Proposal to Create Beauregard Parish out of Catahoula Parish in 1908

Central Louisiana - 1907

The 1907 map above shows Catahoula Parish surrounded by the parishes of Caldwell and Franklin to the north, Tensas and Concordia to the east, Avoyelles to the south and Rapides and Winn to the west.

Following the failed proposal to annex a portion of Catahoula Parish to Caldwell Parish in 1904, the voters of Catahoula Parish would go to the polls to vote on further annexations in 1908.

In January of 1908, a proposal to create the parish of Beauregard from a portion of Catahoula Parish was put before the voters.

The Tensas Gazette of St. Joseph, Louisiana reported the following on January 17, 1908:

Tensas Gazette - 1/17/1908

Initial election returns indicated the passage of the proposal to create the parish of Beauregard from a portion of Catahoula Parish.  Official election returns stated otherwise.

From a January 31, 1908 article in The Rice Belt of Welsh, Louisiana:

The Rice Belt - 1/31/1908

The Southern Sentinnel of Winnfield, Louisiana reported the following on January 31, 1908:

The Southern Sentinnel - 1/31/1908

Thus ended the annexation and changing of the political boundaries in Catahoula Parish.

Earlier boundary changes (and attempted changes) since the creation of Catahoula Parish in 1804:

1814 and 1828

1838 and 1843

1852

1873

1904

1908

Sources:
usgwarchives.net
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

LaSalle Parish Carved Out of Catahoula Parish - October 1908

Louisiana - 1908

One hundred years after the creation of Catahoula Parish, the final annexation of the parish would occur in the later part of 1908 with the creation of the parish of LaSalle.

The above map shows Catahoula Parish surrounded by the parishes of Caldwell and Franklin to the north, Tensas and Concordia to the east, Avoyelles to the south and LaSalle to the west.

The following article was posted in Le Meschacebe of Lucy, Louisiana on November 21, 1908:

Le Meschacebe - 11/21/1908

This last annexation marked the seventh time the political boundaries of Catahoula Parish had been changed.  Earlier annexations occurred in 1814 and 1828, 1838 and 1843, 1852, and 1873.  The creation of LaSalle Parish also followed the failed attempt to annex a portion of Catahoula to Caldwell Parish in 1904 and an attempt to create Beauregard Parish from Catahoula earlier in 1908.



Sources:

mapsofus.org

chroniclingamerical.loc.gov

Further Annexation of Catahoula Parish is Defeated in Election of 1904

Catahoula and surrounding parishes in 1893

The above map shows Catahoula Parish and the parishes which surrounded it by the year 1893.

Prior to 1893 and following the creation of Catahoula Parish in 1808, political boundary changes had taken place in 1814 and 1828, 1838 and 1843, 1852, and in 1873.

In 1904 a proposition to annex a portion of Catahoula Parish to Caldwell Parish was put before the voters of Catahoula Parish.

The Donaldsonville Chief of Donaldsonville, Louisiana reported the following on August 20, 1904:

Donaldsonville Chief -8/20/1904

The results of this election are found in this December 4, 1904 article from the same publication:

Donaldsonville Chief - 12/4/1904

Catahoula Parish would face two more proposed annexations in 1908, with one succeeding and another failing.

Sources:

mapsofus.org

chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

Catahoula Parish Boundary Change of 1873

Central portion of Louisiana - 1856

By 1856, the parish of Catahoula had gone through five political boundary changes since its creation in 1808.  Previous changes were made in 1814 and 1828, 1838 and 1843, and the fifth change in 1852.

The above map of 1856 shows Catahoula Parish surrounded by the parishes of Caldwell and Franklin to the north, Tensas and Concordia to the east, Avoyelles to the south, Rapides to the south/southwest and Winn to the west.

Catahoula Parish's boundaries were changed again in 1873 when a portion of the parish was annexed to Franklin Parish.  The 1873 map below reflects this slight boundary change in the far northeast corner of the parish where Franklin Parish dips down into Catahoula Parish along the Tensas Parish line.  Also of note, Grant Parish was created in 1869 from Rapides and Winn parishes and is now shown as a neighboring parish to Catahoula.

Louisiana - 1873

Source:  mapofus.org

Catahoula Parish Boundary Change of 1852

North/Central Louisiana in 1848

The above map of 1848 shows the northern/central portion of Louisiana following the political boundary changes of 1814 and 1828 as well as the changes of 1838 and 1843.  Other changes occurred to this section of the state after 1843 which included the creation of Jackson Parish in 1845.

Catahoula Parish is shown surrounded by the parishes of Jackson, Caldwell and Franklin to the north, Tensas and Concordia to the east, Avoyelles and Rapides to the south and Natchitoches to the west.

In 1852 the parish of Winn was created from Catahoula, Natchitoches and Rapides parishes.  The map below shows these boundary changes.

Louisiana - 1852

Source:  mapofus.org

Catahoula Parish Boundary Changes of 1838 and 1843

Catahoula Parish in 1836

The above map of 1836 shows how Catahoula Parish appeared after the political boundary changes in 1814 and 1828.

In 1838 Caldwell Parish was created from the parishes of Catahoula and Ouachita.  This was the third boundary change for Catahoula Parish since its creation in 1808.

The map below reflects this boundary change.

Portions of Catahoula and Ouachita annexed to create Caldwell Parish in 1838

A fourth boundary change occurred in 1843 when Franklin Parish was created from the parishes of Carroll, Catahoula, Madison and Ouachita and Tensas Parish was created from Concordia Parish.

Due to these political boundary changes, Catahoula Parish is now shown surrounded by Claiborne, Ouachita, Caldwell and Franklin to the north, Tensas and Concordia to the east, Avollyes to the south, and Rapides and Natchitoches to the west.

Portions of Carroll, Catahoula, Madison and Ouachita parishes annexed to create Franklin Parish in 1843

Source:  mapofus.org

Catahoula Parish Boundary Changes of 1814 and 1828

Catahoula Parish created in 1808 from Ouachita and Rapides parishes

The settlement of Catahoula became a parish on March 23, 1808.  Six years later, in 1814, Catahoula Parish exchanged land with Ouachita Parish.  This boundary change is shown in the map below.

Catahoula Parish exchanges land with Ouachita Parish in 1814

The 1822 map below shows northern and central Louisiana after the 1814 boundary change mentioned above.

Catahoula Parish is surrounded by Ouachita Parish to the north and west, Concordia Parish to the east and Rapides Parish to the south. Natchitoches Parish encompasses the western half of the state.

Northern and Central Louisiana in 1822

In 1828 another land exchange with Ouachita Parish occured as shown below.

Catahoula Parish is now shown surrounded by the parishes of Claiborne, Ouachita, Concordia, Avoylles, Rapides and Natchitoches.  This was the result of additional boundary changes and the creation of new parishes within the state prior to 1828.

Catahoula Parish exchanges land with Ouachita Parish in 1828

Source:
mapofus.org

The Creation of Catahoula Parish

Louisiana Prior to the Creation of Catahoula Parish - 1805

Excerpt from Catahoula Parish History:

Less than 40 years after LaSalle claimed Louisiana for France two trading settlements in Catahoula Parish appear on a 1720 map in the French National Archives in Paris. However, these French settlers abandoned their trading posts in 1729 fleeing to New Orleans after they heard about the Natchez Indian massacre of the French at nearby Fort Rosalie. In retaliation the French pursued the Natchez to Catahoula where the Natchez Indian Nation was destroyed in 1731. Due to the brutal massacre at Fort Rosalie it would be many years before Europeans returned to Catahoula. 

Being under Spanish rule for over 30 years the frontiersmen that had ventured back into Catahoula petitioned the Spanish governor in 1794 for permission to settle “about ten Leagues from the Rapide, over the Catahola Lake”, which was granted. The population increased immediately following the Louisiana Purchase in 1804 as more and more settlers moved into this area, and on March 23, 1808 the Catahoula “settlement” was erected into a parish. 

Catahoula Parish created from Rapides and Ouachita parishes - March 23, 1808

The political boundaries of Catahoula Parish have changed seven times since its creation in 1808.
Other than Natchitoches and Ouachita parishes, Catahoula has had the most boundary changes in the state of Louisiana.

Boundary changes for Catahoula Parish occured in the following years:

1814 - Exchange of land with Ouachita Parish
1828 - Exchange of land with Ouachita Parish
1838 - Creation of Caldwell Parish from Catahoula and Ouachita
1843 - Creation of Franklin Parish from Carroll, Catahoula, Madison and Ouachita
1852 - Creation of Winn Parish from Catahoula, Natchitoches and Rapides
1873 - Franklin Parish gains land from Catahoula
1908 - Creation of LaSalle Parish from Catahoula

These political boundary changes will be documented in future posts.



Sources:  
mapofus.org
catahoulahistory.com

Old Cemeteries near Sicily Island

Until recent years, I was unaware of the Old Salem Cemetery, the Peniston Cemetery or the Peck Cemetery.

A search for documentation on the people buried in these cemeteries has been unsuccessful. If anyone has information on these cemeteries, please leave a comment or email me at rootsfromthebayou@gmail.com.

Catahoula Parish Map ~ 1895

A few items to note:

• Sicily Island is listed as "Sisily Isl."
• Florence is still listed.  Florence was changed to Sicily Island by 1920
• LaSalle Parish had not been created.  The creation of LaSalle Parish out of the western portion of Catahoula would come in 1908

Sicily Island Map ~ 1912-1913 (Countryside)

Sicily Island Map ~ 1912-1913 (Town)