Archive Record
Metadata
Accession number |
2003.036 |
Catalog Number |
2003.036.002 |
Object Name |
Document |
Creator |
Colbert, Pearl Dortch |
Title |
Genealogy of Elam Sparks Dortch family |
Scope & Content |
Genealogical information about Elam Sparks Dortch family written by his daughter Pearl Dortch Colbert ELAM SPARKS DORTCH A brief sketch of the life and war record of Mr. Elam Sparks Dortch as remembered by his daughter, Mrs. Pearl D. Colbert Mr. Dortch was born in Claiborne County, Mississippi, near Port Gibson, September 15, 1841, the son of Edward Dortch and Nancy Wooldridge. When he was at an early age his parents moved to Louisiana and settled on a plantation 9 miles from `linden. He attended the country school until about 17 and then went to an academy in Minden called The Fay and Spencer Academy. Then the Civil War began he was 20 years old. He enlisted in the army and became a member of a company of 104 men, the first to leave the parish. They were called the "Bossier Volunteers", which was attached to Company D of the 9th Louisiana Regiment under the command of General Taylor. In turn they were transferred to General Jubal A. Early's Division which formed a part of General Stonewall Jackson's Corps, in the Army of Virginia" The Commissioned Officers were: E. G. Randolph - Captain (at his death Capt. Hancock) F. Y. Hughes- 1st Lieutenant R. T. Crawford - 2nd Lieutenant R.J. Hancock- 3rd Lieutenant Non-Commissioned Officers: John J. Hodges -First Sergeant J.A. Ford- 2nd Sergeant J.Wood Rabb,- 3rd Sergeant Thomas Lyles- 4th Sergeant Isaac Woodward - 5th Sergeant J.A. Phelps- Color Sergeant Dr. W. F, Tignor William A, Abney - 1st Corporal J.M. Sentell- 2nd Corporal E .E. Sandlin in- 3rd Corporal G. B. Hamilton- 4th Corporal This Company fought in the Battles of Bull Run, Chancelloraville, Antietam, Seven Days Fight around Richmond, the Wilderness, Gettysburg, Frederickaburg, Malvern Hill, Cold Harbor and the Second Battle of Nanassas. It was at this battle that he was wounded in his right arm. It was thought for a while that he would lose it, and it did heal in a bent position. He was granted a leave of several months and when he returned he was assigned duty with the Medical Corps and served under Dr. Egan, a Shreveport physician. He learned to help with operations and dress wounds of the injured soldiers. tie could not use his right arm to man a gun but served in this capacity until the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, at which time his division was captured and taken to Fort McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland as prisoners. Later they were moved to Fort Delaware, where he remained until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, about two months later. When the Confederate prisoner were released he was taken to Philadelphia by boat, then by train to St. Louis. From there he went by boat down the Mississippi River to 'New Orleans, transferred to another boat and went up the Red River to Shreveport, Louisiana, which was near his home. The name of his father's plantation was Edgefield in Webster Parish. He soon found employment as bookkeeper with Mr. W.B, Hamilton, who had a general merchandise store at Fillmore, a small community of possibly a dozen homes, a combination church and school, two stores, which served a large area of plantations. Later he worked for Mr. Elias Cornell at Knox Point, Louisiana. While in Fillmore he met Miss Susan Rebecca Platt, daughter of Mr. David Platt, a large landowner, In January 1876 they were married and bought a tract of land on Red River, about 20 miles below Shreveport The plantation was called Ash Point, He also had a general merchandise store and the post office which served the surrounding community. For more than 30 years he was a member of the Police Jury of Bossier Parish and for 20 years be served as its President. He represented his parish in the State Senate from 1900 to 1908, and served on the Parish School Board for a number of years In September 1885 his wife died. He was fortunate to have his two sisters, the Misses Laura and Mary Dortch that had already been living in his home, since the death of their father to assume the duties of the home and rear his two daughters. There were many hardships as time passed on, such as floods, drouths, boll weevils and low price of cotton, but through it all he kept his courage, was kind to all who sought his aid. His home was a haven to a number of relatives who lived under his roof and shared its comforts and pleasures along with his two daughters, Pearl and Ola Lee. lie actively attended to the affairs of his business until the age of 94, at which time he had a fell that crippled him for the rest of his life. It became necessary for him to rent the place and live respectively with his two daughters, Mrs. Philip Colbert of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mrs. R.C. 'Nest of Hillsboro, Texas. Each year he traveled by train from one place to another with some member of the family as an attendant. He was always cheerful and interested in the affairs of friends and kept a keen interest in politics and government. He loved to reminisce about his experiences during the Civil War and would fight a battle over again at the slightest chance. A true Southerner at heart, he never became re-constructed. He idolized General Lee and as he grew older, many thought he resembled the General. One of his favorite stories was that after they were captured and were on a 100 mile march to prison, he lost one of his shoes in the mud and walking on the frozen ground made his foot bloody and numb. They were being escorted by Federal Cavalry when they came to a stream about waist deep. daughter, Mrs. P.M. Colbert, and remained there until his death August 29, 1943 - just 17 days before his 102nd birthday. Funeral services were held at Spring Hill Funeral Home, Dr. Lester Rumble officiating. The remains were taken to Louisiana. Interment was at the Family Graveyard in Fillmore, Louisiana. ` His life span covered a period marked by five wars - namely, The Mexican War, The Civil War, Spanish-American, and World Wars I and II. Liniel descendants of my father, Mr. Elam Sparks Dortch are: Susan Pearl'. DortchOla Lee and Eula May Dortch, twine Susan Pearl married Philip M. Colbert of Baltimore, Md. Ola Lee married Richard C. West of Hillsboro, Texas Eula 'day died at the age of six weeks. Grandchildren are: Elizabeth Carroll Colbert and Margaret Lee Colbert Richard Dortch West1912 Elizabeth Carroll Colbert married John M. Kennedy of Marion, Ohio. Richard Dortch West married Mary L aVerne Crocker of Hillsboro, Texas.. Great Grandchildren are; Mary Lynn West born in San Antonia, Texas, who married James Lehman of Waco, Texas. Susan Kennedy born in Evanston, 111. Ann and Jane Kennedy, twins, born in Evanston, 111., Great, great grandchild Lisa Lynn Lehman born in Waco Texas |
People |
Abney, William A. (Cpl.) Colbert, Elizabeth Caroll Riley, Margaret Lee Colbert Colbert, Philip Maulsby Colbert, Susan "Pearl" Dortch Connell, Elias Fort Crawford, R.T. (Lt.) Dortch, Edward Dortch, Elam Sparks Dortch, Eula May Dortch, Laura Dortch, Mary Dortch, Nancy Woolridge West, Ola Lee Dortch Dortch, Susan Rebecca Platt Early, Jubal A. (Gen.) Egan, James C. (Dr.) Ford, James Auvergne Hamilton, G.B. (Cpl.) Hamilton, William Bragg Hancock, Richard Johnson (Capt.) Hodges, John J. (Sgt.) Hughes, Francis Y. Jackson, Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" (Gen.) Lyles, Thomas (Capt.) Phelps, J.A. (Sgt.) Platt, David Burton Rabb, John Wood (Capt.) Randolph, Edward Graves (Col.) Sandlin, E.E. (Cpl.) Sentell, J.M. (Cpl.) Tignor, W.F. (Dr.) Washington, Dave Johnson, Henry West, Richard Dortch Woodward, Isaac (Sgt.) |
Search Terms |
Ash Point Plantation Bossier Parish Police Jury Bossier Parish School Board Bossier Volunteers Civil War Fillmore Louisiana Senate Prisoners of war (POW) Veterans |
Lexicon category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Lexicon sub-category |
Documentary Artifact |
Inventoried date |
2023-10-27 |