Veach-Foshee Memorial Library Collection

By Act 88 of 1843 DeSoto Parish was created out of Natchitoches and Caddo.  The first meeeting of parish officers was at Screamerville.  Debate over the location of the permanent parish seat was settled by purchase of a quarter-section of land at the present site of Mansfield.  Two lots were dedicated for a courthouse and a jail.  The price of the two buildings was $900.00.Upon completion the log courthouse was accepted by the Police Jury,August 7, 1843 and first term of court was August 5, 1843.  The old log courthouse was lost sometime after it was replaced by a new building,and was "rediscovered" over 100 years later within the walls of the old General Ross Hewitt home as it was being demolished.  Realizing the significance of such a find, the DESOTO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. endeavored to preserve the historical structure. A committee spearheaded by the late Eileen Nabors set about the task of raising the necessary funds for the restorations and preservation of the old courthouse. Through their efforts, over $30,000 was raised.  Contractor Dennis Manthei reconstructed the old structure under the supervision of local historian Raymond Powell.  It is now a museum operated by the DHS located on Polk Street at the courthouse square mini park. Recently a period stair rail has been added courtesy of Charles and Louise Odum.  Hours are 8:00-4:30 Mon.,Tues., Thurs., Fri. , 8:00-4:00 Wed.  Visitors are encouraged to stop, take a step back in DeSoto Parish history, and view the artifacts displayed in the historic structure.
 

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements, notices, solicitations, etc. relevant to historical and/or
genealogical research in DeSoto parish.

Some of the ladies of Mansfield, aware of the existence of the high-hat law and appreciating the feelings of those who had to sit behind them during the performances at the opera house this week, removed their headgear for the time. Their condition was highly appreciated by those who were thus able to see the performances.     February 5, 1897 ~ Mansfield Journal

Read about the Opera House and other DeSoto Parish places, people, and events in the
PLUME DIGEST

HISTORY OF DESOTO PARISH FROM BIOGRAPHICAL &HISTORICAL MEMOIR OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
DESOTO PARISH RECORDS & INFORMATION ONLINE SOME LINKS GO TO TEXT OR OFF-SITEPAGES;  USE YOUR BROWSER'S 'BACK' FUNCTION TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE CENSUS TRANSCRIPTIONS 1861 TAX LIST COURT RECORDS SUCCESSION(PROBATE) & TUTORSHIP (GUARDIAN) RECORDS CONVEYANCE (DEED) RECORDS CIVIL COURT RECORDS RANGE/TOWNSHIP MAP OF DESOTO PARISH MORE MAPS DESOTO COURT RECORDS AVAILABLE ON MICROFILM AT THE  SHREVE MEMORIAL LIBRARY MILITARY RECORDS VITAL RECORDS FAMILY BIBLE RECORDS, BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS OBITUARIES CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS BIOGRAPHIES SCHOOLS KEACHI COLLEGE THE RECORDS OF RATTIE COLEMAN GLENN including names of students attending an early 20th century African-American grade school. MANSFIELD FEMALE COLLEGE Photo courtesy of Linda Trichel REMINISCENCES OF MFC'S FIRST COMMENCEMENT GRADUATES1856-1895 GRADUATES1897-1930 ALL STUDENTS 1855-56 FACULTY 1855-56 DO YOU RECOGNIZE THESE MFC GRADS? THE MANSFIELD FEMALE COLLEGE MUSEUM 101 Monroe St., Mansfield In 2002 the Huckaby and Calhoun families donated the MFC property and grounds to the State of Louisiana. It was added to the Secretary of State's Museum Programs during the 2003 legislative session and is now open Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., admission free. JOIN FRIENDS OF THE MFC MUSEUM DESOTO PARISH SITES & STRUCTURES ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES MISCELLANY CHURCH RECORDS, LODGE RECORDS,PHOTOGRAPHS, LETTERS, LISTS, POSTMASTERS, POLICE JURY, ET AL.
DESOTO PARISH & THE  WAR FOR SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI WAS FOUGHT APRIL 8-9, 1864 AT MANSFIELD & PLEASANT HILL.  CHECK THIS PAGE FOR ACCOUNTS OF THE BATTLE, CONFEDERATE MILITARY COMPANIES RAISED FROM IN & AROUND DESOTO PARISH, BURIAL SITES OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, CONFEDERATE PENSION INFORMATION,AND MUCH MORE! FRIENDS OF THE MANSFIELD BATTLEFIELD
LOCAL INFORMATION:
DISCOVERDESOTO Official website of the DeSoto Parish Tourist Bureau
DESOTO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC FRIENDS OF MANSFIELD BATTLEFIELD NORTH LOUISIANA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION (publisher of North Louisiana History; application in .doc format) DESOTO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC HISTORIC GRAND CANE ASSOCIATION Keachi Heritage Foundation P.O. Box 24 Keachi, LA 71046 (318) 933-8371 or (318) 933-5311
NEWSPAPERS Mansfield Enterprise 318-872-4120 The Interstate Progress (Logansport) 318-697-5521 Toledo Bend Tribune	DESOTO PARISH LIBRARIES Director:  Wanda A.Berry 109 Crosby Street Mansfield, LA 71052 Voice: 318-872-6100 Fax:  318-872-6120     Hours: Mon-Thurs 9-6, Fri9-5,  Sat 9-1, Closed Sunday	DeSoto Parish Court Clerk  O. L."Sonny" Stone Jr. P.O. Box 1206 Mansfield, LA 71052 318-872-3110
Col.James Hamilton Beard Camp 1856                       Kate Beard Chapt. #397    Logansport/DeSotoParish                                                                         Mansfield
DESOTO PARISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FINDING AIDS QUERIES                SURNAMES
REFERENCE & LOOKUPS

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