Near Bernice in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Cane Ridge
⎯⎯⎯
James W. Nicholson

Cane Ridge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wesley Harris, November 2, 2020

1. Cane Ridge Marker

Inscription.

Cane Ridge, also, James W. Nicholson. . Cane Ridge. Washington B. Nicholson and Martha Wafer Nicholson arrived in Claiborne Parish in late 1844, and settled at "Parker's Creek," a now-unknown location. In the summer of 1846, they moved to this location, calling it "Cane Ridge." here they purchased lands from the United States Government and established a 280-acre homestead on properties surrounding this marker., As the population of the community grew, a post office and store were established and a building that served as its first church and school was constructed on the Homer-Farmerville Road about one mile east of this marker., The Nicholson family left Cane Ridge in 1853 and moved to the Forest Grove community in pursuit of better schools for their children. With the closure of the post office in 1894, Cane Ridge slowly declined and eventually disappeared. However, Nicholson Creek still runs through the center of old Nicholson property just east of this marker., An account of the Nicholson family's migration and life in Claiborne Parish can be found in James W. Nicholson's autobiography, "Stories of Dixie," published in 1915., James W. Nicholson. Elected chair of the Mathematics Department of Louisiana State University in 1877 and twice serving as president of LSU, James William Nicholson earned a place of honor in the history of Claiborne Parish., Nicholson was born June 16, 1844, in Macon County, Alabama. He was an infant when his parents began the long trek down the Alabama River to Mobile, continuing by ship to New Orleans and by steamboat up the Mississippi and Red Rivers to Shreveport. They arrived in Claiborne Parish by oxcart and eventually settled in this location in 1846, calling it "Cane Ridge." , In his autobiography, "Stories of Dixie," Nicholson describes their life at Cane Ridge. A gifted mathematician, he received a Master's Degree from the Homer Male College, teaching there and at the Arizona Academy of Claiborne Parish before joining the faculty of Louisiana State University in 1877., While at LSU, Nicholson authored many textbooks used throughout Louisiana and beyond. Nicholson remained in the service of LSU until his death in 1917. Nicholson Hall on the university campus and Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge were named in his honor. He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Baton Rouge.

Cane Ridge Washington B. Nicholson and Martha Wafer Nicholson arrived in Claiborne Parish in late 1844, and settled at "Parker's Creek," a now-unknown location. In the summer of 1846, they moved to this location, calling it "Cane Ridge." here they purchased lands from the United States Government and established a 280-acre homestead on properties surrounding this marker.

As the population of the community grew, a post office and store were established and a building that served as its first church and school was constructed on the Homer-Farmerville Road about one mile east of this marker.

The Nicholson family left Cane Ridge in 1853 and moved to the Forest Grove community in pursuit of better schools for their children. With the closure of the post office in 1894, Cane Ridge slowly declined and eventually disappeared. However, Nicholson Creek still runs through the center of old Nicholson property just east of this marker.

An account of the Nicholson family's migration and life in Claiborne Parish can be found in James W. Nicholson's autobiography, "Stories of Dixie," published in 1915.

James W. Nicholson Elected chair of the Mathematics Department of Louisiana State University in 1877 and twice serving as president of LSU, James William

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Nicholson earned a place of honor in the history of Claiborne Parish.

Nicholson was born June 16, 1844, in Macon County, Alabama. He was an infant when his parents began the long trek down the Alabama River to Mobile, continuing by ship to New Orleans and by steamboat up the Mississippi and Red Rivers to Shreveport. They arrived in Claiborne Parish by oxcart and eventually settled in this location in 1846, calling it "Cane Ridge."

In his autobiography, "Stories of Dixie," Nicholson describes their life at Cane Ridge. A gifted mathematician, he received a Master's Degree from the Homer Male College, teaching there and at the Arizona Academy of Claiborne Parish before joining the faculty of Louisiana State University in 1877.

While at LSU, Nicholson authored many textbooks used throughout Louisiana and beyond. Nicholson remained in the service of LSU until his death in 1917. Nicholson Hall on the university campus and Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge were named in his honor. He is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Baton Rouge.

Erected 2020 by Claiborne Parish Library.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is June 16, 1844.

Location. 32° 48.992′ N, 92° 45.103′ W. Marker is

Photographed by Wesley Harris, November 21, 2020

2. Cane Ridge Marker

near Bernice, Louisiana, in Claiborne Parish. It is on Louisiana Route 2 0.1 miles east of Buck Green Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 237 Route 2, Bernice LA 71222, 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,

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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Alabama Methodist Church (approx. 3.3 miles away); Town Jail (approx. 5.6 miles away); Wooden Water Cistern (approx. 5.6 miles away); Robert L. Finley (approx. 5.6 miles away); Bernice Depot (approx. 5.6 miles away); Friendship CME Church (approx. 7.8 miles away); Scottsville / Corney Bayou (approx. 8½ miles away); Autrey House (approx. 9.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bernice.

Additional commentary.
1. About the marker
The text of this marker was researched, composed and submitted to the Louisiana State Office of Tourism by Vincent P. Ory and Beverly E. Smith of Claiborne Parish. The Claiborne Parish Library was Sponsor.

— Submitted June 1, 2025, by Vincent P. Ory of Lisbon, Louisiana.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2021, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 977 times since then and 64 times this year. Last updated on June 1, 2025, by Vincent P. Ory of Lisbon, Louisiana. Photos: 1. submitted on August 23, 2021, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. 2. submitted on August 24, 2021, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

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Cane Ridge⎯⎯⎯James W. Nicholson

Cane Ridge
⎯⎯⎯
James W. Nicholson