By Garry Blanson
As we look back on the history of the first schools for Colored children in Monroe, Louisiana, and Ouachita Parish that were set up following the American Civil War, the school that stands out is The Wisner School, started by Richard Barrington. However, let us not forget that there were several other schools for Colored children that came before the Wisner School.
There was about a 4–5 year period between when President Abraham Lincoln first signed the legislation for the establishment of the Freedmen’s Bureau—which was to provide relief, education, and legal assistance to formerly enslaved people and poor whites in the South—and the time when the Wisner School came into existence. Sadly, the records of the temporary Colored schools that were once located in Monroe from 1865–1869 are no longer readily available.
Although the records and pictures of the former Freedmen schools aren’t readily accessible for the citizens of Monroe to study and learn from, their importance and the vital role they once played in educating Black citizens and Black children following the Civil War will long be remembered by future generations.
Now, on to this week’s Black Pioneer, Walter H. Williams! One thing that’s different about this week’s Black Pioneer is that he was actually born in Toronto, Canada. Way before Walter was born, his father, Reason Williams, decided to escape to Canada, “where he could truly live as a free man!” In 1825, Reason Williams moved from Virginia to Canada.
Although Reason Williams never returned to America, his two sons, William and Moses, returned to participate in “The Great Reconstruction of the South” shortly after the Civil War. Before the winter of 1867, William had settled in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Although there have been disputes as to who was the very first Black school teacher for the Freedmen’s Bureau, most reports state that William H. Williams was the first Black Canadian to officially be appointed by the Freedmen’s Bureau to teach Colored children in Lafayette on February 3, 1868.
Even though Walter had to endure opposition and hard trials from white citizens in Lafayette, he was able to persevere. Additionally, Walter was encouraged when his brother, Moses Williams—also a school teacher—decided to join him in his efforts to teach Colored students in Lafayette. Since both Walter and Moses could speak French as well as English, they were able to break down many of the communication barriers that had existed in the community.
It was reported that Walter had 40 or more Colored students in his class. Two main factors contributed to the end of Freedmen schools in Louisiana: by 1872, the Freedmen’s Bureau had begun releasing responsibility for teaching Colored children to missionary organizations, and in 1872, the Louisiana Congress failed to renew funding for the Freedmen schools.
In 1872, Walter married Pearl Gennieve Doucet, the daughter of Jouchan and Delia (Michel) Doucet. The couple had seven children together. After the Freedmen schools closed, Walter continued teaching in other public and private schools in Louisiana until the mid-1880s.
Following his career as a school teacher, Walter served approximately 12 years as a public servant at the U.S. Custom House at the Port of New Orleans, but he later returned to teaching in Lafayette. Regretfully, Walter H. Williams was killed in 1902 during a dispute with a white man in the pop bottling business over the amount of money Walter was to receive for returning some pop bottles. The white merchant was acquitted for murdering Walter.
