History of Farmerville

The First Settler and a Chance Encounter

The story of this region begins with John Honeycutt, a trapper who discovered a wilderness teeming with wildlife—an ideal landscape for his trade. After securing his land grant, Honeycutt carved out a solitary living, with only local Native American tribes as his neighbors.

A few years later, Honeycutt encountered a roving band of Native Americans who shared surprising news: another family had moved into the territory. Slipping on his coonskin cap and cradling his flintlock rifle in the crook of his arm, Honeycutt set off in the direction they pointed. His trek led him straight to a fellow pioneer named Feazel, who happened to have a "house full of girls." As local lore tells it, Honeycutt wasted no time and immediately asked the father for the hand of one of his daughters.

The Tide of Pioneers and Alabama Landing

Soon after, a wave of adventurous pioneers from Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas swept into the region. Homesteads rapidly dotted the banks of Bayous D’Arbonne, Corny, and DeLoutre—an area then designated as part of the broader "Ouachita Settlements."

Many travelers from Alabama journeyed up the Ouachita River from Fort Miro to claim their fortunes. They disembarked at a distinct riverbank that locals dubbed Alabama Landing—a name that proudly survives today. Located about 25 miles east of Farmerville, this historic touchpoint now serves as a popular destination for fishing, boating, and picnicking.

The Birth of Union Parish and the Naming of Farmerville

In 1839, the Louisiana Legislature officially carved Union Parish out of the northern territory of Ouachita Parish. That same year, surveyors laid out a new town to serve as the parish seat.

Choosing a name for the town sparked a lively debate. Matthew Wood—a prominent early settler and president of the first police jury—generously donated his own land, which marked the highest geographical point in the parish. While many citizens wanted to name the town "Woodville" to honor his generosity, Wood politely declined.

Instead, leaders named the town Farmerville, likely honoring Miles Farmer, a prominent local planter and elder in the Baptist Church who had helped organize the Concord Baptist Association in 1832. His legacy ran deep; he was the father of police juror J.N. Farmer and W.W. Farmer. The younger W.W. Farmer went on to become a skilled surveyor, justice of the peace, attorney, and eventually the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana. Today, visitors can still find the impressive monument erected by the Louisiana Legislature in 1855 at his gravesite in the Farmerville Cemetery.

Establishing the First Government at Forks Ferry

On May 16, 1839, local leaders took the first official steps to establish a parish government. The inaugural police jury—composed of J.N. Farmer, Jeptha Colvin, Phillip Feazel, Matthew Wood, Needham Bryan, Bridges Howard, and D.P.A. Cook—gathered at the home of William Wilkerson. Located just one mile west of Farmerville where Bayou Corney meets the river, this historic meeting place became known as Forks Ferry.

During this landmark first meeting, these early leaders faced the monumental task of organizing a functional government from scratch. The jury appointed its core leadership:

• President: Matthew Wood
• Clerk: Thomas Van Hook (who also served as the first District Court Clerk)
• Sheriff: W.C. Carr
• Recorder: Claiborne M. Smith
• Parish Judge: John Taylor

To ensure fairness, the panel passed a strict resolution declaring that the parish seat must sit within five miles of the geographic center of the parish. Matthew Wood’s land donation perfectly met the criteria, anchoring the future town and courthouse.

Securing the Charter

The very next day, on May 17, 1839, the police jury passed a defining ordinance:

"Be it Ordained by the Police Jury of Union Parish, Louisiana, that the seat of justice in and for Union Parish, Louisiana, shall be called by the name Farmerville."

While leaders laid out and organized the town in 1839, Farmerville officially received its legislative charter and incorporation from the General Assembly in 1842. Following several subsequent amendments, the town adopted the historic Charter of 1870, which still guides Farmerville’s municipal government to this day.

Visit Farmerville and beautiful Lake D'Arbonne State Park. We'll see you soon!