Following the Civil War, thirty-one individuals bought lots from C. Oliver, who had acquired portions of land formerly part of the Pedesclaux-Landry Plantation in St. James, Louisiana. Together they carved out and cultivated the land and established the parish’s first multi-ethnic settlement of property owners. Master carpenter Elfere Mitchell built Freetown Hall in the early 1900s. The pioneering settlers and landowners were J.C. Oliver, Celéstin Oliver, Jean-Baptiste Louis, Onzimé Louis, John León Louis, Jean Louis Jr., Joachim Paul, Victorin Moris, Narcisse Gibson, Édmond Johnson, Félix Moris, Ben Benjamin, Ursin Toussaint, Philippé Simms, Lindor Louis, Aaron Éllison, Sally Johnson, Mack Nelson, William Jackson, Alec Smith, Trazimon Communi, James Clay, Jean-Baptiste Phillippé, Joséph Scott, Constantin Boyd, Victor Jacob, Moses Lane, Paul Daniel, Théoville Pierre, Louis Joséph, and Samuel Brown.