Vol. 4, No. 1

We start the year with a full skate of information for the Hineston Chronicle readers. There are the usual deaths that we all lament and there is news and notification of the publication of the Chronicles goes out to 208 individuals and families. It is free and we hope you will notify friends of the availability.

A name and email sent to me at doncmarler@gmail.com is all it takes to get Carolyn Dyess Bales has also developed a free Facebook site for Historic Hineston. There are almost 900 people on that site. It is wonderful for those who love Facebook. This site is also free—just send your name and email to:

Carolyn at: carolyndyessbales@yahoo.com

You should know that Hineston is the title given to these publications, but all surrounding communities are included in the contents and interested people anywhere are invited to subscribe to the these online presentations without charge.

Please send news, stories, photographs to either or both of these You are free to use the material as you see fit—just give credit
where that is appropriate. Libraries should make copies for their vertical files or bind them as their resources allow.

BULLETIN BOARD

Hazel Scarbrock, 69 of Otis, passed away on January 7, 2014.

She was interred a Fellowship Methodist Church Cemetery at Tyler.

Wade “TWIG” Wood, 19 passed away on January 10, 2014. He was a senior at Oak Hill High School. He was interred at Calvary Cemetery, Gardner, La.

Ray Joseph Johnson, 74 passed away on November 18, 2013. He was a son of Ms. Vivian Johnson and a past resident of Hineston.
He was interred at Campground Cemetery, Glenmora, La.

David Lewis, 73 passed away on March 7, 2014. He was interred at Calvary Church Cemetery.

Marvin Swain, 79 passed away on February 21, 2014. He was interred at Holly Springs Cemetery.

Pauline Robinson, 77 passed away on February 26 2014. She was interred at Lonestar Cemetery.

James A. Rutherford, 33 passed away on February 22 2014. He was interred at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

Willie Mae Cryer Ross, 95 passed away on January 29, 2014 and was interred at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery.

RECENT EVENTS

Arrests made in Hineston bank robbery:

According to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, (RPSO), on November 20, at approximately 2 p.m., RPSO detectives, with the assistance RPSO Metro Division deputies and the US Marshals Violent Offender Task Force, made two arrests in the armed robbery of the Hineston Branch of Sabine State Bank from earlier this month. According to RPSO, detectives have been
working on leads and gathering information since the robbery on November 2.

On November 20, RPSO said detectives arrested Corey Cortez Rosenthal, 43 of Boyce and Tellys Tyrone Rosenthal, 36 also of Boyce. RPSO said a third suspect, Cedric Roshone Sanders, 43 of Boyce, was arrested but was already in the Rapides Parish Detention Center on an arrest two days ago on narcotics violations and an out of parish warrant.

According to RPSO, during the investigation, detectives developed information on the suspects from evidence they obtained during their investigation. Detectives alleged Corey Rosenthal and Cedric Sanders committed the robbery, and Tellys Rosenthal assisted them after the fact.

RPSO said Corey Rosenthal was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Tellys Rosenthal was taken into custody without incident.

According to RPSO, all three suspects are being held in the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a no bond hold at the time of this release. Detectives say the investigation is continuing and more arrests are probable.

Arrestee: Corey Rosenthal, 43, of 715 Longford St., Boyce, La.

Charges: Armed Robbery

Un-Authorized Use of Motor Vehicle

Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon

Arrestee: Cedric Sanders, 43, of 803 Killarney St., Boyce, La.

Charges: Armed Robbery

Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon

Arrestee: Tellys Tyrone Rosenthal, 36, of 1010 Millrace Rd., Boyce, La.

Charges: Accessory After the Fact Obstruction of Justice

Follow-up on a REVOLTING TRAGEDY

Editor’s Note: In Volume III No. 4 of Hineston Chronicles we introduced a story of violence between two Hineston area families. We asked if anyone had more information as what we had was sketchy to say the least. Sherri came forward with more but there are still many unanswered questions.

Go back a read the story in the last issue to provide more context for the story. If you have more information or can find any more please forward it

*****

Jacob Gunter’s daughter (Lucretia Gunter) eloped with Calvin Bass. They were married by Parson Duff, a Baptist minister residing in Calcasieu parish. Bass returned with Lucretia to her neighborhood and put up at the house of Rolen Weatherford. When Jacob learned of it, he and his oldest son David armed themselves, and David subsequently shot Calvin. Calvin then shot Jacob. David then finished Calvin off with a knife. David took his wounded father home. Constable Thomas Neal organized a posse to arrest David.

David saw them coming and started to run and was shot. A Dr. W. Hobby, had reported that he felt that neither David nor Jacob would recover from their wounds. (Ouachita Telegraph, July 20, 1877)

*****

Jacob Gunter and his son David were tried last week in Vernon, for the killing of young Bass (Calvin), and both were found guilty of manslaughter.

Judge Blackman sentenced the father for six years, and the son for three in the Penitentiary, and ordered the Sheriff of Vernon to convey them to our Parish Jail for safekeeping till their cases had been decided by the Supreme Court, to which an appeal had been taken. All this, however, has turned out useless, both father and son have escaped from the Vernon Jail and are now fugitives. (The Louisiana Democrat, November 28, 1877)

*****

Deputy Sheriff W.E. Hall, of Bell County, Texas, reached here on Thursday night last on the Silver City, and had as prisoners Jacob and David Gunter, charged with the murder of Calvin Bass. They were lodged in our jail, there being no jail in Vernon Parish. It will be remembered that the killing of Bass by the Gunters was under peculiar circumstances, and that Jacob Gunter is an old and respectable citizen of Rapides, and withall a good man, and that both he and his son were tried in Vernon Parish, were found guilty and sentenced for a term of years to the Penitentiary, but made their escape. The trial of the Gunters, at the time, created a great deal of interest, they were zealously and ably defended by Col. R. A. Hunter, a warm and life-long friend of the older Gunter, and bills of exception were filed in their cases, went up to the Supreme Court, and that tribunal sustained Col. Hunter’s exceptions and sent the case back for a new trial. We mention these facts in justice to the prisoners, the oldest of whom we have favorably known for years, and as this matter has to commence de novo we bespeck in their favor a suspension of public opinion, and let their trial be on its merits and in the interests of pure justice. (The Louisiana Democrat, July 13, 1878)

Family links: Jacob Gunter

Died: December 30, 1903

Spouse: Serena Johnson Gunter (1823 – 1927)*

David Gunter (1853 – 1920)*

Amelia Gunter Dixon (1853 – 1938)*

Martha Clementine Gunter Rutherford (1858 – 1906)*

Sidney Gunter Fulmer (1866 – 1955)*

Alice Elizabeth Gunter Johnson (1867 – 1966)*

W Crockett Gunter (1870 – 1958)*

E S Gunter (1872 – 1936)*

William Gunter (1874 – 1961)*

Joseph F Gunter (1875 – 1951)*

*= Calculated relationship

Rapides Parish, Louisiana, USA

Editor’s Note: There are several inconsistencies and unusual items in this story. For example Jacob was 12 years junior to his wife who was at least 52 when she had the last child. He was 17 years of age when the first child was born. Lucretia, the daughter who eloped with Mr. Bass is not accounted for in the listing of children. The lack of knowledge of her birth position makes calculations difficult.

It was not unusual in those days for the newspapers to take a position in favor or against one of the participants in a situation like this. We still do not know if the father and son served time for their crime. Can you provide Thanks to Sherri Abshire for furnishing an interesting chapter to this tragic

Remembering DeRidder Army Air Base

by: Rickey Robertson

In west central Louisiana there is a remnant of the days of the Louisiana Maneuvers and World War II that is very often overlooked. Nestled and preserved in the town of DeRidder, Louisiana is the location of the old DeRidder Army Air Base, with its original hanger, runways, streets, and remains of some of the World War II buildings still intact and in use! Yes, the old base is now the Beauregard Regional Airport and is continuously in use even to this day. Let’s look back and see the origins of this famous piece of World War history right in our back yards.

The air base was actually not a product of World War II itself, but of the Great Depression. With the depression raging across America, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration came up with many ideas to bring about jobs and created different agencies to institute the programs that were enacted. One of these much needed work projects began in DeRidder
in 1933 under direction of the Army Emergency Relief Authority. The site of the project was 160 acres of land on the western side of town. The site was leased for 5 years and what was of greatest importance was that it provided jobs for 400 men. But the work was hard and tough for the men since they were clearing off this area filled with pine stumps and brushy undergrowth. But the area was cleared and ready for use as needed.

In 1939 Germany began to run rampant over all of Europe. General George C. Marshall saw that the United States would be involved in this war that loomed closer on the horizon each day. In 1940 the U.S. Army began filling its ranks out with draftees and recruits and General Headquarters began planning maneuvers to train this new army of men. In 1940 Louisiana was chosen as the site of the army maneuvers.

In 1940 the first small maneuvers began and it brought out how unprepared the army was in manpower, weapons, and equipment. Here in Louisiana many army camps sprang up overnight to support these maneuvers. But forgotten is the fact that the U.S. Army Air Forces were also involved in these maneuvers.

Beginning in the 1940 maneuvers the site at DeRidder was used as a landing field for various types of aircraft that were used in the support of the ground and armored forces. Some of the very first planes were the small “grasshopper” observation aircraft manufactured by Aeronca and Piper Aircraft. These planes could land and take off on a short and rough runway and proved to be extremely useful in the future of U.S. Army aviation. Little did the army know but these small planes would forever change the thinking of General Headquarters as to their usefulness as liaison, artillery spotter, fire direction, and observation aircraft in the coming months and especially during the Great Louisiana Maneuvers of 1941.

In February 1941 a National Defense Project conducted by the U.S. Army Air Force built several airfields throughout Louisiana in which there would be training of combat pilots and aircrews, and in anti- submarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico due to the menace of German U boats. At DeRidder the USAAF on July 1, 1941 leased from the Beauregard Parish Police Jury the site of the original small airstrip that had been built in 1933 and began to build an airbase. On December 25, 1941 the DeRidder Army Air Base was started when the 3rd Quartermaster Company arrived and began operations at the site. The 22nd Observation Squadron soon arrived and began As the base grew it totaled up to 4300 acres. The base would soon house from 3,000 to 5,000 men throughout its tenure.  Soon A-20, B-17, B-25, B-26, P-40, P-51, L-4, and L-5 aircraft would be operating out of this growing air base. Since it was a training base, it was placed under the 3rd Army Air Forces. By 1944 Colonel George MacIntyre was the commander of the base.

But to provide training areas for the pilots and crews, bombing and gunnery ranges were needed. A large bombing range of 20,000 acres was laid out near Merryville, La. These ranges were known as “Tokyo Range” where medium altitude bombing was conducted, “Burma Range” was the strafing, machine gun, and skip bombing area, and the “Berlin Range” was used to conduct high altitude bombing missions. Many bomber crews and fighter and observation pilots were trained at this base until training ceased in February 1945. After the victory had been won over the Axis Powers, DeRidder Army Air Base was declared “war surplus” on October 2, 1946.

On December 23, 1948 the former base was deeded to the Beauregard Parish.  Today you can still immediately see that this was a former military base. The original hanger, where mechanics and technicians worked on all the many types of aircraft, aircraft components, machine guns, and all other aspects of these planes still is standing and is in use to this day. You enter a special place when you walk into the old hanger. You immediately go back to the World War II days and can almost picture the mechanics and flight personnel checking their aircraft. Also on the base are many of its original streets and even the remains of the original concrete vault used by the Base Finance Office is still standing. The only thing missing is the control tower but when you walk out on the flight line you can almost just hear B-17’s, P-40’s, and other aircraft taking off and landing.

Today this old army air base is known as the Beauregard Regional Airport (KDRI) and is used in this role. The runways are even today being overlaid to keep everything up to FAA standards with all types of modern equipment for those flying into the airport.

And of importance, there is a special group of people based at KDRI…The Friends of DeRidder Air Base (DAAB), a 501c3 non- profit organization.

Formed in 2009, their mission is to bring about public awareness and provide support in preservation of the rich history of the base. Annually, they have hosted Living History Events, Fly-ins and other events. They also sponsor youth aviation programs via the Aviation Explorer Post (AEP) 3093.

They are currently assisting AEP 3093 in the building of a Zenith SH750 This year’s Living History Event will bring back memories close to home for many. On May 2nd and 3rd, 2014 the Friends of DAAB will sponsor a Living History Re-Enactment of the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1941!

Yes, the Great Louisiana Maneuvers will be re-enacted as best as possible with cavalry, infantry, and other units comprised of re-enactors from across the nation. And yes, there is something very special. There will be a “Grasshopper Fly-In” of Piper Cub aircraft such as was used during the maneuvers and possibly even some other World War II era aircraft. People will get to see the Red and Blue Armies battle each other and the aircraft on This is a great opportunity for you to bring your children, grandchildren,
family and friends to see actual re-enactments of the maneuvers and the aircraft that were used during that historical time. And just stop and think, if you actually lived through the Louisiana Maneuvers of 1941 you can re-live your childhood. Come and have a very enjoyable day and see history in You can check updates on this upcoming event online at: http://www.deridderarmyairbase.com or “like” them athttp://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfDAAB, or contact Sharon Hyde-Beltz at 337-238-1024.

ANNIVERSARY of WWI – PROJECT

by:  Carolyn Dyess Bales

World War One (WWI) was a global war centered in Europe; beginning 100 years ago on 28 July 1914 and lasting until 11 November 1918. Many families have very personal reasons to remember that war. This project, sponsored by the Historic Hineston Facebook web site, will give everyone in Hineston and surrounding areas an opportunity to refresh and record memories of those in the community who served and especially those who gave their lives in that conflict. Share any WWI information you have
about area residents who served; including stories and photos to make the  There are four parts I will be working on for the Hineston and surrounding areas: Collecting, Investigating, synthesizing, and presenting data. In addition to working on the Hineston and surrounding areas, I am working on my two major surnames (DYESS and BONNETTE). Because a lot of you are working on your lines, I thought this might be something you might want to work on your personal lines as well. At the end of the study, I will do a presentation of the findings.

Part One – Collecting the Information

One hundred years on, we are all connected to the First World War, either through our own family history, the heritage of our local communities or because of its long-term impact on society and the world we live in today.

From 2014 to 2018, across the world, nations, communities and individuals of all ages will come together to mark, commemorate and remember the lives of those who lived, fought and died in the First World War. Therefore, you certainly will be hearing more about WWI throughout the year from the media, etc. For the Historic Hineston and surrounding areas – it would be helpful if you could post the material to the Facebook site. If you are not on Facebook, PLEASE email me the material by the end of June 2014 –

CarolynDyessBales@yahoo.com.

Part Two, Part Three and Part Four – Investigate, Synthesize, and I mentioned above the four parts of the research for the Historic Hineston area(s). I am also doing my two major surnames. Listed below are some ideas I am going to be trying to get the resources from. This will be helpful if you are going to do a study for your surname.

• Does your surname have a war memorial? Visit it, get photos.

•Has anyone previously researched the WWI servicemen on the war memorial? Get hold of their research.

• When was the war memorial erected? Who contributed, who was at the memorial?

• Are there gravestones, military or other, in your surname for WWI?

• Are fallen servicemen from your surname commemorated on the war memorial in other areas of the country?

• Were there any buildings or streets relevant to the war effort? Renamed for your researched surname as a result of the war?

•Did the local paper mention servicemen from your surname you are researching? Report on their experiences? Print obituaries?

• Are there military service records for the force(s) of your surname?

• Are there any wills for the servicemen of surnames you are researching?

• Are there military pension records for the surnames you are researching?

• Are post-WWI medical records available for your researched surnames? Any other ways to find out how war injuries and illnesses affected?

• Did anyone from your researched surnames serve in an overseas force?

* What percentage of men from your researched surnames would have been eligible to serve or be called up?

• Whose occupation or trade changed over the war period? Do you see any of your surname women taking up new roles?

•Did servicemen’s pre-war occupations impact on their military role?  Were any collections taken up for the war effort? How else did those at home assist the war effort?

•Were there any conscientious objectors or war protestors in your

•Is there any memorabilia or ephemera relating to the war for your surnames? Are there Any postcards sent during the war mentioning the impact of the war for the people you are researching?

•Were there special church services held for any of your researched surnames during the war?

• Does the local archives hold any family papers for your servicemen’s

About Historic Hineston Facebook

As of this date we have 873 members on the Historic Hineston FaceBook website. Each of you have made that website a success and everyone is enjoying, remembering, contributing, and discussing Hineston and surrounding areas. There have been so much shared and so much learned!

Another big THANKS to each of you! Because I feel so strongly about our history and heritage, I wanted to give each of you a chance to share any WWI information you have and/or know either by stories, pictures, etc. by either joining the Historic Hineston Facebook Website or emailing me at CarolynDyessBales@yahoo.com

Join Historic Hineston Facebook Website

If you have any questions about joining the Historic Hineston Facebook website, please contact me. If you want to communicate with me by email CarolynDyessBales@yahoo.com or by phone – 318-792-8426 or 979-820-1212, please feel free to do so.

To receive the Hineston Chronicles send your name and email to doncmarler@gmail.com; it is free.