Ouachita Parish
Biographies
IVO
W. LIVELY
Prominent
among the young business men of Santa Fe is Ivo W.
Lively, the cashier of the Santa Fe bank. He is most
industrious and resolute and, moreover, his course
is characterized by a laudable ambition. He was born
in Monroe, Louisiana, in
1886 and is a son of Chapman H. and Ella (Humble)
Lively, who were also natives of that state, where
they are still living, the father being well known
as a planter and merchant of Monroe.
In
the public schools of his native city Ivo W. Lively
pursued his education and later became a student in
a business college in Chillicothe, Missouri. He made
his initial step in the business world in 1904 when
a youth of eighteen years, at which time he entered
the Ouachita National Bank at Monroe,
Louisiana, as a messenger. He remained with
that institution for two years, working his way
gradually upward to the position of bookkeeper.
Later he went with the Commerce Trust Company in
Kansas City, Missouri, in the capacity of bookkeeper
and was connected with that institution for six
years, during which time successive promotions
brought him to the position of teller, but the
opportunities of the more rapidly developing
southwest attracted him and in 1912 he made his way
to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he became assistant
secretary of the Peoples Bank & Trust Company,
spending a year and a half in that institution.
Later he arrived in Santa Fe and entered upon his
present relation as cashier of the Santa Fe Bank. He
is proving a popular as well as efficient official,
for he is always courteous and obliging and looks
after the interests of depositors, while at the same
time he carefully safeguards the interests of the
bank.
On
the 4th of November, 1907, at Marceline, Missouri,
Mr. Lively was married to Miss Dorothy Stephenson,
and they now have one son, Ivo W., Jr. Their
religious faith is that of the Bapitst church, to
which they loyally adhere, and Mr. Lively gives his
political allegiance to the democratic party.
However, he does not seek office, preferring to
concentrate his energies upon his business affairs,
and the steps in his orderly progression are easily
discernable.
William W. Booles
Former member of the
State Senate, William W. Booles for over a quarter of
a century has been actively identified with
merchandising at Taylorsville, and the character he
has exemplified in business and in public affairs
undoubtedly makes him one of the strongest and best
known citizens of Spencer County.
He was born in Monroe
Parish, Louisiana, June 26, 1867. His father, Dr.
James J. Booles, was a physician and surgeon of more
than ordinary ability, and also a merchant and banker.
Born near Griffin, Georgia, Doctor Booles married
Sarah A. Edmonds, a native of the same state. Just
before the Civil war they removed to Monroe Parish,
Louisiana, where Doctor Booles had his home the rest
of his life. He soon joined the Confederate Army as a
surgeon, and with the close of the struggle resumed
the private practice of his profession. In later years
he was prominently identified with business and
banking. His force of character, his keen intellect,
pronounced integrity and congenial spirit combined to
make his career one of prominence and success. He
lived to the ripe old age of seventy-nine. He was a
democrat, an ardent Baptist, and his widow, who
survives him at the age of eighty, is of the same
church faith.
William W. Booles, one of
the five children of his parents, grew up in Louisiana
and finished his education in Howard College Military
School. Through his later service as captain of a
Louisiana company of militia he derived the title by
which he is always known among his associates and
friends in Kentucky. As a youth he acquired a thorough
experience in his father's store and banking house,
and to commercial affairs he has given the best years
and zeal of his mature manhood.
Captain Booles in 1892
married Miss Nannie Hough, daughter of Charles Hough,
a veteran merchant of Taylorsville, Kentucky. In 1894
Captain Booles prominently identified himself with
Taylorsville as a member of the dry goods firm of
Charles Hough & Company. With that old house he
has continued his services now for over a quarter of a
century.
Captain Booles is one of
the leaders in the democratic party in this section of
the state. He was in the State Senate two terms, and
while there did much to impress the soundness of his
business judgment upon the work of that body. In 1916
he was a delegate to the National Democratic
Convention at St. Louis, when Mr. Wilson was
re-nominated. He has been a thorough admirer of both
the administration and personal character of Mr.
Wilson. Captain Booles for many years has been a
faithful member of the Baptist Church, and is a Knight
Templar Mason.
Julia Washington Bourgeat Muse
Dabbs Biography
Ouachita Parish Monroe, Louisiana
1822 - 1890
by Julia
A. Scott Family Research November 10, 2008
Julia Washington Bourgeat Muse
Dabbs July 23, 1822 - February 22, 1890
Julia was the daughter of James
Fort Muse (1776 Fairfield South Carolina - 1843 Bayou
Lettsworth, La.) and Margaret Adelaide Bourgeat (1803
Point Coupee - New Roads, La. - 1895 New Orleans,
La.). Paternal Grandparents were Thomas Muse and
Elizabeth Fort of Fairfield County South Carolina.
Material Grandparents were Narcisse Bourgeat of Point
Coupee, La. and Marie Barbe Filhiol daughter of Jean
Baptiste (Don Juan) Fihiol of Ft. Miro, Louisiana. Born
in Louisiana, Julia was educated by the Catholic Nuns in
Kentucky near Bardstown. Her confirmation papers were
found in her family Bible showing confirmation in the
Cathoic faith on Easter Sunday 1835 by the Rev'd Bishop
Charbrat at Nazareth near Bardstown Kentucky. Julia,
her sisters (Theresa Ann Muse born 1825, Margaret Ellen
born 1827, and Eliza Mary Bourgeat born 1821, and her
brother George Washington Muse were all born in
Louisiana. James Fort Muse II was born in 1832 in
Oldham, Kentucky. The family does not appear in the 1830
census for Louisiana. The 1840 Census for LaFouche
Parish does contain James F. Muse with 1 male child and
4 female children.
James Fort Muse married her mother,
Margaret Adelaide Bourgeat on February 22, 1821, in
Ouachita Parish, Monroe, Louisiana, with her Mother,
Marie Barbe Filhiol, widow Bourgeat, her uncle Grammont
Filhiol, and her Mother's 2nd husband, Conrad Linderman
in attendance. James Fort Muse was a Sheriff in
Fairfield County, South Carolina before moving to
Louisiana. He studied law in Louiaiana and practiced
law in this state.
Julia Washington Bourgeat Muse
married Dr. Christopher Dabbs Hunt and recorded her
marriage in her Bible as follows: "Married the 3rd
March 1845 in the parish of Catahoula by the Hon S.
G.Tallieferro of Catahoula Dr. C. H. Dabbs of Monroe,
Ouachita to Miss Julia W. second daughter of James F.
Muse Esq deceased of the Parish of Point Coupee La.
Married over in the Catholic Faith 1851 by Rev. P.
Canavan Missionary."
The record for their marriage
license in Catahoula Parish shows "Dobbs, Christopher
H. and Mose, Julia W." Julia married two years after
her father's death. Julia married at 23 years of age
and her husband Dr. Christopher Hunt Dabbs was 40 years
old. Julia's family relocated to Monroe after her
father's death. Her baby sister, Martha Fort Muse (born
12 August, 1842 - died 18 September, 1846) died in
Monroe and her obituary was in a Monroe Newspaper.
Julia and Dr. Dabbs had 4 children:
James Muse Dabbs born 9 Dec 1845
died 15 Feb 1876 (30 years 2 months 6 days) In Monroe
Louisiana. Married Mary Collette 24 Feb 1867. One
Child Julia Elizabeth Dabbs.
Julia Adelaide Dabbs born 17 June
1849 died 12 Sept 1868 (19 years 3 months 2 days)
Augustine Bourgeat Dabbs born 29
Jan 1848 died 19 April 1848 (2 months 22 days)
Mary Elizabeth Dabbs born 17 Feb
1853 died 29 November 1911 (57 years 10 months 29
days) in King County Washington. Married James E. Behen
St Matthews Catholic Church on 12 Jan 1876.
Dr. Christopher H. Dabbs was a
prominent Ouachita Parish Physician, Politician, and
Planter. He spent a number of years in Catahoula Parish
before moving to Monroe (witness to 2 legal papers in
the Sicily Island area of Catahoula Parish 1833 and
1835). He was City Administrator for Monroe in 1858
(Mayor) and in 1854 was Grand Master of the Western Star
Lodge No.25 (Mason's) in 1858. He won the election for
Auditor in Union Parish 1865. History books tell us his
Father was Richard Dabbs, Jr, born 1772 in Charlotte,
Vir. and his Mother Elizabeth Mitchell Dabbs, born 1772
Charlotte, Virginia. Dr. Dabbs died in 1868 leaving his
family in debt (which was not uncommon giving the
conditions after the end of the Civil War). The Masons
arranged his funeral but nothing found confirms the
cemetery where he was buried. His great granddaughter
Mary Elizabeth Fitzgerald Orth (Seattle, Wa.), in a
letter to Samuel Charles Scott III, tells of her
memories of visiting the cemeteries on All Saints to
place flowers and candles on the family graves. She
remembers visiting Dr. Dabbs grave in the Protestant
Cemetery in Monroe and the grave of James Muse Dabbs in
the Catholic Cemetery in Monroe.
She also remembers going to
the funeral of her great grandmother Julia Washington
Dabbs at the age of 11 and her buried in St. Matthews
Catholic Cemetery. Mary Orth was the daughter of Julia
Muse Dabbs' sister Mary Elizabeth Dabbs and James E.
Behen. The only gravesite known for this family is St.
Matthews Catholic Cemetery where Julia Washington
Bourgeat Muse Dabbs is buried but am waiting for the
Catholic Church to verify that James Muse Dabbs and
several of Julia's grandchildren are buried at St.
Matthews. Julia W. Dabbs is buried with her
Granddaughter Julia Elizabeth Dabbs Scott and her
family.
Educated herself by the Nuns in
Kentucky, Julia's daughters were in Catholic Boarding
School in Natchitoches, Louisiana, when their father,
Dr. Dabbs, died. Many of the debts outstanding at the
time of his death were for room and board and services
for the two girls. One of the largest debts against the
estate came from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in
Natchitoches, La., for educational and boarding expenses
for the two minor daughters of C. H. Dabbs. They
attended that school in 1865. The bill was for board,
tuition, books, stationary, baths, music and the use of
the piano. Louisiana Census 1870 for Natchitoches Parish
show Julia W. Dabs (Dabbs) as a teacher in that parish.
On the same census year her only remaining daughter,
Mary Elizabeth, was listed on the St James parish
census. The historic district of Convent, La. in St.
James Parish has listed St Michael's Church which was
formerly called St. Joseph's School. Those listed on
this census with Mary Dabbs were girls of school age.
The historical marker for Convent, La. states the town
was settled in 1722-1739 as Baron now parish seat of
St. James Parish. Present day St. Michael’s Church
(1809) was site of St. Michael’s Convent Order of the
Sacred Heart 1825-1932. If Julia though Mary Elizabeth
was going to be a nun, she was definitely wrong. Six
years later (1976) Mary Elizabeth married Joseph Behen
in Monroe, Louisiana, and that same year Julia Dabbs
lost her only son James Muse Dabbs at age 30. The
obituary in a Monroe Newspaper indicates Muse died at
his Mother's home. Evidently Julia had returned to
Monroe by that time. The Behens left Monroe and were
located in St. Louis in the 1900 Census. The Behen
Family later migrated to Seattle, Wa. where Mary
Elizabeth died in 1911 at the age of 57. Her daughter,
Mary Elizabeth, married an Orth. Mary Elizabeth Orth's
letters to Samuel Charles Scott III were a great help in
family research. Mary Orth died 1970 in a Nursing Home
in Seattle, Wa. She addressed an envelope and made
arrangements with the Funeral Home to mail notice of her
death to her cousin Sam. She was 96 years old at the
time of her death. She was another of the strong
independent women in this family.
Julia Washington Bourgeat Muse
Dabbs had two sons but only one survied to adulthood.
James Muse Dabbs was listed in Louisiana Civil War
records as a Corpl. Co. O. Cons. Crescent Regt. La.
Infty. On Roll of Prisoners of War, he was paroled at
Natchitoches, La., June 6th, 1865. Res. Monroe, La. A
copy of a Civil War Pass is on the LaGenweb Archives in
the military section. This picture is of the back side
of the Pass with signatures and comments as he went
through the line to his home. Hopefully, the front side
of this Pass will be on same website soon. In Jan 1867
James Muse Dabbs (who was called Muse by the family)
married Mary Olivia Collett. They had a daughter,
Julia Elizabeth Dabbs in 1869 and a son James
Christopher Dabbs born in 1872 who only lived 4 hours.
Dr. Dabbs' oldest son, Christopher
Hunt Dabbs, Jr. was sent to Georgetown College
(documented in 1850 Census for Washington, D.C.) at age
15. An article in the Daily National Intelligencer dated
June 4, 1851, lists Christopher H. Dabbs, Louisiana, 4th
Congressional District, to report to Annapolis to report
October 1, 1851, to be examined for admission. In
Julia's letter to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, she
indicates once in 1852 and again in 1853 that Dr. Dabbs
has been in Washington where he probably visited his son
at Georgetown. Very little is known about Christopher
Dabbs. He is not mentioned in the succession papers at
the time of his father's death. His sister Selina is
included but only as daughter by a previous marriage.
Notre Dame Archives letters (listed
below) illustrate Julia Washington Bourgeat Muse Dabb's
determination to establish a Catholic Church in
Monroe. Her Uncle, Edmond Landry Grammont Filhiol, in
1851 donated the land on which the Catholic Church
stands. He and Dr. C. H. Dabbs were on the building
committee. One of the Archive letters describes the plan
for building the church. Julia's letters to Archbishop
Anthony Blanc in New Orleans document her strength and
purpose. One of the earlier Priests Father Patrick
Caravan married Julia Washington Muse and Dr. C. H.
Dabbs in 1851 after a civil marriage in 1845 in
Catahoula Parish. Father Julius J. O'Dougherty replaced
Father Caravan in 1853. To say that Father O'Dougherty
and Dr. Dabbs did not get along would be a
understatement. Letters indicate great animosity
between the two. In a letter to Archbishop Blanc
(responding to charges made by Father O'Dougherty),
Julia stressed her husbands support for the Catholic
Church: "Blanc) will perceive from their town paper
that Dr. (C.H.) Dabbs is yet a zealous friend of the
Church, although not a Catholic. 22 pews are finished,
more than half of which have been rented. The church
carpenters stopped the day before O'Doherty left Monroe
saying $2.50 per day was not enough for warm weather.
All the carpenters have used one of Dr. Dabbs's houses
free. Dr. Dabbs has written to another carpenter in
N(ew) O(rleans) to finish the church, agreeably with his
intention to give it up to (Blanc). O'Doher(ty) has
found great fault with some parts of the church as being
too expensive. The plan is the one adopted by Father
(Patrick) Canavan, Mr. Filhiol and Dr. Dabbs, the
building committee. Their pastor told his congregation
that Dr. Dabbs was a drunkard not responsible for what
he said and not a friend of the Church. And that he,
O'D(oherty) would place church matters in other hands.
Dr. Dabbs does not feel that another person should have
the credit of completing it. The Doctor is a jovial
person and too prone to laugh at the Irish. What remarks
he made about O'Doherty, when a little tipsy, were too
ridiculous to notice. Dr. Dabbs is a Free Mason and
subscribed $100 toward building a lodge in Monroe.
Julia's uncle, Mr. Filhiol, wishes Dr. Dabbs to have the
church finished. The Protestant subscribers, who are
perhaps more than half, will pay no one but Dr. Dabbs.
The Doctor is a Democrat which appears not to please
their pastor who is a strong whig. About Dr. Dabbs
character (Blanc)is referred to Jos(eph) H. Moore,
commissioner of N(ew) O(rleans), who is well known to
Father Mullen of St. Patrick's as a strict Catholic and
the godfather of Julia's son. Her feelings are so hurt
that Dr. Dabbs should be thought of as an enemy of the
Catholic Church; he got every name on the subscription
list except 3. If he is permitted to finish the church
in peace, she does not mention all the opposition among
some of the Protestants, he will resign it to (Blanc)
and not meddle with it any more. The Doctor understood
that O'Doherty said that her family drove Canavan from
Monroe. He was incorrectly informed for Canavan lived
with them and wrote after he left expressing his
gratitude. They were almost the only persons who liked
Canavan; their only objection was his brogue.
O'D(oherty)'s sermons please generally."
Julia Dabbs wanted her children
educated in the Catholic faith and just before Dr.
Dabbs' death she began her campaign to provide Catholic
education for the children of Monroe. The formation of
St. Matthew's Parochial School began in 1863 when Julia
W. Dabbs and Miss K. Moran conducted the first
denominational school in Monroe. In 1866 the the
Daughters of the Cross from St. Vincents Convent in
Shreveport, Louisiana, took charge of the Catholic
School in Monroe and started St. Hyacinth's Academy.
Father Gergaud, with the assistance of Mrs. Julia W.
Dabbs and Miss K. Moran, worked to develop and to open a
Catholic School. It began with a student population of
sixty pupils. Father Gergaud and Father Ludovic Enaut, a
young French Priest just arrived from France, began a
young boy's school on June 9, 1869, with a student
population of thirty pupils. Father Ludovic Enaut
performed the marriage ceremony for my Grandmother Julia
Elizabeth Dabbs Scott and Samuel Charles Scott on 4
March 1889 in his parlor at St. Matthews Catholic
Church. At Dr. Dabbs' death his son James Muse on
March 31, 1868, petitioned the courts stating that Dr.
Dabbs was survived by his widow, Julia W. Muse,
himself, 2 minor sisters, Julia A. and Mary E. Dabbs
(the issue of his father by Julia W. Dabbs) and M.
Selina Dabbs, daughter by a previous marriage. No
mention was made of his son Christopher H. Dabbs, Jr.
thus indicating that Christopher was deceased. Very
little is known about this previous marriage.
Tennessee Marriage Records
indicate C. H. Dabbs married S. S. Hunt in 1834 in
Hardemon County. A legal transaction in Dec 29, 1835,
in Fayette County, Tennessee, transfers $1 and for love
and affection for Christopher Hunt Dabbs, Jr., son of
Doctor Christopher H. Dabbs, a Negro man slave named
Dick Sorrell to Salley Hunt. Christopher Hunt Dabbs, Jr.
was born in Tennessee 1835. His sister M. Selina Dabbs
was born in Louisiana in 1839. Selina never married and
died at age 75 in Bell County, Temple, Texas. Texas 1860
Census indicates Selina was living among her Mothers
people, the Hunts. Selina returned to Louisiana for a
while but returned to Texas and died there in Temple,
Texas, Bell County, at 75 years of age. Living in that
city were Hunt relatives Thomas Green Hunt, his wife
Sinia Cox Hunt and their son Bradford who was born Oct
14, 1882, in Mississippi.
After Dr. Dabbs death, the many
acres of land he owned in Louisiana (Morehouse, Richland
Caldwell and Carroll Parishes) were valued at 25 cents
an acre and sold at public auction to pay debts of the
estate. In Ouachita Parish a tract of land about 2 miles
SE of Monroe containing 550 acres was appraised at 3 $
per acre for a total value of $1650. Julia Washington
Bourgeat Muse Dabbs never married after the death of her
husband. Dr. Dabbs died 29 March 1868 and Julia lost her
eldest daughter Julia Adelaide Dabbs (age 19) in
September the same year. Her son James Muse Dabbs had
been quarantined in Shreveport in 1973 by the yellow
fever epidemic. This was his second time to be
quarantined in Shreveport. His health was damaged and
he died at Julia's home on 15 Feb 1876. Father Gerguad
in 1869 baptized Julia's Granddaughter and namesake
(Julia Elizabeth Dabbs daughter of James Muse Dabbs)
Father Gerguad died in 1873 in the yellow fever epidemic
in Shreveport. A letter written by James Muse Dabbs in
1873 from Shreveport describes the horrors of his long
quarantine in that city. Julia died in Monroe 22 Feb
1890 and is burred there in St. Matthews Catholic
Cemetery. Sadly her death is not recorded in her Family
Bible. It is possible her death is recorded in the Point
Coupee Muse Family Bible.
The Bernard Hempkin Dinkgrave Story
submitted by: Julia A.
Scott
Bernard (Ben or Benny) Hempkin
Dinkgrave September 29, 1844 – August 31, 1876
Ben was the son of William and
Dorcus Dinkgrave. Old Marriages recorded in conveyance
records for Ouachita Parish indicate William H.
Dinkgrave was born February 22.1816 and died December
27, 1862. William married Dorcus Maddox (Born August
13, 1820 – Died February 17, 1894) on February 18,
1839. These records also show that Bernard H.
Dinkgrave married Marie Antoinett Waite on June 29,
1871. William, Docus and Ben are buried in St. Matthews
Catholic Cemetery along with a son Frederick (Born
September 20, 1846 – Died September 30, 1847), Infant
Dinkgrave (no dates), and Willie H. (Born May 4, 1854 –
Died December 10, 1900). His brother Stephen H.
Dinkgrave married Clara T. Bry on September 22, 1861 per
Ouachita Parish Marriage Records. Stephen Dinkgrave died
October 2, 1874 at the home of his father-in-law Major
Bry of yellow fever at the age of 30. He was survived
by his wife Clara and one child
The 1850 Census in the Town of
Monroe on 1st of November 1850 shows William Henry
Dinkgrave age 34 Sheriff and his wife Dorcas 28.
Children listed on this census are Jane Elizabeth 11,
Francis Virginia 9, Stephen Harrison 7 and Bernard
Hempkin 5. The 1860 census lists the following
children for Henry and Dorcas: J. E. (Jane Elizabeth)
20, Francis 18, S. H (Stephen) 17, B. H (Benny) 15, W.
H. (William) 5, L. E. (Leontine) 4. This census
also list H Hempkin female 25 and V. Ludeling female
49. Land Grant records show that Dorcas Dinkgrave filed
for 39.6 acres of land in Ouachita Parish in 1820. In
the 1880 Census Dorcas Dinkgrave, a 56 year old widow,
was living in the city of Monroe and had her children
Jane, William H. and Leontine living with her
Like his father, Benny was a
sheriff in Monroe. His nephew John H. Dinkgrave was
Deputy United States Marshall in Monroe and with Benny
worked to guarantee the rights of the people of the area
to vote their choice. Benny and John supported the
Republican cause and were both involved in organizing
the party in 1867. Benny's activity in support of the
Republican party resulted in his murder and almost
caused race riots in the Monroe area. The blacks felt
the Democrats had Benny murdered to create an atmosphere
of intimidation and force them to vote Democrat Ben
served in the Civil War (CSA) and Boothe's Index has the
following listings for him Dinkgrave, Bernard Hempki
Sep 29, 184 Aug 31, 187 LA-KK-1 Served in Watkins
Battalion, Louisiana Reserve Corps LA-KK-16 is the
cemetery symbol in Ouachita Parish for St. Matthews
Cemetery - Washington St. in Monroe, LA Dinkgrove, B.
H., Pvt. Conscript _ La. On Rolls of Prisoners of War,
Paroled Alexandria, La., June 3rd, 1865. Res. Ouachita
Par., La. Also on Rolls of Co. C. Watkins Battn. Reserve
Corps, Paroled Monroe, La., June 10th, 1865. Res.
Ouachita Par., La It appears that Ben was parolled in
Alexandria on June 3rd, 1865 and returned to Monroe to
enlist in Watkins Battn. And again paroled on June 10th,
1865. I have a letter dated April 16, 1865, written to
my Great Grandfather James Muse Dabbs from Ben
H.Dinkgrave, General Hospital, Outside Alexandria,
Louisiana. A translation of this letter will be shown
after this biography There are few references to Ben
Dinkgrave that indicate he was a Doctor. The Obituary
of Dr. John Calderwood, Sr. in the Louisiana
Intelligencer on July 1, 1868, has signatures of local
Doctors at the bottom and one of the entries is Dr. B.
H. Dinkgrave Signed T.B. RICHARDSON, M.D R.C.
STROTHER, M.D J.H. McCORMICK, M.D E.H. ROANE, M.D B. H.
Dinkgrave, M.D
The homicide of John C.
Wimberly as written in The Ouachita Telegraph on
Saturday, April 2, 1870 can only be told by including
the copy of this newspaper article “'The Ouachita
Telegrap Saturday, April 2, 187 Page 3, Column Homicide
of John C. Wimberly Mrs. Catherine Liles has been very
sick for some time, and Dr. John Calderwood, her
physician, was requested by her on last Wednesday to
writ her will. He proceeded at her dictation until he
reached the name of Alic Wimberly, Mr. Jno Wimberly's
wife and Mrs. Liles sister. Wimberly came forward and
directed that his wife should not be one of the heirs.
Dr Calderwood told Mr. W. that if he wrote at all it
must be as Mrs. Lile dictated. Dr. C. left the table,
Mrs. Liles having consented at the request of Mrs. Alice
Wimberly to leave her name out, Dr. C. resumed the
will. Mr W. then directed that the reasons he would
dictate why his wife's name was left out and should be
written in it. Dr. C. informed him again that he would
not write any thing but what Mrs. L. dictated. Mr. W.
threatened that if i was not done he would tear it up,
&c. Dr. C. rose declaring, he would no do any thing
more with it — walked out in the yard. He heard some
voice behind him and returned towards the house. Dr.
Dinkgrave and Mr. Wimberl were 15 or 20 feet from the
gallery. Wimberly made some charges which Dr D. denied
— Mr. W. repeated several times "you, did sir." "You did
sir," the denial being persisted in, Mr. W. said you are
a d--d liar — dealing Dr D. a heavy blow over the left
eye with a pistol or a brass nuckle. Dr. D fired two
shots. Mr. W. supported by Dr. C. and Mr. Hill, walked
to th steps. He lived about an hour. Dr. D.
surrendered himself the next day — gave bond on the sum
of $3000 t appear to day for a preliminary examination.
The death of Benny Dinkgrave
achieved National attention and the following is a
portion of Electorial Count of 1877 by United States
Electorial Commission, United States Congress During the
months of July and August the evidence shows that the
white people of Ouachita Parish were organized into
clubs, mounted clubs, and they did better than the
instructions of the chair man of the democratic central
committee. They not only mounted the clubs, but they
armed them. The republican party was also or organized
into clubs, not mounted and not armed, such political
clubs as are organized all over the country. So in that
way during the mouth of August the organization of both
parties was completed.
On the 30th of August an event took
place in that parish which gave a moral coloring to the
election in that parish. On the 30th of August Bernard
H. Dinkgrave, a white man, a cultivated man, a native
Louisianian, a man against whose character no one has
breathed a word except that the chairman of the
democratic committee for Ouachita parish said that he
was a violent partisan Bernard H. Dink-grave was shot
down, about four o'clock in the afternoon, going from
his office in Monroe to his house just outside of the
town. It is said that that was not done for political
effect. It has been suggested that the death grew out of
a difficulty he had in 1870 with a man by the name of
Wibble, or it grew out of an arrest that he made two
years before when ho was sheriff of Ouachita Parish of a
man by file name of Allen.
Upon that single point a great deal
of evidence was taken. I must content myself with saying
that, weighing the evidence as carefully as I could, I
have no more doubt that Bernard H. Dinkgrave was killed
for political effect than I have that he was killed at
all. But no matter whether he was killed for political
effect or not, it had a political effect. The people of
Ouachita Parish, the colored people at all events,
believed that he was killed for political effect.
Republican effort was paralyzed at once. Another
republican meeting was not held in the parish until some
time in October, and after troops had been stationed at
Monroe ; and no meeting I think was held by the
republican party anywhere where the troops of the United
States were not near the place of meeting. I ought to
have preceded this allusion to the death of Dinkgrave by
giving an idea of the state of the canvass on the 19th
of August. I read from the Vienna Sentinel a letter
directed to that newspaper by the editor, written from
Monroe, of this parish of Ouachita : Politics in
Ouachita are gaining more attention than at any previous
election since 1860. In fact, every man, woman, and
child seems to have his or her whol soul in the contest.
This is encouraging, and a good
sign of state of hoping the democratic mind is that
there are, or rather were, numerous candidates for
parish offices. I say were, because they are now reduced
to one candidate for each of Bee, the democrats having
hold their parish nominating convention on Saturday
last. If the democrats are hopeful in this parish, they
have good cause to be so. While they present an unbroken
front and an admirable organization, the radicals are
wavering, disheartened, and scared. There a few bold,
empty-headed orators among the latter who either have
not sense enough to appreciate the situation or are
willing to draw us on to any extremes in order that
their elevation may be se cured. It is human nature to
admire boldness, but when boldness is united to
rascality it is Louisiana s nature to deal summarily
with it. These inflammatory spouters, demagogues in the
truest sense of the word, are using their best effort a
to instill bad principles into the minds of the colored
people, and seem to be anxious to precipitate a violent
conflict between the two races. Nothing could be further
removed from the wishes of the whites of this community
; but if anything of the kind should come about, there
is a stern resolve that the foolish cat's-paw, the
negro, shall not be the only sufferer. The, promoters of
these murderous principles are well known and well
watched, and the halter for their necks is already
greased. That was written on the 8th of August, and it
appeared in the Sentinel on the 19th. It appeared in
Monroe on the 21st. A witness swore that up to this time
only three republicans had taken part in the canvas in
that parish. One was this Bernard H. Dinkgrave; one was
his nephew, John H. Dinkgrave ; one was George B.
Hamilton, a colored man and sheriff of the parish. On
the 30th of August following this publication in this
newspaper, Dinkgrave, one of the three, was
assassinated; Hamilton fled to New Orleans; and no
further attempts were made to organize or to rally the
republican party in that parish until in October . . . .
. . . . A witness swore that up to this time only three
Republicans had taken part in the canvass of in the
parish - Bernard H. Dinkgrave, his nephew John H.
Dinkgrave and George B. Hamlet a colored man and Sheriff
of the parish.
On the 30th of August
following publication of this article Benny Dinkgrave
was assassinated and Hamlet fled to New Orleans John H.
Dinkgrave, Benny's nephew mentioned in the article
above, died in 188 The following are obituaries for both
John and his wife Rosa (again a special Thank Yo to
Lora Peppers of the Ouachita Parish Library Genealogy
Department for making thes obituaries available to us).
The 1880 Ouachita Parish Monroe Census shows John H.
Dinkgrave (in error) born 1853 27 years old lawyer by
profession and his wife Rosa J. with two children Ethel
A. and Theodore J. Evidently a third child was born
after 1880 since the obituary for John indicates he
leaves three children who reside with their aunt John
H. Dinkgrave, Deputy United States Marshall, in The
Ouachita Telegraph Article on November 3, 1867, was
criticized by Captain Clayton Hall US 16th Infantry
located in Monroe for not responding to the shooting and
murder of two black men outside the city.
After the murder of his Uncle
Benny Dinkgrave for his support of the black community
and the Republican party it is not surprising that John,
who had a wife and three children, chose not to
respond. None of the Doctors of the area responded
when called for medical aid. The environment in this
town at that time was volatile and, based on recent
deaths, responding could have cost them their lives
The Monroe Bulleti Wednesday, July 27, 188 Page 3,
Column John H. Dinkgrave a native of Monroe, died
suddenly Sunday evening i Topeka, Kansas. He took an
active part as a Republican in several memorabl
Louisiana campaigns and was widely known throughout the
Ouachita country Mr. Dinkgrave leaves three children,
who reside in this city with his sister Mrs. Jennie
White The Monroe Bulletin, Wednesday, December 5, 188
Page 3 Mrs. Rosa Floyd Dinkgrave, wife of John H.
Dinkgrave, died yesterday evening of pneumonia. She was
a young and estimable lady and her death will be
regretted by all who knew her. Mrs. Dinkgrave leaves
three children, the youngest only a few weeks old
Accounts in books at the Ouachita Parish Library –
Genealogical Department tell of the killing of Benny
Dinkgrave, Sheriff and Doctor.
A tall, dark stranger came to
Monroe and asked around town about Dinkgrave. When no
one would tell him anything, he lay in wait for
Benny. Coming home from out of the town, Benny saw the
stranger on his horse at the end of Louisville Street at
the Ouachita River bank. He circled around the city and
with a friend came upon the stranger who was on foot
and waiting for him. The assassin told Benny's friend
to step aside as he had no quarrel with him. When he
moved aside the stranger opened fire on Benny killing
first his horse and then him. The stranger then got on
his horse and left town never to be apprehended and
punished for his crime When you pass that corner of
Louisville and Riverside where Ben Dinkgrave was
killed, wonder if, at the time, Benny knew who the
killer was or why the killer came after him. From a
comment in Benny's letter to James Muse Dabbs in 1865,
Benny had many conflicting feelings about the war though
he served in the Confederate Army.
The following is his letter written
on April 16, 1865 1)Letter from Ben H. Dinkgrave to
Muse Dabbs written April 16, 1865, from General Hospita
near Alexandria, La.
Friend Dabbs, Your favor of the
14th just came to hand this morning while I was taking
snooze and was handed to me by one of the Hospital rats
after I awoke. I was a first puzeled to know where it
came from it having no post mark but I soon was
enlightened by opening it and found it from my friend
Dabbs. I was not long i learning its contents and in
remembrance of the days of yore I immediately got u and
took a drink of good old rum which I had hid away for
special purposes an drank to the health of you and your
intended. I had hoped to see you here when arrived
having heard that a portion of your Regiment was on Post
Duty at Alexandria. I would like very much for you to
be near here. I think we could have some fun together
with the women of the city of Pineville as you say they
are of Easy Virtue most of them. Such things your
humble serv't enjoys above all others. I am still
having quite an easy time but sometimes feel a little
lonely and wish for some of my old friends to be near to
converse on the topics of home and bygone days. You
may think me homesick but such is not the case. I am a
happy as a King could possibly be under the conflicting
circumstances and ho _______ know what leaving the fun
beauties of the Ouachita behind. By the By Dabbs I saw
your intended a few days before leaving Monro and must
say it was altogether accidental on my part but I had
intended going t see her before leaving. I am very much
obliged to you for your kin consideration and making me
not only a guest at your wedding but the idea of being
groomsman for my friends is really a pleasure I had not
anticipated an of course I get the first kiss you
know. You speak threateningly old fellow because I told
you I had pressed her hand in friendship. I was fully
aware of your claims but you had better be a good boy
and not even drink or I will inform on you. You speak
of having a gay time on your trip at Shreveport
drinking whiskey. I also had quite a splendid time a
portion of the trip I made. After passing the mouth of
the Red River we met up with steamer Gene Hodge had
music and whiskey to drink and I don't think there was a
sober man on board of our little ship Judge Fletcher
that night. If there was I did not see him. Perhap you
think that I was not a fit judge the time. Myself I
don't know whether I was or not for I had partook often
and largely and went to bed at 3 o'clock that morning
very sleepy indeed. I have had plenty to drink since I
have been here Egg Nogs every day Plenty of everything
except that important article and I will leave it to
your sagacity to guess what that is So it ticked Bob
to learn that you were going to be married. Maybe he
don't believe it Its getting late and I must soon go
to my grub so I must close Hoping to hear from you
soon. I Remain Truly yr friend Ben H. Dinkgrav P. S.
Remember me to his honor R. J. Nelson.
Note: Sagacity gave some trouble
so had to look it up. Sagacity The quality of being
discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted; wisdom
Ben Dinkgrave was a friend of
Great Great Grandfather Dabbs and evidently the Dabbs
and Dinkgrave families lived near each other in
Monroe. The Family kept this letter for 144 years and
it now is in the safety of Ouachita Parish Library.
When Muse Dabb's sister Mary Elizabeth married Joseph E.
Behen in January of 1876, William H. Dinkgrave, Jr. was
a witness at their wedding. An incident involving a
dispute between Dr. C. H. Dabbs and the Catholic Priest
Father O'Dougherty resulted from O'Dougherty “saving a
young lady” staying in the house of Dr. Dabbs from
evil. The girl involved was a Dinkgrave. Her first
name was never mentioned. However, Benny had two older
sisters – Jane Elizabeth and Francis Virginia. Dr.
Christopher Hunt Dabbs was the father of Benny's friend
James Muse Dabbs. This incident occurred sometime in
the year 1853 when Jane Elizabeth would have been 14
and Francis Virginia 12. Ben Dinkgrave lived a short
32 years but in those years he was Dorcas Dinkgrave's
son a soldier in the cause of the Confederate States of
America, a treasured friend of James Muse Dabbs, a
Doctor, a Sheriff, a husband to Marie Antoinette Waite,
possibly a father, and a marty to the Republican
political cause. He was murdered on Louisiville at the
Ouachita River by an assassin who was never identified
or punished. May God Rest Ben Dinkgrave's soul.
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