hugo purchased the restaurant and took over the management he began to show interest in his surroundings. He is a native of Eudora, Arkansas.
Hugo purchased the Oakland Manor. In Hugo's twenty-five years now as a permanent parish resident he has acquired a lovely family: Edith, his wife and Frankie, their son, but he had his trumpet much longer than that. He has played with a group: Sidney and Steve Guenard, Harvey Howinton, and Hugo and his trumpet. Hugo plays solo for mass at church, taps at funerals, walking down the street; with the group at wedding receptions and night clubs, in fact anywhere there is dancing or a football game. It was at the football game of 1957, in the game between LSU and Ole Miss, at Oxford, Miss. that Hugo stood at the half and played LSU's Alma Mater never such an ovation.
Hugo and his restaurant and his trumpet are bringing Lake Providence good publicity.
Hugo purchased the Oakland Manor. In Hugo's twenty-five years now as a permanent parish resident he has acquired a lovely family: Edith, his wife and Frankie, their son, but he had his trumpet much longer than that. He has played with a group: Sidney and Steve Guenard, Harvey Howinton, and Hugo and his trumpet. Hugo plays solo for mass at church, taps at funerals, walking down the street; with the group at wedding receptions and night clubs, in fact anywhere there is dancing or a football game. It was at the football game of 1957, in the game between LSU and Ole Miss, at Oxford, Miss. that Hugo stood at the half and played LSU's Alma Mater never such an ovation.
Hugo and his restaurant and his trumpet are bringing Lake Providence good publicity.
Hugo purchased the Oakland Manor. In Hugo's twenty-five years now as a permanent parish resident he has acquired a lovely family: Edith, his wife and Frankie, their son, but he had his trumpet much longer than that. He has played with a group: Sidney and Steve Guenard, Harvey Howinton, and Hugo and his trumpet. Hugo plays solo for mass at church, taps at funerals, walking down the street; with the group at wedding receptions and night clubs, in fact anywhere there is dancing or a football game. It was at the football game of 1957, in the game between LSU and Ole Miss, at Oxford, Miss. that Hugo stood at the half and played LSU's Alma Mater never such an ovation.
Hugo and his restaurant and his trumpet are bringing Lake Providence good publicity.

Schneiders Hardware
Frederick Hall Schneider owned and operated a hardware business for 44 years, farmed and owned ginning interests.
Frederick's wife was Anna Mary "Nan" Davis, daughter of Edward Hugh and Julia Blacksburn Davis. Frederick Hall Schneider, Jr. After graduation he foined F. H. Schneider & Sons to manage the wholesale radio and electricl department. He was married to Sarah Regenold, daughter of Fred Porter and Gussie Henderson Regenold.
Harry Graham was the second son of the E. D. Schneiders. In 1968, the company disolved, ending 70 years of service.
Frederick Hall Schneider, III, the son of Frederick Hall and Sarah Schneider, farm on Sherwood Plantation where he and his wife, the former Constance Allen.

Hunters In & Around Carroll Parish

The following information comes from "A Place to Remember", by Georgia Payne Pinkston and/or "Between the Rivers", by Florence Stewart McKoin, from via the internet, and from President Roosevelt's Memoirs. (sketch by Sandy Moore)

Joe Demsey
One of the earliest settlers was the Dempsey family that was reported to be living on the lake in 1813. They raised corn and other produce. Joe Dempsey, hunted along the banks of what is now called Joe's Bayou, which was named for this early hunter.

Ben Lilly
Benjamin Vernon Lilly (1856 - Dec. 17, 1936) whom lived near Mer Rouge, was a cotton planter, was one of the most experience hunters & guides in the country. When Teddy Roosevelt came to the Louisiana swamp country to hunt big game Lilly along with other notorious hunters (several listed below) camped east of Floyd, La. on Bear Lake across Bayou Macon. The President was really taken with Lilly, and took Lilly with him to Africa after his hunt in La. Mr. Lilly was fond of making and polishing blowing horns out of cattle horns; his signature was in the form of a honey bee and the lilly flower. He was a frequent visitor to Henry Stevenson's father's home in northeast Louisiana. Lilly was very religious and would not hunt on Sundays.
Jan. 1893~"Nimrod Lilley, the successful bear hunter, was in town this week." (L. P. newspaper)

Holt Collier
Hotl Collier had been born a slave on the Hinds Plantation. His father was the "Old General Hind's" body servant when he fought under Jackson at New Orleans. Holt was the General's young son's body servant, and when young Hinds went hunting Holt would follow along with him. Holt killed his 1st bear when he was 10 years old. When the young Hind's went off to the Civil War so did Holt travel with him. Collier became a sharp shooter against the Union troops. When his master died he was adopted by the Metcalfs.
Holt Collier had a real good bear dog. The President decided to call on this man and asked to borrow his dog. Collier said "No sir, I do not loan my dog to anyone. The only man who could get my dog would be the President of the United States, I think that much of my dog." President Roosevelt replied, "You are talking to the President", Holt could hardly believe his ears, but was convinced and joined the hunt.
When Holt Collier was chosen to guide President Theodore Roosevelt on the now famous bear hunt of 1902, he was a legend in Mississippi. He had cut roads into the wilderness and was known to have killed in excess of 3,000 bear. Theodore Roosevelt had Holt Collier become a noted hunter by founding the Boone & Crockett Club and hunting almost all types of American game including grizzly bear, buffalo and pronghorn sheep. He desperately wanted to experience the thrill of the mounted bear chase. Though Roosevelt and his company had immeasurable finances and manpower, almost every aspect of the hunt was the responsibility of the uneducated 56-year-old Collier. He found a site on the banks of the Little Sunflower River in Sharkey County, about 15 miles west of the Smedes Station, a small farming platform.
President Roosevelt wrote that "Collier had the dignity of an African chief and for half a century had been a bear hunter, having killed or participated in the killing of over 3,000 bears."

Teddy Roosevelt
One trophy that eluded him was the Louisiana Black Bear. He desperately wanted to experience the thrill of the mounted bear chase.
A presidential train rolled to a halt on a railroad spur one mile north of Sonheimer on the evening of Oct. 5, 1907. President Theodore Roosevelt prepared to rendezous with his old friend, Ben Lilly, for a bear hunt in the Tensas-Macon Swamp. (at O'Hara's Switch which was changed to Roosevelt years later) The President had good guides and hunters with him. Mr. Gaddis and Mr. Guier had their pack of bear dogs there. His group moved to another area in northeast Louisiana where he got his black bear.

Clive Metcalf
"Clive Metcalf and I", said President Roosevelt, "rode off between two of the canebrakes. We heard yelling & cheering of Harley Metcalf and Tom Osborn when we heard the lead dogs come to bay in the thickest of cane. Clive Metcalf a finished bear hunter, determined the bear's likely course and we went to the spot where he thought the quarry would be, the bear was coming straight towards us. I fired for behind the shoulder. He fell dead. Clive wound his horn to summon the other hunters."
John A. McIlhenny
"John McIlhenny killed a she-bear on his plantation at Avery Island in 1906." stated President Roosevelt.

Other hunters mentioned being with Teddy Roosevelt during his hunts in the Carroll area are:
John M. Parker
Dr./General Rixey
Dr. Alexander Lambert
Randall L. Vining
Simon Richburg
Ichabod Osborn, & son, Tom Osborn joined President Roosevelt in his bear hunt. They were two La. planters with 2 staunch bear dogs. Ichabod's father had taken up the plantation upon which they were now living in 1811. Young Osborn was now 3rd in line from fatther to son who steadily hunted bears in this immediate neighbor."
Tom Gaddis, of Pioneer was a bear hunter. He kept a pack of bear & deer hounds penned behind his house. "He would take his hunting horn that had been slung across his shoulder, blow a long blast followed by the short ones. In the meantime a Negro had relased the dogs and the whole pack came yapping and jumping at the horse."
"The only bear meat I ever ate was killed by Mr. Gaddis in the Tensas swamp."
"I have shared deer meat from the Bob Guier hunt several times. My father killed both deer and wild turkey."
"Mr. Gaddis & Mr. Guier had the unique experience of hunting with their famous neighbor from across the river, Ben V. Lilly."
"Bejamin Roberts, dealer in real estate in the 1850's, a planter, a civil and church leader as well as a hunter & woodsman."
"Henry Stevenson and John Austin went turkey hunting one spring, going deep into the Boeuf River forest in order to kill squirrels for supper, killing quite a few."
"Robert Stewart and Pete Rodriques heard a panther one night while on a spring turkey hunt near Boeuf River. Robert Stewart could imitate the turkey call. He could attract both the old gobblers & the hens."
"Judge Hennigan, a Negro, and an Indian went hunting for deer one Saturday morning. Agreeing to separate and meet again after an hour or two, the Judge and Negro met up and waited for their friend, the Indian, but he did not appear. They circled back the way he was to have come and found him dead under a large tree. His jugular vein had been severed and apparently his blood sucked out. They believe a panther had sprung out of the big tree onto his back taking him by surprise, and killed him before he had a chance to defend himself."

Hunters mentioned in "Murder, Mayhem, & Misc.", by Sandy Schmitz Moore
"Billy Alexander, who, by-the-way, is quite a Nimrod, and the acknowledged champion shot in the country, killed a very large fat bear last week in the swamp back of "Middlesex Plantation" in this county. It's gross weight was about 700 pounds. The net weight 465 pounds. One half of it sent to Vicksburg, sold for $72." .... We are under obligations for that 'bar' oil, Billy.
Nov. 1883 ~
"Urias Conn will give an entertainment which will be a game supper, and dance, tonight at the Jenkins Store on Levee Street. Rias is a great hunter and we have no doubt, his tables will be filled with all the delicacies of the season, among which will be found wild turkey, duck, quail, squirrel and the most delicious of all wild meat, good bear."
Oct. 1884 ~ "Urias Conn is decidedly, the best hunter in this country and cannot be excelled in many other sections. A few days since while hunting with his Winchester Rifle, he came on a flock of three deer and they dispersing in various directions, he killed them all by three several shots from his single gun. This was remarkable shooting, showing great coolness of judgment and precision of aim. These make up the number of fifty-two killed by him with this rifle."
Nov. 1893 ~
"The hunters are now after ducks. Mr. John R. Keller killed 25 on Sat. last."
"Mr. John Ikerd killed a large buck on Friday last, which weighed when dressed it, 175 lbs. On Saturday Mr. John Keller with Mr. Ikerd killed another, but not so large as the first one. These gentlemen are 1st Class hunters and hardly ever do into the woods without getting a deer."