Near Haughton in Bossier Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

The Arrest of Isaac Williams and his Men

Photographed by Roger Jefferson

1. The Arrest of Isaac Williams and his Men Marker

Inscription. At this site in 1868, Isaac Williams and thirty other African American men were arrested and unlawfully convicted and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary for holding a Loyal-League meeting. Four months later, with the advice and consent of the Senate, these men were pardoned by Governor H.C. Warmoth.

Erected 2018 by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in cooperation with the Louisiana Tourism Development Commission. Sponsored by the Jefferson and Williams Families.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: African Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. 32° 26.253′ N, 93° 27.911′ W. Marker is near Haughton, Louisiana, in Bossier Parish. It is on Johnson Koran Road one mile north of State Highway 527, on the left when traveling north. It is at the Jerusalem Baptist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4054 Johnson Koran Rd, Haughton LA 71037, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

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and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oakland Plantation (approx. 3½ miles away); Henry McDade House (approx. 4.1 miles away); Lake Bistineau (approx. 4.4 miles away); Paul Lawrence Home (approx. 6.9 miles away); Ashpoint Plantation (approx. 8.1 miles away); Fillmore Cemetery (approx. 8.8 miles away); Loggy Bayou-Red River (approx. 14.1 miles away); Citizens Bank & Trust Company (approx. 16.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Post-Civil War history uncovered in south Bossier Parish. 2018 illustrated article by Nate Fluharty on KTBS-TV Channel 3 in Shreveport. Excerpt:

According to Jefferson, at the time the O’Neal’s were pioneers, not necessarily by the way they lived, but how they treated others. In an unprecedented move
Photographed by Roger Jefferson

2. The Arrest of Isaac Williams and his Men Marker
at that time, they sold their farm to a black man named Isaac Williams and it didn’t take long before the post-Civil War tensions began between Williams and certain white neighbors.

Nowadays we hear the term fake news used quite a lot, but it was still a thing back in 1868 when it was reported by local media that several of the members here were rioting. That wasn’t the case but they were still arrested and sent to the penitentiary. They were later released by the governor, but not without sending a clear message of peace.

It was determined by the court that Williams and his 30 followers had been unlawfully convicted.

(Submitted on January 7, 2020.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,417 times since then and 137 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 7, 2020, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.