The DeHart Family
Dutch Pioneers in Northeast Louisiana
When we think of early settlers in this area, we most often
expect that they will be Spanish, French, or Americans. It is
easy to forget that in the 18th Century, America was already a
melting pot for people of many lands.
expect that they will be Spanish, French, or Americans. It is
easy to forget that in the 18th Century, America was already a
melting pot for people of many lands.
The DeHart family came from Holland in the 17th Century and
settled in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which later
became New York. They were landholders on the New Jersey
shore, near present day Gowannas. They came to Louisiana in
the Spanish period. Wynnant DeHart received a land grant
from the Spanish Crown along Bayou Bartholomew. His
Daughter Jane first married a Mr. Owen and, after his death,
she married James C Cooper Sr. They lived between Oak Ridge
and Mer Rouge and are buried (though the cemetery is
destroyed) on Hog Walla Road. Jane DeHart Owen Cooper
was the great great grandmother of the present owner of the
homeplace. Too much family history perhaps!
settled in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, which later
became New York. They were landholders on the New Jersey
shore, near present day Gowannas. They came to Louisiana in
the Spanish period. Wynnant DeHart received a land grant
from the Spanish Crown along Bayou Bartholomew. His
Daughter Jane first married a Mr. Owen and, after his death,
she married James C Cooper Sr. They lived between Oak Ridge
and Mer Rouge and are buried (though the cemetery is
destroyed) on Hog Walla Road. Jane DeHart Owen Cooper
was the great great grandmother of the present owner of the
homeplace. Too much family history perhaps!
Jane's brother Abraham, and his wife and infant son, died in an
epidemic during an overflow in 1857. They were buried in the
Cooper Lake Cemetery. Forty years later, after the
"unpleasentness", the money was found for tombstones. Unfor-
tunately, the sexton who knew the location of the graves had
died. The stones, some "twenty or thirty" were laid as a patio at
the Rolfe home, and these last five were removed in the 1970's.
epidemic during an overflow in 1857. They were buried in the
Cooper Lake Cemetery. Forty years later, after the
"unpleasentness", the money was found for tombstones. Unfor-
tunately, the sexton who knew the location of the graves had
died. The stones, some "twenty or thirty" were laid as a patio at
the Rolfe home, and these last five were removed in the 1970's.
The point of all this: LIFE WAS HARD here in the 18th century. Floods and epidemics were fre-
quent and devastating. Whole families could go and leave barely a trace. The work of clearing
the land we now employ and building the place we call home, was done by countless strong
hands, often in very brief meagre lives that are all but forgotten. These stones are a tiny reminder,
not just of these lives, but of countless others to whom we owe a great debt.
quent and devastating. Whole families could go and leave barely a trace. The work of clearing
the land we now employ and building the place we call home, was done by countless strong
hands, often in very brief meagre lives that are all but forgotten. These stones are a tiny reminder,
not just of these lives, but of countless others to whom we owe a great debt.
These stones,
the DeHart Bell
and a little purse of
tax receipts are all
that survive from
Jane DeHart.
Except, of course
for her HUNDREDS
of decendants, many
with the wide oval
faces that mark their
Dutch ancestry.
Jane died of unknown
causes, somewhere
along Bayou Macon
about 1845. She lies
in an unmarked grave
in a cottonfield.
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