Timeline

French explorer, Louis Jouchereau de St. Denis establishes Fort St. Jean Baptiste near the Natchitoches Indian village along the Red River, signaling the founding of the town of Natchitoches. Natchitoches became the first European settlement in the Louisiana territory.

Natchitoches Parish

After a skirmish with the French left the mission abandoned for two years, Spain reestablishes Los Adaes and builds an accompanying presidio (fort) named Nuestra Senora del Pilar de los Adaes.

Natchitoches Parish

Louisiana west of the Mississippi River ceded to Spain as payment for its support in the French and Indian War. Small Native American Tribes east of the river, former allies of the French, move to the area to avoid conflict with the English, including Yowani, Choctaw, Alabama, Biloxi, Chatot, Appalache, Panaca.
(Faine & Gregory, 1986).

France cedes all territory west of the Mississippi River to Spain as payment for its support during the French and Indian War.

Panaca tribe settles at the Calcasieu River.

Near Elizabeth, LA
Allen Parish

Spain frees Indian slaves in New Spain, mostly Apaches in Louisiana. Adaes Indians decimated by conflict with Choctaw from the east. Choctaw re-settlement into Louisiana was encouraged by Spanish authorities as an attempt to check Anglo-American expansion to the west. Families of Los Adaes re-settle eastern Texas from San Antonio (Faine & Gregory, 1986).

Sabine and Natchitoches Parishes

Choctaw Apache Tribe of Ebarb. The Choctaw Apache trace their heritage back into the 1600’s. The tribe is made up of descendants of 21 families of Adaes, Choctaw, and Lipan Apache people. The Apache were sold as slaves in Natchitoches and Los Adaes and settled as free persons in the area during the Spanish period, when Indian slavery was outlawed. The Choctaw ancestors arrived in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s seeking new lands, while ancestors also included natives of the Spanish mission at Los Adaes. Generally, the Choctaw Apache lived in isolated rural communities in the bottomlands of the Sabine River.

Sabine Parish

American Indian Settlements comprised of various tribes who lost lands during the French-Indian War, who settled in the area. These tribes included the Alabama-Coushatta, the Coushatta of Louisiana, and a group of Choctaws.

Vernon Parish

LaNana land grant, 12 square miles and included present Town of Many.

Sabine Parish

Louisiana Purchase

Lafitte and privateers patrol the coast for cargoes and customers with bases in New Orleans, Barataria, and Campeche (Galveston).

Pirate Jean Lafitte sold slaves and goods using the Neutral Strip as an entry point. The Neutral Strip became known as “the back door to the United States.”

Coastal Louisiana and Texas

Agreement between General Wilkinson, U.S., and Lieutenant Colonel Simón de Herrera, to withdraw their troops from the disputed territory, the neutral ground, and that

“the question of sovereignty should remain subject to the amicable adjustment of the two Superior governments.”

Western Louisiana

Dr. John Sibley, Natchitoches’ Indian Agent resettles Choctaw families from Rapides west of Los Adaes.

Sabine Parish

Zebulon Pike Patrols

Patrolling Louisiana’s Neutral Strip became a delicate dance of political negotiation. Any action conducted by America aroused the suspicions of Spain. Any action by Spain made America leery. Understanding that the solution required diplomatic finesse, Texas Governor Manuel Salcedo approached Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne. Claiborne appointed Lieutenant Colonel Zebulon Pike to form a joint military expedition. Pike had clear instructions. His soldiers were to remove only squatters and outlaws. Settlers who had lived in the region before the Louisiana Purchase were to be left alone. During his 1812 foray into No Man’s Land, Pike’s troops drove out outlaws but also burned houses, tents, and camps belonging to many established settlers.

Adams-Onis Treaty draws lines

Adams-Onis Treaty established the legal western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase and therefore the western boundary of the United States at the Sabine River. Signed by John Quincy Adams and Luis de Onis of Spain on February 22, 1819.

Mexico won independence from Spain.

Ft. Jesup established to bring law and order to former Neutral Strip, also to act as Indian agents, prevent slave insurrections, clear Sabine River of obstructions.

Sabine Parish

Land grants in place at this time. Los Ormegas – lower DeSoto, upper Sabine.

Sabine Parish

Choctaw-Apache Ancestors claim land between Rio Hondo and Sabine River

Sabine Parish

Caddoan groups ceded lands to the United States (1835). Anglo-Texans revolt. Vicente Cordova leads a counter-revolution with Indian and Mestizo troops—driven out into Sabine Parish. Re-settle among Indian and mestizo families (Adaesanos) in Sabine Parish. Eastern Choctaw and others removed to Oklahoma, missed the Louisiana bands, Texas bands of Choctaw not effected. Anglo-Texans pressure tribes in East Texas to flee or seek refuge. Anglo-Americans begin to move across northern Louisiana and east Texas

(Faine & Gregory, 1986).

Sabine Parish

Ann Lawrence Bilbo and Thomas Bilbo set up farm and sawmill at former Cantonment Atkinson site.

Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish

Calcasieu Parish established with parish seat at Marion.

Calcasieu Parish

The Bayou Scie Methodist Church was built around 1848. A school was also established at Bayou Scie prior to the Civil War.

Bayou Scie (Zwolle area), Sabine, LA

Outlaws operating in the Neutral Strip included John A. Murrell, or “Reverend Devil”. One of his most infamous disciples was Dan Kimbrell – of the West and Kimbrell Clan. The Parker brothers, the Copeland gang, and many others all at some time plied their trade in the Neutral Strip. Jesse James and Belle Star are rumored to have spent some time there.

Near Elizabeth, LA
Allen Parish

After the Homestead Act of 1862, a steady stream of English-speaking settlers moved into the area and acquired land.