History of LaCrosse
The earliest settlers in the La Crosse area were John A. Cellon, about 1830, and Richard H. Parker of Georgia, in 1845. Henry Clay Parker, Richard's son, became the leading businessman and landowner in the 1880's. At the turn of the century the town had several stores, two cotton gins, and a hotel. Cotton, the chief crop before the devastating boll weevil, was replac-ed by potatoes early in this century. Now vegetables and livestock are important farming activities. John E. Futch, a cotton buyer and store owner, became the first postmaster in 1881. The town was incorporated in 1897.