Ordinances and Town Officers, Homer, Louisiana

The first set of ordinances was adopted September 12, 1855, and signed by W. S. Custis, mayor, and W. Crutcher, clerk.

In 1856 J. M. Thomasson was mayor, succeeded in 1857 by John W. Pennall, who in November gave place to W. S. Custis. In this year B. D. Harrison succeeded Crutcher as clerk. In 1858 N. J. Scott was chosen mayor.

Ordinance No. 39, adopted, in June, provided that all coffee-houses be permitted to keep their back doors open and sell on Sundays until 9 A. M. and from 5 to 9 o'clock P.M.

On May, 17 Surveyor E. B. Whitson, with Chain Carriers H. L. Cox and E. A. Walker, marked the boundary lines of the town.

Micajah Martin was appointed clerk in 1859, and E. L. Dyer in 1860.

In 1861 G. W. Price was mayor and James Potts, clerk, followed in 1862 by F. Vaughan, mayor, and B. D. Harrison, clerk. In 1864 A. McCranie presided as mayor, with M. Callahan, clerk, and in 1866 N. J. Scott was elected chief magistrate.

At this time Ordinance No. 16 was adopted, fixing the license tax as follows:
Retail grocers, $300;
Dry goods, $50;
Livery stables, $25;
Family grocery, $50;
Confectionery stores, $25;
Hotels, $25;
Drug stores, $30, and
Dentists, $25.

In 1807 H. L. Cox was elected mayor, and the license tax was reduced to less than one-half in most cases.

J. R. Ramsey succeeded Cox the same year, and served until the election of J. Ferguson in 1808. W. J. Beams succeeded Callahan as clerk, both serving in 1809, when the first book of ordinances closed.

In 1877 J. Ferguson was mayor, and B. D. Harrison, secretary. In 1878 W. J. Leslie, Dr. S. Y. Webb, Dr. Meadors, John Cook, Col. J. S. Young, George Davis, B. T. Ledbetter and Bob Tarkinton were school directors. In 1879 Mayor Ferguson presided, with M. R. Bryan, clerk, followed in 1880 by J. A. Richardson and J. H. Simmons, mayor and clerk, respectively. In 1881 E. H. McClendon was mayor, and in 1881-82 J. E. Ramsey signed the records as clerk. In April, 1882, John E. Hulse was elected mayor.

In 1885 E. L. Johnson was elected mayor, and in 1880 J. D. Ferguson. A. E. Welder was acting clerk, vice Ramsey, at the greater number of meetings up to July of the last named year. Walter Ward was mayor in 1887-88, while S. J. Maffett succeeded J. E, Ramsey as clerk in 1888. The officers in June, 1890, were: J. E. Hulse, mayor; E. W. Collier, George Gill, A. E. Wilder, C. O. Ferguson, J. T. Otts, selectmen; E. L. Richardson, clerk; Thomas Harris, marshal, W. P. Bridges, treasurer.

Homer | Biographical Sketches

Claiborne Parish History | AHGP Louisiana