Changes

[[University of Virginia]] Law School

[[University of Virginia]] Law School

[[Tulane University]] Law Schoo

[[Tulane University]] Law Schoo

|branch[[[Confederate States of America]] Army

|branch=[[[Confederate States of America]] Army

|battles=Shiloh, Boonville, Tenmark, and Corinth

|battles=Shiloh, Boonville, Tenmark, and Corinth in the [[American Civil War]]

|rank=[[Captain]] of the Louisiana Cavalry}}

|rank=[[Captain]] of the Louisiana Cavalry}}

==Biography==

==Biography==

Newell was born in  Port Gibson, [[Mississippi]], the eldest child of Edward Newell, a native of [[North Carolina]], and the former Celia Ann Dorsey, originally from Claiborne County, [[Mississippi]], and daughter of Dr. Samuel Dorsey, originally from [[Maryland]].  He was educated at the [[University of Virginia]] School of Law in Charlottesville, from which he graduated in 1859.  A year later, he obtained civil law credentials from the [[Tulane University]] Law School (then called "University of Louisiana") in [[New Orleans]]. He established his legal practice in St. Joseph, the seat of government of Tensas Parish, located along the [[Mississippi River]] [[levee]] in northeast Louisiana, and now the smallest parish in Louisiana in population.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-n/|title=Newell, John David Stokes|publisher=The Louisiana Historical Association: ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''|accessdate=December 23, 2020}}</ref>

Newell was born in  Port Gibson, [[Mississippi]], the eldest child of Edward Newell, a native of [[North Carolina]], and the former Celia Ann Dorsey, originally from Claiborne County, [[Mississippi]], and daughter of Dr. Samuel Dorsey, originally from [[Maryland]].  He was educated at the [[University of Virginia]] School of Law in Charlottesville, from which he graduated in 1859.  A year later, he obtained civil law credentials from the [[Tulane University]] Law School (then called "University of Louisiana") in [[New Orleans]]. He established his legal practice in St. Joseph, the seat of government of Tensas Parish, located along the [[Mississippi River]] levee in northeast Louisiana, and now the smallest parish in Louisiana in population.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.lahistory.org/resources/dictionary-louisiana-biography/dictionary-louisiana-biography-n/|title=Newell, John David Stokes|publisher=The Louisiana Historical Association: ''A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography''|accessdate=December 23, 2020}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War]], Newell fought with the Tensas [[Cavalry]] at the battles of [[battle of Shiloh|Shiloh]], Boonville, and Tenmark in [[Tennessee]] and the Second Battle of Corinth,  Mississippi. Newell rose to the rank of [[captain]] of Company F, McNeill's regiment of the Louisiana Cavalry. He commanded in all engagements along the [[Red River]].<ref name=bio/>

During the [[American Civil War]], Newell fought with the Tensas [[Cavalry]] at the battles of [[battle of Shiloh|Shiloh]], Boonville, and Tenmark in [[Tennessee]] and the Second Battle of Corinth,  Mississippi. Newell rose to the rank of [[captain]] of Company F, McNeill's regiment of the Louisiana Cavalry. He commanded in all engagements along the [[Red River]].<ref name=bio/>

In July 1864, Newell married a first cousin, Nannie Newell, a Tensas Parish native. The couple had four sons, John Newell, Jr.,  Cecil E. Newell, Caroll Harper Newell, and Edward T. Newell. After the war, Newell returned to [[cotton]] planting at his Cypress Plantation and resumed his law practice. In addition to the establishment of Newellton in northern Tensas Parish, Newell promoted burgeoning public education. He served for many years on the Tensas Parish School Board and was its president in 1866 and again in 1892.<ref name=bio/>

In July 1864, Newell married a first cousin, Nannie Newell, a Tensas Parish native. The couple had four sons, John Newell, Jr.,  Cecil E. Newell, Caroll Harper Newell, and Edward T. Newell. After the war, Newell returned to [[cotton]] planting at his Cypress Plantation and resumed his law practice. In addition to the establishment of Newellton in northern Tensas Parish, Newell promoted burgeoning public education. He served for many years on the Tensas Parish School Board and was its president in 1866 and again in 1892.<ref name=bio/>

Newell's work led to the establishment of Newellton High School, <ref name=bio/>which closed in 2006 because of declining enrollment and became Newellton Elementary School. Newellton pupils are bused to the former Davidson High School in St. Joseph, the only public secondary school remaining in the parish. Davidson was renamed as "Tensas High School." Tensas Parish is majority [[African American]]. A majority of the white students in the parish attend the private Tensas Academy in St. Joseph. <ref>Billy Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish: Desegregation, Re-Segregation, and the Continuing Decline in School Enrollment, 1970-2017, ''[[North Louisiana History]],'' (Winter-Spring 2018) pp. 33-58.</ref>

Newell's work led to the establishment of Newellton High School, <ref name=bio/>which closed in 2006 because of declining enrollment and became Newellton Elementary School. Newellton pupils are bused to the former Davidson High School in St. Joseph, the only public secondary school remaining in the parish. Davidson was renamed as "Tensas High School." Tensas Parish is majority [[African American]]. A majority of the white students in the parish attend the private Tensas Academy in St. Joseph.<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Education in Tensas Parish: Desegregation, Re-Segregation, and the Continuing Decline in School Enrollment, 1970-2017," ''[[North Louisiana History]],'' (Winter-Spring 2018), pp. 33-58.</ref>

Newell died in St. Joseph and is interred in Vicksburg in Warren County, Mississippi.<ref>John D. Newell obituary, ''The New Orleans Daily Picayune,'' March 6, 1899.</ref>

Newell died in St. Joseph and is interred in Vicksburg in Warren County, Mississippi.<ref>John D. Newell obituary, ''The New Orleans Daily Picayune,'' March 6, 1899.</ref>