THE first organization of the Farmers' Union in the State of Louisiana was at Smyrna, in De Soto Parish. This
local was organized by I. J. Burgess, January 19, 1903.
Eighteen members joined at the time. J. H. Franklin, of De
Soto Parish, was elected President of this local Union, and J. J.
Poag, Secretary. Grand Cane, in De Soto Parish, soon became
the center of activity in the work of organizing the Farmers'
Union, and the influence set to work in this center reached out
and affected other sections.
Almost from the day when the Union was introduced into
Louisiana the work became prominent, and such men as J. W.
Boyett, Jr., L. N. Holmes, and J. E. Bullard, became prominently
identified with the movement, and by their aid and assistance
helped to make" the Union a success in their state. The order
grew very rapidly in the different parishes throughout Louisiana.
Organizers went into every nook and corner of the state, calling
the farmers to action in behalf of the Farmers' Union.
April 4, 1905, delegates met and formed the first State Union. L. N.
Holmes was the first State President ; J. E. Bullard, first Vice-
President; J. W. Boyett, Jr., first Secretary-Treasurer; J. A.
Ambrose, Chaplain ; Thomas McCain, Doorkeeper ; A. B. Cole,
Conductor. L. N. Holmes served two years as President, having
been re-elected at the second convention. J. W. Boyett, Jr.,
served three years as Secretary-Treasurer.

ANTONY, M1ss MAUDE, Rattan, La. — She has been a good

and faithful worker in the Pleasant Hill local, and is doing all she

can for the Union.

AMBROSE, J. A., Ruston, La. — Is first of all a Baptist minister

of the old school, who became associated with the Farmers' Union

as soon as it made its advent into his section, and from the very

first took an active part in organizing work ; was in the organization

of the State Union, and was made Chaplain, which position

he has held continuously since, having been re-elected from year

to year without opposition. Ambrose is a model farmer, and one

of the few hill farmers of Louisiana who has made a success of

farming. He attributes his success to having always raised his

living, together with his feed for his stock on his farm, and only

raising cotton as a surplus.

ALFORD, W. R., Ft. Jesup, La. — Was one. of the men who left

Texas to carry the gospel of Unionism to Louisiana. He was

actively engaged in organization work in the northwestern part of

the State. After Louisiana obtained her charter and organized

her own State Union, and took over her organization, Alford continued

to do local work in connection with his work of teaching

school, and is still engaged in teaching in Vernon Parish.

ARCENEAUX, J. F., Brittany, La. — Young Arceneaux was one

of the many young men of Louisiana who became associated with

the organization from the very first, and, being a teacher of

Ascension Parish, he devoted his best efforts to the organization,

and was from the start an acknowledged leader in his parish,

having served as Parish Secretary-Treasurer one term ; also

Parish Lecturer one term ; was a delegate to the State Union held

at Winnfield in 1908, where he took an active part in the proceedings

of the convention, serving on important committees ;

was nominated as a candidate for Secretary-Treasurer, and was

only beaten by eight votes. He was later nominated as one of

the delegates to the National Union, and won out on the first

ballot.

BOYETT, JASPER, Winnfield, La. — Was born January, 22, 1872;

is a son of J. W. Boyett, Sr., who lives eight miles east of Winnfield.

His father is a successful farmer. Jasper Boyett joined

the Alliance in 1880; joined the Union at the first opportunity,

and when the State was organized was chosen Assistant State

Organizer. In July, 1906, the State was divided into two districts,

and he was elected State Organizer for the northern half

of Louisiana. In 1907 he was re-elected to same position.

BOYETT, J. W., JR., Winnfield, La. — Ex-Secretary-Treasurer,

and Lecturer of Louisiana; was born in Winnfield, La., in 1875,

in which town he is still living ; worked on a farm till grown ; had

few school advantages, but improved every opportunity, attending

the schools near him for a few months each year till of age ;

married Miss Josie Jordan, of Winnfield Parish, 1899; bought a

farm in 1899, upon which he lived till elected Secretary-Treasurer

of the Louisiana Division of the Farmers' Union, April 4, 1905 ;

served in this capacity till August 1, 1908, when he was elected

Organizer and Lecturer for his State ; was elected Secretary-

Treasurer of the Union Cotton Company, with offices in New

Orleans. J. W. Boyett, Jr., is one of the leading men of the State,

having joined as a charter member of his local, and was elected

President of one of the first locals organized in his State, since

which time he has been active in pushing Union matters. He

has attended all the State meetings in Louisiana, and all the

National Conventions, where he has held prominent places

on important committees. Boyett is a hustler.

BROOMFIELD, J. W., Leesville, La. — One of the most active men
in Vernon Parish, is Broomfield ; he has devoted more time to
the Farmers' Union movement in his section than any other man ;
it is mainly due to his efforts that the warehouse at Leesville was
ever built, and it is also due to his determination that it has succeeded
as signally as it has.

BLACK, C. C, Deerford, La. — Was one of the first Organizers
of his section, and did some good work in the early days ; was
on the State Executive Committee for one term; was a delegate
to the State Union at all its meetings, except the last.

BRUNI.EY, J. B., Clyde, La. — Has been organizing for his
parish ; has assisted in building a warehouse, and has done a lot of
other work.

BULLARD, J. E., President State Union, Belmont, La. —

Has been a prominent leader in behalf of the farming class since 1896.

 He was elected Vice-President of the Louisiana State Union at the time of its organization,

 which position he held for two years. He was elected State President in 1907,

 and re-elected in 1908. His demands for recognition of the farming

class were such that Governor Sanders appointed him a member of the State Board

 of Agriculture, which appointment he declined.

His personal qualities make his friendship very highly appreciated

 by those with whom he comes in contact.

CULBERSON, DR. N. A., Bienville, La. — Was born on a farm
in Union Parish, Louisiana, in 1857. All the literary training he
had was gotten at a cross-roads schoolhouse.' At the age of ten,
his father and mother died. He joined the Farmers' Union in
1905 at Bear Creek ; was a delegate to the State Convention held
at Ruston on the following April. He was elected a delegate to
attend the first- National meeting at Texarkana, and was a member
of several committees during that meeting. He is President
of the Union warehouse at Arcadia. He served as President
Holder local for one year; is Chairman of the Louisiana Trade
Association, and is now a member of the State Executive Committee.

COBB, W. M., Many, La. — The present President of the Parish
Union of Sabine Parish is W. M. Cobb, a man who has done as
much for unionism in the State as any man of his means and
ability. Cobb is not an aspiring man, but is willing to do whatever
he can in a quiet way. He has had associated with him all along
that staunch man, I. N. McCollister, and to them is due the many
accomplishments of the splendid system of warehouses in that
parish, and other enterprises

DAVIS, J. M., Crowley, La. — Began as a Local Organizer in the
early days of the Farmers' Union movement in the State, and has
organized more locals, doubtless, than any other person, save
Freeman DeSoto, in the State, and when DeSoto resigned as one
of the State Organizers, Davis was appointed to fill the vacancy,
and to his efforts are due in great measure the splendid state of
organization in Southwest Louisiana, known as the French section,
at the State Convention held at Winnfield in July, 1908. He
was elected a member of the State Executive Committee to succeed
R. Lee Mills, from that part of the State. His last success
was in organizing the rice growers into the Farmers' Union

DESOTO, F., Cottonport, La.- — The line of his work has been
confined to organizing and lecturing. He has traveled more than
IO,OOO miles in discharging his duties, and organized seventy-two
local Unions.

Doss, D. C., Hico, La. — Joined the Union in 1904, and was
elected first President of his local Union ; was first President of
his District Union ; delegate to the first State Union, and has done
good work.

GUILLORY, N., JR., Mamon, La.— Organizer for District No. 4,
1906. During the year, he organized 78 local Unions. He also
organized three warehouses. During this time he traveled several
thousand miles and made many speeches. He did good work
for the Union

HOLMES, ELD. L. N., ex-State President, and ex-National Chaplain
of the Farmers' Union, Bernice, La. — The subject of this
sketch, Eld. L. N. Holmes, resides on his farm near Bernice, La.
He is the son of H. W. Holmes, Sr., who moved from the State of
Alabama to Louisiana in 1855, when Eld. L. N. Holmes was born
on the 25th day of June, 1856. His father early enlisted in the
Confederate army, leaving the subject of this sketch to the care
of his mother and older brothers. His mother died in 1862, when
young Holmes went to live with his aunt. The boyhood days of
young Holmes, when he ought to have been in school, were spent
on a farm, owing to the fact that there was no school for him to
attend, the Civil War having disorganized society and broken
up the schools of his -State. He, however, attended a country
school for a few months during winter ; the balance of his education
was secured by study at night by the light of a pine knot fire.
He with fifty of his neighbors organized a Farmers' Club in Lincoln
Parish. This organization was later merged with the Farmers'
Alliance, and L. N. Holmes became an active organizer in the
Alliance. In 1904 he joined the Farmers' Union, and was one
of the moving spirits in the promotion of the work in his State.
April 4, 1905, he was elected the first State President of Louisiana.
He was also elected National Chaplain at the formation of
the National Union at Texarkana, in which capacity he served
until the Fort Worth meeting in 1908. He has been an ardent
admirer and is a persistent supporter of the Union cause ever since
its introduction. He is a strong and faithful member and officer.

HANCOCK, J. T. M., Ruston, La. — Has been prominently associated
with the movement in his parish all along, having been
warehouse manager for the Ruston Warehouse Company since its
organization. Hancock has been in all the annual meetings of the
State Union, and has rendered good service to the membership
as a whole, as well as to his immediate section. He served one
term on the State Board. He is another model farmer, having one
of the prettiest farms in his parish.

HESTER, Q. A., Calhoun, La.— A school teacher who has been
prominently associated with the F. E. & C. U. of A. in his section,
having done organizing work as a Local Organzer, when he could
spare the time from his school duties. He has served his parish
in the State convention a number of times, and also represented
the State in the National Union at Memphis, Tenn

HILBURN, W. W., New Orleans, La. — Has been connected with
the Louisiana State Union for more than two years ; was assistant
to Mr. Boyett for one year, and has been in the office since Mr.
DeLoach was elected ; joined the Union about two years ago, and
has been active in the work

JONES, W. S., M. D., Jonesboro, La. — Was born in Louisiana
in 1861 ; was educated in the common schools of his native State,
and later studied medicine and had the degree of M. D. conferred
upon him in 1886; was raised on the farm, and has farmed
in connection with his practice; joined the Union in 1906, and
has taken an active part ever since ; has represented his people
at State and National meetings. He is a member of the State
Execuive Committee

KELLY, C. R., Duback, La. — Was born in Union Parish, Louisiana,
February, 1876; was educated in the public schools of the
county and has farmed all his life. During the last days of the
Alliance, he became identified with that noble order, remaining
in same till its final dissolution. Early in the life of the Union,
he became a member, and was immediately elected Lecturer of his
local, serving since that time in that position ; also as local Secretary-
Treasurer of the Executive Committee for the local ; Secretary
to the Duback District Union ; secretary warehouse company ;
member of the board of directors for warehouse ; President of the
parish Union ; Chairman Parish Executive Committee, and at
present Lecturer of the parish. Two and one-half years ago was
elected on the Executive Committee for the State Union, serving
since then continuously, being secretary to the committee for
past year and a half.

KLEINPETER, J. B., Baker, La. — Did some local organizing in
East Baton Rouge Parish during the early days of the organization,
and represented his parish in the State Convention held at
Baton Rouge in 1907, and at this meeting he was chosen as a
delegate to the National Convention held at Memphis, Tenn.
Kleinpeter is one of the best posted sugar men of Louisiana ; has
held positions of honor and trust

KLING, A. A., Donaldsonville, La. — Born in Ascension Parish
in 1860, and was educated in the parish schools. When twenty-
one years of age bought a farm, which he has farmed practically
ever since. Was a charter member of the Dutch Town Local
Union, and is now Lecturer. Organized the Farmers' Union Ginning
Company, which has been very successful. Has served as
deputy sheriff and parish treasurer. In 1908 was elected assessor
of the parish. Is a loyal Union man.

MCCOLLISTER, I. N., Member National Board of Directors,
Many, La. — Was born in Sabine Parish, Louisiana, 1854. Young
McCollister had a hard struggle with the world, his father dying,
and the support of the family fell to him. He was then but seventeen
years of age, but he faithfully provided for them. His educational
advantages were very limited, but he studied and improved
every opportunity. He joined the Farmers' Alliance in
1889, and 1891 was elected manager of an Alliance store in his
parish. He served the Alliance as Parish Secretary, and later
as President. He joined the Farmers' Union upon its advent into
his community as a charter member. He has been a member of
the Executive Committee since the organization of the State
Union, and for some time has been chairman of that committee.
He was elected a member of the National Board of Directors at
the first Texarkana meeting, 1905, and was re-elected at Tex-
arkana, 1906, Little Rock 1907, and Forth Worth 1908. As a
member of the National Board he has done effective work for the
Union, and has won the esteem of all his co-laborers by the way
in which he has done that work. Served one year as State Business
Agent. Is manager of the Farmers' Union warehouse at Many.

PETERS, W. S., Tannehill, La. — Has been an active member of
the organization since its earliest days, and has especially been
active in his parish, attending all meetings of his local and parish.
He knew what was going on locally, and to his credit is
due in large measure the success of his local parish. Brother
Peters is another of the few men who have succeeded as farmers
by raising a living at home and letting his cotton be surplus.
He has never held a State position, and has never sought any
position whatever. He was one of the Board of Directors of the
State Central Warehouse at the time the concern was dissolved

SMART, M. W., Leesville, La. — Has devoted a good part of his
life working in the interest of the farmer. He was a member of
the Grange and Alliance, and joined the Union soon after it was
started in his parish ; has been President of his local three years,
and President of the Parish Union two years. He is now Lecturer
and Organizer for his parish ; has served two years as
President of the Board of Directors of the parish warehouse ; attended
as a delegate the meetings held in Memphis and New Orleans,
and a delegate to the State meeting at Baton Rouge. He
has been a faithful attendant upon all Union meetings

VIERS, JOHN W., Grangeville, La. — Has served as President of
his local Union, and as President of his Parish Union. As Parish
President, he was by virtue of his office Organizer within the
parish

WHATLEY, M1ss LOUISE, Eden, La. — Miss Whatley joined the
Union in 1906; was elected Secretary-Treasurer soon after joining-;
has made eight public addresses in behalf of the Union; won
one of the trips to Fort Worth Convention offered by the Union
Banner, in 1908. At Fort Worth she made a splendid address.
She has been a good, strong worker for the Union.

WILLIAMS, S. T., Grand Cane, La.- — First State Organizer