The 1865 U. S. Direct Tax, Winn Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Greggory E. Davies gedavies@iamerica.net The following list is copied from the original tax list. It is not in alphabetical order. Those familiar with Winn Parish history or genealogy will notice that a high percentage of the names on this list are spelled incorrectly but they are listed as they appeared on the list. If knowledge relating to the particular taxpayer was known by the submitter, notation is made in the extreme right column. This list is of utmost importance to researchers concerned with Winn or Grant Parishes. First of all, Winn Parish courthouses burned c. 1868, c. 1885, and 1917. All records were lost in the first two fires, which were caused by arsonists, but most were saved in the 1917 fire, which was accidental, so most Winn parish records only go back to 1885. Secondly, much of current day Grant Parish was carved from a huge portion of southern Winn Parish following the War For Southern Independence, c. 1868, during the era of so-called "Reconstruction." Therefore, a large portion of those who would become Grant Parish residents are listed in the Winn Parish Tax List. Thirdly, this list serves as a "mid-1860s census", for lack of a better term, as it lists those who moved to, or obtained land in Winn Parish after the 1860 census, which was the first census of Winn Parish, established 1852. It is important to note here that the 1870 censuses of Winn and Grant Parishes were sketchy, due to several reasons. The borders were not necessarily understood by the census-takers, causing some residents of both parishes to be missed. This same area was somewhat of a "no man's land" as outlaw gangs and bad men, including the West & Kimbrel Clan, roamed the Harrisonburg Road, and many folks were sensible enough to avoid the area, probably including the census-takers. And, many folks simply did not want to be listed, or counted, for different reasons. Dr. John Milton Price, learned Professor of History at Northwestern State University and a native of Wattsville, Winn Parish, Louisiana, has done extensive Winn Parish research, as well as an abundance of research on many historical topics, much of which has been published. He wrote the introduction or foreword to a book concerning this "direct tax" which was apparently imposed on the people of the United States to pay for the "rebellion" of 1861. Dr. Price posed a very educated, interesting, and provocative question, and rightfully so; (how could) "...the U. S. government...waging war to save the Union and free the slaves and at the same time made the sale of slaves for tax payments a part of the tax structure?" Dr. Price's question, coupled with many known facts, begs several other questions. Did slavery cause the War Between the States? Why did Lincoln wait so late to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, and why did that proclamation free only those slaves held in areas of southern states occupied by the Union? Why did Lincoln allow slavery to continue in the "loyal" states? Why did so many black Americans, freedmen and slaves, alike, fight in the Confederate armies? Why did Confederate General Robert E. Lee free his slaves prior to the war, while Union General U. S. Grant or his family, did not free their slaves until the 13th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution forced him/them to? Many, many more questions have remained unanswered concerning this important period in our history. Winn Parish Amount Submitter's Notes Dyess, August 1.24 Dyess, G. W. .70 Dyess, George 1.10 This came from: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ifetch2?/u1/data/la+index+238717294721+F Thanks... kaite...