USA > Mississippi > A history of Mississippi : from the discovery of the great river > Part 40
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CHICKASAW COUNTY
Was established February 9th, 1836, and so named in memory of the Chickasaw Indians, one of the most powerful, warlike, implacable and cruel of the aboriginal tribes that ever inhabited the soil of Mississippi.
The Commissioners appointed to organize the county were John Delashmit, Richard Elliott, Thos. Ivy. Mr. Gates and Ben- jamin Anderson.
Among the early settlers were Lewis Isabell, Thos. Lewis and' Chas. Gates, Thos. Reed, Warren Harrell, Lewis Moore, John W. Donaldson, John May, Headin Harris, John McIntosh, who in an early day was surveyor of the county, and the father of the late John McIntosh, who was the father of that excellent lawyer and genial gentleman, Hon. J. R. McIntosh, who served the county most acceptably as member of the Legislature, and is now a senior partner of one of the leading law firms of East Mississippi, located in the city of Meridian; Judge T. N. Martin, who was a member of the State Senate for four years, the father-in-law of Hon. W. S. Bates, who was probate judge of Pontotoc county, and now an honored member of the Houston bar; Christopher Orr, father of Hon. Jas. L. Orr, of South Carolina and Hon. J. A. Orr, of the city of Columbus ; the former was Governor of his native State, member of Congress and Minister to Russia ; the latter was the first Colonel of the Thirty-first Mississippi Regi- ment, member of the Confederate Congress, and for some years judge of the judicial district in which he resides, and is now prominent in the practice of his profession ; Robert Pulliam, Ben- jamin S. Pulliam, father of Major Thos. Pulliam of the Thirty-first Mississippi Regiment ; Dr. N. S. Williams, a prominent and lead- ing physician, the father of R. P. Williams, a lawyer of high character in the city of Meridian ; Richard Farr, the father-in- law of Rev. Thos. J. Lowry and Eli Gordon ; Benjamin Kilgore, who represented the county fifty years ago, the grandfather of Gen. J. H. Brinker, of the National Guard, who resides at West
454
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Point; Ezekiel Fuller, who was a soldier at the battle of New Or- leans ; Jos. Buchanan, the father of Thos. J. Buchanan, Sr., who is the father of Judge J. W. Buchanan, for two terms a member of the Legislature, Circuit Judge of his judicial district for several years, when he resigned and resumed the practice of his profession and is now the attorney for the Kansas City, Memphis and Birming- ham Railroad, and the father of Dr. J. M. Buchanan, an accom- plished physician, and now Superintendent of the East Missis- sippi Insane Asylum at Meridian, and of Thos. J. Buchanan, a prominent lawyer of Okolona; John Bell, who was a member of the Senate from the county for one term ; Benjamin Bugg, Henry R. Carter, T. J. Griffin, who was a member of both branches of the Legislature ; Major J. W. Wheeler, Col. Henry Shackleford, who was the father-in-law of Gen. W. F. Tucker; Adam La Grone, Captain Geo. Bowen, Anderson Beene, C. C. Marable, Samuel R. Evans, father of Major J. S. Evans, of the Eleventh Mississippi Regiment, and the father-in-law of Hon. W. M. Inge, who was Speaker of the House of Representatives; Henry R. Carter, who was the first lawyer who located at Houston, the county site, and was very soon followed by George Freeman, the father of General G. Y. Freeman, of the city of Jackson; later, Cyrus D. Baldwin and a few years later General W. S. Feather- ston, who has been prominent in the State from his early man- hood. When quite a young man he was twice elected to Con- gress ; during the war a gallant soldier with the rank of Briga- dier-General ; after the cessation of hostilities, he represented his county (Marshall) two terms in the Legislature, was subsequently Circuit Judge for six years, retired from the bench and re- sumed the practice of his profession, and served his county most acceptably as delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1890. Afterwards came the late General W. F. Tucker, who first en- gaged in teaching school, devoting his leisure time to reading law; he served as Probate Judge of the county. Soon after his admission to the bar he took high rank as a lawyer; during the war he was Colonel of the 41st Mississippi regiment, and pro- moted to the rank of Brigadier-General. In 1876 and 1878 he represented the county in the Legislature and was a prominent figure in the politics of northeast Mississippi. He was the father of the present accomplished State Librarian, Miss Rosa Lee Tucker. He was a man of great purity of character, and a thor- ough christian gentleman.
The principal towns in the county are Houston, the county site,
455
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
incorporated in May, 1837, a pretty little town with an excellent population ; Okolona, of probably two thousand inhabitants. which is the location of the 2d Judicial District, where the cir- cuit and chancery courts are held. This town is located in a rich and fertile prairie on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and is a place of very considerable commercial importance, with excel- lent church and educational advantages, and an intelligent popu- lation. Palo Alto, Sparta and Buena Vista, are prosperous vil- lages away from the railroad.
The principal streams are Houlka, Long, Bogue, Culla, Sucha- toncha, Chico, Dicks, Soctahoma and Talebonela creeks.
The Mobile and Ohio railroad traverses the eastern border of the county for about fifteen miles.
Chickasaw county has 129,933 acres of cleared land; average value per acre as reported by the assessor, $6.15. The total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $1,218,256.
Chickasaw has a variety of lands and is classed as one of the most desirable counties of the State.
The population of this county as shown by the census of 1890 -whites, 8,455; colored, 11,436 ; total, 19,891.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1837 John Bell.
Benjamin Bugg.
1838-'39 John Bell.
Henry R. Carter.
1840 John Bell.
Benjamin Kilgore.
1841 Wm. H. Duke.
Benjamin Kilgore.
1842 Jas. Walton.
Crawford. Crawford.
1843 Littlebury Gillum.
1844-'46 John H. Williams.
Jas. F. Walker.
1848 W. R. Cannon.
Jas. F. Walker, R. G. Steele.
1850 W. R. Cannon.
T. J. Griffin, Wm. K. Harrison.
1852 R. G. Steele.
Jas. McCrory.
1854 R. G. Steele.
Eli Abbott, Uriah Porter.
1856 J. W. Rice.
J. M. Thompson, W. A. Baldwyn.
1857 Chas. R. Jordan.
J. M. Thompson, R. G. Steele.
1858 Chas. R. Jordan.
J. L. S. Hill, W. F. Walker.
1859-'60-'61 J. M. Thompson.
J. L. S Hill, T. E. Bugg.
R. M. Gunn, J. B. Gladney.
C. C. M. Marable, Benjamin Murry. -
B. G. Underwood, A. Henderson.
1872-'73 F. H. Little, F. M. Ab- bott.
1874-'75 Nathan Shirley, F. H. Geo. White, Henry Harrison. Little.
1876-'77 R. O. Reynolds, Nathan Shirley.
Wm. F. Tucker, J. A. Wilkinson.
1878 R. O. Reynolds, J. T. Grif- Wm. F. Tucker, J. L. S. Hill. fin.
1880 R. O. Reynolds, J. T. Grif- fin.
J. W. Buchanan, J. L. S. Hill.
1882 R. O. Reynolds, Samuel L. J. W. Buchanan, N. B. Crawford. Wilson.
1861-'62 J. T. Griffin.
ยท 1865-'66-'67 T. N. Martin.
1870-'71 F. H. Little, F. M. Ab- bott.
J. R. McIntosh, J. L. Evans.
456
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
1884 Samuel L. Wilson. 1886 Wm. T. Houston. 1888 Wm. T. Houston. 1890 R. Wharton.
N. B Crawford, W. G. Orr. Frank Burkitt, J. A. McArthur.
Frank Burkitt, J. W. Winter. J. M. Trice, J. W. Winter.
CHOCTAW COUNTY
Was established December 23d, 1833, and named as a memorial of the powerful Choctaw tribe of Indians. Among the early settlers prior to the organization of the county were Jacob Starnes, Wm. Latham, Wm. Rogers and John Middleton. A few years later John Hogg, Wm. Castells, Samuel Berryhill, Thos. Fox, Wm. Spencer, Col. W. M. Lewis, J. R. Golding, Col. C. M. Holland, Joseph McBride, James McBryde, Col. Gilbert Coffee and M. B. Medley moved into the county.
Portions of this county were taken in the formation of Mont- gomery and Webster counties; the former established on the 13th of May, 1871, and the latter April 6th, 1874, then called Sumner county, but changed to Webster in 1882.
The towns in the county are Chester, the county site ; French Camps, at which place there are two flourishing schools, and several mineral springs, which are said to contain superior medicinal properties ; Dido, LaGrange and New Prospect.
The more important streams in the county are Big Black river, Yockanookana, McCurtains and Labutchie crecks, all of which have tributaries. It may be said that the county is well watered. The lands in the river and creck bottoms are fertile and give a good yield of all products raised in this climate. The hill lands produce fairly well and with fertilization give satisfactory crops. The Kosciusko, West Point and Aberdeen Railroad passes through the southern corner of the county. The Georgia Pacific traverses the northern part of the county.
Iron and coal ore have been found in considerable quantities in the county, but up to this time capitalists have made no effort to develop it, believing, as it is understood, that the quantity is insufficient to justify the establishment of works, or to promise reasonable returns for investment.
Choctaw county has 48,539 acres of cleared land; average value per acre, as rendered to the assessor, is $3.08. Total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $187,651.
The population of the county as shown by the census return of 1890-whites, 8,130 ; colorcd, 2,717; total, 10,847.
457
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1835
Wm. Peery.
Thomas Lindsay.
1837 James Walton.
Parks Middleton.
1838 James Walton.
Thomas Hogg, Wm. Dyer.
1839 James Walton.
Thomas Hogg, Green L. Grant.
1840-'41 James Walton.
R. S. Graves, James Drane.
1842-'43 James Bond.
D. M. Johnson.
1844 James Bond.
John Hawkins, D. M. Johnson.
1846 Edward Johnson.
George H. Archer, George Huie.
1848 Edward Johnson.
George Huie, W. M. Trigg.
1850 James Drane.
George Huie, Wm. Dunlap.
1852 James Drane.
Wm. H. Armistead, Phil W. Hemphill.
1854 James Drane.
P. F. Liddell.
1856-'57 James Drane.
H. D. Stone, P. F. Liddell.
1858 James Drane.
G. Coffee, J. P. Trotter.
J. P. Trotter, J. Martin, G. Coffee.
J. H. Edwards, J. Martin, Thomas Fox.
W. C. Bridges.
W. W. Hart, T. P. Connor.
H. H. Reed, R. F. Holloway.
1874 S. W. Smythe.
T. C. Atkins.
1875 M. A. Metts.
1876-'77 M. A. Metts.
1878 James E. Bridges.
1880 James E. Bridges.
1882 S. M. Roane.
1884 S. M. Roane.
S. R. Hughston.
T. L Hannah.
1888 J. W. Barron, A. A. Mont- gomery.
1890 J R. Nolen, A. A. Mont- gomery.
Lafayette Robinson.
Lafayette Robinson.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY
Was established January 27th, 1802, fifteen years prior to the adoption of the first constitution. It was named in honor of Governor Wm. C. C. Claiborne. Colonel Ralph Humphreys, a soldier of the Revolution, grandfather of the late Governor Benjamin G. Humphreys, after peace was declared was sent to Michilemacenac, a frontier post in the State of Michigan. Be- fore leaving for his destination he started his wife and negro slaves from South Carolina to the Territory of Mississippi, and Mrs. Humphreys located on that famous place, the Grind-Stone Ford, on the south fork of Bayou Pierre. She had with her her only son, George Wilson Humphreys, the father of the late Governor and the grandfather of G. W. Humphreys, now a res- ident and planter of Claiborne county. Col. Ralph obtained a twelve months' furlough to visit his family, and rode from his post in Michigan to Grind-Stone Ford on horseback, where he soon afterwards died. His widow married Col. Daniel Burnett,
E. R. Seward, James Drane.
K. A. Watson, J. W. Armstrong.
1886 J. W. Barron, H. L. Bur- kitt.
T. C. Atkins.
James E. Bridges, S. L. Boyd.
H. H. Reid, M. H. Allen.
1859-'60-'61 James Drane.
1861-'62 James Drane.
~ 1865-'66-'67 H. D. Stone.
1870-'71 Thomas W. Castle.
1872-'73 Thomas W. Castle.
1836
458
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
whose father was one of the first settlers of the county. He had emigrated from South Carolina, where he had served in General Francis Marion's command. Col. Daniel Burnett had served in the Territorial Legislature and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Claiborne, as was Walter Leake, Thomas Barnes and Joshua G. Clarke. Among the early settlers were David, James, John, Samuel and Jonathan McCaleb, all natives of South Carolina and sons of Captain William MeCaleb, an officer in the revolutionary war. One of the daughters of Samuel MeCaleb became the wife of Hon. Solomon W. Downs, United States Senator from Louisiana. David McCaleb was a member of the Legislative Council under the Territorial gov- ernment, and the father of Hon. Theodore H. McCaleb, for twenty years Judge of the District Court of the United States for the State of Louisiana. Judge McCaleb was a brilliant, scholarly man of fine literary taste. Thomas Farrar, whose sons, Frederic H., Thomas P., and Edgar D., were distinguished lawyers in Louisiana, two of whom became judges in that State. Mr. Farrar was also the grandfather of E. H. Farrar, a promi- nent lawyer in the city of New Orleans. Gibson and Davenport. merchants, Dr. Daniel Burnett Nailor, William and Parmenas Briscoe, Thomas Freeland, William Young, James H. Maury, father of Mrs. Benjamin G. Humphreys, Stephen D. Carson. Henry G. Johnson, John Henderson, Thomas Gale, William Sil- lers, a lawyer and planter, Leonard N. Baldwin, lawyer and planter, Peter A. Van Dorn, father of the distinguished and bril- liant Confederate officer, General Earl Van Dorn, and Mrs. Em- ily Van Dorn Miller, the mother of Hon. T. M. Miller, distin- guished in his profession, and now serving his second term as Attorney-General of the State, William H. Martin, a lawyer who emigrated from Maryland, the father of Hon. Jonathan McMar- tin, a lawyer of high standing, who represented Claiborne for four years in the State Senate, James I. Person, the father of James Person, now a resident of Port Gibson, Dr. Thos. B. Magruder. Dr. Robert Harper, Hon. H. T. Ellett, who represented the county in the State Senate for two terms, a lawyer of distin- guished ability and for a number of years one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State ; John A. Barnes, B. D. Stockton, Major James S. Mason, a bright and scholarly man, for many years the editor of the Port Gibson Reveille ; John B. Thrasher, an uncle of Hon. Stephen Thrasher, the present State Senator from Claiborne; John L. Torrey, Richard Valentine, Passmore
459
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Hoopes, an extensive merchant in Port Gibson and an affable gentleman, the father of Mrs. Dr. Winter of the city of Jackson ; Samuel H. Abbey, Robert Hume and Chas. A. Pearson, of the firm of Hume & Pearson ; Chas. Shreve, Joseph L. Kennard, Thos. Berry, the father of ex-Chancellor Berry, Amos Whiting, Jas. and Evan Jeffrey, George Lake, Robert Scott, Nahum Chunn, Joseph E. Jones, Chas. B. Clarke, Cornelius Herring, the McIn- tyres, Wm. Dodson, Volney E. Stamps and Jas. Patton, the latter the father-in-law of the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge E. G. Peyton.
The towns in the county are Port Gibson, a handsome place of some 2,000 inhabitants, and noted for its schools, churches, gen- erous hospitality and cultivated people. David Gibson, one of the pioneers of the county, was the owner of the plantation upon which Port Gibson was located. Grand Gulf in an early day was the rival of Port Gibson and came very near being chosen as the county site. It was a live little city, shipped about 40,000 bales of cotton, supported two large hotels, two weekly news- papers and was a commercial point of very considerable impor- tance. It was, however, subjected to the most trying ordeals. The first and second locations caved into the river; the greater portion of the buildings were destroyed by fire three times, the last time by the Federal troops during the war. Subsequently the river made a cut-off just in front of the town, leaving it two miles from the main river. The Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railroad became the owners of the short line of railway extend- ing from Grand Gulf to Port Gibson, and not only discontinued it but took up the rails. This left the place isolated and aban- doned, and it may now properly be classed among the memories of bygone days ; but for its brave struggle against manifold mis- fortunes and the elements combined, it deserves a place in history. The towns of Rocky Springs, St. Elmo, Hermanville, Carlisle, Tillman and Martin, with the exception of Rocky Springs, are on the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railroad. Before the days of steamboats, Bayou Pierre at Port Gibson was frequently crowded with flat-boats, extending a mile or more along its banks. The planters from neighboring counties purchased their supplies of flour, pork, potatoes, etc., from these boats. The Mississippi river forms the western boundary of the county. Bayou Pierre is navigable as a general thing three or four months in the year by back-water from the Mississippi river. Big Black river divides Claiborne and Warren counties.
460
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The railroads in the county are the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas and the Natchez, Jackson & Columbus.
There has been established at Port Gibson a cotton factory, which has added to the commerce and population of the town.
There are in the county 114,137 acres of cleared land, the av- erage value of which per acre is $6.48. Total value of cleared lands in the county, including incorporated towns, is $1,043,276.
The population, as shown by the census of 1890: Whites. 3,419 ; colored, 11,095 ; total, 14,514.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1820 Henry D. Downs.
Stephen D. Carson, Wm. Willis.
1821 William Willlis.
Henry G. Johnson, Thomas Freeland.
1822 Ralph Regan.
Henry G. Johnson.
Daniel Burnett, Abram Gordon.
D. D. Downing.
Wm. Briscoe, David Dickson.
John Henderson, Joseph Moore.
John Henderson, Parmenas Briscoe.
P. Briscoe, Thos. Gale.
1830 Parmenas Briscoe.
1831 Parmenas Briscoe.
1833 Adam Gordon.
1835 Parmenus Briscoe.
1836
1837 James H. Maury.
1838-'39 James H. Maury.
1840-'41 Benj. G. Humphreys.
1842-'43 Benj. G. Humphreys.
1844 Parmenas Briscoe.
1846 Parmenas Briscoe.
1848 Parmenas Briscoe.
1850-'52 Geo. Torrey.
1854 Henry T. Ellett.
1856-'57 Henry T. Ellett.
1858-'59 Henry T. Ellett.
1860-'61 Henry T. Ellett.
1861-'62 Henry T. Ellett.
- 1865-'66 P. R. Montgomery.
1870-'71 Green Millsaps. 1872-'73 Green Millsaps.
1874-'75 J. J. Smith.
J. H. Smothers, Haskin Smith.
Wm. S. Bean, E. S. Drake.
Wm. S. Bean, John McC. Martin.
A. J. Lewis, John McC. Martin.
T. B. Magruder, E. H. Stiles.
W. T. Magruder.
M. R. Jones.
W. T. Magruder.
1890 Stephen Thrasher.
E. M. Barber.
John A. Barnes, B. F. Stockton.
John A. Barnes, B. F. Stockton.
Davis H. Hoopes, Amos Whiting.
Davis H. Hoopes.
B. G. Humphreys, Davis H. Hoopes.
T. B. Magruder, Isaiah Watson.
T. G. Mcintyre, - Briscoe.
T. G. McIntyre, J. T. Moore.
H. W. Allen, W. Rossman.
Richard Valentine.
Joseph Regan.
Joseph Regan.
David S. Patterson.
W. S. Wilson.
W. S. Wilson.
G. W. Humphreys.
Andrew J. Lewis.
E. H. Stiles, M. T. Newsom.
Joseph Smothers.
1876-'77 J. J. Smith. 1878 Benjamin King. 1880 Benjamin King.
1882 John McC. Martin.
1884 John McC. Martin.
1886 J. D). Vertner. Stephen Thrasher.
1888 Stephen Thrasher.
1823 Thos. Freeland.
1825 Thos. Freeland.
1826 Thos. Freeland.
1827 Daniel Burnett.
1828 Thos. Freeland.
1829 Thos. Freeland.
S. R. Montgomery, Adam Gordon.
B. F. Stockton, James H. Maury.
CLARKE COUNTY
Was established in 1833, and so called in honor of Joshua G.
461
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Clarke, a distinguished chancellor of Mississippi of that name. The commissioners appointed to organize the counties of Jasper, Clarke and Lauderdale, were Samuel Grayson, Asa Hartfield, Robert Jones, William Ellis, H. W. Wood, Henry Hale, George Evans, C. Dyer, N. Martin and J. Bidswell.
Among the early settlers were John Evans, George Evans, Richard Wagster, Henry Hailes, Alex Hailes, Michael McCarty, James Bankston, Calvin M. Ludlow, John Williford, William Williford, James Risher, J. A. Fontain, John Gunn, Norman Martin, Stephen Guice, Thomas F. Hicks, Alex Mclendon, Roland B. Crosby, Cameron Grayson, Jesse C. Mott, David Neely, David B. Thompson, Dabney Edwards, Jacob Slack, John Johnston, Alex Trotter, Richard N. Hough, Robert McLaughlin, L. D. Phillips, Samuel Lee, Jesse Sumrall, Jeremiah Crane, Howell Sumrall, William Goleman, Thomas Goleman, Samuel K. Lewis and Thomas Watts.
The land on which Quitman, (so named in compliment to General John A. Quitman,) the county site, was situated, was owned and laid off into town lots by General John Watts, after- wards and for many years, judge of the circuit court.
The principal streams are Chunky and Oktibbeha, that form the Chickasahay river, that runs centrally through the county; Buckatunna in the eastern, Suanlovee in the western, Archusa in the middle, and Shubuta creek in the southern part of the county.
In the eastern part of the county, near the Alabama line, the Methodist church established a mission in the early settlement of the country, called "Emmaus," for the benefit of the Choctaw Indians.
Enterprise, now a flourishing town, situated on the Chickasa- hay river, a short distance below the junction of the two streams that form it, was founded by John J. McRae, afterwards Gover- nor of the State.
He made earnest efforts to navigate the river and succeeded in running a steamboat from Lake Ponchartrain to Enterprise and return in February, 1842.
The towns in the county are Quitman, the county site, Enter- prise, DeSoto and Shubuta.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad runs very nearly through the center of the county. The Northeastern Railroad traverses the county from a short distance beyond Enterprise to the point where it enters Jasper county.
462
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Clarke county is among the best of the pine woods counties, with an excellent and thrifty population.
The Stonewall cotton mills are situated in Clarke county, not far from Enterprise, they manufacture most excellent goods and give employment to quite a number of operatives. The Wanita cotton and woolen mills are situated seven miles northwest of Enterprise.
There are 51,587 acres of cleared lands in the county, the value of which per acre, as rendered to the assessor, is $4.09. The total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, is $211,259.
The population of Clarke county, as shown by the census of 1890 : whites, 7,717 ; colored, 8,106; total, 15,823.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1835
Sam. K. Lewis.
1836
Sam. K. Lewis.
1837 Frederick Clarke.
Thos. Watts.
1838-39 Frederick Pope.
Allen Mclendon.
1840-41 John Watts.
Wagster.
1842 John Watts.
John Allen.
1843
Henry Hailes.
1846 John H. Horne.
Isham Moody.
1848-'50 Jas. McDugald.
Jno. J. McRae.
1852-'54 R. N. Hough.
Wm. A. Ward.
1856-'57 R. N. Hough.
Geo. Evans.
1858 R. N. Hough.
Melancthon Smith.
1861-'62 Robt. McLane.
Green C. Chandler.
- 1865-'66-'67 P. H. Napier. 1870 Wm. M. Hancock.
Green C. Chandler.
1871 John Watts.
Green C. Chandler.
1872-'73 S. A. D. Steele.
E. F. Martiniere.
1874-'75 S. A. D. Steele.
C. P. Clemens.
1876-'77 John W. Fewell.
Geo. M. Massingale.
1878 John W. Fewell.
L. B. Brown.
1880 L. B. Brown.
Frank C. McGee.
1882 L. B. Brown.
Samuel H. Terral.
1884 Jno. F. Smith.
A. D. Gordon, W. L. Evans.
1886 Jno. F. Smith.
O. B. Collins, W. L. Evans.
1888 T. A. Wood,
C. A. Stovall, A. F. McGee.
J. B. Johnson, W. D. Witherspoon.
1890 T. A. Wood.
Geo. Evans.
S. A. D. Steele. ^
1859 '60-'61 Robt. McLane.
Henry Hailes
1844 John H. Horne.
CHAPTER XXV.
CLAY COUNTY,
N AMED in honor of Henry Clay, was established May 12th, 1871 ; carved mainly from Lowndes and Chickasaw coun- ties, and therefore the history of those counties touching early settlers, etc., embrace the territory now comprising this county. The first Representative from Clay was J. W. Carradine. Lieut .- Governor W. H. Sims and Hon. F. G. Barry represented the counties of Lowndes and Clay in 1876-'7. The latter, Mr. Barry, was subsequently elected to the forty-ninth and fiftieth Congress. He is an able lawyer, of agreeable manners, and a brilliant and forcible debater.
The towns in the county are West Point, the county site, with over two thousand inhabitants, situated on the Mobile and Ohio railroad. West Point has outstripped many of the older towns. in the State, and it goes without saying that it is one of the most enterprising, progressive and prosperous county-towns within our borders ; the other towns are Tibbee, Palo Alto and Siloam.
The principal streams arc the Tombigbee river, which traverses the eastern border, and Tibbee, Line, Houlka and Chickatouchy Creeks.
The railroads in the county are the Mobile and Ohio, the Du- rant and Aberdeen branch of the Illinois Central, and the Georgia Pacific, all of which pass West Point.
Clay has 181,517 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, $5.63.
Total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $1,513,189.
The population of this county as shown by the census of 1890 : Whites, 5,552 ; colored, 13,054; total, 18,606.
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