Morgan City High School - Tiger Yearbook (Morgan City, LA)

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Early planters included Etienne youth he was denied the benefits of gave nance strong mind and he lived a an education, natHF0 very profitable 1ifGo Penneson, who came to to where the railroad Berwick Rav in l800. Later he IYIOVGC1 now crosses the Bocuf and opened a store thaGP in connection with his plantation. Pennoson was the first man to plant sugar cane in that vicinity. His place became the main supply headquarters for swampers, and he did a large busi- ness as a merchant. In 1805 Christopher O'Brien, a classmate of Henry Clay, came from Virginia and settled on the bay. While Clay rose to political fame, O'Brien settled down to the life of a sugar planter and left behind him the name of a good citi- ZOI1. Another Virginian, William Rochell, was prominent in the region of the bay. His picturesque residence on the lower Atchafalaya was always the scene of much social en- joymont. A native of Kentucky, George Schwing, will long be rc- membercd by the old planters for his improvements in the sugar house and kettle setting. Henry Renthrop emigrated to America from Sweden. Like most planters, he was a financial victim of the Civil War. His fine plantation, which later became the residence of Captain John N. Pharr, was for many years the home of genuine Louisiana hospitality. Dr. John Tarlton from South Carolina is remembered as a planter, physician, and member of the legislature from St. Mary Parish. Mr. Verrct, a Creole from Lafourche Parish, was another early planter. It was easy to see that, with the developing of plant- ing on such a large scale and the constant coming-in of citizens, some sort of organization would result. On Mav ll, l86O, the town of Brashcar was incorporated and G.H.Mnnn became tae first mayor. The present residential section was a large sugar plantation owned by Mr. Brashear and the business section was on the water front and across tha present railroad track. Later, Mr. Brashear gave to the town the site of our park and city square. Until after the Civil War the railroad stopped at Ber- wick Bay. There was only stage coach service to the west,