The Richland Beacon-News from Rayville, Louisiana • 20

Pert 4 so, icti from 3 DELHI of water travel for the people of the area, but better and futer transportation wu on the way. Although the charter for a railroad to be built across north Louisiana had been granted in 1836, it wasn't until I8S9 that it extended to Delhi. Construction continued through the Civil War. but Union forces operating in the area destroyed much of the railroad and it had to be rebuilt. During the war, the railroad was used mostly to send soldiers and supplies to the Confederate cause.

When it was partly destroyed, people had to again turn to waterways for transportation. The repairs were completed in 1867 and trains were again up and running through Richland Parish, making stops at Delhi, Carpenter's Inn, Bee Bayou, Little Creek (Rayville), Girard and Crew Lake. Deadly disease In 1878, yellow fever struck the town and whole families were wiped out overnight Those who didn't contract the disease fled town. Among those staying behind to help the sick and bury the dead were Rev. P.

H. Moss (a Methodist minister who soon died of the fever) and Dr. E. W. Thompson (a pharmacist).

Even though many didn't come in person to help the sick, provisions, such as freshly killed game, were left by the refugees at a safe distance from town for a rider to transport to those touched by the fever. Over half the population of Delhi was lost in the epidemic. Potential for growth The Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana, Vol. II (Goodspeed Publishing 1892), of that year reported that "Delhi hu nine general stores, two drug stores, two livery stables, two hotels, one steam-gin, a good public school, and churches of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Catholic orders." Delhi continued to grow, with advances in education, transportation and industry. Delhi was declared an incorporated village May 28, 1900 and became a town October 11, 1919.

The first officials in the Town of Delhi were: F. G. mayor; W. S. Davis, C.

V. Hunt and John Bradley, aldermen; J. B. Stubblefield, marshal; and M. M.

Munholland, town clerk. south side of Delhi and served to educate a small number of children whose parents were affluent enough to pay a tuition of $3 per month, books, supplies and who sent lunches from home. Bradley reports that "parents took turns supplying wood for heat and brought the teacher gifts of food and other necessities. The teacher nearly always 'boarded' with a nearby family which involved a place to sleep and food to eat. Sometimes he paid a small amount for his keep'." In that same article it is noted that the school's next site was in a building on the site of what vis then the Chevrolet Motor Company, and classes were conducted by the Presbyterian minister, T.

H. Cleeland. After his death, a Mrs. Ramage from Winnsboro became the teacher and wu the first female educator in Delhi. The names of Buchanan, Hafter and Dollarhide followed Ramage teachers.

In 1880, Bradley reports, T. H. Cleeland's widow donated a plot of land to be used for a school only. The two-room frame building erected wu called the Delhi Academy and wu used for about IS years -until 189S when a resolution for the establishment of a high school in Delhi wu passed. This school wu located between Race and Chatham streets where Fifth Street would intersect if it were not a dead-end at that point.

The school would house the educating of Delhi's children there until 1907. Transportation trials Waterways were the primary transportation avenues in the area in the early days. Good waterways meant easy mobility and settlements sprung up around the most navigable rivers and streams. Bayou Macon, Boeuf River and Tensas River were the major waterways in the area of Delhi and were important factors in the growth and development of the little settlement Bradley reports in the Feb. 17, 1994 article that "These same names show up on the earliest maps of the area.

Indians and early settlers used these names. There are no records of how these names were given." Steamboats, ferries and personal crafts were the most common form "Brother Smith" and three helpers in a missionary endeavor in the community. Mrs. Baker greeted them cordially and prepared a supper of smoked sausage, hominy, Louisiana yams, corn pone and coffee. During the visit, "Brother Smith" noticed the Bakers' small baby in her crib, and remarked how beautiful the wu.

After uking permission, he took the baby and held her for some time. (The baby, who wu at that time ix weeks old, wu Mrs. Sartor's mother, Beulah Baker Williams.) Young Will Baker wu taken for a walk around the yard by "Brother Smith" and as they talked Will wu encouraged to always do what his parents said, and to do the right thing. The family was given a dollar bill, which he took from the lining of his coat. It wu later rumored that he had over $60,000 in his coat at the time.

After they left, Mrs. Baker said to her husband, "John, Brother Smith wu one of the most cultured, tender men I have ever met. Didn't you notice how tender and kind he wu with the children?" Several months later, Mrs. Baker wu told that "Brother Smith" wu really Jesse James and his "helpers" were Frank James and two of die Younger brothers. His life of violence ended in violence when a person who wu supposed to be his friend shot him in the back in April 1882.

Early education In 1853, the people of Delhi were already concerned about education. The Delhi Muonic Lodge wu built that year, and the building wu used for school cluses and church services. U. E. Travis, one of the members of that pioneer family, wu instrumental in building the lodge.

There wu also a "pay run by a Mr. McNeil, who also operated the first drug store in Delhi. That school wu located near the present site of Delhi Glus, on the northeast corner of the junction of Hwy. 80 and Hwy. 17.

Another article written by Bradley in the Delhi Dispatch April 14, 1994 told of another school taught by a Mr. Abel. The school she talks about wu in a house on the this sign, and knew that the people who lived there could be trusted. He also said that the people who know Jesse and Frank would not talk about it to anyone. He wu told that because of their feelings for Jesse, or because of their fear of him, they kept quiet about their acquaintance with the notorious outlaw.

It has been told through the years that Jesse's password wu "A dead man tells no tales." This wu perhaps a reason for keeping quiet. The James gang had a hideout eut of Delhi, a short distance from Waverly, to be used when the whole gang came to the area. When the two brothers came alone, they spend the time with friends and relatives. A Collection Tale: An interesting story hu been told by a number of people. Some say it happened in our area; others say it wu in Arkansas.

It seems that the James boys arrived at the home of a widow one day to rest. As she prepared supper for them, they could sense her worry. Jesse asked if she wu worried because they were there. She said no, but told them that the next day a man wu to come to collect the mortgage payment due on her home. This accounted to several hundred dollars, and she did not have the funds available.

After questioning her about the man who would come to collect, Jesse gave her the money to pay the debt, and urged her to get a signed receipt of payment. The next day the man came, collected the money, gave the receipt and left. He wu only a short distance from the widow's home when he wu robbed by Frank and Jesse. A nice outlaw: Many times during her life, the late Mrs. Airline Sartre of Alto told a story that been passed down through the years by members of her family.

It went like this: In 187,1, her grandfather, John Baker, lived on what was then known as Reed Plantation, a few miles from Delhi. One day, he wu on his way to town, he met four men he had known in Missouri. Knowing they were outlaws, he decided to take them to his home rather than go into town with them. When they arrived at his home, he introduced them to his wife as Cornelia Twaddle (mother of Emily wu on her way to school mornini and uw a man ride up a large oak tree and itart to carve on it. When she pawed the tree on her way home, the noticed that the man had carved the name Delhi.

She says the tree was used as a signpost to settlers and travelers and it just stuck with the The man, Tweddlc claimed, was Ben Lowry. Outlaws in town What follows are a few stories of the infamous outlaws, Frank and Jessie James and their gang. Theirs lis an interesting chapter in the hislo-iry of Delhi. These stories were related by Nell Lee in a January 1969 edition of the Richland Beacon-News. "In the late 1800s Richland Parish, with its many swamps and heavily wooded areas, provided a refuge for many outlaws.

Among these were the notorious James brothers, Jesse and Frank. It seems that some of the people in the parish during these days of the Reconstruction period compared the outlaws to Robin Hood. They apparently came to the area to visit relatives and hide from the law. Even though they were feared by some, they actually did not harm the people there, according to reports. "Many people condoned the activities of these outlaws because they were directed against some of the elements that hod contributed to the misfortune of the Confederacy.

"During the height of their activities they came to Delhi to visit relatives and rest from their criminal activities. The old house where these relatives lived is said to have been built by their uncle, Captain Jared. Located on Highway 17, must north of the high school (present day), it was situated on the present site of the Kwik Pantry on the east side of the highway. "Many stories are told about the house, which is called the "Old Haney House" by the people in Delhi. It was bought by Tom Haney in 1906 and is now owned by his daughter, Mrs.

J. B. Emery. The house has since been torn down and the Kwik Pantry built in its place." "Romantic Interest: A Delhi resident reported that another reason the James boys were seen in the area wu that one of them wu romantically interested in a girl who lived south of town. Her father wu a blacksmith.

"Near Delhi, about one mile north of Dunn, is the old Carpenter house. This wu a stagecoach relay station during that time. The old house, which was called "Carpenter's burned many years ago, but the well which wu in use then is still there An electric pump has been added, and a small shed built around it, but it is still "It is told that Jesse and Frank were there on several occasions. On one of their visits, some witnesses were need to sign a legal document on the transfer of some land which involved two members of the Carpenter family, and Jesse signed as a witness to the transaction. (Jesse Woodson James wu his full name and he signed J.

W. James.) This document, on file at the Richland Parish Courthouse in Rayville, wu for the sale of 140 acres of land for the price of $100 and is dated November 23, 187S. Buried Gold: According to Mrs. Evelyn Cochran of Rayville, Jesse was supposed to have buried gold on the old Carpenter Place at a time when he wu being chased by the law. She recalls being taken there by her father when she wu a very small child, to dig for "Jesse's gold." "There would be droves of people there digging, and holes were dug all over the property, but no gold was ever found, as far as I know," she said.

Sign of Friendship: The courthouse and jail have been torn down, the old hanging tree removed, and Old Floyd, once the parish seat and a very active place is now a quite fanning community (in West Carroll Parish). In an interview with E. B. "Dip" Carson of Rayville, an interesting sidelight was brought out. Noticing houses all over the area with a lone pine tree in the front yard and being curious, he asked about the trees.

He was told by an old Confederate soldier that people who were friendly with the James boys planted the pine trees as a sign of their friendship. Any time any member of the gang was in the area, he looked for It's January 1, 2000. How SAFE is your money? QUALITY i mm i mMMmmmmmmmm Whether Buying A Vehicle Or Having Repair Needs, We Take Care Of Our Customers. Os Ouir If you're a RICHLAND STATE BANK customer the answer is very safe! i Over the past two years RICHLAND STATE BANK has dedicated our personnel and financial take the appropriate measures to assure the Y2K issue and that our systems are ready and able to when the calendar changes to January 1, 2000. 1 resources to assess operate smoothly Y2K! Hwy.

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