1910 Mar 5 W.J. Cordill, born in Tensas parish-date not known and
came to this parish about year 1867 or 1868-a boy with
his father. In 1876 he married Miss Millie Somy, (LOWRY)
daughter of Solomon M. Somy. Lived near Como till
1882 when he moved to Crowville and went into the
mercantile business with Jno. D. Copeland and also ran a
public gin and grist mill. About two years ago he took
Bright's disease and after trying every known remedy and
visiting a good many famous watering places, but
gradually grew worse and finally went to New Orleans
and remaining there six weeks or two months. Died this
morning.
New Orlens Death Records
Cordill William J. 55 yrs - W 03/05/1910 148 1047
In 1883, Mr William Joseph Cordill had a store located at the site of Mr. J.A.
Harpers storage building. This store was a two-story building, and the
Woodman Hall was upstairs. Mr. W.J. Cordill was married April 26,1877, to
Miss Mellie Lowry, in the First Methodist Church in Winnsboro, Louisiana, as
recorded in an old register there.
The following advertisement is from the Franklin Sun
February 24, 1883:
W.J. CORDILL
HAS JUST OPENED AT
CROWVILLE, LA,.
A full assortment of Dry Goods, Groceries, Hardware,
Boots and Shoes and every article kept in first class
country store.
Motto---
QUICK SALES
SMALL PROFITS AND
FAIR DEALINGS
Oct. 21,1882
The Denson brothers, J.W. and Dr. John Lane, came to this country about
1891 or 1892. J.W. Denson was a farmer; and he and his wife had two daughters,
Alice and Kate, and one son, Mack.
Dr. John Lane Denson finished medical school in 1881 in Nashville, Tennessee.
He went to Mississippi and married Miss Jenny Latham about 1882. Then they
moved to Louisiana about 1890. When they came to Louisiana, they had one child,
Neva, and lived at the old Snyder place in what was called the "State House."
Bessie, their second daughter was born there. In 1891, Dr. Denson built a home
in Crowville and moved his family there. While in Crowville they had three more
daughters: Lois, Mellie, and Cassie. Neva married Rapp Osborn, known as "Little Rapp";
Bessie married Everett Sisson, whose father was William Lane Sisson;
Lois married John H. Doughtie; Mellie married Frank Short of Winnsboro.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CROWVILLE
The first Baptist Church in Crowville community was built in
1871, about one-quarter mile east of Crowville in a community
called Hurricane. On January 23,1871, William J. Wright sold
to the denomination known as the (White) Missionary Baptist
eighty acres of land around Hurricane for five hundred dollars.
John Holloway and Ashley A. Sanders were commissioned by the
Missionary Baptist Church of Christ of Hurricane to purchase
these eighty acres of land. On the original deed, fifty-cents of
United States Internal Revenue stamps were affixed and canceled.
The deed for the eighty acres of land from William J. Wright to
the Baptist Church of Christ at Hurricane was recorded in the
courthouse, in Winnsboro, Louisiana, Feb.4, 1871.
On July 13, 1872, Ashley A. Sanders, Francis M. Long, John Holloway,
Tyre Davidson, Gabriel House, John Terrell, and William Carter, members
of the Missionary Baptist Church of Christ of Hurricane, appeared before
Notary Public Alexander R. Hendry. The object of this meeting was to form
a charter for the church. The men representing the church desired to form
themselves into a corporation or body politic in law and to acquire the
right and power of a body corporation in order to hold and control property
to be used for religious and educational purposes. The body, by this
"Act of Incorporate," became known as "The Baptist Church Of Christ" at
Hurricane, Franklin Parish.
The corporation was to be composed of seven or more members, who would hold
their offices during life, unless disqualified by disorderly conduct. The
officers of the corporation were to be comprised of five trustees who were to
be chosen by a majority of the members of the body at the first meeting held
after the organization of the corporation. At their first meeting a President
of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Church of Christ of Hurricane was to
be elected, and his successors in office were designated as the person to who
citation and all other legal process would be served if this body were sued.
This body would also have the right to sue or be sued, and all suits if favor
of the body would be conducted and carried on by the President of the body.
The "Act of Incorporation" states the corporation shall exist and continue
perpetually and have the right to make such by-laws and such rules and
regulations as would be necessary to carry on the design and object of
this organization and for their own government, provided nothing was done
contrary to law. The corporation was to be composed only of people who
had been immersed and received into fellowship within the Baptist Church
Of Christ" at Hurricane and who held and subscribed to the ABSTRACT OF
FAITH, which they attatched to the original Act of Corporation.
It was stated in this act that vacancies which occured in the corporation
by death or otherwise would be filled by an election by the remaining
members or by the church of which the body were members.
If any member of the corporation were to reject the ABSTRACT OF
FAITH; then he would loose his membership in the corporation, and
the vacancy would be filled by a majority of the votes of the body.
Also in the charter it is stated that a majority of the Body shall
constitute a quorum to transact business; and they shall be authorized
to receive and accept property by sale, by donation, or by other
means and to sell and transfer property.
On February 9,1889, representative members of the Baptist Church
Of Christ" of Hurricane, elected Trustees of the Church, (A.A Sanders,
W.D. Sturdivant, John Terrell, G.W. Hodge, and S.T. Jossop) appeared
before E.C. Abel and G.W. Lockhart, good and lawful witnessess, and
Alexander R. Hendry, notary public, Winnsboro, Louisiana, to ammend
the original Act of Incorporation made July 13, 1872. The amendment
provided for the moving of the church from Hurricane to Crowville and
for the changing of the name from Baptist Church of Christ of Hurricane
to Baptist Church of Christ of Crowville.
On May 10, 1889, one and one half acres of land fronting on the Harrisonburg
Road (Highway 578) in the town of Crowville was purchased for twenty-five dollars
from Mrs. Sara E. Russell, who was living in Weatherford, Texas. Mrs. Sara
E. Russell was represented by John F. Trezvant of Franklin Parish. Mr. A.A.
Sanders, President of the Board of Incorporation representing the Baptist
Church of Christ domiciled at Crowville, initiated the transaction.
Witnesses for the transaction were W.J. Cordill and A.D. Moore. A church
was erected in the southwest corner of this plot of land and the remainder
was used as a "Free" burial ground.
A contract between the Baptist Church of Christ of Crowville, and the
Methodist and Presbyterian denominations was initiated on May 23, 1889.
Representing the Baptist Church of Christ of Crowville was A.A. Sanders;
representing the Methodist and the Presbyterian denominations were
W.J. Cordill, W.S. Sisson, T.W. Harris and J.S. Copeland. The agreement
was that, since the Methodist and Presbyterian denominations aided in
the building of he church house on the lot purchased May 10, 1889, the
Methodist and Presbyterian denominations were granted the right to worship
the second and fourth Sabbath in each month annually so long as the church
stood or until the contract was legally changed. Therefore, the Baptist
Church of Crowville served as a union church for a number of years.
On September 19, 1899, A.A. Sanders, president of the Board of Incorporation
of the Crowville Baptist Church acting in behalf of the church, sold the
eighty acres of land purchased from William J. Wright to Mr. Ezra M. Clark.
The land was sold for four dollars an acre, and the total amount paid by
Mr. Ezra M. Clark to the Baptist Church of Crowville was three hundred
twenty dollars.
The church was torn down in 1911, and on the same site a new Baptist church
building was constructed in conjunction with the Crowville Masonic Lodge
No. 370. This building was a two-story structure and the Masons contributed
financially to the building ot the second floor as well as to the church
as a whole. The second flor of this church was used for the Masonic meetings
for many years after the church moved across the road to a new location.
Dr. C.M. Jarrel, on February 24, 1923, donated to the Baptist Church of
Crowville, additional property for enlarging the cemetery to be used for
the general public. Mr. W.A. Simmons accepted the property in the name of
the church.
On May 31, 1938, Mr. A.A. Bush and Company, Ltd., donated land to the First
Baptist Church of Crowville. The land is located on the northwest corner at
the intersection of East and West Street and hte Harrisonburg and Delhi Road
(Highway 578). This frontage is 428.2 feet along the west edge of the highway
and 385.2 feet deep. This transaction was witnessed by Myrtis Collier and
J.L. Payne. At this time D.L. Walters, Sr. was the chairman of the deacon
body.
A new church building was constructed in 1938, and in the mid-fifties an
educational wing was constructed as a south wing but was not attaced
to the structure.
The First Baptist Church of Crowville was constructed in 1968 and was attached
to the south wing. SServing as pastor at the present is Brother Robert
E. McDonald.
Crowville High School was accredited in 1919. The class of
1920 is given credit as being the first graduating class.
In the first 15 years of the high schools existence, 1920 to
1935, there were 280 graduates. The first years enrollment
was 25 but it doubled in 1920. By 1925 enrollment had grown
to 105.
With the increase in the enrollment, expanded facilities
were needed. A Domestic Science (Home Economics) course
was added to the curriculum in 1918; and in 1920 the present
home economics building, with four rooms and a hall was
constructed and served as part of the high school. Domestic Science
classes, taught by Miss Mattie Anderson; the science department;
the library; and a classroom were located in this building.
During the next few years, mathmatics, taught by Miss Mary
Lou Harris; a combination third and fourth grade, taught by
Miss Georgia Hill; and Domestic Science were taught in this building.
A building committee was apointed. Appointed to this committee
were Mrs. Ceillia J. Sisson, Chairman; Mr. W.H. Franklin;
Mr. J.R. Hammons; Mr. R.A. Gibson; Mr. G.A. Newcomer; and Mr.
John L. McDuff, Superintendent of Education. Mr. J.M. Salley
was named the contractor with Mr. R.H. Stassen, the foreman, and
Mr. John W. Baker, the architect. The present high school brick
building was constructed in 1928-29.
1898 Franklin Sun:
THE ROWE TELEPHONE CO.
Has its telephone service for public use between
Winnsboro and Floyd.
Telephone Offices--
At Winnsboro-- Walters Store
At Crowville-- Cordill's Store
Message rates: Five minutes or less 25 cents,
Telegraph messages forwarded to other points
promptly at additional Western Union Charges.
Where parties called are sent out for, 10 cents
extra will be charged by messenger boy.
Home Office, Delhi, La.
N.L. Rowe, Sec. and Treas.
