Claiborne Parish Historical Series

            From time to time The Guardian-Journal staff researches the who, what, when, where, why, and how of Claiborne Parish history. Although we don't always find answers, we do what we can.

            For example, we have printed information about the first settler in the parish, John Murrell. We have also written about Roy Mayfield's contribution to local education and the history of Homer High School. To mention others, we've written about the Old Homer Cemetery, Tulip Methodist Church, Homer Tobacco, Barkett Candy Company, and Claiborne Butane's imprints on local history.

            We spent much of the past summer in the Claiborne Parish Library, the Ford Museum, and the Claiborne Parish Clerk's Office searching for information about the old schools in Claiborne Parish and their history, the White Lightning Road and its history, and more. We hunted through archives of the Shreveport Times as well as spent many hours reviewing issues of The Guardian-Journal from the 1800s and 1900s. We drove miles to interview people about what they recall from their youth and what their parents and grandparents told them as they were growing up in Claiborne Parish.

            Surprisingly, our research is not welcomed by all. While most folks are happy to share memories, one or two expressed concern about the effect of informing our readers about our own colorful parish history. Be assured the staff of The Guardian-Journal wishes only to share portions of our history as factually as possible.

            Children are taught history for a reason: to help them honor our successes as well as not repeat errors of the past.  Though much of our country's history is inspiring, some is not. No nation's history is without flaws, nor is Claiborne Parish's.

            With the objective of enlightening our readers and stimulating constructive discussion, beginning October 6, 2005, The Guardian-Journal will begin a series of six articles we feel our readers will be as intrigued with as we were. For anyone interested in local history, these articles will make for fascinating reading.

 

 

Historical Series Chronology Resposes have been favorable to this historical series. Additional material continues to come to light. This means the series will be longer than originally expected; therefore, we are including a brief chronology of past articles: Part 1 (printed 10/13/05) - J. H. Tuggle's rabid dog bit several livestock and other animals; W. W. Maddox assassinated by unknown person and rewards totalling $500 offered for arrest and conviction of the killer; J. H. Ramsey wounds J. D. Tuggle near Denman and Co. Hardware in Homer... Part 2 (printed 10/20/05) - Near Denman and Co. Hardware in Homer, J. D. Tuggle shot at John H. Ramsey, missed, and killed Professor J. H. Williams; W. W. Ramsey died and Hamp and Henry Tuggle were wounded in a shootout between the jail and Knighten's saloon in Homer... Part 3 (printed 10/27/05) - J. D. Tuggle and I. N. Glover died when ambushed by unknown assailant about three and a half miles toward Summerfield... Part 4 (printed 11/10/05) - Murray Tuggle, Hamp's 15-year-old son is shot and wounded; continuation of Dosia Williams' account of Hamp Tuggle's stay at Loyd Hall... Part 5 (printed 11/10/05) - Murray Tuggle, Hamp's 15-year-old son is shot and wounded; continuation of Dosia Williams' account of Hamp Tuggle's stay at Loyd Hall Part 6 (printed 11/17/05) - Henry Tuggle killed in field in presence of his three children. Link Waggonner shoots a Mr. Holland, then flees to Texas... Part 7 (printed 11/24/05) - Waggonner-Kinder grudge; Henry Tuggle makes dying statement that Tom Kinder shot him; Coroner's jury determines Tom Kinder shot and killed John Ferguson, a black man; Tom Kinder shoots at A. K. Clingman... Part 8 (printed 12/01/05) - Rewards totalling $1000 offered for Tom Kinder's capture and delivery to sheriff; Kinder surrenders... Part 9 (printed 12/08/05) - Waggonner on the run; Kinder trial begins... NOTE: The final chapters in the White Lightning Series will be available in the book being published by The Guardian-Journal. Watch the Guardian-Journal for details..

 

White Lightning Meanders Through Hilly North La.

White Lightning—it may evoke feelings of adventure, of moonshiners tearin' down the road with `revenooers' hot behind.

Anyone who lives in Claiborne Parish has heard of the White Lightning Road. And anyone who has lived in Claiborne Parish since the 1950s and 1960s knows why LA146 is called the White Lightning Road. But for those unfamiliar with its history, some background on the White Light-ning Road may be `enlightning.'...
 

Step Back In Time At Palmer's Store

There’s a time machine between Summerfield and Antioch: Palmer’s Store. If you want to go back in time and glimpse the first half of the 1900s, visit C. V. Palmer, Jr., at Palmer’s Store...
 

Bridges Mill School Remembered

Many residents in Claiborne Parish may remember walking to school with lunch pails filled with a biscuit or sweet roll, fried sausage, a sweet potato, and maybe a fried egg...