18th and 19th centuries History of Lake Charles, Louisiana

1 18th , 19th centuries

1.1 historical events, settlement , incorporation
1.2 industrial growth , civil war
1.3 after civil war

18th , 19th centuries
early historical events, settlement , incorporation

while several american indian tribes known have lived in area occupied present-day lake charles, first european settlers arrived in 1760s.

the calcasieu river bridge seen downtown lake charles.

in 1781 martin lebleu , wife, dela marion, of bordeaux, france first recorded europeans settle in area known lebleu settlement. charles sallier, 1 of first settlers, married lebleu s daughter, catherine lebleu; salliers built home on beach in current-day lake charles. area on east side of calcasieu river defined southern part of neutral ground until ratification of adams-onís treaty ratified in 1821. infamous pirate, jean lafitte, once delivered stolen slaves , contraband james bowie , other plantation owners in area. 1860 area become known charles town in sallier s honor.

the rio hondo, flowed through lake charles, later called quelqueshue, native american term meaning crying eagle . transliterated through french, became name of calcasieu parish. on march 7, 1861, lake charles officially incorporated town of charleston, louisiana.

industrial growth , civil war

the city s growth slow until captain daniel goos, frisian birth, came city in 1855. goos established lumber mill , schooner dock, in became known goosport. promoted profitable trade texan , mexican ports sending schooner downriver gulf of mexico. until arrival of goos, man named jacob ryan dominated lumber industry. between 1817 , 1855, timber sales longleaf pine , bald cypress remained city s primary source of economic revenue.

jacob ryan convinced state government move parish seat lake charles former location @ marion, settlement 8 miles (13 km) upriver. later year, ryan , samuel kirby transferred parish courthouse , jail barge then-named charleston. 6 years after city incorporated, dissatisfaction on name charleston arose; on march 16, 1867, charleston, louisiana, renamed , incorporated town of lake charles.

by time of u.s. civil war, many americans north, along large influx of continental europeans , jews, had come settle area. attitudes toward slavery in lake charles mixed, slavery secondary business interests. in fact, fewer 5 percent of population slaves. many citizens became involved in war. local families supported confederacy, while others supported cause of union.

after civil war

in years following civil war, lake charles regained status lumbering center. in 1880s, city saw increase in population , economic demand largely due innovative advertising campaign j.b. watkins. campaign, city s population grew four-hundred percent during decade.

using pine wood city s mills, construction of large victorian mansions transformed lake charles during 1890s. carpenters competed verve out-build each other use of elaborate fretwork , decoration. area of present-day lake charles located east of downtown known charpentier historic district french word carpenter , features unique homes era.