USA > Mississippi > A history of Mississippi : from the discovery of the great river > Part 44
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495
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Stephen and John R. Gilmore. These families were located in different portions of the county.
Fulton, the county site, which has about four hundred inhabi- tants, is the only town in the county, though there are numer- ous country stores in nearly every section of the county. Un- til the establishment of Lee county in 1866, the towns of Bald- wyn, Guntown, Saltillo, Verona and Shannon belonged to Ita- wamba.
There are no railroads through the county, but the Tombigbee river, running north to south, furnishes a means of transporta- tion in the late fall and spring of the year. Other smaller streams are Bull Mountain, Bogue Folia, Bogue Regaby, Cum- mings, Gum and Panther Creeks.
Itawamba county has 30,799 acres of cleared land; average value, as rendered to the assessor, being $5.72 per acre. Total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, is $193,764.
The population of this county, as shown by the census report of 1890 : Whites, 10,695, colored, 1,013; total, 11,708.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1837 John Bell.
1838-39 John Bell.
1840 John Bell.
1841 William H. Duke.
1842 John H. Miller.
1843 John H. Miller.
1844 Russell O. Beene.
1846 Russell O. Beene.
1848 Russell O. Beene.
1850 Russell O. Beene.
1852 Russell O. Beene.
1854 Russell O. Beene.
1856 Russell O. Beene.
1857 William Beene.
1858 William Beene.
1859 J. M. Simonton.
1860-61 J. M. Simonton. 1861-62 M. C. Cummings.
· 1865-66-67 J. M. Simonton.
1870-71 J. M. Stone.
1872-73 R. H. Allen.
1874-75-76 R. H. Allen.
1877-78 R. H. Allen.
David Johnson.
WV. A. Nabers.
W. A. Nabers.
1886 R. O. Reynolds, John M. J. M. Weaver. Simonton. 1888 J. C. Burdine, J. L. Turnage. 1890 J. C. Burdine, J. L. Turnage.
Alfred G. Lane.
William M. Owen.
William M. Owen.
A. G. Lane, J. Lindsay, Charles Warren. Wm. Beene, J. C. Hinds, Wm. C. Cypert.
A. J. McWilliams, J. C. Hinds, William C. Cypert.
Wm. Beene, J. C. Hinds, H. M. Rogers.
C. Hodges, C. Devours, Sam. M. Vernon.
Chas. Hodges, J. W. Downs, D. W. Owen.
J. W. Downs, T. A. Carter, Jas. S. Clayton. J. S. Clayton. Wm. Downs, T. A. Carter. G. W. Stoval, P. Evans, J. C. Gilstrap.
T. Barden, W. Davis, J. Walk or, J. C. Gil- strap.
J. Barden, J. C. Gilstrap, J. Walker.
W. B. Shelby, J. P. Barton, J. Barden, J. G. Nelson.
H. K. Martin, M. Pound, J. D. Williams, J. D. Gilstrap.
Eli Phillips.
- Baldridge.
David Johnson.
1880-82 David Johnson.
IS84 R. O. Reynolds, John M. Simonton.
W. P. Reeves.
W'm. A. Hartsfield.
CHAPTER XXVII.
ISSAQUENA COUNTY.
W AS established December 23d, 1844. Among the first settlers were Thomas G. Parks, Andrew and Thomas J. Turnbull, Zenas Preston, Robert M. Smith, James L. Mayfield.
The Andersons, whose descendants are now prominent citi- zens of the county-one of whom, Frank Anderson, was for years sheriff of the county, and W. S. Anderson, a Representa- tive in the State Senate ; William G. Mayers, Col. W. T. Ber- nard, the families of Shelby, Hill and Sellars, Mike Everhardt, Thomas Kershaw, Robinson, James M. Clarke, father of the late Hon. E. D. Clarke, Assistant Secretery of the Interior during President Cleveland's administration ; H. R. W. Hill, who was the owner of a large estate in the county ; James P. Grambling, John L. Chapman, Dohertys, Mordecai Powell, Wm. Wallis, Thomas Erwing, Judge Thomas W. Hays, Zach Leatherman, Nelsons, Sampson Williams, W. S. Gibbons, Wilson Spencer, Col. Gibson, father-in-law of Benjamin Hardaway, of Vicksburg ; William McQuilling, and Captain Joel O. Stevens, who has long been engaged in the steamboat business on the Sunflower and Yazoo rivers.
The towns in the county are: Meyersville, the county site, named for David Meyer, a large cotton planter of that county, now residing in Vicksburg; Skipwith, Ingomar, Tallulah and Alexander.
The streams are Steele's Bayou, with the Mississippi river forming the western and Deer Creek the eastern boundary of the county, with numerous lakes, among which are Moon, Lafay- atte and Five-Mile lakes.
The Louisville, New Orleans & Texas Railroad traverses the northeastern corner of the county.
Issaquena has 54,869 acres of cleared land ; average value per acre, $14.24; total value, including incorporated towns, $809,819.
The population of this county, as shown by the census report of 1890: Whites, 692; colored, 11,623 ; total, 12,252.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
IS46 Lelix Labauve.
James J. B. White. M. Powell.
1848 Jas. J. B. White.
497
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
1850 J. J. White.
1852-'54 W. L. Johnston.
1856-'57 Peter B. Starke.
Isaac C. Hill.
1858 Peter B. Starke.
Davis.
1859-'60-61 Peter B. Starke.
Wirt Adams.
1861-'62 Peter B. Starke.
W. D. Brown.
W. D. Brown.
. 1865-'66-'67 W. S. Yerger. 1870-'71 Thos. Stringer, A. My- gatt. 1872-'73 Wm. Gray. 1874-'75 Wm. Gray.
R. Griggs.
Wm. H. Jones.
1876 Wm. Gray.
W. H. Jones, S. S. Sanderlin.
W. H. Jones, S. S. Sanderlin.
1878 W. S. Farish.
Henry P. Scott.
1880 W. S. Anderson.
Lem Moore.
1882 H. R. Jeffords.
S. B. Blackwell.
1884 H. R. Jeffords.
Lem Moore.
1886-'88 D. C. Casey.
S. B. Blackwell.
1890 H. L. Foote.
C. J Jones.
JACKSON COUNTY
Was established December 14th, 1812, and was named in honor of General Andrew Jackson.
Among the early settlers were Helaine Krebs, John Baptiste, Rene Krebs, Valentine Delmas, Joseph Raby, John Cumbest, J. W. Williams, J. W. Terrell, Matthew Goff, W. D. Sheldon, R. C. Files, J. Flechar, W. C. Diggs, John McInnis, William Griffin, R. Trehern. W. G. Elder, Thomas Rhodes, H. Ehless, Lyman Randall, J. J. McRae, A. E. Lewis, John Shanahan, A. Catchot, George Byrd, Chas. Havens, H. C. Haven, D. Reeves, William Reeves, G. Helvestion, J. Parker, C. Ward, A. C. Steede, James Davis and Walter Denny.
The old towns were east Pascagoula, West Pascagoula and Ocean Springs.
The towns now in the county are Ocean Springs, Vancleave, Pascagoula, Scranton and Moss Point.
The principal streams are the Pascagoula and Dog Rivers, into each of which flow numerous creeks, with a capacity for floating logs and timber.
There are about twelve saw mills in the county, with a capa- city of probably six hundred thousand feet per day; in addition there are several valuable planing mills.
The shipment of lumber and hewn timber is the chief indus- try, and is carried on from mills and booms at Moss Point and Scranton, and for years past has been very extensive. This tim- ber and lumber is put aboard ships in the harbor at Ship and
32
J. J. Hughes. Wm. T. Barnard.
R. Griggs.
1877
498
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Horn Islands and sent to England, France, Germany, Spain, Por- tugal, Mexico, the West Indies, indeed to almost every civilized country.
The magnitude of this industry has never been realized by the people of the State ; nor the beauty of the beach fully appre- ciated, for a more delightful resort for both summer and winter it is difficult to find, and the prosperous towns along the coast can afford every accommodation to visitors that are found else- where.
The county is growing in population and wealth, and in the near future, miles along the beach will be improved and devel- oped, and made so attractive that Mississippians who seek recrea- tion or health will find it on their own coast.
The history of Jackson county would not be complete without reference to the mysterious music heard in summer nights, aris- ing from the waters of the Pascagoula river, as they flow into the broad bosom of the Mississippi Sound. This has long been a theme of poets and story-writers. The tradition in regard to this mysterious music is well known to the dwellers on our sea- shore, and has in it something of the high-heroic scorn of death, which, according to Thomas Babbington Macauly, characterized the Romans "in the brave days of old."
The Pascagoula Indians were sorely beset by hostile tribes. They had been defeated on many well-contested fields; their young braves had fallen in battle ; their towns were destroyed and their fields wasted. None were left but infirm old men, with the helpless women and children. The exulting shouts of their victo- rious foes were already ringing in their ears, when, as moved by one impulse, the remnant of the tribe determined to welcome death beneath the whelming waves rather than live to be the slaves of their dested foes. To resolve was to act. In a few bricf moments a procession was formed for the river, where the old men, the women and the children, the last of the tribe of the Pascagoulas, clasped hands, marched into the shining waters chanting their death song, until bubbles marked the spot where the last of the Pascagoulas ceased to live.
Ever since the Pascagoulas sang their death song on that mem- orable occasion, soft, sweet sounds may be heard rising in sad cadence during the summer nights from the placid waters of the Pascagoula river, and people of imaginative minds have come to regard these sad, sweet sounds as the echo of the death-wail of women and children who, two centuries ago, perished beneath
499
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
the waves. The whole story may be a fiction, but many dwel- lers in the the vicinity of the Pascagoulas do not so regard it.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad traverses the southern portion of the county.
Jackson county has 2,750 acres of cleared land-the average value of which, as rendered to the assessor, is $6.56 per acre. Total value of cleared lands including incorporated towns is $513,591.
The population of this county as shown by the census report of 1890: Whites, 7,810 ; colored, 3,440; total, 11,250.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1820 Isaac R. Nicholson.
1821-22 Isaac R. Nicholson.
Thomas Bibb.
1823-25 Laughlin Mckay.
Thomas Bibb.
IS26 John McLeod.
John McDonald.
IS27 John McLeod.
1828 John McLeod.
I829 John McLeod.
Thomas Bibb.
1831 Thomas S. Stirling.
1833 John McLeod.
1835 Thomas P. Falkner.
John McDonald.
1836-37 Hanson Alsbury.
1838-39 Hanson Alsbury.
Collin J. McRae.
1840-41 Hanson Alsbury.
Charles I. Holland.
1842-43-44 A W. Ramsey.
John Grant.
1846 A. W. Ramsey.
L. Randall.
1848 A. W. Ramsey.
1850-52 A. W. Ramsey.
Allred E. Lewis.
Rufus R. Rhodes.
1856-57 T J. McCaughan.
1858 T. J. McCaughan.
1859-60 J. B. McRae. 1861-62 J. B. McRae.
· 1865-66-67 Roderick Seal.
1870-71 J. J. Seal.
1872 J. J. Seal.
1873 J. J. Seal.
1874 J. P. Carter.
1875 J. P. Carter.
1876 J. P. Carter.
1877 J. P. Carter.
1878-80 J. P. Carter.
1882-84 Elliott Henderson.
1886 Roderick Seal.
1888 Roderick Seal.
1890 H. Bloomfield.
John M. McInnis.
E. F. Griffin.
Charles H. Wood.
James B. McRae.
James B. McRea.
J. M. Pelham.
J. M. Pelham.
William C. Seaman.
William Starks.
1830 John McLeod.
John McDonald.
John McDonald.
John McDonald.
Andrew W. Ramsey.
John Davis.
1854 A. W. Ramsey.
T. L. Sumrall.
R. C. Files.
Walter Denny.
Walter Denny.
William G. Kendall. .
I. N. Osborne.
R. Seal.
McManis.
JASPER COUNTY
Was established in 1833 (the Revised Code of 1880 fixed it at 1823, which is a misprint), and was named in honor of Sergeant Jasper of Revolutionary fame.
500
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Samuel Grayson, Asa Hartfield, Robert James, Wm. Ellis, H. W. Ward, Henry Hale, George Evans, C. Dyer, N. Martin and J. Bidwell were commissioners to organize the county.
Among the early settlers of Jasper were Thomas C. Heidle- burg, John McCormick, Joshua Terrel, James S. Terrel, Foun- L tain Land, Thos. Dean, L. L. Porter, Wm. C. Bounds, Reddick Rogers, Drew Sumrall, John Carraway, Edwin S. Carraway, Wm. Jones, Archibald McCollum, Robert Cooper, Henry Miley, Howell Hargraves, Uriah Millsaps, Ransom J. Jones, Thos. S. Newman, Thos. Newell, Asa Hartfield, Reuben Hartfield, Wm. Hartfield, Oliver C. Dease, who was at an early day prominent in politics in the State ; he served in both branches of the Legis- lature, is the father-in-law of Col. Jas. J. Shannon, of Meridian, and the grandfather of John H. Miller, Esq., a forcible writer and experienced journalist, is now, and has been for years editor of the Tupelo Journal in Lee county ; Seth Fatheree, John D. Fatheree, James Dupriest, Peter Loper, John Loper, Aaron Bolton, Farr Proctor, John D. Ratcliff, Jas. Thigpen, John Parker, Wm. Ellis, Simon B. Ellis, Jas. E. Watts, Henry W. Ward, Hamilton Brown, L. B. Brown, Elias Brown, Alfred Brown, Alford McCarty, Luke Barnett, Wm. Bridges, John McDonald, Robert Crawford, Wiley Meeks, Larkin Collins, Jas. A. Chapman, John Watts, John Lightsey, Samuel Grayson, Adam Ulmer, Jones C. Morfatt, Jno. R. Brinson, David Lightsey, John Killow, Benjamin Moss, Zachariah Thompson, Abel Merrill, Walden Lewis, Jno. J. Wil- liams, Wm. Rogers, N. McKinstey, Levi Hollyfield, Jas. M. Seals, R. R. Abney, Bartlett V. Gammage, the father-in-law of Robert Lowry; Malachi Sharbrough, Thos. Nelson, Willis Holder, Rich- mond and Jack Cravan, Zedekiah Raynor, Francis Martin, John Williams, Thomas Hodges, John A. Hodges, Isham Hodge, Robert and Phillip H. James, Virgil Randle, Ezekiel Wimberly, Ichabod Kelly, Dan B. Johnston, Hugh Brebannan and John Anderson.
Paulding, the county site, was named in honor of John Pauld- ing, one of the captors of Major Andre, Adjutant-General of the British Army, and was for many years a thrifty and prosperous town. Forty-five years ago it was called the "Queen City of the East." Fifty-four years ago the Eastern Clarion was estab- lished in Paulding by John J. McRae, referred to in preceding pages. The paper while owned by Jno. J. McRae was conducted by Need and Duncan. Simeon R. Adams succeeded the founder
501
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
of the Clarion, under whose management it became a power in the State. He was elected State Senator from the Senatorial Dis- trict in which he resided. After the death of Mr. Adams, and during the late war, the paper was removed to Meridian, and after the cessation of hostilities was removed to the capital where its editorial columns were controlled for a number of years by Hon. E. Barksdale. A few years ago, the Clarion, then under the management of Col. J. L. Power, and the State Ledger, pub- lished and edited by R. H. Henry, united under the name of Clarion-Ledger, and is now edited and published by R. H. Henry and Col. J. L. Power.
Among the early lawyers of Jasper county were John Watts, who was circuit judge for nearly twenty years, the father of Dr. Josiah Watts, of Newton, Captain Joseph Watts, of Scooba, and Thomas Watts, of Hickory, and the uncle of Major A. B. and Captain S. B. Watts, of Meridian ; James McDugald, a native of Scotland, who worked at his trade, that of tailor, when he first came to the country, studied law and became a most excellent advocate. He was elected to the State Senate in the Senatorial District in which he lived ; Joseph Heyfren, a native of Ireland, an accurate and strong lawyer. While Judge Thos. S. Sterling was on the bench he occasionally indulged in a glass of toddy, and upon an occasion while a little under the influence of liquor, he was annoyed with the pertinacity of the Irish lawyer in the conduct of a case, who persisted in desiring to read an authority. The judge said, "Mr. Heyfren, the point has been decided by this court." Mr. Heyfren replied, "I understand, your honor, but I only wanted to show you how profoundly ignorant was Sir William Blackstone." Henry Calhoun, father of Henry Calhoun, of Scott county, and father-in-law of General J. A. Smith, was a lawyer of good attainments ; Henry S. Mounger, a native of Georgia, a lawyer by profession, and a thorough Christian gen- tleman settled in Paulding, and married the daughter of an old and prominent citizen, Judge Uriah Millsaps. He was elected circuit judge, and was on the bench four years. He was the father of Rev. Edwin H. Mounger, and the father-in-law of Rev. Ransom J. Jones, both distinguished divines, and members of the Methodist Conference in this State. His son, W. H. Mounger, served several terms as sheriff of Jasper county.
The towns now in the county are Paulding, Garlandsville, Heidleburg, Vossburg and Lake Como.
502
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The principal streams are Tallahala, Tallahoma, Swannee, Ettahoma, Tallahatta, Shubuta and Town creeks.
The New Orleans and North-Eastern Railroad runs through the southeastern corner of the county.
The prairie, bottom and hammock lands are excellent, and the uplands average well with adjacent counties.
The population is intelligent and reasonably prosperous.
Jasper county has 67,101 acres of cleared land ; average value as rendered to the assessor, $4.17 per acre; total value of cleared lands, including incorporated towns, $282,644.
The population of the county as shown by the census report of 1890 : Whites, 7,318; colored, 7,288 ; total 14,606.
SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIVES.
1836
1837 Oliver C. Dease.
1838-'39 Oliver C. Dease.
1840-'41 Jno. C. Thomas.
1842-'43 Jno. C. Thomas.
1844 Simeon R. Adams.
1846 Simeon R. Adams.
1848-'50 James McDugald.
1852 R. N. Hough.
L. J. Jones. ·
James J. Shannon.
Benjamin Thigpen.
D. D. McLaurin.
A. F. Dantzler.
J. S. Dantzler.
L. J. Jones. .
Elisha Dansby.
Elisha Dansby.
J. M. Loper.
A. F. Smith.
Duncan D. McLaurin.
Duncan D. McLaurin.
A. M Dozier.
D. A. Morris.
1882 Thomas Keith.
1884 John F. Smith.
1886 John F. Smith.
1888 T. A. Wood.
1890 T. A. Wood.
Jno. C. Thomas.
Jno. C. Thomas.
Peter Loper.
L. B. Ellis.
Peter Loper.
L. J. Jones.
John McDonald.
L. B. Ellis.
1854 R. N. Hough.
1856-'57 R N. Hough.
1858 R. N. Hough.
1859-'60-'61 Robert McLane.
1861-'62 Robert McLane.
- 1865-'66-'67 P. H. Napier. 1870 Wm. M. Hancock. 1871 John Watts.
1872-'73 John Watts.
1874-'75 T. B. Graham.
1876 T. B. Graham.
1877 H. C. McCabe.
1878 Asa R. Carter.
1880 Asa R. Carter.
Joseph Blankinship. Samuel Whitman.
B. W. Sharbrough.
W. W. Heidleberg.
Samuel Whitman.
JEFFERSON COUNTY,
Named for Thomas Jefferson, was established January 11th, 1802, and participated in the territorial legislation up to the for- mation of the Constitution in 1817. In the Convention for form- ing a Constitution and State government in the year mentioned, Cowles Mead, Cato West, Hezekiah J. Balch and Joseph E. Davis were the delegates representing Jefferson county.
503
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
The early settlers of the county were from North and South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The earliest settlement made in what is now the western portion of Jefferson county was in 1780, during the Spanish occupancy of the county. The first American emigrants located on and contiguous to Coles Creek. The most prominent of these pioneers were the families of Thomas, Abner and Everard Green. Ancestors of the families of these names, and many others, (descendants of the fourth generation,) now living in this community, came from Virginia. Contem- poraneously with these there came from North Carolina, Mr. Moss, (the father of the late venerable Mrs. Martha W. Cox.) and also came Robert Cox, who subsequently became the hus- band of the lady mentioned, and later to the same neighborhood Rev. Abam Cloud, a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Near the same period, while Governor Gayoso was exercising authority and jurisdiction over the Spanish dominion, which em- braced what is now Jefferson county, came Roger Dixon from Virginia. Mr. Dixon was an active, energetic man and exerted himself in behalf of the new comers in endeavoring to restrain the oppressive policy of Spanish rulers. He accomplished much good and enjoyed the respect and confidence of those among whom he lived. Another of the prominent settlers was Thomas Calvit, of Calviton, father-in-law of the late David Hunt, Sr. It was to his house in the early part of the present century, that Aaron Burr, after his surrender, was conducted. David Hunt,
though not among the first, was an early settler on Coles Creek. He became the most successful and wealthiest planter in the county. He was a native of New Jersey, and when a youth came west in the capacity of a clerk and assistant to his uncle, Abijah Hunt, who received the appointment of sutler in Wayne's army which was sent to chastise the turbulent tribes on the western frontier. Abijah Hunt realized a considerable fortune from the appointment, and when hostilities ceased he came to the "Natchez country" to invest his capital. He engaged in large mercantile operations, established a number of stores, one in Greenville, the then county site of Jefferson, which was in charge of his nephew, David. Abijah Hunt fell in a duel with Governor George Poin- dexter. He was a batchelor and left a considerable estate, upon which David was administrator. David Hunt was a superior business man, and accumulated during his long and successful life extensive and valuable possessions. He was a liberal patron of public education and the principal founder of Oakland
504
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
College. He gave freely to all public enterprises that were meritorious. At a later period George Dent settled on lower Cole's Creek, also Jas. Cowden. On upper Cole's Creek were the Harrison brothers; they were nephews of Phillip B. Barbour, the eminent statesman and jurist of Virginia. The elder brother, Phillip B. Harrison, served as sheriff of the county. Some years later a settlement was made in the vicinity of the present Church Hill; this was called the Maryland settlement, as the most prominent settlers came from the State of Maryland. Most of them brought their families, slaves and household effects ; this was soon after the Spanish evacuation of the country, and its attendant transfer of territory. Among them were Col. James G. Wood, (in future years,) the patriarch of the tribe, Alexander Young, Richard Skinner, Captain Magruder, a retired sea captain, Leonard A. Magruder, Aaron Noble, John Steele, the Dunbars, Benoits and Shields. A lady, known in history as the patroness of S. S. Prentiss, was a member of the last named family. Joseph Dunbar filled several important public positions, at one time Surveyor-General of the State, sheriff of the county, and served several terms in the State Legislature. He invented the iron cotton tie as a substitute for the rope. James Payne was for a long time an extensive merchant and planter of Church Hill and at his death left numerous descendants, all of whom occupy high social positions. The Petit Gulf settlement, since and now called Rodney, was composed of Pierce Nolan, Dr. Nutt, Dr. Eli Harden, John Tullis, Andrew Montgomery, the Harrisons, Griffins and Gibsons. They were all prosperous peo- ple and grew rich. The leading merchants at Rodney in the early days were John Ducker, Levi Harris, John Watt, J. G. James, and later, the Warners, Kirkers, Yoes, Drakes, Evans, Broughtons and Becks. The principal physicians in those times in western Jefferson were Drs. Bouldin, Nutt, Savage, Coleman and McPheeters.
A prominent gentleman and large planter in Jefferson, states that Cowles Mead introduced the celebrated Bermuda grass, which has proved such a boon to this country; where he procured it the gentleman is not advised.
In an early day there lived within a few miles of Fayette, the celebrated robber, Mason. The commerce on the river was carried on in flat or keel boats, and hundreds of men from the west would float these boats to New Orleans, sell their produce and return on foot the entire distance to their homes. From
505
HISTORY OF MISSISSIPPI.
Natchez the generally traveled route was the old Indian trail, passing through Jefferson, thence to Jackson and on to Florence, Alabama. These persons were generally loaded down with Spanish dollars, which was then the principal currency, and could usually stop at any house for the night as welcome guests, on account of their ready cash. The grandmother of Hon. W. L. Harper, who has represented Jefferson county in the Legislature a number of times, did her share of entertaining. One of these travelers, a young Kentuckian, was taken sick at her house and detained for some weeks; his conduct and bearing was so unex- ceptional that she took great interest in him, and actually quilted all his $600 (six hundred dollars) in his coat and vest, partly to distribute his load, but chiefly to deceive the robbers then infest- ing the road. She heard no more of him but the supposition was that he was another of Mason's victims. Mason's depreda- tions continued to increase, until Governor Claiborne offered a large reward for him dead or alive. One of Mason's gang killed an innocent man, cut off his head, carried it to the Governor and claimed the reward. The Governor sent for Mrs. Mason, who on examination swore that it was not the head of her husband, and the claimant being identified by a gentleman just arrived, as the very man who had robbed him a few days before, he, with another pal, was hung at Greenville, the county site, in a field that is called the "gallows field" to this day.
After the battle of New Orleans, and after peace had been re- stored, General Jackson marched his men to Nashville, some six hundred miles ; on the route they camped at Greenville, in Jeffer- son county, where the people of the surrounding country turned out to greet them.
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