Ernest and Mary McKay Boykin of Fluker, Louisiana

Ernest and Mary McKay Boykin
Photo Courtesy: Sharon Boykin

During the time that my dad transitioned, my cousin Sharon shared family images with me. One of the pictures she shared with me was of our paternal grandparents. My grandfather Ernest was born in 1908 and died in 1978 in Fluker, Louisiana. 

He and grandma Mary were the parents of; Ernest Boykin, Jr., Florence, Walter, Lonnie, Francis, Jerry, and Ellis.  Grandfather Ernest worked at Kent Piling Co in Fluker, La.  He lived in Tangipahoa Parish all of his life. His parents Jake and Martha Burton Boykin were natives of Tangipahoa Parish all of their lives as well. 

His U.S. WWII Draft Young Men Card from 1940-1947 stated where he was employed at.  Before working at Kent Piling Co, he was a farmer. According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, he obtained a 3rd-grade education.  I wanted to see who their neighbors were, I found families with the surnames of; Walls, Thomas,  Ards, and Foust. 

Grandma Mary was born in 1904 in Mississippi.  She was the daughter of Charlie and Florence McKay Williams.  The family lived in Beat 5, Pike County, Mississippi on Chatawa Road. She had a brother named William McKay. Charlie worked at the Saw Mill as a wage earner. He rented his home and was unable to read or write. 

Florence was born to Alex and Rebecca Ann Bates Williams in 1858 in Amite County, Mississippi. Alex and Rebecca both died in 1927.  Great-grandma's Florence siblings were; Jerry, Florence, Ada, Amanda, and Rosa Williams.  Florence father Alex was born in 1857 in Mississippi. Alex and Rebecca were married in 1877. Alex was listed in a mulatto in the 1920 United States Federal Census. 

In 1920 he lived on Magnolia Road on a farm. His mother and father both were born in Mississippi. Alex owned his farm, and he couldn't read or write according to the census.  I checked ancestry public trees to see if I could find anyone who is searching the same names. I did find someone with the last names; Powell, Robinson, Guice, Harness, Russell, Hebert Family Trees with Alex and Rebecca in them.

The History of Percy and Creola Atkins Johnson

Creola Atkins Johnson
Photo Courtesy: The Johnson Family

I heard a lot about the Atkins family of St. Helena. People often talk about a man named John David Atkins. Everyone called him J.D. Atkins. He was a farmer who owned a produce packing shed where they took the produce after harvest time for packing and selling.  African-American farmers weren't getting the best and fair prices for their produce in the Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parish.  J.D. would take their produce to the French Market in New Orleans and get a better price for them. He rented space to sell produce at the French Market. 

J.D. parents were Monvill and Susie Hickerson Atkins. They were the parents of; Creola, William, Curtis, Lawerence, John D,  King Davis, James, Idella, Nannie, Mary Monvill  Atkins. there may be others, but the United States Federal Census only list these names.  J.D. was born in 1918 in Greensburg, St. Helena, Louisiana and died on June 9, 1998. He was buried at Turner Chapel Cemetery. His father Monvill was born in 1877 in St. Helena and died in 1933.

Creola married a man named Percy Johnson in St. Helena Parish.  They had fifteen children; Loukillie, Ike, Evelyn,  Lena May, Jack, Winnie, Shelly, Sampson, Frank, Percy, Melvin, Richard, John Lee, Rose Mary,  Joe Louis Johnson, and Anthony Miles. With so many children to take care of, she stayed at home to take of the family. The only time I saw my mother cry is when I went to Vietnam, said her son Frank. 

Percy Johnson
Photo Courtesy: The Johnson Family

Percy was known as one of the best African-American ropers and cowboys in St. Helena Parish. I interviewed several people who talked about his roping skills. There isn't any written documentation or oral history collections on the African-American cowboys and ropers. Percy son's Richard and Frank often tell me about their father and the kind of man he was. One thing Frank wanted me to know about his father, that his father was a good man and a good provider for his family. Richard is the one that took after his father when it comes down to the love of horses and cows. Frank enjoys hunting like his father.  Frank and his father Percy hunted all kinds of wild game to feed the family.

Stories of the local people are significant to local history. There is so much more to learn about the African-American cowboys and their way of life. Who were these cowboys and horsemen? Where did they live? If anyone knows of any cowboys and horsemen in your family and you would like to share the story with Preserving Our History in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, please contact me.

Mack H. McCraney Became the First African -American to Practice Law in Tangipahoa Parish

Rev. Mack H. McCraney is a native of Hammond, Louisiana. he graduated from Greenville Park High School and went on to serve six years in the United States Army. After his tour of duty, Rev. McCraney enrolled at Southern Univerity Law School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Upon obtaining his Law Degree, he became the first African-American to practice law in Tangipahoa Parish. Reverend McCraney is Pastor of Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and is employed as Assistant District Attorney for the 21st Judicial District Court System.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson, Sr. 

Joyce Ann Jackson, First Black Female Warden of Tangipahoa Parish

Joyce Jackson was hired by Sheriff J. Edward Layrisson. On September 1, 1984, as deputy and placed in the jail's kitchen to supervise the inmates cooking meals. In 2010, Sheriff Daniel Edwards promoted her as the first African American Female Warden of Tangipahoa Parish.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson, Sr.

Deputy Marshal Henry Jackson, 7th Ward, Hammond, LA

Henry Jacksoon, Sr. 

In 1972 Marshal Vic Anderson, City Marshal for the City Court of Hammond, 7th Ward Tangipahoa Parish hired Henry Jackson, Sr. as a Deputy Marshal Marshal Anderson.  Deputy Jackson served court orders issued from City Court of Hammond, Subpoenas, civil citations and evictions were served in the jurisdiction of the 7th Ward of  Tangipahoa which include Hammond, Ponchatoula, Manchac, and surrounding areas. 

After Marshal Anderson retired, his son Gordon Anderson was elected as City Marshal in 1975. Henry Jackson, Sr, was appointed the first African American Chief Deputy Marshal under Marshal Gordon Anderson's administration. The offices grew when Chief Deputy Jackson first became a deputy. His duties included the daily supervision of the Deputy's and  overseeing Courtroom Security.

As of November 5, 2006, Henry Jackson, Sr. has been employed with the Marshal's Office for 34 years during which he served as Chief Deputy Marshal for 31 years. 

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson, Sr.

Bobby Carter First African American Deputy Clerk for the City of Hammond

Ms. Carter was appointed as the first African American Deputy Clerk for the City Court of Hammond, Louisiana by the Honorable Judge Leon Ford, III on May 19, 1969. She worked as Docket Manager for the Juvenile Court for a total of 33 years.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson

Donald Dotey First African American Louisiana State Trooper in Tangipahoa Parish

Donald Dotey, Master Trooper was the first African-American State Trooper in Tangipahoa Parish. Donald was from Tangipahoa Parish. He served from December 1975-December 1996.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson

Connie L. Dotey First African American State Trooper Southeast Louisiana

Connie L. Dotey was the first 1st Black Female State Trooper Southeast Louisiana. The 2nd in the State of Louisiana. Trooper First Class 1977-1987. She was the first African American Female Major Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office and Retired in July 2004.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson

Dr. J. L. Garrett the first African American Veterinarian in the City of Hammond

Dr. J. L. Garrett is a native of Newton, Texas. He graduated from Liberty High School in Newton. Dr. Garrett then attended Prairie View Colleg and went on to Tuskegee University where he obtained a Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine Degree. He then went on to serve his county as a Captain in the United States Air Force. After his tour of duty, Dr. Garrett resided in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the year of 1960, he moved his family to Hammond, Louisiana where he opened a Veterinarian Clinic thus, becoming the first African American Veterinarian in the City of Hammond.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson

Melvin Finn Was the Amite First Black Policeman

Melvin Finn was appointed as the first black policeman in Amite on August 15, 1966. His duties were to patrol the black areas of Amite. He was ordered to limit any action to the black sections of the town and black citizens. Of course, after establishing himself as a policeman capable of handling any detail these restrictions were brought forward and conditions were changed.

Officer Finn was named Assistant Chief of Police in 1981. He retired in August 1990 after serving 24 years. He was married to Ora L. Finn. They have three children and three grandchildren. Melvin is a member of Butlers AME Zion Church in Amite.

SourceL The Collection of Henry Jackson.

Rudolph Paul Gibson of Tangipahoa Parish

Mr. Gibson served on many boards in the State of Louisiana and the Parish of Tangipahoa. He was appointed by Gov. Edwin Edwards to serve on the State Juvenile Board.

Source: The Collection of Henry Jackson

Sheriff's Deputy Edward Toefield, Jr., Killed in the Line of Duty

Sheriff Deputy Edward Toefield, Jr. 

February  2, 1984, Sheriff's Deputy Edward Toefield, Jr., was shot and killed by a bank robbery suspect just south of Amite. His killer was captured the following day, tried and sentenced to death.

Source: Amite Genealogy Library.

Celebrating the Life of Walter James Boykins

Walter James Boykins was born to mary and Ernest Boykins in Fluker, La., on August 6, 1938. His is the third child of seven. Walter attended West Side Hight School in Amite, La where he played quarterback on the school's football team. In 1958 toward the end of the football season, Walter broke his neck and had to stay in the hospital for two years. Once he recovered, he attended Xavier University for 2 1/2 years. Mr. Boykins later dropped out fo school to help his moother and father in their time of need. He got a job at a chemical plant where he worked for years.

Walter met and married Rosalie Boykins. They married for 50 years in February. In 1982, Walter started working for Goliath in the field for 1 1/2 years and then began driving trucks for the company. He has been with them for 26 years now. Over the years, he had learned a lot just being around all the great workers from the company, especially  Harry Lazarus. Even though his work days have come to an end, he deserves to sit back, relax, and enjoy life with the remote in one hand and Brandy inthe other. He preceded in death by his mother Mary Boykins and father Earnest Boykins Sr., borhter Earnest Boykins Jr., Jerry Boykins, Lonnie Boykins, Ellis Boykins, and his sister France Boykins, his Florence Boykins, his children children Patrick Boykins, Antoinette Harrell, Zelda Mitchell, Edward Johnson, Kennedy Johnson, Shelia Johnson, Charlie Williams, his grandchildren Kanika Thompson, Renesha Scott, Joseph LaCoste, Bernard, LaKeith Grear J., and his great-grandchildren Tyrik Brigalia, Ky'Lel Thompson, Tiffany Morris, Tyanune Morris, and Patrice Morris. 

Reconstruction in Tangipahoa Parish 1869-1877

In the last public speech at the White House on April 11, 1865, Abraham Lincoln called for emancipation for the entire nation.

This plan was, in advance, submitted to the then Cabinet, and distinctly approved by every member of it. One of them suggested that I should then, and in that connection, apply the Emancipation Proclamation to the theretofore excepted parts of Virginia and Louisiana; that I should drop the suggestion about apprenticeship for freed-people, and that I should omit the protest against my own power, in regard to the admission of members to Congress; but even he approved every part and parcel of the plan which has since been employed or touched by the action of Louisiana. The new constitution of Louisiana, declaring emancipation for the whole State, practically applies the Proclamation to the part previously excepted. It does not adopt apprenticeship for freed-people; and it is silent, as it could not well be otherwise, about the admission of members to Congress. So that, as it applies to Louisiana, every member of the Cabinet fully approved the plan. The message went to Congress, and I received many commendations of the plan, written and verbal; and not a single objection to it, from any professed emancipationist, came to my knowledge, until after the news reached Washington that the people of Louisiana had begun to move in accordance with it. From about July 1862, I had corresponded with different persons, supposed to be interested, seeking a reconstruction of a State government for Louisiana.

Genealogy researcher can learn a great deal from conducting genealogy research and local history research in Tangipahoa Parish about Reconstruction.   In 1866 my maternal third great-grandfather  Robert and his family entered into a contract with Eliza Andrews in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana to work as
tenant farmers.  It was on this property that he lived with his wife, 30 years old, his son Alex Harrell, 16,  his son John, 12 years old, and his two daughter Millie, 10, and Anna Harrell, 8 years old. 

The vision of pioneers like Rev. Arthur Tasker, founder of the Tasker A.M.E Church in Ponchatoula. In 1872, he became the first and only African American to be elected as the Mayor of Ponchatoula. .  Louisiana.  The Tangipahoa Parish Color Training School was founded in Kentwood, Louisiana by Armfield Mitchell Strange.  Thomas Freeman, the first African American man to purchase land in Livington Parish was a free man of color.

A man named Robert "Free" Bob" Vernon purchased thousands of acres in Tangipahoa Parish for him and his family.  The land he donated for a school, church, and cemetery is the result of his generosity. The first African-American church was founded by Charles Daggs of Hammond, Louisiana in 1877.  These men was among others African-American leaders in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, attended meeting to improve and enhance the lives of African-Americans in the parish.     

Tangipahoa Parish was formed in 1869 and Reconstruction ended in 1877. The life of American-American during Reconstruction wasn't document in the Louisiana Florida Parish. From Ponchatoula to Kentwood, Louisiana. On Wikipedia, it is written that during the period of 1877-1850; a total of 24 blacks were lynched by whites in the parish as a means of racial terrorism and intimidation. 

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/last.htm

Willie M. Chaney, Sr. of Kentwood, Louisiana.

O.W. Dillon Training School
Willie M. Chaney, Second Row: Right End
Photo Courtesy: David Chaney

 A couple of weeks ago, David Chaney, the son of Willie McKinley and Edna Chaney, shared a little history about his father.  Willie Mckinley Chaney was born in 1918 to Clarence Chaney and Mamie Bentley Tobias in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Willie died in 2008 in Kentwood, Louisiana. He was buried at Oak Grove AME Church Cemetery. 

Willie enlisted in the United States Military on January 14, 1943, in New Orleans, LA., and discharged on February 12, 1946. He served as a Private in the Branch Immaterial, Warrant Officers, USA.  The term of his enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergencies, plus six months, subject of the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.  He had two years of high school. He worked at Brown Morris lumber yard in Kentwood. He and Raymond Coleman became the first African Americans to own a taxi service company.  Raymond Coleman also owned a movie theater in Kentwood. 

This picture was submitted to Nurturing Our Roots Blog by David Chaney.  Willie is standing on the right end on the second step, second row. 

Willie McKinley Chaney

Annie's Picture Found on Ancestry Public Tree

Annie Richardson Vining and her daugher Laura
Photo Courtesy: Sharone Hall Frisco.

Annie was the daughter of Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson. Annie was born in 1882  in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. She is one of the five children born to Thomas and Amand. Her siblings were: Golene, Sophia, John, Thomas.  Annie was married to Benjamin " Pete" Vining. According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Annie was a widow. She was the mother of Carrie, Laura, John, Leon,  and Luella. Annie husband was the son of Caleb and Ann Vining. His siblings were: Wesley, Louis, Sarah, Cale, William, and Ike Vining. Ben was born around 1875 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Annie photograph is the only one I have come across of my  2nd great grandfather's siblings. If others have pictures of family members, I hope they would consider sharing with other family members.  I learned that Annie was the oldest child born to Thomas and Amanda. It was her daughter Luella Vining Franklin that told me about Annie. Out of all the stories my mother shared with me about her maternal grandfather Thomas, she never talked about Annie. She only talked about his siblings; Golene, Sophia, and John. Is it because she didn't know about Annie? Why didn't she know about Annie? What happened to Annie?

Amanda Breland Richardson
Courtesy of the late Luella Vining Franklin

On was of my genealogy road trips, I learned of Luella Vining Franklin. She was such a sweetheart; I remember her sitting in her wheelchair or the comfort of her bed crocheting. Luella lived with her daughter Betty off Earhart Street in New Orleans, LA. One Sunday afternoon, I went by to visit her, and she welcomes me with a big smile and a loving heart. After going through the oral family history, I soon learned that she was my maternal grandmother Josephine Richardson Harrell's first cousin. Josephine's father Thomas and Luella's mother Annie were brother and sister. 

That mystery question in my mind couldn't contain any longer. Why didn't anyone ever talk about Annie? Well after talking with cousin Luella, I found out that her brother John had accidentally shot Annie and she died of lockjaw. Luella, remembered her grandmother Amanda because lived with them when her father Ben died of smallpox in the wood. He had no other choice but to be quarantined from the rest of the family according to Luella. She remembered they would walk in the woods near the old shack and put food down on the ground for him. Once they left and was safely away, Ben would leave the cabin to get the food.  A sad look came across Luella's face when she talked about her father and what he went through. I could only imagine the loneliness and illness he felt. I'm thankful to my cousin and family historian Sharonne Frisco Hall for shaing this picture of Annie with the Richardson and Vining Families.