USA > Mississippi > A history of Mississippi : from the discovery of the great river > Part 41
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SENATORS. REPRESENTATIVES.
1874-75 J. W. Caradine.
1876-77 W. H. Sims, F. G. Barry. Frank S. White. 1878 F. G. Barry. T. W. Davidson.
ISSO John L. Crigler. W. B. Gunn.
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HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
1882 John L Crigler.
Frank S. White.
1884 H. L. Burkitt.
S. A. Crump, A. J. Russell.
1876 H. L. Burkitt.
Ira P. Beasley, J. C. Hill.
J. W. Barron.
1888 A. A. Montgomery.
W. B. Gunn, T. W. Davidson.
J W. Barron.
1890 A. A. Montgomery.
J. R. Nolen.
W. B. Gunn, T. W. Davidson.
COAHOMA COUNTY
Was established February 9th, 1836, formed out of the territory of the Chickasaw Nation. Coahoma, in the Choctaw language, signifies red panther. The name was suggested by Governor Alex. G. McNutt. The early population of the county greatly exceeded in point of wealth and intelligence the ordinary immi- grants to new countries. Robert Friar, who came from Louisiana, was the first Representative in the Legislature from the county. He settled at the point, now the county site, which bears his name. Aaron Shelby, from Kentucky, settled in Coahoma in 1838 and subsequently served the county as probate judge and member of the Legislature. About the same time Dr. Wm. M. Brown located in Coahoma, who also represented the county in the Legislature.
Among the early settlers were Dr. George B. Morrow, Jesse A. Smith, Leander Berry, David B. Allen, Dr. J. D. Shaw, N. R. Leavell, Joshua and Wm. Hobson, Dr. Morgan Hob- son, the family of Norfleets, most of whom settled on the Sun- flower river in said county. Then came another class of early settlers to Coahoma whose chief source of profit lay in dealing in counterfeit money, most of which, both paper and silver, was manufactured in the borders of the county. At this early day the supplies of the people were obtained from trading boats which plied the river. In the course of time these boats became the prey of the counterfeiters. One of them, Hugh Tally, was elected supervisor of the fifth district, and made President of the the Board of Police. Tally was educated, bold, handsome and as fastidious in his dress as Bean Brummel. He was said to be a follower of John A. Murrell. and the head of the counterfeiters and robbers. Eventually secret and cautious measures were taken to capture the entire gang. A number of citizens organized and contrived to have a trading boat with dry goods and notions in front, and a strong cage with a good supply of handcuffs in the rear. This boat came to Tally's landing; at the same time a cavalry
465
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
force visited Tally's neighborhood, capturing such men as were known to belong to the gang. The boat made an imposing show of goods, and when sales were made if counterfeit money was given in payment the purchaser was invited back, leaving his goods on the counter, to take a drink of old Bourbon, when the door was closed upon him, placed in the cage, forced to observe silence, and securely handcuffed. Hugh Tally became a victim of the conspiracy. The cavalry came to the river with their con- tribution of prisoners. The result of the enterprise was the cap- ture of fifteen prisoners, handcuffed in the cage. The river and land forces held a consultation, the latter commanded by a young lawyer by the name of Howerton. A certain number of men were detailed for the work on the boat, and the others sent back through the country with the horses to their homes. The trading boat was silently rowed into the stream, and when it turned a point from the starting place on the shore, the prisoners were taken one by one, securely tied, and dropped into the stream. The pleadings of those poor creatures, suppressed in tone by the threats of the regulators who stood with knife and pistol ready to dispatch them, has now been for fifty years hushed under the silence of the waves of the great river. Hugh Tally pleaded eloquently for his life, promised most important disclosures, plead for the sake of his wife and children to be per- mitted to reform his life, but the regulators knew that their safety depended upon the despatch of the prisoners; they de- termined that no record should be left, and so he was dropped into the stream, and after struggling for awhile, sank to rise no more. The counterfeiters were dead, and their executioners, with perhaps two exceptions, have gone to meet them beyond the river.
Coahoma is one of the richest of the Mississippi alluvial coun- ties. It has been the home for fifty years of ex-Governor and ex-Senator James L. Alcorn, whose public career is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The first county site was Port Royal at the eastern point of Horse-Shoe Bend. The present county site is Friar's Point. Clarksdale is a prosperous business town in the county, rapidly improving in wealth and population. Jonestown and other places do a reasonably good trade. The Mississippi river washes the western boundary of the county ; other streams are, the Sunflower river, Hobson's, Phillip's, Price's, Moore's, Whiting's, Cassedy's and Opossum bayous. There are two railroads in the county.
There is in Coahoma 78,233 acres of cleared land ; average 30
466
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
valuc as rendered the assessor, $15.55 per acre; total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $1,385.146.
The population of Coahoma as shown by the census returns of 1890 : Whites, 2,162; colored, 16,161 ; total, 18,323.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1837 James D. Hallam.
1838 James D. Hallam.
Robert C. Friar.
W. J. Oldham.
1840 Alfred Cox.
1841 Jas. M. Matlock.
Aaron Shelby.
1842-'43 Andrew Knox.
Aaron Shelby.
1844 Andrew Knox.
Brown.
1846 Felix Lavauve.
Jas. L. Alcorn.
1848-'50 Jas. I .. Alcorn.
Thos. N. Nash.
1852 Jas. L. Alcorn.
Jno. W. King.
1854 Jas. L. Alcorn.
Geo. H. Mitchell.
1856-'57 I. N. Davis.
Jas L. Alcorn. 1
1858 I. N. Davis.
P. M. Grant.
1859-'60_'61 J. E. Talliaferro.
H. C. Chambers.
1861-'62 J. E. Talliaferro
W. H. Atkinson.
1865 H. Mosely.
Jas. L. Alcorn.
1866-'67 H. Mosely.
Peace.
1870 A. S. Dowd.
1871 A. S. Dowd.
1872-'73 C. M. Bowles.
John Corcoran.
Joseph E. Monroe.
Joseph E. Monroe.
Joseph E. Monroe.
Harrison P. Reid.
D. M. Russell.
G. W. Wise.
Jno. W. Cutrer, Wm. Allen.
1888 Jno. W. Cutrer.
WV. H. Stovall, D. H. Hopson.
1890 Jno. W. Cutrer.
S. C. Cook, G. H. Oliver.
1874 C. M. Bowles.
1874-'75 Geo. C. Smith,
1876-'77 Jas. R. Chalmers.
1878 G. W. Gayles.
1880 G. W. Gayles.
1882 G. W. Gayles.
1884-'86 G. W. Gayles.
COPIAH COUNTY
Was established January 23d, 1824. Among the first settlers were Daniel Clower, Leonard Kimbrue, John Cores, Jacob Haley, Joseph Brown, the father of Albert G. and Edmund R. Brown. The career of the former is mentioned elsewhere in these pages. Gov. Brown's only son, Joseph A. Brown, Esq., is a thoroughly educated and well equipped lawyer, residing in the city of Jackson and is engaged in the practice of his profession. He was for a number of years one of the reporters of the deci- sions of the Supreme Court ; Jesse Thompson, the father of Jesse and J. Harvey Thompson, men of standing and high char- acter ; the latter represented the county in the Legislature and was for years a successful and extensive merchant; he is the father of Hon. Robt. H. Thompson, of Brookhaven, who is de- servedly classed among the able and learned lawyers of the
1839 Felix Walker.
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HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
State ; has been a member of the State Senate and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1890. J. Harvey Thompson was the grandfather of Miss Clara Chrisman, an educated and accomplished young lady, who was on her way as a missionary to Brazil and lost her life in the Johnstown disaster ; John W. Matthews, who left numerous descendants still residing in the county. John A. Mallory, Judge Isaac R. Nicholson ; the two latter moved to Hinds county. Hon. E. G. Peyton, a learned and painstaking lawyer, who was district attorney nearly half a century ago ; after the war he was elected to Congress, but with other Representatives of the State at that time, denied admission; subsequently he was appointed by Governor Alcorn one of the judges of the Supreme Court and became its Chief Justice. His son, the late E. G. Peyton, was chancellor of his district for eigh- teen years, in which position he made a most enviable reputation, and was regarded by the bar as being among the foremost chan- cellors of the State. Buckner Harris, who served acceptably as circuit judge of his district, after which he removed to Texas. Franklin E. Plummer, referred to elsewhere; Seth Corley, Wm. K. Perkins, Benj. Kennedy, who was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1832 and afterwards State Senator from Carroll county ; George M. Barnes, Evans Spencer and Seth Granberry, who was a representative in both branches of the Legislature ; Wm. P. Rose, a delegate to the Constitutional Con- vention of 1832 ; Edmund King, father of Hon. Benj. King, a suc- cessful lawyer, member of the State Senate, and in 1881, the Independent candidate for Governor of the State ; Thos. Keller, who was probate judge of the county ; Judge Barney Allen, Daniel Magee, John Guynes, John Pritchard, James and Middle- ton Beesley, Elijah Vardeman, Revs. John J. E. Byrd, Peter James, Elisha Lott, Thos. Nixon and Hardy Mullins, all of whom were Methodist ministers in an early day, and dedicated their lives to the work of the blessed Master, as did Rev. James Bailey and Wm. Martin, Baptist ministers ; John Alred, Reuben Leech, Isom Ferguson, James and William Mullins, Wm. Millsaps, ' John Wheat, father of Rev. Dr. J. J. Wheat, an eminent divine, and accomplished scholar, who was for many years Professor of Greek at the State University of Mississippi, and more recently a presiding elder in the North Mississippi Conference ; Samuel N Gilliland, who removed to, and represented Attala county in the State Senate; John G. Witherspoon, the father of Colonel Wm. Witherspoon, of the 36th regiment; Peachy and Dr. Talliaferro, C.
468
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
B. N. Rice, John C. Wade, Edwin Barnlee, Phil.S. Catchings, State Senator from the county, James R. Harris, Henry Strong, Dr. Grant, Jacob Hill, Dr. Wm. Myles, a physician of ability and wide experience, the father of Dr. Robt. Myles, who, as a young physician, was greatly honored by being with Sir Morell McKen- zie in the treatment of Emperor Frederick of Germany ; Dr. Myles invented the instrument that was used in the treatment of the Emperor's throat. After he returned to America he located in New York, where he has taken high rank as a physician. He was also the father of Gen. F. F. and Beverly Myles, two well known business men of New Orleans ; Wm. Lloyd, Noel Catch- ings, Thos. Ramsey, Henry Guynes, Benj. Catchings, Frank Bridges, John Pierce, Wm. and Ransom Graves, David McRee, Samuel P. and Thomas L. Beacham, Robt. E. Harris, L. B. Harris, a leading member of the bar, Dr. A. Baker, John T. Buie, John G. Gilchrist, Calvin Blue, Reuben Millsaps, the father of Major R. W. Millsaps, a gentleman of easy for- tune, who has recently endowed the Methodist College to be established at Jackson, with $50,000. He had a hard strug- gle in early life, but is an example to young men of what can be accomplished by well directed energy and industry. After the advantages derived from neighborhood schools he went to Indiana, and while there gave evidence of his financial ability. He organized a "College mess," which for economy was never excelled in the Hoosier State. After graduating at Asbury college, he taught school in Warren county for two years, and then went to Harvard law school, where he graduated and soon after located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He enlisted in the Ninth Arkansas Regiment, and became its Major, was de- tailed and served on Major-General Loring's staff for some time. Major Millsaps is a man of affairs and now President of the Capital State Bank. Wm. Black, father of Rev. Dr. W. C. Black, who is held in high esteem by his church, now pastor of the Methodist church in Jackson. Doctor Lockwood, father of the accomplished physician now residing at Crystal Springs. Thomas Walsh, a lawyer, who died many years ago; Aaron Mil- ler, Dr. Charles Harris, Lott W. and George Ellis, Stephen Till- man, State senator, Elisha Greenlee, Duncan McRae, Geo. Rea, Fred. Purcer, Wm. Barnes, W. N. Green, Thos. Millsaps, Wm. · Cooper, the father of Judge Tim. E. Cooper, a lawyer of distin- guished ability, who is serving his second term on the Supreme Court bench, and was for several years the Chief Justice; Judge
469
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Herman Mayes, a gentleman of high character, and an able and accurate lawyer; Samuel Dodds, the father of Hon. George S. Dodds, who has served the county two terms in the State Senate, and received a flattering vote in 1890 for the Congressional nom- ination; Rev. Henry Conn, father of the able young Chancellor that presides in the Ninth Chancery District; Morris Cook, Frank Rembert, father of Doctors Geo. W. and Isom B. Rembert, both dental surgeons of high character, the former practicing in the city of Natchez and the latter in Jackson. Robert Miller, father of Hon. Robert Miller, who represented the county in the Legis- lature, and twice elected District Attorney of his Judicial Dis- trict, a lawyer of acknowledged ability and a most indefatigable and efficient prosecuting attorney. Zadock Hooker, father of Hon. Charles E. Hooker, who represented Hinds county in the Legislature, was District Attorney when quite a young man, served one term as Attorney-General of the State, and has been seven times elected to Congress. Col. Hooker is an orator of wide reputation, fine presence, polished and courtly manners. Samuel J. Morehead, Benj. Hawkins, B. F. Granberry, Elbert Ferguson, C. A. Ray, Samuel Rowan, Jacob Millsaps, who was Probate Judge of the county, Jas. Cammack, W. J. Willing, Isaac Hennington, Fletcher Enochs, Wm. Cook, who served the county many years as sheriff, Matt. Norman, John C. Sexton, the father of several sons, one of whom, Hon. James S. is a lawyer of high character, and was a member from the State-at- large of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1890, and of Dr. Luther Sexton, a prominent physician in the county, and occupies high rank in his.profession, and of Hon. J. F. Sexton, who represented the county in the Legislature.
The principal towns in Copiah are Hazlehurst, the county site, eligibly located, with a population of two thousand or more ; Crystal Springs, a handsome little town with a population of probably one thousand, widely known for its extensive truck- farming and growing of fruit; Beauregard, which was almost entirely destroyed by a cyclone in 1883, aud only partially re- built; Wesson, named for Col. J. M. Wesson, the founder of the cotton mills at that place, with a population probably of three thousand five hundred ; Martinsville, Gallman and old Gallatin, the first county site.
The principal streams in the county are Pearl river, forming the eastern boundary, Bahala, Copiah, Homochitto, Foster's and Brushy creeks, also Bayou Pierre.
470
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The Illinois Central Railroad traverses the county from north to south, passing through all the towns mentioned except Galla- tin. The lands of Copiah are above average, and adapted to the growing of all products and fruits of this climate.
The Mississippi Mills, at Wesson, one of the largest in the South, has been for many years, most successfully managed by Capt. Wm. Oliver. Copiah enjoys church and educational ad- vantages, and has an intelligent, progressive and prosperous population.
There are in the county 228,161 acres of cleared land; the average value per acre, $3.55. The total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, is $1,571,045.
The population as shown by the census report of 1890-whites, 14,602 ; colored, 15,630 ; total, 30,232.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1825-'26 Harden D. Runnels.
Isaac R. Nicholson.
1827 John L Irwin.
Isaac R. Nicholson, S. N. Gilleland.
1828 John L. Irwin.
Samuel Gillelend, S. Granberry.
1829 John L. Irwin.
W. N. Miller, Benjamin Kennedy. .
1830 Benjamin Kennedy.
Daniel B. Egan, Seth Granberry.
1832 Buckner Harris.
1835 Solomon Tracey.
Barnabas Allen, Seth Granberry.
1836 Seth Granberry.
A. G. Brown, B. Harris, S. T. Scott.
1837 Seth Granberry.
A. G. Brown, Burnley D. Norman.
J. B. Reid, A. G. Brown, S. Tillman.
1840 Seth Granberry.
L. W. Ellis, Wm. Graves, D. Shoemaker.
1841 Seth Granberry.
Wm. Barnes, L. W. Ellis, D. Shoemaker.
1842-'43 Seth Granberry.
1844 Stephen Tillman.
1846 Stephen Tillman.
R. E. Harris, J H. Thompson.
1848 P. S Catchings.
1850 P. S. Catchings.
1852 P. S. Catchings.
Wm. W. Martin, Edwin R. Brown.
Edwin R. Brown, John N. Catchings.
Edwin R. Brown.
Seth Corley.
John H. Thompson, John Fatheree.
G. W. Ellis, T. H. Wheeler.
E. II. Allen, John Fatheree.
A. P. Barry, A. Ilunter.
W. J. Willing, Jr., Emanuel Handy.
D. Bufkin, Emanuel Handy.
1874-'75 J. J. Smith.
D. Bufkin, R. Chrismas. George W. Miller, Elias A. Rowan.
1876-'77 J. J. Smith.
1878 Benjamin King.
R. N. Miller, Joseph H. Catchings.
J. W. Buffkin, T. W. McNeill.
George S. Dodds, A. B. Guynes.
A. B. Guynes, E. A. Rowan.
E. A. Rowan, T. J. Millsaps.
1888 Geo. S. Dodds, Alex. Fair- J. F. Sexton, J. L. Ramsey. ley.
1890 Geo, S. Dodds, Alex, Fair- ley.
Jno. R. Enochs, L. W. Ellis. George Ellis, R. E. Harris.
J. K. Hill, John Holden.
W. F. Martin, B. F. Nelson.
1854 M. A. Banks.
1856 M. A. Banks. 1857 M. A. Banks,
1858 P. S. Catchings.
1859-'60-'61 P. S. Catchings.
1861-'62 E. R. Brown.
: 1865-'66 Benjamin King.
1870-'71-'72 Green Millsaps.
1873 Green Millsaps.
1880 Benjamin King.
1882 J. McC. Martin.
1884 J. McC. Martin, T. A Dick- son.
1886 Geo. S Dodds, T. A. Dick- son.
J. F. Sexton, T. J. Millsaps.
Seth Granberry, E. G. Peyton.
1831 Benjamin Kennedy.
Barnabas Allen, John Beasley.
1838-'39 Seth Granberry.
471
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
COVINGTON COUNTY
Was named for General Covington, who fell in the war of 1812-15, and established January 5th, 1819. Among the first settlers of the county were Gawen Harris, Wm. Reed, Jas. MeAfee, Joseph McAfee, John Ship, who was the first Representative in the Leg- islature from the county; A. L. Hatton, John Colbert, Hanson Alsbury, Aaron Lowe, Fred. Pope, served the county as sheriff, Stato Senator and probate judge; Alexander Harper, at one time probate judge of the county ; Archie McCallum, Duncan Buch- anan, father of Hon. George C. Buchanan, who ropresented the county in the Legislature ; Peter MeNair, the father of Martin, Reuben, James, Angus and Gen. Evander MeNair ; the lutter com- manded an Arkansas Brigade of Infantry during the war; the family of MeLaurins, among whom were Judge Daniel, John D. and Gon. Cornelius McLaurin, also Hon. Duncan MeLaurin, who ropresented the county in the Legislature. Judge Daniel and Duncan McLaurin were leading mon in the county, and prior to the war the large family of MeLaurins were gentlemen of easy fortune ; Rouben Watts, the father of Dr. Van B. Watts, a dental surgeon of Brookhaven; John Watts, who represented the county in the State Senate fifty years ago, and the father-in-law of Judge John E. McNair, was Circuit Judge of the judicial district in which he resided for a number of years and enjoyed until the day of his death the unbounded confidence of the people of South and East Mississippi; Anselm H. and Brewster Jayne, natives of Long Island ; the former was a merchant and did an extensive business at Jaynesville ; he was the father of the late Hon. Jos. M. and Wm. Jayno, both of whom were liberally educated. Jos. M. twice represented Rankin county in the Legislature, and was a Colonel in the Confederate army ; his only son who bears his father's name represented Rankin county in the Legislature, and is now a practicing lawyer in Greenville; has represented Wash- ington county in the State Senate. Wmn. Jayne was the father of several sons and one daughter; two of his sons, R. K. and Anselmi H. roside at the Capital of the State; the latter a well read law- yer, and both educated, intelligent young men ; Jack Byrd, the families of Rogers and Duckworth ; Dr. A. H. Hall, an intelligent and able physician, who is the father of Evans Hall, the capable and popular Clerk of the Circuit and Chancery Courts of Cov. ington county ; Jas. Edmonson, the father of Hon. C. M. Edmon- son, who"represented the county in the Legislature ; Alexander
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HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
McCloud, father of Hugh McCloud; Wm. McDonald, father of Rev. Claiborne McDonald; Wm. and Neil Matheson ; the latter represented the county in the Legislature ; A. C. Powell, Wm. Easterling, Col. W. K. Easterling, who represented Rankin county in the Legislature and was Colonel of an Infantry Regi- ment during the late war.
The towns in the county are Williamsburg, the county site, Mt. Carmel and Jaynesville. The principle streams are: - Buie, Okatoma, Dry, Burtons and Rogers creeks.
The county has 31,360 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre $3.60. Total value, including incorporated towns $114,978.
The population as shown by the census of 1890: Whites, 5,305 ; colored, 984 ; total 8,289. SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1820 Howell W. Runnels. John Ship.
1821 Howell W. Runnels.
Gawen Harris.
IS22 Bartlett C. Barry.
Gawen Harris.
1823 Bartlett C. Barry.
Wm. Reed.
1825 Bartlett C. Barry.
Jas. McAfee.
IS26 William Downing.
Joseph McAfee.
IS27 Hamilton Cooper.
IS28-'29 Hamilton Cooper.
John Colbert.
1830 Thomas S. Sterling.
1831 A. M. Keegan.
1833 Charles Lynch.
1835 Richard A. Hargis IS36
1837 Frederick Pope.
IS38-'39 Frederick Pope. 1840-'41 John Watts.
1842 John Watts.
1843 1844-'46 John H. Horn.
1848 Joseph McAfee.
IS50 Joseph McAfee.
1852 Joseph McAfee.
1854 - Graves.
1856 S. B. Hathorn.
1857 S. B. Hlathorn.
1858 S. B. Hathorn.
1859-'60-'61 W. J. Rankin. 1861-62 W. J. Rankin.
- 1865-'66-'67 John F. Smith. IS70-'71 John Gartman.
1872-'73 T. J. Hardy.
1874-'75 T. L. Mendenhall.
IS76-'77 T. L. Mendenhall. IS78 Stanley Gibert.
John T. Fairley.
John T. Fairley.
ISSo Stanley Gibert.
1882 James S. Eaton.
ISS4 Thos. A. Dickson.
W. L. Strahan.
R. J. Magee.
ISSS Alex. Fairley, George S. N. C. Hathorn. Dodds.
1890 Alex. Fairley, George S. C. M. Edmondson. Dodds.
Elam S. Ragan.
Jesse McAfee.
Aaron Lowe.
John Gartman.
Joseph McAfee.
Joseph McAfee.
D. McLaurin.
Willis Magee.
Samuel B. Hathorn.
W. J. Lott. ·
W. J. Lott. Magee.
V. L. Terrell.
V. L. Terrell.
John McRaney.
John McRaney.
John Gillis.
Geo. C. Buchanan.
Neil Matheson. Neil Matheson.
1886 Thos. A. Dickson, Geo. S. Dodds.
Hanson Alsbury.
Morgan McAtee.
Elam S. Ragan.
Elam S. Ragan.
Elam S. Ragan.
A. L. Hatten.
473
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
DE SOTO COUNTY
Was established February 9th, 1836, and named in honor of Her- nando De Soto, the famous discoverer of the Mississippi river. The history of this county embraces that of Tate, the latter hav- ing been established in 1873, and taken mainly from the terri- tory of De Soto.
About one-eighth of the county is situated in the great allu- vial valley, and the other divided between what is known as rich table and high rolling lands, all fertile and productive.
The commissioners charged with the duty of organizing the county were Felix H. Walker, John D. Martin, Beverly G. Mitchell and Messrs. Cartright and Mosely, the full names of the two last not given.
C. B. Payne was the first sheriff of the county, Huky Brown first president of the Board of Police ; Humphrey Cobb first pro- bate judge; S. T. Cobb first clerk of the probate court, and Rob- ert Atchison, first clerk of the circuit court. The first courts were held in a small log house, and often litigants were outside pending the trial of their cases. Reuben Branch, an early pio- neer from North Carolina, kept the first hotel at Hernando.
Among the early settlers of the county were the Bynums, Lundys and Turners. They were from Virginia, and brought with them wealth and energy, as well as many of the popular sports of the "Old Dominion," such as horse-racing, the chase with hounds, cock-fighting, gander-pulling, etc. These families located near Horn Lake, amassed fine estates, and were widely known as honorable, prominent and prosperous people.
From Georgia was Simeon Oliver, who located near Hernando. Mr. Oliver became prominent in politics, and was repeatedly elected by the Democratic party to the State Senate. General Tate, a citizen of the old Roman type, came from Georgia, and was, by the Whig party, elected to the State Senate.
William White, than whom no country ever had a more vir- tuous and good citizen, was among the early settlers of Her- nando, bringing with him his son, that excellent lawyer, model citizen and christian gentleman, the late Col. Thomas W. White. They have both "crossed over the river," but left as a legacy to their children the character of high moral worth, intelligence and patriotism.
R. R. West, now passed his three score years and ten, came to De Soto county when quite young and without fortune. He was
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