Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1973 The ettleS ment Succession of the Boeuf River Basin, Louisiana. John Clarence Lewis Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Lewis, John Clarence, "The eS ttlement Succession of the Boeuf River Basin, Louisiana." (1973). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2479. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2479 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 I I 74-7241 LEWIS, John Clarence, 1930- THE SETTLEMENT SUCCESSION OF THE BOEUF RIVER BASIN, LOUISIANA. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ph.D., 1973 Geography University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFIIMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. THE SETTLEMENT SUCCESSION CF THE BOEUF RIVER BASIN, LOUISIANA A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of philosophy in The Department of Geography and Anthropology John Clarence Lewis B.S., University of Akron, 19^2 M.A., Kent State University, 1965 August, 1973 i i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Stimulation for this study came from many sources. Initially, exposure to the work and thoughts of Dr. Fred B. Kniffen and Dr. Milton B. Newton, Jr. created general interest in settlement geography. Trips through the Basin, discussions with students from the area in my classes at Northeast Louisiana University, and the realization that little had been done on the settlement of the Basin provoked specific interest in the area. In addition, the enthusiasm of the residents of the area with wham I came into contact in my various research projects prompted me to continue. Many of them anxiously await the completion of this work, realizing that much has already been lost forever in the understanding of hew the Basin’s present cultural landscape came to be. The aid and constructive criticism of Dr. Milton B. Newton, Jr. sustained me through many difficult moments. Valuable comments were also given by Dr. william G. Haag, Dr. Miles Richardson, Dr. Roland E. Chardon, and Dr. Sam B. H illia rd . Gratitude must be expressed to the staffs of the libraries at Louisiana State University, Northeast Louisiana University, and Louisiana Tech University, and to the staffs of the libraries of Ouachita, Morehouse, Richland, Franklin, West Carroll, Caldwell, and Catahoula parishes. Similarly, those in the courthouses of Ouachita, Morehouse, Franklin, Richland, and West C a rro ll p arish es ch ee rfu lly made a v aila b le many records useful in my work, and deserve appreciation. i i i Finally, recognition of the patience and sacrifices of my wife and children must be mentioned. iv TABLE CF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS * i i LIST CF T A B L E S............................................................... vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS................................................................................................. v i i i ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................x i i INTRODUCTION . ....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. SETTLEMENT PATTERNS PRIOR TO THE UNITED STATES ERA. 10 Indian. .... ... .... .... 10 Prehistoric Sites and Areas .••••.••.. 10 Historic Sites .................................................................................. 22 Influence upon Subsequent Settlement Patterns .... 23 Impressions of Early European Explorers ............................................. 2h French Settlement 27 Spanish Settlement. ...••••«.................................33 2. ANTE-BELLUM SETTLEMENT........................................... 37 Landscape and Vegetation. .. •• 37 Transportation ............................... JUO Agriculture and Other Economic Activities ................................ h3 S e t t l e m e n t ........................................................................................ 52 C o n c lu s io n ......................................................................................................82 3. WAR, RECONSTRUCTION, AND EXPANDED SETTLMENT (1860-1890). 81 Landscape and Vegetation. ..••••••••• 8I1 T ran sp o rtatio n • • . • ...................................... 87 Water . ................................................................................................87 R ailroad ••••••••••............................... 88 Road. ................. 88 Agriculture and Other Economic Activities ••••.. 91 Agriculture .................................................. 91 L um bering............................................ 97 S e t t l e m e n t ............................... 97 Conclusion 117 V Chapter Page li. RAIL EXPANSION, LIMBERING, AND INTENSIVE SETTLEMENT (1890-1930) ........................................................ 119 Landscape and Vegetation. ................................................... 119 T ransportation 120 Agriculture and Other Economic Activities ..... 123 Agriculture .............................................................. 123 Lumbering and M in erals. ......................................................... 130 S e t t l e m e n t ......................................................................................... 131 C o n c lu s io n ......................................................... ...... 5. WITHDRAWAL AND MODIFICATION (1 9 3 0 - P r e s e n t) .............................. 107 Landscape and Vegetation ............................................................... 107 Transportation .............. 15*7 Agriculture and Other Economic Activities ..... 158 Agriculture ............................................................................ 15>8 Lumbering ............... 166 M ineral E x p lo itatio n ................................................................ 166 Manufacturing .................................................. 167 S e t t l e m e n t ......................................................................................... 170 Orthodox Upland South ..... 189 Modified Upland S o u th .....................................•••• 198 Lowland South ..••« 201 Conclusion .••••••••.••... 208 6 . CONCLUSION................................................... .............. .............................. 210 REFERENCES CITED..................................................................................................... 217 v i LIST CF TABLES Table Page 1. Indian and European Usages of Indian Sites in the Boeuf River Basin ............................... 22 2. Selected Agricultural Characteristics in 1850 ..................................Ij8 3. Selected Agricultural Characteristics in i860 ii9 iu Land Purchases on Prairies Mer Rouge and Jefferson 1805-1813 53 5. Religious Bodies in Boeuf Basin i860 •••••••. 77 6 . Birthplace Data for Inhabited Sections of Boeuf Basin for Residents with Rural Real Estate Valued at #2,000.00 or More, 1800 - Percentage ............................... 79 7. State of Birth of Children