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Maj. William Henry Scanland died August 30, 1916 in Shreveport, La., survived by his wife and seven children, also one brother. He was born at Grand Gulf, Miss., January 7, 1842. His grandfather was a Virginian, his father a Kentuckian, and his mother a Mississippian. He lost both parents at an early age, and in his eleventh year he and his brother began work in the printing office of the Caddo Gazette. The Bossier Banner was established by him at Bellevue on July 1, 1859, and, with the exception of the four years of war, he never missed an issue. His editorials were classics of the highest order. His paper never compromised with evil, and in his fifty-seven years of newspaper work he exerted an influence for good over three generations.

In 1861 young Scanland was among the first to volunteer in defense of his country, first with the "Bossier Boys" and later serving with the Bossier Cavalry from April, 1862, to May, 1865, when he was paroled. His service was under Generals Marmaduke, Hardee, VanDorn, Hebert, Armstrong, Cosby, and Forrest. After the war he resumed publication of the Bossier Banner, removing it in 1891 from Bellevue to Benton, La., and during the ten years of the South's darkest history he fought as well and as wisely for his State as he had fought for his country. He was honored by the citizens of his parish, having represented them in both houses of the legislature, as parish treasurer for sixteen years, and as superintendent of public education for twelve years. In Confederate circles he was honored by being on the staffs of succeeding Commanders of the Louisiana Division, U. C. V. He was also Assistant Quartermaster General on the staffs of Commanders in Chief Gordon and Young and had just received an appointment on the staff of Gen. George P. Harrison, ranking as major.

[A memorial from his friends of the R. J. Hancock Chapter, U. D. C., Benton, La.]