USA > Mississippi > A history of Mississippi : from the discovery of the great river > Part 42
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474
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
possessed of high character, and is now, and has been for many years, clerk of the chancery court.
Dr. Henry Dockery, from the old Pee-dee, came to the county at an early day, and not only won deserved distinction in his profession, but also as a successful planter. Dr. W. R. Love was another successful physician and planter.
W. H. Johnson, from Kentucky, was for years a prosperous merchant at the county site, and is now School Superintendent of the county. T. Y. Caffey came from North Carolina when a boy.
Col. Buckner, Major Connelly and J. P. Cambell were among the early and prominent lawyers of the county.
Among the early settlers may be mentioned the families of Blockers, Laughters, B. F. Condra, Saunders, Lyon, Stubble- field, Dockery, McGowan, McCullens, Johnson, Elam, Hudson, Matthews, Mckinney, Barks, Joyner, Jones, Jordan, Payne, Ponders, Holloway, H. C. Payne, Dr. B. B. Buchanan and Dr. W. H. McCargo.
Another early settler and remarkable character was Hon. Felix Labauve. His father was a Marshal under the great Na- poleon, and died, as did his mother, about the time the empire ceased to exist. Felix when a child was brought to America by two uncles, who settled in South Carolina, near Camden, soon after which both died, leaving the boy alone to carve his fortune as best he could. Uneducated, but with a bright intellect and full of energy, he commenced the great battle of life single-handed and alone. When young he reached the county of De Soto and entered upon the carcer of a merchant, confidence and energy constituting the bulk of his capital. He was elected county clerk and a number of times to the Legislature.
In official life he had the courage of his convictions. The bene- ficiaries of his bounty will preserve his memory for generations, when others of much greater fortune will be forgotten. He gave by his last will five thousand dollars to a distant relative in France; $500 each, to two poor widows who had been kind to him when a youth, and the remainder, about $20,000, to be invested and the interest appropriated to the education of orphan boys in DeSoto county, at the State University. The late Col. T. W. White was trustee of this fund, and by judicious investment, the interest has equipped nine or ten young men for useful lives.
475
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The pioneers of DeSoto county, were in the main, men of energy and enterprise and more than ordinary intelligence.
The Kansas City and Birmingham Railroad runs through the northern part of the county ; the Mississippi and Tennessee, now a part of the Illinois Central, through the center, and the Louis- ville, New Orleans and Texas through the western part of the county.
The towns in the county are Hernando, the county site, adopted in honor of the christian name of the great Spanish discoverer, Horn Lake, Pleasant Hill and Olive Branch.
The streams are: Coldwater, Byhalia and Camp Creeks. The county fronts the Mississippi river about 12 miles.
In addition to the production of cotton and grain, the dairy and truck farming interests are growing and proving profitable.
DeSoto county has 185,292 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, as rendered to the assessor, $6.17. Total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $1,297,914.
Population : whites, 6,862 ; colored, 17,319 ; total, 24,181.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1837 James D. Hallam.
1838 James D. Hallam.
1839 Felix Walker.
1840 Alfred Cox.
1841 Jas. M. Matlock.
1842 Andrew Knox.
1843 Andrew Knox.
1844 Andrew Knox.
1846 Felix Labauve.
1848 Felix Labauve.
1850 Jas. M. Tait. 1852 Jas. M. Tait.
1854 Simeon Oliver.
1856 Simeon Oliver.
1857 Simeon Oliver.
1858 Simeon Oliver.
1859-'60 Simeon Oliver. 1861-'62 Simeon Oliver.
1865-'66-'67 W. H. McCargo. 1870-71 Horatio N. Ballard.
1872-'73 M. Campbell, J. G. Hol- loway.
1874-'75 M. Campbell, J. G. Hol- loway.
1876 C. G. Callicott, J. B. Morgan.
Felix H. Walker.
Richard C. Hancock.
Richard C. Hancock.
F. C. Talbert.
Joseph Johnson.
Joseph Johnson.
H. H. Coleman.
H. Coleman, F. Labauve.
J. W. Campbell, H. Robinson.
R. C. Hancock, J J. Williams, J. W. Camp- bell.
J. P. Anderson, S. D. Johnson, B. L. Roselle. Thos H. Wood, D. N. Harris, W. D. Lack- land.
Thos. W. White, B. L. Rozelle, Jas. R. Milam.
Jas. E· Matthews, J. M. Greer, W. R. Har- ley.
Jas. E. Matthews, J. M. Greer, M. P. John- son.
C. G. Nelms, V. H. Merriweather.
J. C. Culbertson, J. D. Ruffin, M. D. Johnson. W. K. Love, S. D. Johnson, M. D. Johnson. W. T. Cole, T. P. Manning, F. Labauve. - M. Campbell, J. V. Walker, G. P. Carring- ton.
H. Hall, O. F. West, Thos. McCain, A. W. Smith, J. H. Johnson.
J. H. Thompson, Thos. McCain, L. W. Mackey.
Wm. H. McCargo, Samuel Powel, J. D. Nichols.
1
476
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
1877 C. G. Callicott, J. B. Mor- Wm. H. McCargo, Wm. Raines, J. D. gan. Nichols. 1878 C. G. Callicott, J. B. Mor- gan. Thos. C. Dockery, D. Mckenzie, T. H. W. Wall.
1880 Jas. B. Perkins.
H. C. Watson, A. Myers, A. W. Huddle- ston.
1882 V. B. Waddell.
Job Harral, J. M. Granberry, C. A Marshall.
1884 Samuel Powel.
J. W. Odom, Elias Alexander.
1886 Samuel Powel.
1888 C. A. Marshall.
1890 C. A. Marshall.
L. W. Williamson, T. C. Dockery.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Was established December 21st, 1809, and was named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most distinguished diplo- matists, statesmen and philosophers of the generation in which he lived.
The county was represented in the Constitutional Convention of 1817 by John Shaw and James Knox, and that of 1832 by Daniel McMillan.
Among the earlier settlers of the county were Judge Edward Turner, who presided with distinction both on the Circuit and Supreme Court benches; Joseph Sessions, Littleton Munday, William Calvit, Daniel Shell, John McDaniel, John Cameron, John King, Elijah Gates, Judge William Proby, Jeremiah Beach, Dana Herring, Aaron Herring, John Higdon, Daniel Higdon, Ransom Buckley, Jesse Sessions, the father of Major J. F. Ses- sions, who has served in both branches of the Legislature, and is now one of the members and President of the Railroad Com- mission of the State; Needham Lee, Solomon Newman, the Guices, McMillans and Kennisons, Thomas Cotton, Ben Scott, Willis Magee, the grandfather of Judge Thomas A. Magee, who has served in the Legislature and other positions of trust and honor; Levy Godbold, Joseph and William Porter, James and John Calcote, William Cads, John Noble, H. M. Oneal, Isaac Ransawl, Nathan Smith, George Lambright, John Anding, James Godbold, Nicholas Lazarus, Levi Bright, Sr., James Cupit, Thomas and James Maxwell, Sutton Byrd, George and Adams Clay.
The towns in Franklin county are Meadville, the county site, fourteen miles east of the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railroad, Hamburg, Roxie, Knoxville and Garden City, all situ- ated on the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railroad, that runs through the western portion of the county for about 30 miles.
A. S. Buchanan, A. S. Meharg.
L. W. Williamson, J. M. Granberry.
477
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The streams are Homochitto River, Middle Fork, Morgan's Fork, Beaver Creek, Wells Creek, Cameron Creek, Fifteen Mile Creek, Magee's Creek, which took its name from Willis Magee, who was the first settler on its banks, McCall's Creek, named for Thomas McCall, the first settler upon that stream, Porter's and Middleton's Creeks.
The river and creek bottom lands are most excellent, while the hill lands by fertilization give satisfactory crops.
The county is well timbered and watered, and the population thrifty and reasonably prosperous.
Franklin county has 45,887 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre as rendered to the assessor is $1.80. Total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $155,791.
The population as shown by the census of 1890 : Whites, 5,454 ; colored, 4,871. Total, 10,325.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1820 Armstrong Ellis.
1821 Cowles Mead.
1822 John R. Brown.
Bailey E. Chaney, Thomas Cotton.
1823 John R. Brown.
Joseph Robertson, Jesse Guice.
1825 John R. Brown.
1826 Charles C. Slocumb.
1827 Thomas Torrence. 1828 Thomas Torrence.
1829 William Jackson.
David D. Gibson, Lewis Magee.
R. W. Webber, John Cameron.
Richard W. Webber.
1831 William Jackson.
1833 Archibald Smith
1835 David Davis. 1836
1837-38-39 Hugh Montgomery
1840-41 P. O. Hughes.
1842 P. O. Hughes.
1843 P. O. Hughes.
1844 Edward Turner.
1846 Edward Turner.
1848 T. J. Stewart.
1850 T. J. Stewart.
1852-54 A. K. Farrar.
1856-57 A. K. Farrar.
1858 H. T. Ellett.
1859-60-61-62 H. T. Ellett.
De Witt C. Graham.
K. R. Webb.
J. F. Sessions.
J. F. Sessions.
Cornelius Byrd.
Cornelius Byrd.
James S. Magee. John G. King. M. C. Johnson.
1882 Thomas A. Magee.
1884 J. J. Whitney. 1886 J. J. Whitney.
1888 G. A. Guice. 1890 G A. Guice.
Hiram Cassedy. Thomas S. Head.
C. C. Campbell.
Hiram Cassedy.
Hiram Cassedy.
Joseph R. Cotton.
Joseph R. Cotton.
- I865-66-67 P. R. Montgomery. 1870-71 Orange S. Niles. IS72-73 H. B. McClure. 1874-75-76 H. B. McClure. 1877 M. M. Currie. 1878 M. M. Currie. 1880 Thomas A. Magee.
Orin Shurtleff.
Orin Shurtleff.
Jefferson E. Porter.
Thomas Havis.
James M. Jones.
1830 William Jackson.
T. K. Pickett, C. C. Slocum. Thomas Cotton, James C. Hawley. Thomas Cotton, J. F. Weatherspoon. David D. Gibson.
Joseph Robertson, Joseph Winn.
Bailey E. Chaney, Thomas Cotton.
M. C. Johnson.
W. L. Godbold. W. L. Godbold.
T. A. Magee.
CHAPTER XXVI.
GREENE COUNTY
N AMED in honor of Major-General Nathaniel Greene, ot Revolutionary fame, was established December 9th, 1811. This county borders on the Alabama line.
Among its first settlers were Laughlin McCoy and John McRae. both of whom were members of the Constitutional Convention in 1817. The MeDuffeys. MeCaskill's, McPherson's, Mcleod's. Walter Denny, Melunis, Laughlin MeKay, the Breland's Moody's, Smith's, Kittrell's, Avery's and Brewer's.
The first sheriff was Alexander Mclean, afterwards judge of the probate court. James Walley was also sheriff' and probate judge. Walter Denny, now a highly respected citizen of Moss Point. and largely interested in the mill industry at that place, and the father of W. M. Denny, (member of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1890, from Jackson county.) was at an early day sheriff of Greene county.
Alexander Fairly, the father of a large family, among whom were Hon. John T. Fairly, who twice represented Covington county in the Legislature; Hon. Archie Fairly, who represented Lawrence county in the Legislature ; and Dr. Alexander Fairly. who represented the Senatorial District in which he lives, in the State Senate, and is a leading physician in Covington county ; Dr. Peter Fairly, a physician of high character and large ex- perience, now a resident of the city of Jackson and Superintend- ent of the Blind Institute.
Among the early settlers yet living are the following : Preston Beard, Alexander Avery, Samuel Breland, S. V. MeKay, Farqua Mcleod, John Melnnis, W. P. Avery, E. B. Box, J. J. Melunis. Lemuel Bradford, Josiah Byrd. Asa Breland, William Walley, H. G. Mills, Joseph Dickinson, E. W. Davis, E. M. Denman, James Freeman, J. M. Sewell, H. C. Cochran, William Turner, Sr., R. H. Walley, Willis Mills, James Beard. David Langtord, Daniel Brewer, William Cooley, J. C. Breland, William Moody. Lewis Turner, J. S. Turner and William Neal. From the names there
479
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
appears to be a largo element of the Scotch-Irish, who usually make excellent citizens.
The towns in the county are Leakesville, the county sito, named for Hon. Walter Lenke, former Governor of tho Stato and United States Senator from Mississippi; Stato Lino, in the northeast corner of the county on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The principal streams in the county are Chickasahay and Loaf rivers and Big Creek, all of which have numerous tributarios.
Greene county has 2,975 acres of cleared land ; average value as rondorod to the assessor, being $3.11 por acre. Total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $21,705.
The population as shown by the consus returns of 1890. whites, 2,923; colored, 945; total, 3,865.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1820 Isaac R. Nicholson.
flugh McDonald, Dameron.
1821 Isaac R. Nicholson.
Hugh MeDonald.
1822 Isaac R. Nicholson.
John Mel.cod.
1823 Laughlin Mckay.
John McLeod.
1825 Langhlin Mckay.
Archibald McManus.
1820 '27 John MeLeod.
Archibald McManus.
1828-'29 John MeLeod.
Archibald MeManns.
1830 John Mel.cod.
Alex Morrison.
1831 Thomas S. Sterling.
1833 John McLeod
1835 Thomas P. Falconer.
1836-'37 Hanson Alsbury.
1838 '39 Hanson Alsbury.
1 840 % -'41 Hanson Alsbmy.
1842-'43-'44 A. W. Ramsey.
1846 A. W. Ramsey.
18.48 '50-'52 Joseph MeAfec.
18544 Graves.
1856-'57 S. B Hathom.
1858 S. B. Hathorn.
1859 J. W. Rankin.
1860-61 W. J. Rankin.
1861-62 W. J. Rankin.
1865 '66-'67 John F. Smith.
1870 '71 J. 11. Seal.
J. K. Mel.cod.
1872-'73 J. H. Seal.
1874 '75 J. P. Carter.
1876 '77 J. P. Caller.
1878 J. P. Carter.
Henry Roberts,
ISSo J. P. Carter.
Jesse Byrd.
ISS: Elliott Henderson.
K. McInnis.
ISS4 Elliott Henderson.
1. Kittrell.
Hilliard MeInnis.
1888 J. L. Morris.
D). W. McLeod.
1890 A. G. Ferguson,
David McRac.
David McRac.
Allen Mccaskill.
Joshun Murray.
Alexander McCaskill.
Isham Moody.
W. Moore.
John McInnis.
John Mcinnis.
11. 1. Breeland.
T. J. Roberts.
T. J. Roberts,
M. H. Winbarn.
M. 11. Winburn.
George Wood.
John McInnis, -
S. G. Gaines.
Thompson.
John F McCormick.
ISSO J. I .. Morris.
1). W. MeLcod.
GRENADA COUNTY
Was established May 9th, 1870, and its history, is mainly ombodiod in the counties of Yalobusha and Carroll from which it was
480
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
carved. The long list of names given in those two counties em- brace a great number then and at present residing in what is now Grenada county ; and in these are given the history of the rival towns that eventually united and assisted in the building up the town of Grenada, now the prosperous county site.
The first representative in the State Senate was Wm. Price, and in the Lower House, David S. Green. Mr. Price was succeeded by Col. W. H. FitzGerald, a lawyer of high character, and who was colonel of a regiment in the Confederate service. Mr. Green was succeeded by Capt. Wm. R. Barksdale, an able lawyer who was district attorney of the judicial district in which he resided, and a gentlemen of superior scholastic attainments, and held the rank of captain in the Confederate service.
The Illinois Central Railroad traverses the county from north, to sonth, and its branch road runs from Grenada to Memphis. Grenada is at the junction of the two roads.
Other towns in the county are Graysport, Elliott and Hardy. The principal streams are Yalobusha and Loosa-Scoona rivers and the Abatombougne Creek.
Grenada county has 55,253 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, $7.69; total value, including incorporated towns, $854,699.
The population of this county, as shown by the census of 1890 : Whites, 3,950; colored, 11,024; total, 14,974.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1872-'73-'74 Wm. Price.
David S. Green.
1875 Wm. Price.
David S. Green.
1876-'77 W. H. FitzGerald.
Wm. R. Barksdale.
1878 W. H. FitzGerald.
Wm. McSwine.
ISSO W. H. FitzGerald.
J. J. Williams.
ISS2 W. H. FitzGerald.
Wm. McSwine.
ISS4 Jno. J. Gage.
J. J. Williams.
1886 Jno. J. Gage.
J. C. Longstreet.
ISSS J. N. McLeod.
J. C. Longstreet.
1890 J. N. McLeod.
Wm. McSwine.
HANCOCK COUNTY,
Named for John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was established December 14th, 1812. The modest town, of Pearlington, now largely interested in sawing and shipping lumber to different parts of the world, was intended in Territorial days to be a place of considerable commercial im- portance, and with this view, its founders dedicated a large area
481
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
of land for the purpose of building up a city, and it was for a time a lively and prosperous place.
Among the first settlers of Pearlington and Hancock county, were Francois B. Lenoir, who represented the county prior to 1820 in the Legislature, Noel Jourdan, Elisha Carver, J. C. Monet, Leonard Kimball, General Nixon, Col. Strong, Judge Benj. Sones, Colonel Stewart, Peter Joor, Pierre Saucier, John B. Toulme, Judge J. W. Wingate, Gabriel Bradford, Sidney Lenoir, William and Joseph Wheat, Thomas Poite- vant, Dr. Eagar, H. and R. Carre, J. W. Roberts, David Moye, Col. D. S. Dewees, Felton Conley, Francoise Netto, A. H. Her- sey, Wm. Friarson, Jordan Smith, Dr. C. A. Calhoun, Chas. Litchfield, Capt. A. P. Boardman, Christian Koch, John Orr, Capt. Raymond Creveas, Dimitry Canna, A. Dimitry, Col. W. R. Hoyt, P. R. R. Pray, who represented the county in the Legis- lature, and was President of the Constitutional Convention of 1832, Louis Sportono, Alex. Bookter, Jas. A. Ulman, Onerzein Favre, Chas. H. Frazar, Luther Russ, Jesse Depew, Thomas Holmes, and John Dunbar. Among the foregoing names arc many who were distinguished in the early days of the Territo- rial and State governments. Prior to the era of railroads mem- bers of the bar from different sections of the State made their way on horse-back to the courts of the coast counties, not ouly to attend to whatever legal business they might secure, but for the pleasure of enjoying for a few days the health-giving breezes of the Gulf.
The towns in the county are Bay St. Louis, the county site, a prosperous and pleasant little city of some two thousand inhab- itants, Pearlington and Gainesville.
The principal streams are Pearl River, on the western border, which affords excellent transportation for lumber sawed in the county, Jordan and Wolf rivers, and a number of smaller streams.
The railroads in the county are the Louisville and Nashville, and the New Orleans and Northeastern, which afford easy and comfortable transportation.
Hancock county has 3,832 acres of cleared land, average valne per acre, $2.93. Total value, including incorporated towns, $746,723.
The population of this eounty as shown by the eensus report of 1890: Whites, 5,758 ; colored, 2.526; total, 8,284.
31
482
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1820-'21-'22 Isaac R. Nicholson.
Noel Jourdan.
1823 Laughlin Mckay.
Jesse Depew.
1825 Laughlin Mckay.
Samuel White.
Thomas Holmes.
1827-'28-'29 John McLeod.
1830 John McLeod.
1831 Thomas S. Sterling.
1833 John McLeod.
IS35 Thos. P. Falconer.
1836-'37 Hanson Alsbury.
1838-'39 Hanson Alsbury.
1840-'41 Hanson Alsbury.
1842-'43 A. W. Ramsey. .
1844 A. W. Ramsey.
1846 A W. Ramsey.
1848 A. W. Ramsey.
1850 A. W. Ramsey.
1852 A. W. Ramsey.
1854 A. W. Ramsey.
1856 T. J. McCaughan.
1857-'58 T. J. McCaughan.
1859-'60-'61 J. B McRae.
1861-'62 J. B. McRae.
- 1865-'66-'67 R. Seal.
1870-'71 Jacob J. Seal.
1872 Jacob J. Seal.
1873 Jacob J. Seal.
Redding Byrd.
IS74 J. P. Carter.
Redding Byrd.
1875 J. P. Carter.
1876-'77 J. P. Carter.
1878 J. P. Carter.
Daniel B. Seal.
1880 J. P. Carter.
Silas J. Leslie.
T. M. Favre.
Geo. Arbo.
Thos. R. Stocker.
IS90 H. Bloomfield.
Daniel B. Seal.
HARRISON COUNTY,
Named in honor of General Wm. Henry Harrison, then Presi- dent elect of the United States, was established February 5th, 1841, twenty-nine years after Hancock, and carved mainly from that county. Many of its early settlers were among the pioneers of Hancock, residing in the territory now comprised in Harrison county.
The first Representatives in the Legislature were Joseph Frost, B. Bond and John J. McCaughn. Hon. Roderick Seal, a widely known and intelligent lawyer, one of the landmarks of the sea- coast country, represented the county in the lower House of the Legislature forty-one years ago, since which he has repeatedly served the county in both branches of the Legislature.
The principal towns in the county are, Mississippi City, the
1826 John McLeod.
P. R. R. Pray.
Wm. Haile.
- Carver.
John Dunbar, B. B. Brewer.
Jno. Dunbar, B. B. Brewer.
Julius Monet.
John Bond.
Moses Cooke.
Moses Cooke.
J. B. Toulme.
B. S. Leonard.
Jno. B. Toulme.
Leonard Kimball.
S. B. Pearce.
Julius C. Monet.
Jno. Graves.
Jno. L. Hart.
W. H. Claiborne.
Daniel B. Seal.
Daniel B Seal. -
Jno. H. Nicholson.
- Leonard.
H. Sanders.
H. Saunders.
1882-'84 Elliott Henderson.
1886 Roderick Seal.
1888 Roderick Seal.
483
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
county site, Pass Christian, Biloxi and Handsboro. These towns are dotted along the coast with ample hotel accommodations which are frequented, both summer and winter, by visitors from almost every part of the country. Many of the drives along the beach are very picturesque and beautiful. Henderson's Point, near Pass Christian, the property of Hon. Elliot Henderson, a former State Senator from the coast, is noted for its beauty. The principal streams are the Biloxi, Wolf and Jourdan rivers, with their tributaries. The seekers of health cannot find a more pleasant resort than our own sea-shore, where they are within easy distance, with ample facilities for travel, of the two Southern cities, New Orleans and Mobile. The railroads are the Louis- ville and Nashville, and that portion of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad leading in the direction of Hattiesburg in Perry county.
Harrison has 3,096 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, $2.82; total value, including incorporated towns, $1,545,131.
The population of this county as shown by the census report of 1890-whites, 9,108; colored, 3,370; total, 12,478.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1844 A. W. Ramsey.
1846 A. W. Ramsey.
1848 A. W. Ramsey.
B. Bond.
1850-'52 A. W. Ramsey.
Roderick Seal.
1854 A. W. Ramsey.
John L. Henley.
1856-'57-'58 T. J. McCaughan.
1859-'60-'61 J. B. McRae.
John L. Henley.
1861-'62 J. B. McRae.
1865-'66-'67 Roderick Seal.
1870 Jacob J. Seal.
Hamilton Taylor.
1871 Jacob J. Seal.
I872 Jacob J. Seal.
1873 Jacob J. Seal.
1874-'75 J. P. Carter.
W. A. Champlin.
1876 J. P. Car.er.
John M. McInnis.
2877 J. P. Carter.
1878 J. P. Carter.
18go J. P. Carter.
Roderick Seal.
1882 Elliot Henderson.
F. W. Elmer.
1884 Elliot Henderson.
D. D. Cowan.
1886 Roderick Seal.
F. W. Elmer.
1888 Roderick Seal.
Calvit Roberts.
1890 H. Bloomfield.
W. G. Evans, Jr.
R. C. Saffold.
Roderick Seal.
John L. Henley.
R. F. Harrison.
Roderick Seal.
Roderick Seal.
E. F. Griffin.
A. J. Ramsey.
Joseph Frost, B. Bond.
John J. McCaughan.
HINDS COUNTY
Was established February 12th, 1821, and named in honor of General Thomas Hinds; carved out of that tract of country ceded to the United States by the Choctaw tribe of Indians, on the 18th
484
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
day of October, 1820. On February 4th, 1828, the Legislature provided for the election of five commissioners to select a site for the court-house and jail of the county, and to locate the same either at Clinton, or within two miles of the center of the county. On the 17th of January, 1829, an act was passed directing that the courts should be held at Raymond, and that all books, records and papers belonging to the respective offices should be re- moved to that place.
Among the first settlers of the county were Benj. F. Smith, Wm. W. Walker, Chas. M. Lawson, all of whom represented the county in the Legislature; W. J. Austin, Silas Brown, Hiram G. Runnels, who were also members of the Legislature ; Judge Isaac Caldwell, member of the State Senate, killed in a duel by Samuel Gwin, who received a wound from which he afterwards died ; Ralph Stovall, whose widow lived to be one hundred and one years of age; she was the mother of twenty-two children ; the present deputy sheriff L. F. Chiles, is the grand-son of Mrs. Stovall's seventeenth daughter; W. H. Bradley, J. B. Robertson, settled near where Brownsville is now located ; J. J. Birdsong, W. Moffatt, Washington and Wesley Farr, near where Bolton now stands ; Daniel Thomas, for several terms sheriff of the county, was an early settler on Baker's Creek ; he was the father ot Samuel B. Thomas, who was Colonel of the Twelfth Regiment during the war, and like his honored father served the county most acceptably as sheriff for a decade or more ; Rev. Lewis B. Holloway, a Baptist minister, with his two step-sons John R. and Jas. M. Chiles, were among the early settlers of Jackson ; Leroy H. Tatum, Jas. Satterfield, Hugh McGowan and Rev. Jesse Woodall, a Baptist minister, settled in what was afterwards known as the Byram neighborhood; John Rimes was the head of what was known as the Rimes colony. Hon. Henry G. Johnston repre- sented the county in the Legislature and was probate judge. He married the daughter of Gov. Walter Leake, and was the father of W. L. Johnston, now residing in or near Clinton. The late Hon. Amos R. Johnston, a lawyer of ability and an advocate of great power, represented the county in the Legislature fifty-five years ago. When a young man he was probate judge, was one of the authors of the Revised Code of 1871, and represented the counties of Hinds and Rankin in the State Senate ; he was the father of Capt. Frank and Dr. Wirt Johnston, each prominent in their respective professions; the former a learned and accu- rate lawyer and cultured gentleman ; the latter one of the leading
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