Home Care In Plain Dealing, LA

The sign in Jessica Hemingway's office in the Bossier Chamber of Commerce tells the story: "Plain Dealing, Louisiana: The Only Town with the Golden Rule Name."

"It really does tell the story of Plain Dealing," the chamber's vice president said.

In a way, the sign answers the question posed by reader Megan Smith, who asks, "How did Plain Dealing get its name?"

The Alexandria resident remembers passing a sign pointing to the town while traveling through Bossier Parish. She's been curious about the name ever since.

As indicated by the Chamber of Commerce's sign, the town's name is based on honesty and integrity.

"As the story goes, Plain Dealing originally got its name from Plain Dealing Plantation, which was settled in 1839 by George Gilmer," Hemingway said. "A newspaper article in this area said the name Plain Dealing is typical of the character of the owner of the plantation. And really, the people of the town felt the name was also typical of the character of the people who lived there. So, the name stuck obviously. And I would say, in general, it's a sentiment that has carried over."

The newspaper was the Bossier Banner, which published a letter by G.E. Gilmer in 1937 stating that ”The name Plain Dealing is typical of the character of the (plantation’s) founder. It is said of him that he never traded or bartered, but he sold the products of his farms and bought his needs in the regular channel of trade.”

An excerpt of that letter can be found in the Bossier Chamber of Commerce's blog, BeBossier.com, which documents Bossier Parish's history.

Hemingway put together the blog post for Plain Dealing, sourcing it from the local publication, “The First 100 Years: A History of Plain Dealing 1890-1990,” produced by the Town of Plain Dealing’s Centennial Committee.

The blog not only documents the town's history but offers interesting anecdotes along the way. Though the story begins with Gilmer's plantation, Plain Dealing wasn't incorporated until the railroad showed up on the scene.

"S.J. Zeigler, a prominent businessman, came to Bossier Parish around 1870 when he married a descendant of the Gilmers who had inherited the Plain Dealing property," BeBossier.com states.

Zeigler realized a town was needed to serve the Bossier area when the St. Louis Southwestern Railway proposed to build a branch line from Lewisville, Arkansas, to Shreveport. He selected the Plain Dealing site.

The community was temporarily known as Guernshein at the time, named for a prominent railroad company stockholder. Lots for the town were sold on July 25, 1888. Its name changed to Plain Dealing, and the town was chartered on April 24, 1890, with a population of less than 100.

"Today, Plain Dealing has a population of 900 inside the town limits, which covers one square mile," Hemingway said. "The ZIP code they're in has a population of about 4,000, but the town itself has 900."

The town also is home to Plain Dealing High School, whose mascot is the lion and serves students in kindergarten through the 12th grade.

"The town has a decently intact main street, and it has two independently owned pharmacies that are only a block away from each other," Hemingway said. "It also has a bank."

Finding Plain Dealing on a map is easy. It's located near the northwesternmost corner of Louisiana, about 30 miles north of Shreveport.

According to Bossier Historian Cliff Cardin, as quoted in the BeBossier.com blog, the town was a powerful influence in Bossier Parish from the 1890s to the 1930s.

“It was close enough to the railroads and far away enough from Shreveport, and Bossier City hadn’t reached its potential yet," he said. "Plain Dealing was a fairly new creation because all the other small towns around it — like, Fillmore and Rocky Mount — weren’t close enough to the railroad.”

Cardin also discussed an interesting legend connected to the town involving Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

Their getaway driver, Henry Methvin, had a brother who lived in Plain Dealing, and it was rumored that the town was a hideout for the famous robber couple.

Cardin said there's a possibility to the legend but not likely.

“I don’t believe it’s true because we know they had a really good hideout on Caddo Lake,” he said.

Bonnie and Clyde met their demise in 1934 not far down the road in Gibsland, only a year after Texas robber Charlie Frazier robbed the town's only bank.

Frazier got into two shootouts with local authorities, escaped before being caught. His legend continues at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, which, it's said, built its first prison cellblock to house him after he staged a brutal escape.

Just a couple of miles outside the town of Plain Dealing was Glover’s Tavern. Today, the site is commemorated by a historical marker that tells the story of Jim Bowie's stop there on his way to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

One other Plain Dealing tidbit revolves around the epic divorce of the oldest son of the Gilmer family. According to BeBossier.com, the divorce required an act of the Louisiana Legislature to untangle the Plain Dealing Plantation property.

James B. Gilmer, son of the plantation founder, married Pauline DeGraffenreid Pickett, widow of James Belton Pickett, one of the founders of Shreveport. The couple’s home, Orchard Place, near present-day Collinsburg, was one of the showplaces of north Louisiana.

"Unfortunately in recent years, the population and business activity in Plain Dealing has been declining," Hemingway said. "However, we're seeing a sawmill that's set to open within the next year right outside the town limits."

Hemingway said other opportunities coupled with the growth of Bossier City and Benton, moving north in Bossier parish means potential growth of Plain Dealing.

As growth returns, do the people of Plain Dealing still live up to the town's name?

"Oh yes," Hemingway said. "They're still Plain Dealing, and they live up to the town's reputation for honesty and integrity. They're family."

For more information, visit bebossier.com/2018/06/do-you-know-the-history-of-plain-dealing.

The town of Plain Dealing has grown and changed over its 100-plus years. But the constant has always been the people. The town is filled with passionate residents who love its pace and quality of life. Pat Boggs is owner of Kelly Pharmacy. He has lived all of his 60 years in the town.

“My favorite thing about Plain Dealing is the small town, community atmosphere and that you know everybody,” he said.

His business was started by his grandfather 67 years ago and Pat took it over in 1987. He said it’s been difficult as times have changed during his 30 years of running the family business.

“Like all small towns, we’ve lost a lot of local businesses with chain stores and online shopping,” said Boggs. “It’s tough in a small town but we’ve done real well.”

He said that success comes down to “customer service and a viable business providing what the people of Plain Dealing need.”

On that note, he still hopes to see more businesses move to town.

“I’d like to see more growth in our industry here,” Boggs added.

But if he made sure to point out that the town is ready and willing to accept new families, like the one that moved into town at the end of August.

“It’s a good, safe community where the people know everyone and we’d like to see more people move here,” he said.

Rhonda Lyles was born and raised in Plain Dealing.

“My husband is from Plain Dealing, both of our families are from Plain Dealing and we just chose to stay there,” Lyles said. “We’ve raise three boys in Plain Dealing and I like the country life. Raising kids in the country life, they would rather hunt, fish, ride bicycles, and play golf instead of be inside playing video games.”

Her favorite thing about the town is the people.

“Everyone knows everyone,” Lyles said. “It’s just home.”

She added the town is seeing some growth as its small town charm lends itself to people choosing to retire there.

“Plain Dealing has become a retirement town. The generation I raised has grown up and moved away, but people are moving back. That’s the good thing — it’s on the grow with people moving back to retire.”

She wants people to know that there is plenty of recreation in the town.

“We have one of the best little golf courses in Bossier Parish. We have a lake for skiing and fishing. There are things to do in Plain Dealing if you just come that way and see.”

Dottie Sepeda lived in Plain Dealing for 21 years before she left and then moved back because it “was always home.”

“My favorite thing about Plain Dealing is the peace and quiet,” she said. “And that fact that you feel safe here.”

She loves the slow pace of the small town. One of her favorite things to do is going to church and visiting with her friends.

“I like swinging on my swing on my front porch and going to high school football games on Friday nights,” Sepeda said.

While she noted that Plain Dealing is a great place for people tired of the hustle and bustle to retire, she does hope to see the town like it was when she was growing.

“We can have thriving businesses, more places to eat with a great downtown,” she said.

Fun Facts about History of Plain Dealing

• Once a metropolis – Bossier Historian Cliff Cardin noted that Plain Dealing was a powerful influence in Bossier Parish from the 1890s to the 1930s.

“It was close enough to the railroads and far away enough from Shreveport, and Bossier City hadn’t reached its potential yet. Plain Dealing was a fairly new creation because all the other small towns around it – like, Fillmore and Rocky Mount – weren’t close enough to the railroad.”

• Bonnie and Clyde? – The infamous couple’s getaway driver Henry Methvin, had a brother who lived in Plain Dealing, and it was rumored that the town was a hideout for the famous robber couple.

Historian Cliff Cardin says it’s possible but not likely, explaining, “I don’t believe it’s true because we know they had a really good hideout on Caddo Lake.”

• First Bank – Cardin notes that on May 3, 1904, the first bank in Bossier opened in Plain Dealing. The Benton Bank had begun but did not open until Sept 1, 1904. It was replaced by First State Bank and Trust Company of Plain Dealing on Sept. 1, 1921.

• Equality History – In 1921, Mary Kay Bryce was appointed Registrar of Voters for Bossier Parish. She was the first woman in the state appointed to this position.

• Glover’s Tavern – Just a couple miles outside the town was the location of the tavern ran by Elijah Glover and his wife, where a historical marker stands denoting it was the location famous pioneer Jim Bowie was supposed to have stayed the night at while on his way to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

• An epic divorce – The oldest son of the Gilmer family – Plain Dealing Plantation founders – James B. Gilmer, married Pauline DeGraffenreid Pickett, the widow of James Belton Pickett, one of the founders of Shreveport. The couple’s home, Orchard Place, near present day Collinsburg, was one of the showplaces of north Louisiana. When they divorced, it required an act of the Louisiana Legislature to untangle their property.

Teal Jones Group owners Tom and Dick Jones announced that the company is evaluating Bossier Parish, Louisiana, for a planned $110.5 million southern yellow pine lumber plant.

The new sawmill would support 125 new direct jobs, with average annual salaries of $47,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project would also support at least 369 indirect jobs, for a total of 494 prospective new jobs in Louisiana’s Northwest region. The production facility would generate up to 120 construction jobs at peak construction.

The planned production facility would produce a wide range of dimensional and specialty lumber products. Teal Jones has secured through its partners major sawmill, planer, kiln drying and ancillary equipment required for the project, ensuring that the mill in Bossier Parish can be built on time and within the specified budget.

“Louisiana’s wealth of timber resources has made it a prime destination for lumber and sawmill investment over the past several years,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “The proposed plans by Teal Jones and partner investors would bring tremendous economic activity and good jobs to Louisiana’s Northwest region. On behalf of the State of Louisiana, I welcome this proposed new project and all of the economic benefits that would follow.”

The company plans to locate the greenfield facility on 235 acres in Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish, which features easy access to rail. The facility will be ideally located in close proximity to transportation and railway infrastructure, as well as to timberlands.

Teal Jones expects to source southern yellow pine timber from their landowner partners in this project, as well as other regional suppliers. In addition to lumber, the company plans to sell residual fiber products, including chips and sawdust, to local pulp and pellet plants.

“The level of support and engagement we’ve received from the folks at the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, North Louisiana Economic Partnership, the local community and officials, and the state has been incredible,” said Tom Jones, CEO of Teal Jones. “At full capacity, this mill will have a production capacity of 300 million board feet, with world-class productivity and lumber recovery, and a competitive product mix. This will give Teal Jones and its partners a competitive advantage in the region for years to come.”

Teal Jones is a 70-year-old, family-owned company based in British Columbia, Canada. The company is the largest privately held forest products company operating on the western coast of Canada. Along with its B.C. operations, Teal Jones operates southern yellow pine mills in Antlers, Okla.; Martinsville and Kinsale, Va.; and Liberty, Miss. The Plain Dealing project would represent the company’s first investment in Louisiana.

“We are so excited for the town of Plain Dealing and the surrounding areas,” Plain Dealing Mayor Shavonda Stumon said. “The number of jobs and economic opportunity will be a great benefit to Plain Dealing. As mayor, I look forward to working with Teal Jones and its partners."

To secure the project in Bossier Parish, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes the services of LED FastStart – the No. 1 ranked workforce development program in the nation for the past 12 years. Additionally, the company is expected to utilize the state’s Quality Jobs program. The company is also pursuing a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, agreement with local taxing entities.

“The Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation (GBEDF) has been working with so many of our local and state partners, from LED to the Town of Plain Dealing and the Parish of Bossier, to welcome Teal Jones and their partner group to Bossier,” said Lance Mosley, Board Chairman of the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation. “We are delighted to have them as part of our community and welcome them knowing they will enjoy many years of success and prosperity in Bossier and Northwest Louisiana.”

“The proposed facility will be a tremendous asset for not only Plain Dealing but also for the robust forestry industry throughout North Louisiana,” said Justyn Dixon, President & CEO of North Louisiana Economic Partnership. “With over a hundred new jobs, this is a great example of how rural communities can attract and win impactful economic development projects.”

George Paysinger made settlement in Bossier Parish, Louisiana in December, 1874, several years after emancipation.

George established actual residence on January 24, 1875, when he completed homestead entry #1039 at the Natchitoches, Louisiana Land Office, under the Homestead Act of 1862. George fulfilled all of the requirements, including building a house and time living on the land, to receive a patent on August 3, 1882. The 160.60-acre parcel was located just east of Plain Dealing, Louisiana and ran north toward the Arkansas border.

George was a master architect, builder, craftsman and a farmer. Among many achievements in his life George, as a former enslaved person, served as a Juror for the 2nd Judicial Court in Bossier Parish on April 3, 1882. During the years which homesteaders are required to make proof in support of their entries George Paysinger, his wife and five children made numerous improvements to the property. They cleared and fenced about fifteen acres; constructed two cabins for residences, a smoke house, corn crib, cotton house, and a wagon shelter. In addition, ten acres were cleared where they grew cotton/corn. George had neighbors with whom he had close relationships with for over twenty years, some during his enslavement.

Several of George’s neighbors and longtime acquaintances agreed to serve as the required witnesses to testify for his homestead entry. Cornelius Howell and Henry C. Wyche completed the two witness testimony statements. S. C. O’Daniel, R.E. Wyche, J. N. Bryan, Ernest Wyche, and at least one other also agreed to serve as witnesses on February 10, 1880 to provide final proof of claim. It is noteworthy that J.N. Bryan a former enslaver of George Paysinger is among these witness signatures.

The Bossier Banner published a notice on February 10, 1880, of the intention of George Paysinger to make final proof of his homestead claim on Tuesday, March 25, 1880. The publication listed the claim as #1039, for the east half of the southwest quarter and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 23, north of range 13, west of Louisiana Meridian. George completed the Final Affidavit Required of Homestead Claimants at the Natchitoches, Louisiana Land Office on June 3, 1880.

The Natchitoches Land Office ultimately issued Final Certificate #434 for homestead application #1039 on August 3, 1882.This 160-acre Homestead Land Patent was only a segment of the land George Paysinger acquired during his lifetime. Before the land patent was final, in 1877 the family that enslaved George prior to emancipation either deeded or sold him 140 acres. He also purchased another 160 acres from the Bossier Parish School Board in April 1885 and 40 acres of state land in 1887, totaling 500 acres. George lived out his life on the land he acquired and a portion of the land still remains with his heirs.

The Paysinger Desk

The desk was crafted by George Paysinger, who was also credited by some historians with building Orchard Place, the main residence on the Orchard Plantation in Bossier Parish. It is probably a vernacular version of a Federal style desk. It is hand made of heart pine. It originally had a drop-front and is dated to the middle to late 1800s. John Hamiter, great-grandfather of the donor and enslaver of George Paysinger, was the owner. The pine boards that the desk is made with are almost a full 2 feet in width. Mid-1800s virgin timber was used in the construction. The desk originally had four keyed locks. A complete restoration of the piece was completed in 2002 and is on display at the Bossier Parish Library History Center.

~ Contributed by Felix L. Scott Jr., descendant

Felix Lewis Scott Jr. is a 3rd great grandson of Louisiana Homesteader George Paysinger. Scott, a Colorado native, has experienced two distinctly different professions and is a 30-year entrepreneur. He apprenticed under his father's tutelage as a cement mason and like his 3rd great grandfather, became a proficient builder specializing in a wide range of concrete applications from flatwork/foundations to bridges and high-rise buildings. Scott later utilized education acquired at the University of Colorado to endeavor a career with the Colorado Department of Corrections. He fulfilled 22 years with the State of Colorado advancing to Facility Operations Manager before retiring. Scott and his wife Teresa also established and operated a successful local business, Ebony Salon, since 1991. Felix Scott Jr. is currently on a “retirement” exploration journey into his nuclear family and family history/genealogy; finding joy in unearthing extraordinary relations like his great-great-great grandfather George Paysinger.

Bureau of Land Management Land Patent Information

If you are looking for a quiet community to possibly retire in, you may consider the town of Plain Dealing in Bossier Parish.

This town, located north of Bossier City, was named after the antebellum Plain Dealing Plantation. The namesake had over 500 acres and was divided into three large plantations. According to a Bossier Press Tribune article, the name of the plantation was attributed to the character of the owner. George Oglethorpe Gilmer, who “sold the products of his farms and bought his needs in the regular channel of trade.”

In the heart of downtown, there are a number of locally owned businesses that have been there for years. Wayne Davis has owned Discus Oil Corporation, located in downtown Plain Dealing, since 1969. Davis has lived in the town for about 75 years, leaving only to go to college and live in Lafayette for a short period of time.

Like most towns in Bossier Parish, Davis said the people are what make this community a nice place to live. “This is ‘small town USA.’ The people are like one big family. I think anyone would help out anyone else no matter the time of day or night,” Davis said. “You are five minutes away from good hunting and fishing [in Plain Dealing].”

But what separates this town from others with similar scenery could be the essence of this inviting town, captured best in a song on YouTube by Nick Holovaty. Holovaty, not a Bossier native, is a missionary in Evansville, Ind. A few of years ago, he traveled through Plain Dealing on his way to Shreveport and wrote the song. The lyrics take you through the attraction to the small town.

“Oh I’ll always cherish,

The jewel of Bossier Parish

There’s nowhere else I’d rather be

When the weather’s inviting

And the catfish are biting

Out on Cypress Bayou Number 3”

Of course, Plain Dealing is just one of the many jewels found in Bossier Parish. But, if you choose to make this town your home, you may not want to leave.

Mayor David Smith has lived in Plain Dealing for 38 years and sees the town as a great real estate investment.

“We are a friendly town. We are 25 miles from Bossier City. A lot of people that live here drive to Bossier for work, but we have a large jail facility made up of seven or 800 inmates and [that jail] provides jobs for local people,” Smith said. “We are seeing more and more people move here. Real estate values are pretty good. The cost of living isn’t that high and there are properties available for sale. This is a good place to live.”

Smith has owned one out of the two, oldest independently owned pharmacies in Bossier Parish (the town is home to both of the pharmacies). Though Smith sold the business, he still works two days a week as a pharmacist. Just up the road in the downtown area is the other pharmacy, Kelly Pharmacy, but Smith doesn’t see it as a competition.

“It’s a friendly competition. We are a town of 1,000. If we don’t have it they do and we work together,” he said. “My wife and I have lived in small towns all of our life. We brought [Walker Bros Drug] when I was 28. We raised our kids here. [Plain Dealing] is a close knit community.”

Watch Nick Holovaty’s video: