Edward D. Newell

Edward Drumgould Newell (February 22 1810 — June 10 1888) was a pioneer planter in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. The town of Newellton was named in his honor by son, John David Stokes Newell (1837-1899).

Newell was born in North Carolina and educated at La Grange College in Alabama. With his brother, Thomas M. Newell, he entered business at Grand Gulf in Mississippi. In 1834, the Newell brothers relocated to Tensas Parish. He married the former Celia Ann Dorsey (born 1815), and the couple had six children.

Edward and Thomas Newell opened up and settled the area of northern Tensas Parish known as Newell's Ridge. The brothers invented the Newell Cotton Press. He purchased some 30,000 acres (120 km²) of public lands, a part of his Cypress Plantation.

Newell was active in the Democratic Party. He was a member and president of the Tensas Parish Police Jury (the equivalent of a county commission in most states). He was a member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1857-1861. He was elected to the secession convention in 1861 and supported the secession of Louisiana from the union of states.

With other investors, Newell in 1852 purchased a printing press to establish the weekly newspaper Tensas Gazette, published in St. Joseph, the seat of Tensas Parish.

The historic Newell Cemetery near Newellton is also named for him.

References

"Edward D. Newell", A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, Vol. 2 (1988), p. 600

http://www.interment.net/data/us/la/tensas/newell/index.htm