Month: March 2019

The Beginning of St. John the Baptist Parish

Another Sunday, another parish celebration. The Territory Legislature established St. John the Baptist parish two hundred and twelve years ago today, easier known as March 31, 1807. It includes the third oldest settlement in Louisiana. Germans primarily settled in this area. The French controlled the land until 1763 when they lost the Seven Years’ War to Great Britain. They ceded Louisiana to Spain at that time. In North America History, the war is known as the French and Indian War.

In the mid-1760s, the French were expelled from Nova Scotia by the British. The French Arcadians settled in St. John the Baptist parish. Their first village is known as Wallace, Louisiana today. The transplanted Arcadians are the ancestors of today’s Cajun folk.

In 1869 a church was built on the east banks of the Mississippi River. The west bank already had St. John the Baptist. In 1897, a second church on the east bank was built, St. Peter. This church stood until 1965 when Hurricane Betsy hit Louisiana. The hurricane also ruffed up Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure in the fictional town of Bayou Cove.

History doesn’t write itself, but what fun it is to learn about the great state of Louisiana. Learn more about St. John the Baptist parish here and here.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading The Circus Fire by Stewart O’Nan.

The Beginning of Calcasieu Parish

If you’re in southwestern Louisiana today, you have a reason to celebrate. On March 24, 1840, Calcasieu Parish existed for the first time. Officials named Comasaque Bluff the county seat. In later months, Comasaque Bluff changed to Marsh Bayou Bluff. Before the end of the year, on December 8, 1840, the town named changed again. This time to its present day name: Marion.

Calcasieu Parish was the largest parish in the state in 1840. As the years passed, officials divided it into five smaller parishes. Together, they make up the Imperial Calcasieu. Local planter and businessman Jacob Ryan donated land in Lake Charles to have the county seat moved there. This was 1852.

Calcasieu is an Atakapa word meaning crying eagle. This was the name of an Atakapa chief the French colonists applied to the river. When the Spanish controlled the area, they called the river the Rio Hondo River.
Jury men David Simmons, Alexander Hebert, Michel Pithon, Henry Moss, Rees Perkins, and Thomas M. Williams met on August 24, 1840, at the large, rough-hewed home of Arsense LeBleu near present day Chloe. At this first meeting of Calcasieu Parish, they elected the parish constable, treasurer, two assessors, a clerk, and the operator of the ferry at Buchanan’s crossing. They ruled in favor of Comasaque Bluff as the county seat over Lisbon. The assessors had two months and a salary of $90 to assess all parish property. At their second meeting, on September 14, 1840, the jury men authorized a survey of land in Marsh Bayou Bluff for a courthouse and jail.

History doesn’t write itself. What I find interesting is how often Comasaque Bluff changed name in a little over eight months. The map makers of the day must have been pulling their hair out. You can read more about the history of Calcasieu Parish here.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading Eclipse of the Triple Moons by Kenneth Brown.