Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

Oscar P. Ogilvie

Oscar P. Ogilvie is the editor of the Guardian Journal, at Homer, Louisiana, and is one of the public spirited and able newspaper men of this section. He has been familiar with journalistic work from early boyhood, and the paper which he is now engaged in publishing is one of the best and neatest local papers in the State of Louisiana. He was left an orphan in his early childhood, but even at that day he evinced sterling traits of character, and with the energy and perseverance that has ever characterized his efforts, he worked his way onward and onward until he is now acknowledged to be one of the leading journalists of the State.

He was born in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, on October 2, 1804, but his father, W. J. Ogilvie, was a native of Georgia, but of Irish descent. He grew up in his native State and was married there to Miss Lucy J. Patterson, a native of Kentucky, who was reared and educated in that State. After Mr. Ogilvie had farmed in Georgia a few years he moved with his family to Louisiana, and about 1842 settled in Caddo Parish, near Shreveport, where he opened up a large farm, which he successfully conducted up to the date of his death in 1808, having been the owner of a number of slaves prior to the war. He was a man of good parts, his business qualifications being of a high order. His widow survived him about one month, when she, too, passed away, thus leaving Oscar P. an orphan at the age of four years.

He remained with an older brother up to the age of twelve years, receiving the advantages of the schools of Greenwood. Louisiana, and Curran, Illinois, but when he had attained his thirteenth year he entered a printing office at Shreveport, and thoroughly learned the printer's trade, and worked in the mechanical department for several years.

He was one of a company that started a daily in Shreveport, and of this he was manager for about one year. In 1889 he bought an interest in the Guardian Journal, being first, associated with Mr. Seals, but a short time afterward purchased this gentleman's interest and took entire control of the paper, and is now engaged in publishing one of the breeziest and brightest papers of which the State can boast. He makes a specialty of job work, and can show as fine specimens of work as can be found in large cities. His paper is published in the interests of Homer and Claiborne Parish, and as he is one of the youngest newspaper men in the State, he deserves the commendation of all for the admirable manner in which he conducts his paper. He has greatly enlarged and improved the Guardian Journal, and as he is a man of superior business qualifications and excellent habits, he is bound to make a name for himself in the journalistic world.

He is a member of the National Typographical Union, and was formerly a member of the Shreveport Typographical Union, and served as president of that organization.

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, Southern Publishing Company, 1890