Louisiana AHGP

Part of the American History and Genealogy Project

William W. De Loach

William W. De Loach is a planter of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana He is one of the most successful agriculturists of this region, and one whose honesty has never been questioned. He is a Georgian, born in Crawford County, March 31, 1832, to John and Elizabeth (Sawyer) De Loach, both of whom were born in South Carolina, after their marriage removing from Crawford County, Georgia, to Harris County of that State, thence to Louisiana, in 1847, being one of the pioneers of Claiborne Parish. He opened up a farm two and a half miles south of where Homer now stands, and here made his home until 1862, when he moved to the northwest portion of the parish, and afterward died at the residence of a son, in 1889, at the age of eighty-six years.

He served in the war with the Creek Indians, and at the time of his death had been a resident of Claiborne Parish for forty-five years. His first wife died when the subject of this sketch was an infant, and he was afterward married again. W. W. De Loach came to this State and parish when a lad of sixteen years, and here attained manhood, receiving a common school education. After remaining with his father until he attained his majority, he was married in August, to Miss M. E. Shaw, a daughter of John Shaw, and a native of Greene County, Georgia, where she was reared and educated.

After his marriage, until 1855, Mr. De Loach was engaged in overseeing, but at the end of that time came to his present place of abode, where he has since made his home. Although he commenced life with very limited means, he has become the owner of a good plantation of 320 acres, but now has only 160 acres, as he has given the rest to his children, having at the present time 70 acres under cultivation. His residence and buildings are all excellent, and he is now prepared to spend the rest of his days in enjoying the goods his means will provide. In 1862 he enlisted in the Thirteenth Louisiana Battalion, serving until the war ceased, participating in some skirmishes and scouting. He and his wife have six children: E. F. (wife of Thomas Holt), John A., Mollie (wife of D. G. Owens), George M., M. W. and Irene. Mr. and Mrs. De Loach are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he has served as church clerk for a number of years. He is a Master Mason, a member of the Farmers' Union, and as a neighbor and citizen is all that could be desired.

Biographical Sketches| Claiborne Parish

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