The first settlers came to the Stonewall area in the early 1830's.
Colonel Edwards moved his family and possessions from Society Hill, South
Carolina to a place they named the Bee Gum Community. This is
approximately three miles east of the present Town of Stonewall.
Sometime later, friends of Colonel Edwards
moved to the North DeSoto Area. Among these were the Witherspoons,
Marshalls, Hollembeaks and others. The women came in carriages, the
men on horses while their belongings were brought in wagons drawn by oxen
and mules. The slaves followed with the livestock.
After building homes and beginning a farmer's
life, more provisions were needed. They were ordered from New
Orleans and reached Shreve's Port on the Red River. It took time to
get to Shreve's Port in those days. They went by wagons over the
rough, muddy roads or paths, reaching Shreve's Port after a whole days
travel. These trips were not made often.
Soon many families from other communities and
states came to make their homes here. Some of the families that have
done much toward the building of this community are: Williamson,
Powell, Andrews, Loftus, Nicholson, Berry, Gilmer, Lafitte, Hall, and many
others.
Black Jack, the first Post Office of the Bee
Gum Community, as it was then called, was used in the 1860's. It was
located near Welcome Hall, the home of Colonel Edwards. Mail came
very irregularly. Later the Star Route Mail came into existence and
ran once or twice a week. The route ran from Shreve's Port to Spring
Ridge, Stonewall, Kingston, and on to Mansfield.
In 1862, the community moved its center about
three miles west to the site of the new Texas & Pacific
Railroad. The community was given its present name when the railroad
stop was named after the legendary Civil War General, Stonewall Jackson.
Cotton was king in those days and several
sizable plantations ringed the Stonewall area. Some of these were
Buena Vista, Allendale, Lands End, and Welcome Hall.
A supplemental industry to cotton had its
meager beginning in 1886 when Mrs. J. J. Marshall bought a registered
Jersey cow. From this beginning grew a thriving dairy business which
blossomed in the early 1900's. By 1943 there were 37 individual
dairies in the community of Stonewall.
Stonewall remained a dairy and farming
community until the 1960's when people began to realize its proximity to
Shreveport, its friendly industrious people and its progressive
educational system. The town would soon become a bedroom community
to Shreveport.
Stonewall is located on a modern four lane
highway, Highway 171 in North DeSoto Parish, and only six miles from
Shreveport. Interstate 49 is located approximately a mile and a half
east of the Stonewall city limits. Highway 171 was first graveled in
1916 and ran from Shreveport to Mansfield. It was built partially by
convict labor. The road was paved in the 1930's.
During 1971, a group of Stonewall citizens met
and petitioned the Governor to incorporate Stonewall as a village.
The town was incorporated July 12, 1972. Mr. Bob Midyett was
appointed by the Governor to be the first Mayor of Stonewall.
Aldermen were: Bobby Dyson, Gerald Holmes, and Charles Scott.
Tax Collector A. L. Bice, Street Commissioner was Curtis McCune, Jr., City
Marshall was Elmo Smith, Attorney was Charles Scott and Town Clerk was
Dudley Glenn. Stonewall was declared a Town by the Governor of
Louisiana July 1983.
The first official election was in the spring
of 1974. Curtis L. McCune, Jr. was elected Mayor and all other
elected officials remained the same.
The Town Meetings were first held at the First
National Bank building in Stonewall. Later they were moved to the
school cafeteria to have more room. In December 1974, the Cox &
Hall building was purchased and remodeled for the Town Hall. This
was later sold to the DeSoto Parish Library and is presently being used
for that purpose. The present Town Hall, located approximately
one-fourth mile north of the first Town Hall, was purchased in July
1983. It has served at various times as the Fire Department Office,
Voting Polls, Town Hall, and General Meeting Place for the citizens of
Stonewall. Part of the Town Hall is being used by the DeSoto Parish
Sheriff's Office as a Substation. This Substation is the first of
its kind in DeSoto Parish. The Sheriff's Substation opened Tuesday,
March 14, 1995.
Stonewall grew from 532 population in 1972 to
over 1,000 in 1983. As of May 1995, the population was 1,500.
1998's population was 1626 and growing.