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.