•Part 1
While focused on the Foil family, I would be remiss if I didn't present the valuable history of Washington Parish - we are two hundred five years old this year - that I found in my files, given to me by the late Olive Burris. The author was Herman J. Foil, in the year 1948. My research revealed that Herman J. Foil was born in October of 1905 in Franklinton to parents Oscar Adnell Foil (1884-1954) and Mary Ida Smith Foil (1881-1906). Adnel James Foil, Wincie Foil Tullos, and Ray Kenneth Foil were his half-siblings. Herman J. Foil married Lee Ethel Bateman Foil (1904-1959), first, and in 1961 Lucy Lee Herrington Foil (1922-2017), second.
Foil's marriage to Lucy Lee Herrington was confirmed by my late father's hardbound copy of the "Bogalusa City Directory 1964" published by R. L. Polk & Company. In this book, Herman J. Foil is listed as purchasing agent at Crown Zellerbach. And he resided at 826 Carolina Avenue. Digressing, this is a handy, dandy 1964 guidebook which I often reach for, to fill in the gaps. It notates residents of Bogalusa in the 1960s, complete with spouse, occupation, and address.
The first part of the historical document, penned by Herman J. Foil:
"Washington Parish had a birthday on March 6th. Our Parish is 129 years old as it was created by an Act of the Legislature on March 6th, 1819.
The history of Washington Parish, as compiled from the records, is not new because once before, a generation ago, it was done by the late and beloved Judge Prentiss B. Carter.
Twenty years ago Mr. Carter wrote the only other historical record of Washington Parish since the beginning of Civilization down to the late twenties. I want to touch on some of the items briefly that he omitted, and at the same time, bring the brief history more or less up to date.
Washington Parish is a part of the Florida Parishes that was discovered and ruled by Spain from 1512 to the year 1699. From 1699 to 1763, by right of settlement, the Florida Parishes were under the French Flag. During the year 1763, the territory was ceded by treaty to Great Britain. The British Flag flew over the Florida Parishes until 1782 when it was hauled down and replaced again by the conquest of the Spaniards. The territory was taken over once more by the French and as you know was bought in with the Louisiana Purchase from France in the year 1803. The West Florida portion of the United States, which we now know as the Florida Parishes, includes Washington Parish; thus, the reason all the above is included in the general history. [Columnist's clarification: We were not part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, transferring Louisiana and the Isle d' Orleans from French rule to the United States. Spanish control (starting 1783) resulted in the Revolution of West Florida in 1810 and in September of that year the establishment of West Florida, which area included what today is Washington Parish. Declaring independence from Spain, West Florida was a free and independent state. This is why present-day we raise the flag of the Republic of West Florida in the fall. But by proclamation issued by President James Madison on October 27, 1810, West Florida was declared a part of the Louisiana Purchase, and the U.S. flag was hoisted on December 7 over St. Francisville and December 10 over Baton Rouge.]
The pioneer families of Washington Parish began to settle along the creeks and rivers immediately after the Louisiana Purchase was completed with France. Of the old families locating in the manner outlined above, Abner, Thomas and Benjamin Bickham were among the first, coming in 1807. William Brumfield came in 1809, Ezekial Brumfield in 1810; Amos, Benjamin and Thomas Richardson located in 1809 and 1810; David and John Mizell (then spelled Meazles) in 1812; John Simmons in 1812; William McGehee and William Hayes in 1809 and Jonathan McGehee in 1812. Other early comers, whose descendants still live in this section or in our neighboring Parishes, were: Joseph and Sharod Adams who were the founders of Adamstown on Pearl River; George and John Mitchell; the Fords who were among the first to come; Stephen Stafford; Benjamin Toney; John Thigpen who settled the community that is now Spring Hill and through those Headright ran Pushpetappy Creek which was crossed by the famous Jackson's Military Road spoken of later herein; George Ellis just across the Bogue Chitto River from the present site of Franklinton; John Bickham on the immediate site of the town; Colonel Thomas C. Warne[r] between Franklinton and what is now the Enon Community; Edwin Fussell adjoining that of Abner Bickham near the present community of Mt. Hermon on the road to the Parish Seat; Jim Thomas and Fanny Richardson near what is now Sheridan on Bogue Lusa Creek; David Gorman and Samuel York who founded the community of Gorman; the Lawrence's from whom Lawrence's Creek just South of Franklinton received its name; Jacob Alford and John K. Goff, Who settled what is now Alfordtown; John and Isaac Irwin (now spelled Erwin); Richard Graves; Delcy Byrd on Gorman Creek; James and William Hayes who gave the name to Hays Creek; James Ginn on the site of the present town of Clifton; Burwell Percy and John Edwards near the present site of Rio on the St. Tammany side; and Richard S. Chappel whose place was on the Bogue Chitto where the famous Millitary [sic] Road crossed, also the branch of Tally's Creek southwest of Bogalusa crossed by this Road. Richard Burch came over from Germany in 1811. The Bankstons, Morrises, and Smiths also settled here before 1820.
By Act of Congress on January 22nd, 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the Union and on the 14th of April following, West Florida was made a part of Louisiana and has been called the 'Florida Parishes' ever since." [Columnist's clarification: It was on April 30, 1812, that Louisiana became the eighteenth state in the Union.]
Of note, John Bickham was my great-great-great-great-grandfather, and William Brumfield was my great-great-great-grandfather. Stay tuned for the continuation of the succinct history of Washington Parish, written by Herman J. Foil in 1948.
